Beautifully Painful

Part 6: Dry Like The Sahara

When you got home, your roommate, Jessie, was already there. She was sitting on her bunk with papers spread around her. She was nodding to some music that was playing on her headphones. She heard you click the heavy door shut and looked up. She smiled and nodded at you.

"Hey," You greet her.

"What's up?" She replies.

"Nothing much, but I am expecting a text from a boy in a while." You announce and set your heavy bag on the floor. You rub your sore shoulder.

She squeals and jumps up and down while sitting. "Girl, I am so happy for you! Hope it goes well. I'm gonna take a break from this," She gestures to the mess of papers. "And go do some laundry." She gets up and drags her overflowing basket out of the room and into the hall.

You check your missed notifications on your phone; nothing. You sigh and get out your laptop. You open PowerPoint to get started on your presentation. The subject was about the humanitarian crisis that continued in Yemen. You were excited, because putting together presentations were easy for you. You already finished the title page, and moved on to the next slide.

You were getting into why the crisis came to be when your phone beeped. Glancing over, you saw it was an unknown number. It had to be Trevor.

Unknown Number - Hello? This is Trevor btw... From the Café

You - Yeah, I remember lol

Trevor 🤔 - So,

You - so.

Trevor🤔 - wyd?

"Jesus, this conversation is about to be hella dry," You say under your breath. Jessie hears you and laughs from her bed under you.

You - Nothing much, wbu

Trevor🤔 - same

You - k...  Im getting bored 🙄

Trevor🤔 - O

You scoff and don't reply. After tossing your phone onto your pillow you direct your attention back to your laptop. He doesn't text back.

"I'm gonna take a shower," You inform Jessie. You climb down from your bed and grab your caddie that's filled with all of your hygienic needs.

In the shower, you think about Jae. You hoped she understood what you meant. You were thinking about all of the ways that conversation could've been better. You also thought about how the whole situation at the party last week could've gone differently. You could've beat that girl's ass. But for what? Jae especially wouldn't appreciate that.

You lotion up and put on your shorts and tank top. For your hair, you section it into four, and bind the roots loosely; to stretch your curls. You finish off the look with your trusty satin bonnet. After that, you wash your face with African Black Soap and spread some cocoa butter all over. Lastly, you brush your teeth.

You unlock your dorm room and step in. Jessie already has her bonnet on too.

"Yo, your boy is blowing up your phone." She informs you.

"He's boring as fuck." You shrug and take your time setting all your stuff in the correct place.

"How so?" Her eyes don't leave her phone. Jessie runs a pro-black spam account on Instagram. She has bright orange hair that she dyed. Pretty hair too; type four. She's the president of the university BSU, and is proud of it. Her wall is filled with pro-black quotes and posters.

"Lemme show you." You step up and get your phone and show her the texts–old and new.

"Girl," She's smiling really big. "He wants to take you out."

"Ehhh..." You drone.

"He says that he would prefer to get to know you better in person."

"Oh really?" You tilt your head.

"Yeah, he said at this restaurant on Roberts Street. Friday night at seven-thirty." She gasps. "Which is tomorrow, by the way."

"I don't know..." You trail off as you put on Carmex.

Jessie is already typing.

"Jessie!" You get up from your desk as fast as you can to get your phone before she presses send.

You hear the swoop sound.

"Too late," Jessie laughs. "Y/N, it's not gonna be that bad, I swear. I'll help you pick out an outfit and everything!"

"Okay," You agree. "One date isn't going to do anything." You sit on Jessie's bed and cross your legs.

"Now, tell me about him–what's his name?" She says dreamily.

"It's Trevor..." You reply.

"Like Hillary's fiancé off The Fresh Prince?" She quips.

"Yup," You nod.

"Okay... What's he look like?"

"He's white, with brown hair. He looks pretty basic to be honest." You shrug.

"He's what?" Her eyes get at least three times bigger.

"He's white." You state.

"Girl, watch, you're about to be fetishized." She warns.

"Girl please!" You exclaim and laugh.