Habibet Albi (Incomplete)

Chapter 12: Losing Control

PHOENIX WAS IN the shower singing along to "How Will I know" by Whitney Houston.

"How will I know if he really loves me? I say a prayer with every heartbeat. I fall in love whenever we meet. I'm asking you what you know about these things." She sang into the toothbrush.

"When will you be done in there? I bet the Egyptians constructed the pyramid faster than this." Malik complained.

Phoenix dropped the toothbrush out of surprise and slipped over the bar of soap. As she fell, reflexively her hands reached out to grip anything to catch herself. The only thing she grabbed was the shower curtain. It collapsed on top of her along with the metal rod. She let out a shriek and squeezed her eyes shut when it came down at her, her hands flew up to shield her face.

When she opened her eyes she saw him towering over her, hunched over clutching his stomach from uncontrollable laughter. She took that oppurtunity to pull the shower curtain over her exposed breasts.

"Shut up!" She yelled.

He collected himself and straightened his posture.

"What the fuck were you doing in my bathroom?! And how did you get in, the door was locked!" She demanded.

A mischievous grin curved his plump lips, "My Aunt Lubna invited you and I for dinner and I used a bobby pin." He explained.

She didn't think she made that much of a good impression on his Aunt. Even though Malik and her weren't together she really did want to see Lubna again. She was sarcastic and had a good sense of humor, plus she wanted to try new food.

"Alright I'll go, just get me a towel please." She decided.

Once she blow dried her hair with a diffuser, she moisturized it with coconut oil to her damp dry curls. Then got dressed into a long sleeved, off the shoulder black shirt with a white skirt with vertical stripes and had a slit up the side, it reminded her of what Beetlejuice wore. She didn't usually dress this nice anywhere, because she didn't have any place to really dress up for. No matter what she wore she refused to wear heels. Heels weren't the only nice shoes to wear. She slipped on her black air Jordan's before heading out her room.

Malik was leaning against the wall beside her door texting someone on his phone. She wondered who it was but didn't bother to ask, that was intrusive and would give off the wrong impression.

He looked up from his phone and shifted his body towards her, his eyes widened then he neutralized his features. He cleared his throat, "You ready?"

"Isn't it only three thirty?" She guessed.

Malik checked the his phone and nodded, "She wants us over asap, she lives in Staten Island, it'll be about an hour ride." He smiled meekly and shrugged, as if to say 'what can you do?'

"A very impatient woman I suppose." She observed. Another trait she shared with this woman she barely knew.

A sincere smile stretched his mouth, like he couldn't help it. "Yeah, the polar opposite of my mother. My mother was the most patient person ever." He said with this remote look in his eyes, he was looking past her.

Phoenix stared at her Jordan's, not being able to bear the sight of him in pain, "I wish I could have gotten the privilege to meet her, she sounds incredible."

"She was, she would've loved you." He sadly smiled, the spider-webbed cracks broke her heart more.

Phoenix grabbed his hand and his arm tensed but then relaxed, she took notice of it. His tight fist uncurled and he let her lace her tiny fingers into his. She didn't know what this meant nor did she care. Holding hands was not remotely romantic, right? She held Josiah's hand and Jose's. Same thing. I don't know what's more full of shit, a toilet at Chipotle or you, her subconscious snidely remarked.