6: Get To Know You

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Ch. 6

"I feel like I got thunder and lightning inside of me. You make me nervous, but you also make me calm. Real calm. Calm almost like how God must be calm...Calm from loving." When Zeek said that in The Get Down it pulled at the chords of my heart. I can't wait 'til I meet a man that makes me calm. Eases my soul. I always thought if a man puts butterflies in your stomach that it's a good thing, but that's nervousness. I want a man I can be myself around and not be nervous about it. Dreams..
-Z.D.

I sit in front of my vanity running my flat iron over a section of the curly hair I have in my head. As I'm about to go to the next piece I hear a knock at my apartment door. I furrowed my eyebrows hitting the home button on my phone to see what time it is. I was in the process of getting ready for my date with D'Anthony. It's only 2 o'clock and he's not supposed to be coming until 3pm. Nobody is supposed to be coming over or at least informed me ahead of time.

I get up from my vanity then go over to my door. Before opening it I look in the peephole. I don't even know why I tried because I can never tell who it is. All I had on was a large t-shirt and underwear underneath, so I only opened my door a little. When I saw it was Brayden I said, "What? Why are you just showing up to my place unannounced?" I say as he stands there trying to look in.

"Because you haven't been answering my calls or texts. Let me in, Zi."

"No. I told you what it was last time I saw you. It's over. We're not fucking around anymore. We let it go on for too long. Now can you go, I'm busy."

"I'm not going anywhere until you let me in," he says loudly as his voice echoed down the hallway.

"Would you shut up," I say between clenched teeth.

"No!" He yells loudly. "Let me in," he says looking at me between the small space that I had the door open. "Is someone in there? Is that why you won't let me in?"

"No, Brayden! Even if I did, it wouldn't be your business. I tried to let you down easily..nicely. I said we can still be friends, but you need to let it go."

"I don't want to be your fucking friend, Zipporah. I only settled for the friends with benefits bullshit because I just knew you would change your mind. I guess I was wrong..."

"Yes, you were. I can't and won't ever be in a relationship with you. I told you that!"

"Why? Why, Zipporah? Because I'm white?!" He yells.

"Why the fuck are you yelling?" I ask looking down the hallway to see one of my neighbors looking at us as she locks her door. I look back at Brayden saying, "But yes. Yes, it's because you're white. You know damn well it would never work, so face the facts and move on. Now I have a date to get ready for," I say about to shut the door, but he sticks his foot in. "Move!"

"No. You fuckin' that dude, D'Anthony? That's what I've been hearing. This makes no fucking sense. Last time I checked you hated him. Now you're kissing him out in the open and shit. What does he have that I don't?"

"Are you serious right now?" I ask making a face. He nods his head. "He has melanin. That's what! Now get away from my damn door," I say leaning my back against it to get it shut. Once I finally close it, I lock it then sigh.

Once I finish my hair I do my makeup then get dressed. I throw on a t-shirt, jean skirt and Adidas because D'Anthony told me not to dress up too much.

3 o'clock roles around. Then 3:30 rolls around and he's still not here to pick me up. No text or call to say he's going to be late either. Me being the impatient person I am I snatch my purse up and leave my apartment. I'm not about to waste this hair and makeup.

Maybe this plan won't be as easy as I think..Maybe he knows and he's the one playing me. Maybe Gideon told him something. Who knows, but I'm not going to waste anymore time waiting on him.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I mumble to myself as I look all over my room for my keys. I had been looking for about 45 minutes and I still couldn't find them. My room isn't that damn big, so where could they be hiding? As I'm under my bed with the flashlight on my phone on to see I scream loudly in frustration.

"What the hell are you doing?" I hear a male voice say scaring me making me hit my head on my bed frame. I groan then rub my head. I scoot from under my bed to see Israel and Gideon standing over me.

"What are y'all doing in here?" I say as I stand up then brush myself off.

"Your door was open," Israel says pointing towards it. "What were you doing?" He asks.

"Looking for my car keys. Have either of you seen them?" I say moving stuff around on my desk.

"Naw," Israel responds.

"Nope. Where was the last place you saw them?" Gideon asks as I glare at him.

"If I remembered I would've found my keys by now, dumb ass!"

"Don't get hostile with me because you can't find yo keys. Maybe you should be more responsible. Where you gotta go? Work or somethin'?" He asks.

"No, a date. Let me borrow one of your cars?" I say looking between the two of them.

"Oh, naw. I have work in 30 minutes," Israel says quickly.

I look at Gideon and he says, "I have a date too. Well, more like a fuck, but you get the point."

