II | Mr. Imperfect

"Damn, slow down next time! You almost broke my fuckin' neck turning like that," Chiko huffed, fisting the grab handle above his head as the vehicle skidded into the brightly lit parking lot. "This is why I don't like riding wit' you."

"All I hear is wah, wah, wah. Stop cryin' already,"Izzy mocked, switching gears and cutting the engine. He reached into the glove compartment and tucked his firearm into his waistband, a smirk playing on his lips. The high of winning a race always lasted for the rest of the night for him. Sometimes it even bled into the next day. Chiko was a little more subtle with his pride.

Stationed beside pump number eight, the two men hopped out of the car and confidently strode toward the convenience store. It seemed like no matter the time, there were always people lingering about. Eyes belonging to both men and women alike observed them for different reasons, some blatantly, others more discreet.

The Fontaine brothers simply stared back, used to being the center of attention. If the flashy cars and chiseled faces didn't reel people in, their banter and natural charm did.

A ding of the bell above the door announced their arrival, and the clerk greeted them with a friendly smile. "Hello. Pump eight, ehh?"

"Yeah." Izzy cupped his jaw, scanning the selection of potato chips as he went down the aisle. They had already eaten from a local fast food restaurant, but he wanted to have a snack ready after their smoke session.

When Chiko got to the counter, he pulled out a wad of cash, paid for his items and, headed out the door. Izzy's bag crinkled as he half-jogged past him, choosing a grade of gas and inserting the nozzle into the port. The price rapidly increased as he squeezed the handle.

A trio of women dressed in high heels exited the vehicle next to them, giggling amongst one another. It was obvious that they were speaking in code about the two attractive men standing by the red sports car, so Izzy decided to humor them. "Damn, trench coats in the summertime? What y'all tryna hide?"

"Our uniforms." The shortest one smirked, licking the side of the colorful paper bowl in her hands. 613 blonde bundles sat a little past her shoulders in soft curls, and the baby blue contacts were a stark contrast from her dark brown skin.

"Word." He nodded, turning his gaze back to the meter that had stopped. "I must gotta throw a lil something to see it."

"Maybe. Depends on how generous I'm feeling." She walked around the Honda to dispose of her melted dessert, making sure to bend down enough for the print of her asscheeks to become visible.

"Where'd y'all get ice cream from at 2 AM?" Chiko finally spoke up.

The tallest woman with a light spray of freckles across her face tucked her straightened hair behind her ear. She was the best looking one out of the three, but he still wasn't interested. Unfortunately for her, she felt the opposite, smizing and pursing her lips.

"It's froyo. There's a new spot up the street that's open for 24 hours on the weekends." She nodded her slender face to the right.

"Cool." Chiko hopped in the passenger seat just as Izzy closed the gas port on the car and circled around to the driver's side.

"Are y'all friends or...?" The unnatural blonde pried, cupping her hips.

"Fraternal twins." Izzy replied automatically before closing the door. It was a question that they answered often. The engine roared to life per his intention, and he rolled his window down. "So how generous are you feeling?"

Wordlessly, she opened her coat to reveal her thighs encased in black fishnet dress. "You gotta do a little more to see the rest."

"Which one of you is the nice twin?" The third woman asked, her eyelashes so long that they casted a dark shadow over her features.

"We take turns." Izzy shrugged, a grin spreading across his face. "Tonight it's me. Slide me your number. All of y'all."

"Eww." Each of the women turned their noses up in disgust and rolled their eyes, abandoning the conversation immediately to head into the store.

Izzy pulled his eyebrows together in annoyance. "Man, they shake ass for everybody, but I can't have a lil fun with all of 'em? Lame as fuck."

"That's what yo' nasty ass get." Chiko laughed as the car moved forward. "Let's go to that yogurt spot."

Trap music blasted through the space and Izzy bobbed his head dramatically, rejection forgotten. Four minutes later, a neon green sign designed in bubble letters came into view, and its customers looked a lot more friendly than the ones at the gas station. No addicts or boosters on the corner. He parked in front of the store and they went inside.

Halle had just scooped a second serving of chopped strawberries into her bowl when two men dressed in all black entered the vicinity.

They had a lot of physical similarities such as height, crisp fades, and strong jawlines but just as many differences as well. One had brown skin with fuller lips and a thicker beard while the other had a darker complexion, more tattoos, and bigger eyes. The cashier cheerfully greeted both, but only the latter verbally responded. The other one walked to the stack of colorful cups and read over the yogurt options.

Chiko locked eyes with the woman standing by the toppings bar while he pulled the knob to release the vanilla froyo. His his dark eyes skimmed over her late night fit so Halle turned back around, suddenly feeling shy. She'd just thrown on a baby tee and some sweats, topping it off with a light jacket and minimal jewelry.

After being pushed away by Rowan, she didn't really care too much for her appearance and figured that a sweet treat while he slept would do her some justice. It wasn't the first time she'd left in the middle of the night without him knowing and probably wouldn't be the last. Rowan slept like a dead person.

Thank God for home security. We'd be out of luck waiting on him to save us from an intruder.

Reaching for the brownie bits next, she tried to ignore the male walking towards her. Chiko admired Halle's bare face and slightly messy hair. She was effortlessly beautiful with doe eyes, and round cheeks.

I should ask her out, he thought. "Excuse me."

"I have a boyfriend, " she snipped without meeting his eyes, and he chuckled dryly.

"Did I ask you that?"

"You didn't have to." She put the can of whipped cream down, and pulled her jacket tighter around her body to cover her nipples straining against the cotton. He noticed.

Of course he did. The voice inside Halle's head chirped. At least somebody did.

"I can't even know your name?" Chiko lowered his head, and she finally looked up at him.

"Halle," she deadpanned.

"Okay, well you have a good night then... Halle."

She twisted her lips to the side, contemplating asking for his name but thought better of it. "You too."

"Aww, Halle and Chiko, both y'all asses need to move out the way." Izzy, the darker twin, pretended to coo, impatiently waiting to get to the graham cracker shavings.

I was done anyway.

She walked over to the counter and placed her bowl on the scale, watching the two brothers from her peripheral. Chiko was nothing like Rowan. His lingo was informal, his walk more relaxed, not to mention the ink on his skin. He was very handsome though, and he knew it. He knew that she knew it too, smirking to himself when he caught her gawking.

Yes, Rowan was confident, but Mr. Imperfect was cocky.

No more words were exchanged between the new acquaintances, but neither refrained from stealing one last glance. Halle paid three dollars and some change, and left the shop.

Izzy released a chuckle when the door closed behind her, dipping his tongue into his bowl. "I guess neither one of us getting any pussy tonight. This world is so evil."

"Sir," the cashier timidly interjected. "You have to pay for the yogurt before eating it."

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-First impressions of Mr. Imperfect?

-Which do you prefer, first person POV or third person POV?

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