Time Will Tell...

Demario


The sound of footsteps walking down the stairs made me jump up extremely fast. I stared at the staircase anticipating seeing Audrina’s face. Then, she appeared with China following behind. She had her hair up in a messy ball, which I always thought was cute on her. She dressed in my black and red Diamond Supply Co. sweatshirt that she cut at the top to make an off-the-shoulder shirt and a pair of camouflage leggings. She topped it off with a pair of Retro Air Jordan 12’s. She was looking good, but the look on her face made it seem as though she was having an ugly day.
She sat down on the couch and spoke softly. “Hey, Demario.” China took the love seat across from her.
“What’s up? How you been?” I asked getting off of my computer.
“Livin’.” She said as she looked down at her shoes.
“Audrina…” I called her name.
“Huh?” She looked up at me with innocence in her eyes.
“Ima just cut to the chase. Is that my baby?” I asked her.
“Pretty…” China slightly whined my name as if I did something wrong.
I cut my eye at her and she gave up and shook her head at me, rolling her eyes.
Silence filled the room after Audrina shrugged her shoulders. She laid her head back and closed her eyes.
“I can’t believe this is happening to me. I wasn’t supposed to get pregnant. I don’t know how to take care of a kid. I think I’m just gonna have an abortion. This baby thing really ain’t for me.”
“Drina, now you know…” China began before I cut her off.
“Audrina, have you ever thought that maybe God tryna teach you a lesson? How you know this gift given to you ain’t something to slow your fast pace ass life down and teach you responsibility? Huh?” I raised my voice.
“But you don’t understand-” She began before I cut her off.
“Understand what? I completely understand that you willing to open your legs and invite any nigga in but you not willing to accept the consequences…I get that part! So what you saying?” I questioned.
“Lord…” Nunee said as she rubbed her forehead, slightly frowning down on Audrina’s statement and my anger.
Tears filled her eyes as she stared at the wall, away from my glare. I wasn’t trying to make her cry, but hearing that she would just kill her baby was the most ignorant statement I’ve ever heard from her and that would be the stupidest thing she could ever do.
“Maybe we need to talk, girl to girl, Princess.” Nunee said as walked over to Audrina. She lifted her chin and wiped her tears. “C’mon.” She said as Audrina grabbed her hand.
“We’ll be back, brother. Alright?” China questioned.
“Yeah.” I said as the two disappeared up the basement staircase.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket to see a missed call from my big sister Niko. She was flying in from L.A. and she was supposed to call me when she touched down. I called her back.
“Demario! I called you 30 minutes ago!” She said with frustration in her voice.
“Sis, I’m sorry. I was sort of busy. I’m on my way. Come to the front of the terminal so I won’t have to look for you.” I said.
“Okay. Hurry up. I’m hungry and I gotta pee!” She said.
“Get something there and go use the bathroom, Sis.” I laughed.
“Uh uh, NO WAY! You know I don’t use public restrooms and this food is too damn high.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll be there.” I said disconnecting the call.
I went upstairs to see Mike laying on the couch watching T.V.
“Mike, come ride with me.” I said putting my Pittsburgh Pirates snapback on top of my freshly-done braids, courtesy of Nunee.
“Fasho.” He said as he got up and put his shades on. We walked out my front door, past Nunee and Audrina, who were having their girl talk. She had tears rolling her soft face as she listened to Nunee attentively.
“We be back.” I said to both of them. Nunee just simple nodded and continued talking to Princess. I looked in her eyes and saw something real, something I never seen or felt before. I had a soft spot for Audrina and she got to me real bad. Before I walked all the way down my porch steps, I turned around and walked up to her, interrupting whatever Nunee was talking about.
“Wipe those tears, girl. You stronger than that.” I whispered in her ear. I softly kissed her lips and then parted ways.
I jogged down the steps and unlocked my car doors. I got in and started my engine.
“Where we going?” Mike asked as I pulled off.
“To go get your boo from the airport.” I laughed.
“Niko here???? Aw man!” He laughed. “Imagine how she’ll react to me and China’s engagement.” He said.
I laughed. “I don’t think she will. She engaged herself.”
“What? Damn, she been gone too long.” He said as he smiled and shook his head.

