𝐊-𝐈-𝐒𝐒-𝐈-𝐍-𝐆 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

It was 9pm and Jazlyn had just finished a long shift at the hair salon she worked at that was a few blocks away from her apartment down in Manhattan.
Jazlyn moved to New York from Detroit three months ago after being spotted by her now current boss, Tina, at a hair show back in Michigan. Jazlyn was there with her former coworkers showcasing various hairstyles in which Tina took a very strong interest in.
Tina found all of Jazlyn's styles to be one of a kind and just what her own shop was missing. As soon as she got the chance, Tina found Jazlyn backstage and presented her with the opportunity to work at her salon.
Jazlyn didn't want to leave her current place of work hanging, especially since she'd been working at that salon since she was 16. But the now 21 year old was ready for a change of scenery and a different world outside of what she was normally used to.
New York didn't sound too bad, plus Tina's pay was way better than what Jazlyn was getting back in Detroit. Tina's services were known to be provided to some very well known people. Models, actresses, artists... all that. So yeah, Jazlyn was more than glad to have been given this opportunity.
After a 10 minute taxi ride, Jazlyn thanked and paid her driver before exiting the car. She kept her walkman headphones over her ears as the song switched to Mobb Deep's 'Quiet Storm' featuring Lil Kim.
She entered her apartment building, taking the elevator up to the 21st floor where she resided while mouthing the lyrics to the loud music hitting off her eardrums.
She stopped in front of her door, looking down in her purse as she rummaged through it trying to find her house keys when the door next to hers had suddenly swung open, revealing Jazlyn's neighbor - Marcus.
Marcus stepped out into the hallway, shutting his door behind him and locking it. A smirk appeared on his face when his eyes laid on Jazlyn as she searched through her purse.
"Finally." Jazlyn snatched her keys out, speaking a little louder than she thought she did due to the loud music blasting in her ears.
Marcus snickered as he walked in her direction. Just as she was about to put her key in, Marcus tapped her left shoulder and quickly moved to the right side of her body.
Jazlyn looked over her shoulder, furrowing her eyebrows when nobody was there behind her. She immediately shot her head in the opposite direction, seeing Marcus leaned against the wall beside her.
Jazlyn smacked her lips and pulled her headphones down to her neck. "Whatchu want, Marcus?" She questioned playfully and giggled.
Marcus shrugged with a side grin never leaving his face. "Nothin'. Just wanted to say hi. I can't say hi now?"
Jazlyn smiled, rolling her eyes in a playful manner. "Whatever, boy. Where you headed?" She asked as she noticed he was dressed up in all black from head to toe.
He sported a large leather jacket, black shirt and gold chain underneath with black baggy jeans. He topped off his look with all black Timbs and a black New York Yankees brim hat that was turned to the back.
"We goin' to the club for Tyreke's birthday." Marcus replied.
"Oh that's right! His birthday's tomorrow." Jaz reminded herself. She met Tyreke and a few of Marcus' other friends through little encounters they would have when they came into passing in the hallway.
"Yeah.. why? You tryna roll with me?" Marcus flirted in his signature raspy toned voice as he smirked while eyeing her petite frame.
"Uh, no." Jazlyn snickered and looked away from him, sticking her key inside the lock. "Y'all have fun though, and be safe." She twisted the key, giving him one last smile before opening her door.
"Aight, ma." Marcus lipped his lips, pushing himself off the wall. "Have a goodnight." He said and proceeded to walk down the hall towards the elevators.
Jazlyn made her way inside, locking the door behind her. She went ahead and got herself in the shower, getting cleansed and comfortable for the night.
She moisturized her body with some cocoa butter before putting on an oversized basketball jersey and some ball shorts as her nightly attire.
After about a two hour conversation on the phone with one of her friends back in Detroit, Jazlyn decided to order some pizza and watch a movie until she was ready for bed. She was a night owl so she knew even after a full day at work, she still wouldn't be able to fall asleep until 3 in the morning.
She made herself comfortable in the living room, choosing 'American Pie' as her choice of movie. The tape had been lying around since she purchased it a few months ago, so she decided this would be the perfect time to finally watch it.
