Chapter four

Maila Kolbi
Atlanta, Georgia
August 31st, 2024 (Saturday)

Kolbi Residence
4:00 PM

“You guys did what?!” I yelled, standing up from the bed and glaring between Skylar and Kamiya. My heart was racing, a mix of shock and disbelief written all over my face.

Skylar and Kamiya were lounging in my room, our usual Saturday routine of face masks, movies, and snacks in full swing—until they decided to drop this bombshell on me.

“We thought you wouldn’t wanna be alone,” Skylar said casually, her tone way too calm for the chaos she just unleashed. “You know, with Kamiya and me all boo’d up. And what if we get on rides? You wouldn’t have anyone to sit with.”

“But a date? Really, guys?!” I threw my hands in the air in frustration. “Wait—who’s the boy?”

“Micah,” Kamiya said with a grin. “And he’s a really nice guy. Cool, respectful, and super cute.”

“Y’all keep saying his name, but it’s not ringing any bells.” I squinted at them, trying to place the face. “Wait, does he even know about this date? Or are you just springing this on him, too?”

Skylar laughed. “Yes, Keith said he already told him. He had pretty much the same reaction you’re having right now, but trust me, it’s going to be fun. Plus, girl, you need this. You never go out anymore, and Liam kept you hidden for way too long. You deserve to have some fun.”

I groaned, flopping back onto the bed. “I’ve never even been on a real date before. What if this is super awkward?”

Kamiya rolled her eyes, tugging on my arm to pull me up. “It won’t be awkward! And who knows? Maybe you two will hit it off. If not, you’ll still have a fun night at the fair. Now, come on—we need to find you an outfit. We’re leaving in an hour!”

“Fine, I’ll go,” I muttered, finally giving in. “But y’all owe me one. Big time.”

Skylar pulled out her phone. “Okay, let me check the weather real quick… Hmm, it’s supposed to drop to about 53 degrees tonight. Maybe a cute dress?”

“A dress? Girl, no. I’m going to the fair, not a dinner party.” I walked over to my closet, pulling out my white Thunder 4s. “I’ll make an outfit with these instead.”

“Yay! Bestie’s going on a date!” Kamiya squealed, clapping her hands like an excited child.

“Whatever,” I said, rolling my eyes as I grabbed my robe and towel. “Oh, and he better be cute, or y’all are definitely gonna hear about it.”

The girls burst into laughter as I headed to the bathroom, sliding the door shut behind me. I wrapped my silk-pressed hair with a scarf to protect it from the shower steam, then undressed and stepped under the hot water.

The heat felt amazing on my skin as I lathered up with Dove body wash, followed by my Tree Hut sugar scrub, leaving my skin soft and smelling like tropical coconut. I rinsed, repeated the process, and finished with a cool rinse before stepping out and grabbing my fluffy white towel.

After drying off, I slipped into a matching black lace bra and panty set, then tied my robe around my waist. When I walked back into my room, the girls were freshening up their makeup in front of the mirror.

“Hmm, so I’m thinking black bodysuit with this black-and-white cardigan,” I said, holding them up for approval.

“Ouuu, yes!” Skylar nodded enthusiastically. “Your butt’s gonna look amazing in that.”

“Girl, hush!” I blushed, snatching the clothes and heading back to the bathroom.

I moisturized with my shea butter lotion, then pulled on my black bodysuit, which hugged my figure perfectly. I slid on some black socks before carefully slipping into my white Thunders. The look was simple yet put-together, just how I liked it.

Next, I touched up my silk press, smoothing the front to the side and letting the rest fall straight down my back. It gave me that sleek, polished Barbie vibe. I added a little mascara, a touch of blush, and finished with a glossy nude lip.

When I stepped back into my room, Skylar whistled. “Yesss, Maila! You look stunning!”

Kamiya clapped her hands. “Bestie, you’re gonna break his heart.”

