caring isn't for everyone | z.k •PRETTYMUCH AU•

•nineteen•

In one hand, a brown bag with two breakfast sandwiches and in another his hand wrapped around the handle of a drink holder occupied with two drinks did not at all help Z with getting through the door to the apartment.

Sitting up on the stool, she turned towards the door, already knowing who it could be. She'd jumped up to help him place the things on the counter. As she took her time unpacking the food, Zion couldn't help but stand behind her as she did, his close proximity making her giggle.

"Morning."

"Morning," He replied quickly, giving Mari a peck on her head.

She checked the beverages before taking a sip of one. Stepping aside she watched as Z fished the bag for his own food.

"I need to show you something," She walked over to where she left her phone, reading such a message that made her want to throw hands. Maybe showing him wasn't such a great idea.

Nonetheless, it was still presented to him.

He was handed the phone with the message open, brightness up. He placed his sandwich down with disbelief. His head snapped over to his girl.

"The fuck is this?" Zion's voice was suspiciously calm. He even turned the phone towards her, as if she didn't see the message herself.

She gave him a look. "I don't know. That's what I woke up to."

"He must be out of his fucking mind. He really must be." The sandwich back in his hand as he took a nice large bite. "Might just have to punch this nigga in his jaw,"

"Okay, wait wait. No violence, you can do it with your words." Mari took a long sip.

His stank face was so dramatic, she'd choked on her iced coffee.

"Nah. I don't know. He really rub me the wrong way this time. This ain't the first time this dude pissed me off either." He leaned against the counter, stretching his abdomen.

Amari's eyebrow raised. "Since when?"

He tilted his head. "Before you moved in here. It wasn't toward me, but Ed. They always butt heads. Like Nick literally was in Edwin's house touching up on Tiffany when he walked through the door, but as you can see he was forgiven cause she was everywhere," His eyes rolled quickly.

"Ah." There was a long pause as she grabbed her sandwich, unwrapped and taken a decent sized bite. Pointing at her boyfriend, she smiled. "Actually, don't stress yourself baby. I'll handle him."

"What does that mean?"

"Don't worry about it." She began to walk pass him, but before she could fully she hopped and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Grabbing a seat at their bar area she kept her eyes on him.

Zion had dogged the sandwich in the matter of barely two minutes. He'd just popped his last bite into his mouth. Grabbing his drink he drank half of that, letting out a sigh. He turned to Amari, who was already staring at him.

"What?"

"You're so fine for no reason."

A goofy smile had formed upon his lips. "Thank you, but you got me beat. Sexy ass," He began to make his way over to her.

"Hold on hold on." Z stopped in his tracks.

"So all I had to do is suck you up for you to give me breakfast, compliments, and forgive me for my mistakes? Cause for the past few days you've been giving me the cold shoulder. Z, you should've told me sooner cause I sure would've—"

"No. Yes, that was amazing but not why I did it. I don't appreciate you enough, and how could I want you not to leave and I not even do little things to remind you. It's still messing me up a bit."

She nodded. "I'll take it."

~*~*
Later On..

He threw his stuff in the backseat of his car in such a forward manner.  He walked over to the driver seat to enter the car. He threw his phone onto the passenger seat next to him and started the engine. He reversed out of Edwin's driveway with a swiftness of his hand.

According to Nick himself, he didn't see anything wrong with him wanting her. Longing for Amari didn't seem like a big no right now because of the situation.

As he cruises down the road he reaches for his phone, briefly looking back and forth from the screen to the road to get to her contact. Noticing she hadn't even responded he let out a sigh.

He couldn't help but press call.

Nick places the phone onto its holder for it connect on the bluetooth. It only rings a few times before it's answered with a questionable toned voice.

"Nick?"

"Can we go out somewhere? Just us?" He asked with no hesitation, his focus split.

On the other line, Amari was highly confused as to why this was needed. Honestly there was nothing for them to talk about in person.

Amari looked at Z, who watched her body language carefully. She didn't want to get him involved so she tried to make her facial expression neutral as possible.

"Why? Say what you need to say right now."

There was a pause. Nick began to massage his temples before frustratingly slamming his hand back on the wheel. He looked at the display in his car for a brief moment. "I can't. There's more and I just feel like I need to see you, face to face."

"Um, FaceTime?"

He sucked his teeth. "You know what I mean."

She leaned forward, briefly glancing over at Zion again who was now trying to decode what his friend might be saying on the other line.

"Fine. When?"

Zion creeped over, furrowing his full eyebrows at his girl.

"Tonight."

"Tonight?" He was all in her face now.

Nick leaned back in his seat as he turned his wheel. "It'll be quick. Maybe not. Depends,"

She rolled her eyes. "What time?"

"Ah, like 9?" He suggested.

"Sure. It better not be a waste of my time. Goodbye." She hung up then slid her phone back into her pocket. He watched her, waiting for to tell her some information about her phone call.

Mari placed her hands around Z's hips, hugging him. He was still waiting for her to say literally anything to her about the call. She complied to his nonverbal request.

"I'll handle it."

~*~*~

She didn't really dress up at all. They were just going to some small little bar that's pretty busy, but not busy enough to where it's crowded. Jeans and a bodysuit bandeau, she would be on her way if it wasn't for her naturally overprotective guy.

"Tell me if he touches you," He called to her before she shut the door grind her to leave.

She took a look back and turned up her lip. "I wish he would." The door was closed.

To her convenience it was easy breezy walk from their apartment, so that's exactly what she did.

The bar was a bit more live tonight than usual, but this didn't stir her a bit as she weaves through all the people standing around in the middle of the place, to whom she wasn't going impolitely shove pass, unless they saw her coming that's the first response. Her eyes searched the crowd best could. Somehow she got lucky and made eye contact.  She walked over, her presence dropping to full blown defense.

~*~*~*~*~