Taking Initiative

Staying true to yourself brings forth contentment and self worth."

*. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *.

It is the day after the club as Xeno, Natasha and I sleep, spread all over Natasha's room.

We wake up to Natasha's mom knocking on her door. "Ladies! Get up, breakfast is ready!" she says. With the thought of food just down the stairs, I get up immediately, and my stomach growls from being hungry. I go into Natasha's bathroom and empty my bladder. Then I wash my face and brush my teeth. I walk downstairs to see everyone already there eating and I join them.

After we eat breakfast, we go back into Natasha's room. Natasha looks at both of us with an uncomfortable expression on her face, as if she were hiding something. "Xeno, Lesha," she begins slowly.

"Yes?" Xeno and I reply.

"I think I might like Dave," Natasha says in all seriousness. Xeno and I make eye contact and laugh.

"Oh, we know," I giggle. "We saw how y'all were dancing and kissing up to each other last night, and don't think for a second I didn't see when y'all exchanged numbers."

"You're one to talk, Lesha, I saw you with that sexy looking stranger kissing and dancing upon him," Natasha quickly replies with a teasing tone. "I got to say I have never seen you like that."

I blush and remember just how good his lips felt on mine. "His name is Xavier and he is the same guy that bought me the dress and the shoes, isn't that weird?" I say looking down with a slight smile on my facing remembering everything that went down with him yesterday. "But anyway, enough about me, Xeno, are you okay with Natasha dating your older brother?" I ask.

Xeno looks at me and nods slowly, "I'm okay with it but I don't know what Natasha sees in my ugly ass brother," she says with a smile on her face and she winks at Natasha. "Should I start calling you sister in law now?" Xeno giggles, teasing Natasha.

"Please, don't even start, Xeno, I saw you with his friend bad boy, Will," Natasha deflects, trying to bring the spotlight to Xeno now. "It looked like you two hit it off."

We turn to her, expecting her to say something, but instead she sighs and shakes her head. "I thought so, too, but he didn't make a move on me or anything like that, and when I asked him about it, he said he would never go out with me because I'm Dave's little sister." Xeno says in a small voice. I have never seen Xeno looking so depleted, so I'm guessing she really likes him.

"Xavier gave me his number and said I should call him when I can," I say, trying to distract Xeno. They both look at me, shocked.

"You're kidding!" Natasha exclaims, "And you're wasting time talking with us when you should be calling that fine man up?"

"I don't know if I should, suppose he regrets giving it to me and hopes I never call," I say, concerned. "Plus, if I call, what am I going to say, 'Hey, I'm the girl you kissed at the club'?" I continue.

"YES!" they both shout at me.

" Okay, I'll call him, but not now, it's too soon, right?" I mutter, unsure of myself. They look at me while shaking their heads but didn't push me to call him anymore.

..........................................

It's been three days since the night at the club where I had met Xavier, and I'm still contemplating whether or not I should call him.

I stare at the card he gave me, pick up my phone and enter the number, but I never go through with it because of how nervous I am. I'm afraid of whether or not he will answer or if he would remember me or just downright say he didn't give me his number.

I don't know what to expect and that's what's keeping me from calling him. My friends keep encouraging me to take the chance and call him. They all say that I should live a little and see where it will go with him, but I don't know, I've never done anything like this before in my life.

It's now midday and I'm sitting on my bed just staring down at his number with my phone in my hand with all intentions to call him. What would I say if he answers? As soon as I think that, Xeno enters my room and sighs at the sight of me.

"You still haven't called him, have you? What are you waiting for?" she says, exasperated. "If you don't call him right now I will, I swear to god, Lesha." Xeno snaps, with a serious expression on her face.

"Okay, okay, calm your tits, I'll call now" I answer, and with shaking hands, I dial his number and press the call button, and before I could even hang up or change my mind, he answers in a low tone, saying "Hello?"

In a shaky tone I start to speak, "ahh.. hello Xavier, i...it's me Lesha fro..from the club."

"Oh, hello, baby girl, you finally called, I was kinda expecting you to call me three days ago" he says with a little chuckle at the end, which makes me blush and look up at a curious Xeno. She mouths to me that I should put the call on speaker so she could hear, but I ignore her.

"Ahh.... sor..sorry about that, I was just building my courage to call you" I answer in a giggly, shaky quiet voice.

"It's okay, at least you called, right?" he says in a reassuring voice, "Well, I'm at work now, but I get off six. Wanna go grab dinner with me later?"

"Mmhmm.. su..sure I'll love to, I'll just let my grandma know." I reply.

"Okay, I'll pick you up at seven," he says, but then he pauses. "Wait, did you say grandma? How old are you?"

I grow red. "Well, we met when I just turned 18, is that okay?" I say quickly, unsure of what he'll say. "Because I'll understand if it's not... may I ask, how old you are as well," I continue in a timid small voice.

"Mmhm.. Well, then, happy belated birthday, Lesha, and yes, of course it's fine," Xavier says, and I can tell he's smiling as he's talking. "I am 24 years old, and may I have your address, so I know where to pick you up?"

I tell him thank you and give him my address. We say our goodbyes and I hang up. I sigh happily, looking down at the phone with a goofy little grin on my face.

"Well... are you going to tell me what he said or are you just going to let me die out of curiosity?" Xeno says, bringing me out of my little bubble.

"He just asked me to go out for dinner with him at seven." I answer back with a big smile on my face, while letting out squeals of excitement of what just happened.

I spend the rest of the day getting ready for my seven o'clock date. I inform my grandma about it, of course, to which she replies, "It's about time you had a date!" and gives me the go ahead.