Redemption Song

Giving In

Marlei

I ran my hands through my hair while scrolling through my phone, taking notes.
Today I was spending my whole day studying for my promotion exam.
I was honestly surprised that they wanted to promote me so quickly but I was also happy.
More money in my pocket.
I sighed and decided to take a break from studying and grab a bite.
I slipped on my slides and grabbed my car keys before heading out the door and locking it behind myself.

"Hey, how you doing?" I smiled to one of my neighbors, an elderly white woman.

She rolled her eyes at me and mumbled something under her breath.
I chuckled and proceeded to my car, deciding on going to taco bell for lunch.

Once I finally got my food and headed back home I sat on my porch and dug into my bag.

"Damn, none for me shawt?" I heard a somewhat familiar voice say.

I playfully rolled my eyes and glared at him before biting into my steak quesadilla.

"Nope" I smiled, wiping the corner of my mouth with a napkin.

I watched as he jogged up the couple of steps to my porch.

"Wasup witcha Marlei?" He smiled down at me.

"Nothing, eating then bout to finish studying." I replied.

He glanced down at the chair next to me and I nodded my head.
I watched him take a seat next to me as I continued eating my food.

"For what?" He asked after a few moments of silence.

"Hmm?" I asked in confusion.

"You said you was studying.. For what?"

I swallowed the last of my food that was in my mouth and looked over at him.

"I'm being considered for a promotion. There's an exam I have to take and pass first though."

He nodded and bit his bottom lip.

"Still waiting on that call or text tho shawt"

"... Well, keep waiting." I replied.

He laughed loudly. "You cold Lil bih"

I couldn't help but to laugh along with him.
We sat outside talking about nothing in particular for a few hours before I headed in the house to finish, after agreeing to go out with him tonight.

-----

Once 9 o'clock came around, I got in the shower and straightened my hair.
He hadn't told me where we were going so I didn't really know what to wear.
I roamed around the house in my bra and panties for a few minutes before being interrupted by my text message notification on my phone.

Chad
Wear something comfortable
9:23pm

I smirked and decided on some shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals. I put my hair up in a ponytail and brushed my teeth.
I sat for a few minutes with this undescribable feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I jumped up when I heard my doorbell ring.

"You look pretty" he smiled soon as his eyes landed on me.

"Thanks" I smiled back.

"Well, we should be going" he held his hand out for me.

I glanced up at him briefly before lightly taking his hand. He smiled brightly and we headed towards his car.

The ride in the car was quiet but not awkward. I watched our surroundings pass us by as he drove to wherever we were going.

"Chad?" I asked, looking over at him.

"Hmm?" He responded, not taking his eyes off the road.

"Where are we going? We been driving for awhile now"

He chuckled lightly and bit his lip.

"Well, if you haven't noticed Miss Marlei. We kinda live in the country. Everywhere takes awhile to get to."

"Yeah, I shoulda moved to Atlanta or something instead" I joked.

He shook his head as he slowed down to the highway exit.
A few more minutes later we arrived at an arcade place.
He parked the car before exiting and jogging over to my side of the car. He opened the door for me and I took his hand, exiting out.

"Thanks, I'm glad you didn't take me to some lame place" I smiled up at him.

"Of course not" he smiled back.

We entered the arcade and went up to the desk to pay for our tokens and decided on playing a few racing games first.
He let me win the first few games until I told him not to let me win.
Then he started kicking my ass.

After a few hours of having fun we went to the food area and ordered something to eat.

"Watchu want shawt?" He asked, looking down at me.

"Pizza and cheese fries with a lemonade please"

He ordered our food, getting the same thing as me and we found a booth to sit in while we waited on our order to be called.

Once they finally called our order he got up to get our food and sat across from me.

"So, tell me more about yourself Chad" I said to him, popping a fry in my mouth.

He smiled small, before licking his lips.

"Hmm, I'm 25. Favorite colors red and black. Work for a moving company... Um, what else you wanna know?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I'm not good at this dating thing" I laughed.

He smiled his cute smile.

"You callin this a date?"

I chuckled nervously. And shrugged my shoulders again. I wasn't exactly sure what to call this. I was attracted to him but I wasn't going to move fast.
I had just gotten out of a terrible relationship after 3 years.

He smiled at me and we sat in a comfortable silence while we ate our food.
After we were done he took care of our trash and we both washed our hands.

"You wanna play more or you ready to leave?" He asked me.

"Im getting kinda tired to be honest. We can go"

He nodded and we exited the building.

--
When we got back to our neighborhood he opened the door for me and I stepped out.
We were in front of his house.

"Ima walk you home"

I smiled and he grabbed my hand, leading the way to my house.
It was dark outside and seemed to only be him and I out.
When we made it to my front door, I stopped and faced him.

"Thanks, I had a lot of fun"

"Maybe we can hang out again?" He asked, sounding hopeful.

I smiled back "Yeah, we can."

I turned to walk away and he stopped me, grabbing my hand gently. I looked at him and he pulled me into a warm hug.
I inhaled his scent and he smelled wonderful.
He pulled back some and looked down at me, licking his pink lips.

"Night Marlei"

"Night Chad" I replied, staring up at him.

He let me go and waited until I was in the house before walking off.
I sighed and laid on my couch.
There was something I liked about him and it kinda scared me that I liked him so much without even hardly knowing him.

After a few moments I found myself drifting off to sleep with him on my mind.