Chapter 47

6 Months later, November 25th. Esined

I sat in my room, drawing and there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," I said.

The door slowly opened and Auguat peeped his head through.

"Are you going to come in?" I laughed, sitting my drawing pad off to the side.

He smiled and came into my room fully. "Happy one year anniversary, Pooh Bear,"

"Awe. Happy anniversary, Snugga Poo," I smiled and stood up. I gave him a hug and a kiss.

"I got you somethin',"

"You did?"

"Gotchu a few things actually,"

"I thought we said we weren't gonna get each other gifts,"

"Well, you know how I am," he chuckled and handed me a velvet box.

"It better not be expensive,"

"It was cheap,"

I looked at him before opening the box. "Awe," I smiled. "It's beautiful,"

He just smiled.

"How much was it?" I knew it wasn't cheap and I hate when he spends a lot of money on me.

"Don't worry about that," he chuckled, taking it from the box.

I turned my back to him and he put it on me. It was a gold locket with two diamonds that had a lower case A on it. When you opened the locket, there was two pictures of us. One of us with our very first picture together at the Coney Island restaurant and another of us kissing. On the back, it had a rock crystal look.

He kissed my cheek. "It look good on you,"

I touched the locket. "Thank you, baby. This was really sweet of you. I don't even know what gift to get you," I turned back to him.

"You ain't got to,"

I hate when people get me gifts. I always feel the need to return one or not accept it.

"August," I sighed, wanting to ask him something that's been on my mind for a little while. "Where do you work?"

"I told you where I work," he chuckled.

I wasn't stupid, I knew August wasn't a mechanic. They don't make enough money for the way he spends his. I knew he was lying about where he worked when he told me the first time. I just let it go because he's my boyfriend.

Now that we've been together for a little bit, I just want to know the truth from his mouth. Travis had told me out of anger one night that August was a drug dealer.

When he told me, I was upset, but I got over it after a while. I just hoped that August would be willing to give it up in the future if we were to stay together for a long time.

"But you didn't tell me the truth," I said.

"What are you talkin' about?" he asked, sitting down next to me.

"You don't have to lie to me about it anymore," I said, looking at him. "I mean, I'm not okay with your occupation, but you're doing what you have to do. I get it,"

He looked at me. "Who told you?"

"I put two and two together. Mechanics don't make as much as you spend,"

"Mhm,"

"I don't appreciate you lying to me,"

"I'm sorry,"

"Why'd you lie?"

"I just didn't think you was gon' wanna be wit me if you knew,"

"I had interest in a boy after he told me he was a rapper. What made you think I wasn't going to want to be with you?" I laughed.

He started laughing. "Well, if I woulda known dat, I woulda told you I was trappin' soona,"

"I could have been whippin' bricks with bae," I said. "Whippin' a brick," I rapped.

He looked at me like I was crazy. "Esined, is dat you? First cursin' and havin' nasty dreams, now you listenin' ta Migos?"

"Takeoff had the best verse in that song," I giggled.

"You can't listen ta no mo' rap or trap music,"

"First you said I can't curse anymore, now you're taking my trap music? You're trash,"

"Because you're one trap song away from away from sellin' dope. All you do is walk around rappin' trap shit,"

"Not everybody can handle the trap life. Ha, I can,"

"Now you DJ Khaled?"

"Follow me on the pathway to more success,"

"Does yo mama approve of this change in you?"

"I be whippin' in the car with her and Brandon. Jack can't whip, but he still try to turn up,"

August gasped and covered his mouth with his fingertips. "Where is my girlfriend?"

"I'm right here,"

"Barely," he chuckled. "Can I talk ta Esined and not Denise?"

"Hello," I said. "Is it me you're looking for?"

"You got jokes today,"

I laughed. "Okay. I'll stop,"

"I'm talkin' ta Esined?"

"You're always talking to Esined,"

"Is dat right?"

"Is that not what you think?"

"I mean..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You changed,"

"Would you stay the same after you've been in my position?"

