Roommates

chapter 4

The party is tonight and I can't lie, I'm excited.

I've had the longest week ever. The clientele at the shop is growing, so I had to draw five more sketches than I usually do. On top of that, I have a portrait due in my art class and I haven't found my inspiration for it.

Hopefully, I'll be able to put all of that aside and have fun tonight.

"Are you decent, mama?" I looked up from my sketchbook with a quiet laugh. No matter the time of day, Lee always asks that before entering my room.

"Yes, you can enter, Lee."

Lee came into my bedroom and plopped onto my bed, as he always does.

"I brought the mail up, you have a letter from somebody named 'Penn.'"

I dropped my HB pencil at the sound of that name.

He hasn't written in years.

The tightness in my chest began to spread with each delayed second, my breathing is becoming less consistent.

Deep breaths, Zola.

Deep breaths.

Lee looked up at me from his spot in my bed, seeing as he never got a response.

"Hey, what's wrong, mama?" He stood up and quickly kneeled by my side.

"Try to breathe, Zola. Can you tell me what's happening?"

I closed my eyes and successfully let out the breath I was holding. Lee looked at me with nothing but worry and empathy in his eyes.

"It's nothing, I'm fine. Whenever you see a letter from him, throw it away." I took the white envelope and tossed it into my personal trashcan.

Without any hesitation, Lee nodded and left it alone. After rooming with him for a while, I've learned that he's exceptional at reading situations and deciding whether or not they need to be discussed.

To my luck, he's decided this is better off left alone for now.

"Start getting ready, mama, we're leaving in 2 hours." Lee got up and smiled at me, I returned the smile, then frowned.

"2 hours? The party is in 4."

"I'm feeding you first, catering at these little college parties is nonexistent. We're not walking in there with you looking all hungry and shit."

Lee left the room before I could protest because he knew it was coming.

The man is obsessed with food, he's always eating and buying me food. I'm not complaining, but I feel bad because he never allows me to pay him back.

Ever.

"Stop thinking and start getting dressed, you already take forever!"

"Leave me alone!" I shouted back to him, hearing him chuckle and close his bedroom door.

I finished the second mini-braid of my hairstyle and moved away from the clean mirror. By the graces of higher powers, I found the will to do my natural hair. I braided two small braids in the front of my head and left the rest of my curls out.

I clipped two butterfly clips on each braid and smiled at myself. I'm wearing a black cami with a golden butterfly embroidered in the center, paired with my favorite flared jeans. When I try, I clean up pretty well.

"You wanna match with me, huh?" Lee smirked from the bathroom door.

Similar to me, he's wearing a tight black shirt with distressed jeans, however, he has a puffer jacket and a chain too.