Page 13 of Tension

“Wait, come talk to me for a second,” I said, gently pulling Chris toward the bedroom.

She hesitated but followed.

“First off, I’m sorry. I was tryna make you laugh, not make it worse. I see now this ain’t one of those moments. So I’m trying something different.” I felt bad for what I said; I just needed to see her be her fiery, unintimidated self.

“You’re beautiful.” I looked into her sad eyes. “Whenever I see you, your face is always done, and so is your hair, whether it’s the short cut or your fake hair. I need you to do that, Honeydew.”

She stayed quiet, eyes locked on mine like she was trying to figure me out. “You think I feel like doing my hair and makeup right now?” Her tone was judgmental and cold.

“I know you don’t. But I think it might help you feel better… I can’t say that I know how you feel, but I can relate to having to push through and sticking to my routines and patterns always helped me.”

She looked down at our interlocked hands.

“Just try, for me,” I said, giving her the softest look I had, holding her hands tighter for her security and mine. I needed her to feel what was in my eyes, regardless of how it came out.

She walked over to a bag, grabbed a smaller one, and went into the bathroom. While she was in there, I cleaned up the bedroom, finding a pair of jeans I knew would look good on her ass and a crop top that’d show off those titties I loved.

When she stepped out, she already looked a little more like herself. The scarf was gone, and the wig cap was on. She grabbed a wig from another bag, then noticed the clothes I laid out to replace the baggy ones she had on.

Hesitantly, she looked at me with a little bit of that fire I loved, then took them with her into the bathroom.

I noticed the little Miniature Fun Pop I got her sitting on the dresser with a friend. Yeah, she would be getting the whole set out of me and more.

I stepped back into the living area. “She’ll be out in a minute,” I said.

Nobody asked what was going on. They just waited.

When Chris walked out, she didn’t look like what she’d been through. She looked like herself again. Brighter, with a real smile. Still sad, but better.

“Okay, bitch!” Nia said. “What you always telling me? Show them who you are!”

CHRIS

Dinner went better than I expected.

At some point, I was laughing with my head thrown back and my stomach tight from laughing so hard at some dumb shit LL said to Vel. LL always brought out the playfulness in Vel.

“Keep playing, Ima lay yo’ ass out,” Vel said to LL.

“Yo’ big ass ain't too strong to get handled,” LL responded, and they both laughed.

“Nigga, I been waiting. You love to talk shit in front of your girl but be quiet when it’s just you and me.”

LL looked at him with a smirk. “Nigga, you cannot talk. If I'm not mistaken, last time you was around Chris, you was bumpin’ and grindin’ to Pony like a male stripper.”

Vel shrugged. “And I’d do it again.” He looked down at me beside him, his eyes searching my body. “Would you like that, Chris?” he asked, and my cheeks heated.

I looked across the table at Nia, and she raised her eyebrows.

“Answer the man’s question, Chris.”

I rolled my eyes. “I need to go to the bathroom.”

I slid out of the booth, and Nia got out to come with me.

“Don’t run from me, baby.”

I heard Vel say as we walked away, and it made me smile.