Other then his talk with Jen on Monday, and the few times he saw her in the halls with Brandon, Khalil considered he had a pretty good week. He was socializing more, studying and has been thinking about joining the track team again. Perenna suggested competitive activities might be pushing it, considering it could trigger Painkiller but Khalil felt confident he could at least try.
The confidence was also an accomplishment for the week. He was learning how to trust himself to be in control of his thoughts and reactions to things. He had to give Perenna credit because coming back to school really had been a good idea. Perenna made sure to congratulate him on his mental progress but not without giving him some homework first.
"Its time you make some progress socially too. I want you to do something fun this weekend."
"Okay" Khalil started to nod.
"That doesn't include siting in your trailer drawing...Go out." Perenna clarified.
So when friday rolled around Khalil got to school in hopes to get invited somewhere. He hadn't been in the high school scene in a while but surely his classmates had something planned for the weekend.
Khalil made it to first period, taking his usual seat. He took out a pencil and leaned back in his seat waiting for the class to start.
"Hey Khalil" said Ayanna taking a seat next to him.
"What's up Ayanna" Khalil smiled.
He'd known Ayanna since elementary school, and considered her a good friend. She was also raised in Freeland with Kahlil and Jennifer making her one of their OG friends. Therefore it wasn't unusual that she was talking to him.
"How has your first two weeks back a school been?" Ayanna asked, taking out her school supplies as well.
"Better than I expected honestly. Im glad I came back."
"Me too" She said. Ayanna bit her lip trying not to talk herself out of when she had been planning on doing all week.
Khalil didn't notice her holding her breath and tapping her pencil nervously at her desk. He was too busy drawing small cartoons on his desk. It wasn't until she spoke again that Khalil looked up at her noticing the tremble in her voice that wasn't there before.
"What are you doing this weekend?" Ayanna asked.
"I was hoping someone would throw a party of something. I don't know?" Khalil wanted to ask her if she was okay as her voice trembled again.
"Oh."
Khalil looked at her weirdly but turned back to his drawing when she didn't say anything else. Ayanna felt like she could throw up. She felt like she was completely ruining her chances. After one last inhale and exhale, Ayanna managed to ask what she wanted to ask.
"Want to go out?"
Khalil looked at her again meeting her curious eyes.
"To a party?" Khalil asked obliviously excited.
"No...like to a restaurant or a movie theater...with me. Do you want to go on a date with me?"
Khalil's eyes widened at the word 'date'. The last thing he was expecting was for Ayanna... who he'd known for most of his life... to be asking him out on a date.
"Oh umm"
Khalil thought. Perenna would definitely want him to say yes but Khalil couldn't bring himself to do it. Not because there was anything wrong with Ayanna. She was fine, smart and kind but his mind drifted to Jen.
