Miyra

I rushed across my bedroom to get to my phone that broke me from the flirting session I was holding down with my reflection in the mirror. Picking it up, I glanced at the name flashing across the screen and answered before the caller was sent to voice mail. I made my way back over to the mirror and looked over myself once again while placing the phone to my ear without speaking up first.

“Yo, what's up? You need me to pick up something? Speak fast because I'm almost there.”

“First of all, don't rush me. Secondly, you don't have to stop and get anything. I got everything taken care of and you know this.”

I rolled my eyes at him yelling out at someone in the background while on the phone with me. He laughed and continued shouting. I shook my head as I pictured him holding up traffic while driving slowly and hanging out of the window holding a full conversation with someone standing outside. I smirked at the thought of how I would ram the heck out of someone's bumper if they ever dared to pull that stunt while driving in front of me.

“Tramaine.”

He continued conversing with whomever not taking notice of me calling his name. Assuming he had removed the phone from his ear, I raised my voice before calling his name again.

“Boy, I tell you about niggas.” I spoke to myself while messing with my hair when nothing was out of place. “Tramaine!”

“Yeah?”

“Now you know I don't play that.”

“That was Quan.”

“Who?”

“Quan.”

“I don't know. Listen-”

“You know Quan! Quan who stayed over there by Carley's joint. Carley was his uncle. He used to get us those floats for free on Trophy Thursdays. Man, I miss those days. Every hour on the hour, Carley pulled a table number from the jar and you got your meals on the house.”

“That's nice. Look. Have you-”

“Now I know you remember Carley! Don't even trip like you don't remember. That old head had the best diner in any hood. He was good people too.”

“Boy, I'm not trying to hold your hand and skip down memory lane with you! Yes, I remember Carley. Pops.”

“Yeah, Pops! Yo, do you remember we didn't mess with no booth other than ours and if someone-”

“What did I just say?”

“Well, damn. My bad. What's up?”

“Have you heard from Malorie?”

“You know can't nobody keep up with that girl but you.”

“Well I was only asking because I know you always go riding around before you find your way to where you are supposed to be.”

“I arrive on time every time, don't I? And this time I'm early. Come open this door.”

“Find your way in the best you can.”

I said before hanging up the phone. I giggled to myself knowing the smart comment that he didn't get out quick enough would greet me once he found his way into the house. I glanced at the mirror one last time before sitting my phone down on the dresser. I turned but came to a halt as I reach back toward the dresser to pick my phone back up. I made my way out of my bedroom with my attention on my phone as I dialed out.

A heavy knock sounded off at the door as I bypassed it and headed towards the kitchen. I pulled away from the phone to glance at the screen as I heard the voice mail message. I sighed and put the phone back up to my ear while leaning on the island.

“Hey Mal, it's me. Miyra. I know I've called a couple of times already and I'm not trying to be on your ass as you would put it. I'm just checking to make sure you know what Saturday it is. Hopefully, you actually think about us because we missed you a couple of Saturdays ago. Give me a call when you get this message. Or just show up at the door. That would put a bigger smile on my face. Alright. Bye. I love you.”

I hung up the phone just before Tramaine walked into the kitchen with Mitchel behind him.

“You put so much into that girl. I don't know why you cause yourself the stress.”

“She's my little sister. It's my job to stress over her. She's your sister too. It wouldn't kill you to act like you care.”

“Who said I don't care?” He held up his arms in a defensive manner before taking a bite out of the apple he took out of my fruit bowl. “I care. I just don't let her drive me crazy worrying about what she's getting into now.”

He twirled the apple around while staring at my fruit bowl that I knew he knew was messed up because of him grabbing an apple from the bottom instead of grabbing the one at the top. I ignored it because I knew it was payback for hanging up in his face and not unlocking the door.

“Well I guess it's different when you're the oldest. I stress over all of you. Don't act like you don't add your share.”

“What do I do to worry you?”

“You're worrisome as hell. Annoying me is what you do best.”

I walked up to the table and moved around the fruit to stabilize my fruit bowl.

“What would you ever do without me? And why this boy never got on a shirt? Where your shirt, white boy?”

He shouted before taking another bite of the apple. I looked over at Mitchel standing in front of the refrigerator moving his hand back and forth between the bottled water and carton of orange juice.