When an idea hits me, it’s nearly impossible for me to rest until it comes to fruition-no, like, every little detail! I found this to be particularly inconvenient when I was going through one of my creative tangents...all I could do in those times was create...At any hour of the night, inspiration could hit, and I was wide awake; emptying the contents of my brain with a fervor that could only be described as villainous. It was 2:49am, and my eyes snapped warily open..."OMG really?! I thought I was going to have at least one night of unbroken rest this week!" I said out loud, agitated. "What?! What is it tonight?! I thought all that ephemera I cut up while watching Downton Abbey would suffice!" Just as quickly as the question was asked, suddenly the idea to add four hidden pockets to the BFF journal I was creating for one of my clients entered the chat..."Oohh, that would be cute, and I should add clear slots to the front and back cover for pictures! See, this is why I don't sleep now!" I said in a huff, tossing my comforter off me; allowing the cooler air to fully wake me up. I laid still for a few more moments, in hopes sleep might still overtake me; forcing the project to wait till morning...no such luck...I reluctantly swung my legs off the side of the bed...
Although these nights produced some of my best work, they did catch up with me at times; some days finding myself still asleep at 10am. My only plan for the day was to fully decompress, and reset myself for the week ahead. I hadn't really been able to focus on much of anything outside of The Crystal Flame and my online store, so I was looking forward to some much needed screen time😄. There was a new Pyler Terry movie out that everyone had been talking about, and a tray of fresh baked stuffed mushrooms with Asiago Cheese waiting just for me! The only debate I was having with myself at the moment was whether or not to add a glass of Merlot to the mix! As I went back and forth with myself, I didn't notice my bedroom door creep open..."Yo, you gotta do better lightskin, if I was coming for you, I woulda HAD you!" Landon said with a grin, closing the door behind him. "You're the only person in the world that can do that. You feel just like me, I can't I said with a shrug, leaning up to kiss him. "I'm always happy to see you, so don't take this the wrong way, but what's up, I didn't expect to see you this early in the day." I said. "Nothing, I was just riding through the block and stopped to shoot the shit with the lil Dusty ninjas outside. I saw you in the window and kinda lost focus, so I wanted to see what you were up to..."
"I'm not up to a damn thing, and plan to keep it that way! I just completed my last order for the week at 4am...Now, I just wanna chill; and not be required to be somewhere, do something, or be expected to be overly accommodating to some guest or client." I said, self-assuredly. "And you deserve that baby. I hope you stand on business, and take the day for yourself. Don't let anybody get you caught up and make you feel bad for saying NO, and talk you into something you don't want to do. It doesn't matter how small it is, it always leads to bullshit. Be about YOU today; whatever that is, and don't let anyone take that away from you. Then tonight, you can be all about ME..." Landon said. I smiled in response, "My thoughts exactly..." "So how about you, what does your day look like?! What them dusty ass ninjas talking about outside?!" I inquired, as I searched for my yellow crystal water glass. "They not talking about shit, that's how I ended up here with you! Nate out there tryna assert his manhood while nobody pays attention, and Dean out there discussing another business venture-or should I say scheme-that's not bout to go nowhere. I don't have the mental capacity, nor do I have the time to entertain delusion." Landon said with a yawn. "As for me, I have a few stops to make before I head to the store, nothing major. Why?! you ain't invite me to your lil 'All About Avri Day', you not thinking about me!" Landon said, trying to sound offended. "Inviting you to a planned day of voluntary relaxation is like saying a Pig isn't Pork-it's just not happening! Now if we just so happen to be together and it sneaks up on you, then OK. But when do you ever agree to just BE for the entire day?!" Landon thought for a moment, "Aight, you might be right about that one, but Ima work on it, you'll see." The look on his face said he meant it...THIS, I couldn't wait to see...
Landon lingered a while longer, until his phone rang 3 times consecutively, with 5 text messages immediately following. "The streets are calling, you know it's only gonna get more ridiculous the longer you don't answer!" I said. "They can wait. Ima watch one more episode of Bomland, then I'm out..." 45 minutes later, I was alone again. Landon had pleasantly shifted my mood elsewhere, and I was no longer feeling Pyler Terry. I wanted to watch something that would leave me feeling full, excited, and Happy-that's the space I'm in right now. Suddenly, the newest season of Emily in Paris populated my feed-just Perfect💜. I put my phone in DND and settled into the comfort of my own ideal version of peace. A flash of lightning ripped the sky open, releasing a deluge of rain. It was the apex playlist to lull me into a nap...I opened my eyes sometime later to the sound of my name being quietly called from the other side of my bedroom door. "Avri?! You sleep?! Somebody wants you outside!" My Aunt said. "Yes, I am...and did you tell them I was here?! I don't want to be bothered!" I snapped back groggily. "I did." She answered dryly before padding back down the hall. Landon's words were cutting at the announcement like a knife, "Be about YOU today, whatever that is. Don't let anybody take that away from you." I sighed deeply. "I hear you Love, I won't..."
