Nariah L. Jones|17| Location|Ramiyahs and Dalaynes house|
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2 weeks later
It was way past three in the morning, and the whole room had that stillness you only get when the world's asleep. Just the low hum of music from my phone and the scratch of our pencils against the paper.
Dalayne was right next to me, leaning close, with her bonet and lace band on since she just got an install. She kept inching over, her knee brushing against mine every few seconds.
Im not gonna lieee, I liked it. Felt like she was claimin' her spot right beside me, like she knew she belonged here.
She leaned over, squinting at my drawing. "Baby, that's looks so good" one thing Ive learned about Dalayne is she's actually a sweet heart.
She shifted even closer, and before I knew it, her head was resting on my shoulder, her arm slidin' around mine like it belonged there. Her skin was warm, breath soft against me, and I could feel her heartbeat, steady as anything. I leaned over, just a little, and pressed a kiss on her cheek.
Her eyes flicked up to mine, this little smirk on her lips, and I could feel my face heat up. She gave my hand a squeeze, and just sat there with me, quiet and close. The kinda moment that sneaks up on you, making you realize you been waitin' for somethin' like this for a long time.
After a while, she broke the silence. "So, when you hittin' the studio? Your brother... he'd want you goin' after it, right?"
I swallowed, feelin' my nerves creep up. "Yeah... he wanted it more than anything." I paused, feeling my voice catch. "It's just... big, you know? All this pressure, like if I mess it up, it's all on me."
She kept her eyes on me, her face soft, listenin' like she really cared. "Girl, you got this. Ain't no one can do it like you. And if you slip? So what? You get back up. I'll be right there with you."
That hit deep, her words sinkin' into me, warm and solid. I turned to look at her, feeling something real heavy in my chest but also light, like she was right there steadyin' me. "So... you'd come to the studio with me?"
She grinned, giving me this cocky little nod. "Hell yeah. Probably mess around and distract you, but I'd be there."
We both laughed, and she squeezed my hand a little tighter. Felt like she wasn't just holdin' my hand; she was holdin' all my worries, all my fears.
We fell into a rhythm, switching between talkin' and just chillin' with our pencils and paints. At one point, she started tellin' stories about her art teacher, how they used to push her to do everything their way, how she'd always sneak in her own style.
"So you was a troublemaker even then?" I teased, nudging her shoulder.
She smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, you know you like that, though. Don't front."
I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the smile. She just had this energy, always pullin' me in, makin' everything feel... right. Ain't nobody else ever got me like this, made me feel like they understood even without words.
As we sat there, her hand still in mine, her laughter echoing through the room, I just felt... home. Like maybe I'd finally found what I'd been needin' all along. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was early, still dark outside, and Dalayne was knocked out, her head resting on my shoulder, one leg draped over mine. She looked peaceful—like she didn't have a care in the world.
But just as I was drifting back to sleep, her phone started buzzing on the nightstand, shaking the whole table with its vibration. I ignored it at first, thinking it would stop. But it didn't. Kept buzzing like it had something to say.
When I glanced over, I felt my stomach twist. Her screen lit up with a name that had my blood boiling in seconds.
**Hoe#9.**
It took me a second to process. I thought this shit was over now. I grabbed the phone, clicked "Answer," and held it up to my ear.
"Hello?" I kept my voice low, but there was no hiding the attitude creeping in.
A voice on the other end, way too perky for this hour, went, "Oh, Dalayne! Took you long enough, girl. Thought you was tryna dodge me."
I clenched my jaw, took a deep breath. "Dalayne's sleep," I said, my voice dripping with a warning. "But if you got somethin' to say, go ahead."
There was a pause, and I could practically hear her recalibrating. "And who's this?" Her tone switched up real quick, going from flirty to defensive.
"Who am I?" I scoffed, tightening my grip on the phone. "I'm the girl she's layin' with right now. So you tell me, who the hell are you?"
"Oh, that's cute," she sneered. "You must be one of her little flings. Honey, Dalayne don't belong to nobody. She got her roster, and you just another name on the list."
I felt that like a slap, my chest tightening up. But I wasn't about to let her see me fold. "I know you ain't talkin' about rosters when you sittin' here labeled as **Hoe#9** on her phone," I shot back. "Look like she got you on rotation just like the rest."
If she was gone be on the roster she could've at least been top 5.
"Listen," she snapped, "Dalayne don't owe you or anybody nothin'. She free to do what she wants. So maybe you should worry about yourself instead of tryna act all special."
The nerve. "I don't need to act special, 'cause I am. Now, if you so secure, why you blowin' up her phone at 5 a.m., huh?"
She laughed, and I could feel the bitterness in it. "You think you know her, huh? Think she's different with you? Girl, I been around longer than you even know. You're just next in line. But hey, play your part."
Just then, Dalayne stirred beside me, her hand moving over my waist, and her eyes cracked open, looking up at me in confusion. She reached for the phone, realizing what was going down.
"Dalayne, care to explain?" I kept my voice level but icy, meeting her gaze with a look that could slice steel.
She sighed, running a hand over her face. "Nariah, let me—"
"Nah, don't 'Nariah' me," I snapped, my voice rising. "You got **Hoe#9** on your phone blowin' up at this hour, and I'm just supposed to let it slide again, after everything you said?"
Dalayne looked away, guilt flickering across her face, but that defensive edge creeping in, too. "It's not even like that," she muttered. "She's just... I don't even mess with her like that."
"Then why she feel bold enough to call you this early? Huh? Like she know her place?" I was getting louder, couldn't stop myself even if I wanted to.
"Look, you answerin' my phone like you own me," she said, her tone sharpening. "I don't even know why you trippin'. You knew what it was."
"What it was?" I repeated, my voice dropping, each word like a punch. "Nah, I didn't know I was signing up to be one out of a whole damn lineup."
Am I tripping or was she just saying how she wanted us to be serious and what not.
"Yes what it was, just play your damn part" I sat there in disbelief just looking at her thinking about if I should let my demons win and beat the shit outta this grimy ass bitch or just leave.
Imma just leave, I looked at her knodded my head and left. Im really done this time.