"Of course not. I just think you need to learn how to turn it down a little bit," he admitted.

"In what ways?"

"You may just be a lil too harsh now,"

I loved how we could be straight forward with each other and not rude. I loved that we didn't have to yell at each other to get our point across. We could sit down and be mature about it.

"Thanks for letting me know. I really appreciate that. Can I tell you what I think?" I asked.

"Of course,"

"I think you should toughen up, just a little bit," I said, pinching my fingers together.

"Basically, just be myself. Aiight,"

"Have you not been yourself since we've been together?" I laughed.

"I've been actin' a lot nicer than I really am,"

"Be yourself,"

"Don't say dat then be like August, be nice. You're too mean," he mocked a country accent.

"I don't even sound like that anymore,"

"I know," he frowned. "I miss yo country voice. It was cute,"

"It was annoying. I'm happy that traveling has allowed me to adapt to other voices and lose that,"

"Dis ain't fair. I miss my lil cowgirl, my country baybeh. My lil Whitley Gilbert,"

I stuck up the middle finger at him.

"When?"

I put up my ring finger. "That's when,"

"Ahh. Dats a long ways away. I need ta stack up on some lotion and socks,"

I looked at him with disgust. "Ew,"

"It's natural. I know you be playin' wit yo cat,"

"No, I don't," I said honestly.

I never felt the need to do it. It seemed awkward to do.

"Trust me, you'll be doin' it too,"

"I doubt it,"

"You sure about dat?"

"Positive. I don't need to do that,"

"Let me do it,"

"What? August, get out," I laughed.

"No, fa real,"

"Oh. You're serious?"

"Yeah. You probably don't know how to do it yo self," he laughed.

"So? I never thought about touching myself like that. Seems weird,"

"You get the hang of it afta a lil while,"

I scrunched up my face.

"If you don't want me ta do it, it's fine. Just know dat I might be doin' it one day, ya know?" he put up his ring finger and wiggled his eyebrows.

I laughed. "I never said I didn't want you to do it. Just not in your mama house,"

"Pool house,"

"Do you know how much nasty stuff we've done in there? Not there again,"

"So? I thought dat was our lil spot. We've done nasty stuff in your room and mine too,"

I may have broke my own rule a few times, but it never went too far.

"And I've always been scared that someone was gonna walk in on us,"

"Now you actin' scary," he laughed. "How about your bathroom?"

"Why mine? Why not yours? And I'm not scary. I just don't want to get caught,"

"It's called lock the door,"

"It's called the door is locked, they must be being nasty,"

"Dats not always true. We could be havin' a talk and don't want people ta just be walkin' in,"

"Moaning and talking are two different things,"

"You do moan kinda loud,"

"Exactly,"

"Play some loud music,"

"Like what? All I have is trap and older music that I've always been into,"

"I don't wanna listen to no Migos or Alanis Morissette while I'm tryna get freaky. Dats weird. How about Ginuwine?"

"So I can lose all of my morals and be on teen mom? It's an eighty percent chance that my v-card will get swiped before marriage if we play his music. Besides, locking the door and playing Ginuwine? Come on now. That's obvious," I laughed.

"I have condoms in case," he laughed. "Hmm. I wasn't thinkin' about dat,"

"Clearly,"

"Don't start," he laughed. "When you tryna do this?"

"Maybe my birthday?" I said.

"Nasty Eighteen, huh?"

I nodded.

"Alright. I'm cool wit dat,"

"Great,"

"When are you leaving for New York?"

"Tomorrow,"

"Who am I gonna love on durin' Thanksgiving break?"

"Your pillow. Just like I'm gonna love on mine,"

"You betta. I don't wanna see you wit you no modelin' niggas. Especially dat one boy,"

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't be rollin' yo eyes at me. You already know how I feel about him,"

"How can you not like someone you only met once? You don't know anything about him," I laughed.

