016

𝙰𝚁𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙸 𝙽𝙴'𝚉𝙸𝙰𝙷 𝙶𝙸𝙱𝚂𝙾𝙽

𝙱𝚁𝙾𝙾𝙺𝙻𝚈𝙽, 𝙽𝚈

The smell of vanilla essence mixed with weed  filled the dark red room as Sativa by Jhené Aiko blasted through the speakers. Armani had finished her weeks of testing so that left her time to relax and do what she loved most—painting. She was finally able to relax and just enjoy the business and the hustle and bustle of New York. She had painted 3 pieces for Akeem's lil bar and she was onto her 4th.

She finished her 4th piece and worked on her last one for the day.

By the time she finished, it was well onto 6 p.m and she was bored, she called Akeem and asked if he was at the bar and he said yeah but Armani could hear people in the background. She contemplated on whether she wanted to be social and decided once again— fuck it, she checked the weather seeing that it was 67 and got dressed in a plain white sweatshirt, some light blue light-washed jeans, and black and white Chanel shoes. She grabbed her red Chanel purse and put her phone, gun, and wallet inside then put the art pieces in the car one by one making sure they were dry.

"Hey girl!" Said Azariah the second Armani walked in.

Armani sighed in relief that it was some people that she knew. Akeem came out from his office in the back and came over to the two.

"Wassup ma?" He said as he hugged her.

"Hey, I got your pieces in the car." Armani said with a smile.

"Damn girl you was fast with it, lemme see it." He said and she nodded.

"I told you she was fast, she really do that drawing shit." Said Azari gassing Armani. "She puts her heart into it and everything she does, watch my good sis take over the art industry."

"Period." Said Armani doing the hand motions.

The two walked out to Armani's car and Akeem pulled out the pieces looking at each with shock.

"Yo these rii here...these FIRE." He said staring at the tupac painting and the one that said open.

Armani blushed, she had gotten compliments on her paintings plenty of times but she was still shy about it even if she was a really good painter and drawer.

"Thank you." She said smiling at him.

"No problem." He said. "imma be right back, lemme get cho money."

"I told you, you don't gotta pay me, I did it cause I already like to draw and paint." She said.

"Nawl man, as fire as these are, you getting paid and ion wanna hear shit else." He said looking at her seriously.

She opened her mouth to say something then reclosed it deciding not to argue. He went back inside then came out a minute later with his wallet in hand. He pulled out a check and handed it to her, and there she saw $5,000.

"I— wow, thats way too much." She said stuttering over her words looking at the number.

"Nah ma, thats way less than what I was originally gon give you, but I figured you'd refuse it and probably not even take the shit." He said. "You deserve it."

She smiled at him appreciatively and the two went back inside. Armani spotted a new person  she didn't see recognize talking to Azariah. She walked closer and saw that it was her ex Micah in his living flesh.

The two stared at each other before Armani walked off mumbling "fuck no," under her breath as she takes a seat on the other side of the bar. She pulled out her phone as she tried to control her breathing the way her therapist told her to, and tapped Azariah's contact—she could had walked over considering the fact that she was a mere 10 feet away— but with the way her anxiety was acting, Armani was sure she'd pass out.

Azariah looked at Armani then looked at Micah with nothing but pure disgust, she then walks over to Armani and sat down making sure she didn't lose sight of Micah.

Micah was Armani's first soul tie and first fuck up, he had fucked her up so bad that it took her forever to learn to love herself again. He was one of those men that made her feel like she'd be nothing without, and when he disappeared after her almost pregnancy, she was broken for a while. Azariah knew the whole story and promised not to tell Armani's father, knowing that he'd get him killed in an instant.

"Why the fuck is he here?" Said Azariah.

"I don't know." Said Armani mean mugging him as he smiles at her obviously ignoring the girl he was with.

