Chapter 4: "A Date to Remember"

Kina

Today had been a long day. I was alone at the apartment, getting ready for my first date with Jamal. He had called me earlier that day to ask if I was busy, so he could take me out on a date. I'm sure Kiandra was jealous, miss goody shoes!!!

After I had finished putting on my makeup, I heard a knock. "Who is this knocking like they've just been released from a mental asylum?" I walked to the door, thinking it was Jamal, but it was Rubie.

"Hey, go easy on the door! You don't want to break that door, my landlord is a maniac!" I shouted as I walked to the door.

"Kimball! Where are you?" Rubie screamed at the door. She's such a pain in the ass, I mumbled to myself.

"What do you want?" I was already annoyed by her knocking and screaming.

"Who are you?" she asked, opening her eyes wide. "Where is Kimball?!" she screamed at my face.

"I don't have time for this, Kimball went out," I said.

"Where to? How could this bitch go out without editing my book? Missing a day at work wasn't enough?" Rubie spat.

"Mind your tongue, miss, before I do it myself and pull it out!" I said sternly.

"You have the nerves to..." Rubie tried to scare me.

"I'm not even intimidated!" I laughed. "Who are you? You don't know who you're messing with, do you?" Rubie asked, looking dramatic.

"I don't need to, I mean I already know you. You're this stupid, childish writer who can't even maintain her storyline. Before Kim joined JYC, your published books were trash, but Kim changed that, and you even won an award. Ungrateful slut, get your ass out of my way. I have a date, so don't make me late!" I pushed her out and locked the door, leaving her standing there stunned.

"I thought you weren't coming," Jamal said as he held my hands.

"I keep my promises," I said proudly. "Some bitch messed with the wrong girl, so I had to put her back in her lane."

"Hmm, I see you're a tough girl, aren't you?" Jamal asked.

"If you say so," I spoke with a face showing no emotions.

"You're naughty," he teased.

"What? No... What makes you think I'm naughty?" I inquired.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't mean to sound like a judge. The way you dress, talk, behave... I love that," Jamal tried to explain himself.

"Hmmm... Okay..." I said as I slowly blinked, showing off my eye shadows. He was right, though; I was naughty, tough, and mean sometimes. But one thing was for sure: I always went for what I wanted, although sometimes I couldn't get it. I would quit after trying harder and harder.

"So, what do you do?" Jamal asked.

"Well, I'm an editor at JYC," I said.

"That's interesting," he replied.

"What's interesting about being an editor?" I questioned him jokingly.

"Come on, you deal with a lot of writers, different ones. You read their books before they're out," Jamal explained, laughing.

"Jamal, that's so much work already. Imagine spending the whole day reading and correcting spelling mistakes, not to talk about the grammar, and some things are just too much. You know I'm talking about writers like Rubie, writing whatever they saw in dreamland, even things that aren't even real yet the genre isn't even fiction or SciFi. I hate calling her and telling her to change all that rubbish, and the arrogant beach doesn't realize we're helping her. All her work has been criticized; I deserve the award she won. That was all my work!" I complained, realizing the effect of my complaints on Jamal. I quickly tried to change the subject, but he had already opened his mouth to say something.

"You edit for Rubie?" Jamal asked, looking nervous.

"Yeah, why?" I answered with a question as well.

"No, it's nothing," he said quickly, changing the subject.

"Won't you ask what I do? Well, I'll share; I'm a director, a film director. My days at work aren't crazy as yours, but they're exhausting. Like last week when I was directing my brother's music video. He had hired some newbies, and everyone was everywhere, and I thought I was going insane, and we were supposed to shoot all scenes that same day, even the dancers weren't cooperating."

"Hectic!" I commented, I thought being a director was easy, but this...

"So, what are we having?" Jamal asked, handing me the menu.

"So, what are we having?" Jamal asked, handing me the menu.

"Let's see their top dish," I said, scanning the booklet with my eyes.

As we ordered and waited for our food, Jamal asked me more questions about my job as an editor. I told him about the challenges of working with difficult writers and the satisfaction of seeing a book come together.

When our food arrived, we dug in, savoring the flavors and textures. The conversation flowed easily, and I found myself feeling more and more comfortable around Jamal.

As we finished our meal and prepared to leave, Jamal turned to me and said, "I had a great time tonight. Would you like to do it again sometime?"

I smiled, feeling a spark of attraction. "I'd love to," I said.

Jamal grinned and took my hand, leading me out of the restaurant and into the night. I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us.