Surprise, Surprise

Chantel looked at the boys as she rolled her eyes. There was only two of them. But yesterday it was three of them.

"This is Chantel. Chantel, this is Lucas the middle child and that's Demetri the youngest one." Tiny said introducing her to the boys.

"This is Asia and Octavia." Tiny pointed to the two girls who sat sucking on ice.

"It's nice to meet you." Asia said smiling wide.

"We've been looking for friends. Welcome to the pack." Octavia said chewing on the snowball.

Chantel was hopping everyone in the hood was this nice. Probably not. But it was worth having these friends for now.

So they talked and talked and talked for about thirty minutes. All of them laughing and cracking jokes.

But then the gun shots rang out. About four of them. Chantel didn't know.

"Girl come on!" Tiny shouted as the screams could be heard.

Chantel was being shoved as people tried to leave. Chantel frantically looked for her sister. But she was no where in sight.

More gun shots rang out causing people to really push Chantel. She fell to the ground. But then a hand was holding her upper arm helping her up.

The hand dragged her to a all black Mercedes. That person opened the door for her but sped off once they entered the car.

Chantel still heard the ringing of the gun shots and the flashbacks. She prayed to God that no one was hurt or dead.

She jumped once her phone rang. She answered it. Her voice shaky.

"Chantel! You safe!" Cherise yelled.

"Yes, I'm fine. Are you okay?" Chantel asked her hands shaking.

"Yes! I was looking for you and I couldn't find you." Cherise said.

"I'm safe. I'll see you in a little bit." With that Chantel hung up.

"You still shaken up, huh? You not a hood girl. Shit like that happens everyday." A deep voice said and Chantel finally looked at him.

The dude from the store. Chantel had thought he was fine. Finer than when she saw him at the store.

He was tall. His curly fade shaped his face. His brown eyes twinkled when she looked into them. And his voice. Thicker and deeper than dark chocolate. But it was his flawless skin that caught her attention, that smooth caramel look.

"I'm not from here, just moved here. But I remember you from the store the other day." Chantel said as they stopped down the street.

He chuckled, "Yeah that's me. What's ya name ma?" He asked.

Chantel blushed at the nickname, "My names Chantel. And you?"

He smiled, "Julian. Aye you want something to eat?"

Chantel took offense to that. She hated when people asked if she was hungry. She knew she look hungry, she was always hungry.

Chantel sighed, "Don't look at me like that."

Julian's face scrunched up in confusion causing little wrinkled to form on his forehead.

"All I did was ask if you wanted something to eat lil mama." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Don't I look hungry?" Chantel asked the rhetorical question.

Julian scanned her from head to toe in a non sexual way.

"No. Now imma ask you again. Do you want something to eat." Julian's voice was stern.

Chantel thanked God that he didn't laugh or make fun of her weight. She was even happier that he didn't look at her as the fat girl.

"Yeah. Can we just go get a chicken box?"

Julian was shocked. He thought the girl would ask for something expensive. Julian always thought the worst of people. And the girl in front of him continued to surprise him.

"Word? You don't want nothing from the Italian restaurant on the other side of town." He pushed.

"No. I'm cool. Let's just go to the spot down the street." Chantel said eyeing him.

Julian was more than happy to take her down the street.

"You wanna walk down there? It's like right around the corner." He said.

"Is this your way of trying to get me to chill with you?" Chantel asked him sarcastically.

Julian laughed making Chantel melt. Everything about him was perfect to her. But she didn't know him yet.

"Yeah I guess you can say that." He said hopping out the car.

The two walked five minutes down the street. They were just chilling, as friends. Neither of them had heart eyes for each other.

"So you got any siblings?" Julian asked her as he opened the door for her.

"Yeah I got an older sister. What about you?" Chantel asked as they sat at a booth.

"Really? If she looks like you then imma have to sweep her off her feet." Julian winked at her.

Chantel thought he was just spitting game. She knew he didn't want her at all. And they just met.

"But I have two younger brothers. Lucas and Demetri."

And then it clicked. The dudes she hung out with were his younger brothers. But Julian already knew Chantel was hanging with his brothers.

After they ordered the chicken and fries and sweet tea they talked even more. Until one question came up.

"How old are you?" Chantel asked.

"Twenty one." Julian answered making Chantel jump.

"I'm legit seventeen and a half. Damn." Chantel said causing Julian to raise an eyebrow.

"Word? You jailbait ma. I thought you was like eighteen." Julian responded.

"We're just friends. Right?" Chantel asked as she dipped her fries in the ketchup.

"Right." Julian mumbled.

The rest of the night consisted of them chatting and eating food. Becoming closer as friends. Like they knew each other already.

However, Julian didn't know if he wanted Chantel as a friend by the end of the night. Julian dropped Chantel off at her house.

"It was nice hanging with you today." Chantel said from outside of Julian's window.

"Give me your number so we can chill again. You cool peoples."

"Bye Julian." Chantel said handing him his phone.

Julian watched as she walked up the porch steps. Mostly enjoying the view of her butt juggling as she walked.

He sighed knowing that wouldn't be the last time he saw her.