|Recap|

I shook my head while gripping her wrists. After she stepped back, I released her.

"Please? Do this for me," she mumbled.

She reached for them again and slowly removed them from my face. I continued to stare at her.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?"

I licked my lips. "You're so pretty Tomica."

"Now I know what his weakness is," I smirked "hmm this is gonna be fun."

| Eric |

"So I guess I'll see you later," I said.

"I came over here to chill... Eric."

"Don't you think it's a little too late to do anything? I have to film a video tomorrow and I need to get some rest."

"Why else do you think I'm dressed like this? Let's hang out, as friends. I mean... you want to try this again right?"

"Yeah. Well where do you want to go? And what do you want to do?"

"You still owe me a dinner at an Italian restaurant remember? It's the least you can do after disrespecting me multiple times and on top of that, you stood me up."

I bit my bottom lip. "Aight. Yeah it's the least I can do. I'll make it up to you ma."

"So are you ready or?"

"Not yet. Let me hit the shower and put some clothes on. Then we can go."

"Okay," she nodded before taking a seat on the couch.

"Hey I just have a question. How do you know where I live? Stalking me?" I chuckled.

"You'll never know. Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't," she smirked.

I grabbed a towel from my closet and headed to the bathroom. After taking a well deserved hot shower, I changed into something comfortable, grabbed my pager, keys, and headed towards the door with her on my tail.

"Are you gonna let me drive?" she questioned while sitting in the passenger's seat.

"What? Nah you can't drive. I got the keys."

[A/N: keys, keys, keys]

I started the ignition after putting my seatbelt on and turned on the radio.

I glanced at her. "Put your seatbelt on because safety is important," I spat.

"Thanks. I really didn't know that."

"Well you was literally sitting here without even trying to fasten your seatbelt." I put the car in drive and adjusted the volume and switched it to the sports channel.

My Raiders are playing the Chargers tonight and I just want to catch up.

"The fourty. The thirty. The twenty. The ten. Touchdown! Raiders!"

"That makes the score twenty-seven to fourteen. The Raiders are currently in the lead."

"So you mean to tell me you know everything about football and you're a big fan, but you haven't decided to become a football player?"

I stopped at a red light. "What? Just because I like the Raiders, it doesn't mean I should be a football player. Now I have a question for you."

"Go ahead," she said.

"You know all this stuff about cars but you don't know how to drive one."

"It's embarassing right? Well at least I'm trying to learn. I'm so dedicated to learning how to drive that I keep my manual in my purse."

I changed the channel before making another stop.

"Thank God. Because I did not want to listen to the game."

"We'll get into grooving love your body language. Baby let me know, you got me sort of anxious. We both are here to have the fun so let it whip."

"So let it whip, let's whip it baby let's whip it right. Child, let's whip it baby, whip it all night."

"So where are we going?" she asked.

"An Italian restaurant called Osteria Mozza. Not trying to brag or anything but this place is very expensive and uh I think you'll like it."

"Expensive huh?" she laughed "well dang look at you. I was lowkey joking about taking me to an Italian restaurant. We could've went to Burger King or Fat Burger."

"Oh you wanted Fat Burger huh," I smirked "nah we wasn't going to no damn Fat Burger."

"Okay let me stop sweating you..playa."

This moment made me forget about the stuck up, shady bitch she is. And it also made me forget about the shit I'm going through.

I guess this is what I needed, some fun. And the night just gets better because I quickly change the channel and hear Guns 'N Roses.

"We got everything you want honey, we know the names. We are the people that can find whatever you may need..."

"I didn't know that you like Guns 'N Roses."

"Yeah," I smiled "we named one of our tracks after their album."

"In the jungle, welcome to the jungle. Watch it bring you to your sha na na na na knees knees. I wanna watch you bleed."

"Wow. You don't look like the type to listen to this type of music."

"Oh so just because I'm black, I have to listen to only hip hop?" I scoffed while turning into the parking lot.

"Hey I'm black too so don't take it the wrong way. It's just..you're too much of a gangsta and I didn't know that gangstas listen to music like this."

