Breathe

Chapter Eight - You Pray For Me?

Five o'clock. Opal was still trying to brush her hair. She was extremely nervous. What if Jalin said something wrong? What if he looked rough? What if he smelled like weed? Opal's mind was going at at least a hundred miles per hour. She was so captured in her thoughts that she yelped when James knocked the bathroom door. She slowly opened the door, her hair actually looking perfectly fine. "Yes, James?"

"You okay in here? You've been doing your hair for over an hour now." He asked as he looked at her. "And your hair looks good."

"You sure? I don't know. Maybe I should put it in a ponytail. Or maybe I should straighten it. And maybe I can put on a little makeup. And-"

"Or you can relax, little cousin." James said with a soft smile. "You look perfectly fine. You two see each other everyday."

Opal looked at James and her expression was so priceless that he couldn't help but laugh. "What? Is something wrong?" Opal said in almost a panic.

"Yes, you look like I have five eyes or something. Calm down. Just go in the living room and watch some television. I've needed to use this thing for fifteen minutes now." James said as he escorted her out the bathroom. "You look perfect." He said as he shut the door behind her.

Opal had to admit that she was being a bit crazy with getting ready for Jalin to come over. She didn't know how else to be though. And it didn't help that Jalin wouldn't answer her text messages.

Opal sat and waited. A few minutes later, James came out of the bathroom and went to the kitchen. "I hope you washed your dirty hands!" She said.

"Don't start." James laughed. "You know Aunt Krystal used to whoop me for that. I'd never just walk out the bathroom and not wash my hands."

Opal walked into the kitchen laughing, but as she sat down, thoughts of her mother flooded her mind, and her smile faded. James looked at her frown and sighed softly. "I miss her too, Opal. But we got to be strong and trust that God will help us through with the grief we still may have."

Opal pulled away from him. "Yeah." She said as she walked away from him. James only sighed and went back to cooking.

Several minutes passed before there was a knock at the door. Both James and Opal rushed to the door, but James got their first. With a smile, James opened the door. "Hello, you must be Jalin." He said in a friendly voice.

Opal tried to peak over James. She nearly froze when she heard Jalin's voice. "Yes, sir. Are you her cousin, James?" Jalin asked timidly.

"Yes, I am. Come on in." James said as he opened the door wider. Jalin walked in and saw Opal. A bright smile spread across his face. "Please have a seat in the living room. I'll be out in just a moment. I just need to finish dinner." James said as he headed back into the kitchen.

Jalin and Opal sat on the couch. They were both very nervous. Opal took in a deep breath through her nose. "No weed smell. Good job, babe!" Opal mentally thought to herself. As she observed her boyfriend, she had to admit that he cleaned up pretty nicely. He had his usually sort of wild hair tamed under a cap, and even had on a simple dress shirt and some jeans with some red Nike shoes on. Opal couldn't help but smile. "You look nice."

"Thanks. You do too." Jalin said with a small smile. "You actually look nervous." He chuckled.

"So do you. And I don't think I ever heard you say 'sir' before." Opal said, her voice not much higher than a whisper.

"Good first impression." Jalin said simply as he leaned back. When he heard footsteps nearing their direction, he quickly sat back up, making Opal giggle.