IMANI

18

Imani couldn't stop thinking about both times she had kissed Fego and what the kisses meant. She wasn't even sure of her feelings for him. She needed someone to talk to, and Emma wasn't going to be back home until three weeks. Sade also went with Emma, so she was completely alone.

Her mind quickly ran to Greg. Greg was a good listener and had been her friend and big brother for some years now, so she knew she could talk to him.

Imani decided not to call him. She was going to visit him in the Gallery. It had been long she had visited there, and she missed it. She had a new piece to drop off, so she thought it was killing two birds with one stone.

Imani ran inside her room to get dressed. She put on a tie-dye shirt, black biker shorts and her white Air Force ones. She packed her hair in a bun as usual. Imani never really had time to take care of her hair; she was too lazy. She picked up her latest artwork. She stared at the piece. For the first time, her piece wasn't about her sadness and how she felt so alone. It was brighter.

The sky in the piece wasn't dark and gloomy like she usually painted, but it was a lighter and brighter shade. The girl sitting under the green beautiful three looked happy and at peace. The painting made Imani giddy. She wasn't sure why she was happy, but she liked it. She packed the painting neatly in a paper bag and headed out of her apartment.

After boarding so many buses and almost dozing off in one of the buses, Imani finally arrived at the Gallery. She stood in front of the gallery and smiled. Imani usually entered through the back door, but today she suddenly felt like a new person. She was going to enter through the front door.

She walked into the gallery with an uneasy feeling immediately. She felt as though someone had been watching her. She shook off the feeling and searched for Greg.

"Ha! I thought I'd never see you again," Steve shouted, causing Imani to jump.

"Steve, you scared me," she held her chest trying to stop her heart from escaping. She was a little on the edge after she had a feeling she was being watched, so Steve showing up and yelling at her scared her.

"My bad, I thought Greg said you were never coming to the Gallery again," Steve looked confused.

"Why would he say that?" Imani asked.
"He didn't tell you? We're being watched or something by some rich obnoxious man who wants to know your identity," Steve said. He ran to the door to see if anyone was there. He sighed in relief and turned back to Imani, who was wide-eyed. She had forgotten about the reason she stopped coming to the gallery.

Her brain had been so preoccupied that she had forgotten. It was too late to turn back now.

"Shit!" She muttered under her breath.

"Where is Greg now?" She asked Steve.

"He's with a client or friend. You know I don't really pay attention to anything he says. He talks a lot," Steve chuckled.

She was about to walk to Greg's office when she realized the huge painting in her hand. She wasn't sure what to do.

"Steve, I think you should keep this and give it to Greg later. I don't want his friend or client knowing who I am," she handed Steve the painting. Steve nodded and walked away from Imani.

Imani sighed and walked to Greg's office. She couldn't believe she had forgotten about the man that was determined to know her identity. She hoped the feeling she got of being watched was just paranoia, and it wasn't actually true. She could hear voices as she got closer to Greg's office. They echoed, so she knew they weren't in the office; they were in the hallway. She identified the first voice as Greg's voice and the second one sounded really familiar.