said it all. She was tired of getting me out of shit.
Of course none of us mentioned the sexual favor she’d done to get us out of trouble at the movies. Her man was right there and we knew how to keep quiet. We’d all been close since elementary school, so we were loyal to one another.
“I was gonna beat her ass, but Kamal stopped me. As far as me stayin’ outta trouble I’m tryin’, but that bitch keeps askin’ for it.”
Bells spoke up. “Fuck her and her ugly ass crew of wannabes. She’ll never be you, no matter how hard she tries. It’s almost over. Graduation’s gonna be here before you know it.”
“That’s what I told her,” Kamal said looking over at me. “These…chicks wanna fuck up what we got, but I ain’t gon’ let ‘em.”
I loved how he expressed his feeling for me even around his boys. He wasn’t afraid to let them know that he loved me.
He grabbed my hand and everybody at the table started teasing us.
“Aww. Look at the love birds,” Cherie joked as she dunked a chicken nugget in barbeque sauce.
“I know. This nigga’s all in love,” Tremaine teased.
Travis joined in. “Hell yeah. You the mushy one who makes it hard as hell for the rest of us.”
“You should take notes from Kamal,” Jordan threw back at him. “You could be a little bit more romantic.”
I cleared my throat, feeling a little bit uncomfortable by my best friend’s favorable comment about my boyfriend.
“I’m just sayin’.” Jordan’s eyes caught mine. “It ain’t like that Sasha.”
“I didn’t say it was, but...”
Travis got up and walked away from the table. Jordan got up and went after him. There was an awkward silence after that. The bell rang to end lunch about five minutes later and everybody got up to throw their trays away. Kamal put his arm around my waist and I flinched.
“What’s up babe?” He asked me.
“Nothin’,” I dismissed him. My attention was on Jordan and Travis who seemed to be making up in the corner.
I didn’t want to read too much into what Jordan had said, so I walked off and went to my locker. Of course Kamal was right behind me.
“Something’s up…”
“I told you it’s nothin’. I gotta get to class.” Grabbing my Chemistry book, I walked away from him with so much on my mind.
“Since when have you given a damn about gettin’ to class on time?” Kamal’s voice resonated behind me, but I kept on walking.
* * *
“Baby, talk to me,” Kamal was leaning against my car waiting for me after school.
I sighed heavily. “I need some time alone, okay.”
“Time alone?” He looked hurt. “Why? I don’t know why you lettin’ outside shit come between us.”
“I’m not.” I had to look away from him before I started crying. “It’s just…” I cleared my throat. “a lot going on.”
“I know it is, but that’s why I’m here. You got me.”
He walked over to me and wrapped me up in his arms. “I know Mal, but, please, just give me some time. Okay?”
After he pulled away from me, he stared lovingly into my eyes. “Okay. Whatever you need.”
“I’ll check up on you later.” He caressed my cheek gently.
“Okay,” I nodded and forced a smile on my
Mandy M. Roth, Michelle M. Pillow