In Due Time...

||Restoration||

The Next Day
Damien

I remember when my father left my mother, I had to be about three or four, but the memories were pretty vivid. My mom would always try to please my dad, but he didn't care. He ignored my mother and half the time he was never really home. I can see my mom crying, a lot. Even more so when the affair started. I don't know how or when my mom found out my dad was cheating, but she did. She never confronted him about it either. I think she just didn't want to lose her husband. One day though, my dad brought home the other woman and told my mom he was leaving. Some punk shit. He left, and my mom.... snapped. She drowned her pain with crack. Although the crying stopped, the spark in her eyes did as well.

I woke up viciously from what I believed was a dream, but it was more like a recollection. I don't know why I'd dream about some bullshit like that. I checked my phone to see multiple unopened messages, but the one that added to my unease was the one from my uncle. Today was Friday. I don't wanna think about the day to come. I looked at the other messages. Messages from Don, Tez, other niggas, more bitches. Then one I decided to open from Eda. "Eda: Hey, I wanna put what you said behind us. See me soon." I laughed to myself, lil' hoe crazy. I texted her back anyways...

2:37 p.m.
Nia

I kept thinking about Damien all through my 2 o'clock lecture, it felt kind good, but mostly sad. After yesterday it felt like we got a little bit of our old relationship back, but hearing what he got into while he was in Chicago hurt me because it obviously pained him. I started to think about Quincy as well. I wanted to tell him about what had happened yesterday, but something told me otherwise.

I was at a cafe not to far from my campus getting something to snack on when I got a call from, speak of the devil, Quincy. "Hey snook, what's up?" I said answering the phone "I can't call you without wanting something?" He said chuckling "Nah, I'm just making sure you good." I replied "Well I called to do the same. You straight?" He asked "Yeah I'm good, I just got out my 2 o'clock and my class at 4 got cancelled so I'm great. Might go back to the crib and study." "Oh ok look at you, how about we go do something tonight. With everything going on we can get away. Go see a movie or something?" I started to smile, I love how sweet Quincy is. He was always thinking of ways to make me feel better.  "Yeah I'd like that. 6 p.m.?" "Sounds good, see you later." "Alright bye Snook." I started smilingly walking to catch the bus back to my apartment.

4:45 p.m.
Damien

You know that feeling you're supposed to have after getting bomb cat? Well I wasn't getting that feeling. I was standing in the doorway of Eda's apartment with her, still trying to kiss on me. It wasn't that the sex wasn't good, I just wasn't feeling... her. "You going to come see me again?" She said whining in my ear "Yeah, sure." I replied dry, but she ain't even peep. I pulled away from her causing her to stumble a little "I'll see you when I see you." I said while walking away.

While walking back to my moms place I started thinking about Nia again. I wanted to talk to her again, see her again. For some reason since I've been back it hadn't truly felt like home, but when I was with Nia yesterday, it did. "I could just call her" I thought to myself, but I realized I didn't even get her number yesterday. Within my own thoughts, I shamelessly walked myself to the bus stop.

