Living For Tomorrow

Prologue • Dreams

Nuriel's POV

If smiles were worth money, I'd be a millionaire. Sitting underneath an aquarium watching all my favorite sea animals swim above me was an absolute dream. My light bronze skin complexion shined in the light as a sea turtle swam above me in circles playing with a baby of it's species. The glass aquarium had cased the small room in with water and inside with the animals were different types of coral reefs. My favorite one had been a deep midnight blue with highlights of turquoise hidden throughout the entire reef. Many tiny colorful fish swam through the reef as a clown fish that resembled Nemo would slowly swim out only to quickly go back in when it's eyes found mine.

The tickling of a thick beard on my stomach was what had broken my happy place although. "Nuri, I gotta go ma. Syven is callin' and knowing her it's something about our baby." Squinting my eyes as my ears picked up on the last two words of his sentence, I nodded trying play as if I weren't bothered.

Syven- such a stupid name, one that created a deep hatred in me, one that reminded me the TJai I knew and loved would always belong to another. TJai for you although, was carefree and that demeanor caused him a lot of problems Syven included, but he loved his daughter a lot. TJai was just indescribable, his looks were amazing and his personality was great. Being in love with him was so cliché, from our friendship, to our unspoken love, TJai was a cliché I couldn't get tired of. His toffee colored skin went perfect with the brown eyes he held, his smile- when he smiled, was everything a woman could dream of, and his beard- the lumberjack look on him was a weakness to even Michelle Obama.

Sitting up some so that I was supported by my elbows, I looked at a sea turtle and tried pretending the creature held my attention as like before. "Okay, bye. Lock my door when you leave too." Turning my head as I sheepishly looked at TJai waiting for a reaction from the attitude I had given I wished I could have kept my mouth closed.

A deep laugh came from his mouth surrounded by soft pink lips as he slowly stood up. "Nuri, girl don't forget who bought this shit. I'll be back tonight. Syven just need me to go turn the alarm on and to make-

"-Make sure Mahkayla hear yo' voice before she go to bed. Man go TJai I'll call Kyle and have him come look at the fishy fish with me." Standing to my feet as I came a head shorter than TJai I pushed him towards the door as he smirked down at me. "Go say goodnight to your daughter and tell Syven I said hey. Go." Opening the door, TJai quickly shut it back.

Turning around so that his blue joggers rubbed my stomach he looked down at me, "no kisses now? Damn so Kyle the only nigga good enough for yo' lips, I'm gon' have to get rid of him then ain't I?" Laughing with TJay as he leaned down to kiss my forehead, I gave his left eye a peck.

"Now go before Eight- I mean Syven start calling again. Love you Tanajai, now be safe and make sure you call before you barge in." Smiling softly as my mind zoned out, into a world where TJai was going to get me something for our baby and Syven was just his best friend- that world held a lot more promises than this, but it was just a dream I had to bury deep.

TJai opened the door again and held a hand out, looking down was the usual stack of about twenty, fifty-dollar bills he left me with for whenever he knew for certain he wouldn't be back for at least a day. Smacking my lips I snatched the money, "TJai you just said you were coming back tonight. You know what bye, don't come back and I hope you lose yo' next game." Rolling my eyes as TJai took the money back, I already knew what was coming next.

TJai was stalling, he didn't want to leave, but he had too. A con to having an NBA star as your best friend, you never really knew when you would be able to actually hang out. "Nuriel we going there tonight? You know you can't be cheering for the other team especially on my sidelines. Defeats the person of you being on my side, duhhh. But seriously ma, I promise this time I'll be back tonight. Just me giving you that take a lot off my conscious. Let me know you got some type of security in case I gotta get goofy on a nigga." TJai finished his sentence in a pose where his left hand was pulled back and his right arm was squared to a ninety degree angle, his hips were cocked and he had the audacity to poof his cheeks out.

Laughing loudly I pushed him out of the open door, "Tanajai, money don't keep me safe you and Kyle ugly asses do that, besides I can't cheer for you tomorrow Lakers playing. I gotta say bye to Charlie, a great retiring. Love you big head now go." Shutting the door before he could reply I smiled as I watched the clown fish finally come out.

Top is Nuri and TJai