We've been in Chemistry for thirty minutes, and Imani and I haven't exchanged a word. That never happens. Ever since we became friends we've always gotten in trouble for disrupting the class, whether it be our constant whispering or her cute seagull laugh, but today it's radio silence. Turning to ask her if everything is okay I met with a sight that I haven't seen since her and Eli.
She grinning ear to ear completely invested in her phone.
Jealousy rears it's ugly head and I do something that only results in two outcomes.
A startled gasp and a smack, or a pissed off Imani that ignores me for the rest of the day. Choosing to roll the dice and grab her phone from her praying for the former outcome.
Jumping in her seat she glares at me, fighting against the smile forming on her face.
"Give me my phone back Park, I'm texting someone." she sighs smile slowly dimming.
Glancing at her phone is see the name 'Khalil' shining across the screen. No emojis. Thank God.
"Who's Khalil?" I tease hoping she doesn't catch onto the brewing jealousy bubbling in my mind.
She just stares at me for a minute. Hazel eyes darting around no doubt catching on to the double meaning to my question. Rolling her eyes she holds her hand out with a raised brow, her gaze unwavering.
"Phone Parker."
Glancing down at the sleek black phone I drop my shoulders before handing it to her. Nodding to herself she glances back at the phone before her eyes widen as a smile explodes across her face. Digging through her book bag she pulls out a pair of headphones before plugging them into her phone and handing me an earbud. I didn't even realize I was just staring at her until she glances over at me with an impatient look on her face.
"If you don't hurry up and grab this earbud I'm starting the album without you."
Blinking out of my Imani induced trance I hesitantly grab the headphone, face twisting with caution.
Imani has the most eclectic music taste I've ever witnessed. One second she's 'trapping' to music by Migos or Future, swaying around in the halls not caring about who she's getting in the way of. Next she's tearing up in class 'sapping' to someone like Bryson Tiller or Brent Faiyaz. Then next thing I know she's scream singing to relatively slow songs by Alina Baraz, H.E.R., or Majid Jordan. So I think my suspicion of the small piece of technology is warranted.
Based on her expression right now it's going to be a new album that will probably make her tear up. She always gets a far off twinkle in her eyes when it's one of those.
"Who's album is it this time?"
Smiling at me she hurriedly taps on her phone to get to Apple Music before showing me the screen. I was right, it was a new album from Majid Jordan, one of her favorites.
"Khalil sent me a screenshot of their new album and I know you like them too even though you try to deny it." she grins pressing play on the album.
"I do not."
Rolling her eyes she turns to me raising her eyebrow for the second time this class period.
"Parker I follow you on Apple Music, I saw that you added them to your post-meet playlist idiot." she teases.
We only make it to the chorus of the first actual song on the album and she already starts her ritual. First her eyes water, then she covers her giant grin with her hand, squeals for a little, then puts her head down on her arm unintentionally yanking anyone shes sharing an earbud with twenty times closer, and of course she's oblivious to the jump start she gave my heart.
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Walking out to our eating area I'm met with a sight I never wanted to see.
"Jesus Christ Blake can you stop eating Wes' face in front of me," Ryder grumbles before placing himself between the two of them shooting a quick glare at Wes.
As if it was planned both of their faces burn a bright red and they fidget uncomfortably.
"Didn't realize you guys were here already," Wes chuckles nervously glancing over at a mortified Blake.
Stifling a laugh a nudge Wes with my foot making him look up at me.
"I see you Wes."
"Fuck you Parker."
"You replaced me with Blake soo..." I laugh, ignoring a grumbling Ryder I sit on the semi wet grass with the rest of them, and like usual my eyes are pulled to the cafeteria doors looking for her.
I don't have to stare like a loser for much longer because a chattering Imani emerges with a shockingly excited Chandler. Her gestures are wild and bursting with energy and he's drinking it up, regurgitating the same level of energy.
"Since When was Chandler ever anything but sarcastic looking?" Ryder questions, leaning over to observe the same bizarre scene as I am.
His question is answered as soon as they come in hearing range.
"I've already listened to the album 3 times today," she gushed, hand squeezing her phone that's undoubtedly still playing Majid Jordan.
He drops his head dramatically before showing her his phone "I can't stop listening to it. Why did you introduce them to me Ani." He groans with a small smile on his face.
They're conversation stops short when they make over to us, and one glance has the entire group laughing.
We're used to Imani having a dopey far off look on her face when she listens to a great new album, but Chandler having the same exact expression is a whole other level of hilarity
"Chan what the fuck is wrong with your face," Wes chokes out over his laughter.
Flicking him off he puts his beats back on, sulking in a Chandler-esque way.
"Parker tell them how amazing this album is!" She turns to me and once again I'm at a loss of words.
Her eyes are sparkling, vibrant and full of joy. Her already clear skin glows and her stark white teeth shine against her chocolate skin, but there's something different. She always looks beautiful, so her simply smiling at me like that doesn't leave me as starstruck as it used to. There's a new kind of look to her right now and my mind is scrambling to try to find the source of this change. Love, pride, euphoria, none of those seem to fit the expression. I've seen all of them on her before whether or not their directed at me, staring from across the hall for a year helped me differentiate these expression on her face.
The expression on her face changes and her expectancy makes a surprise cameo reminding me that I have yet to answer her question. "Oh um..," my voice cracks adding more embarrassment to the situation.
"Yeah it was a good album." I mumble already feeling heat creeping up my neck.
She deadpans at my response before claiming that I'm being too modest about how great it was, once again gesturing excitedly to express how much she loved their album. Just like always Blake is sucked in and drinking any and all music suggestions from Imani, fueling her buzz.
They both share the same broad music taste, only excluding all forms of country and metal. Both claiming that those genres are straight from the fiery pits of hell.
And much like it usually does, lunch ends with us all listening to new music from Chandler's phone and our laughter.
It wasn't until I got home from a typical grueling practice that I realized what was different about Imani at lunch.
For the first time since I met her, none of her walls were up.
YOU ARE READING
Park and Ani
Teen Fiction"Imani what's going on with you?" Frustration and hurt coursing through me. She turns and smiles at me tears in her eyes. "That's the golden question isn't it Park." Imani Walker was known as the girl with the contagious smile and boisterous laugh...
