Page 4 of Not My Type (Not My Type #1)

Zara

I get out of the taxi and walk towards my veranda and spot two pairs of familiar Yeezy slides. Gavin and Sash! Lawdddd!

They’re my favorite cousins and I love them dearly, but I’m not in the mood to talk and that’s what they’re here for.

A low sigh left my lips as I push my hand through the narrow space and fumble with the grill.

I’m yet to see the day where this process goes smoothly, and me is a very cyaa-bother-ful person.

I hiss, leaning my body and it flicks up— clanking painfully loud.

Immediately, Sash’s voice rings from inside.

“The dolly deh yer!” I’m not in the mood.

“Good evening,” I greet and walk into the living room. Mama is asleep with the remote in her hand, Gavin is sitting on the couch— Sash on the other hand, sprawls off on the tiles.

“Zara, wah do yuh?” Gavin asks, sounding concerned.

“I’m okay, why unuh over here?” annoyance dripping from my words. I reach for my room doorknob.

“We a go out!” Sash’s voice no different from a town crier behind me. Without a second thought, I shake my head and push my door open.

“I can’t,” I exhale then an earsplitting voice follows.

“No! A who you a deal with so gyal?” Of course it’s Gavin. I turn to see him glaring at me from head to toe. His brows knit as he expresses

his strong disapproval. I can’t help it but laugh.

“Mi just have a bad day,” I sigh, my eyes fixed on them. “Forget that. We ago have fun tonight, put on some nice clothes!” Sash claps enthusiastically.

“And bathe enuh,” Gavin jokes. I roll my eyes with a tight-lipped smile and turn away. Their breaths slapping my neck.

“Chro! Unuh come out,” I push them out and close the door behind me.

“We a wait enuh gyal so don’t bother take forever!” Gavin shouts from the other side, Sash still laughing.

I pick out a pair of denim jeans to go with my white bodysuit.

Listen! Every girl should own at least one of these, you can never go wrong with a good one.

My feet slips into my Fashion Nova heels with ease.

I reach for my Chanel bag. Another must have for your wardrobe.

Once I’ve tested out the look, I lay them on my bed and head to the bathroom to shower.

The cold water caresses my body. It feels.

.. too good. Like drinking cold water right after having a halls sweetie.

I was hoping that somehow it could wash my problems away for good.

I have almost everything figured out— almost— not in every aspect of my life; but for a young girl I would say it is.

I’m in my final year of college and I can’t thank my mother and grandmother enough.

It wouldn’t be possible without them. I’m not struggling financially because my mother makes sure I have enough money for whatever I need.

Sadly, they are my only support system because my sperm donor of a father, is a waste if I’m being honest. That man drinks like his life depends on it and curses people out every now and then.

“Zara!” Gavin shouts. I cut the water off and wrap a towel around my body.

“Mi done now!” I yell back. Fifteen minutes later, I’m dressed and my hair is perfectly straightened. I smile at myself before I walk towards the door.

“I’m ready,” I announce.

“Watch the dolly!” Sash grins, I swear that’s her favorite word. ‘Dolly’ My eyes scan her. She’s wearing a black bodycon dress, her relaxed hair is swept into a sleek, high ponytail. Cute likkle brownin’.

“Thanks, and you look nice too,” I smile, then we turn to Gavin— grinning like Cheshire cats as he compliments us both.

We thank him. “You look nice too,” I beam, then Mama clears her throat. My eyes find her, she’s smiling from ear to ear. One thing with her, she’s going to assess me when I dress up. Sometimes she likes it, sometimes she says that it’s too revealing. But me young, mi nah old up miself. Period!

“ What a way you pretty ina this,” her eyes still roaming me, seemingly pleased.

“Thanks Mama.”

“Look how the girl shapey, and watch how me straight,” Sash says spinning around causing everyone to laugh, including Mama.

“She get aunty shape,” Gavin laughs.

“Yes, she shape just like Michelle,” Mama’s eyes light up. How many times have I heard this? Countless times actually. It’s true though— it’s the only thing I’ve got from her according to our family... I was sometimes called my father’s ‘twin’.

My hair is dark, thick and appears wet, because of his East Indian roots. I love my Indi look, no doubt about that. But ughhh! I hate when they call me his twin.

“Where unuh young people going though, a 7 o’clock a night now enuh,” Mama starts, her eyes moving between us.

“We a go good Mama,” Sash responds.

“Yeah, and a 9 o’clock curfew—wi just a go a Constant Spring go eat,” Gavin tells her.

“Arite, unuh come back before 9.” We nod, Sash is distracted by her phone.

“Hello miss,” Gavin snaps. She looks up startled and smile sweetly.

“A the taxi mi a call.”

