Samara
“Can you tell me what that was?” I asked Paige.
Paige, Alyse, and I had met up at the Blue Café while I had a break between my classes.
The café was a vibe; they played decent music, had comfortable seating, and the food was great.
Students were in and out of this place; some studied, some met up to do what we were doing, and some sat in corners, gazing out the window, trying to figure out their lives.
Paige and Alyse had become my closest friends.
With them both having boyfriends within the Zoo, it was almost inevitable for us not to be friends.
The only person we were missing was Morgan, but she didn’t attend the school.
Alyse scrolled through her phone while Paige pretended to be doing something on her laptop. I let out a loud sigh to catch both of their attention. “Fine. Don’t tell me anything.”
Paige’s eyes peeked over her laptop while Alyse stopped scrolling and shifted in her seat. “I mean, you know, it was a moment,” Alyse said to me.
I rolled my eyes. “Duh! I know that, but was it like some initiation thing?”
Paige looked confused. “Wait... You and Dio live together, and you have no idea about any of it?”
I shrank. “No,” I mumbled.
Now I felt dumb for asking. However, I felt like Dio was keeping something from me, or maybe it was the fear of missing out.
I knew I shouldn’t have let it bother me, but it did, especially now that he moved out for the semester.
I wanted to tell them, but I was embarrassed because I honestly didn’t know where Dio and I stood.
Both of them stared at me before Alyse smirked.
“It’s coming. All I can tell you is it’s a great experience, and prepare yourself. Girl, you are the princess of the Zoo with or without an Orange Light Special. I mean, shit.”
Orange Light Special? I gave them both a weak smile. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure I’m just being impatient. Anyway, Paige, are you excited about graduation?” I asked.
She gave a weak shrug. “I guess, but this thesis is whooping my ass. It’s been a four-year drag, and it’s almost over. I—”
Her eyes widened as she looked over my shoulder. My head turned slightly to see Jesaiah and a group of guys sitting at the table behind us. When he caught me looking at him, his eyes narrowed in on me.
“Sup, Samara?” he said before smiling.
“Hi,” I mumbled.
I cleared my throat as I turned back to the girls. Alyse shook her head. “Don’t do it, girl. He’s a part of Chi Kappa Chi, and I heard they were trouble.”
Paige nodded in agreement. “Yes, you know they think they run the campus. Be careful, Samara. It is easy to get wrapped up in this college bullshit if you let it, and we all know Dio is the last nigga that needs to be in any trouble here. Look, try this,” she said as she handed me a paper.
I glanced at the paper, and it was a flyer for an internship working in the dean’s office. “An internship?”
“It will keep you occupied, and it’s great if you want to get your feet wet.”
“Paige, I’m an artist, not a damn office assistant.”
She laughed. “I know you like the arts, but you never know who comes in and out of there. Look, you don’t have to, but anything is better than fucking with these niggas.”
I wasn’t sure why they thought I would fall for the bait.
I loved my man, but I couldn’t lie; it felt good to be seen.
I didn’t know if it was all in my head, but I did feel like we were losing touch with one another.
Dio and I used to sit up all night and talk, cuddle, smoke, and even make love.
Now that he held the title Prince of the Zoo, everything was go, go, go, and clearly that changed everything.
Am I losing my man? I prayed like hell I wasn’t.
Alyse stood from the table before hiking her purse over her shoulder. “I got practice, but I wanted to share with you all, since we’re bringing up Chi Kappa Chi, they're hosting a pageant for Queen of the Chi, and I’ve entered.”
My eyes lit up. “That’s awesome, girl. You know you got our support.”
“Sure do,” Paige added.
“Good because I sure need it, especially with Apple in the running. I heard she entered. You know everyone likes her.”
Paige hissed. “Girl, and everyone likes you. You got this!” she snapped.
Alyse smiled before hugging both of us and leaving. Only moments after, Paige got up, packed her things, and told me she would text me later. I was now sitting alone in my own head, just as some of the loner students did.
I pulled out my phone and texted Dio to see if he wanted to meet me here so we could talk about last night. Honestly, I just wanted him in my presence because the fear of him not wanting me anymore was all I could think about.
While I waited for him to answer, the chair in front of me was pulled out for Jesaiah to sit in. I wasn’t sure what his motive was, but it was clear he wasn’t going to stop. He leaned forward as he tried to touch my hand before I pulled it away. “Pretty ass,” he whispered.
“Please. I do have a boyfriend,” I said to him.
He scoffed. “Ya’ man ain’t me.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t you have something better to do than to sit in my face? You just invited yourself over here.”
He leaned back, giving me full access to stare at him. Thick, athletic build, a few tattoos, light skin, and deep, dark eyes. He was fine—I couldn’t deny it—but he wasn’t my man. He crossed his arms over his chest as he raised his brows.
“All I’m doing is keeping you company since your friends left, but hey, if you want to sit here alone, fine. You say you got a man, but where the nigga at? It’s college. Live free,” he said and got up from the table.
I watched as he walked back to the table with his friends. I didn’t know what the hell that was, but if I had to guess, it was a test being thrown at Dio and me.
Moments later, the girl who won Miss Toussaint State walked over to their table. Her hands ran across his shoulders as her eyes landed on me. The last thing I needed was drama over a guy I wasn’t checking for. I smirked as I shook my head and turned back around, minding my business.