Chapter 1

Javier was kicked back in his chair at the shop, one leg propped up on the counter while he was rolling up. Jordan came around the corner, leaning on the doorframe. "Yo somebody here to see you."

"Bet," Javier said, tucking everything away in his drawer and pulling on his gloves. He recognized dude as soon as he walked out front - he'd peeped him on campus before heading to soccer practice when Javier was going to his morning classes. Today he was just in some black sweats and a white tee, dreads pulled back, standing there looking at his phone like he ain't want to be there.

"What's good?" Javier asked, dropping into his chair and spinning it to face him.

Messiah looked up from his phone for a second, then back down. "Tryna get something done," he said coldly, turning his phone around to show a pic.

"I got you. Come through," Javier said, rolling his chair back to his station. He noticed how Messiah walked mad slow behind him, keeping space between them like he ain't trust nobody getting too close.

"You can sit right there," Javier nodded to the chair next to his station. Messiah dropped into it but kept his body turned away slightly, still scrolling on his phone. "Where you want it at?"

"Upper arm," Messiah said without looking up.

"Ight bet." Javier grabbed his iPad off the counter, getting comfortable in his chair. "You want any changes to it or you just want me to do my thing?"

"Just do whatever," Messiah mumbled, but his eyes kept sliding over to watch even though he was trying to act uninterested.

After a minute of silence, Javier glanced up. "I see you at State sometimes. You on the soccer team right?"

"Yeah." Messiah shifted in his chair, angling himself even further away like he really ain't want to talk.

"What's your major?" Javier asked, focused on his sketch but trying to get more than one word answers.

"Business." Messiah had his elbow propped on the arm of the chair now, chin resting on his fist while he pretended to be real interested in whatever was on his phone.

After a few minutes Javier turned the iPad toward him. "How's this looking?"

Messiah finally put his phone down for real, leaning forward slightly to look. "That's straight."

"I can do it Tuesday afternoon," Javier said, already planning to move some appointments around.

"Whatever." Messiah was already standing up, pushing his phone in his pocket. "Tuesday then."

"Don't forget your student ID!" Javier called after him as he headed for the door.

Messiah ain't even turn around, just kept walking.

Later that night Javier was stretched out on his bed, blunt in hand, thinking about his appointments for next week. His little sister FaceTimed him right as he was about to roll another one.

"Javi! Mama wants to know if you're coming over Sunday."

"Yeah tell her I'll be there after work," he said, grinning at how she was clearly in the middle of doing her hair. "You need help with them braids?"

Meanwhile Messiah had just got home from practice, dropping his bag by the door. His cat was already weaving between his legs meowing for food. "Damn, give me a minute," he muttered, heading to the kitchen to fill his bowl.

He grabbed a shower, making sure to tie his dreads up first since he wasn't washing them today. After throwing on some basketball shorts and his bonnet, he checked his phone. Text from his boy Dom asking if he was coming through tomorrow.

"Nah I'm good" he sent back, already knowing Dom was gonna be on his ass about always staying in the house. But Messiah wasn't trying to be around nobody right now. He'd already had to deal with too many people today, including that overly friendly tattoo artist who wouldn't stop trying to talk to him.