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Today is the the day. The day my throat stops hurting and I can speak without having to cough every few seconds, it's also the day of this little double date bullshit Stokeley and I planned. Only reason it's bullshit is because we're going to a restaurant, I don't like fancy shit but Michael says he's down and whatever so it's 3 over 1. But nonetheless, I'm not going to let that ruin my night, it's not even a big deal.

Michael's basically been living with me for the past couple weeks, he literally begs me to stay the night. I have to refuse sometimes because I have been getting more and more in routine with going to work and actually getting my hours up so I want to have as much sleep possible. Because whenever Michael is over, my mouth is suddenly a daycare.

"Mikey, you can't wear a sweats and a hoodie to a dinner date." I say trying to tug it off of him. Sometimes he's such a big baby. He pouts refusing to take it off.

"Yes I can. It's just a double date anyway." He says whining. "Michael.." I said in a warning tone, "Take off the hoodie and out something nice on." I pleaded.

He smirks, "Not until you give me what I want." He suggested, "No." I said.

"Plea-"

"Nooooo." I said cutting him off. "Can you please please please change, Daddy?"

He rolled his eyes and sighed, "Fine." He said finally obeying to take it off.

"Thank you." I said going upstairs to shower.

"Where you goin?" He asks, "To take a shower."

"Wait for me." He says getting up and coming after me.

To be honest, I have cold feet about this date, and I'm really contemplating if I made the right choice coming up with this idea. But it's too late now as the dinner is tonight.

Val said that she'd be over soon, she's just picking up a few things before heading over. For now, I have Jared to be my fashion judge.

He put together a few outfits for me, and I don't know if I'm going to look good or really bad.

I came out with the first outfit, his eyes traveling up from my shoes to my face. He had a disheveled expression, "Ehhh. You look dumb." He says finally. I scrunch my face and cross over my hands,

"You look dumb."

"Shut up, gay boy. Go try on the second one." He says pointing to the bedroom door. I roll my eyes and walk my self over.

As I'm putting on the the next outfit, I get a text from Val, well, a photo.

I open it, and it's a couple nudes from her. My mouth instantly waters looking at it.

"It's all yours after..😋" the caption of the photos said.

I then head banging on the bedroom door, "I know you ain't that slow, Stoke. Let's see the results." I hear Jared's voice through the door. I roll my eyes and and finish putting on what I had to and came out.

I came in front of Jared but his attention wasn't focused on me, it was fixed on his phone. I snapped a couple times making him look up at me,

"What? You boo'd up or something?" I say teasing him. "Maybe." He says simply, twirling his fingers gesturing me to spin.

"Hold on. Someone's calling me." He says picking up his phone, answering and putting it up to his ear. I looked at him confused, but waited for him to finish talking to whoever was calling

"Hello?" He says, "Yeah, yeah..yes I'll tell him...yeah. Alright bye." He says finally talking the phone from his ear and giving me a look.

"Chief called, he said this ain't it." He says laughing. I picked up a pillow and threw it at him. "Fuck you." I say chuckling, going to change into the next outfit.

After a bunch of walking back and forth, I finally get on the final fit Jared picked. It was just a white plain shirt and black ripped jeans. I came out and stepped in front of him.

"Oh?.." He says gesturing for to spin. "This...is the one." He says. I sigh in relief. "Good." I say.

There was three soft knocks at the door, "Go get it, slave." Jared says. I roll my eyes and walk over to open the door and it was Valerie. She was wearing a white long sleeve crop top with black overall ripped shorts. She gave me a smile and a kiss before seeing Jared and running over to him and giving him a hug. "Aye what's up, V" Jared says. "Just happy to go out tonight." She replies.

"Oh y'all going out with Jah and his guy? Miles told me about that. Damn I wanna go." Jared says. "Then you'd be a 5th wheel." Val says. Jared rolls his eyes, "Whatever, but y'all look good. And you guys are matching so smile for the camera." Jared says pulling out his phone and recording,

"Look at my boy, Stokeley going on a date. Fuck it up, Stokeley, Fuck it up, Stokeley." Jared says, I chuckled while Val giving me a kiss on the cheek. "Yup, that's going on snap." He says.

Michael and I were laying on the couch, originally watching TV but he fell asleep on me. I want to get to the place early and wait for Stokeley because I hate coming late and people stare at you like they've never seen a human before.

I got bored and opened Snapchat and was scrolling through stories, I didn't really know anyone on there but I had Jared and he recently updated his story. I clicked on his story,

"Look at my boy, Stokeley going on a date. Fuck it up, Stokeley, Fuck it up, Stokeley." Jared's voice ringing through the speakers of my phone, when I see that bitch, Valerie, kiss him on the cheek. Seeing her do that just made me envy her even more. I feel Michael's head move a little bit,

"What's his name? Stockholm Syndrome?" He says.

"Shut up." I push him head playfully. "Let's go." I saw getting up.

"But the date is later." He says yawning.

"I know, but I like to be early." I said helping him up and giving him a kiss in the process.

Later on we get there and there's really not that much people, but enough to say that there's a lot.