“Whatever,” I said, trying to hide my smile as I added silver jewelry to complete the look. I grabbed my phone, sliding my driver’s permit into my phone case, and threw on my cardigan.

“All set!” I announced.

Just then, my mom peeked her head into the room. “Ouuu, you look so pretty, babygirl.” Her eyes lit up as she stepped in.

“Yes, she does, Mrs. K! She’s going on a date tonight,” Skylar said, grinning.

“A date?” My mom’s brows lifted in surprise. “With who?”

“His name is Micah,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat up. “But I haven’t even met him yet. These two set me up.” I shot Skylar and Kamiya a look.

“Good!” My mom nodded approvingly. “You need to get over that Liam kid. I never liked him anyway.”

“Okay, Keith’s here! Come on, Maila!” Skylar called from the window, waving at the car pulling up outside.

“Bye, Mommy!” I kissed her cheek before heading downstairs, my nerves starting to build as the door opened.

Georgia State Fair
7:00 PM

The air buzzed with laughter, screams, and the sounds of carnival rides whirring overhead. The smell of fried corn dogs and powdered funnel cake swirled around us as we walked through the crowded entrance of the fair. After getting our wristbands, I felt my stomach twist into knots. This wasn’t just any night—it was my first date with a boy I knew nothing about, had never even seen.

My thoughts spiraled. What if it’s awkward? What if we don’t vibe? What if he thinks I’m boring?

Keith, walking beside me, laughed as if he could hear my inner monologue. “Relax, Maila. I can see your brain doing backflips right now.”

“Shut up,” I muttered, clutching the hem of my cardigan. “Y’all set me up with some random boy, and I’m supposed to act like it’s no big deal?”

Keith shrugged, smirking. “Well, actually, he said y’all—”

“Wait, is that Cameron and Micah?” Kamiya interrupted, her eyes lighting up as she looked over my shoulder.

I froze. “Oh god,” I muttered, fumbling with my phone as if it could shield me from the impending introduction. My fingers trembled slightly as I scrolled through Instagram, pretending to focus on my screen.

Keith waved. “Let me go grab them real quick. Be right back.” He darted off into the crowd.

Kamiya turned to me, her hands gently gripping my shoulders. “Maila, breathe. You look amazing. Just be yourself, okay? Smile and have fun. This is supposed to be a good thing.”

I exhaled shakily, nodding. “Okay. Yeah. Fun. Got it.”

Before I could retreat into my thoughts again, I heard Cameron’s unmistakable voice. “Wassup, Kamiya!”

I looked up, and my stomach did a somersault. Cameron’s towering frame was unmistakable, but standing behind him was someone else—a tall, brown-skinned boy with freshly twisted dreads framing his face.

“Hey, Cameron!” Kamiya greeted him warmly. This was really happening.

My eyes were locked on the boy standing behind him. Micah.

He was… fine.

Like, seriously fine.

Hazel eyes caught the glow of the carnival lights, framed by lashes way too long for someone who wasn’t me. He wore ripped black Amiri jeans, a white and black varsity jacket that fit him perfectly, and a pair of white and black Jordan 4s—the exact same ones I was wearing. His dreads were freshly twisted, a few hanging just low enough to brush his eyebrows. Tattoos peeked out from under his jacket sleeve, just enough to make you curious but not enough to look overdone.

I was speechless.

“Oh, and this is Maila,” Skylar said, pulling me from behind her like a shield. Her voice sounded distant, muffled.

Micah’s hazel eyes met mine, and he smiled, showing off his braces. “Oh, wassup? I’m Micah.” He leaned in for a quick side hug that caught me completely off guard.

“N-nice to meet you,” I stammered, forcing a small smile.

“Yo, y’all matching, though,” Cameron pointed out, nodding toward our shoes.

Micah looked down at my feet, then back at his own. “Oh, snap, not the white fours,” he said, grinning. “I see you.”

I laughed nervously, looking down at my sneakers like they’d somehow provide a lifeline.

