Confident

Introduction

“No”

I didn’t look up from my phones as I shut down what ridiculous request Laylanni was about to throw my way. I already knew it was bullshit and a waste of my time.

“Come on, Mina, it’s not even that serious! It’s going to be like four of us o extra stuff,” she wined standing at the door of my bed, a whole outfit in her hand like she just knew I was about to say yes.

And just for that? I’m saying no.

“Lay, I’m busy. I have assignments to finish. It’s our last semester and I’ll be dammed if my gpa drop.” I said lying straight through my teeth. My work had been done for days— shoutout to Quizlet.

“b***h, you gave me the answers. We both finished. Now get up!” She folded her arms, tapping her foot. “I’ll even feed you and put a lil gas in Betty.”

See that’s what I like to hear!

“Okay, four people. No more than that. And I want my mean a large from Wendy’s. Don’t think I’m getting a 4 for $4, be a gave ‘4 for $4’ ass hoe.” I pointed at her, making sure she understood every single word. Lay had a talent for finding loopholes, and I wasn’t in the mood to be finessed.

She rolled her eyes. “Okay,okay! Damn. Now get dressed all that yelling …breath smelling like budussy.” She mumbled the part but I still caught it.

“Lay, don’t he like the last nigga. Be different. Live to see another day.” I shot back, dragging myself out of bed and toward my closet. I had a closet full of clothes but not a damn thing to wear. No matter how much I bought, I still never had an outfit when I needed one.

Lay sighed dramatically. “I’m going downstairs. Please don’t take all day. It’s already five, and I don’t want to be over there late.”

Audacity. Every b***h has it but, to show it … bold.

“Aren’t you still trying to convince me to go? Your ride is hanging on by a large fry and strawberry lemonade.” I shook my head heading toward the bathroom.

I took a quick shower — hygiene, ladies, gentlemen… thems, theys, and none at alls, clean it even if it doesn’t stink yet! — then slather my body in shea butter and ran coconut oil through my hair. I thee on a simple pink body on dress from pretty little things with my clear sandals and headed for the living room.

Lay was already there waiting, scrolling through her phone. The second she saw me, she rolled her eyes. “You took damn near 40 minutes to come down here looking like the fourth member of destinys child.”

I frowned. “There was a fourth member of Destinys child?”

“Exactly,”she said, already headed for the door.

I grabbed my keys, turned off all the lights and double-checked the back door before locking up. My truck, Betty was parked out front — big, white and paid for my by my daddy. I climbed into the driver’s seat and smirked as lay struggled to get in.

“Your fine ass daddy know he wrong for buying this big ass bulldozer,” she grumbled, wiping her hands in her leggings. “I just put on lotion, now I’m sliding all over the damn place.”

I laughed. “You know you can walk, right? I can literally pull over at the nearest curb.”

“See, now you’re doing too much.” She grabbed her the aid cord switch the radio. “ Ooouuuu, ima play that song that’s like, ‘All of this love is toxic…..”

I snapped my fingers. “By Kehlani ! That’s my song!”

Lay gave me a side eye. “Let her sing it. She worked to hard for you to sound like that.”

She cackled like she just said the funniest thing in the world. Joke was lame as hell, but I let her have it. I could have easily said something about those big ass shoes she had on, but I was feeling generous.

I pulled into Wendy’s drive thru, carefully maneuvering over the humps — I’d gotten stuck in this drive thru once before and never again.

“Hi, Welcome to Wendy’s. Would you like to try our loaded bacon fries ?”

“No, thank you. Can I have a 10 piece nugget meal with a large strawberry lemonade?” I glanced over at lay. “What you getting?”

“I want a biggie bag with a strawberry lemonade,” she said barely looking up from her phone.

I repeated the order. “No pickles, no onions, and I want BBQ and sweet and sour sauce.”

“So that’s a biggie bag — no onions, no pickles— two large strawberry lemonades and everything well done.”

“Yes.”

I pulled up to the window, and when the cashier gave me the total, I turned to lay, who was suddenly so invested in her phone. Knowing dang well she agreed to pay.

She was playing with me, knowing I’d embarrass her.

“Lay, give this lady your card. We don’t have all day.”

She sucked her teeth, pulling her card out with all the attitude in the world. The lady swiped it, handed it back, and we went to the next window.

Taking the bags and passing them to Lay I was headed straight for the gas station, already seeing how sneaky she was trying to be. “And please don’t put $5 in Betty. She doesn’t run in hope and friendships.”

“I got it damn.” She matter slamming the door and headed inside.

I slid back in my seat immediately opening i********: to find a good giggle.

When lay got back inside the car she put the address in the GPS, and before I knew it we was pulling up to house with all type of niggas with a few females in the mix.

“Now lay.” I gave lay a look. “Didn’t you say no more than four people? I don’t know these damn people.”

She waved me off before hoping out the truck. “Girl they cool I wouldn’t bring you anywhere I wasn’t safe.”

I rolled my eyes before following suit and hopping out the car.

As we walked up, one of the boys yelled, “aye who dat?!”

Lay shot him a glare, “Capo PLEASE SHUT UP, before I tell yo momma you outside.” Causing everyone to laugh.

“Okay, but who dat with you.” He doubled down causing me to c**k my head in his direction.

“I could speak.” I looked him up and down I hated when people asked about me but didn’t address me. “My name Mina.”

Lay laughed. “Mina don’t pay capo too much attention, he does s**t just to get under your skin.” She shook her head before pointing people out, “ that’s Chino, Zay, Pooter, Dior, and Aaliyah.”

“Just f**k me huh?”

“And that’s Ant.” She added on with a laugh.

I nodded my head knowing I wasn’t good with names and wouldn’t remember a single thing she told me.

“Aye Mina, you coming inside or stay out here with them?” One of them asked.

I wasn’t sure even sure which one he was, but I definitely wasn’t staying outside to watch my lace slip back. So, I nodded my head before stepping him as he held the door open.