HIM.

Late.

Excuse any errors, enjoy.

"This shirt is adorable. Look." I said holding it out for Kehlani to see.

"Yes, you gotta get it and let me style you." She smiled looking at it.

"Okay I'll get it." I smiled excitedly.

Today we went thrift shopping, I had never been but Kehlani got me hooked last weekend. I've been anxious to come back all week.

"Wanna go get smoothies after?" She asked looking through a rack of clothes.

"Yeah, I could really go for one."

We shopped some more before paying for our things and heading down the block to get smoothies.

"Soooooo, I need to know what happened that night with the dreamy dude." Kehlani said putting her straw in her cup.

"He was not dreamy, but okay I remember it perfectly."

"Watch ya step." Ahmad said as we walked through the grass near a lake.

I don't know how he knew this even existed, but it was really nice and I was enjoying the scenery.

"How'd you find this?" I asked as we sat down on the dock.

My cousin told me about it, I came one night to clear my head and it's been a habit ever since.

"Clear your head about what?"

"Just a lot of life shit. I be thinking so much."

"About what? if you don't mind me asking."

"Nah it's cool. I think about my future a lot, my parents and I just worry too much."

"Why your parents? Are they having issues?"

"Nah, they died."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I asked you that." I said instantly feeling terrible, looking down at my hands.

"It's cool. They actually got killed at a party. Some dude was mad at his wife and she was there with another man. He went crazy, killed like 6 people, including my parents."

"Wow, that's horrible."

"That was like 3 years ago. I lived with my grandma a while but she was getting older and I needed to be raised with a family so my aunt took me in. She loves me like her own."

"That's great. Are you happy?"

"Usually. Sometimes I get in really fucked up moods and can't get out for a minute. It's annoying."

"Like depression?"

"Nah, that's for white people. I just need to get closer to God."

I rolled my eyes. He was so close minded.

"Why you so quiet?" He asked looking over at me.

"Oh I'm just a little cold."

"We can get back in the car."

"Okay." I agreed then he helped me up.

We got in his car which was parked in the gravel near the lake. It felt warmer and smelled really clean.

"So what you got planned for the summer?" He asked leaning back in his seat.

"Nothing important. Just relaxing."

"You don't have to get a job?"

"No. My brother doesn't want me to."

"You do everything your brother tells you to huh?"

"N- well, yeah but because he's my brother. I'm supposed to."

"Did he tell you to leave me alone?"

"Well, kind of."

"Then what you doing here?" He said looking at me amused at my discomfort.

"I- umm."

"Nah don't answer that I'm fucking with you." He said laughing.

"Wow." I said rolling my eyes.

"You find me attractive?"

"Why?"

"I think you're very attractive."

"Thank you, I think you're cute."

"Yeah?"

"Yes Ahmad. Anything else?"

"Nah. I'll chill on you. You hungry?"

"Kind of."

"That's a yes." He smiled leaning up and starting the car.

We drove back to our neighborhood and to his Aunts house. I was so confused.

"I thought we were getting food." I said slowly taking my seatbelt off.

"We are, come on." He said unlocking the doors and getting out. 

He walked ahead of me and opened the door. It was pretty dim aside from a light in the distance of the room. We walked toward it and ended up in the kitchen, there was food on the stove and a sticky note on the fridge.

"My aunt says hi. She sleep now." He smiled taking the note off and putting it in the trash.

"She knows I'm here?"

"I told her I was with a female friend and she said she cooked so I should bring you over."

"That's sweet." I said taking my purse off my shoulder.

He made our plates and poured some juice and we sat at the island and ate. His aunt made chicken Alfredo, garlic bread and banana bread. I was in heaven.

"You alright?" I heard Ahmad ask randomly.

"Mhmm. This food is just amazing." I smiled embarrassed I had my eyes closed.

"Yeah my aunt can throw down."

We ate and he cleaned a little before I decided it was time for me to leave. I grabbed my purse and he walked me outside to the pathway between our houses.

"You okay?" He asked looking down at me as we stopped walking.

"Yeah why?"

"You're quiet. That's all."

"I'm fine. It's late I'm gonna head inside." I said pushing my hair back behind my shoulder.

"Okay cool. But Anila, I wanna see you again. If that's okay." He said looming over me now.

"That's fine with me."

"Alright, see you later."

I walked to my house and went inside. It was quiet as usual, Jace still hadn't called me but I texted his Bestfriend and he said he was "Good" so whatever. I showered and oiled down before climbing in bed to go to sleep. I looked over and saw that it was 4 AM. I don't think I've ever come in this late, ever. Not that it mattered.

As I rolled over to fall asleep my phone buzzed and I thought it was Jace but Ahmad's name came up. He had sent me a text message apparently.

"Hope you sleep well, see you soon 😉."

I smiled to myself and replied thanks with a smiley face before putting my phone on my nightstand and closing my eyes.

He was just a guy I met. The first guy crazy enough to pursue me after meeting me once, I wasn't complaining. I needed something new. But I wasn't even prepared for what I got.