"Yeah. Aight, we here." I turned the car off and unbuckled my seat belt. Then grabbed my Locs and put 'em on.

"E this is a fancy Italian restaurant. For Christ sake, could you take those shades off?"

I made my way to her door and opened it for her. I'm not actually used to this because truth be told, I'm not romantic at all. I hardly ever go on dates so this is still kind of new to me but I'll get the hang of it.

"Thank you," she muttered.

"Aye I ain't used to this. None of this, so bare with me," I said after I closed her door.

"Yeah." She grabbed my Locs and threw 'em in her purse.

"Come on man give me back my shit."

"Who's helpless now?" she laughed "these are going to stay off of your face until our date is over. Fair enough?"

"Aight friend...fair enough." As soon as we were greeted by the host, I requested a private area just so we can avoid any groupies or paparazzi.

"No problem," he said while grabbing two menus "right this way."

"After you ma," I mumbled.

After he seated us, we ordered two drinks and began to conversate. But we have to remember that this isn't a date, we're just two friends chilling.

She started to smile with her pretty ass.

"So..this place is nice. I like it. Never ate here before because I can't afford it of course but thank you friend."

"Hmm I figured it was the least I could do after standing you up and everything. Now I ain't romantic or anything so like I said, this is still kind of new to me."

"Here's your drinks," said our waitress "are you two ready to order?"

"Um Eric," she trailed off while looking at the menu. I know what this means.

"Order anything you want," I smiled.

"Great. I'll take the Soft Shell Crab Fritto."

"Oh hell nah Tomica order something else!"

"Are you serious?" she laughed "I thought I can order whatever I want?"

"Just playing ma."

"Eazy are you ready to order?"

"I guess I'll take the same thing she order."

"Okay I'll be right back with your order and let me know if you want a drink refill."

"Aight back to you Miss Record Executive."

She smirked. "Get it right. I am a record executive assistant."

"What's the difference?" I laughed "either way you're still in the business."

"Tell me, is this a date or a date date?"

"It's neither," I licked my lips "I thought you knew that. We're just two friends chilling."

"So you're still just trying to be friends with benefits right? You don't want a relationship, just sex."

Just to set the mood, our waitress comes out of nowhere and sets a couple of lit candles and roses on our table.

"Your food is still cooking. Now I want you two to enjoy our most popular wine." She poured some in our glasses.

"Thank you," I said.

"So like I was saying, don't think I'm trying to play hard to get or anything because I know you just want to be friends."

If only she knew.

"Yeah. It's not that serious. So whenever you want it just let me know. So am I impressing you by showing you how romantic I can be?"

She rolled her eyes. "You ain't gotta impress me. I love Italian food but like I said we could've went to Fat Burger. You don't have to impress a friend."

"Aight well next time I'll take yo simple ass to Fat Burger," I laughed.

"Oh and take off that hat. I have your shades, I have no problem snatching that hat as well."

"Well I'm not," I scoffed after licking my lips.

"Oh really?"

"Hell nah. You lucky I took my Locs off for you."

She grabbed her glass and held it up.

"I want to make a toast. To friends."

"To friends," I repeated before our glasses clicked. She took a sip and then our waitress comes back with our food.

"Here you are. I hope you enjoy. Can I get you anything else?"

"More wine," she said.

I took a few bites, then dropped my knife and stared at her. I wish I had my Locs to cover my eyes but fuck it, I don't care anymore.

She glanced at me then dropped her head due to shyness. Then glanced at me again.

"What?" she spat.

"You're just pretty as hell ma. You know that right?"

"Eric-"

"What, you can't take a compliment? You better be glad I'm not on my worst behavior."

[A/N: remember? Muthafucka]

"I can take a compliment, and thank you. It's just..."

"Aye I know we're just friends.. well I would like to be friends. And I ain't being nice just to fuck you or anything even though we both agreed that we want to be friends with benefits."

"I didn't agree but once again, thank you for the compliment."

"One look in your eyes and there I see just what you mean to me. Here in my heart I believe your love is all I'll ever need. Holding you close through the night, I need you yeah..."

"Not Luther," she smiled after taking another bite. "Do you wanna dance?"

