That October Night

Chapter 18

Rayya

                                GOING TO HAVANA RESTAURANT was the best thing I did for the week. We talked about how Hakeem ended up in that predicament with Lola, but he didn't like referring to it as a predicament. Instead, he called it the beginning of something amazing.

Although Hakeem knew what Josiah did to me, I was still unenthusiastic on telling him more about my scar or why I freaked out whenever someone slammed their hand on my shoulder.

Rome wasn't built in a day and talking more about three months ago or expressing my feelings was something I knew would take time.

I kept avoiding the topic and after a while, Hakeem was smart enough to let me be. We ate and talked more about what he thought would happen next and how Lola didn't want to take off her dark sunglasses.

Maybe it was some new fashion trend, but obviously, Kat would've already heard about it. Maybe Lola wore those sunglasses to hide a bruise on her eye, but nobody knew because she kept her lips sealed about it.

Hakeem also told me more about some of the foods served at Havana restaurant. Most of the names I couldn't even pronounce.

Like a hungry mouse who didn't want his food to finish all at once, I savored the Havana style shredded chicken with yellow rice that was garnished with green peas and red pimentos accompanied by sweet plantains.

"This arose con pojo is awesome, Keem!" I told him to which he laughed.

"It's arroz con pollo. Yeah, you think this is nice? I'll bring you home some time then." Hakeem was already finished and was watching me with the utmost amusement.

"Meeting the parents already? Slow down, tiger." I meowed and was about to throw my sweet plantain at him but then decided to eat it. It wasn't like I found food like this at home.

"Thank goodness, I made friends with a Hispanic."

"Cuban American and Puerto Rican to be exact. Also don't ever try to be sexy again. It's terrifying." He shivered as he made a disgusted face.

"Whatever." I flipped him the bird. I was talking with my mouth filled with food, but he didn't seem to care. He must've gotten used to it by now.

"God bless you, sweet child. Keep treating me like this and I'll love you forever and ever."

"Por supuesto! Honestly, I feel sorry for you. I'm sure it sucks having a mother that can't cook."

"Look, I said I'll love you forever. That does not permit you to start going all el senor on me."

"Por supuesto means of course."

"Oh." My eyebrows knitted then relaxed as I took a mouthful of rice. "But you're right. Good thing we have a nice neighbor like Ramona."

"You like her food and not her son? You're evil."

Wiping my mouth with the napkin and resting on my lap was the first proper table etiquette I did since we entered the restaurant.

When Hakeem suggested going to a restaurant I honestly thought that we were going to look out of place, but we weren't at all. There were actually more people who dressed casually than fancy.

"His hands are too fast. He's too fast," I answered.

"Right," Hakeem murmured, unconvinced as he smiled at something on his phone. "Bubbles asked if you're okay, but I already answered that for you."

I frowned at the thought that now she saw me at my worst state. I felt as if I had been stripped down naked and that wasn't meant for anyone to see. Now I'm sure whenever Lola saw me she would look at me differently.

"Tell her thanks."

Maybe Hakeem didn't hear me or he was too caught up on the phone that he chose not to answer me. He quickly typed something and then brought the phone up to his ears.

"Yes, I'm serious she's fine. I'll call you when I reach home okay? Okay. Great." Hakeem rested the phone down and just stared at it with a smile wide enough to tear the seam of his mouth.

"Wow buddy," I dramatically paused, "you're glowing."

"Just eat your food."

And I did just that.

Maybe that's all I needed or maybe some kind of motivation because when I reached home I easily completed my essay. When I was done, Chris and I went to shoot some hoops with Raymond, Carlos, and Paris. We played until the sunset which worked up my appetite, but thankfully Ramona sent something to eat with Carlos and Raymond.

I didn't even know when I fell asleep, but when I woke up I was upside down between Raymond and Carlos who were right side up on the couch. When I tried to sit up properly I dropped on Chris, feeling light-headed because I was upside down for so long. Chris was groaning, but I still hadn't catch myself right away so I just laid there on top of him.

"Oww Tweets, what time is it?"

I slowly rolled off of him. "Sorry. Almost midnight. We should wake up the boys."

On the ground, Chris looked up with another groan. He got up and walked over to the kitchen, coming back with a pot and a wooden spoon. He sat between the boys and banged the pot as hard as he could.

Raymond jumped up to attention with a salute and Carlos was moving like those characters in the video game when you had to choose a weapon.

The sight of them doing that recovered me from my dizziness and I dropped on the loveseat as I held my stomach and bellowed in laughter. I laughed even harder when the boys whacked Chris behind his head.

"What was that for?" Chris moaned. "It's time for you guys to go home."

Raymond stretched with a yawn. "I'm too tired to go home."

"You live across the road," I pointed out incredulously.

"And?"

I rolled my eyes, picking up the dishes we used and washed them. By the time I was done the boys were out of the living room, so I went to my room and took a warm shower. It wasn't until I was on my bed did I realize that someone was sleeping on my bed.

I elbowed the person with a shriek, jumping off the bed to turn on the lights. That person was a very groggy Raymond who was holding his side. There was one of my sweatpants nearby so I slipped it on.

"Can't I sleep in peace?"

I wiggled my pocket knife in his face.

"No! What are you doing in my room? Don't ever try that again! I could've hurt you, Ray." My heartbeat had quickened and I tried calming down to get it back to its normal pace.

"Well, I was trying to sleep. Can you put that thing away." He nervously eyed my pocket knife. "Please, Shorts."

I rested it on my nightstand. "You're sleeping on the ground."

One of Ray's eyes peeled open as he got comfortable on my bed. "Treat your visitors with respect. I allowed you to sleep on my bed."

"Ray, get off of my bed. Now."

"Please, Shorts just for tonight. I'm really tired," he slurred, half sleeping.

I was too sleepy and exhausted to argue with him, besides it would have been pointless arguing with him anyway. Ray was already fast asleep by the time I got on my bed, but I still decided to nudge him and say, "Fine but don't touch me."