“Well, since everyone’s been introduced, we’ll leave y’all to it,” Skylar said, grabbing Keith’s arm.

“Yeah, we’re about to hit the rides,” Kamiya added. “Have fun!”

“Wait, wha—” I started, but they were already walking away, leaving me alone with Micah.

“Guess it’s just us,” Micah said, slipping his hands into his jacket pockets. “What you wanna do first? Games? Rides? Food?”

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. Liam used to hate when I made decisions, so I’d learned to avoid giving an opinion altogether. “Um, it’s up to you,” I said, forcing another smile.

Micah tilted his head slightly, studying me. “You sure? I don’t bite. You can pick.”

“Okay, okay,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “Let’s do a ride first, something chill.”

Micah’s lips curved into a small smile. “Alright, how about this one?” He nodded toward a Ferris wheel-type ride, except it wasn’t enclosed. Just a bench with a flimsy bar separating us from the open air.

My heart thumped at the thought of being suspended so high, but I nodded. “Yeah, that works.”

We got in line, standing close enough that our shoulders brushed a few times. I tried not to overthink it, but every little touch sent tiny shocks through me. The crowd around us laughed and screamed, the energy of the fair bubbling all around.

“Hi, Micahhh,” a girl’s voice called out as she passed us, waving.

“Wassup,” Micah nodded casually, but my stomach twisted.

Who was that? I wondered, trying not to let it show on my face. Before I could spiral too much, the ride operator waved us forward.

We climbed into the seat, the metal bar clicking down over our laps. The bench wasn’t wide, so our knees and arms pressed together. Micah didn’t seem to notice—or if he did, he didn’t mind.

“Don’t hang off the side, and keep your belongings in the cart,” the operator said, slamming the bar down. The jolt made me jump.

“You good?” Micah asked, glancing at me with a small smirk.

“Yeah,” I said quickly, gripping the bar tighter than I wanted to admit.

The ride started slow, taking us up higher and higher. The city lights twinkled below, and the sounds of the fair faded slightly the farther we went up.

But my nerves didn’t ease. Heights weren’t my thing, and sitting here, vulnerable, next to Micah didn’t help. I didn’t know what to say, and the silence was starting to feel suffocating.

“¿Siempre estás así de callada, o es por la cita?” Micah said suddenly, his voice smooth and casual.

(“Are you always this quiet, or is it because of the date?)

I blinked, startled. Wait—did he just speak Spanish?

“You speak Spanish?” I asked, turning to look at him fully.

He nodded, his dreads shifting slightly with the motion. “Yeah, my mom taught me. I’m not perfect, but I can hold a conversation.”

“That’s impressive,” I said, feeling a small smile creep onto my face. “Your accent’s pretty good, too. Way better than most.”

Micah grinned.

It was rare for anyone to speak Spanish, but that was definitely my comfort zone, and the fact that he knew a different language just to talk to me made me feel a little more at ease. I thought to myself, I could get used to this.

But knowing me, I wanted to test his waters to see how much he really knew.

“He oído que eres una estrella del baloncesto. ¿Hay otros pasatiempos que te gusten?” (So I heard you’re a basketball star, are there other hobbies you like?) I asked, crossing my arms and watching for his reaction, wondering if he could understand me.

He smiled and paused for a moment.

“Sí, trabajo en coches con mi tío en su taller y dibujo,” he said slowly, looking at me for reassurance.

(“Yes, I work on cars with my uncle in his workshop and I draw,”)

I smiled, nodding. “That’s correct, Micah,” I said, impressed. He grinned back at me, showing his braces.

“I’m glad I said it right,” Micah said, his voice a bit more relaxed. “I only speak Spanish when I’m talking to my sisters and my brother, so we don’t want my stepmom to hear.”

I laughed softly, “Aww, that’s good! I’m shocked, but honestly, I’m really glad I can talk Spanish to someone around here.”

Micah glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. “So, lemme guess… you’re Dominican and Black?”

