Chapter 1.

Bliss.

     "Thank you. I'll definitely come by again." The lady says on her way out. Noise from the busy street whooshes in through the open door. "You're welcome. Have a great day." I reply before the door closes. The floor is a mess - littered with hair and plastic packaging. I grab a broom and start sweeping.

My stomach rumbles as I finish sweeping. My body requires her sustenance and she will not be denied. I go out to get food from a cute little restaurant down the block. I order to go since I can't leave the salon unattended for too long. I used to have people working with me but those weren't pleasant experiences so I work alone now.

The sun feels warm against my skin but not in a sticky sweaty way. It's evening and the little shopping district lights up. People are going in and out of shops or just passing by. But I'm too hungry to take in the beautiful evening scenery, I speedwalk to my salon. I imagine I look a little odd, considering the looks I'm getting.

By the time I get there, I'm heaving like a fish out of water - the distance wasn't even much. I'm so out of shape, it's baffling. I open the glass door and hurry inside. The air from the air conditioner hums through the store, it's cool - no pun intended. All my gratitude to whoever invented the A.C. 

I sit in the chair near the wide display window and proceed to devour the food. I got cheesy beef burgers and curly fries and a cold peach drink. I bite into the burger and my senses are slammed with a burst of cheesy beefy goodness. This is what it means to live!

I'm chomping away at the last sacred bits of my burger when my phone starts buzzing. Its a call from Josiah - he's one of my close friends. I answer the phone and his cheerful greeting.

"Hello, Bliss the wiz?". He's such a dork. My baby.

"Hi Jojo." My cheeks warm. 

"So... How's work?." His voice is soft.

"It's good but I'm not working right now, so I got something to eat."

"What did you get?"

"Beefy cheese burger, fries and a peach drink. The basics, if you will." I reply and take a sip of the drink. It sends a zing of deliciousness down my throat. I make a small noise of satisfaction.

"What was that?" Josiah asks. I hope I didn't sound weird.

"The sound of adoration. I've found my new favorite drink." I take more sips of said drink.

"Now I want to know what it tastes like." He groans.

"I'll buy it for you when you stop by the salon next time." The thought makes me smile.

"Thank you." He sounds excited.

I giggle. Like a lovestruck butterfly. "You're welcome."

"So... We're still on for today, right?" He asks.

"We? Who's we? What's today?" I ask confused.

"You asked Grace and I to come over." He says perplexed.

"Oh, yeah! I forgot." I did forget.

"Should we still come over?" He asks hesitant.

"Of course. I miss you." I soothe.

"You missed lil ol' me? I'm flattered." He teases.

"You're an idiot." I smile. He's so cute.

"Only for you, Mamas." He lilts. 

I scoff. "Whatever."

"I missed you too by the way." He says softly.

My heart flutters. "Awwww. You're so cute." I coo.

"I am?" He laughs.

"Yes, you are."

"How?" He asks in disbelief.

"There's no particular reason. You just are." I pop some fries into my mouth. 

"Mhmmm. Oh! I've gotta go... I'll see you later?" He inquires.

"Yes, you will. Have a great day, Bubs.' I tell him.

He laughs. "You too. Bye." He hangs up.

My cheeks hurt from smiling too hard. I eat my food while enjoying the view outside. Music plays softly in the background from speakers I hung on the walls. The setting sun paints the sky in a golden orange hue, seeping into my salon through the big window and door, etching itself onto every surface. Warmth - I feel content. I'm so cheesy! - no pun intended again. 

Evenings make me happy because it means I'll be able to go home soon. I usually close the salon around 6pm. I'm already so tired. The door opens, disrupting my thoughts. My next appointment has arrived. Time to be professional, I guess. "Good evening." 

................ 

     I finally locked up a few minutes past six. I took a cab home instead of waiting for the bus. When I got home, I showered and changed into an oversized tshirt and shorts. I'm in the kitchen cooking spaghetti when Grace calls. 

"Hey, big head." She hollers. She's so weird.

"My head's not big, you butt." I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, I do have a big butt." She says it in the smuggest tone possible. And let me tell you, my friend's butt is no where near big. It's not non-existent but it's not big.

"Whatever floats your boat. I don't want to talk about your butt. Why'd you call me?." 

"I'm near your apartment and Jo's on his way too. Prepare for our arrival." I forgot they were coming over. Thank God I decided to cook.

"Why are you so weird! I'm cooking spaghetti.' I wedge the phone between my ear and shoulder as I look through my fridge for bell peppers.

'Thank God, I'm starving. Bye.' She says before ending the call. I hope the food will be enough 'cause my friends and I eat like hungry lions. 

I decide to do vegetable stir-fry sauce thingy since it's faster. I start chopping the veggies. The spaghetti's already done, so I put it away and get to saucing. A few minutes of me doing some of my finest culinary work, I'm done with the food and it looks edible and smells edible, so it is edible. Boom, so much logic.

Since the food's done, I go into my room to put on some deodorant cause I don't wanna smell like armpits. I put my braids in a bun, return to the living room and throw myself on the couch which I bounce off of but I'm good. I like having my friends over, they give my life a little spice. I don't go out much, so this is my type of fun.

I'm already comfortably watching tv, when I hear knocking, followed by the banging and shouting that is Grace. Before my neighbors come out and find the source of unnecessary noise, I open the door and drag her in. Grace in all her brown glory grins at me like a maniac while I glare at her. She just smiles and pulls me into a hug.

'Bliss, how are ya?' She asks while I'm smooshed into her neck. 

'If you let me go, I'll be fine.' She does infact let me go but not because I tell her to. There's another knock on my door.

'That should be Jojo.' Is what she says before opening the door. My stomach is acting weird. 

And there he is, Josiah. He's hugging Grace or rather she's hugging him. They're almost the same height with only an inch difference. But the way she has him hunched over, you'd think he was taller than her by a lot. She lets him go and he looks at me. I blink too much?... I don't know but I put on my biggest smile - I think its too wide... 'Hi Jojo'.