Forbidden Love

2

~ Amirah's Pov

I walked into work five minutes later than I was supposed to arrive. The anxiety of feeling everyone's eyes on me came and passed, as I noticed everyone was caught up in doing their own thing. Haven was right. Haven.. Thoughts of our talk before we left popped into my head.

I know she's right. I do need to get another job, but now's not the time. Yes, Colten was a jerk and a creep, but trying to find another job at this time was worst.

Speak of the devil.

"Mirah, glad to see you're here. Later than usual today?" His deep voice unsettled me slightly. I placed my briefcase beside my desk, looking up to see him standing by my door. "Yes, sorry. It won't happen again." I tried to dismiss the conversation quickly, as his presence always gave me the urge to go somewhere else immediately.

"No worries. Why were you late? If you don't mind me asking." I internally groan as more words came out of his mouth. "Just a slow start." The snarky tone I didn't mean to use caused me to quickly look back up at him. His hazel eyes stared intensely at me before he simply nodded his head in dismissal.

"Grab me a coffee and stop by my office before you start working." I sighed when he left my office, pulling my laptop and papers out of my briefcase and setting them on my desk. I hated him, to say the least. But he's my boss. I'm not sure if I would've preferred a racist one over him. He wasn't racist at all, in fact he was the complete opposite. He skipped over racism and went with obsessive creep instead.

I quickly made his coffee and knocked on the door of his office, entering when he told me to. "Thank you." I nodded my head in response and turned to head out before he stopped me. "Amirah." Hearing him say my name sent chills down my spine. In a bad way. "Yes, sir?" I ignored the small smile that played on his lips at my response.

He loved being called sir. He makes all of us call him that, as if it's a kink of his or something. If I had a choice, I wouldn't address him at all. Or maybe call him something along the lines of creepy man whor-

"I have this new uniform that's been sent over from a company we're being sponsored by." Uniform?? We've always been able to choose what we want to wear, as long as it's business attire. "I want you to be the first one to wear it when you come in on Thursday. If I like it, it'll be one of many different ones all of you ladies here will wear whenever you come in." I watched as he picked up this skimpy ass uniform in a clear, dry cleaning bag. His emphasis on the word 'will' angered me. Who the fuck was he?

"Why me?"

"Because I said so."

A part of me wanted to back hand him, but he was my boss. Instead I grabbed the bag from his hand. It was a simple white blouse with a skirt that looked like it would barely fit over my ass.

"When will you have the paper work for Forensworth ready? Before the meeting on Thursday I hope." I nod my head in response, which he replies to with a quick 'good' before dismissing me. The day I leave this job will be the best day of my life.

I sit back down at my desk, opening my laptop and unfortunately beginning to do what I'm here for, work.

***

Walking into my apartment, I slightly jump when I see Haven sitting on my couch. "I mean damn, can I greet my own home first?" She rolls her eyes at me, holding out her arms. This was weird. Haven wasn't really the affectionate type. Usually I was the one who initiated any sort of physical affection.

"You okay?" She ignores my question, motioning me to come quicker. I set my belongings on the small table for now, kick off my heels, & lean into her arms. Feeling her arms wrap around me brought a feeling of security to me. I didn't ask again if she was okay, yet hearing her sniffle made me want to go into mom mode.

I quickly grabbed her face to make her look at me, her eyes were beginning to have a pinkish tint to them. "What's wrong?" As soon as the words came out of my mouth more tears swelled in her eyes and she quickly put her head back down, lying on my shoulder and firmly wrapping her arms around my mid back.

I rubbed her back soothingly, letting her cry it out for as long as she needed. After a few minutes she calmed down, letting me go and wiping the remainder of her tears away. "Do you want something to eat? I can make you something." She shakes her head at my offer, standing up from the couch.

"You can tell me about your day at work and I'll make something." A part of me sighed in relief at her words, watching her go into the kitchen and wash her hands. Of course I wouldn't have minded cooking for her, but today drained me. I honestly was thinking about ordering food before a thought about cooking even came about.

I told her about my day, predicting her eye rolls and irritable comments about Colten. After leaving to take a shower, I came back downstairs to smell and see some type of chicken pasta waiting for me.

"Ugh you know me so well." A small smile plays on her lips at my words. I could tell something was still bothering her, but I didn't want to pry. Even though we tell each other almost everything, I know sometimes things aren't meant to be spoken about.

"I've known you for what 13 years now? I would hope I know you." Her taking my comment literally made me suck my teeth. She knew what I meant..

"I hope you know I'm here for you." I couldn't help but speak out. "I know, Mirah. Thank you. I hope you know it's nothing you did and isn't about this morning. I just had a long day, that's all." I felt better after she explained a little bit to me. Although it wasn't complete detail, I was okay with that.

I learned the hard way that when she didn't want to talk about her emotions, there was nothing I could do or say to get it out of her.

***

We were in the 10th grade. Lonnie, Haven, and I sat in the back of our history class. I knew something was wrong with her because she kept messing with her jewelry. "Haven?" she glances at me shortly before looking away. "What's wrong?" she shakes her head in response, which should've been a warning for me to just leave it.

"Lonnie, something's wrong with her." I noticed him look at her before looking back at me. "We can talk to her after class." He whispered as Mr. Jinkins started teaching some pointless material I wouldn't think twice about in 3 years, or 3 seconds. Again, another warning for me to leave it.

"Haven? Haven can you talk to-"

"Dammit Amirah, I'm fine." Quietness follows after her words. I overstepped. I notice her leg begin to bounce, before she stands up and walks out of the room. We were right by the door, so it wasn't like a dramatic exit. She didn't like attention, and I made her slightly raise her voice in an already quiet classroom.

I ignored the look from Lonnie, sinking back into my seat as Mr. Jinkins cleared his throat before carrying on with his lesson.

Later that day, we ended up going to Dairy Queen and talking about it. "I'm sorry for overstepping earlier." I spoke softly and she shook her head in dismissal. "No I'm sorry for yelling at you. I was just frustrated. I didn't mean to take it out on you." now it was my turn to shake my head.

"You wouldn't have yelled if I didn't pry." She furrowed her eyebrows at me. "Is that how you think?" I was confused by her question, and my quietness seemed to show that. "Never mind. It's okay. We're okay." I was still mildly confused, but I didn't want to feel dumb by asking for clarification.

"Promise?" She nods her head before holding out her pinky. We lock pinkies, doing our short little "confirmation handshake" before continuing to eat our ice cream.

***

After I finished eating my pasta, which was absolutely amazing, I washed our plates and started to head to my bed. "Are you staying here tonight or going back to yours?" She seemed to think for a minute before saying she'd stay.

We headed to my bed and I comfortably laid on my soft mattress, the cold silk pillows sending the good type of chills throughout my body. "If you leave me with 5% of the covers tonight, God forbid you'll still be on this bed by the morning." She laughs at my words as if I said something funny.

I was serious.

I tiredly get under the blanket, feeling her get comfy on the other side of me.

"Goodnight, Mirah."
"Goodnight, Haven."