She hated his smile, his face, his whole demeanor, and how he never was apologetic for how he treated people. He treated her like nothing and he was a manipulative cold hearted bastard, every thing about him annoyed her and seeing him smile at her— as if the two didn't have history, as if nothing happened made her want to kill him herself with her own bare hands. She wanted to make him feel the way he made her feel but she refused to let him ruin her.

"Wassup y'all? Why y'all all the way ova here?" Asked Akeem coming over.

"My ex is here." Said Armani still mean mugging him.

Akeem looked where she was looking and saw him, he could read from her face that they had some type of history but he didn't want to force her to tell him the problem.

"You want me to make him leave?" Asked Akeem.

"Nope, he's not doing anything just yet." Said Armani staring at the door as Nasir walked in.

"There go yo boo thang." Said Azariah.

"Girl hush." Blushed Armani.

Nasir's confidence almost was enough to overtake the room and when he saw her looking at him— he walked over with a grin making her stomach feel with butterflies.

"Wassup ma?" Said Nasir as she gets up.

The two embrace each other  and Nasir wraps his arms around her waist just above her ass, but low enough for the obvious annoyance to take over Micah's face.

"Nothing how are you?" She asked smiling as she looked up at him. Compared to her average 5'6 he had to be at least 6'2, she loved herself a tall man.

"Im good, I had to slide thru since Akeem gave me the heads up that my lil mama was here." He said licking his lips looking down at her.

Boy don't be looking at me like that, before I ride yo face like a stolen car. Thought Armani as she bit her lip looking at him. The two had gotten more flirtatious but Armani was still shy around him.

"Oh really? And who is that?" She asked.

"You." He said licking his lips again.

"Wassup Armani?" Said a voice making Armani's smile change back to her mug.

"Don't talk to me, don't come near me, don't touch me, and don't breath in the same direction as me cause on me imma slide yo ass and put you on your back." She said turning to see Micah standing there. Nasir stood beside her looking at the somewhat average height dude he didn't know sizing him up.

"Yeah aight, who dis?" Said Micah, completely ignoring her threat.

"None of yo damn business, go somewhere." Said Azariah turning over from Akeem to mean mug him.

"Shut cho bird face ass up, You woulda thought you learned to shut the fuck up after high school." Said Micah mean mugging her. He had hated Azariah since the day Azariah helped Armani learn to love herself.

"Bitch i'll shoot your ass!" Said Azari.

"Aye aye, whats the problem?" Asked Nasir looking at Micah who was mean mugging him. "Who you?"

"Her nigga," said Micah causing a loud laugh to erupt from both Armani and Azari.

"Hell na, you may have been a good 4 years ago but fuck you nigga, go die bitch." Said Armani with nothing but hostility in her voice.

Nasir looked at her shocked knowing her as the quiet shy girl, not...hostile. He was shocked but both intrigued knowing that she wasn't a pushover.

"Well it seems to me sheon want you round ha." Said Nasir stepping up.

"Mind yo business lil nigga." said Micah pushing up on him.

"Aye step back, don't be touching me now cause if I knock yo teeth straight you gon swear I did you wrong." Said Nasir keeping his cool demeanor.

"And I said mind yo business." Said Micah pushing Nasir back. "This between me and Armani."

"Aint shit between you and Armani." Said Akeem, Armani, and Azari all at once.

"Let me talk to you real quick." Said Micah grabbing her arm.

"Aye don't be grabbing on her." Said Nasir pushing him back.

"I coulda sworn I said mind yo business, you beginning to piss me off." Said Micah slightly looking up at Nasir.

"And I said step back, she don't wanna talk to you lil nigga." Said Nasir pushing Micah back.

Micah pushed Nasir again and Nasir cocked his hand back punching him square in the mouth. The two went at pounding on eachother but it was obvious Nasir was the better fighter. Micah's head snapped side to side with every punch Nasir landed to his face and it was getting bloody fast. Armani jumped in the middle pulling Nasir away and Nasir seemingly instantly calmed down.

Something about having her around, seemed to help with his anger issues and keep him from killing niggas with his bare hands. It was like she was a drug he was feenin' for.