Hood Dancer

Chapter 22

"Okay now, Kaila get dressed when you're finished eating." Auntie Dee said while taking up her and her husbands plate and walking towards the kitchen. I nodded as I finished off the last of my grits.

I walked upstairs and Mari (Kamari) already had my clothes picked out. She walked in as I took off my pajamas. I rubbed the scented lotion over my body and put on a black bra. Then, I slid on my long white shirt with the slits, and the cute khaki booty shorts with the white floral pattern. She picked out some gold gladiator sandals - which are really girly - and told me to put them on. I did as told and she kneeled down on the floor to make a knot in the front part of the shirt. When she got up, I walked around her and out the door to the bathroom. I grabbed one of her brushes and put my hair into a high, tight ponytail. "Mari! You got a sock so I can make a bun?" I yelled to her. "Girl you crazy! It's twelve in the afternoon! all that damn yelling!" Kameron said peeking out his room. I shrugged my shoulders as Mari came to me with a huge foam donut. "Damn Mari. How big you want your buns to be?" I said laughing. "Girl it'll look cute. I promise. I'm gone have you addicted." She smiled and put it on. I sat down as she proceeded to fix it. "Wallah I'm done!" She said grinning as she backed away from me. "Kamari I better not look like a clown." I said squinting my eyes at her. I stood up and walked to the mirror. Gawd I looked gorgeous! "See I told you Kai." She looked at me. I couldn't do anything but laugh. I went back in her room to my bag that was untouched. I bent over and grabbed my toothbrush and deodorant out the little side pocket. After putting it on, i threw it back in the bag and walked to the bathroom only for Kameron to push me out of the way. Then, he had the nerve to slam it in my face. "Kam! I swear imma punch you in the face. Let me brush my teeth!" I said banging on the door. He opened it, pulled me in and shut it. "Don't look at me. in Finna shower." He said with all seriousness. "Kam I don't want you. Who said I was gone watch? All three of us bathe together plenty of times as kids. Get yo ass in the shower." I said putting toothpaste on the toothbrush and turning on the faucet. I turned it off and started brushing my teeth. When I was done with that, I left out and went to get my jewelry. I put on gold earrings and a gold cuff. I didn't bother to even get a purse. Then, I headed down the stairs with Mari and Auntie Dee waiting on me.

"Why you let Mari put this big ass bun in your head?" She asked shaking her head. I just laughed and walked out the door behind them. I climbed in the passenger seat, Mari sat in the back, and Auntie Dee drove.

"Do you ladies want to get your nails and feet done and do some shopping?" Auntie Dee spoke as she turned the radio up. "That's cool with me." I stated looking at my nails. Mani just nodded.

I watched the tall buildings and pedestrians pass as we headed to whatever shop she was taking us to. New York felt like a place where I didn't fit in. Maybe because it wasn't my environment, or maybe because I just missed home. I really wasn't feeling it.

We drove into the parking garage and went up a few ramps before Auntie Dee found a good parking space. When she did, we hopped out and walked to the elevator. Mari pressed the down button as I memorized what floor we were parked on. The elevators dinged and opened and we stepped in. I placed myself in the back right corner of the elevator. We went down to the next floor; a family of four and a guy comes in. The small elevator is full now so he squeezes in. He had his back towards the wall facing me. The man stared at me intently while I looked awkwardly at Mari. He had her head down with a silly grin on her face. I looked back up at him and studied his features as he studied mine. He was light caramel, nice brown eyes, and pink lips. He had a strong, squared jaw and looked just like a model. We got to the ground level and everybody started rushing out of the elevator. He stepped out before me and I ended up right behind him. He was tall, 6'3" or maybe 6'4". He had on a white tee, light ripped jeans, a camouflage shirt around his waist and a pair of all blue forces. "He dresses nice huh?" Mari whispered. "Hell yeah. Who is he?" I whispered back. "Jayden Thomas. Everybody calls him JT. He dances and sings." She whispered. I nodded. We kept walking.

Mari and I followed Auntie Dee inside of the nail parlor next to the dance studio. It was quiet and serene. "Hi, how may we help you? " The lady at the receptionist desk spoke looking up at us. "I need the best of the best for these girls." My aunt said and continued. "Mani and pedi for these two. Let them get anything they please." She finished and the lady nodded. She put her hand up, snapped twice, and two women rushed to us. They drug us to seperate places and sat us down to do the hands first.