Ariya

"Then we shook hands and he left."

"He just left?"

"Yes!"

"Fuck! So you're like a free woman now?"

I chuckled lowly before resting my chin on my knee, glancing forward at her on the chair in my room.

"I don't know, I've been with William for as long as I could remember." I puffed my out a stiff breath before nodding.

"Things change.. babe. Plus, you should be excited for your date with Khyson tonight!" She squealed, clapping her hands.

"Yeah, I guess." I mumbled.

"Ok! Now turn around so I can do your eyeliner." I leaned forward before her hands grabbed my cheeks.

I've been thinking about this "date" for.. ever. I can't seem to think of how it will play out. I've never seen Khyson as a romantic type of guy, I mean yeah he was caring but we've just never been like that. We've always just been friends.. you know other than that one time we slept together.. we'll make it twice actually.

"Don't worry."

"Just be yourself, I'm pretty sure he'll be able to tell when you're not." He capped the lid on the liner before tossing it back into the drawer.

"Some mascara.. and.. ta da." She moved aside so I could see myself through the mirror.

"Thank you, Amara." I smiled.

"Okay come on, go put your dress on." I walked into my washroom and shut the door. The dress hung on the door.

I pulled my shirt off and gazed at myself in the mirror.

My eyes landed on the small tattoo under my breast. The outline of a heart, it was supposed to bond us forever.

"Shit! Khyson, you said it wouldn't hurt." I seethed, clenching his hand within mine.

"Did, Ariya Kingston just cuss at me?" He gasped, I glared at him before he laughed.

"Well if I said that you wouldn't have agreed to do this." I groaned in pain, knowing that his words were nothing but the truth.

"Done." The tattoo artist said.

"See, was that so bad?" He grinned at me with a devilish smile before I swatted his bicep.

I hopped off the table and walked up to the full body mirror with him. He pulled up his shirt as I kept mine up, we stared forward at the matching ink with smiles.

"Perfect."

I mumbled.

I reached back to pull the dress off the hanger and slipped into it.

Smoothing the fabric over my thighs down then walking out.

"Ahh! You look so good!" She clapped.

"Thanks." I mumbled with a smile before putting my earrings in. I leaned on the doorway while gazing back.

"Babe?" I heard Amara.

"Yeah?" I quickly plastered on the fake smile, looking forward at her.

"What's wrong? I thought you'd be excited?" She spoke lowly, plopping down on the bed with a furrowed brow.

"I am.. excited." Even I could tell my voice was a lie.

"Come." She patted the spot next to her on the bed with a tug at her plump, red lips.

I took a few slow strides over to the bed and sat down.

"What's up?"

"Nothing." I shrugged.

"Come on.. spill, I'm too deep in already."

"I just, I might've had feelings for Khyson at some point back then but I never acted on them, we were nothing more but best friends. I never once thought about doing anything else. I don't want this to ruin it, my situation might be sticky with him.. but he's still my friend, I don't wanna loose that." I shrugged, taking the tip of my index finger to swipe my under eye. Amara grabbed a tissue a blotted my eye so my makeup wouldn't smudge.

"I get it." She grasped the tissue and pulled back, looking forward.

"Shit is shit, but it's still shit to you, and you wouldn't wanna loose it."

"Our friendship is one sided, I'm the older one yet you're always giving me these pep talks five minutes before dates." I chuckled as she brought the tissue back up to my skin.

Amara smiled and I followed her expression.

"Thanks." I added.

"Come on, don't wanna be all ugly for your date." I chuckled, nodding while walking out into the living room.

I saw Kameron on the couch with a press on moustache from the god damn dollar store.

"Why do you have a moustache on, Kameron?" I asked, shaking my head.

"Who's Kameron? It's Sam now." He corrected me.

"Kameron wants to try and get a free drink from Starbucks, I told him "Kameron it's not your birthday" he said "they'll never know" I said "you went this morning" he said "it's fine I'll just put on a press on moustache." I don't know." She shrugged while rolling her eyes.

"Sam? Can you please let Khyson know I'm ready?" I quietly asked with a smile.

"He said he's on his way up, so make it look like we're not going okay?" He whisper yelled. I nodded with furrowed brows before grabbing my purse and sliding some heels on.

I stepped into the kitchen and leaned my body against the counter, closing my eyes.

A took one deep breath in and then out, slowly.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and I smoothed my dress down before walking to the door. Opening the deadbolts and unlocking the door.

There he was, standing at the door with a one single flower.

"Hi."

"Hi."

He extended his arm before I grabbed the stem.

"Thanks.. one sec lemme go put this in a.. vase?" I stuttered. He stepped inside, I scurried into the kitchen.

"You guys are just gonna be staying in her apartment while she's gone?" He asked.

"Well, Rylan can't stay here himself can he?" Kameron snapped.

In truth, Rylan was at his friends house.

"Yeah." He rolled on his heels with a kiss on his teeth.

"Okay, I'm ready.. we can leave now." I walked over to him as my heels clocked with every step.

"You kids have fun now." Kameron joked in a low voice. I entertained his joke before stepping outside of the apartment with Khyson. We walked into the elevator before I stopped him.

"Aren't you coming?" He asked, holding door open with his palm.

"I got stuck in that elevator on multiple occasions so either meet me downstairs or we both take the stairs." I smiled evenly at him.

He strode out and bent over in front of me, his knees bent with his back in front of me like a table.

"What are you doing?" I laughed while stepping back with my hands off.

"Hop on.. I'll give you a ride." I smiled at his crooked face before grasping onto his shoulder before hoisting my legs around his body.

"If you bring us down-" I warned him, whispering into his ear. He laughed, pushing the door to the stairs open.

When we finally made it out back he set me back down on the ground and I wobbled for balance, until his hand met my waist and I steadied myself with the help of his shoulder.

"Thanks." I mumbled, tucking a strand behind my ear, watching him hold the car door open for me.

This is gonna be one long night.