𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞

Track 3

✨Solani's POV✨

~Morning~

I reach for my phone to silence my alarm and get up to start my routine. I wanna say bad about not giving that boy my number, but I don't. I hear PartyNextDoor playing from the kitchen, so I know Nyla's up. After washing my face, weighing myself, and brushing my teeth, I start the shower.

I feel a little guilty; he has that player vibe. Like you can tell, he's used to women fawning over him. I won't be another. I exit the shower, wrap my towel around my body, and enter my room, shifting my thoughts amongst my plans for today. Nyla and I are going to a bookstore after our classes today. So, I keep it simple with a black maxi dress, lay my edges, and put my braids in a clear claw clip, leaving two out in the front to frame my face.

"What're you burning in here," I ask, fake coughing, scaring Nyla. She looks up and runs to the stove to turn it off, "Well, good morning to you too. I was making eggs, but change of plans, I guess," she rolls her eyes and shrugs, throwing away the food she burned. "Good morning, and let whoever was texting you know that they owe you breakfast," I say, mildly invested in whoever the mystery man she's texting is,

"He said what time," Nyla smirks and laughs at my shock. "Is that the Malachi guy from the club," I question. "Yup," she nods, popping the p. "He texted me this morning asking if we got home okay," she responds, putting on Crocs. "I'll tell you the rest while we walk," she continues while locking the door.

✧Nico✧

I'm in my office, rolling my eyes as Malachi laughs hysterically. "Nigga really got the rejection hotline," he laughs, catching his breath. "Is it really that funny," I mumbled. "Yes, yes, it is. "When was the last time you actually got rejected," he questions with amusement. "6th grade," I respond. "It's about time somebody humbled you," he responds, glancing at his phone.

" You're not slick either. You've been texting someone nonstop. Is that Nyla," I question, exchanging glances between my computer and him.

"Yeah, and she said both she and Solani got home okay, and I apparently also owe her food," he says, switching off his phone.

" Why do you owe her food," I raise my eyebrow. "Because she burned their breakfast texting me," he chuckles. " I'll ask if you can come so that you and Solani can keep staring at each other," He smirks before leaving. I've been told no plenty of times before, don't get me wrong, but not like she did.

I did like staring at her. and how the purple lights blended with her brown skin, how naturally her body flowed with the pole. I have to see her again. My phone buzzes, snapping me out of thought with a text from Malachi saying she said yes.

✨Solani✨

" Are you sure you're okay with them coming," Nyla doublechecks. As much as I could care less about them, Nyla seemed interested in Malachi last night, so who am I to get in the way. "Yeah, plus I'm gonna be more focused on my books," I assure her.

"Okay, they said that they'd pick us up somewhere around the school," Nyla explains, and as she finishes her thought, a gray Cadillac pulls up, and Malachi exits from the passenger side I turn to Nyla, but she's as shocked as me. The only difference is her face wears a grin.

What happened to city girls?

" I believe I owe a certain girl breakfast," Malachi grins, taking her bag. " Yall ready," he asks, opening the passenger door for us. We get in the car, and I see Nico in the front, staring at me from the rearview mirror. I wave, put my airpods in, and start looking through my book list while Nyla tells them which mall we're going to.

" Do ya'll wanna eat or get your stuff first, Malachi asks as we enter the mall. I haven't been here often, but Nyla said she heard good things about the stores. Nyla answered food for the both of us, not leaving room for my argument.

⁓At the mall⁓

We've been at the mall for at least 15 minutes now and finally found the place we were going to eat at. When Nyla said she knew a place, she never really specified how to get there. " Are we there yet," I groan as we walk around this hot-ass mall. How hard could it be to air condition the second floor of this big ass mall? " I think it's right there, I made the reservations after I looked at the map on my phone. We literally just have to get online," I nodded, and we continued the journey to this mystery restaurant.

I guess I was lost in my thoughts because I bumped into something, Nico. Kill me now, I back and tap my edges making sure they're still intact cuz a 24-hour hold don't always mean a 24-hour hold. "Your hair is fine, Solani," he says, bringing my attention to the wall I bumped into that is now facing me, I back up slightly, I can see him a little better than last night now, taking in him and his tall frame, Now that I think about his burgundy dress shirt and black slacks, slightly similar to his friends, they look out of place compared to everyone else's casual attire.

" Enjoying the view," he taunts. " It's not like I could walk backward. They're about to call Nyla's number anyway," I retort and roll my eyes. "Sure, sweetheart, whatever you say, he replies amusedly. I swear that bass in his voice wasn't there before.

~The Restaurant~

Now that we've been seated, I can't lie this place is cute. It has a brunch vibe going on, at least for now. The host gave us a booth, and Nyla sat next to Malachi, but I couldn't be mad because they looked cute together. She hasn't stopped smiling since he picked us up this morning.Shortly after, the waiter came, " Are you guys ready to order, or should I come back," he asked, scanning our table. He writes down our orders as he glances between Nico and me, and the awkward silence is broken by Nyla. While Nico continues to almost stare through the waiter as he leaves.

"So what do y'all do," Nyla asks as the food is brought to our booth. And Malachi and Nico exchange glances between each other and the waiter again.

"We work together in marketing... but hold on, is there a problem? You keep staring like you don't have other stuff to do," Nico answers, pausing to address the waiter. Nyla and I look at each other and then the situation, knowing this is a prime example of when to watch and not speak.

"Lani, can I trade you some grits for your canteloupe," she asks, pointing her fork at my phone while the boys continue to go at it with the waiter. He was about 5'10 and had his shoulder-length curls pushed back into a puff.
" Hell no, just take the canteloupe. Don't disrespect my taste buds like that again. Those got cheese on 'em."
" I don't see what you got against canteloupe, but I'm not complaining. What's that under your plate?"

"Whatchu mean," I reply, glancing down and picking up the napkin.

Oh.
Well, it was something, a number. And of course, when I notice Nyla notices and the waiter from before notices too, I don't even know this nigga name for him to be doing all of this. I flip the napkin over and place it back on the table, and the smile on his face drops almost instantly.

" Damn, you not even tryna give me a chance," the waiter, whose name I still don't even know, scowls, bringing the attention back to our table.

This a prime example of why I don't leave the house."You deaf or something because you can talk," he argued, slightly raising his voice.

" Can you not hit on me in front of my boyfriend it's not cute,"

✧Nico✧
Boyfriend?

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