Act Like You Love Me - Zatima | COMPLETED

11

Zachary Taylor

"Alright can we bless the table?" Ms.Anita asked stopping our laughs. We all put our hands out and obliged.

"Ou fasho." Mr.John responded, just as he was started Tika began to speak. "So Zac, did you sleep well last night?"

I looked at Fatima confused, that was beyond disrespectful. "Um thank you for asking, yes I did."

I nodded at Mr.John and he began to speak again, "Dear heavenly lord- cause you know it's like sleeping in a prison."

She pointed at Fatima, I rolled my eyes. I hated when people disrupted prayer.I don't play about the lord if anything.

Soon after a man I hadn't ever seen before came up. "DID YALL MISS ME?" He shouted, they all jumped up.

"Omg."
"Yay!"
"You said Friday!"

Ms.Anita got up to hug him, "Yea yea change of plans, you know I had to cancel two gigs but you know I couldn't miss this for the world."

Tika put her hand out and they high-fived, "I had no idea you'd be showing up here Russell." Nick said nervously.

"Man it hasn't even been a week since I saw you in the streets at- the orthodontist convention. Yea!" He cut Russell off.

"Anybody want some juice?" he changed the topic, Russell looked over at Fatima and i with a smile.

"And woah wait who this, wait a minute hollup. Now FayFay, I know you ain't let a man bck in your life did you?"

Fatima smiled, "Uh Zac this is my baby brother Russell." I stood up to shack his hand. "Okay Zac, that's a nice grip bro."

"But look I gotta let you in on the family secret, last guy that was with her, yea he had to wait 3 years."

I looked at Fatima with a look of shock, I know it's never going to happen for us but damn 3 years.

"Well patience is a virtue." I put my hand on her thigh, "After you done with FayFay you gone have more patience and virtue than mother Teresa."

They all laughed at that joke, 3 years is a while but I'll wait til the world ends just for Fatima to give me a chance.

"OKAY RUSSELL!" Fatima cut him off, "You're looking a lil skinny I think you need to eat." Ms.Anita got up with Russel.

"Don't baby him, Anita!" Mr.John spoke bitterly, woah what's up with that.

"I just want t- I've told you please!" She sat back down with a sigh. "I see um some people haven't changed."

"You know I'm just tryna be perfect for you pop." Russel said aggressively without even looking at his father.

"Mhm."

"You know I have a tux in the car, I know we getting dressed later right?" Mr.John nodded. "Yep the party's later this evening."

"It's casual, not sloppy but casual," he unnecessarily added, "Just tryna not disappoint you."

"Well that'll be good." Mr.John responded, there's definitely some past issues between the two of them.

"Morning, Morning!" Larissa joined the table, everyone said good morning back. "We are going to hell in a handbasket."

"Babe please bless the table!"

We all gathered hands and said a quick prayer before continuing to eat and enjoy our breakfast.

- LATER ON -

We were all chilling around the pool when Larissa strutted up with a bottle of lotion in her hands.

She went over to Nick and asked him to put lotion on her back, he declined due to him being on the phone.

She made her way over to me and I looked over at Fatima, she was too into her work to even pay attention.

"Sure why not," I said politely, i kneeled on my lawn chair. I noticed that the talking stopped and Tika was giving me a death stare.

I can tell she doesn't like Larissa and neither does Fatima. So my question is, why is she really here.

"Where at?" I asked Larissa, "Everywhere." She said seductively. I was trying my hardest to get Fatima's attention.

Finally she stood from her chair and walked over snatching my arm, she almost knocked me over the lawn chair but I jumped just in time.

We walked all the way to the opposite side of the pool. "Have a seat." We crisscross applesauced.

"So, are you having fun with Larissa?" She asked immediately, "Oh she said you wouldn't mind, I didn't want to be rude."

"Y'all first cousins?" , "Yea we are."

"She lived with us for a little while for like four years when my aunt got sick. I haven't seen her in years."

"She's kind of a nomad, you know." She shrugged, okay so it's not that she doesn't like Larissa.

She just hasn't seen her in years? Got it.

"Got in with the wrong crowd and she really only comes around when she needs money." She informed me.

"But when my aunt died my mother felt guilty so we take care of her." I looked toward Larissa who was fixated on a magazine.

"So you're saying she's bad news?" I asked looking back at Tima. "No I'm not saying that, she's a good person."

"she's just a little wild maybe a little wilder than us teeth people approve of."

"Well unlike some folks I try to get the whole story before I pass judgement on someone."

"You don't know my family so I suggest you stay out of it." She got defensive. "Hollup you put me in it."