Complicated by You Read Online Free PDF Page B

at the 1968 Olympics where two African American sprinters, Tommy Smith and John Carlos, received the gold and bronze medals. Right as the picture snapped, they each raised a fist in the air to represent black power. My mother had given it to me hoping I would never forget my black pride.
    Cynthia and Jay scowled at each other. I stood in the middle draped in discomfort.
    “This is interesting.” Marcus gestured to the poem on the right side of the Olympics photograph. “What’s this?”
    “It’s from Alice in Wonderland .”
    “That’s your favorite book?” Marcus asked.
    “No. Well, it’s in my top five, but it’s by my favorite author. This poem is called ‘The Mouse’s Tale’ by poet, author, and, most important of all, mathematician Lewis Carroll.” It sat in a huge red frame with a black background and white letters. “I love it because it’s a concrete poem, which is poetry presented in the shape of its subject.”
    Jay folded his big arms across his chest and rolled those green eyes at me.
    Oh get out of my room, and take your pissed off girlfriend with you.
    “Concrete poem,” Marcus said the words to himself. I grinned. This moment between Marcus and me would’ve been pretty awesome, if not for the angry couple that stood on either side of me, puffing and huffing out tension that thickened the air and made it difficult to breathe.
    I stepped forward and gestured to the poem, hoping the grumpy couple would carry their argument on to their side or even better outside in the hallway. “You see how this poem is shaped in a mouse’s tail?”
     “I like the shape, but it’s a weird poem.” Marcus lay back down on the bed.
    “Well he’s a weird author.”
    Which was probably why I love him.
    “How do you both know each other?" Jay asked behind me.
    I figured Jay had presented the question to me, but he’d been scowling at Marcus. "We met tonight."
    "Tonight?" A shocked look spread over Jay’s face. He studied Marcus's lack of a shirt and dropped his gaze on the brand.
    “We’re both math majors.” I licked my lips thinking of all the things I'd planned to do with that brand. For some reason, the fact that he'd endured pain to decorate his body turned me on. I yearned to trace it with my tongue and maybe rub the tip of my nipple against the flattened center.
    Jay caught my naughty smile and sighed. "Can I talk to you outside?"
    I touched my chest. "Me?"
    “Yes.” He headed out of the room.
    “Why do you need to talk to me?” I stayed where I was.
    “Just come out for a few seconds.”
    But I’m hungry for man candy!
    “It better not take too long.” I stomped out.
    Cynthia trailed behind. “Jay, don’t leave until we’ve talked also.”
    Feeling uneasy, I rounded the corner and stepped out into the hallway. Only the center light was on. The lamps in the lobby several feet away were turned off. Cynthia stood behind me. Jay crossed his arms, directed all of his attention my way, and got in front of me. “We’re done talking, Cynthia. Now I need to talk to, Evie.”
    “You didn’t let me explain,” she countered.
    “I’m tired. I just want to go back to my room and go to sleep.”
    “You can sleep here.”
    “I’m done sleeping here.”
    “Why?” she shrieked.
    Clearing my throat, I raised my hand. “So do I really need to be here? I have a guest.”
    His gaze pierced mine. Rage pooled in those pupils causing his eyes to look deadly and dangerous. It was like a thunderstorm was brewing, twisting, turning, and slowly gaining enough energy to shift into something even worse and cause greater destruction.
    I edged back. “What the fuck, Jay? Don’t look at me like I did something. I did nothing to you.”
    “You just met that guy and you bring him back to your room?”
    “We’re math majors.” I covered my mouth and chuckled. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I keep saying that. It’s just so hard to find hot math majors these days. I think that’s what made me go