Chapter 4: Confused…
January 20, 2010
Monday, 7:44 a.m.My alarmed blared and my hand quickly reached out from under my covers and hit the snooze button. I sat up and wiped my eyes. I looked behind me where Sydney’s body stretched. {If you can’t tell who Sydney is, it’s Chris Brown.}
“Morning, sunshine.” I said as he opened his eyes.
“What time is it?” He asked as he sat up.
“Quarter to 8. I don’t have class today but I do have some errands to run.” I said as I walked into my bathroom and turned on my shower. I came back in my room and removed my shirt and pulled out an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt and some black leggings. I felt Sydney’s eyes on me and I turned around and smirked.
“Best Friend…” He called out to me.
“What?” I asked him as I went in my nightstand and got a pair of panties and a bra.
“I don’t like calling you my best friend. I’d rather call you my girl.”
I didn’t reply. I just smiled and rolled my eyes.
“I’m serious Eboni. I know you ain’t really into dudes cause of what happen, but I promise you that it won’t be like that with me.” He said as he stood up and walked over to me. He lifted up my chin and looked into my eyes.
“You should get ready. We got a lot to do…well if you’re coming.” I said as I backed up from him and went into the bathroom and closed the door. I stepped under the hot water and thought to myself. Sydney was the very first friend I had when I moved here. He was the one that showed me the ropes about people here and the spots to be. I have slept with him a couple of times. I do like him. I just don’t trust men. Plus, I’m in a relationship with a girl that I
think I’m in love with.
I turned off the water, grabbed my towel, and walked out of my bathroom to see Sydney fully dressed sitting at the edge of my bed.
“I’ll be ready in a few.” I said as I walked into my closet and dried off.
“Umm, actually…I think I’m going to head out.”
“What?” I said as I wrapped back up and opened up the door.
“I’ll see you later.” He said as he quickly pecked my forehead and walked out of my room. I heard him skip down my stairs and the front door open and close.
I rolled my eyes and walked back in my room. I plopped down on my bed and shook my head.
I picked up my phone and dialed Chevelle’s number. She was the only person that knew about me and Sydney and the relationship/friendship we had. So, she was the only person I could tell what just happened.
“Hello?” She answered sleepily.
“Girl. You won’t guess what just happened.” I said.
“It better be good at this time of morning.” She said jokingly.
“It’s Sydney...” I said as I laid back and proceeded to tell her the story.
“Maybe you should give him a chance. He sounds sincere.” She said after listening.
“What about Danielle though?” I asked referring to my girlfriend.
“Follow your heart.” She said.
“Maybe you’re right.” I said as I stared at my ceiling. “But enough about me. What’s going on with you and Takaio? I haven’t heard from ya’ll in a couple of weeks.” I said.
“We’re good. After everything that went on, we’ve grown closer. He’s moving in before Valentine’s Day because his lease is up. I think he plans on getting his dad to resign the lease. I think his dad is going ahead and giving up his house. You know all that crap.” She said.
“Yeah. Well, I’ll talk to you later. I got some things to do. Thanks for listening.” I said.
“Anytime. Love you, girl.” She said.
“Love you too.” I said disconnecting the call.
I threw on my clothes and grabbed my keys off my dresser. I knew the nail shop opened at 8, so I decided to go now before it got packed around noon. I opened my front door to see Danielle leaning on the hood of her car.
“What are you doing here?” I asked her.
“Is that how you greet me now?” She asked me as she walked over to me.
“Hey.” I shyly smiled.
“What you about to get into?” She asked as she hugged me and kissed my lips.
“I have to run some errands for my mom.” I said as I unlocked my car and sat my purse in the passenger seat.
“Oh. Mind if I ride?” She asked.
“No I don’t mind. Come on. I’m about to go to the nail shop first though.” I said as I got in and started my engine.
“Thank you Jesus. I need a fill in something terrible.” She said as she widen her eyes and looked down at her long acrylic nails.
“Perfect timing.” I said as I backed out of my parking space and pulled out of my apartment complex.
“So, I saw Sydney leaving…” She said as she looked out the window at the traffic.
“Yeah.” I said as I stopped at a red light.
“I mean I know he’s your best friend and all, but I’m your girlfriend and I don’t see you as much as he does.” She said.
“Sorry. But you’re always busy. Every time I hit you up it’s always a ‘I’ll call you back’ or ‘I’m working’. You never have time for me and he always does.” I said being honest with her.
“But Eboni. You told me you understood the fact that I had a busy schedule. Owning a freaking club is not easy.” She said getting frustrated.
“I know. I know!” I said trying to defend myself. “But sometimes I just figured you would open your schedule up a little more for me.” I said softening my tome and looking into her eyes.
“Yeah. Well, I’m just going to have to work on that.” She said as I pulled into the nail salon’s parking lot.
“Promise?” I asked as I put my car in park and turned off the engine.
“Promise.” She said as she leaned over and gave me a kiss that made me melt.
_____________________________
I hung up the phone with Eboni and rolled over. T.K. was staring up at the ceiling with his head laying on both of his hands.
"What you thinking bout?" I asked him as i sat up and looked down at him.
"Just wondering why your phone woke me up." He laughed as he got up and headed towards the bathroom.
I smiled and wrapped myself up in a robe. I walked down the hall towards Jellahni's room and knocked on the door.
"Lahni..." I called out his name. I heard him groan. "Get up. Did you forget basketball practice begins in an hour?" I asked him.
"Alright. I'll be ready in a minute." He said.
I skipped down the stairs and headed straight towards the kitchen where I heard sniffling and sighs. Alyja sat at the kitchen table holding a white stick in her hand.
"What's wrong?" I asked her as I sat down beside her noticed what the thing was in her hand. She shook her head no and then her tears began to pour.
"Damn Lyja." I said as I took the pregnancy test out of her hand and read the results. I got a paper towel, wrapped it up, and slipped it in my robe pocket. "Nobody else needs to see this." I said.
"I don't know how this happened." She sobbed. "I swear we only did it one time."
"It only takes once..." I said as I rubbed her back.
As she cried, I thought to myself. This was crazy. I trusted that my little brother's word that he was screwing this young girl. Now he proved that he couldn't be trusted.
"You know, this is crazy. How did ya'll let this happen? I honestly thought ya'll won't doing nothing and now I see this. I trusted ya'll and this is only proof that ya'll been fucking under my roof." I said becoming mad.
"No. I swear it was only once Chevelle! I swear." She cried.
"Does Jellahni know?" I asked her.
She shook her head no. "You think you can handle a baby at 14? Honestly Alyja?" I asked.
"No..." She cried as she laid her head on my shoulder.
"Look, whatever you do, don't tell Lahni until you ready. Until then I'll help you figure this out. Go get cleaned up. We gotta take him to practice." I said as I got up.
"And oh yeah," I said as I turned around. "I won't tell your grandmother. I know she'd be heartbroken." I said before walking back up the stairs to my room.