𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐃

9

HER PREY

Saturday comes, and I'm laying in bed like a starfish, covers pulled back. I guess the air conditioner's out and the Texas humidity is creeping in. My mom's in the kitchen complaining and my dad's sound asleep, judging by his snores. We won't even graze by the fact that I haven't seen him do a lick of work here dealing with his new job, but that's a topic for another day.

I finally motivate myself to get out of bed and move around in this thick air. I literally feel like I'm walking through a hard cloud of steam. I shower, turning my shit all the way on ice cold, and dress myself in some shorts and a t-shirt so I won't get overheated immediately.

"Casei, where you at?"

Not even all the way down the hall and she wants to know where I am. Shit, I'm coming lady! Just a moment.

My mom saw me and made her disapproval known.

"That outfit is too revealing to be wearing around here, Casei. And I know you're hot, but I am too, and yet I wear my Christmas onesie with no complaints. Have some respect for your father."

"Are the maintenance people gonna come by?" I grumbled.

"I have no clue. I talked to the neighbor to our right and she said we aren't the only ones. I'm sure the office is getting more than enough complaints right now and I don't want to be another one. They won't go up on my rent for annoyin' them," my mom stated. "Mark my words."

"What if I go out and bring you back some ice cream?" I gave her a big smile.

"Hm. I want strawberry," she shrugged.

I went back to my room and changed clothes to go out. The closest place to get ice cream was about fifteen minutes away and I could blame my little time delay getting back home on traffic. Maybe use that extra time in the car to write in my notebook, really getting some feelings off my chest that I don't feel like letting out in this apartment.

Once I'm dressed, I let my mom know I'm gone and the keys are clutched in my fist and my notebook is hidden out of her sight on my body. I lock the door and instantly feel a great weight off of me. I mean, not only does it seem to be a whole lot cooler outside somehow, probably because of the wind, but I also feel free from my mother and all her bullshit.

I get into the Town and Country, slowly passing by Dylandra's building and thinking about what could have been. I can't just mess with my coworker's bitch like that though. Again, a relationship hasn't stopped me before in the past but...this one will, it seems.

Doesn't mean that some part of me won't try though.

Driving out the complex, guess who I see by the dumpster? I pull up besides Dyl and honk my horn softly to get her attention. Her hair's all over the place, she's clearly wearing basketball shorts that are not her size, and a black sports bra.

Rolling the passenger window down, I wave at her.

"Hey," she came up to lean on the vehicle, "You leavin' out?"

"Gettin' my mom some ice cream," I supplied.

"Shii, can I come with you?" she asked, then glanced back towards her apartment. "Actually, if I can go, I just ask you give me a teeny tiny moment first."

"Lowen in there?" I asked calmly, sighing, and refluffing my hair out.

"Uh...yeah," Dyl shrugged, "But not on that type of shit, this time. Some drama's goin' on with my best friend and shit, and she came over to let me know what the opps plannin'."