Streetz 2: The Tried

17. Looking Up

I woke up at six in the morning feeling both anxious and excited about this damn interview. I had just hopped out of the shower, lathered up with some Jergen's lotion, put on my teal slacks, and was now in the kitchen cooking my damn self some breakfast. 

My interview was at 9:30, but with the way L.A. traffic was, I knew I had to leave around eight just to make it in time. I had a feeling that I was going to get this job. Too much negative shit had been happening for me to not get it. I was so damn excited that I shuffled around the kitchen, doing a lil two-step as I flipped over my pancakes.

"Ari," I walked into her bedroom, holding a plate of pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. It only took a millisecond for her to smell the food before her left eye popped open. 

"Hm?"

"Come eat with me,"

She sighed, "I'm tired,"

"You goin' to class today?" I asked. Yesterday, she had to come home early because of her "morning sickness". I don't even know why they call it that when it happens anytime throughout the day. 

"Yeah, if I can."

"Well, come eat. I only got 30 minutes before I hit the road." I help her out of the bed with my left hand as I held her plate with my right. I headed into the kitchen, letting her do her thing in the bathroom before meeting me for breakfast. I had just fixed my plate and cleaned the dishes as she sat down, holding her head in her palms. 

"What's wrong?" 

She glanced at me, curly black hair falling all over her face and yes, her hair is back to black. I'mma miss that blonde. She sat with an old grey Pink Floyd T-shirt and grey knee-high socks. She sipped on her orange juice and sighed.

"I feel like shit," She blew her breath, "It's so early on and I'm already getting my butt whooped."

I bit into my amazing ass eggs, "What your professor say?"

"He congratulated me and said he understood and sent my ass home with an ass of work to do. I still haven't even finished my paper for Dr. Wright's class." 

"You better get on it,"

"I am," She sipped again, "This semester is tough, I already had to cut my hours at the Spa and now I may have to cut them again." 

Ari was still working at Gemini Wellness part-time. Which meant she was only working three days out the week. She cut her days down to two to get more tutoring at the library. That part-time gig was her only source of income and with a baby on the way and the classes getting harder, I guess it was time for her to sit this one out.

"You might not want to hear this but you may just have to chill on that lil spa and focus on school for a bit,"

She bit into her bacon, "You're right, I don't want to hear that," 

"Well, eventually you ain't gon have a choice cause you not about to start slackin'. You said you had a paper that you ain't even finish and that nigga Bettenknight or whatever his fuckin' name always down yo back. You gon have to pick one." 

"It's not that easy Ermias, I got bills to pay. I can't just stop working."

"I just don't want you to start slackin' on yo shit. Nursin' hard as fuck and that shit really takes dedication and time. Work once a week and leave it at that. Whatever bill you need paid, I'll take care of it,"

She looked at me like I had said a magic word.

"You're going to take care of it?"

I downed my juice, "Let me get my black ass on this road,"