I nodded. “Yes, sir. My dad’s Dominican, and my mom’s Black and Hawaiian.”

He looked me over with a curious smile. “Cool, cool.” Before he could say more, the ride suddenly stopped, and I felt a chill go through me.

We were at the top of the ride—way, way up in the sky, far from the ground.

“Oh my God!” I grabbed his arm, panic rising in my chest. “I’m scared of heights! What’s going on?”

He looked down, seemingly calm. “Don’t worry, it’s probably just stuck for a minute. I’m sure they’re working to get us down.”

But I wasn’t convinced. “Nooo! You might fall!” I gasped, feeling my heart race as I clung tighter to his arm.

Micah just laughed, clearly unbothered. “Nah, we’re fine.”

“But this is high!” I said, struggling to keep my cool.

“Calm down, it’s okay. You’re not by yourself.” He smiled at me reassuringly, his tone soothing.

I still couldn’t breathe properly. “I hate heights,” I muttered, trying to distract myself.

“Hey, just tell me more about you,” he said, his voice playful. “From what I’ve seen, I know you’re always recording TikToks in class.”

I raised an eyebrow, holding onto his arm even tighter. “Wait, we have a class together?” I asked, surprised.

“Yep. I sit in front of you in Mrs. Kayden’s Health Science class,” he confirmed.

I widened my eyes. “Wait, omggg, that’s you? You’re the one who draws all those car parts!” I tapped his arm, smiling in realization.

He chuckled. “Yeah. I don’t really talk to anybody in that class, though. Everyone’s with their friends, and I don’t like starting conversations.”

“Wow, you’re really good at it, though,” I said, impressed. “I’ve seen your drawings, and you’re really talented.”

“Appreciate it,” he said, the ride jerking slightly before it started moving again. I grabbed his arm even tighter, and he laughed, shaking his head.

“Stop laughing, Micah!” I laughed nervously, trying to act casual, even though I was still freaking out.

“It’s okay, pretty. You’re not gonna fall out,” he said, still calm. “I got you. Plus, Kamiya and Skylar would bite my head off if something happened to you.”

His words made me smile, the way he said “pretty” making my heart flutter a little. “Thanks, Micah,” I said softly, my nerves finally starting to settle.

After finally getting off that ride, we did a couple more, and I can honestly say I was having the best time with Micah. He was so mature and respectful, always listening to me with genuine interest. It was easy to relax around him, and I couldn’t help but smile every time our eyes met.

Now, we were just walking around, chatting after getting off a ride called “The Twister.” Micah was scrolling through his phone, lost in whatever he was looking at.

But my attention was grabbed by a stand nearby—a cute, fluffy dinosaur bear that caught my eye. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Hey, Micah, you’re good at basketball, right?” I asked, glancing at him with a hopeful look.

He looked up from his phone, grinning. “Didn’t get all those offers for nothing. But what’s up?” He slipped his phone into his pocket, fully turning his attention to me.

I eyed the stand again, pointing at the bear.

“You want me to win you a bear or something, pretty?” He laughed, the words making my heart flutter a little.

“Yes, please!” I said, pulling him by the arm toward the game stand. “I’ll even pay for the game—come on!”

He raised an eyebrow but laughed again. “Alright, how much?”

“$20,” the lady behind the booth said, smiling at us.

I pulled out my money and handed it to her. The anticipation built as she explained the rules, my heart racing with excitement.

“Alright, you gotta shoot the balls into different spots to gain points. The more points you get, the bigger the prize,” she said.

I turned to Micah, who just shook his head, looking both amused and a little nervous.

“Get a lot of points,” I said, eyes shining. “I want that one.” I pointed at the blue dinosaur bear.

“Alright,” he said, adjusting his pants before walking up to the booth. As soon as the timer started, he was in his element, focused completely on the game.

I watched in awe as he sank shot after shot without missing once. My heart swelled, and I quickly pulled out my phone to snap a picture. He was killing it, and I couldn’t stop smiling.

The buzzer went off, signaling the end of the game.

