recognize / b.simmons

13

the buzzer sounds, making amaris head snap in the direction. she had no one coming over tonight, so who the hell could be at her door like that?

amari gets up and presses the button. "yes?" she asks, frowning. she doesn't know who it could be, definitely not ben, he's not the type to pop up on her unexpectedly.

"you have someone here to see you," the concierge says. amari racks her brain for the possible people who could be here to see her, but not a single person comes to mind. she pokes her cheek with her tongue.

"who is it?" she asks. she's not just going to let some random ass person up. what if they try to kill her ass or something?

"he said his name is d'angelo," the concierge replies and amari sucks her teeth. of course it's his persistent ass.

amari sighs and says "let him up," before going into her bedroom to change. she was wearing shorts and tank top, something not appropriate for a guy like d'angelo coming around.

she grabs sweats and a big tshirt, putting them on and leaving her room. she passes nias room, which was closed, but she was in there. "hey," amari gently knocks, earning a "come in!" from nia.

"who's at the door?" nia asks, looking up from her phone. she was laying on her stomach on her bed, doing whatever she does on her phone.

amari sighs and leans against the wall. "d'angelo," she says and nias lips part.

"uninvited?"

"yes ma'am," nia laughs and looks at her, and incredulous look on her face.

"the nerve of that nigga, i swear!" nia says, just as there is a knock on the door.

"look, i don't care what you hear, at all, but make sure you're on go just in case his ass tries to kill me," amari says seriously, bur now just laughs and nods.

amari leaves and closes nias door and takes her sweet time getting to d'angelo. she didn't want to talk to him nor did she want to see him. it's going to kill him when she tells him about ben.

she looks through the peephole to make sure it's actually him, which it is, and then unlocks and opens the door. they lock eyes before amari moves out of the way so he can enter. "hey," he says, taking off his shoes and setting them by the door. he walks into the living room, amari following close behind him.

"what are you doing here?" amari sighs, getting right to the point. d'angelo rolls his eyes and plops on the couch.

"no 'hi, d'angelo, how are you?' ?" he mocks, looking at amari, who has her arms crossed and it standing between the living room and the hallway. she continues to stare at him, and he doesn't look away.

"what are you doing here?" she repeats making him laugh and then sigh.

"i want to talk to you. i don't like how things ended, you just gon' do me like that, girl?" he asks and amari shrugs, making him let out a single laugh. "damn, you're cold." he says, rubbing his chin with the palm of his hand.

"there's nothing to talk about. i don't like you the way you like me, and i know your ass can't handle being 'just friends', so nothing is going to happen, d'angelo," she states clearly, making him run his tongue along his jaw.

"just give me a reason," he says, sitting him straighter on the couch.

"a reason for what?"

"why you won't even give it a chance," he says and amari kisses her teeth and rolls her eyes. she's about to rock his world.

"there's somebody else," she says, and d'angelo looks at her, narrowing his eyes.

"you serious?" he asks, licking his lips. amari simply nods, and he springs up immediately, taking three quick, long strides over to her and saying, "yo, what the fuck?"