"Grandma Jean, I'm leaving." I said grabbing my keys and my bus card.

"Make sure you keep me updated on everything. I'm not playing with you either." she said pointing her finger at me.

"Grandma, I will. I promise."

"I'm already mad you're taking the bus. What's the point of you having a car. You never use it." she ranted.

She was right. I barely took my own car. I either rode with her and Uncle Jason or took the bus. My car was in the garage collecting dust at this point.

"I have a good reason this time though. We don't know how long the shoot is going to be and you have to pay for parking downtown. Don't nobody got time for that." I laughed.

"Yeah. Okay. Call me if you need anything." she said.

"Yes yes. I will. Love you lots."

"I love you too." she said and I closed the door.

She was about to make me miss my bus. With Lucky Daye playing in my ear, I walked to the bus stop making it just in time.

I got in the bus and just enjoyed the views. I hadn't been out this way in quite a while. So. when the photographer reached out to me, I was happy to accept.

I loved modeling and helping people bring attention to their brands or whatever we are promoting that day. It's brought in good money for me. Even thought Grandma really didn't want me to work outside of the medical field. She finally accepted that that just wasn't something that I wanted to do.

The bus stopped a few blocks from where the shoot was being held. I decided to get off there and walk the rest of the way since it wasn't far.

"Hello. Welcome to Plaza." the lady at the front desk said once I entered the building.

"Hi. I'm here for the gig with Travis Walker."

"Travis Walker?" she asked typing on her computer. "I don't see him in here for today."

I made a face going back to my messages making sure I had everything correct and it was.

"That's weird." I said to myself.

"Yes. We have no record of a Travis Walker at all."

"Okay. Thank you." I said stepping to the side calling Travis to see what all of this was about.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Hello, Travis? Hi I'm downstairs, but, they says they have no record of you having a studio here." I said.

"Oh." he laughed. "I forgot to tell you to say that you coming for Benny Johnson. They should let you up here then." he said hanging up.

Well that was rude.. I thought looking at the phone that now displayed my call log.

I made my way back to the desk and the lady smiled at me once again.

"Fixed the problem?"

"Yes." I said with a slight laugh. "I'm here for Benny Johnson."

"Ah. I got it." she said writing out a pass. "He's on the 4th floor. As soon as the elevator opens, you'll be at the shoot."

"Thank you." I said grabbing the pass and making my way to the elevator. I got on and made my way to the 4th floor.

And like she had said, the elevator opened to the shoot. There was a green back drop, sand and beach balls. I didn't see anybody though.

"Welcome." Benny or Travis said coming from around the corner.

"Hi." I held my hand out.

"I'm Benny. The set decorator. Travis is in the back." he said shaking my hand.

"Okay, because I was confused." I laughed a little.

"Happens a lot." he shrugged. "You can make yourself comfortable. Look at the swimsuits and put them in order you want to model them in."

I watched as he disappeared back around the corner leaving me by myself once again. I though that they had other girls coming. I looked at the swimsuits and they were so cute.

They had a mixture of one and two pieces. They were also bright and summer like colors.

"You ready?" somebody asked and I turned around to see who I'm guessing was Travis.

"I though that's was going to be other girls."

"It was supposed to be, but, I told them not to come." he said.

I made a face. "Well, why'd you do that?" I asked.

"Because, I figured you were all I needed." he shrugged. "Do you have anymore questions or can we start the shoot?"

I just grabbed the first swimsuit and went tot the back and found a bathroom and changed. His attitude wasn't cutting it and I was ready to go. I just wanted to get this over with.

---

We were about 3 hours into the shoot and I was surprised that I even made it this long.

"Yo, what is wrong with you?" Travis asked. "You not smiling or shit. Where is the emotion?"

"I'm starting to think that you should call the other girls back." I said crossing my arms.

"Tiana-"

"My name is Tiyahna." I cut him off. "I've told you this wayy too may times today. You had no problem with my name before this. What is wrong with you?"

"Let's take five." Benny said.

"Yo, she's being weird." Travis said throwing his hands in the air. "You're weird." he said pointing at me.

"You're rude, disrespectful and should not work with people. I'm done. Find somebody else." I said grabbing my clothes that I came with changing back into them.

I was not dealing with him no more . He could find somebody else to deal with him and his problems.

"Oh, T, please don't leave." Benny said following me to the elevator.

"No, I'm leaving. Screw this." I said pressing the button. I wasn't explaining why I couldn't stay. It should have been very obvious.

I waved at the lady as I walked out the building. I had just missed the bus and I cursed myself for not bringing my car. I couldn't wait to tell Grandma Jean about this. I should have known it was going to be something when he hung up in my face.

The bus came and it wasn't as crowded as I thought it was going to be. I placed one earbud in my ear and shuffled my music while holding on to my book bag.

I knew that this choice of work came with people like this so I couldn't be irritated for long. I just laughed a little knowing that I would have a better day than this tomorrow.

---

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of bacon cooking and the sound of The Temptations playing. Of course, it was Sunday morning. And I knew it was no sleeping in.

But, I still felt tired, even after my shower. I decided to go ahead and walk around for a little.

"I'll be back by time you finish cooking." I told Grandma Jean and left out.

Our neighborhood was chill for the most part. We were still in what they considered the hood. Grandma moved here after Grandpa Larry died. He died working on the building so she wanted an apartment here. The house was left for Uncle Jason.

Speaking of Uncle Jason, he was calling my phone.

"Yo, yo. Talk fast and smooth, old school." I answered with a laugh.

He smacked his lips. "Yeah, keep playing. I'm only like 4 years older than you."

"Nigga, that's old." I laughed.

"Man, whatever. When you coming back to the house? I miss you."

"You don't miss me like I miss you."

"You don't miss me, you just miss being over here with your ugly ass boyfriend. Don't you ever try to one up me again."

I laughed. It was true. I did miss my boo. "Whatever crazy. I'll be over there later."

"Okay, cool. How you getting here?"

"I'll drive."

"Whattt?" he gasped. "You getting Mr Duster? I'm shocked."

"You are waayyy too silly for me." I laughed.

"I'm surprised nobody ain't steal it. You know how they be."

"They also know how you be." I said seriously. Yes, Uncle Jason was professional. But, he always got busy in the hood when needed.

"True dat, true dat. But, I'm gonna let you go. When you get here, I'll be gone. Sad face."

"But, when you get home, I'll have breakfast for you."

"Happy face." we both said at the same time. Even though he weren't on FaceTime, I seen his smile. This was our thing.

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