Halfway through the movie, a knock on the door caused Jazlyn to groan irritably as she paused the film and got up from the couch. She took a look through the peephole and lightly chuckled when she seen Marcus standing there.
She opened the door, taking in the scent of his cologne that was now mixed with weed. Marcus stood there silently for a few seconds against the door frame, staring at her while she stared back at him.
".... yes?" Jazlyn couldn't help but to start laughing. "Why you just standing here at 2:30 in the morning looking at my face?"
Marcus kissed his teeth and took a step back from her door frame. "'Cause I'm sayin' like.. why you keep playin' like this, shorty?"
Jazlyn laughed even harder. "Marcus, you do this every single time you go out and come back home. Every time. And every time you always end up getting the same answers from me. So why do you still do it?"
Marcus was unable to hold back his own chuckle, knowing that she was absolutely right.
Ever since Jazlyn moved here and Marcus first laid eyes on his new neighbor, he had been trying so hard to get her to go out with him. He thought she was the most beautiful human being in the world. Not just her physical features, but who she was as a person.
She was always smiling, laughing, and playing around. Jazlyn was really sweetest person he'd ever met, and all he wanted to do was get to know her a little better.
"I still do it because I know my consistency will pay off one day." He stepped back into her doorway, leaning against the frame as he towered over her.
Jazlyn giggled, folding her arms across her chest while she also leaned in on the frame with her body now closer to his. "You have been pretty consistent since I first got here."
"Yeah man.. what the fuck? You got me beggin' for a whole three months, Jaz." Marcus joked, placing his hand on her waist and brought his head down to her ear to whisper some quick sweet nothings.
"Ewww stop!" She laughed and playfully pushed him back.
Marcus chuckled and bit down his lip. "Yo, one date."
Jaz kept a closed mouth smile as she gazed up at his low hazy eyes that she adored so much. Marcus knew he was fine, Jazlyn knew it too. She loved how he was such a gentleman even with his gangster-like exterior. He was a big baby on the low and this moment right here proved that.
When they first met, Marcus was on his way out to meet up with his boys when he stopped and offered to help out with the heavy furniture that Jaz needed to get into her home. She never met anyone so handsome in her her life. His voice, low eyes, chip toothed smile, all of it was just so mouthwatering to her.
And his fresh haircuts. We can't forget about the haircuts he takes just as serious as life itself.
Most men she would meet were so dirty and disgusting to her. Alot of them had the nerve to talk to her and treat her like she was nothing in this world, when they had the audacity to walk around looking homeless majority of the time smelling stank.
But not Marcus. Marcus was the whole package. The only reason why Jazlyn had declined so many dates from him was because of how all those past men treated her. But she soon started to see that Marcus was the complete opposite of them over these last few months.
Jazlyn's eyes trailed down to Marcus' gold chain around his neck. She began playing with the pendant absentmindedly as Marcus watched her.
"You like it?" He asked, glancing down at his chain in her hand.
"Mhm." Jazlyn nodded. "It's nice." She slowly looked back up at him as their eyes connected.
"Okay. One date." Jazlyn finally gave Marcus the answer he'd been trying so hard for.
"Yeah?" Marcus smiled childishly.
"Yes." Jazlyn chuckled. "When would you like to go out?"
Marcus hummed and twisted his lips. "You free tomorrow night? And by tomorrow, I mean today.. since it's past midnight and shit—"
"Yeah, Marcus." Jazlyn laughed. It was crazy how he always managed to make her laugh without even trying to be funny. "I know what you meant."
"Aight, then." He gave her a side grin and moved away from her doorway. "I'll be over here knocking on your door at 8."
"Okay, where we going?"
"It's a surprise, shorty. Just be ready by 8." Marcus responded and winked at her. "And don't wear anything too short or revealing unless you want some niggas to die when they look at yo—"
"Bye Marcus!" Jazlyn chuckled, shaking her head as she closed the door.
Marcus snickered and made his way to his apartment. He was ecstatic inside about finally getting this date with her. He probably should've chose a different day, however, seeing as it was Tyreke's birthday and they did have some more plans. But Marcus' excitement clouded that decision.
It was cool though. He knew he would be able to get out of their plans when it was time for his date. He was just happy to gain some real one on one time with his neighbor, the most beautiful woman on Earth.