Crossroads

Ch. 7: Childhood Friends

Kendall

I was waiting for Khalil to pick me up from my house. He thought it would be cool if him, India, and I hung out today. I threw on a grey wool sweater, black skinnies, and grey Yeezys. I forced my thick, curly hair into a ponytail.

Moments later, I was heading downstairs when Khalil barged through the front door and went straight to the refrigerator.

"Well, dang. Hello, you nimrod," I said as I went into the kitchen and sat at the island.

He turned around with a mouthful of grapes. "Oh hi."

"You're disgusting," I laughed and he just shrugged. "Your eyes look much lighter today." His eyes changed color very often. They were already a greenish hazel. But some days they seem more green and others they were a warm hazel. Today they were more of a vibrant green hue. I wish we shared that same trait. Our only other family member to have rare colored eyes was our great grandfather who was diagnosed with heterochromia. His left eye was blue and his right was a natural chocolate brown. It seemed to skip generations until Khalil was born. Only difference was that Khalil's two eyes were the same color.

He nodded almost choking on grapes. "I don't like it. Too much attention. I can't go anywhere without someone asking me if I'm wearing contacts. As if black people can only have brown eyes." He shook his head.

"Well trade with mine. I don't mind the attention." I joked. "So what are we doing today?"

"Go Kart Racing!" India cheered joining us in the kitchen.

She looked over at Khalil and made up her face in disgust. "Did you not just have a burger and fries? Fat ass." She pinched his butt and he smacked her hand. They were about two months strong and I loved seeing how they interacted. They never fussed about anything.

"Don't be messing with my BBL, girl." He said snapping his fingers in front off her face like he was gay.

I loved watching his be comfortable being himself around her. To outsiders he always liked to appear mysterious and macho. I was happy that he was happy with her and I wished they would last forever. For a relationship just over two months, they acted like they've been together almost a year.

My mom suddenly walked into the kitchen blasting 'Trophies' by Drake on her beats pill. We all turned our attention towards her. She set it down and started dancing while wiping down the already spotless counters. She carried that speaker around with her every time she cleaned. She turned and saw Khalil stuff a handful of dry Froot Loops in his mouth.

She smacked him on the back of his head.
"What I tell you about eating up my food boy?" She laughed.

"You know I love me some Froot Loops Aunty. It was calling my name. It said 'Eat me.'" He reached his hands out in the air like he was grabbing some thing. "I just couldn't resist." He shrugged and India and I giggled.

"Oh, hush." She looked at India and smiled. "Hey sweetie."

India smiled back and muttered a hey. They weren't familiar with each other since Khalil usually had India tucked away in his apartment. My mom had only heard me mention that he had a new girlfriend.

"Aunty, this my baby. She might be lucky enough to call me her husband some day." He wrapped his arm around India's shoulder and kissed her cheek.

She walked over to India and they shared a small hug. "Good luck honey. As annoying as this boy is, you'll need it."

"You're so right." India giggled. "Thank you."

My mom walked into the living room and took her speaker with her singing. "I'm just tryna stay alive and take care of my people, and they ain't have no award for that. Trophies. Trophies."