We pulled up to the pick-up terminal right in front of Niko. She looked like she was coming to live with me instead of visiting. She had a Louis Vuitton carry-on bag, a LV rolling bag, her purse, and a Nike duffle bag.
“Boo Boo!!!!” Mike rolled down the window and yelled.
“Hi Love!!!” Niko excitedly yelled back. Mike and Niko had a love thing going on, but she would never date Mike because he was my best friend and he was also 3 years younger. She was into older dudes.
“What’s all this sis? You decided to stay with your brother?” I asked her as I grabbed her bags.
“Shoes,” she pointed to the Nike duffle, “clothes,” she pointed to the LV rolling bag, “and can’t forget the personals.” She said point to the carry-on.
“Aight Niko.” I laughed as I put her bags in my trunk.
“I love the car!” She said walking around it and examining.
“I’m surprised you got rid of the Nerds car. You had it since you got your first job at 15.” She laughed.
“I remember when you got the rims. Mama was like ‘Demario! What on earth is this thing in my driveway?!’ Then she had another heart attack once you got it painted.” She said as we laughed together.
“I know, Sis. Those was them good days when me and Mike was riding, thinking we was the shit. Once I got the system in it we used to just sit outside and let the whole block shake.”
“Hell yeah.” Mike said sticking his head out the window.
“Who’d you give it to? I know you ain’t sell it to somebody you ain’t know.” She asked.
“Oh naw. I gave it to Brandon. He gone get it repainted and put ‘8’s on it.” I said.
“Oh okay. You moving up with this Bentley though. Let me drive it little brother!” She jumped up and down.
I sighed heavily. “Don’t crash my shit.” I said as she got in the driver’s seat.
“Mike, getcha ass in the back.” I said.
“Fuck that.” He said as he rolled up the window.
I shook my head and got in the back.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you Zane gotta hotel room, so I probably won’t stay every night at your house.” Niko said as she pulled off.
“Aight. Mike, put in Friday Night Lights.” I told him to do, referring to J.Cole’s mixtape.
We vibed to ‘Villematic’ as Niko drove.

___________________________________

Audrina


“You better be hearing what I’m saying girl.” Nunee said as I sat on the couch.
“Yeah. I here you.” I said as I stared off into space. I looked down at my vibrating phone to see a text from Adrian.

From: Little Bro
Subject: (No Subject)
Sis mama wanna kno if u ok

To: Little Bro
Subject: (No Subject)
Yea. Ask her if u can come ova here

I wanted Adrian to come over. When I was staying over my mom’s house, we never really bonded because he was out with his girlfriend or friends. I just wanted to have some brother sister time.

From: Little Bro
Subject: (No Subject)
She said yea. Im on my way. You at D house right?

To: Little Bro
Subject: (No Subject)
Yep. I’ll be here…
I locked my phone and sat it on the coffee table as I waited for Pretty and Mike to come back to the house. Nunee sat down beside me as she clenched her jaws about whatever she was hearing on the phone.
“Who is that?” I whispered to her.
“Shanell. She telling me about Mike. He at some restaurant right this minute all up in some bitch face.” She said with fire in her eyes.
“Shanell, what restaurant is it?” She asked.
I shook my head. Niggas. Not men, not even boys. It’s always niggas.
“I’m on my way.” She said as she hung up the phone. She grabbed her purse, then grabbed my arm.
“Wait! I can’t go. I’m waiting on my brother to get here.” I said.
She rolled her eyes. “I’ll call you to let you know what happens.” She walked out the front door.
I sat there in the empty house and thought. Mike just left with Demario. How the hell he gonna get engaged then go out with some other bitch? It just didn’t seem like something Mike would do. I texted Demario to see what was up.

To: Forever Love <3
Subject: ???
Uhhhh where are u???

From: Forever Love <3
Subject: ???
Uno’s. Waddup?

To: Forever Love <3
Subject: ???
Mike witchu?

From: Forever Love <3
Subject: ???
Yea. Y u questionin me??

To: Forever Love <3
Subject: ???
Nunee just heard Mike all up in some bitch face right this minute. Is it true?

From: Forever Love <3
Subject: ???
Lmao! Wat? Who said dat?? Dat ‘bitch’ is my sister. I jus picked her up from da airport & if he all up in her face its cuz we all sittin at a booth & they sittin right across from each otha

To: Forever Love <3
Subject: ???
-________________-

I locked my phone back and threw it back on the coffee table. Nunee was going to feel really dumb once she arrives at the restaurant. I knew Mike wasn’t really like that.