"I don't like how close he was ta you. And he petty, I can tell. Disrespectful too,"

"You're petty,"

"No, I'm not,"

"Lie again,"

"Whateva. Just stay away from dat horse hair havin' ass-"

"How am I gonna stay away from him when we are partners on the runway and we are doing our photo shoot together?"

He looked at me. "You know what I mean,"

I shook my head. "Unbelievable," I mumbled.

"Chill out wit yo lil attitude,"

"I don't have one,"

"Yes you do and I'm not puttin' up wit it today,"

I folded my arms.

"Get ready so we can go out," he stood up.

"Don't tell me what to do," I mumbled.

He looked back at me and laughed. "You funny,"

"Where are we going?"

"You can put on somethin' fancy, yet casual,"

"Dress or no?"

"If that's what you wanna wear. It's gettin' cold out,"

"A hoe never gets cold," I span in a circle.

"You ain't no hoe, so you betta be shiverin' twenty fo' seven,"

"Oh my gosh. You take the fun out of everything," I whined.

"I bet I do," he said as he left my room. He closed the door and I sucked my teeth.

I began to search my wardrobe for something nice to wear. I didn't want to look too fancy or underdressed.

I sighed, twisting my lips to the side as I moved hangers back and forth. I looked at my clothes. I needed to update my wardrobe, but I was too lazy in all honesty.

When I finally decided on a outfit, I got ready. I decided on an all back fitting dress that stopped right above my knees. I complimented it with gold accessories. As I was putting on my heels, there was a knock on the door. I strapped on my heels and stood up. I went and opened the door.

August and I started laughing. He happened to be wearing all black with gold accessories also.

"Who told you what I was wearin'?" he joked. "You look good, baybeh,"

"You do too," I smiled.

"Lookin' like a mini me wit heels and a dress on,"

"You are so annoying," I laughed. "Let's go,"

We went downstairs and August grabbed my jacket, helping me put it on. He locked up the house before we left.

"Where are we going?" I asked after he had been driving for twenty minutes.

"How many times you gon' ask dat?"

"Until you tell me,"

"You'll find out when we get there,"

I sucked my teeth and scrolled through a playlist on my phone.

"I was listenin' ta dat song,"

"So?"

"Why you so petty?" he laughed.

"You taught me," I laughed with him.

After noticing that he was driving to downtown, I looked at him.

"You tryna spend a check on little ole me?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Dis just a sample of our future,"

August soon pulled up to a fancy looking restaurant called Bacchanalia. He got out of the car and came over to my side. He opened my door and held my hand as I got out. He wrapped his arm around my waist firmly and tossed his keys to the valet. He stepped up to the host.

"Reservation name?" she asked with a smile.

"Alsina," he said.

"Right this with Mr. and Mrs. Alsina," she said.

I looked up at August and he shrugged before chuckling.

We followed the host and she led us to a small booth. We sat down and she placed two menus in front of us.

"Thank you," we said to her.

She gave us a smile before leaving our table.

I looked around, seeing a lot of eyes on us. Some looking at us as if we were a joke for coming into here. Although we were dressed nicely, I believed our skin color had something to do with it. The restaurant was full of older white people who were obviously old money. They were dressed in colors like tan, blue, harsh reds, or white while August and I were dressed fully in black.

I felt underdressed and uncomfortable. I felt like a shadow, but I wouldn't tell August that. I wanted to enjoy this night for us and celebrate our anniversary.

We held hands over the table and as I observed my surroundings, I met eyes with August. He had already been staring at me.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing. You okay?"

"Ta be honest wit you, all dese people starin' at us is annoyin'," he chuckled. "I ain't one fa a crowd, but I know how ta put on a show,"

What was that supposed to mean?

"What?"

He gave me a smile as our waitress came over to us.

"Hello, my name is Brittany and I'll be your waitress for this evening. May I start you off with a beverage?" she asked.

I decided on water and so did August.

He looked over his menu. "I can't pronounce dis silly shit," he mumbled.

