joelle | d.m

29 | lovely surprise

December, 1994.

"Plug it in, you dumbass." Imani's jaws clenched to suppress a groan of impatience.

"Hey," Devonte said firmly with a serious face. "I don't like your nasty little tone, missy."

"Devonte, I swear to—"

"Okay!" His voice rose over hers and silenced her. He plugged the sharp end of the wire into the nozzle of the air mattress.

He scooted back and Imani stood with her socked feet over the bottom of the air pump. Her hands gripped around the handles and she began to pump air into the air mattress. Devonte soon kicked her out, so he could do it instead.

He had showed up just in the afternoon and the plan was for him to stay just for a couple of days. He was always welcome to stay longer, but the plan had been set for a couple of days before he went back home.

They were going to decorate the tree after they ate dinner. Christmas music on, cookies, and warm drinks as they decorated the tree. Joey had also updated him on her and Draco. She'd told Imani and Nayun what mattered after Draco left that day.

It was now late evening and they had takeout Indian food on the coffee table in front of the tv. The air mattress was being blown up next to the coffee table for more variety of seats other than just their couch.

Nayun was in the kitchen preparing drinks and getting plates. Joey, seated on the couch in her pajamas, was watching her two friends fight over how to fill the mattress with air quicker

She sipped on her homemade iced matcha latte, half watered down from it being an hour old. Her legs were crossed and her body molded into the couch.

"Uh, Von, did you want ice in your pop?" Nayun called from the kitchen, exposed from the open frame that divided the living room and kitchen.

"I'm not picky, love," Devonte replied easily as he continued to pump air into the mattress, now standing over the air pump.

"Jo-Jo, do you want another drink or are you good with yours?" She moved around the kitchen opening cupboards for cups.

"Water's okay, thanks, Nayun." Joey leaned forward to place her wet glass on the coffee table. She wiped her palm across her pants to wipe off the water from the condensation of her glass. "What do you guys want to watch? I went to the film store earlier and got a few new movies."

Imani immediately flicked her gaze to her friends standing beside Devonte with her hands on her hip. "How much was it?" she asked curiously, but demandingly.

Joey shot her friend a closed-lip smile. "Nothing we couldn't afford. I've been taking extra shifts at Honeydukes lately."

"I have respect for you in general, Jo-Jo, but now I have more respect for you," Devonte said as he hunched over the pump, still blowing air into the mattress. "Because you balance tutoring, the tournament, classes, work, and... well, you don't really have a social life outside of us, but still."

Joey blinked at him. "Yes, I do."

"Not really, but whatever makes you happy." He smiled handsomely at her.

She just blanked at him and got off the couch. Walking to the kitchen, she went to help Nayun with the drinks and plates.

"Your birthday is tomorrow," Nayun mentioned whilst she put the ice tray back into the freezer after filling it with water. "Wanna go to the club?"

Joey made a tentative sound as she stacked four plates upon the counter. "I don't know," she said, uncertainly. "I never liked clubbing."

"Would you rather spend hours on the floor of a bookstore reading?" Her friend softly smiled at her.