║▌║█║▌│║▌║▌█
THE DEEP ATTRACTION

Now playing
Genie In A Bottle by Christina Aguilera

"If you wanna be with me, baby there's a price to pay. I'm a genie in a bottle, you gotta rub me the right way."

KAMARIA WOODS
NOVEMBER 17th, 2007
SATURDAY 5:49 pm

KAMARIA SMACKED SAMIRS hand from out of her face for the umpteenth time. "Stop being annoying slim." She frowned using her pen to write on the paper in front of her.

He laughed at her because she was clearly getting more agitated easier. He knew exactly why, but he wouldn't say she was on her cycle out loud.

"I was just trynna fix yo glasses, they was slipping." He smiled innocently making her scoff rolling her eyes looking away from him.

"Whatever, finish this problem." She shook her head hearing him laugh like her pain was a joke. Still she pursed her lips trying to stop her own self from laughing because she swore Samirs laugh was so funny that it made her laugh.

"That's all you had to say tayta, no need for the attitude." He bucked his eyes at her, widening them, then quickly picking his own pencil back up as she slid the paper in front of him.

He ran his tongue between his lips slowly beginning to concentrate as he focused on the question on the paper that regarded Exterior Angle Theorems which he had been struggling a little more with then the other things that they were working on.

This made kamaria acknowledge that this was something they needed to study a little more which she had no problem with because he caught on quick and they both made it fun.

She sat next to him at the round table kicking her feet as she patiently waited for him to finish. They were currently sitting in the kitchen of his mothers house which was where they did their in house tutoring.

Kamaria used the courts two days out of the week, Monday and Thursday. The basketball court was to help him memorize strategies, formulas, and things like that. Then she used Tuesday's and Saturday's for really sitting down in front of paper and problems to apply those strategies and formulas, and it had been working fantastically.

They had decided doing it at tameeka house was better because it was completely peaceful and quiet and that was what helped Samir focus the most. Along with that, tameeka always sent them home with food so kamaria was all for it.

"Okay I finished." He finally said slightly unsure, he didn't get why explaining what a shape was or what it was doing was so hard but it was frustrating.

He slid the paper back in front of her and her eyes dropped to his homework assignment. She was so happy that he was caught up in class so they didn't have to do double the work anymore, only what he was currently doing in school.

She knew he felt the same since he already had algebra 2 to worry about, but luckily he was much better at that then geometry so he was getting by with a low B.

She read over all the filled in slots, keeping a neutral face on purpose and when she finally looked up she smiled. "You got it." She told him softly, putting her fist up for a fist bump which he returned.

"You think you gone be ready for that test after thanksgiving break?" She questioned removing the glasses from off of her face.

They had decided that since it was break, they wouldn't have their tutor sessions for the week, which was well deserved but she just hoped he wouldn't forget any of it over break.

"I think we should do one session, just to keep it memorized. It don't gotta be the full two hours, a half hour on Wednesday is cool." She spoke again, she just wanted to make sure he didn't get too comfortable because this test would really affect his grade.

He hand managed to move up to a high C in geometry, and this could be his boost, or it could kill his grade. She just wanted it be careful.

"Aight dats fine if you think I need it." He shrugged picking his homework sheet up. He actually appreciated having kamaria tutor him for stuff like this, because now he had just finished an assignment that was supposed to last him all break in only two hours, and now his entire break would consist of no homework.

His eyes scanned over it, before he opened his folder slipping it inside while kamaria started to pack her things up too. "You don't got work today?" Samir asked attentively as he watched her organize all her things to put in her tote bag.

"Nope, not today. Why?" She questioned letting out a breath as she placed her glasses in their respected case. He shook his head saying nothing as he picked up his plain black back-pack sliding his geometry folder back inside of it to ensure it wouldn't get misplaced.

"Are yall all done?" Tameeka entered the kitchen as they they sat there placing all their things up. She looked over at the oven seeing the time read 6:01, then shifted her attention back to the two who were sitting there awkwardly.

"Yep, and I got everything right. So you finna cook for me huh?" Samir smirked watching his mother pick up the two packs of steak that had been sitting in the clean empty sink, thawing out.

"You already know, ya brother is supposed to be here soon so I'm gonna make his favorite." She explained making Samir frown.

"Why you don't make my favorite, it's cause you got favorites huh." He accused making Meeka bubble with laughter at her sons jealousy.

"I made your favorite when you got home too, stop being jealous all the time." She waved him off getting a container that she kept the white rice in catching kamarias attention.