I giggled. "I think I'm gonna go with Foie Gras Terrine,"

"Dat sound good," he twisted his lips. "I think I'ma go wit da Poached Georgia Shrimp,"

"Hmm,"

Once our waitress, Brittany, came back over, we ordered and then waited. As we waited, we made conversation.

"You think this food gon' be nasty?" August asked me quietly.

I laughed and covered my mouth.

A man from a table away looked over at us as if we were extremely loud and disturbing his peace.

August stared at the man, giving him the meanest look I've ever seen him give.

"Babe," I said softly.

He looked at me.

"Don't let him ruin our night," I rubbed my thumb on the back of his hand.

"I'm not," he said. "Tired of his wide neck ass lookin' ova hea,"

I tucked in my lips. "Stop," I giggled.

"Aiight,"

After a small wait, our food had finally arrived. It was the smallest meal I had ever seen on a large plate.

"This is what you're paying for?" I asked August after Brittany walked away.

"Yeah," he chuckled, not surprised at the small amount on both of our plates.

Both of our dishes were twenty dollars a piece.

"Twenty bucks for this? Baby, I would have been satisfied with something like Wendy's. Even McDonalds. Just not this expensive bull," I laughed. "Wendy's has a four for four meal deal right now and you brought me here," I whispered at August.

"Baybeh, chill," he laughed.

"McDonalds has two for five, two for two, and a two for two-fifty, but you brought me here," I jokingly kicked his foot under the table. "I hate when you spend money on things that aren't worth it,"

"But you're worth it,"

"Don't try to be cute with me because I want to fight you right now,"

He laughed loudly and people looked over at us.

"Shh,"

He dropped his head, unable to control his laughter. "I'm sorry," he snorted from laughing too hard.

"August. Stop laughing," I mumbled, trying to hold in my laughter also.

At this point, I didn't care about the looks we received or who we made uncomfortable. I was going to enjoy my night with my boyfriend and laugh as much as I could. I just wanted us to have a great night.

August and I decided to make this night worth the money and got the other four courses. We made small talk and laughed amongst ourselves. The eyes that were once on us appeared again when August looked up at me with two straws in his nostrils.

"Baybeh, what animal am I?"

"August please," I laughed.

"Tell me. What animal am I?"

I took out my phone and snapped a picture of him. "Tell me,"

"A waaalrus," he said as if he was Sandy Cheeks from SpongeBob SquarePants.

I couldn't hold in my laughter. I started crying from laughing too hard. "Why are you like this?"

He laughed, removing the straws from his nose.

An older couple besides us couldn't even hold in their laughter.

When the bill arrived, August didn't even look at it. He just handed Brittany his black card and she left with it. Once August received his card back, we left the restaurant with smiles on our faces.

He got his car from valet and made sure I was in first before getting in the drivers seat.

"Hook me up ta the aux," he said.

"I'm getting on the aux," I said.

"You was on it da way hea,"

"But I have a song I've been wanting you to hear,"

"Aiight, fine. Play it," he said as he drove down a street.

I hooked my phone up to the aux cord and pressed play.

Life is so easy when you are touching me.I never thought that I would ever feel so complete.I want you around for forever times infinity.Never thought I could say these things, look what you've done. Done to me.I would do anything for you. For you.Travel cross the world just to see you. See you.Things feel brand new with you. With you.Time seems to stand when I'm with you. With you.

I looked at August as he listened. "I couldn't put into words how I feel about you, so I found a song," I said shyly.

He smiled. "That's so cute. I love da song. So did how you feelin'?"

I nodded. "When I say I love you, I mean it. I love you, August. I really do," I said.

He pulled up to a red light and reached his hand over, holding mine. He kissed the back of my hand. "I love you mo', Esined,"

-I said 30 mins, but I was on bpt lmao. Sorry, I started adding more things.

Hoped y'all enjoyed that though.

Excuse typos please, I'm not pre reading lol. I'll go back and edit later.

Comments & Votes are appreciated.

Much love, Shia. Xoxo