𝟎𝟏𝟓, 𝗄𝗂𝗌𝗌 𝗆𝖾 𝗄𝗂𝗌𝗌 𝗄𝗂𝗌𝗌 𝗄𝗂𝗌𝗌 𝗆𝖾
𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐈𝐍: 𝗃𝗎𝗇𝖺 𝖻𝗒 clairo.

𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢'𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

I've always been the girl who romanticized every little thing in her life finding love in every and anything I did because I had learned from a young age to appreciate everything or simply just the fact if I didn't romanticize it... I wouldn't do it.

Now, I had this thing to romanticize about: Judea and I first date. It was finally happening and I couldn't help but plaster a big tooth grinning smile on my face as I thought about it.

My hair was pinned into pink rollers that took a strawberry apricot Red Bull, a YouTube tutorial, aaliyah words of encouragement and a million of "fuck this shit im just finna slick this shit into a bun", to get it done but it was done.

Ju said the location was a surprise but told me to dress how I normally do which didn't help at all when it came to picking out an outfit.

I opted for a cheetah print shirt with no sleeves, a mini denim skirt, white socks, doc martens and a vintage brown bag that I most likely stole from my mamas closet. All the emotions started to rise about this date but I just hoped I looked as pretty as I felt.

Juna by Clairo was rudely interrupted when my phone started to ring pausing the music. "fuck", I cursed ripping a small piece of tissue off the roll swiping off the overlined deep brown lip liner off my lips before answering my phone.

"Hello?", I spoke still wiping my lips staring at the mirror making sure not to ruin my makeup. "Hi", Juju spoke and I immediately checked the time worried that I had lost track of it and she was already here but it was only 1 and she suppose to be here at 2.

"Ju",
"Mani",

A small sigh escaped Ju lips, "I'm nervous", she states. "Nervous about what? what's wrong? talk to me", I demanded a bit worried pausing my actions as I wait for her to talk.

She chuckles a bit clearing her throat, "I'm okay, Nothing wrong... it's just I'm nervous about our date", she confesses. "I can't pick out an outfit that I'll think you like and my bun is lopsided and I just want this to be perfect for you.. for us ya know but I'm just so nervous", she rambles.

Aw. I smile at her rambles finding it cute how nervous she was because I've never seen this side of Ju before. As friends she was always sure and secure but never nervous. Realization hit me that isn't friend version of Ju but a friend and more.

"I'm nervous too", I admit. "Really?", she asks almost shocked. "Yeah but I think it's good that we're nervous, don't you think?", I asked. She hums into the phone as she took in the question.

"How come?", she asks. I adjust myself in my chair placing my phone onto the vanity turning it onto speaker phone as I focus back on my makeup. "Well us being nervous is normal Ju but it shows we care, we have high expectations for this and most importantly we're both allowing ourselves to step out of our comfort zones for one another and that means a lot", I say.

There's a silence on the phone but it's like I can hear her smile let alone see it, "I get it", she says her voice firm. "and for the outfit wear what makes you feel good not me", I tell her.

"Okay... and the hair?", she trails. "The bun is court juju just wear your hair done it's always the prettiest that way to me", I suggest. She giggles a bit, "Thank you Mani... I'm still nervous but a good nervous... see you later", she says hanging up.

Right on the dot, there was a knock on my dorm door allowing me to take one more look at myself in the full length mirror smiling at how pretty i felt and looked. Theres another knock pulling me out my trance, "Hey Mani, It's me", Juju spoke behind the door.

I quickly stuff my gloss, gum and other items into my bag then slipping on a denim jacket before I opened the door. "Sorry", I apologize as I meet eyes with Judea.

She was dressed in plain white shirt, camo cargo shorts and fresh white air force ones with light jewelry decorating her ears, neck and wrist. Meanwhile for her hair she placed it into a half up half down her curls still a little wet.

"You look beautiful Ju", I smile. She rocks back and forth on her heels holding an envelope with a potted flower. "Thank you, you look pretty as always and these are for you", She hands the items to me. I thank her before quickly placing the flower pot and envelope on my desk excited for this date.

Our destination wasn't far off campus so Ju insisted we walk N
and I didn't really care. We stopped at a bookstore that's a bit old with dimmed lights, neutral browns and long tall shelves up to the ceilings filled with books.

When we walked it an old man sat at the counter his glasses rest on his nose and his face stuck in a book as a piano instrumental played I'm causing from his desktop computer.

He lowered the book at the sound of the bells as we entered squinting his eyes and his face became bright when he got a good look at us, "ah young folks! i didn't even know people your age still read books", he commented sitting up straight in his chair.

Juju laughed a bit and i smiled, "it's nice to have you here, let me know you need help with anything but other than I'll be sitting here reading my book", he pointed to the book.

"Okay sir", Judea replied to him slipping her hands into mines leading us to the shelves. "How do you know about this place", I asked curious wrapping my other hand onto her wrist softly. "During summer conditioning it wasn't much to do so I got into reading and found this bookstore", she told me.

I hummed as we scanned the books searching for the romance section. "So I was thinking it'll be fun if we looked around and picked a book we'll think one of us likes", she suggest. I tilt my head a bit at her, "but I don't know what you like to read", I trailed.

She smiles looking me into my eyes softly, "that's the point mani, don't stress it", she assures me rubbing her thumb across my hand that she intertwined into mines.