“Yessir, let’s go!” Micah clapped, grinning from ear to ear when he saw he had 200,000 points.

“Hold on, let me get this score on my phone,” he said, pulling out his phone with a smile that made me feel so proud of him. He snapped a picture, looking so pleased with himself.

“Alright, which one do you want, sir?” the lady asked, holding out the prizes.

He pointed to the blue dinosaur without hesitation. “That one.”

When she handed it to him, I started jumping up and down, smiling like crazy. “Ahhhhhh, thank you so much!” I said, taking the bear from him.

“Hold on, let me record this,” I said, pulling out my phone and flipping the camera around. “Look, guys, Micah just got me the bear! He’s the best!” I smiled, turning the camera back toward myself, then back at him.

He grabbed my phone playfully, taking over the recording. “Wassup y’all, it’s Micah, and I just got hella points in this game, so of course, I had to get shawty a lil’ bear or somethin’,” he said, smiling as he turned the camera back to show both of us in the frame.

I laughed, my heart warm. “Ahh, I’m so geeked, guys. I’ve never gotten a bear at the fair before, mostly because I can’t play basketball worth anything,” I said, fixing my hair as I grabbed the phone back.

“But bye, guys!” I finished the vlog with a smile and stopped the recording. We moved to an empty stand with perfect lighting for some peace and quiet.

“You should make a TikTok with me, Micah,” I said, spinning around as he sat next to me, leaning his back against the table.

“What sound you doing?” He scrolled through his phone, clearly up for whatever.

“Ummm, hold on, let me find one,” I said, searching my For You page, tapping through the options.

Suddenly, “Giannis Hurricane Wisdoms” started playing.

“Don’t play cops and robbers, get behind this b****, I dog ya,” Micah sang along, his energy growing as he started getting hyped.

“On God, I run with problem solvers,” he continued, smiling and bobbing his head to the beat, clearly enjoying himself.

“That’s my shit! Let’s do that one!” he said, glancing over my shoulder at the TikTok screen.

“Okay!” I smiled, clicking on the sound. I adjusted the phone to find the best lighting, turning it to face the sun.

“This way is better,” I said, positioning the phone as I smiled.

He sat next to me and began adjusting his dreads, looking so casual but fine.

I couldn’t help but glance at him—he was looking extra good, and it made my heart race.

“Alright, you ready?” I asked, my voice a little quieter, feeling the excitement building.

“Yep,” he smiled, his eyes locking with mine. I clicked the timer for 3 seconds, and we both got into position.

“I don’t play cops and robbers, get behind this b****, I dog ya,” we lip-synced the words, and in that moment, everything felt like it faded away. It was just me, Micah, and the music.

“I’m a moneyholic, dope fiend, I need all I…”

We both continued, smiling and singing together, lost in the rhythm.

“I live it, you record it,” the song played on.

“Day time in a foreign, night time I’m in a foreign,” we sang, laughing together.

“I’m tired, I’m way too beat,” Micah said, slipping his arm around me, hyping up even more. I couldn’t do anything but smile.

The TikTok went off, and we both burst out laughing.

“Oh yeah, that shit hard as hell,” Micah said, taking his arm from around me. He grabbed my phone, playing the video back with a grin. “That’s fire,” he added, eyes twinkling with pride.

I just laughed, feeling the happiest I had all day.

We did a couple more rides, and they were super cute—one even caught us lowkey matching, which I couldn’t help but smile at as I scrolled through my drafts.

“Hmmm, I can post some of these, Micah,” I said, glancing over at him.

“Yeah, it don’t matter to me, but hold on—send me them too or tag me,” he replied, nodding.

“But I’m hungry… you want some food? On me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yesss,” I said, smiling wide.

“Alright, come on,” he stood up, grabbing the stuffed bear, and we started walking around, looking for food.

“I think I just want pizza, fries, and funnel cake,” Micah said, smiling.

