Can't Compete

seventeen

ELLA LOOKED AROUND his new apartment. It was still in the hood and like the other house where they almost got shot in, it was modern and chic.

"Where have you been staying if you only stepped foot in it now?" she asked, with his back turned to her.

He turned around to face her and shrugged. "Star's crib or the trap."

She nodded her head and went to check on the bedroom that was down the hall. Cap trailed behind her, seeing that it was both their first time at the place.

There was only one room with an adjoining bathroom that broke off from the living room and kitchen. It was small but only Cap was to live here so it sufficed. Ella took note of the basic furniture such as the bed, toilet and couch, but a part from those, there was nothing more to it.

"Are you going to go shopping?"

"What's with you and shopping?" his tone held attitude.

Ella kept her straight face and walked out of the room, back into the living room.

"Whatchu want to go shopping for?" he corrected himself with a even tone.

"Furniture,"

He looked at her incredulously. "We got furniture. Fuck you think we gon be sleeping on?"

"You don't have any furniture." She stared up at him, then crossed her arms. "And I'm going to be sleeping on my bed. This is your apartment."

Cap rolled his eyes. "Aight. Let's go, but after all that shopping, we going to a block party."

"Aren't you too old for a lego party?" Ella eyed him.

"Lego pa— I know you didn't just ask another dumbass question,"

"It wasn't dumb."

He mushed her head. "We gon have to fix yo dumbass,"

"There's nothing wrong with me to fix." She mugged him.

Cap chuckled. "Look, now you copying my face and errything. Wanna be me so bad, huh?"

She reverted her face back to its impassive look. "No."

"Come on and let's go getcho shit."

While they were in the car, Ella searched up the definition of a block party. She clicked on Urban Dictionary and bookmarked the website, knowing it would be useful for her to catch on with Cap's language.

'This type of party is when every house on a has its own party with people. It's actually very fun to go to a block party. There is always music and fun things to do. Also, they always have food there so it's even greater.' (peacout its jen, 2006)

Ella snickered in her head. This sounds like all parties.

Cap parked the car, causing her to look up from her phone. They had reached their first stop already and with his fast driving, she wasn't surprised.

"Walmart?" she questioned, looking at the big sign at the front of the store.

He turned the engine off. "Yeah, where else you buy furniture?"

Ella placed her hand on his chest, stopping him from exiting the car. He looked down at her hand, then back to her. She retracted her hand and opened up an online catalogue on her phone, showcasing India Mahdavi's works and presented it to him.

He looked at her phone screen for a second. "You want this?"

"Do you like it?"

He shrugged. "Ion care 'bout this shit. We only out here because you want furniture. We could be sleeping on the floor and I'd be set."