"Well, well. How's my baby?"

"Good," Zhuri laughs. "I'm doing good, Daddy."

"Of course you are, Zhuri," says her father. "You've never been the one I have to worry about, you and Asha, anyway," he chuckles. "Those other two...I gotta keep my eye on."

Zhuri laughs.

"You taking care of your sister, Zuz?"

"Well, of course," she replies, because as her father laughs over the line, she knows that she's got to be her mom and dad's source of information while she and her siblings are in Los Angeles and her parents are in New Orleans...and Imani is pregnant.

She laughs with her dad. "Excited to be a granddaddy?"

"Apparently, God says it's time for this next chapter," is the reply. "Your mom and I would love a grandchild to spoil...just wish y'all were closer, that's all."

Zhuri sighs. Here comes the guilt trip. Here comes the, 'why don't you come visit anymore' talk that she wasn't trying to have today.

"I know, Daddy," she says. And she quickly changes the subject. "Is Nana there? She free to talk?"

"Actually, Zhu, she's sleeping right now. Just fell asleep."

"Oh..." She chews her lip. "Okay."

"Don't feel bad, baby," her dad replies. "How 'bout I call you when she's up, huh?"

And Zhuri smiles, relieved. "Yes, please," she nods. "Yes please, Daddy."

"Alright, ZuZie. Give your brother and sister my love, would you?"

"I will."

"Talk to you soon, baby girl."

"Bye, Daddy."

"Ready?"

"Yep."

Zayn grins, pinching his lip with his fingers as he watches Zhuri hang up her call.

"What?" Zhuri pauses her task of grabbing for her keys and her purse so they can leave. "What're you smiling at?"

He grins, smiling sweetly. "Bye, Daddy," he says, mimicking her voice over the line. "Yes. Yes please, Daddy."

"Shut up."

"So cute," he shakes his head. "That's so fucking cute, Zhu."

"Anyway," she clears her throat, hoisting her bag over her shoulder, "y'know," she begins, "I never got to ask you..."

"'Bout what?"

"Gia. How's she? What have y'all been--"

"Doing?" He grins. "Nothing, 'cause she hates me."

Zhuri laughs behind her hand. "That can't be true."

"It is, though," he replies. And he opens his mouth to speak, interrupted by Zhuri's soft, "Let's go," before he asks, "How's Blake?"

She sucks her teeth. "Good question."

"What's that mean, Zhu?"

"Means that he ignores me occasionally, I guess," she mutters, and Zayn can't help that her frustration has pleased him. And she taps him quickly, "Are you ready to drive?"

"If you are."

"Great," she smiles. "You can ride around in my new whip."

"A Toyota?"

"Whoa, whoa," Zhuri exclaims. "Why the fuck you hatin' on my baby?"

"Huh?" He pulls a face. "I don't know what the hell you said."

She purses her lips, unlocking the car. "You know good and well what I--"

"Not," he interjects, "when Louisiana Zhuri comes outta the Bayou."

"Since when is this Princess and the Frog?" She snorts loudly, ignoring his smug smile as he leans his elbows on the roof of the new Avalon. "Get your ass in the car."

"The mom car?" He grins.

"You got the wrong twin."

"You're right," he nods, sliding behind her into the car. "This is like, the aunt car, isn't it? Like a minivan. But not. The aunt-mobile."

"Are we gonna fight, today?" She asks, eliciting a laugh out of him as she hands him the keys. "'Cause I'm fresh. I'm ready to take you down."

"Nice try," he replies, cranking the car. "You talk a good game, but we both know you're weak."

"Oh my goodness," she exclaims. "Says the boy who--"

"Boxes?" Zayn finishes, cranking the car. "Yeah. Says me."

"Whatever. Check your mirrors. Why're you so fuckin' smug today?"

"Zhu," he laughs, doing as she says.

"Can you see both sides of the car?"

He nods.

"Then, you're good. Seatbelts."

He pulls his across his chest, Zhuri following, "I swear to god I don't know what you're saying to me, babe. It's like all your words're running together."

"It's that--"

"Louisiana," he nods, putting the car into drive. "I know, I know, I know."

"Wait, put it back in park. Take off the emergency break first, Zayn."

He does so. "I love it."

"The breaks or my accents," she jokes.

"Ha. Hilarious. I love your aunt-mobile breaks. Good one."

"I've had enough," she laughs. She deadpans, "Glad you like it," she replies, rolling her eyes. "Foot on the break, boo."

"Y'know," he steps upon the pedal, "I've realized something."

"Okay, put it in Drive," she instructs, facing him, "And oh, really?"

"Really," he nods. "Really really."

"I'd like to know what that is," she states, motioning with her chin towards the wheel, "Hands on ten and two."

"Zhu. I have actually driven before, love."

"Okay," she laughs, holding up her hands. "Show me what you got, boy."

He pulls slowly from the house, pulling off the curb and cruising down the street.

Zhuri leans back against the headrest.

"So."

She turns her head. "So."

"So, what I've realized..."

"Yes. What you've realized."

"You only start talking like that when you talk to your family," he turns to glance at her, "In case you didn't know."

Zhuri hums. "They bring out the 7th Ward in me. Stop sign."

He slows. "The 7th Ward?"

She nods. "Like, you know how L.A.'s a county broken up into smaller cities? Or New York City's broken down into burrows?"

He nods.

"New Orlean's broken down into wards. So's Houston, I think..."

"And you're from the seventh?"

She nods. "Speed bump."

He rolls his eyes. She laughs.

"See? I can drive."

To that, she hums in agreement. "You can...So, why don't you?"

"Never had a reason to," he replies with a shrug. He strokes his beard pensively. "Got my motorcycle license, though."

"But..." She blinks, "you don't have a bike?"

"Not here," he clarifies. "It's still at home."

"In the U.K.?"

"Unfortunately."

She shakes her head. "Shipping shit's expensive as hell, boy."

"That's why it's still home," he laughs, and as she joins he turns to her. "I love your accent."

"You said that."

"I mean it."

And Zhuri smiles despite her furrowed brow. She wishes she could just tell him more about where she's from, because despite the memories and all of the bad things that've happened...well, it's home.

She just wishes someone like her could bring someone like Zayn to a place like it.

"Alright," he clears his throat, noticing her thoughtful stare. "Where're we going?" He shoots her a smile. "Lead the way."

"Okay...left," she says. And her smile is back and he's glad. "Let's go somewhere fun."

"Fun," he grins. "Fun is good."

And as she nods, Zayn is putting his turn signal on.

__

my cousin just left me and went back home to NOLA this week :(

i think these two are cute though

p.s. i have a #fivedaychallenge short story going called cheap thrills if y'all wanted more of me to read. haha jokes.

comment and vote xx