AYANA

Chapter 22- The Date part 2

"Hi I'm Naomi, I'll be your waiter for this evening. Sorry about RJ, I don't know what's gotten into him."

"It's okay." Devonte said.

"What can I get y'all to drink?" she asked.

"Some water please." said Ayana

"I'll take wuauta too." said Devonte in his heavy Brooklyn accent.

Naomi's face twisted up in confusion.

"You'll take what??"

"Some wuawta" he repeated.

"What's that sir?"

"You know, drinking wuauta." he explained.

"Ohhh, you mean water! Sorry I'm from the south, y'all accents up here be throwin me off."

Ayana and Devonte laughed.
She took they their orders and went to go get their waters. Ayana got a garden salad, crab cakes, and shrimp Alfredo. Devonte got caeser salad, the bar harbor lobster bake, and cajun tilapia.

After Naomi walked off to the kitchen with their orders, Devonte turned back to Ayana.

"You ever had a boyfriend before?" He asked her.

"No."

"Really? Your Dad strict?"

"I'm an Orphan." she said looking down. She didn't like thinking about that, but it was her reality regardless.

"Oh." said Devonte, noticing her mood change. "I'm sor-"

"No it's okay. I might as well tell you about myself." she said "My grandmother raised me since I was 15, before then I lived in an orphanage since I was 4."

"What was it like there?" he asked.

"I don't really want to talk about all that right now." she said, tears starting to form in her big brown eyes. She wiped her eyes before he could notice.

"It's okay cutie. We ain't gotta twalk about it." he said.

Naomi came back with there waters. Ayana unwrapped her straw and started gulping the water through it.

Devonte laughed. "Damn you was thirsty wasn't you?"

She nodded. "Tell me about your family." she said eagerly.

He told her about his two parents and his baby sister.

"I have two uncles too, they my dad's brothers. The older one is Roc's Dad. And the younger don't have no children... I hate him."

"Why??" she asked, noticing the fury in his eyes.

Devonte sighed. "Cuz he don't even act like an uncle, he's lazy, comes over our house and just freeloads, eating all our food. Insulting me every chance he gets." Devonte ranted. "I don't even call him Uncle, I just call him Carl--"

Naomi came back with their food. "Enjoy!" she said with a smile.

"Thanks." said Devonte.

"This looks so good!" Ayana said.

After saying grace, they dug in. They talked about school as they ate. The teachers, the people, the relationships. 

"How did you meet all of them?" Ayana asked, referring to Peach, Dee, Keon, Nova, Skai, and JI. The Gang. 

"Chresanto transferred to Harrington at beginning of his Sophomore year. We both were going to this other school called Julian Coleman together because our parents wanted us to look out for each other. When he transferred, I did too. He met a lot of people in the first week and was really popular. I was more reserved and I kept to myself. One day he introduced me to Deetranada, Key, Skai, and Peach during lunch. I knew JI though. He been tha homie since day one. My Dad and his Mom go wayy back, since college. They like brother and sister. Me and JI damn near grew up together. I been knowin Nova too. He far from the homie though! Annoying tall ass baby.. but anyway, his Mom is BEST friends with JI's Mom. She friends with my Dad too. Nova be over JI house all the time driving him up the wuall. I be feelin sorry for him. "