The Girl Next Door || J. Cole & Taraji P. Henson

T w e l v e

Taraji -

The next morning after my shower, and doing my hair. I got dressed, grabbed my backpack and my schedule and headed out the door.

I looked down at my schedule and saw that I was supposed to be in the beginning of Drama 101. Room Y29 in the Y building. I started walking towards that direction but everything started looking confusing.

"Yo ma, you looked like you confused? You need help?" A fine dark skinned brother asked as he approached me. He was so damn gorgeous. He was glowing as he stood before me in the bright sunlight.

He looked like a Hershey's chocolate bar because his skin was damn sure glistening with perfection. The type of perfection that made your mouth water with satisfaction.

"My names Winston," he smiled as he extended his hand for me to shake.

"Taraji," I smiled as I shook his hand.

"Hope," he smiled. I gave him a weird look and he smiled at me.

"Your name in Swahili it means hope," he smirked.

"Aw yeah," I giggled like a little school girl.

"My cousins name is Taraji majority of the girls in my family has some type of African name and it has a beautiful meaning which fits them," he smiled.

I turned my head blushing and he chuckled. "Come on let me take you to class," he said going in another direction. I thought about it first right before I followed him.

After a ten minute block we stood in front of my classroom. I didn't trust him at first he looked like he would took all my goodies,
But shit the way he was looking I woulda let his fine ass have them.

"Thanks so much Winston," I smiled.

"You welcome, I'll be seeing you," he smiled right before walking off. I smiled and walked inside my classroom.

Jermaine-

"Yo bruh, you heard from Taraji lately?" Aubrey asked as we began to walk inside my new apartment. Well I hadn't purchased it yet, but I needed my homie with me to check things out.

It was a one bedroom apartment, right near the studio, and Across the street from NT community college.

I had being thinking about going and getting my associates in Music Production. I been thinking and thinking, I had to do something with my life.

"Man she was supposed to call me back last night but I guess my baby fell asleep, she probably in class right now, I was gone call her but I'm gone wait until she call me, I ain't trying to be that nagging boyfriend you feel me," I replied.

"I hear you, I'm the same with Nicki, she got a new job and everything but I feel like her manager be flirting with her she say he just being friendly but man I caught that nigga looking at her ass too many times for it to just be friendly, but I ain't gone trip I'm gone give her the benefit of the doubt," Aub replied.

"Man, ion know if Taraji found a new dude or started talking to somebody else I would be hurt as fuck, but I ain't gone trip over it long, I mean we ain't married and I ain't trying to hold her down," I replied.

"I feel you, so you trying to perform at the Roc Center Friday night?" He asked.

"Man I don't even know, Taraji supposed to come home this weekend, if she come we can go watch a movie and then go to the performance, whatever I plan on doing I just wanna do it with her you feel me,"

"I feel you bro but aye this a nice spot, you got a nice view of the city bro, when Taraji get back y'all gone be making hella babies up in here," he said as we both fell out laughing.

"Hopefully man but not too soon," I laughed.

"Iight bro I gotta go pick Nicki up from work," he said as we gave each other dap.

"Iight bro," I replied. After buying and signing my contracts Me and Mama Bernice went to go look for furniture. I couldn't wait until Friday, I wanted Taraji to by first house guest.

Taraji -

I fell over laughing at yet another joke Winston was telling me he was so funny, and very kind. He was a different breed, from what I had been around. He understood me, he was a good friend, being with him made me miss Jermaine a lot.

I missed his more than anything, and every second of the day I thought about him, I thought about us. I really wished he could of came to school with me.

"Taraji Are you okay?" Winston asked snapping me from my thoughts.

"Yes why why would you ask me that?" I asked confused.

"You were just laughing and now you're staring into space is everything okay?" He asked.

"Yes I'm so sorry I'm fine I- I was just thinking about someone, ah I need to go," I replied.

"Okay alright well I'll see you later?" He smiled.

"Yeah," I smiled before walking off to my dorm room. I was glad that my roommate wasn't there. After showering, tying up my hair and getting relaxed, I pulled out my phone and called Jermaine, I missed him and I needed to hear his voice.

"Wassup baby?" He said answering on the first ring.

"Missing you like crazy," I pouted as I stared at the picture of me and him on my night stand.

"I miss you too," Jermaine said as he rolled over staring at the same picture on his night stand.

"So I got my new place," he said smiling.

"You did, OH my God! Baby I can't wait to see it," I smiled.

"You will Friday when you come home I want you to be my first guest," he replied.

"Okay, I would like that," I smiled.
We stayed up on the phone all night talking and laughing, I missed being around him and hearing his goofy laugh. I wished like hell I was laid up with him playing his hair.

"Baby it's getting late and I have a 8:00 class in this morning," I yarned as I looked over at the alarm clock which read 12:35am.

"Okay baby, But I don't want you to go," he whined.

"I don't wanna go either," I giggled as I got comfortable under the covers.

"Mm give me a kiss," he smirked.

I laughed right before giving him a kiss through the phone.

"Iight I love you," he replied while giving me a kiss back.

"I love you too, now you hang up," I giggled.

"Nah man you hang up," he laughed.

"Okay let's hang up together," I replied.

"Alright, one," he said.

"Two," I replied.

"Three," he said. We both started laughing because neither one of us hung up. "Baby," I giggled.

"Come on baby lets fall asleep on the phone together I don't wanna hang up," he whined.

"Okay baby, tomorrow I wanna face time so I can see you sexy," I giggled.

"Girl you better stop," he laughed I knew he was blushing. I laughed right before turning over and falling right to sleep.