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Song to play and repeat; The Neighborhood - Sweater Weather

(August 7, 2017 Thursday 4:49 p.m.)
Niyah's Pov//

"Did he tell you who he's having over? Like who he's doing it with?" Clair asks while we're in the elevator on the way to Alex's. "No, I didn't think to ask."

"You didn't think to ask about what famous person we might meet?" She asks excitedly. "I- I didn't think about that." I say feeling it sink in that we're about to meet someone important. Finally the elevator doors open.

"Looks like we're about to find out." Clair says stepping out making me follow. "This door is his I think." I say contemplating on knocking. "Bitch grow some balls." Clair knocks.

"Or just knock for me." I shrug. When the door opened the door to reveal Alex and his apartment. "Niyah, you made it." He smiles hugging me. "Of course, this is my sister-"

"Clair, of course." He says pulling away from our hug and shaking her hand. "It's nice to meet you, like this is weird your so-"

"Real." I cut her off making all of us laugh. "Yeah," she giggles. "Don't worry the star shock only lasts like 20 minutes." I joke while we walk into the living room.

"Well, you guys ready to meet the guests?" He asks. "There are more than one?" Clair asked shocked making him laugh. "Yeah, and they've got pretty good vocals." He says hyping them up.

"All the way from Texas please welcome brothers Ar'mon and Trey." He says as they walk out of the hallway. My jaw drops when I see them here before me. "Ar'mon and Trey! You guys are amazing." Clair yells running up to them and hugging them.

"Uh Ar'mon, Trey this is Niyah my- my friend and that's Clair her sister. They're just gonna hang around while we film if that's ok?" Alex says making me feel some type of way. If I'm just his friend then that probably means he's talking to someone else.

I've been reading too much into us. We're just friends.
"It's nice to meet you." Ar'mon says stepping up to me smiling while Clair was having her own little conversation with Trey.
"It's nice to meet you as well you're a crazy good singer." I complement him. "Are you as big a supporter as your sister?"

"Not as big as her but I've seen a few videos here and there." I laugh and look down to see that he's still still holding my hand. "We should probably get the videos started." Alex interrupts.

"Yeah we should, but I'd like to talk to you some more after you know we get don filming. Is that okay with you?" He asks me hopefully. "Um, sure it's cool with me."

"Actually I was hoping we could hang out after the video." Alex says confusing me. "Don't worry I won't keep her for too long, just long enough to convince shawty to give me her number." Ar'mon winks making me realize he's hitting on me.

"Oh that's what you're up to. I'm flattered but-"

"Hold that, and keep it for after I talk to you after the video. That's cool with you right?" He asks Alex, this is it Alex's response to me will maybe help me figure out what the hell we are.

"Of course, it is if she's cool with it?" They both turned to me. "It's cool with me." I say giving a half smile.

"Well what the hell are we waitin' on let's give the ladies a show." Trey speaks up making all of us laugh.

(August 7, 2017 Thursday 6:20 p.m.)

After the video we started a movie we all decided on a classic, scream. On one couch it's me and Alex, Ar'mon and Trey on another and Clair is in the lazy boy alone.

Not turning my head I reach for the bowl of popcorn that Alex was holding only to feel and see that it's empty. "My bad." He whispers making me laugh.

"It's cool, I'm gonna go pop so more." I smile grabbing the bowl. "You're gonna miss the movie." He fake frowns. "Well I guess that means you'll have to fill me in on what I miss. I'll be back." I lift the throw blanket that we were sharing so I could leave.

I walk to the kitchen with the bowl in my hand and sit it on the counter. Where in the hell could the popcorn be, I open a cabinet and find it on the top shelf. Of course, I desperately reach for it and I can't get it.

"I've got that." Ar'mon says coming out of nowhere and handing me the box of popcorn. "Thanks?" I say skeptical. I take the plastic off and put the popcorn in the microwave. "So about you and I's talk?" Ar'mon says questionably.

"Do we have to-"

"I've seen you looking at me all night." He jokes making me laugh. "Oh have you now?" I giggle. "Why don't you just hand me your number now?" He flirts.

"I'm not really trying to get into all of that," I try to politely turn him down. "Is there something going on between you and Alex or something?" He asks genuinely, how am I supposed to answer that? It's the reason I haven't given him an answer.

The popcorn pops in the back ground while I have yet to give him an answer. I mean Alex did say I'm just his friend. This guy is showing real interest in me and he isn't ugly so am I doing something wrong?

"No, you know there isn't actually. Hand me your phone." I smirk holding out my hand. "Here you go." He pulls it out his back pocket and puts it in my hand after opening it. When I get it it's already on the contact screen and I type in my name and number and text myself from his phone so I have his number as well. Ar'mon seems like a nice guy and I'm not saying anything is gonna happen but I am a free agent.

If Alex really thinks I'm like his friend I can't like him the way I do. I can't have another me and Grayson situation.

I won't do that to myself again.

"Thank you Ms.Ryland." He says looking down at his phone. Finally the microwave beeps, the popcorns done. "Let me get that for you." Ar'mon goes to the microwave and pulls it out for me. "Thank you," I open the bag and put it in the bowl before walking to the living room and sitting on the couch with Alex.

"What'd I miss?" I look at Alex and eat some of the freshly buttered popcorn. "More like what'd I'd miss? You and Ar'mon were in there for a minute?" He asks with not jealousy but more of concern and worry. "Oh, he helped me get the popcorn... that you put on the top shelf by the way thanks for that. I'm only 5'3"."

"Sorry about that I don't really have girls over, I genuinely forgot." He smiles, this kind of makes me think... maybe we are more than friends he barely has girls over. Ugh I need to stop reading into things so hard.

"Yeah, and then he asked for my number.." I'm not going to hide it from Alex, why should I? "And you gave it to him?" He asks furrowing his brows. "Yeah, but it's not like I have a reason not to, plus no ones saying anything's going to happen." I look in his eyes for something that will make me feel bad for giving Ar'mon my number but I get nothing.

"I guess you're right," he says sounding like he's disappointed but not in me,

But in himself.

Word Count: 1310