"Lys," Janelle called out to me from across the parking lot. I turned around to greet her. "Hey boo," I said as I wrapped her in a hug. "Where you headed," she asked. I sighed as I leaned on my car door. "Girl I don't know. Classes have been kicking my butt these past few weeks. I just need to get off campus. You wanna come? It's been a while since me and you last hung out."
"Hell yeah. Let's go."
I opened up my car door and slid inside. Janelle followed suit. I put the car in drive and pulled out of the parking lot. "Okay! So! Where do you wanna go Nelle? Do you wanna go get food? Do you wanna go shopping?"
"Hey! What about the sip and paint bar on 4th and Maine? It's been a while since we've gone there."
"Nelle you are chockfull of ideas," I said as I slowed down at a light. She laughed and plugged the aux cord into her phone. Guordan Banks', "Keep You In Mind" blasted through the speakers. We sung along with the windows down and our shades on; our voices carrying even further when the chorus came in.
Can I keep you in mind
Can I can I
Can I keep you in mind
In my mind
We sung to the cars that passed us by and to the people who stared in concern. We cruised around downtown until we reached our destination. We found a good spot near the side entrance and parked.
As we made our way towards the building, Janelle threw her arm around my neck. "I'm glad we're doing this," she grinned. I looked at her and smiled. "What's got you so happy? Usually you're a pain in the ass," I teased. She couldn't stop grinning.
"Okay. Igotsomedicklastnight," she said quickly. I sucked my teeth and laughed. "Oh. So you mean Vic," I teased. She looked at me and lowered her brow. "Lys," she said kissing her teeth. "I'm kidding J. I'm kidding. If that's who you want to be with that's your decision."
Janelle glared at me from the side as we entered into the winery where the sip and paint was being held. "This new you," she said with a raised brow, "I like it, and I know better than to question it cuz it may not last long knowing your ass." We both burst into laughter as we made our way to an empty spot we eyed in the back. "That's very true," I agreed. We tried to settle into our seats as quickly as possible, because our instructor, whose name we learned is Mr. Alvarez, said that we would begin in ten minutes.
He took us through a step by step painting instruction on how to create our own artwork and then gave us free reign to paint whatever we wanted. Various people came around the room with different types of wine. The ambiance was so relaxing and the wine was much needed.
"So," Janelle said as she paid close attention to a shape she was painting on her canvas, "how's it going with Kevin?" I grinned at my painting that was beginning to take form. She looked over at me momentarily before giving her attention back to her painting. She dipped her paintbrush in the yellow paint. "Damn. That good huh," she chuckled.
I laughed. "Yeah. It's going really well. He surprises me often; him as an individual, I mean. I didn't know what to expect from him in the beginning, but he's turning out to be exactly what I want in a---" I paused; the word "husband" sounding too pushy and the word "boyfriend" sounding too weird. I haven't had one of those in a while. "Man," Janelle chimed in. "Yes," I sighed in relief. "I couldn't figure out what word I wanted to use. Yes. Everything I want in a man."
Janelle looked over at me and grinned. I looked back at her. "What," I asked suspiciously. "Your ass finally got somebody! It only took you two years!" She and I burst into laughter. "Shut up Janelle. You ain't have to put me out like that." She took a sip of her wine and giggled with the glass still pressed to her lips. I shook my head and went back to painting. "Anyway. How are you and what's his face?" She shot me a quick glance and flicked her middle finger up at me. "Fuck you," she mouthed. I chuckled. "I couldn't resist."
