Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Trayvon finally texted me back with a solid plan.
Trayvon: So I was thinking how you feel about this little mini arcade spot downtown Chicago? It's lowkey, not too loud, but still fun. We could hit that after school Friday if you're down.
I smiled before I even finished reading it.
Me: That sounds dope actually. I'm free Friday so it works perfect.
Trayvon: Bet. I'll scoop you after school then, unless you wanna meet there?
Me: Nah, scooping works. I'll just tell my parents I'm hanging out with someone from school lol.
He liked the message and sent back a thumbs up emoji, followed by I'll send the location later just in case.
I tossed my phone on the bed and leaned back, eyes on the ceiling. That warm, fluttery feeling hit my chest again. Not nerves exactly, but something close. Excitement maybe. Or just hope.
But then, reality crept in like it always does. What if they ask who I'm going out with? What if I say his name and they ask how old is he? And I have to say he's 22, and suddenly the mood shifts. Trayvon's got tattoos covering his arms, a few creeping up his neck. He's taller than me and has those dreads with the blond tips that make him look like he walked out of a music video.
When me and Felix got our tattoos, they weren't very happy about that at all.
Would they see him as a bad influence? Would they start asking questions I don't even know how to answer yet?
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. Maybe I was getting ahead of myself. It's just a hangout. A second one. That's all.
Before I could spiral further, my bedroom door creaked open. I didn't even have to look up to know it was Zarina. She always walks into rooms like she owns the place.
"Hey," she said, flopping onto the edge of my bed without waiting for an invite. Genesis came in next, laptop under one arm, then Felix, closing the door behind him like this was some kind of meeting.
I sat up. "Well damn. What is this, an intervention?"
"Relax," Zarina smirked. "We just wanted to give you the update."
"On?" I asked, even though I already knew.
Genesis settled at my desk chair and opened her laptop. "We talked to Mom and Dad about the whole Felix situation."
Felix folded his arms and leaned against the wall, his face unreadable.
"How'd it go?" I asked, glancing at him.
"Better than expected," Zarina said. "Mom wasn't thrilled obviously, and Dad was just kind of...dad about it. You know, hit him with the whole 'as long as it doesn't affect your future' talk."
