The Apartment

6

Aaliyah

"I don't know. It was just weird." I tried to explain as I grilled jumbo shrimp.

Qiana looked up from icing her Oreo cake.

"You keep saying that. Weird how?" She pressed.

I moved the shrimp into the Alfredo sauce as I sighed.

"I'm pretty sure his family hates him." I revealed.

"What? Why?" Qi gasped.

I glared at her.

"I don't know, why don't I ask him?" I replied sarcastically.

"Why don't you?" She questioned seriously despite my tone.

I looked back to plating the pasta.

"I mean it was our first date . . . That's none of my business."

"Well, in my head, he knew that his family has problems with him. He shouldn't have brought you there." Qi said.

"I agree with Qiana."

My head snapped up to find Kareem giving me a worried look. His arms were crossed over his bare chest as frowned at our conversation.

"How much do you want?" I asked, ignoring his previous statement.

"Qi, you mind if I talk to Liyah real quick?"

"No, I'm done anyway."

She quickly put the cake in fridge and left the kitchen.

"I don't think you should hang around this guy."

"Not right now, Kareem." I groaned. "We went on one date. Plus I have yet to ask him what it was about."

"Why you ain't ask him on your run?"

"He wasn't there."

It was quiet.

"I'm not gonna force you to cut this guy off . . . yet." He told me. "But make sure he ain't on some slick shit or I will have to deal with him."

With that, he took the plate with the most pasta and retreated to the living room.

***

"I need to talk to you."

Jerome smiled up at me. "What about, pretty lady?"

"Our date."

"Did you not enjoy yourself?" He frowned.

"For the most part I did." I reassured him. "But I was wondering if there were problems between you and your family?"

He stared at me wide eyed. To his luck the lab instructor started class at that moment. He let out an audible breath of relief. I could tell he wasn't ready to answer that question and when he did, I wouldn't like it.

When class was over he explained that his family didn't like the career he was going into. They were family full of doctors and he was opting to be a nurse.

He wasn't telling me the entire truth.

Kareem

Basketball practice was over, but I stayed after to work on my three pointers. "KP3" was my nickname. I was known for my 3 pointers it got me a lot of attention and why I got a full ride here. That and my crossovers.

I also needed time to think. I've been debating on weather I should enter the draft or finish school. Either I stay and finish the year that I have or I enter the draft. But if I enter the draft I jeopardize affording coming back to school. Well I could ask my dad . . . Nah, fuck that.