Holding Onto You

Chapter 25 - It's Not AAA

I guess she didn't want me stressing about him more than I already was so instead of continuing the convo about me and Destin or Stephon we started to quiz Zoel while walking out the door of The Brunch Spot.

"What about you Zoe?" Aliyah asked holding the door open for us. "What are you talking about?" "Don't play dumb, this is about you and Jaylen... Were not quizzing Mani anymore." We stood in the sitting room trying to get ready to run for the car in the rain. "Hold on." I said "I wanna hear what she has to say but we need to get in the car first." I reached into my bag to get my umbrella as we went outside and stood under the slated roof. Lia unlocked the doors (although I didn't hear them click) and we ran.

I don't really know why we ran because that made my legs get even wetter then Zoel jumped into a big puddle and I pushed her from up under the umbrella. I was going to be nice enough and walk them to their doors but they both ran to them when we got near the car.

"What the hell Zoe? You splashed in that big ass puddle and got my pants all wet!" "My fault." "These shits are gray, this better be dry by the time we get to the outlets."

Aliyah pulled out the lot and when we got on the interstate we  began interviewing Zoel again. "So what did you and Jaylen do?" Lia asked. "Hold on." She responded and put a finger up. I looked in the rearview mirror and seen her smiling looking at her phone. "Are you texting that nigga?" I asked. She bit her lip and nodded, I looked back at her and hit her knee "Oh my god Zoe you look like a fucking kid stop. That nigga is not here you don't need to try to be looking all cute and shit."

She ignored me "Take her phone." Lia said. I took it then Zoel came back "Give me back my bloody phone you wanker!" "Nope, not until you answer our questions... So what did you guys do?" "We didn't do shit jag off." "You're a fucking liar Zoel!" Aliyah screamed looking back at her in the mirror. "Shut up Lia and keep your eyes on the road before I have a dithering attack because your a terrible driver."

I burst out laughing, I couldn't help myself it was so funny to me that Aliyah had to ask the questions. "Could you please tell us what you twats did last night Zoe!?" She asked thru chlenched teeth making me laugh even more. "Ok fine, only if Mani gives me my phone back." I handed it to her and she continued "So after subject I and D disappeared, Jaylen had the bright idea to go " look for them"." She put quotes around look for them, "So I think by then I had already hit once and I was done, so we walked thru the park together doing cute shit like they do in the movies. You know how in The Notebook Ali and Noah was all laying in the street and shit, well that's what we were doing but we were high so it was worse... Fun but worse."

"What did you do?" Lia asked "We almost fucked in a bloody rollercoaster." Oh shit. "Yemanja-Zoel Grace James, what the hell? Like you kn-" Aliyah started "I'm really pissed you think I would fuck somebody outside on a rollercoaster." "Well tell the truth!" I said "You know what nevermind I don't care onto the next. Aliyah what did you and Tyler do?... Did you let him eat your brownie?" Zoel started laughing "You got that shit from me." "I know."

Lia pulled into the outlets and ignored my question so I asked again. "We just went to his house and played around." "WHAT! How long were we at the park!?" "About an hour but he lives like really close." "Okay... And what do you mean playing around?" "We almost did it but we didn't." I smirk as she pulled into a parking space, Zoel was on her phone again so I decided to let her go, she didn't seem like she wanted to talk about it anyways.

★ ★ ★

I looked thru my bags to see what I got and add up the damage. $250 total, its not that bad. We visited Michael Khors, Adidas, and Nike within the first hour we've been here and I've gotten something out of every store but MK. I was about to buy this really cute $500 bag that Zoel said looks just like mine, so they had to drag me out of the store before I could buy it on the DL.

Were in the food court eating, I got a Cobb salad from Chick-fil-A, while Alkiyah and Zoel bought Chinese food they are both splitting. "Why didn't you guys just get two separate orders?" I asked "Because I'm not that hungry and I know I won't eat one by myself... I'm even done with this." She punshed her plate over to Zoel.

"So where we going next?" I asked "Zoe wants to go to the Zumiez, I want to go to this Bath & Body Works," She pointed to where MK was "and then wherever you want to go." I nodded as Zoe finished.

We walked out and to the right, headed towards Zumiez. "What are you getting?" I asked Zoel "A skateboard," she responded "some graphic tees, more joggers, and maybe some Nike SBs'." I nodded and realized how much she had change, I liked the new her. She doesn't take shit from anybody anymore and she's really trying to find herself. I can imagine her being a bohemian gypsy next time I see her or a heavy metal fan who follows her favorite bands around from state to state.

★ ★ ★

The cashier rang up everything and put it into a bag $110. I handed her my credit card and looked thru my bag. I had bought multiple beanies and joggers, I don't know why the beanies they just looked really cute to me. She handed my card back and I left Zumiez to met up with Zoel and Lia.

I walked into Bath & Body Works and got a whiff of their Summer collection. Zoel appeared next to me and started looking thru my Zumiez bag, "This is like the 'I'm learning how to skate' starter pack." She said, I laughed a little "Shut up."

"Help me find a scent for my mum, you know her birthday is coming up and if I can't be there Ive got to ship her something." I nodded and we walked around the new summer collection candles. I helped her pick 3 candles and 2 lotions as well as a gift card. She rang up the same time as Aliyah did.

"So where we going now?" Aliyah asked,I shrugged my shoulders "I think I've done enough damage now." I waved my bags around. "Yeah," Zoel agreed "I spent $500, I think you guys may need to put me in AAA." "What Zoe!?" I asked, "Nigga that's SAA," Aliyah said "Not AAA, you don't have an alcohol addiction problem idiot."

I put my fingers on the bridge of my nose, holding in a laugh. I shook my head "Let's go." I said.

★ ★ ★

We got home and when Lia got in the shower I laid everything I bought around the couch. 3 pairs of Nike running shorts (although I don't run... I guess I'll just sleep in them), a cute purple, pink, and white Adidas gym bag (don't know why I bough that either), 2 white on black and blue Nike sports bras, 2 knitted beanies, and 3 pairs of different color joggers. I'm the one who needs to go to SAA.

I folded everything up, put it back into the bags and put the bags in my suitcase. I got into the shower next and put on some fuzzy shorts and a tank top when I got out. When Zoel got in I brushed my teeth and thankfully this time she wasn't singing.

We ate ice cream and pecan pie Aliyah had in the refrigerator. Afterwards we sat on the couch and snuggled under about 5 blankets and watched another scary movie. Since it was dark outside because of the rain it felt like it was night time although by now it was only eight pm. I feel asleep half way thru Paranormal Activity 4.

★ ★ ★

"IMANI WAKE UP!" someone screamed, I jolted up on the couch, scarred out of my mind. My body hurt from being woken so suddenly and sitting up so fast. I laid back in a sitting position and seen daylight shinning thru the open window. I looked at Aliyah and Zoel, they were both crying, eyes red their checks stained with tears.

Oh my god. I started to scrunch my face in terror... I knew it was about Stephon.

"WHAT HAPPENED!" I screamed. "Its... Its Stephon." Aliyah responded through sniffles. My heart dropped.