Chapter Four
First Date
Quin
"Where you bout to go dude?" My homeboy Myles asked. "Why yo uglahh still here? Eating up my snacks and shit." I snatched the bag of chips from his hand. After putting him out, I finished getting dressed. I threw on a pair of white Ralph Lauren shorts and a light pink Ralph Lauren shirt. I slid on my brown leather Sperry's and put on a gold Rolex watch. I sprayed on a little Axe and grabbed my car keys. I texted Lauren and told her I was on the way. I hopped into my all black Aston Martin. I grabbed my ray bans from the dashboard and put them on. I sped out of my driveway and into the streets of the A.
Lauren
When Quin texted me and said that he was on the way, I got dressed a little quicker. KaTrece lotioned my legs while Sarah curled my hair. After they were finished, I put on a pair of denim jeans and a cream colored blouse. I heard the door bell ring. "That's probably him." I said. "I'll go get it." Sarah left out of the room. KaTrece got a pair of gold hoops and a gold chain from my jewelry box. She put it on for me. I got my Clark's from under the bed and slid them on. "How do I look?" I asked KaTrece. "You look so beautiful." She smiled at me. "Lauren you got this fine young man in here waiting on you." Sarah said as she stood in the doorway. I got my phone and purse from the bed. We all walked into the living room. "Hey beautiful." Quin smiled at me. I blushed. "Hey." Quin was much taller than I was , at least 6'3". He look hella good in pink. "You ready to go?" he asked. I shook my head yes. "Take care of her now." KaTrece said to him. "I will." Quin said as him and I walked out the door. He opened the door for me and I slid in. Once he got in, we left.
"So, where do you wanna go tonight?" Quin looked at me. "It doesn't matter. As long as it's not a fancy restaurant. Just something simple." I told him. "You don't like them bougie people huh?" I shook my head. "Me either." Quin turned up the radio. Remember by Rich Homie Quan played through the speakers. I sat back and relaxed a little. We were silent the whole ride, but it was a comfortable silence. I caught Quin staring at me a couple of times. After a few minutes, we pulled up to Applebee's. It's my favorite restaurant so, I was satisfied. When he parked, he quickly got out to open the door for me. "Thank you." He shut the door and grabbed my hand. I felt chills run down my body. When we entered Applebee's, Quin found us an open high table set for two. He pulled out the chair for me and I sat down. I knew his guardian taught him how to treat a lady. When he sat down, he stared at me. "What are you looking at?" I smiled at him. "I can't look? You beautiful?" he winked at me. I blushed and looked away. I picked up the menu and studied it.
The waitress came shortly and took our order. I ordered fried shrimps, steak, and fries. "So, tell me bout yourself." Quin look at me. "What you wanna know?" I cleared my throat. "What was your childhood like?" he asked. "Okay, I guess. I was really raised by my grandmother. There's not much to say." I wanted so badly to change the subject. I didn't like to think about my past. "You guess?" I sighed. "Can we change the subject please?" He nodded his head. "My bad. What you do for a living?"
"I own a hair salon." I told him proudly. "How much you make a day?" Quin was asking a lot of questions. I felt a bit nervous. "600 at the most." He nodded. "My bad for asking all these questions."
After a few minutes, the waitress came back with our food. I tried eating as cute as possible. "Can I have a shrimp?" Quin asked me. I gave him a few shrimps from my plate. "You so sweet." I laughed at him. "So, what was your childhood like?" Quin didn't say anything at first, he continued to eat. "It was good and bad. I had a few good times. My cousin had a truck with a sunroof. I use ride in the top." he paused and started to laugh. I smiled at him. "One time we was riding, and his ass accidentally stomped on breaks. I flew on the hood and just rolled on off to the ground. I was on crutches for a month." I laughed so hard that my stomach started to hurt. "That's funny." I shook my head. "Yeah, it was funny." We laughed.
Quin told me a few more of his childhood stories. I laughed so much until I could barely breathe. He was so funny. We finished up eating. Quin paid the bill and we left.
"Make sure you buckle up." Quin said as he put on his seatbelt. I put on my seatbelt too. When I thought of the stories Quin told me, I would laugh. "You so goofy." He smiled at me. "It's just so funny."
Quin and I were silent the rest of the way home. When we pulled up into my driveway, I noticed my grandmother's car. I knew she would ask a million questions.
Quin got out and opened the door for me. He walked me to my door. "I had such a nice time with you Quin." I smiled. He grabbed my hands. "When will I see you again?" How Quin looked at me, it made me feel some type of way. I looked towards the ground. "I work everyday except Sunday. But I close up at 7:30." Quin lifted my head up. "I hope to see you soon. I had a nice time with you tonight." I smiled at him. "Can I have a hug?" I nodded. He hugged me so tight and I hugged him back. His shirt smelled like fabric softener. "I'll see you later." Quin said. "See ya later." I walked inside of my house. I smiled at him before closing the door.
I heard laughter coming from the kitchen. I slipped off my shoes. "Is that you Ren?" My grandma yelled for me. I walked into the kitchen. "It's me mama." Sarah looked at me. "Did you have a nice time?" I blushed. "Yes I did." It was the best time I'd had in a while. The only thing that made me nervous, was that Quin kept looking at me. "Why you ain't told me you had a date?" Grandma asked me. "I was gonna tell you. I just forgot." She smiled at me. "Umhm. I bet you did chile. Look atcha blushing." I laughed. "Whatever ma. Sarah you staying with me tonight?" She shook her head yes as she chewed. "Okay. Well, I'm about to go take a bath."
I went into my bedroom. I took off my jewelry and threw it on the dresser. I went into my bathroom. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail. I slid off all my clothing and slid into the shower.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
"LAUREN!" my step dad Larry yelled for me. "Where yo lil ugly ass at?" I jumped up from my bed and hurried into the closet. I heard footsteps. My closet door flung open. Larry snatched me up and threw me over his shoulder. I started to scream and kick. "Let me go." He threw me on the bed and started to rub on my private area. I was afraid. I couldn't do anything but cry. "Get off my baby!" I heard my mom yell. Larry got up from the bed and pushed my mom into the wall. I got up from the bed. With all strength, I kicked Larry in the nuts from behind. He groaned and fell to the floor in pain. My mom quickly grabbed the pistol from her purse and shot Larry three times in the chest. POW! POW! POW!
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
As I opened my eyes from the flashback, I started to cry. I hated thinking of it. It had an effect on my life for a very, very long time. My heart still aches when I think of the past.
After an hour of a long, hot shower, I went straight to my bed. As I was drifting off to sleep, my phone started to ring. I grabbed it from the nightstand. My mood instantly changed when I saw that it was Quin. "Hello." I answered. "I ain't wake you did I?" Quin asked. "No. I'm just lying down."
"You don't mind if I talk to you all night do you?" I smiled. "Not at all." And that's exactly what we did. We talked on the phone all night. Quin seemed really nice and humble. He made me smile and laugh all night, which made me like him even more.