"Yeah that made you sit up. You a starch head." Samir noticed the look on her face as he mushed her head. She smacked her teeth because he always called her a starch head. It was true though, starch based things were at the top of her favorite foods list, that meant rice and grains like oatmeal, pasta noodles, cereal, bread, and potatoes of course.

"You making enough for me right ma." Kamaria rubbed her stomach watching her move around the kitchen to get started on marinating everything. "Wait what's savy's favorite anyway?" She questioned.

Samir eyed her as she Called his brother by his nickname.

"It's pepper steak and rice— I'm gonna do green beans instead of broccoli today since he don't really like it better than green beans." She explains while kamaria subtly nodded.

"So again you making enough for me right? Cause I'm starving. Ain't that right slim." She raised her eye brows using the back of her hand to softly hit his chest. He squinted his eyes at her, but remained silent.

Tameeka snickered, she was like a replica of Kyaire. They were just alike, she was just the girl version. It was understood though because they shared both set of parents. "Shouldn't y'all be going in Samirs room to secretly kiss or something. Leave me alone." She waved themoff.

Kamarias eyes ballooned while Samir smirked just to bother his mother, "she right tayta, gimme a kiss." He playfully puckered his lips and closed his eyes.

He gasped once he felt kamaria pluck his forehead with her fingers and opened his eyes rubbing the spot. "Boy please, you can't have all this." She gestured to herself. "I'm gone tell my brother you tried to kiss me." She said.

"And now you sound like kyree, snitch ahh lil girl. I was just playin." He muttered with an eye roll. Kamaria stuck her tongue out at him childishly as she pushed her chair back standing up to go across the kitchen with his mother.

He put his foot out at the last second not even realizing and she tripped over it before catching her self. "Why would you—" she cut herself off starting to swing on him.

"Nigga I didn't even mean too." He laughed at her, trying to duck her hits that were coming back to back.

He eventually stood up to get far away and she leaped forward. "You been trying me all day—don't you know i get active round here." She said playfully as he started swinging back.

Tameeka shook her head watching them play fight in her kitchen like they had no sense, and he finally picked her up carrying her to the living room getting ready to slam her. "Stop! I quit !" She exclaimed before he could hurt her.

"Ahhh! He trynna kill me, call the police!" She went on being dramatic as he spun her around, knowing he was getting her dizzy.

"Samir put her down! Stop all that horse playing!" Tameeka came to her defense making Samir smack his teeth.

"Fine." He said simply with a shrug and placed her back on the floor, watching her eyes shift left to right before she flat out fell to the ground.

"You knew she was dizzy!" Tameeka claimed throwing the towel she had in her hands at him and he bursted into laughter as he caught it on his chest.

He looked down seeing kamaria still laying on the floor with a lazy smile. "Get up, you be so aggravating with that dramatic shi..." he dragged the word looking to see if his mother was still standing there which she wasn't which made it better because he would've for sure got in trouble for cursing.

"Wait!" She threw her hand up to shush him, "I'm still dizzy." She muttered closing her eyes staying silent while he stood over her waiting for her to get up. "Alright I'm good now, help me up. Be useful." She put her arm out.

She felt his hand grab hers and he pulled her up effortlessly, letting out a breath and then punched him in the shoulder for extra measures. "Ian never scary, pussy." She said lowly bucking her eyes at him.

He jumped at her and she squealed jumping back before he laughed letting her speed walk around him going back into the kitchen where she could be protected by his mother.

He shook his head at her before walking to front door, opening the screen door letting himself out on the porch. Unlike his dads house, his mothers porch had rails where the steps began so when he sat in the porch chair he didn't feel entirely exposed to the out and open.

His mothers neighbor wasn't as bad as his fathers but it was similar, and he knew almost everybody just like almost everybody knew him.

Samir just sat on the porch looking around, at nothing in particular. He studied the people walking by, the group of boys his age playing the dice game across the street at the rugged park, and the group of girls not so far from the group of boys standing in a circle talking. He figured they were talking about nothing important though, and he was right.

He loved just sitting out side sometimes though, everybody was just hanging out and chilling, no drama, all good vibes. He wondered where his bestfriend was at the moment, but it didn't last long when a gold colored Toyota Camry pulled in his drive way.

Samir gulped, keeping his eyes trained on the car. He had a good idea of who would be getting out, but he wasn't positive what kind of car his brother drove so he couldn't be sure until he saw.

He stayed out in his seat watching the door fly open, and his brother submerged from inside the car behind the dark tint. A smile took over Samirs face so big that his eyes were squinting—that, and the light from the sun was shining directly on his face.

Closing the door with nothing in his hands but his keys Savion got closer, "well damn Nigga don't get too excited." He said offended that Samir hadn't moved one bit.