After be-grudgingly wiggling out of my fuzzy socks, I stomped down the stairs and out to my front porch to see precisely who was beckoning me. The tension in my shoulders relaxed as I approached the door; it was Jhessi from the bodega on the corner. I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled; whatever Jhessi was seeking from me wouldn't take that long. "Que Pasa Mami, what brings you Aqui?! Tengo chillin right now. Que puedo I do for you?!" I said brightly. "Omg Avri, you SWEAR you speak Spanish!" Jhessi quipped. "Bitch I DO! Well, understanding counts! What the Hell do you want?! I was tryna disappear today!" I said jokingly' High-key serious...There was something in her face that told me that this particular drive by was gonna be about more than how to pull up the latest episode of the Olurinatti & Friends Podcast on her phone...I hesitated to ask..."What's the matter Jhessi?!" She lifted the sleeve of her shirt to reveal a fresh tattoo on her wrist...an infinity symbol with a heart at it's center; connecting to initials that flanked it on either side...my actual heart dropped, as my own ink seemed to pulsate behind my left ear...This girl has permanently marked her body for a man that sees this entire situation as a game..."Oh Wow!" I said exasperated. "What A?! This is SERIOUS; I Love Him!" Jhessi said. "Oh that I can see! What I don't understand, however, is what is happening NOW?! Girl what are you doing on my porch?! I know it wasn't for visual confirmation of your obviously poor decision making skills!" I snapped back, quickly reminded of the precious Me time I was currently wasting. In an instant, her eyes diverted to her phone, where she was frantically typing something. The next thing I knew, my phone was buzzing in my back pocket...
It was a collage of images containing familiar faces-all but one...Because Jhessi wasn't saying anything, my mind went to work trying to piece this all together based off the captions on the photos. Jhessi is currently involved in an active entanglement with my cousin...We'll allow him to remain anonymous for now-he's a bit of a Hore...What I was currently looking at was a series of screenshots taken from someone's timeline. Judging from the messages posted along with the photos, this young lady was also claiming to be seriously involved with my cousin...I rolled my eyes as hard as humanly possible before catching myself..."Girl, didn't I tell you a long time ago not to sell yourself short and keep somebody in your back pocket for times like these?! Dealing with my cousin, you will ALWAYS have times like these!" I said with a shrug. "Are you gonna leave him alone?!" I asked, only being met with a blank stare. "Yea, that's what I thought!" I said with a giggle. "Just wait for Mad Day to be over, and you will be fine, right back where you want to be!" "Jhessi was seriously stressed out, and I genuinely felt for her. She had no idea what she had gotten herself mixed up in. She was in Love, and completely unwilling to entertain anything that didn't support that version of events. I took a raincheck for us to go have a drink for one day this week after work and headed back inside to enjoy the quiet...
I tried relaxing again once upstairs, but the moment had passed. Before I knew it, I was at my desk; working on the Brand Landon and I were creating together. I thought I was satisfied with the stopping point I had reached earlier, but my mind obviously didn't get the memo! Not only did I have ideas for the visuals, but I came up with this solid scented wax that is soft enough to be scooped out into a wax melter; almost like body butter! An hour or so later, I was happily scouring the internet as I hummed for the perfect vessel to house my newest creation when my phone rang. "Lightskin?! What's up baby, WYD?!" Landon asked in his bright, upbeat tone. "Working on the next big thing that's gonna make us millionaires." I replied coolly. "Oh shit! OK! Now that's what I like to hear! Tell me about it..." Landon said. "I'm leaving the store now, I got a stop to make, then I'm on my way to you; will you be ready by then?!" He asked. "Well, since I have no idea where you're going, or how long it's going to take for you to get here, I'm gonna go with Yes?!" I said with a giggle...
We stayed on the line and chatted while I got ready-a lowkey hostage situation orchestrated by Landon to ensure I would be ready to go when he pulled up! By the time I slipped into the passenger seat, it was simply a continuation of flow that initially began hours before in my room. We laughed about Jhessi's horrible taste in men, pretended to fight about where to stop for food before ultimately deciding to just cook something at his place...and finally, discussed all the wonderful ways we were going to spend the night. These may have not been post worthy moments, or the shit we choose to give the world, but they were pieces of OUR life; together; and absolutely perfect. While in the shower, I caught the faint smell of Lotus Flower Bomb wafting in the air through the cracked door. I smiled to myself, calculating precisely how long it was going to take me to shower and exfoliate...the scent reminded me that Jasmine had important things to discuss with Landon...
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