. fugue state

[naima bell]

Nai i design merch for a band. there's a band member who has been flirty with me in the past but when it first started i was seeing someone so that was a no-go. now i'm not, but we're still work adjacent andddd i think he has some type of lingering entanglement with a taken girl? idk it just feels like repeating our situation, no offense. in my defense, your honor, i am a certified yapper.

[river hawkins]

R I V E R Is the girl taken by him? Because if not it's not really the same. I wouldn't worry about the work thing, you think about that too much. I enjoy it.

[naima bell]

Nai i asked him why they weren't together. he said because she has a boyfriend. 🙃 not like oh it's platonic or i don't want to be with her, but literally she's taken by someone else for now. as for work! i'm already always worried about getting fired. i could get fired or shamed or humiliated or something if it got messy.

[river hawkins]

R I V E R Pretty good reason? Come on Naima, it's not realistic to think you're the only girl he's ever going to like, I think it's good that he's transparent with you. Do you know the girl? You're a good enough judge of character to not pick guys who'd do that to you. Do you think I would?

[naima bell]

Nai i don't. ironically she's over near you in ny. apparently she was drunk posting ig stories and mentions him sometimes, my friend follows it all. no. ugh stop making sense.

[river hawkins]

R I V E R I've got a really bad feeling about this... was this the other night? It really can't be who I think it is, but I know she was involved with a guy in a band and I know she went off the rails on Instagram a couple weeks ago...

[naima bell]

Nai legit days ago. let me check the screenshot. her handle is stassisiminski idk i'm just like why pursue me if that's all going on?

[river hawkins]

R I V E R Fuck, she's Leon's ex. I know her boyfriend too. Good guy. Things tend to get messy when she's involved.

[naima bell]

Nai i'm...screaming. you're joking. it's fine. the universe is reminding me that i should not be dating right now, especially not men.

[river hawkins]

R I V E R For real, what a small world. Don't mention her around Leon, he hates her. Oh come on, it's not so bad. If your guy is in LA and she has a boyfriend you're in the clear.

[naima bell]

Nai should i even ask what happened between them? i asked to be friends and get to know each other. idk if he only wants to get in my pants.

[river hawkins]

R I V E R Blurred lines, lots of suspicion. Both of them were pretty messy. Well I'm sure you'll suss him out soon enough.

[naima bell]

Nai i still can't believe that. i'm shook. he's cute and sweet so that messiness sounds strange for him to be near. but he's literally a rock star, idk what i'm expecting.

[river hawkins]

R I V E R I am and I'm not. She's weirdly hard to avoid. You'll never know if you don't give him the chance.

[naima bell]

Nai is this official man advice? he probably thinks i'm a wishy washy weirdo at this point.