Chapter Twelve: Mine Means Show Up
600 Words
Thursday after school, the weather was hot but the energy was hotter.
“Girl, I swear if they mess up my shape again I’ma throw this whole bottle of polish,” Janiyah said, flipping through the nail swatches like it was life or death. “It’s giving short white claws. Clean. Grown. Rich.”
I nodded, staring at my own chipped set. “I just need something simple. Light pink or nude.”
“You always tryna be soft and subtle,” she teased. “You need to pop out just a little for this party. You got the shoes. The cargos. The hoodie. Hair appointment tomorrow. Nail it all together, boo.”
I smirked. “I got work after this, I’m not tryna be dramatic.”
Janiyah leaned closer like she couldn’t wait anymore.
“Speaking of work... guess who sent me $300 just for lunch and lashes today?”
I blinked. “Smoke?”
“Mhmm.” She bit her lip. “Said he wanna make sure I look good when I’m next to him at the party. That man spoiling me and I’m not even his girlfriend yet.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Yet?”
“Ion know,” she grinned. “It feel different. Like... he protective. Like he wanna be seen with me.”
She glanced over at me and tapped my phone.
“You better tell your lil mystery man he got competition, ‘cause I’m stepping out as a full package.”
After our nails dried and we headed to the mall for my shift, I went home quick to grab my uniform shirt — and the package.
The shoes Zay sent had come in a day early.
I opened the box slowly, lowkey expecting just the sneakers.
But tucked between the paper and sole was a smaller black pouch.
I opened it...
A delicate silver chain with a tiny “Z” hanging from the middle.
No note. No card. Nothing.
Just his initial.
Just a quiet way of saying mine.
I held it up to the mirror, heart skipping.
And for a second... I thought about putting it on.
Friday afternoon.
Work was slow. Barely anybody in the store. I was restocking body sprays and half-watching the time crawl.
I grabbed my phone, leaned on the back counter, and FaceTimed Janiyah.
She picked up, music blasting in the background, laughter in the air.
“What you doing?” I asked.
She turned the phone and showed Smoke walking ahead of her pushing a cart.
“Getting drinks and snacks for the party. Smoke said if he gonna throw a party, it gotta be big.”
I laughed. “You really locked in with him now, huh?”
“He already told his people I’m coming with him.”
I hesitated. “I don’t know if I’m going, though.”
She turned around fast. “What?”
“I don’t know,” I said, adjusting a bottle on the shelf. “I got this weird feeling. Like maybe I shouldn’t go.”
From her speaker, I heard Smoke say, “She not going?”
Then a pause.
Janiyah looked at someone off-camera, then slowly back at me.
“Uh… girl, I’ma call you back, okay?”
Meanwhile…
Zay’s phone buzzed.
Smoke:
Yo. Lyric talking ‘bout not going no more.
You still want me to bring her with Janiyah?
Zay stared at the message.
Lips tight. Jaw locked.
No.
She don’t get to not show up.
Not after the shoes.
Not after the chain.
Not after I decided she was mine.
- Writer