Samir laughed under his breath standing at his full height almost knocking the air out savions lungs when he'd seen how much his brother had actually grown.

"Wassup man," Samir spoke up leaving them to wrap their arms around each other securely engaging in a hug that was long overdue for sure.

"Wassup." Savion returned holding him tight feeling his eyes mist. He didn't think he would cry, but he was proven wrong, aside from seeing him through glass he hadn't really seen his brother in years. He hadnt been able to physically touch him either, so it was bitter sweet.

After a moment of brief silence they finally pulled back letting Savion get a good look at his younger brother. "Damn Nigga you taller than me?" He frowned in question.

"I told yo ass, you like six foot?" Samir question Savion with a cocky smirk on his face while his older brother stood there in astonishment.

"And you got a lil peach fuzz on the top of yo lip and shit." Savion couldn't help but laugh. Everybody knew Samirs face resembled a baby in a way, he had childish like facial features but he still looked good.

"Fuck up, hating ass." Samir shook his head waving him off. Savion played way more than samir, he thought everything was and funny and a joke.

"Momma home? Why you sitting in the porch." He asked looking at the door that was wide open.

"Yeah ma home, she inner cooking yo favorite. I was sitting outside cause I jus finished my homework I needed air." He explained.

"You sound jealous, it ain't a good look my nigga." He chuckled patting Samirs shoulder with the shake of his head.

"Come on, let me go say hey to my dukes." He nodded his head reaching for the screen door. He pulled it open walking through followed by Samir.

"You finna be here the whole break?" Samir asked hopefully. Him being in college was definitely creating a strain, especially since he could only see him during breaks.

"Duh, I need the full experience." Savion told him simply. He couldn't wait for thanksgiving but it wasn't just about that either. He needed all the family time he could receive , and he wanted to be here when they put the tree up after thanksgiving.

He hadn't got to do that with Samir in years, so he was ready for what the week brought him. That alone brought joy to Samir though he would never admit it seriously.

"Is that my baby I hear?" Tameeka questioned dropping the fork in her hand on the counter quickly rounding the corner to see both of her sons standing there. "Oh my—my babies." She whined wrapping her arms around them finally feeling complete.

The boys looked at each other waiting for her to let go and when she did she smiled placing her hands on her wide hips. She promised she wouldn't do too much but her excitement and anxious state just got the best of her.

"You look crazy." Savion blurted making tameeka smack her teeth, rolling her eyes as she turned walking away from them. Savion smiled shaking his head beginning to follow her.

Samir licked his lips following his older brother who quickly came to a halt not realizing someone else was there. "Dang ma, you got company on the day im supposed to come over?" Savion questioned.

The first thing he noticed as how thick she was in her high-waisted levi jeans , and the light blue halter top that was tied around her neck stopping right above her naval, topped off her fresh set of braids that were in a low bun over to the left side of her head.

"Boy how you don't know your own people?" Tameeka stressed, "that's lil bit." She concluded.

Savions eyes grew big in shock. He glanced at his brother who was smirking enjoying exactly what he had been waiting to see for three weeks. The girl stood there with a clear plastic cup in her hand full of sprite that she had just fixed.

Savion was fully aware of who the girl was, having known her for six years, but clearly it wasn't how he remembered her from only a year ago when he last saw her. He didn't even know that much could change in a year, but it seemed she had ditched her old style and had a new one, that made him go in shock.

Of course he didn't see her like that, and never would, but he wasn't blind. She was beautiful and he could see that. That explained the phone calls with his brother.

"Hey savy." She sat her cup down on the table as she greeted him nervously, "it's good to see you." She spoke softly extending her arm to give him a side hug.

"Good to see you too lil bit, ion know why you trynna act shy like you wasn't cussing me out a few weeks ago." He teased making her roll her eyes.

"See this why ion like you or ya brother. Y'all don't know how to let it go and let stuff be the in past. And for the record, I did not curse you out. I cursed your brother out, thank you very much." She finished snatching away from him.

"Mhm there go that slick mouth. Girl get away from me." He pushed her away into Samir making him arms wrap around her since she fell into him. "Ugly ass couple."

"You just keep saving me from harms way boo, you must want something from me." She smirked playfully letting savions words go over her head, looking at Samir instead . He smacked his teeth moving her away from him.

"Ian finna keep playing wit you lil girl." He shook his head ,walking out of the kitchen ignoring her passes, going towards his room.

"Wait!" She exclaimed turning to pick her cup up quickly scurrying off after him. Tameeka watched with a smile, nobody could tell her they didn't feel something for each other, no matter what they said.

What she did know, was that them tutoring and having constant one on one time was bringing them closer to the realization, and she couldn't wait to tell them she told them so.

