Chapter Eighteen
Business
Rashad
Even though Lauren hair was messy and her skin was a little pale, she was still beautiful. A few days had passed and she still hadn't woken up. I was mad as hell, but most of all, I was sad. I should've seen it coming and been there to protect her. I was so in love with Lauren. I just wished the feeling was mutual.
Ms Lillian rubbed my shoulder. "I know you care for my daughter Rashad. She's gonna be okay." I gave her a weak smile. Lord please deliver Lauren from this pain. Help her recover and wake up soon. Please do this one thing for me. I picked my head up and rubbed her cheek. "I'll be back y'all." I said to Tiara, gran, and Ms Lillian as I got up from the chair. "Where you going?" For a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I looked back to see Lauren with her eyes wide open. Thank you God. I didn't expect him to answer my prayer that quick.
"My baby! Thank God you're okay." Ms Lillian leaned down and hugged her tightly. "Mom, you're hurting me." She let go. "Sorry. Let me call everybody." She walked out of the room. "I knew you'd recover my shugga." Gran kissed her cheek. "Lauren, don't ever do this to me again." Tiara cried. Lauren laughed a little. "Yes ma'am." I smiled at her. Why does she have to be so beautiful? "I'm glad you're awake." I rubbed her arm. She smiled at me.
Anthony, KaTrece, Mr Terrence, and Sarah came shortly afterwards Ms Lillian called them. Everyone was crowded around Lauren's bed, kissing and hugging her. I just stood off to the side. Anthony looked at me and mouthed 'what's up with you?' I signaled for him to come over. "I need to talk to you fool." We went out to the hallway.
"What's up with you? You act like something bothering you." Anthony folded his arms across his chest. "Man, I think I'm in love with Lauren." He laughed as he held his stomach. "Nigga, I been knew this shit." I looked at him curiously. "How?' He sighed as he shook his head. "It's so obvious. Everybody can see it but her. But she got mad love for that nigga Quin. I don't know if you should tell her or not." I hated that nigga Quin. What is somebody like Lauren doing with his ass anyway? "Yeah, I feel you." I nodded my head. My mind was on full. I had to tell Lauren how I felt, I just didn't know when. "Just lookin' out for ya. You my nigga and you got a good heart. Neither one of us like that shot out ass nigga Quin." Anthony said before we walked back into the room.
"Stop taking pictures of me!" Lauren covered her face. KaTrece kept snapping pictures of her and Sarah. "Get in the picture Rashad. And don't say you don't like taking pictures cause I seen ya Instagram page." Everyone laughed. I had to laughed too because it was funny. I stood on the other side of the bed. "You and Sarah kiss her cheek." I think KaTrece was trying to be messy on the low. Sarah and I kissed her cheeks and she snapped the picture. "Awe, so cute!" KaTrece winked her eye at me. Messy!
"I got to go, I have practice." I hugged Lauren and said bye to everybody before leaving. The nurse was walking in as I was leaving out. It felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I wanted Lauren so bad. I had to have her.
When I left the hospital, I stopped by KFC before going to the campus. I grabbed my gym bag from the back seat and hopped out of my truck. "Rashad!" I looked back to see Tiffany walking towards me. What does she want? I sighed. "I've been texting you. Why haven't you texted back?" I had no idea how this chick got my number. She was pretty, but known as one of the biggest ho's on campus. I wasn't interested at all. "Look Tiffany, you cute and all, but I don't want you." I walked away, not caring whether I hurt her feelings or not. The boys were already running laps when I walked into the gym. I changed into my basketball gear and joined in.