We scan the books together and I wonder what books she liked to read it was hard to tell just by looking at her so then I decided to give her a book I think she'll like.

"You one of them girlies who read them....freaky books?", She asked raising her eyebrows with a smirk as she flipped through the book in her hand.

I widened my eyes giving her a slight eye but I slowly shake my head. "Nahhhhh", I drag avoiding eye contact with her. She laughs loudly throwing her back pulling me into her making me look at her.

"No I don't, I swear", I say a bit embarrassed hiding myself into her chest. She hums in satisfaction at the warmth, "I'm just playing, I'm not judging", she tells me pulling away from the hug.

After a hour we finally pick a book we'll think one of us would like. We go up the register placing them onto the counter gaining the old man's attention.

"What's your name?", I asked as he rings up the books. He pushed his glasses from the bridge of his nose to his eyes. "Arthur", he replies with a soft smile his wrinkles rising.

Judea pulls out her wallet from her pocket, "and yours young lady?", he asked as he waited for Ju. "Imani and this is Judea", I introduced us happily. "I love your bookstore", I compliment him.

She swipes her card and he bags the books, "Thank you, it's nice to hear. I hope you young ladies enjoy your books", He says handing Judea the bag. "And I've seen you all over here, you can ball girl", he tells Juju. "Thank you Sir", she said filled with manners. We say our goodbyes to Arthur and we make our way.

I was eager to see what book she got me so I reached for the bag but she snatched it away. "Unt Unt you gotta wait", she said pushing her wallet back into her pockets.

"What you mean guh? Isn't it over?", I asked and she sucked her teeth shaking her head. "No, I can't bring you back home hungry... I set us up a lil picnic and then we can show our books", she tells me.

For our first date she was setting the bar high with the bookstore and the picnic, she didn't even seem nervous like she said she did on the phone.

She perfect at this.

I slipped off my doc martens placing them beside her air force ones as we took a seat on the white and red checkered picnic blanket.

A variety of food was scattered on the blanket and I ain't waste no time to pop open the fruit tray taking a couple of pineapple slices. "No grace or nun okay", Juju smirked at me.

We ate our food for a bit and talked until Juju held her sandwich pulling her book out of the bag clearing her throat before she talked. "This is a poetry book called there is room for all of you here", she handed me the book.

"You've read it?", I ask and she shakes her head no. "No so you're going in blind", she says taking a bite out of her sandwich. I nod softly and then pull out my book handing it to her.

She grasps it from my hand, "You've reached Sam", she reads out loud as she looks at the cover before looking over at me. "I didn't know what you read... so I picked a book I think you'll like it... well more of that I've liked", I comment. "But it is sad but it's a really good book... I promise", I pleaded. After we exchange our books, we continue to eat and we read our books before we wrapped up our date.

"Thank you Mani, for going on this date with me", Judea says as we make it to the door of my dorm. A soft smile comes upon my face but my cheeks don't rise.

I stare at her a bit, "Ju?", I say but more in a questioning tone. She hums in response as she stares at me a worried expression run across her face.

"Oh no, was this bad? Did I do bad?", she asked worried and I immediately shake my head laughing a bit a the drop of her face.

"No this date was perfect and you did good but... i feel like you've been holding back this entire date when it came to...", I trail tearing my eyes away from her.

She pulled her eyes out of her pockets pulling my chin softly too look at her, "don't do that", she runs the tip of her tongue over the bottom of her lip, "talk to me, what didn't I do so I can do better next time", she tells me.

My breath hitches at the actions and I lose my balance a bit, "I-uh... you... you were holding back when it came to physical touch like you were afraid and I understand that when you touch me now it's different than before but-", she interprets me.

She nods her head a little, "but physical touch is your thing", she finishes for me and I only nod in response. I was never the girl was quick to submit but holy fuck. It was like I was a fly on the wall too scared to move or get caught.

"This is all new to us mani", she says. "And I didn't want to overstep this because I want us to do this right even if we already know each other", she continues. "But I've holding back because all I want to do is kiss you", she finally confesses.

I slowly point to myself, "me?", she drops her head laughing a bit removing her hands from my chin. "yes you mani... i want to kiss you", she looks back up at me.

There's a silence as I shift again gaining my balance, fixing my posture, pushing my hair off to my back and then adjusting my bag that rested on my shoulders as I gain the courage to say

"Kiss me".

She stops her little giggles and looks at me with a serious look, "come on mani that's not funny", she whines. "I'm not joking", I say.

"Kiss me".

Once the word leave my lips, a faint breath past her lips as she quickly cups my face into her hands. Her lips hover over mines before she softly places them on my lips.

Her lips tasted like cherry from her chapstick and you could smell the mint from her gum. She pulls away from the peck scanning me face from any discomfort and when she first sees any she smashes her lips onto mines.

I hum into the kiss pulling her in closer by her waist the bag on my shoulders drop into the crease of my elbow but i continue to kiss her.

The kiss was warm, soft and a gentle spark that I had longed for but it was also deep and intense at the same wanting to want more but I pull away clearing mg throat and adjusting myself pulling the ends of my mini skirt.

She stares at me her eyes dark and low as her finger traces over her lips still in a trance. "Goodnight Mani", is all she says stuffing her hands back into her pocket. "Goodnight Ju", I reply back. She smiles at and I turn around pulling my dorm key out of bag and going inside.

whattttt the fuckkkk