She caught up to him just in time before he could close his room door and wiggled into his room making him straight face her. Still, he closed the door keeping his eyes trained on her.

"Boy you were gonna leave me out there by myself." She frowned sititng at the foot of his bed bringing the cup to her mouth starting to sip the fizzing drink.

"Ian know you would care, figured you wanted to be out there since you think my brother cute, but I guess." He attempted to suppress his slick comments.

Kamaria grinned looking at him, "are you jealous Samir?" His name rolled off her tongue smoothly. "If it make you feel better, you look better than him now." She giggled, still being serious.

Samir just had to grow into his looks, Savion was always older. Now, Samir was taller, his hair was longer, he had the prettiest smile she had ever seen, and his manly but baby face was admirable to her.

"Why you always trynna antagonize me," he muttered flopping on the side of his bed.

"No I don't, you jus can't take heat." She shrugged her shoulders standing up to put her cup on his dresser. She walked around sitting next to him on the bed close enough his night stand, but they didn't think much of it.

"Can I use your phone?" She questioned turning her head to look at him and he nodded shrugging. "Awe thank ya." She smiled before picking the phone up off the hook.

"Y'all share a line?" She questioned and he shook his head no with a smirk.

"Lucky, I'm finna get my own damn line. Ion get no privacy. I'm sure you probably listened to at least one of my conversations too." She said mindlessly, but by the look on his face she could tell she was right.

"Oh my— nigga you have?!" She questioned shocked, smacking him upside the head. He started laughing at her but never denied or confirmed.

"Who was I talking to?" She went on, putting the phone back on the hook, now intrigued by what he reveled.

"Who else do you talk too?" He questioned like it was obvious but she raised her eyebrows.

"Uhhh, Kourtney, Taraji, and Saint. I be talking to Saint all the time." She nodded slowly listing on her fingers.

"What dats yo lil boyfriend or sum?" He questioned looking up locking eyes with her making her shy under his gaze. She didn't know what was going on but aside from feeling awkward, her stomach churned.

"No saint is not my boyfriend." She rolled her eyes smiling, he nodded at her. "He likes me though." She giggled looking away.

He mugged the back of her head as she picked the phone back up dialing the number that she had memorized. She brought it to her ear listening to it ring, while Samir stood to his feet walking to his dresser.

He picked up one of the many colognes on his dresser starting to fiddle with them just so he could listen to her on the phone without seeming as if he was eaves dropping even though he was.

"Hello." She said puffing her cheeks out. "Yeah you paged me?" She questioned before she got silent.

"Sarai, girl don't be paging me over no bull. Ask daddy if you wanna know so bad." She went on making Samir look up and at her .

Sometimes, he forgot she had a sister, she wasn't necessarily close with her so she was never around or brought up. The last time he saw her was when they went to kamarias game and she rode with them, but she made him feel weird and uncomfortable so he opted to keep his distance.

He didn't know how to react to girls throwing themselves at him, and he felt awkward all the time. It was better than being a pass around, but it still was weird. So when girls became attached, or threw themselves at him he detached himself and kept distance.

"I'm not home, I'm calling you from slim phone why?" She furrowed her eyebrows , then pursed her lips.  "Girl I don't give a damn, this why I never respond when you page me." She hung the phone up.

Kamaria huffed crossing her arms with her attitude fully activated. "What she said to piss you off. It seem like she always making yo ass mad. You might be the problem." He joked playing with the cap of the cologne in his hand.

She playfully scoffed at his words, "She's mad because my dad got me those Dolce and Gabbana shades a month ago, but she didn't get the good grades to earn hers. So she was questioning me about why he got me them and not her. Then she started talking about favoritism and all that." She rolled her eyes.

"Well, do you think yo dad got favoritism?" Samir questioned taking a seat next to her again, closer than before so that their thighs were touching.

"I mean, in a way yes." She nodded truthfully, "because of our parents and the fact that he married her mother and lives with them, he tries to spoil us a little more, in replacement for his absence. She really only notices that I get more stuff than her because I'm a girl and we're the same age—and she doesn't like me." She explained to Samir.

"You ever bring it up to yo dad?"

"For what? He a grown ass man he can do what the fuck he want. I'm not finna correct him on how to raise his children because he shouldn't even have stepped out in the first place on my mom." She explained.

In a way Samir understood, it wasn't her job to tell him how to parent.

"Okay hot head, I was jus askin." Samir jabbed making her, pushing him softly.

Thoughts and predictions? Savions reaction? Study session? The time alone in his room?

They was lowkey flirting.

MYA OUT 🫡