...
At the party that night Samara walked around the place with a drink in her hand. She was looking for somewhere to sit down when what she really wanted was a place to hide. Her and Rico's break-up took her out of the partying mood.
"What's up with you Sam? You don't seem like your usual self tonight. You're usually the one shutting the place down," Zen said plopping down next to her. Samara looked over at her and forced a smile.
"Rico broke up with me and I'm sitting over here sulking about it like an idiot."
Zen didn't look surprised. "Tuh. 'Like an idiot' is right," she said in agreement.
Samara scoffed. "Okay. I'm offended. And also, why is nobody surprised by this?"
"Because he wasn't good for you. Clearly you were the only one who couldn't see it."
Samara shrugged and took a sip of her drink. "Maybe you're right."
"Oh, I know I am," Zen said playfully. She looked at Samara and gently nudged her shoulder. "You need someone who is sweet, attentive." Samara nodded her head in agreement. "You need a guy that's selfless and respectful."
"Yeah," she sighed.
"Someone who looks at you the way Zay does," Zen smiled playfully.
"Hol' up. What?"
"Sis. Stop acting like you blind. Everybody can see how my brother really feels about you."
"Uh unh. Zay is my best friend. You know that."
"Yes and he also likes you."
"And he's told you this?" Samara asked with her head cocked back.
"Pshh. He doesn't have to. I saw it the moment he brought you home his freshman year."
Samara rolled her eyes. "Girl whatever. I'm not bout to play with you."
"Yeah, because you know better," Zen teased.
Samara playfully pushed her away. "Shut up," she laughed.
"Come on. Let's go dance," Zen urged. "I didn't come here to give you a pep talk. I came here to shake my ass and get in trouble about it," she joked. "Let's go." She pulled Samara up out of her seat and dragged her into the middle of the room.
While they danced together a few guys would approach them occasionally. Before Zen could turn the next one down her boyfriend, Malachi, was headed in their direction. He walked up behind her and slid his hands around her waist. The guy who was looking to get Zen's attention was now feeling awkward and quickly walked away to avoid any confrontation.
"You over here cuttin' up," he said playfully in her ear before kissing her. Zen laughed.
"No," she smiled innocently, "me and Sam are just having a good time."
"Mmhm." Malachi looked at Samara. "I thought you were supposed to be a good influence," he joked.
"I am," she grinned. "Zen was just being a good friend and trying to get me out of a bad mood. Take it easy on her," Samara smiled warmly, "you know you gotta good one."
Malachi was all smiles. "Damn straight," he said as he pecked Zen's cheek.
"Y'all are just too cute," Samara cheesed. "Imma leave y'all two lovebirds to it," she said holding up her cup. "I need a refill."
Samara excused herself and made her way towards the kitchen. The counter was full of every liquor imaginable, and while usually she'd cheer at the sight of so many options, she had a specific choice in mind. She picked up the large bottle of Jim Beam Peach and poured what she could handle.
As the time slowly crept by, Samara sat tipsily on the kitchen counter content with what was in her cup. She let her eyes wander around the party, first spotting Natalie talking to a small group of people, and then Mena dancing with a guy. As she took another sip of her drink her movements came abruptly to a holt when she saw Rico sitting cozily in a corner with a girl she hadn't seen before. It hasn't even been 24 hours and he's already entertaining someone else. So much for keeping the break up low-key, she thought.
"Why you sitting over here feeling sorry for yourself," Zay said interrupting her thoughts.
Samara rolled her eyes. "I'm not feeling sorry for myself. Just laying low and observing the crowd."
"You don't really expect me to believe that do you? I saw you watching Rico."
Samara sucked her teeth. "Mmccht. Man, whatever. He just happened to be in my view."
"Whatever you say Mar," Zay stated nonchalantly.
Samara quickly changed the subject. "What are you doing standing over here anyway? I know I saw a few girls checking you out when we came in earlier. None of these girls in here caught your attention?" Samara nudged Zay playfully.
"Nah. Those girls aren't my type."
"Whatchu mean Zay? I thought pretty was your type," Samara teased.
"Yeah. Well maybe I want more than just a pretty face," he said smiling and swiping Samara's chin.
Samara playfully swatted his hand away. "There are plenty of girls out here with substance."
"Well, until those girls want a guy like me imma be single."
"Mmhm," Samara said side-eyeing him. "Whatever. You're a quality guy. Some lucky girl is bound to snatch you up."
Zay stood back and smiled at Samara. "Dang Mar. If I didn't know any better I'd think you were giving me a compliment," he teased.
"Whatever superstar," Samara laughed. "Go dance. There's a girl over there that clearly wants your attention. Who knows? Maybe you'll get some pussy tonight," she teased.
"Why you trynna get rid of me? Am I cock blocking?" Zay asked jokingly.
Samara grinned. "Not as far as I can tell, but once you leave I'll find out."
"Aight. Cool. I can take a hint. I'm gone."
Samara chucked up the deuces. "Come back if she's a lame," she called out behind him. Zay looked back at her and laughed.
Five minutes or so after Zay left a tall, brown-skin guy, with an athletic build, approached Samara. His presumably long locs were thrown up into a big messy bun. Samara couldn't even front, he was fine.