I don't know if we're famous or anything, but niggas like to stare. Like stare stare, eye you as you walk. I wanted to say something but I think Michael caught the drift and gave me a look, telling me to let it go.

"Table for 2?" The waitress asks. "Um..4 actually, we're waiting for another party."

"Oh okay, that's fine. Just go find a seat at one of the tables of your choice then." She says with a smile. We nod and walk over to a table with 4 seats and we sit there and wait.

"Why are being stared at so damn much?" Michael says softly.

"Well..wouldn't you stare if 2 gay guys with blue and red hair and face tats walks into the restaurant you were in?" I say jokingly.

"You have a point." He says putting his arm around me. I leaned my head in the crook of his neck and close my eyes for a moment.

"Is that him?" Michael asks. I open my eyes and see Stokeley in the distance. I lift my head up and wave for him to find where we are. He sees us and smiles coming over, without Valerie though.

"Where his girl at?" Michael asks. "I don't even know." I reply.

"She's gonna be in here any minute, she's just doing something real quick." He says. "Oh okay, that's fine." I reply. He then looks over at Michael. "What's up, you must be..."

"Michael." He answers shaking Stokeley's hand. It was weird because it's like when you want to go somewhere with your friend but then your parent is like "lemme meet your friends parents first."

This is Jah's friend? He must be into niggas with dreads and face tattoos. I mean he seem cool for the most part, I just don't understand why we even on a double with this nigga and his girl I assume? I don't know not ever motherfucker I meet is gay.

This man look like he's one of Satan's little helpers. Everything about this guy screams "run." He got the whitest name ever. Michael. I guess Jah's into niggas with face tattoos and dreads though. But I..I guess they look good.

Stokeley sat down and we all started having small talk, not too much chit chat. It was high key awkward and really uncomfortable, Michael and Stokeley were either just staring at each other, or having little small get to know me questions. But I know it's going to be a long night, so I'm going to get it over with.

Then I see Valerie walk in, she talks to the waitress before seeing us and smiling. I feel Michael get tense beside me, I look at him but he doesn't look back at me.

She starts walking over us, she looks at me, then Michael, a shocked expression on her face but it then it turns into a forced smile as she reaches the table, Stokeley and her sharing a kiss. I can't help but cringe to myself as she sits down.

"Hey Jaw. And uh...Michael. Didn't know you'd be here.." she says adjusting in her seat. Stokeley looks at her confused, "You guys know each other?"

"Just..old friends."

Oh really now. Old. Friends. You "old friends" with every fuckin body, aren't you?

"Oh..well it's good we're all acquainted." Stokeley says smiling before picking up a menu, all of us doing the same. It's silent for a little bit and it's like I know everyone has a question to ask but we're all just too pussy to do so. I decided I'm gonna make it easier for everyone and spark up a conversation,

"So how long you guys been together?" I ask casually, still looking at the menu. "Since I haven't been around for the little festivities, as I seen on Jared's story unfortunately, I see I missed out on some things. Catch me up?" I continue finally looking up at Stokeley and Valerie who are both shocked at me asking he question.

I don't know why they are, it's a double date, we're supposed to see how each couple is doing, how long they've been together, so on, so forth. It's probably the way I said it, I didn't care for how long they been together, to be honest. I just don't like awkward silence.

"For..about a-" Stokeley starts,

"A year." She cuts him off. My eyes widened, surprised. Stokeley had a girl all this time? I feel she's stretching it, but who am I to call them out.

"Oh, thats great. How did you guys meet, Stokeley?" I look over at Stokeley, who looks lost and uncomfortable, excepting him to answer.

"I don't really remember all that much-"

"Stokeley, how did you and Valerie meet?" I cut off Valerie and repeated for Stokeley. If I fucking ask a certain person a question, THAT person should be the one answering. I hate a "let me answer for someone who has the ability to answer for themselves" ass bitch.

"We met at..the supermarket. I asked her for her number, she tried to pass me over but I insisted, and then..it just went from there." Stokeley explained. I nodded.

My name is Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy, and I can sense bullshit when I hear it. I'm allergic to it. That whole story sounded made up as he went but again, I have no position to be calling them out for bullshit and risking looking like a dumbass.

"I didn't know you were good with females...always thought it was the other way around..." I muttered. Michael cleared his throat before, going on his phone and typing something, then looking back up. "Aye that's lit man, but for real, what y'all tryna eat?" He says cheerfully.

While they were talking about all the nasty ass white people food on the menu, I felt a vibration in my pocket. I waited a little bit then went to see who it was from. It was from Michael.

I glance at him then at Stokeley and Valerie who are all drawn in a conversation, then open the message.

🤩❤️

I scrunch my face, confused on what he meant by that.

I replied. He just looks at me and raises his eyebrow. I bob my head gesturing him to open his phone. He holds up one finger before going back to his menu. The waitress comes over and asks us for our order, we ordered and she took our menus.

"Where did you guys meet?" Stokeley finally asks. I don't know if I should lie or I just tell him that I don't remember really meeting him and it was just a one night stand.

"We met at a bar-"

"No it was a club." Michael says,

"No I'm positive it was a bar." I insisted

"Jahseh, on god we met at the club."

