The dampness of the air seeped into the straightened hairs on Melek's head. She let out a frustrated sigh as she harshly pressed the roots of her hair down.
"I just straightened it," She mumbled under her breath, "WAllah it only rains when I do my hair."
She used her hip to open the library doors. She walked with haste to snag a booth on the second level. Matt Maltese sang through her wired earbuds as she dragged her black sambas up the stairs. She pinched at her washed baggy jeans like a dress as she walked up the stairs; her large eyes scoured the floor as she walked toward an empty booth. Just as she was about to sit down, a body brushed up behind her. She stumbled a bit, looking over her shoulder; her book bag falling off her arm. Her eyes dropped an eye level at the person who took a seat in the booth.
Her nostrils flared at the boy's familiarity, "Are you deadass .."
"What?" he said, tilting his head, his coiled curls brushing in his eyes, "You're the one staring at me."
"I was going to sit there-"
"Ah, ah ah, " He interjected clicking his tongue, shaking his index finger, "Going to... But I already am."
"You pushed me."
"You tripped on whatever air you allow between your feet to walk-"
Meleks cheeks flushed as she had a terrible habit of walking with her feet too close together. She dropped her shoulders then sighed with a huff and sat in front of him in the booth. She began unloading her book bag.
"Uh-"
"What?" She asked, very obviously pissed off, "It's a booth. Meant for two."
"Yeah-"
"Go upstairs for a single seat then, jackass."
The boy stared at her for a moment and laughed. Melek glanced at him as she took out her laptop.
"So you're ginger now?" He questioned, ignoring her outburst, leaning forward with his face pressed on his fist, "I like the red."
"I'm not a fucking ginger, it's cherry red."
"Still technically a redhead."
"This is a library. Shut up." Melek responded opening up her Red Bull. The crack of the carbonation echoed.
"You're telling me?" He mumbled with a small laugh.
Melek rolled her eyes, "You're the one who sat in a booth."
"You're the one who sat in MY booth." He shrugged
"I-" Melek stopped herself shutting her eyes and taking a breath, "See you're doing that thing again."
"What thing?" He asked with a tilt of his head.
Melek stared at him, longer than she usually did.
"His eyelashes are super long .." She thought to herself.
"The fuck you want a picture or something?" He asked furrowing his brows.
Meleks face heated up as she looked at her loading-up computer screen, "Yeah to show the cops when I place a fucking restraining order on you."
He laughed. He laughed in a way that made Melek smile to herself.
"Yeah, yeah." He mumbled grabbing his air pods from the table and placing one of them in his ears.
Her attention turned from the boy and to her computer where she opened up Office 365 to work on her essay that was due later that week. She began typing, switching from articles for reference in her essay. Her eyes began to hurt from the light from her screen; suddenly a small tap hit her shin. Her eyes looked up from her screen to see, Abdul, smiling from across the table. "How long had it been? an hour? An hour and a half? " Melek gave him a frown, the kind of frown that formed when you stopped yourself from smiling.
"What.." She managed to ask without breaking eye contact.
"Are you hungry?" He asked her with a tilt of her head.
Her ears perked up at the concept of food.
"Ooooo yum!" She cooed, "Um I'm in the mood for sushi or no, boba!"
"I don't care." He interjected.
Melek's jaw dropped, and her nostrils flared a little, "Welp."
"How's that shirt fitting you?" He asked squinting his eyes at her.
Melek gasped, "Did you just call me a fucking fat ass?"
"If the boot fits, Habibti." He shrugged his shoulders sliding out of the booth.
"Habibti? " Melek thought with a brief stinging in her chest.
"Says you, you fucking big back beluga whale." Melek cursed.
Abdul's head flew back as he laughed, his curls bouncing on his head, his full smile showed and Melek, again, found herself smiling back.
"Ay," He said patting the air, then pointing his finger in her face, "I don't know who you think-"
"You got an Atlanta highway between your shoulders," Melek interjected.
Abdul's jaw opened and his face gripped his mouth, "You're unreal."
Melek laughed at his reaction and he smiled back at her in a way he never had before.
"Wait do that again-" He said leaning towards her.
Melek felt that unfamiliar feeling in her chest and slightly backed her head away from him, "Do what?"
"Smile, smile how you just did," He said reaching at her face, "with your teeth."
Her face felt hot, "Did he notice I never smile with my teeth? "
"Go get your food, fatass."
"I didn't wanna see those concrete munchers anyway." He said standing up straighter.
"Die."
"What sushi and boba did you want?"
"Tai tea, and California rolls-"
"Don't care." He said walking away with a wave goodbye.
Melek flared her nostrils at his back with a shake of her head, "He's unbelievably annoying."
Melek rolled her eyes and continued writing her essay as she neared the conclusion paragraph she felt a cold bump on her head. She looked up to see Abdul holding a bag of Chic Fil A under his arm holding boba and balancing a package of California rolls on top. Meleks eyes widened as she stared at him.
"Are you gonna help me?" He huffed with a raise of his brow.
"Oh," Melek stammered, "Sorry."
She reached up and grabbed the sushi and boba from his hand and placed them by her computer.
"You fatass." He mumbled looking at her.
"Thank you .." Melek whispered staring at her drink.
"Thank you for what? That shit was like 12 bucks, you better cash app me."
Meleks face went hot, she grabbed at the collar of her shirt and shifted in her seat.
"Oh, yeah sor-"
"I'm joking," Abdul interjected, "Damn. The least I could do 'cause I stole your seat."
Melek stared at the boy sitting in front of her. She looked at the small gesture he offered and smiled as this was the first time anyone had ever gone out of their way to buy something for her.
...
authors note: hey chat I'm back