"I can drop you off at work, Israel. Let me just use your car."

"I guess your slow ass forgot I deliver food. I kinda need a car for that."

I scratch my head then say, "Right."

"Quit stressin' my guy. Pussy ain't that important. Just re-schedule. Who's the date with anyway?" Israel asks.

"Zipporah," I say walking off beginning to look for my keys again. I was waiting for the negative comments to role in.

"You losing your keys is a sign you have no business going on a date with that girl," I hear Gideon say. I huff not responding as I look through my drawers.

"Who knows. Good luck with that my brotha," Israel says patting my shoulder. "I need to get to work." He daps me then exits my room as Gideon sits in my chair kicking his feet up on my desk.

"Can you help if you're gonna be in here?" I ask with an attitude.

"Clearly your keys are nowhere to be found. When were you supposed to pick her up?"

"3," I say grabbing a pair of jeans and as I feel inside the pockets.

"Damn, almost an hour late. She's definitely pissed. The least you could do is shoot the girl a text and explain why you're not coming. Here," he says. I'm too busy looking around I didn't see he was throwing my phone to me so I can catch it. It was too late because by the time I tried to catch it it hit my wooden floors falling screen down. I reach to pick it up to see my screen is completely shattered. "Oh, shit! I'm sorry. I thought you were gonna catch it."

I push a button to see if it still works, but the screen is black and glitchy. I sigh as Gideon stands up saying, "I'ma go. My bad." He rushes out of my room as I sit on my bed. Today is not my day.

I figured since D'Anthony stood me up I could cheer myself up by making some money. So I went to go do a girls makeup for some event she had to fill my Saturday afternoon. As I walk up to the building I live in, I roll my eyes at who I see sitting on the steps looking like a lost puppy and a sad excuse...

I make my way up the stairs as he stands up walking next to me. "I'm sorry I'm late. I lost my car keys...well, they're still lost. I had to walk here, but I'm sorry."

"You lost your keys? Convenient, huh? You couldn't call or text me to let me know?" I say readjusting my purse on my shoulder.

He clears his throat then says, "I broke my phone. I know it sounds unbelievable, but look." He holds his phone up to show me a shattered screen.

"Poor, baby is just having a terrible day," I say sarcastically.

"I know," he says with a sigh not sensing my tone. "I just had to come let you know I didn't stand you up or change my mind. I was actually looking forward to going out with you." It grows quiet then he says, "Maybe I can come up..."

I arch my brow saying, "If this is your way of getting out of taking me out and actually spending money try the next girl. I'm not boo boo the fool. Try again." I start back up the stairs until he grabs my arm.

"Look, I don't have keys therefore I can't drive. I just want to hang out and talk to you. No funny business. I just want to watch The Get Down on Netflix and enjoy each other's company," he says smiling. Can you really say no to a bright white smile up against chocolate skin?

"You're lucky I like that show. Come on, but I gotta do my homework." I say motioning for him to come as I make my way into the building.

Once we get up to my apartment I walk in and he follows going to the living room. He sits on the couch and I grab the remote to my smart tv from off of the coffee table then hand it to him. "I have Netflix and Hulu. Pick whatever you see fit," I say walking towards where my bed is.

"I said this last time, but this is a nice place. Must be cool to have your own space."

"It's cool. Small, but enough for me," I say looking around at my studio apartment.


"Hey, it's better than just having one small room and bathroom. I share a house with more than 20 other niggas. No such thing as privacy and peace and quiet. Always a knock at your door or just noise you hear through the walls. Why don't you live in the Delta house?" He asks as I take my shoes off.

As I walk back to the living room I say, "For that exact reason. I need my own space. I'm very much an introverted extrovert. I need my own space to think and do what I want. I come in and out when I want. I can have whoever I want over. I don't have to worry about people being in my business too much."

I sit on the couch and he says, "I think I know what you're getting at.."

I chuckle, "You know. You don't have to worry about anybody knowing who you're sexing. I can be as loud as I want. There's no walk of shame, nothing."

He laughs then says, "Sounds good to me. I've been thinking about moving out of the frat house next year. We'll see. So, The Get Down it is?"

"Yeah, have you watched the whole series already?" I ask.

"Naw, I got like 2 more episodes. Just don't have the time to sit down and watch them."

"Aw, man. You gotta finish it. I'm so ready for part 2. Yo, please tell me I'm not the only one who doesn't like-"

"Mylene," he says finishing my sentence. "Yo, I hate that bitch. I'm sorry, but she is one. All she cares about is herself."