"Me? I can't slow dance ma."

"Let me teach you."

We made our way to the dance floor and she wrapped her arms around my neck while my arms are wrapped around her waist.

"This is all I can do."

"You can do it. Just look me in the eyes and take the lead. And take your time."

I licked my lips and attempted to take the lead but failed.

"See? What I tell you?" I scoffed.

"It's okay Eric. Let's just finish our meal so that you can take me home. It's getting late and I need to check on my son."

"You have a son?"

"Yeah.. Chris and he's my world."

"Here and now, I promise to love faithfully. You're all I need. Here and now, I vow to be one with thee.."

After we finished our meal, she used the closest payphone to dial her son's babysitter. Then we both decided to just end this uh.. date early.

It didn't end well.

"Well here's your place."

"Thank you for the date," she muttered while unbuckling her seatbelt.

"This wasn't a date remember?"

"Right. Goodnight."

| Tomica |

As soon as he drove away, I unlocked my door and made my way into the kitchen to fix a late night snack.

Eric is starting to open up more and to say I enjoyed myself would be an understatement.

I grabbed a poptart and attempted to watch a movie until I fall asleep, but my phone decides to ring out the blue.

[A/N: based on a classic scary movie lol]

"Hello?" I answered.

"Who is this?"

"Um who are you trying to reach?"

"I just need to know what number I called."

"Well," I shook my head "what number are you trying to reach?"

"I don't know," he said. He has sort of a raspy voice.

"Well you have the wrong number."

"Do I?"

"It's fine. It happens, take it easy." I quickly hung up and it rang once more. "Hello?"

"Sorry I guess I did dial the wrong number."

"So why did you dial it again?" I scoffed.

"Because I want to talk to you."

"Well they have plenty of chatline numbers for that. Goodnight." I hung up and let out a sigh of relief.

It's been about thirty minutes and he hasn't called back. Probably just someone trying to make a prank call. No sweat.

In the middle of my movie, it rings again.

"Hello?"

"Why don't you want to talk to me?" His voice sounds familiar. I feel like I've heard it before.

"Who is this?"

"Tell me your name and I'll tell you mine."

"Hmm I don't think so. Goodbye," I spat.

"Don't hang up on me."

I hung up of course. And as usual, it rings yet again.

"Yes?" I answered. I'm beyond annoyed at this point.

"I told you not to hang up on me."

"Who is this? And why do you keep calling me?"

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he questioned.

"Why does it concern you? Stop calling me!"

I slammed the phone down and it rings...again.

"Listen asshole.."

"No you listen bitch, you hang up on me again and I'll make sure there's at least three bullets in your chest before midnight you understand?"

I covered my mouth with my hand. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"Now tell me your name."

"Why do you want to know my name?"

"Because I want to know who I'm looking at."

My heart dropped. I don't know if this is a joke or not but it's gotten out of hand. I started to heavy breath while making sure my door is locked.

"Say that again?"

"I said I want to know who I'm talking to."

"Wrong," I muttered.

"Oh really?" His voice sounds so damn familiar. Who the hell is this?

"Look I gotta go."

"Your name wouldn't happen to be Tomica would it?"

I paused. "H-how do you know my name?"

The signal must be bad because his voice is starting to go in and out.

"Open the door," he demanded.

"Fuck you," I spat. I hung up and attempted to call the police until I heard someone banging on my door.

"Ms. Woods? Open up. We want to talk to you."

We? You mean there's more than one?

The banging got louder and I shrieked.

"Tomica Woods? We'd really like to talk to you. Please let us in or we'll let ourselves in."

I took a few steps back until my back hit the wall. My hands are shaking but I still attempted to call LAPD.

"Ms. Woods? Are you gonna let us in?"

In the middle of dialing, the banging stopped and it got quiet. I'm not sure if they're gone or not but I'm still going to call the police.

Then out of nowhere, I heard another loud bang.

"Ms. Woods let us in. We're not gonna hurt you and we're not leaving until you open this door."

I dropped the phone and gently opened the door. In walks four armed men and they're all aiming their guns at me.

Thank God my son is spending the night with someone.

"Tell Eric Wright we came."