5:18 p.m.
Nia

I was getting ready for my little date with Quincy, dancing around, and listening to music. I had put on a my white tank top dress with the little cut at the top and my clear sandals. I was finishing up my makeup when I heard a knock at the door. "Coming!" I screamed running towards the door. I opened it with a wide grin across my face. "Hey Ba-" I stopped in shock when I realized it wasn't Quincy standing at my door, but Damien standing there slightly soaked. "D? What're you doing here? Why're you wet?" I said grabbing his hand to let him in "Well I was just going to text you or call, but I don't have your number." I looked at him confused "And it started raining on my way here so yeah." He continued. Here D was standing in my entry way, again. In a white tee, grey Nike shorts, and white AF1 soaked. I shook my head "Let me get you a towel or blanket or something. Sit on the couch." I said rushing to my room to grab a blanket. When I came back to the front, he looked so innocent, he was sitting there twiddling his thumbs all childlike. He looked up at me and said "You look really nice." "Thanks D." I replied while placing the blanket on him. I sat down next to him delicately still unsure of the situation, he seemed to be just as unsure as I. "D, are you ok? Why're you here really?" I asked trying to break the ice. "I don't really know Nia, If I'm being honest. You all I know." He didn't look at me while saying this, but I felt his words in my heart. "When I left to Chicago... I didn't think I was ever coming back. I wanted to, but I didn't think it was gonna be possible. Now that I'm back though, I feel so out of place." He said still looking at his hands. I couldn't say I understood what he was feeling, because I've never been in this situation.
When we were younger, D was the biggest crybaby. He cried at anything and everything, but every time I was there to comfort him. Tell him 'everything's going to be ok'. So instinctively, I wrapped my arms around him and pulled his head into my chest. "It's ok D. I'm here." At first, he seemed taken aback, but then he wrapped his arms around my waist and swallowed me into a hug. It felt... natural.
5:45 p.m.
We were still cuddled on the couch together. Damien wrapped tight around me, me caressing his face until he was sound asleep. I started to study his face again. It hadn't changed that much since back then, he just looked... more mature. Not to mention what used to be stubble grew out into a beard. He looked so precious.
I heard a knock at my door, and suddenly remembered. "Ah shit, Quincy." I moved myself out of D's clutches to answer the door. When I opened the door Snook was standing there with roses in hand. "Hey baby." He said and leaned in to kiss me. "Hey snook." I said kissing him back, "You ready to go? It's kinda raining though you might want a jacket." "I don't think we should go out tonight." I said. I watched as a puzzled look came across his face "It's just a little rain baby?" "Not because of the rain Snook." I realized I needed to give him an answer, but telling him 'Hey! I got D sound asleep on my couch, and don't want to leave him because he's going through it.' Didn't seem like a good idea. "Did I do something wrong?" He asked sounding genuinely concerned "No no no, it's something kind of came up so right now isn't a good tim-" I was cut off by D in the background "NiNi?" He said in his sleepy voice. Quincys' eyes immediately lit up. He looked at me with even more confusion. Shit. "Is that... is that Damien?" He asked me. I hesitated to answer "Yes.." "What the fuck Nia!? So you just wasn't gon' tell me? When did y'all even start fucking talking again!?" I became so overwhelmed with the thought of what to say I began to stutter "I-I was going to tell you, bu-" "GOING TO!? You had all day to tell me!?" he yelled "It happened suddenly Snook, I-I don-," I was cut off by Damien who began to speak from behind "Uh I didn't mean to cause no problems-" "Yeah well you did." Quincy replied. "I'll just leave then." Damien started to walk towards the door, but without thinking I grabbed his arm not wanting him to leave causing Quincy to bring a look of hurt to his face. "You know what bruh, you got it. I'll leave." and began to storm away "WAIT SNOOK PLEASE! LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS!" I shouted while chasing after him into the rain. "SNOOK PLEASE!" I screamed through the rain which seemed louder than I could yell. He made it all the way to his car and slammed his door in my face. I banged on the window "Please Snook just get out the car and we can talk... please." I pleaded. Although Damien holds a big piece of my heart, Quincy holds a piece as well. He stared forward out the window for awhile before turning to look at me. "You've said enough without saying anything at all." he said before driving away, leaving me cold in the rain. Silence filled my ears and my heart felt heavy. "NIA!" I heard through the rain before a jacket was thrown over my head "Come back inside, you'll get sick standing out here." Damien said leading me back into my apartment.

Damien

Even though I remember seeing Quincy at Don's party that night, I didn't realize how close the two of them had grown since I been in Chicago. I led Nia back to her apartment both of us drenched from the rain. Once we walked in, there was silence and stiffness in the air. I closed the door behind us as she stood there silently in the living room. "Nia do you need anything?" I asked, but she didn't answer. "I love you too." Nia said after a moment. "Huh?" "When you called me that night after the incident at the corner store. Before you hung up you said you loved me. I never got to answer you back... I love you D." she turned to me with teary eyes. My heart skipped at the words that had flowed from her mouth. I could tell this was something she's been wanting to say to me all these years. I walked closer to her and caressed her brown cheek, it was so soft. I kissed her on her forehead and she smelled so sweetly. I lifted her chin and looked into her eyes, she looked back into mine. I leaned in, and kissed her. I kissed her differently than I would have any other woman. It was tender and full of passion. A passion I've had for Nia for years... I shouldn't have waited so long, but I won't wait anymore. Once I pulled away I didn't go any further, I love and respect Nia, but at the end of the day she's still in a relationship with Quincy, I'm not bout to treat her like no hoe. "Look a lot just happened, I don't wanna make anything hard on you and I'm sure you've got a lot to think about" I said wiping the tears from her eyes "I'll see you again, I'm only a call away." I said she shook her head 'ok' and I left into the night.

As I walked home I couldn't help but think, as shitty as my life may seem, It's not over. It can change, it can be better, and it can be the life that I wanted it to be. For me, for my mom... and for Nia. First, I gotta figure out a way out the game.

******

Hey y'all! A decade later lol and long overdue! Here's the latest chapter of In Due Time! Enjoy and as always feedback is appreciated 🤗

Thanks for reading !