"Michael, no the fuck we didn't."

They start arguing about where they met and shit and it's cute but annoying at the same time. Little do they know that I haven't even been with Stokeley for a year and we literally reunited like a month ago.

I didn't know Michael was even gonna be here, after he cheated on me with a GUY. I don't know how your man is going to leave you for another man.

But I mean I did cheat on him the week before with his homie Isaiah, no cap, it was fucked up but sorry not sorry.

"Fine whatever we met at a club and shit." Jahseh says finally. "We didn't even talk for a long time, then when I was at work he came in."

"When was that?"

"The time when you guys were laughing at some dumb ass meme and almost threw me off the couch." He says.

"Oh right.." I say.

I pull out my phone and start texting Miles,

🔆

🔆

🔆

🔆

I put my phone in my pocket, and it's silent once again.

"I need to use the bathroom." Jahseh says getting up,

"I'll come with you." Valerie says also getting up.

Why is this bitch- you know what, we're not even the same gender, it's not that big a deal. I gave her a fake smile before starting my walk over to the restrooms.

I make it to the door finally and I'm about to go in before I hear her call out to me.

"Jaw." I hear her say. I rolled my eyes and turned around, "Yeah?"

"How's your night going?"

Wouldn't you like to know.

"It's fine, you?" I say nonchalantly, really not caring about what she might or is going to say.

"That nigga Michael, you're with? Don't trust him." She says, completely ignoring the question I didn't really care to have the answer to. I looked at her confused,

"Why is that?"

"Michael and I dated, not too long ago. He cheated on me. With a guy...the guy sent me this text and it was like 'ask him how my ass taste.' Or some shit like that."

My eyes widened at what she said, not that Michael cheated, it's because of the text. I remember when I met Michael and got a text later on, I remember texting something back along those lines.

"My point is, he's going to do you the same way he did me, so I just wanted to be a good friend and give you a heads up." She says, giving me a cheesy fucking smile.

I chuckle and turn to go in the bathroom, her doing the same.

"Valerie." I called to her one more time.

"Yeah?"

"I thought you were going to run my fades?" I ask. She turned back to me confused,

"W-what?"

"I don't ever fight women..but I mean you said fades on sight." I explained.

She gulped as her eyes widened, "It was..you?"

"Surprise." I say simply before entering the bathroom.

"How's Jahseh?" Stokeley asks me suddenly. "He's ight, and Valerie?" I reply. "She good." He says, then it going silent. Man they're all really shit at keeping a conversation going.

"You and Val are old friends, how you meet her?" He asks,

"We ain't old friends, Stokeley." I said. He looked at me confused, "We DATED. She cheated, we broke up. Never spoke nor saw each other 'til now." I continued.

He looked at me like I said something crazy. I said what I said, just like Jahseh says sometimes, 'If I'm finna spill the tea, might as well serve it'...or is it, 'If I'm finna serve the tea, might as well spill it?'

It's one of the two.

"I'm not here to steal her back, talk shit or none of that. I just thought you deserved to know that." I said. "Oh and y'all didn't have to lie earlier. About how long you've been together?"

"Aye that was all her.. I just went along." He said. "I know..how y'all really meet?" I asked, twisting one of my dreads.

"I dated her too. 2 years ago. She..she cheated..and then we broke up. She always accused me of cheated but was the one to cheat." He explained.

"Why are you being stupid?" He asks me sternly, "Why are you back with her if you know she's a cheater?"

To be honest, I don't even know how to respond to that.

"We kind of..sparked-"

"Well you better blow that shit out, before it blows up in your face." He says, slightly raising his voice, enough to make a couple people to look at us.

"Again." He finishes.

I can't help but agree with what Michael is saying. I don't know how I can be so stupid and get back with an ex that did me dirty I think the past, and someone else's.

"You an adult, man. You fight your own demons..just watch the fuck out with that bitch." He says, I see him look up behind me and smile.

I assume Jahseh and Val are back.

"You took a long time." Michael says to Jahseh. Jahseh smiles before whispering something into Michaels ear. Michael nods before leaving back and putting his arm around Jahseh.

Val sits near me, leaning her head on my shoulder.

The wait for the food was quiet. Val kept glancing over at Jahseh and I could see Jahseh whispering things to Michael seeming to be irritated, Michael trying to calm him down, giving him a kiss on the forehead.

The food finally comes and we eat in silence, Jahseh and Michael consecutively checking their phones every once in a while.

"So Jaw..whats your body count? You know assuming before you got with Michael, of course?" Val asked. Jahseh was about to take another bite of his food until he starts choking, coughing violently. Michael pats him on the back, "You okay?" I asked. He nodded before clearing his throat once more.

"Like..7. I don't know.." he answers. "Ohh.. that's a lot Jaw." She says sounding surprised.

"Not more than yours though." Jahseh says taking a bite out of his food. This nigga doesn't and never did give any fucks about what comes out of his mouth.

And there goes my mouth. Swear my mouth has a hole in it, words slip out. Oops. She gives me a glare before softening it with a slight smile and going to eat her food.