"I swear. Did my dude Zeek dirty then wanna change her mind. Playing with my mans heart like that." We both laugh as he starts the episode.

Throughout the almost hour and a half long episode we sat quietly just watching only making a few comments here and there. Once the episode is over I get up from the couch saying, "You want anything? A drink or snack?"

"Just some water," he says as I nod then go to the kitchen. Usually when I hang out with a guy for the first time I'm nervous, but I'm not this time. He's easy to be around. Comfortable. He gives you a sense of comfortablity. He's laid back and chill..like me.

As I fix myself some lemonade I hear D'Anthony saying, "These ceilings, the crown molding, the brick walls, the wooden floors...amazing." I look over my shoulder to see him looking around then pick up a picture on my mirrored buffet.

"Someone's into interior design."

"Not really. I guess, kinda. I'm an architecture major, so I guess it goes hand in hand."

"Really? I wondered what your major is. Once upon a time my major was Interior Design."

"What happened?" He asks as I pour sugar into my glass.

"I forgot you kinda have to draw, do measurements and know how to sew. Things I can't do. And I was a lazy freshman who didn't want to put in all that work, so I just switched majors. You like your major?" I ask.

"Yeah, I've wanted to do it since a kid. It's more than just building buildings to me though. People forget about the hood, but I'm not. The inner city deserves more than just project buildings and ran down buildings serving as secret burial grounds and refugees for homeless people." I look at him in surprise. I guess you really don't know someone until you talk to them.

"I like that," I say grabbing my glass of lemonade and his glass of water. I hand it to him then sit back on the couch.

"But then again a pretty building won't stop the murders. They'll just be a barrier for bullets to fly through and claim victims. Anyway," he says sitting back on the couch next to me. "You up for another episode?" I nod my head then he starts it.

. . .

"If you're a Kappa how come I've never seen you step or stroll?" I ask propping my leg up onto the couch. We had finished another episode a long time ago and were just talking now.

"Not my thing. It's not a requirement and I rather not do it. I'm not with the extras."

"What do you mean?"

"I get it's apart of Greek culture, but that's not why I wanted to join. I signed up for the message, history and cause, not to be cool or the big man on campus. I wanted to be a Kappa for the brotherhood and to give back. Not for the parties, the jacket, the colors or to get girls."

"Okay," I say nodding my had as if impressed. "It would still be a sight to see you doing the little shoulder wiggle y'all do," I say moving my shoulders and rubbing my hands making him laugh.

When D'Anthony's phone started ringing I grew quiet as he said, "Let me get this right quick." As he answered his phone I looked at the tv. When he hung up he said, "That was Gideon. Apparently I left my keys in his room. Must've been when I went in his room after we went out last night. I'm so damn slow."

"What's up with Gideon anyway? Like, why is he the way he is?"

D'Anthony shrugs then says, "I don't know. That's just always how he's been since I met him in junior high. I just thought it had to do with the fact he's Cape Verdean. I think it's the way he's brought up. You know?"

"Wait, he's Cape Verdean? I guess that makes sense now. But it's not like he's the super light skin Cape Verdean's who look more Portuguese. He's dark skin meaning he has a lot of African ancestry. My father is Senegalese and I lived in Senegal until we moved to the states. Senegal has a lot of Cape Verdean people because the islands are close to us. I get it. There's a lot of arguments over what Cape Verdean people consider themselves once they get to America. Some don't consider themselves black. Is he one of those who thinks he's better than black people? If that's the case, he shouldn't like you. Why is all his anger towards women?"

"I really don't know. I've never thought to ask. Quite honestly his comments didn't start bothering me until recently. It just isn't right to speak about women the way he does."

"Then why keep hanging out with him?" I ask in curiosity.

He shrugs then says, "That's my best friend. I've been knowing him since forever and he's always had my back. Been there through it all. I can't lie, his thoughts did rub off on me a little, but at this point in my life I'm open to change. He clearly isn't. As a good friend, I can only try to help him. We gotta evolve together. Ya know?"

"Yeah. I get it, I do. Being African I know first hand how people not from America think they're better than black people. In their eyes we have culture and we're smarter. Some have this perception that black people are all from the ghetto and ratchet. They talk bad about African Americans, but then they wanna come live the American dream. They completely forget about what they're about to put their kids through. Nobody explained anything to me, we just up and moved."

I continued saying, "I can't really speak about Cape Verdean's because I'm not Cape Verdean. I guess I get why Gideon thinks the way he does. He's just too grown to not realize he's been taught wrong. At this point he can come up with his own perception about black people, especially women. Dark skin women. He's been

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net