That's South Side

Chapter 4

"Hey, Alinea!" Her boss startled her, running through her door.

"Uh, Jerry." She nodded, "What's up?"

"Thanks for coming again," He thanked her as she just gave back a small smile, "Can I ask one more thing of you?" He asked, with a laugh.

"Uhhh, Jerry!" She joked, "You're killin me!" She laughed, turning away from her computer, "What?"

"I'm going out of town Monday," He sighed, "Can you handle it for me for a week?" He questioned.

"Uh, yeah." Alinea nodded. It was chaotic when Jerry was gone. She went from doing the little things to doing all of the big things, and it always freaked her out, "I can do it." She sighed.

"You know what to do." He gave her a reassuring smile, "You'll be fine." He said, heading towards the door.

"No promises!" She laughed as he shook his head on the way out.

Alinea shook her head as she saw the clock run out the last hour of her Friday. She could not wait to go home and have a relaxing weekend. Packing up all her stuff as soon as it turned 6, she locked her office and looked out on the practice court to see a couple guys packing up stuff of their own. She nodded to herself and kept going down the hall to head towards the stairs.

"Alinea!" She heard a voice call for her from the court, she made her way down the last few steps to see Taj.

"Hey!" She smiled, walking closer to the side of the court as he walked towards her.

"You leavin?" He asked, with a cheeky grin.

"Yeah," She sighed, readjusting her bag over her shoulder, "Long day." She nodded, as he laughed, "You almost outta here?"

"Yeah, just a few more shots." He nodded, turning back to see Jimmy and Robin Lopez still going at it, "Uh, listen." He began, avoiding eye contact with her, "You busy tonight?" he blurted.

"Depends." She shrugged, with a grin.

"Well we're all gonna go out tonight, to Primary." He said, referencing a nightclub that was downtown, "You should come."

"Really?" She asked giving him an unconvinced look, as her eyes met Jimmy's for a second, "I don't anyone wants to see me there."

"Nah, c'mon." He persisted, "You're liked more than you think." He persuaded, "And Jimmy? Fuck him." He joked, as Alinea raised her eyebrows in surprise, "It's not up to him if you come or not."

"Okay, maybe." Alinea implied. She didn't have too much going on tonight, maybe she should go out to take on the stressful week that was coming for her.

"Here," Taj said, handing over his phone, "Gimme your number and I'll text you." He offered.

"Okay." Alinea nodded, taking the phone in her hands and typing in her contact, "I'll let you know."

"Good." He grinned, walking backwards towards the other two.

"See ya." She shook her head, walking to the exit.

"What was that all about?" Robin questioned curiously, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Nothin." Taj smiled, "I was just inviting her out with us tonight."

"You invited her to Primary?" Jimmy asked, forcing an eyeroll.

"Chill man," Taj shook his head, "First off, she didn't even say if she was comin for sure." He said, grabbing his bag, "And even if she does, you don't gotta talk to her. God knows she doesn't wanna talk to you." He teased.