We’re at Oceano, a Japanese restaurant in Constant Spring. It has intricate, modern architecture. There’s a wall mounted waterfall at the entrance assorted with antique oriental décor giving off a luxurious look. This place is amazing. Not to mention the food. Jesus!

Gavin and Sash ordered republic rolls and I settled with surf n’ turf roll and their green salad with ginger dressing.

It’s nice... I’ll give them that, but I would rather be at Mystic Thai.

Yum yum yumm, my kinda cuisine. I realize that I have a pout when Sash starts looking at me crazy. “Girl...yuh nuh like the food?”

“Yea...” it’s weak.

“Girl? Eat the food and nuh upset me,” Gavin snaps.

“Cause mi wah kno’ if yuh cyaa gi’ the Indian food a break.

” My cousins are busy stuffing their faces, talking and laughing.

Besides the food, the aura is Top tier. I already see a spot for a picture.

As I get up, I feel Gavin’s stare following me.

“A wah’m?”

“When yuh done yuh can take a picture for me?” I ask with a smile.

Chris Brown’s Sensational playing softly throughout the restaurant.

Gavin takes his last bite and gets up. I put my phone down and pick up my Sony ZV-1 digital camera.

Last Christmas mommy sent it for me to start my YouTube channel. And alllllllll now!

We walk to the secret room, mirrors surrounding us. Two attempts later, and I’m jumping around. My pictures come out crisp.

“Gyal yuh nice enuh!” Gavin blurts out, Sash poking her head to look at them.

“Look how the gyal look like she walk out a Vogue Magazine?”

“Ouuu,” I say admiring them. My body, teaaa. I’m already thinking of my Instagram caption. Once I scribble it in my notes, I capture their pictures. Gavin and Sash now raving at my camera quality.

“Girl mi want one a dem!” Sash beams, I laugh at that. I won’t lie, this is a great distraction from Malik. A sigh escapes my lips as the voice in my head mutters ‘We not doing this right now’, so instead of focusing on that crosses, I get back to my Sushi. Before you know it, it’s time to leave.

“Why the food so expensive though?” Gavin asks as we walk out of the restaurant.

Sash shrugs. “It nice though, that me know.”

I chime in. “Next time I’m choosing the place and we going to Mystic Tha—”

Gavin hisses, walking faster.

The driver emerges from the car when he realizes my struggle to open the door. He’s an old man— probably in his sixties. You ever know people age group.

“Aite baby let me handle that for you,” he tries one time and the door flies open causing us to laugh.

“A you alone it want to work with,” Gavin jokes waiting for Sash and I to enter.

“It seize up sometimes mon,” he tells us. He gets in and drives off.

I check the time. 8:32 PM. We are not too late.

If Mr. Perry drives fast enough, we’ll be able to reach home before nine.

I stare through the window, the cold air caressing my cheeks and arms as Mr. Perry maneuvers through Constant Spring.

Loud giggles spread throughout the small pro box like a wild fire.

Gavin and Sash are laughing hysterically next to me.

I peep at her phone and see that it’s a picture of her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend— a total downgrade.

“A dat him really lef me fa?” she laughs out, engulfed in ecstasy at this information. A smile paints my lips at my cousins laughing like hyenas. Watch the two mad people dem.

“You see why nobody no fi carry unuh nowhere?” I giggle. I’m just as bad.

“Wul onnn!” she blurts out. “Nuh mi Tory Burch dat she have on?” her laugh sounds like an earsplitting scream.

“Murda!” Gavin cackles. I’m laughing too, but silently. Sash leans on Gavin who’s in the middle of a laughing fit.

“And the wig want likkle sheen enuh,” she adds. My head snaps to the front. Mr. Perry is chuckling to himself.

“Dem don’t know how to behave enuh, dem fi stay home mon,” I joke. He laughs this time.

“You can’t have dull moments around them.”

“Never,” I smile and avert my eyes to the window again. Then suddenly... Ra-tat-tat!

“A gun shot that enuh!” Sash screams ear shatteringly.

We duck in the car. Mr. Perry floors the gas pedal, our bodies sway from side to side as he overtakes every single car in his lane. I’m so nervous— I can’t stop looking behind me. The more he speeds with us, the more I realize the danger we’re really in.

“Please God,” I whimper. Bright lights from what looks like a Range Rover is beaming inside, illuminating the dark car. “Oh God...” I let out when I hear the crack of more gun shots. They’ve switched from the rifles it seems, to something much more... powerful? It makes me shud—

Brrrrrt!

We jolt forward violently, screaming as we do. The cars are bumper to bumper. It slams in us again as I hear the machine gun going off incessantly. Brrrrrt! Brrrrrt!

Mi heart a fail meee!

“Just keep your head down!” Gavin shouts pushing me down. They continue to shoot after us. I close my eyes. Praying because only God can help us in this moment.