Habibet Albi (Incomplete)

Chapter 7: No Scrubs

A WEEK HAD passed since Phoenix last spoke or saw Hakeem. She had to fight the incessant creeping urge to call him and apologize. She would've apologized for making him feel like she was trying to replace Mom. That was never her intention. She loved him so much she just wanted him to stay out of trouble and succeed in life. She wanted to know that when she went to sleep at night he was in the room next to hers. His absence caused her insomnia. The most sleep she got was last night and that's because she took Nyquil to force her to sleep.

"So about last week with Malik? Did you study his ceiling?" Jose broke the silence while he scrubbed the inside of the bathtub.

Phoenix scowled, "No I didn't sleep with him. Why would you think I'd split for his banana? That'd be presumptuous." She sounded offended at such an accusation.

Jose rolled his eyes, "Because you've got him wrapped around your finger. You might as well put sex on the table or preferably he put you on the table."

"Why is it so unfathomable for you to believe that a girl and a guy can be friends? I mean look at us." She tried to defend her case. She sprayed the mirrors above the sink with glass cleaner then wiped it with a cloth.

Jose threw his head back and laughed. "That's completely different. I wouldn't develop feelings for you unless you suddenly grow a dick then... maybe. A girl and a guy cannot be friends without one of them being attracted to the other. The only reason he's friends with you is because secretly he wants to fuck you. " Jose explained like this was all information she should have acquired by now.

Phoenix considered the possibility. The idea of Malik surreptitiously wanting to engage in coitus wasn't that far fetched. Knowing that he may be sexually attracted to her made her stomach somersault in discomfort. Later this afternoon when she sees him she planned on telling him that they were strictly friends. No strings attached or friends with benefits bullshit. Her focus was elsewhere not trained on some troublesome guy who'd create more conflicts than solutions. After all the shit Justin did she didn't have the exertion, paitence, or possess even a teaspoon of willingless to let her guard down and allow someone in to potentially take advantage of her again.

"Yeah but I doubt it. He is a very active guy he's too occupied to be distracted by me." She argued.

"Mluts like him love a challenge." He added.

"Mluts?" Phoenix echoed in bewilderment.

"Men sluts, duh."

"I'm not gonna judge him for his..." she struggled to find an appropriate adjective, "lifestyle even though I disagree with it."

"Yeah I'm sure your raging feminist self unquestionably condones his objectifying behavior." Jose muttered.

Phoenix tossed the cloth into a bucket. Her hands molded onto her wide hips. "How is it any of my concern what he does with other women? I'm not saying he should win the damn Nobel peace prize or anything! It's not like the women he goes after don't know what they're getting themselves into! He radiates with commitment issues and fear of intimacy!" Phoenix's vehement voice rose gradually as she spoke in frustration. Whenever anyone accused her of being an inadequate feminist or humanitarian she became defensive and passionate. Her arms were flailing around like a bird flapping its wings.

"So you agree with what he's doing?" Jose smirked.

She shook her head, making her curls bounce. "I don't care what he does in his free time. Now can we please discuss anything else?" She pleaded desperately.

"Alright, relax Fro. But when is that whatever it's called your going to with him?" He inquired changing the topic slightly, yet remaining on Malik.