Glass Heart

7

Kareem ran his hand down his face as he sat in Sage's front room. The word nervous wasn't even close to how he was feeling. And it didn't make it better that Jamie was sitting across from him, giving him a death stare. He wasn't there for 10 minutes and when he walked into the house, he wished he waited in the car. Just when he was about to stand up and leave, he heard as Sage walked down the stairs.

Kareem stood up and watched her. She smiled at him and did a small spin "How do I look?"

"Beautiful” he smiled back. He held out his hand and Sage took it. They turned to walk outside but Jamie stood in their way.

"I want her back at 11:30. Not 11:30 and 2 seconds nigga, 11:30 on the dot"

"Don't listen to him" Sage said to Kareem "We'll be back when we get back" she walked passed her brother and outside.

Kareem opened the car door for her and helped her inside before getting in on his side.

"Don't you think a smaller car would be better? And easier to get into? "She breathed out as she put on her seatbelt.

Kareem laughed "I'm a man, I need a big car. How'd I look in a small ass car?"

"I guess you have a point" she shrugged "So the plan is the fair? Or something else after?"

"Did you want somethin else after? " he looked over at her "I mean, we could go back to your place and have pizza"

"What topping?”

"The buffalo chicken is good"

Sage smiled "Then pizza it is. If you would've said something like pepperoni, that idea would've been a no go"

Kareem laughed "So tell me about yourself?”

"What is it you wanna know?"

"Whatever you feel comfortable tellin me"

"Ok, well my name is Sage Hazel McKnight. I'm about" she paused "5'5. My birthday is July 4, favorite color is green. I love Chinese food, pizza and anything chocolate."

"That's wassup, you work or in school?"

"I'm a paralegal. I work at Williams and Thompson"

"Oh s**t, I see you"

Sage laughed "What about you?"

"I'm a construction worker"

"That explains the nice arms"

Kareem smiled "Yea, I got a lil somethin" he flexed his arm "Anyway, my name Kareem Lewis. I'm maybe 6'0, my birthday December 24, favorite color is blue and my favorite food is chicken"

"Baked, fried or boiled?"

"Definitely fried" he laughed "But um- your family life. How's that?"

Sage tensed up "That's not something I'm comfortable talking about" she mumbled.

"Oh iight, I'm sorry"

“Its fine"

The rest of the ride to the fair was quiet. Sages mind roamed to her mom and their last confrontation they had.

It’s been 2 full weeks and no call at all. She knows her mom meant everything she said because of the look on her face. But still, she felt like she needed to call her.

At least.

"Listen, I didn't mean to offend you or make you upset" Kareem started as he parked the car "If you wanna end this date and try again some other time, we can do that"

Sage looked at him "you're trying to get rid of me already?" She smiled, “I’m fine ok? It’s just things aren't going good right now. But I'm not worried about that, I'm worried about having fun on this date"

Kareem smiled at her as they both got out the car. They walked until they reached the ticket booth.

"We're gettin on all the rides or just a few?"

"Um, all" she smiled. Kareem paid the $40 for two wristbands and put the first one on Sages wrist. "Thank you, now which ride first?"

Both their eyes scanned the fair and both their eyes landed on the tallest ride.

The sling shot did exactly what it was called. It was a two person ride that slung into the air.

"First person to scream has to buy the food" Sage said as she looked from the ride and at Kareem "And drinks"

"Deal"

Kareem laughed as him and Sage took a seat at an open table. They were still doing the bet which meant Sage had to pay for food and drinks.

"I didn't scream Kareem, It was more of a yelp or something" she continued to try and plead her case.

"A yelp? That's what it’s called?"

She nodded before sighing "Fine, what do you want?" She mumbled.

"Regular burger and fries with a large sprite" he smiled at her "And a funnel cake"

"You cheated" was the last thing she said before getting up and walking to the concession stand.

Her eyes scanned the menu and she stepped forward in line. "Can I get 2 burgers, large fry and 2 large sprites with a funnel cake?"

The man nodded and when the food was passed through the small window, a hand was gently placed on Sages back and a $20 was handed to the guy.

"You really thought I was gon make you pay?" Kareem asked, moving his hand and grabbing the food.

"I did lose, so yea" she grabbed what was left and they walked to the table.

"The way I see it, I asked you on this date so I should pay.”

"I like that, your momma raised you right"

He smiled "So tell me about your brother? I mean, I've met overprotective people before but nothin like him"

"Well yea, he is very overprotective of me. Me, personally, I've been through a lot. And he was always the one who'd get in trouble because he was protecting me"

"You mean, legally?" Kareem asked.

She nodded "He just got out of jail a few weeks ago because he beat up this guy who did some things to me. So naturally, he's become my protector"

"I understand that.”

"It’s ok if I ask about your family?"

"Yea that's cool. My dad died in the military and around that time, me and my momma depended on each other emotionally you know? So over time, I can admit I became a momma’s boy “he laughed and Sage joined him.

"You have a picture of her?"

He pulled out his phone and passed it to her "Go to the gallery. She take pictures like it’s her phone and s**t"

Sage laughed at all the pictures his mom took. A few were of her alone while others had Kareem in it.

"She must be a cool person. Like goofy you know? These faces are something else"

"Yea, she's always trying to make jokes about me. Some are funny but others are what you expect from a parent"

"Corny?"

"Hell yea"

The two continued eating while having conversation with each other. Eventually, Kareem ended up sitting beside Sage just to get a little closer.

The finished riding all the rides and around 12:30, pulled in front of Sages house.

Kareem walked her to the door and waited for her to open the door "I know we said we'll have pizza here but I didn't think we'd get back so late. Raincheck?"

"Yea, that's no problem" he smiled, putting his hands in his pockets.

"I had fun tonight. Maybe we can do this again, say Monday for lunch?"

"Yea, that's cool. I'll see you then"

Sage smiled and kissed his cheek "Text me when you get home"

"I got you. Goodnight Sage"

"Goodnight Kareem"