Something About Him

-35-

Layla Wilkes

It's finally winter break and to say that I'm happy would be an understatement.

Two whole weeks with no school and thankfully they didn't give us any homework to do which is probably because we're seniors now. We've spent multiple years of our lives doing school work including on breaks like this one, so it kind of was only right that they would be at least a little clement on us this time around.

"This break is about to be everything. I already know," Chris effuses as we walk to his car together.

"Your parents are serious about letting you stay home alone all week?" I ask. "Cause that doesn't sound right, Chris."

"I thought the same thing, but they really are going to Denver and since Jay and Brandon gon' be in town, I told my mom and she said as long as one of them is at the house with me, I can stay home," he explains. "But ain't no way Imma deal with both of them niggas for the whole week. We can chill most of the time, but I can't deal with them day in and day out for all that time."

I laugh a little bit in response and agree. "The fact that they're always at each other's throats makes it no better either."

"To be honest..." Chris trails off as we both walk to opposite sides of his Jeep. Once we both get in, he looks over towards me.

"Where we heading?" Chris looks my way and I shrug my shoulder.

Once again, I just wanna be around him, so I simply tell him, "It doesn't matter."

"Uh..." He twists his lips to the side as his eyes drift off. He's probably thinking.

"Let's go to the movies," I suggest.

"Oh yeah, we could. You know what's out right now?"

"Not really, but I wanna see Neighbors 2," I tell him. I saw the preview on TV a bunch of times and it looks like it's hilarious.

"There's a second one coming out already?" He raises an eyebrow at me. "I still haven't seen the first one."

"What?" I immediately respond.

It's been out for over a year now and it's a good movie. He's gotta see it.

"Baby you gotta see it," I chuckle.

"Well shit, we could go chill at my house right now and watch it and then maybe tomorrow go and see the second one."

"Right now? Are your parents home??" I ask out of curiosity. I mean, I don't mind meeting them, but if it is gonna happen like.. now, I wanna be aware and sorta prepared.

"Probably. I can call and find out where they at," Chris offers. "If you not ready to meet 'em today I'm not gonna force you."

"No, no, it's fine," I assure him. "You literally met my parents on the spot with like no warning and I'm actually good at speaking to new people. Let's go to your house."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm positive. C'mon."

"Aight then," Chris then picks his aux cord up from where it was scrunched inside one of the cup holders. "Here. Play something," he tells me while holding the cord out for me to take.

After that, he starts the car and then heads in the direction that we both take to get home from school. Not long after we get off of the freeway, Chris heads in a different direction than I take to get home to get to his own house, but before we make it there, we stop at 7/11 of course.

We end up leaving with a bunch of snacks and two Sprites and once he starts driving again, we get to Chris' house in no time.

Pulling up, Chris parks his car in the driveway and then looks over towards me.