When we first met (A Zatima Story)

JU?!?!

as y'all still know a nigga don't proofread shit

The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over Zac's living room, the calm hiding the storm that was about to unfold. Fatima sat on the edge of the couch, her gaze fixed on the carpet as she waited, hoping the tension from Ju's visit would fade. But Ju's presence was a storm that wouldn't blow over easily.

Ju: Hey T.

Fatima's heart skipped a beat. She'd been hoping he wouldn't actually come, not after everything. Her phone had already been lighting up with messages from Ju, but she hadn't dared respond. Seeing him in person was worse than she'd expected.

Fatima: How did you find me?

Ju's grin was anything but comforting as he walked closer. Come on, T. You think I wouldn't find you?

Zac, who'd been standing nearby, stepped forward, putting himself between them.

Zac: Aye, bruh. I'mma need you to go.

Ju's eyes didn't even shift to Zac. He stared straight at Fatima. "This don't got nothing to do with you", he said, dismissing Zac. "I need to talk to my girl."

Fatima could feel her pulse quicken. "Ju, please. Just leave."

Zac: "I'mma tell you one more time, I need you to go."

Ju glanced at Zac for the first time, sizing him up. "Come on, T. Let's go talk. I need to talk to you, for real."

Fatima's voice trembled. "Ju, please. I'll talk to you later."

Ju scoffed but backed away, his expression darkening. "I'll be at your house in the morning, T. Be ready to talk, 'cause I'm not playin' with you."

Fatima nodded reluctantly. "Okay, Ju."

As Ju left, Zac's eyes never left him, his jaw clenched tightly. Only once Ju had disappeared around the corner did Zac finally turn to Fatima, his expression softening.

Zac: "T, you alright?"

Fatima nodded, but her hands were still shaking. "Yeah, I'm fine. But I should probably go. He'll be mad if I don't talk to him."

Zac: "Forget him, T. I just need to know if you're okay."

Fatima looked away, her shoulders slumping. "Zac, you don't get it. He's here for a reason. If I don't go talk to him, he'll get angry. And when he gets angry..."

Zac gently took her hand. "T, you don't need to go anywhere. Just stay with me tonight. We can talk about it in the morning."

Fatima hesitated, but the comfort of Zac's words broke through her fear. "Okay."

---

That night, Fatima lay awake next to Zac, staring at the ceiling. She could feel Zac's arm around her, his steady breathing beside her. But her mind was far from peaceful.

Zac's voice broke the silence. "T, why did you really want to leave?"

Fatima sighed, finally letting out the truth. "I just didn't want him to be mad at me."

Zac propped himself up to look at her, concern in his eyes. "Are you afraid of him?"

She swallowed hard, barely able to meet his gaze. "A little... but—"

Zac: "There's no 'but'. You should never be afraid of someone like that."

Fatima's eyes filled with pain. "Zac, you don't know the things he's done to me."