Faith.

5. more.

*a few days later*

{Imani}

Closer and closer it became until my 'friendly outing' with Tom at the movies this weekend.

It felt as if time was flying by on purpose.

Our phone conversation from the other day lasted from late night until early in the morning, around four, to be exact. We talked about any and everything we could possibly think of.

I'll never get tired of hearing his voice, and I'll never be over how perfect it is.

After one last coat of finishing spray, a soft, heavy sigh escaped my lips as I stretched out my back and stood up from Mama's beauty chair, mumbling, "...finally," lowly under my breath.

Unable to hide the smile on my face, I twirled around in multiple angles as I examined myself and my fresh, new, medium-sized box braids in the vanity mirror. My braids were long, jet black like my natural hair color, and flowed all down my back.

"They're so perfect," I smiled giddily as I turned back to face Mama, who had a growing smile on her face as she embraced with me in a warm, loving hug, "...thank you, Mama. They look so amazing."

"You know you're welcome, baby," she said with a loving smile.

"Oooo... girl, you look bomb!" 'Lisha's voice beamed out of nowhere.

Grinning from ear to ear, she walked over toward where we were and set her purse down in the empty chair next to Mama's station before excitedly examining my new hairstyle.

"Thank you, sis," I smiled even more, gently combing my fingers through the ends of my braids.

"How long did it take?"

"Five hours," Mama quickly butted in, lightly snickering as she did. "We started around eight o'clock this morning," she added as she headed toward the back of the salon.

Once Mama was completely out of sight, Alisha mischievously smirked and whispered lowly, "Just wait til your man sees you lookin' this damn sexy, girl. Ol' boy ain't gon' know what to do when he sees you lookin' like this."

I playfully rolled my eyes and shook my head as I leaned on my right hip and brushed myself off, "Tom is not my man."

"...yet," she slyly added.

I once again shook my head and rolled my eyes before heading over to the nail polish case to grab a bottle of light pink polish. After doing so, I sat at an empty nail station and began re-coating my acrylics.

"You need to stop over-exaggerating," I lightly snickered. "Tom and I are just friends... nothing more."

"You say that now, but just wait. It won't be long before ol' boy'll be deep in them guts, hittin' it from the back while you callin' him 'daddy' and shit. Girl, just imagine the look on his face when he's givin' you them backshots for days. He ain't gon' know what to do or how to act with all that ass in his damn face, especially when you're riding it."

My eyes widened and I gasped, whisper-yelling, "'Lisha!!"

"Sis, don't even start. You know I'm right, and you know what I'm saying is true," she grinned matter-of-factly with folded arms, grinning mischievously. "Have I ever lied to you, girl?"

I gave her a quick side eye and lightly shook my head, "For the most part, no. And even when you do, it's only in good fun. But what you're not finna do is start jumping to conclusions, especially when it's way too early to start assuming things," I affirmed. "And who knows? ...Tom and I may or may not have a little something in the future. It just depends on how things pan out after Saturday night."