It's Still You.

03.

Ryan.
I was sitting around my apartment watching reruns of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Nene was shady as hell and I lived for it, okay?
"Oop. Nene, secure the bun honey!" I screamed. She was reading Porsha for filth and the bun couldn't handle all the pressure.
My doorbell rang and I got up , opening the door to see Cashmere standing there.

"Hey bitch! We don't know nobody no more?" She asked, loudly.
"Hell no." I said, walking away.
"Awwwww what's wrong tugga?" She comes and throws her arms around me as I try to wiggle out.
"You hung up on me last week. Then I ain't heard from you since, what kinda shit is that?" I fake pouted.
"I'm sorry baby but when dick calls, it calls. And it's been calling since last week." She pops her gum and looks at her nails.
I roll my eyes. This bitch a real life nymphomaniac.
I turned my attention back to my television before hearing my phone ding. It was Cairo. I opened the message and looked to the side to see Cash breathing all down my neck.
Hungry?
I was always hungry. This man knows this shit.
I heard another knock on my door.
"Damn. I can't have a fucking day to myself can I ?" I yelled.
I opened the door and there stood Cairo himself.
"Hey Nubia" he said, kissing my cheek
"Sorry, wrong bitch." I side eyed him.
He cracked up , "No.. you're dark skinned and beautiful. Nubia is much shorter than Nubian Queen"
"I don't like it. Let's try something different next time. What are you doing here?" I ask as I hear someone clear their throat rather loudly.
I looked at Cashmere who was eyeing us, waiting to be introduced.
"Cairo. Cashmere. Cashmere. Cairo." I said, walking over to the spot I was previously occupying on the couch.
"Hi." Cairo said, smiling.
"Heyyyyy. Best friend when did men start dropping by? I'm impressed. This is more my scene. I like it though. Adventurous."
"Bitch, both of y'all will be leaving shortly. So it doesn't matter." I said, rolling my eyes. I just wanted to watch RHOA and sleep and be fat.
They were ruining my plans.
"I came to get you so we could go eat Ry." Cairo said, nudging my foot.
"UGHHHH." I groaned. "Nowwwwww?"
"Yessss. Lazy ass. C'mon you ain't doing shit" he says. "Cashmere, you can come too."
"Nah, I'm good. My dick just called my name. I heard it loud and clear. Toodles." She says, speed walking to the door.
I shook my head as Cairo watched her with a surprised look on his face.
After she slams it, he looked at me and smacked my thigh.
"Get on up Nubia. C'mon. I'm finna go pick you out an outfit."
We had been hanging out since meeting at the grocery store a month ago, eating, chilling at one another's house. Watching movies and just talking about nothing in particular. Getting to know one another. 
"Oh hell no. You won't be dressing me." I got up, VERY quickly.
"So you tryna say I don't be fresh?" He asked me, a pained look on his face. "I'm hurt."
I pushed him to the side, completely ignoring his dramatics and went into my bedroom.
I had already showered so I went and washed my face. I didn't have on makeup and didn't feel like applying any but let's be honest ... I probably would anyway.
After picking an outfit, I started on my face.
I was just going to do a natural beat and call it a day.
45 minutes later, I was done and started to get dressed.

I walked out the door. Cairo had fallen asleep watching some football highlight bullshit.
I cut my tv off and tapped him. He opened his eyes and looked at me.
"Let's go nigga." I said, throwing the remote down and walking toward the front door.
He got up and stretched. Long ass.
I sighed and tapped my foot.
He looked at me and then snapped his head black and looked again. He eyed my dress and asked me,
"do you ever wear anything normal? What the fuck?"
"No. You never know who you're going to see." I said, shrugging.
We walked out of the door and I locked it, heading toward the stairs.
"Where we going doofus?" I looked over my shoulder.
He didn't answer, he was too into whatever text he was sending at the moment.
I rolled my eyes and stopped. He ran right into my back.
"Figured that would get your attention. Where. Are. We. Going?" I asked with an attitude. "You drag me out of the house to not listen to me. I'll take my ass back and do what I was doin-"
"Aye. Chill out. I ain't even trying to listen to that yo." He interrupted my rant.
"Bet." I turned around and started to walk back toward my apartment.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me to his car before opening the passenger door and lifting me up to put me in.
I crossed my arms as he slammed the door shut before walking around to open his door and start the car.
We rode in complete silence besides the sound of the radio.
Shortly after, we pulled up to Olive Garden which I'd been whining about all week.
I opened my door and made sure I slammed it because he had me fucked up.
He laughed at my actions before opening
the door to the restaurant. I walked in, still quiet. I planned on being a mute this entire dinner.

"You know you funny. You a handful." He said, smiling.
"You got two hands right ?" I shot back. Shit. Well there goes my mute.
"I do." He replied, licking his lips.
I rolled my eyes.
"You do that a lot. They gone get stuck like that. You should stop." Cairo spoke, as if he was genuinely concerned.
I scoffed. I couldn't wait to go home and go back to sleep.
He grabbed both my hands and looked me in my eyes.
"I like you. I do. This little attitude drives me up a fucking wall but I'm not going nowhere and I'm not giving up. So you can stop."
I looked at him, astonished. No words to say. I didn't expect those words to come out of his mouth and they scared me. I knew I was feeling him but there was always the question of him feeling like me.
He smiled and grabbed his drink, sipping it.
I couldn't stop smiling on the other hand. I no longer had an attitude and honestly was ready to bust this pussy open.
Cairo had my nose wide open. I won't lie. He was fine as hell, understanding, funny. Everything I wanted in a man. I wanted HIM.
While we ate, I snuck glances at him. As I always did, I found myself mesmerized by Cairo.
He carried himself differently than all the other men I had dealt with. He seemed so sure of himself. Not looking for validation from everyone. Not wearing, doing, saying the same shit as everyone else. I liked it and it drew me into him even more.
We finished eating and walked out of the restaurant to the car.
As we were riding, I felt him grab my hand and rub it with his thumb. I looked down and smiled because it looked so perfect. This seemed so perfect. HE was perfect.
Those same perfect hands would cause me the most pain. They would yank my hair and throw me to the ground. Those perfect hands would bruise my ribs and bust my lips.
But until then, they were mine. And I never wanted that to end.