“Hmmm, get me a corndog, fries, and lemonade,” I said, eyeing the food stalls.

“Alright,” he nodded.

“Aye man, lemme get—” Micah started ordering our food while I snapped pictures of the fair lights.

“Aye, pretty, come on!” he shouted, looking at me with a smile as he grabbed the tray and napkins.

I smiled again. For some reason, his nickname for me—”pretty”—just did something to me. It made my heart flutter.

We sat down to eat, but he sat across from me. We started digging into our food, and Micah took a swig of his water.

“So, is cheerleading something you’re passionate about, or is it something else?” he asked casually.

“You know, you’re probably the first person to ever ask me that,” I said, blushing a little. “But yeah, I do like cheering… but I’m more passionate about working in a hospital setting. I actually work at a nursing home on the weekends with my mom, and from doing that, I want to become a psychiatric nurse.”

Micah raised his eyebrows. “Oh, shoot, I’m sitting with a future nurse.” He teased. “But what do you actually do at the nursing home? Sounds pretty cool.”

“Well, I help prep meals, take their vitals, and wheel them to places they need to go, like the gym or tea time,” I smiled. “But I actually have a favorite resident—her name’s Mrs. Nova. She’s like my old best friend. We talk about everything.”

“You definitely seem passionate about it,” Micah said, his eyes soft as he looked at me.

“What about you?” I asked, feeling comfortable now. “Are you passionate about basketball, or do you want to do something else with cars?”

“Nah, I’m definitely passionate about basketball,” he said, his voice firm. “That’s my thing—it feels like home, especially since me and my mom bonded over it a lot. Working on cars? I love it, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not the same. When I’m on the court, it’s just me and the ball—nothing else.”

“And drawing?” I asked, looking into his eyes, curious.

He smiled, a little shy. “I never really took it seriously. It’s more of a habit, like if I’m studying for something in class, I just end up doodling, or something random. Here, check this out.” He slid his phone over, showing me his sketch of the body’s anatomy.

“Wow, these are amazing,” I said, my eyes wide. “And you just start doodling, and this comes up?”

“Pretty much,” he shrugged. “Sometimes my stepmom might ask me to sketch for weddings or help with a logo or something, but mostly I do it for fun.”

“Aww, that’s so cool, Micah. I can’t even draw a decent stick figure,” I laughed.

He chuckled, shaking his head.

We kept talking, and the conversation flowed so naturally. It felt so good just being myself around him. I also started teaching him how to speak more fluently in Spanish, and he seemed so into it.

“Ayeeeee, Valentine!” Keith called out, causing Micah to turn around and smile.

“Wassup, bro?” he said, dapping Keith up as everyone sat at the table.

“You had fun?” Kamiya asked, playing with my hair.

“Yess, I did actually,” I nodded, smiling.

“See? And you were nervous for no reason,” Skylar chimed in with a teasing smile.

“What’s this, twin?” Cameron said, picking up the bear and looking at Micah.

“Oh, I won Maila this at a basketball stand. But look at my score, dawg,” Micah grinned, pulling out his phone to show them.

Micah won me a bear, and I couldn’t help but blush. “Yes,” I smiled, sipping my lemonade.

“Alright, let’s go. I’m tired as heck, and I gotta work tomorrow,” Cameron said, standing up, tossing everything away.

We all started walking to the exit, and honestly, I didn’t want to leave. I loved my time with Micah tonight.

“Oh, shoot, here, pretty,” Micah said, handing me the dinosaur. “I was finna leave with it.”

I smiled and thanked him. He pulled me into a side hug again.

I heard a small voice in my head: Ask for his number, Maila. Ask for it. But for some reason, the words didn’t come out.

“I had fun, though. See you around,” Micah smiled, before turning to walk away with Cameron. I blushed again, watching him go.

“Now, why didn’t you get the boy’s number?” Skylar said, causing me to turn around to see her and Kamiya with their arms crossed.

“I was nervous, guys, sorry,” I said, biting my lip, embarrassed.