"Wassup wit you and Adams?" he asked, leaning his back against the counter next to her. He cut right to the chase about his intent. "Y'all together?" His voice was gruff and tense and immediately grabbed her attention, but she didn't lead on that it did.
"That depends on who's asking," she replied, taking a sip of her drink.
"Oh. My fault. I'm Jules," he said offering his hand for Samara to shake. Samara nodded her head slowly.
"Hi Jules." She took his hand in hers. "Samara, but everybody just calls me—"
"—Sam," Jules said, finishing her sentence. He gave her an irresistible grin. "I know who you are. It's nice to officially meet you."
"Yeah. We'll see," she teased.
Jules grinned. "So. You and Adams. Wassup witchy'all two?"
"He's my best friend."
"Really? I wouldn't have guessed it. Y'all neva-"
Samara scrunched up her face. "No. If you knew who I was then you'd know that me and Zay are just friends and that I was actually in a relationship with Rico."
"Ouch," Jules grinned, placing a hand over his heart. "Noted." Samara looked at him and fought back a smile. "So," Jules continued, "you said was in a relationship with Rico. Did I hear that correctly?" Jules asked with a raised brow. Samara nodded her head over in Rico's direction to point out that he was entertaining someone new.
"Yes, was. We recently broke up. So I gotta say your timing here is impeccable. I could use a pick me up," she sighed, "or a lay me down," she said mumbling the last part.
Jules smiled. "What was that last part? A lay you what?" he said moving in on Samara.
Samara blushed. "I said a pick me up," she teased.
"Nah. I heard that part. I'm talkin bout' that last part," he grinned.
"I think you heard me the first time," she said coyly taking another sip from her cup.
"So, wassup?" he said licking his lips. "You trynna forget him? Trynna make him jealous?"
Samara pressed her lips to her cup and peered at him over the rim. He was captivating and forthright and for those reasons he intrigued her. He might be just what she needed for the night. She placed her cup down and scooted further up to the edge of the counter. She closed the small space between them. "What did you have in mind?" she asked curiously. Jules took her by the hand and helped her off the counter. When she stood up all the liquor hit her at once and she had to take a moment to regain her composure.
"Damn mama. You good?" he questioned.
When Samara looked up at him and smiled, her eyes were lower than usual, a tell-tale sign that the alcohol had taken over. "Yeah. I'm good."
Jules led Samara out of the kitchen and guided her through the throng of people in the other room. The music was loud and the room was noticeably warmer than in the kitchen. Samara used her hand as a fan to cool herself off as she walked. When Jules found a decent spot for the both of them to dance, he raised Samara's hand above her head and placed her in front of him. With his body pressed up against her back, the two of them began to flow to the beat of the music; a visible spark of passion flickering between them.
As they joked around and danced on each other, the girl that was spotted with Rico less than fifteen minutes ago, walked by and purposely bumped into Samara.
"Yo watch where you going!" the girl said, turning Samara around to face her.
"Ayo," Jules said ready to step in the mix, but Samara held him back with her hand on his chest.
"Excuse me? I didn't bump into you. You bumped into me and I was willing to let it go on account that it's crowded in here, but since you felt the need to step to me like you got a problem what's up," Samara replied.
"Girl, I know you trippin. You don't want this problem."
"Oh no. I think I do," Samara replied sharply. Before they could get into it any further Rico stepped in.
"Yo Si cut it out," he said to the girl. "You know you in the wrong. Back off Mara, aight? She don't bother nobody. She good."
"Yo, why you sticking up for her? I thought y'all was done."
"We are, but I ain't got no beef with her and you shouldn't either. Now, imma tell you again, back off, Simone," he urged. "She doesn't know." Simone shot Rico a quick glance. "Let's go," he implored.
It stunned Samara that Rico was so willing to defend her considering how they left things earlier. Simone looked around the room at the crowd that formed and reluctantly let Rico pull her away from the scene. Rico left peacefully, but not without taking notice of Jules hovering over Samara.
"Sam, you good," Jules bent down and asked in her ear.
Samara stood on the tip of her toes to respond. "Yeah. I'm straight. You wanna get outta here? It's a little too crowded for me."
Jules raised his brow. "You for real?"
"Yeah, let's go," she said leading him back through the throng of people and out of the front door.
When they made it outside of the building Samara felt relieved. "It feels so good to be out of there," she said running her fingers through her hair.
"What was the deal with that Simone chick," Jules asked.
"I honestly don't know. I've never even seen her before tonight. The only thing I can think of is that she's seeing Rico and wanted to make it known that she was with him, which is dumb, because I don't give a fuck."
"I gotta admit, I ain't expect ta see that fire come outta you. You was bouta beat her ass," he laughed.
"Because she was trynna get gully on me for whatever reason. I don't do drama, but I will squash the beef. You saw how quickly Rico stepped up. He know's I'll go there if I have to."
"Damn Sam. Let me find out you got a lil bite to you," he grinned.
Samara just smiled and shook her head. "Shut up," she laughed playfully as she looked away from him. To the left of her she spotted Rico inconspicuously watching them from a distance. Jules peeped it too.
"Did you drive," she asked changing the subject and returning her attention back to Jules.
"Yeah. Why? What's up?"
Samara shrugged her shoulders and smiled up at Jules before pressing her body up against his. "It's a little chilly out here. Can we go sit in your car?"
"Yeah. We can do that," he grinned. "Let's go."
...
