Bonita Applebum

2. I was just frontin

There she was with that familiar mean scowl on her face. She was perched on a crate tying her shoe. Her Afro was now in a puff on the top of her head. The florescent lights reflected off of her cocoa brown skin and Elijah couldn't help but notice how smooth it looked. He didn't say anything to her as he walked right past towards the cupboards where his papa stashed extra personal hygiene products. He took off his shirt not really caring that she was in there. He put on some deodorant he was about to put on another T-shirt when he noticed a certain grumpy girl was trying to get something off the top shelf. Without even saying anything he walked up behind her and reached to grab whatever she was trying to get. She jumped and tensed at the action and turned around fast. Elijah backed away slightly and handed her the object. Her eyes skimmed over his bare upper body quickly and for a second Elijah could've sworn he saw a little embarrassment in her eyes.

"Thanks" KT murmured as she looked down at the ground.

"You're welcome" Elijah replied, "I didn't know you worked at my pops store"

"I didn't know he was your grandpa"

"Really? Bonita knew earlier"

"I don't get out of the house as much as her"

"Oh... understandable"

"Yeah..."

There was an awkward silence neither one of them daring to break it.

"Pops must really like you he doesn't usually trust people to work in the store" Elijah said trying to keep the conversation going for some reason.

"He's really cool" KT said twiddling her fingers.

"Don't tell him that he'll take it and run with it"

For the first time since meeting her KT actually cracked a smile. It was small and only for a split second but it was there. Elijah found himself smiling a bit too.

"So... your sister... is she..." Elijah was about to ask about Bonita when he was interrupted.

"I knew it" KT said rolling her eyes.

"Knew what?" Elijah asked genuinely confused.

KT ignored him and started to grab her things from the crate and walk back to the front of the store.

As she was about to turn the handle on the door Elijah grabbed her wrist willing her to stay where she was.

"Let. Me. Go." KT gritted through her teeth.

"I'm trying to figure out what upset you all of a sudden" Elijah said furrowing his eyebrows.

"It doesn't matter let me go"

"Is it because I brought up Bonita?"

"Let me fucking go"

"No tell me what's wrong first"

They stood there for a moment Elijah still holding her wrist gently. KT sighed then spoke.

"This always ends up happening" KT sighed, "Whenever a dude talks to me they always bring up Bonita"

Elijah felt ashamed because honestly that's the only reason he wanted to talk to her... to ask about Bonita.

"I-I that's not-" Elijah was gonna tell a lie but then he stopped himself. "Look I'm not gonna act like I'm not feelin your sister and I'm not gonna act like I wasn't trying to get to know her through you"

They looked at each other and KT looked slightly shocked as if nobody was that real with her. KT shook her head and yanked her wrist from Elijah's grasp then proceeded to walk out of the door.