Elevation (Jacob Perez Story)

Chapter 58 | "What's Holding You Back?"

Paris's POV
I was with Simone and we were just talking...

Paris: "So you really feel like Lucky is for you?"

Simone: [She nods] "Girl Lucky is really trying to make sure this works out. He goes out his way to make sure I'm fine, he reassures me all the time. There's some part of me that feels like I can't breathe but another side has never felt so appreciated. I knew he had it within him to be romantic and stuff but not this extreme, you know what I mean"

Paris: "Oh I know what you mean girl! Believe me, from what I remember, he's has changed a lot since you've entered his life. In some many ways I couldn't imagine, and I feel like you've honestly made it better for him"

Simone: "Aww thank you sis. How about you, tho girl? How is your love life going?"

Paris: "Well I'm currently seeing this guy... His name is Idris. We're on the verge of being something but I don't know if I'm ready. I'm having doubts not only just about him but myself too. I ask myself if I really want this with him"

Simone: "What do you think is holding you back?"

Paris: "A 3rd party..."

Simone: "Sis! You serious? Who's the other guy?"

Paris: "Jacob..."

Simone: [She gasps in shock] "So it's truee?!"

Paris: "Huh?"

Simone: "I've been watching you and him and I don't think you realise how much your body just draws to him"

Paris: [I chuckled] "What do you mean?"

Simone: "Well for starters when I'm there I notice the way you look at him. It reminds me of how I look at Lucky. The way you look at him isn't any other look girl. It's intense and it's noticeable to anyone if they're paying attention"

Paris: [I blushed] "Ohh gahdd. I didn't mean for it to be like that or that obvious but Simone... sis you don't understandd... Jacob is not any other random guy. He is really different. He is like a different kind. He is every women's ideal man! He is everything in one that I want and I can't have him"

Simone: "Girll... even the way you talk of him sends shivers down my spineee ouuu. I can feel what you feel for him!"

We both laugh in unison

Paris: "Honestly tho, the whole time he probably doesn't even know how I really feel about him. He is really oblivious to it"

Simone: "Tell him..."

Paris: "Huh? Really?"

Simone: "Yes girl! He may be your friend but let him know how you feel. If you don't it'll just continue to grow into a deeper and stronger desire which will change the way you relate to him"

Paris: "I want to but would that make me a bad person knowing me and Idris are a thing?"

Simone: "If I've learned anything in life is you can't bottle up your emotions forever otherwise they'll explode. Life is too short to keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself"

Paris: "I just don't want to lose him Simone, you know what I mean sis like, it means that much to me!"

Simone: "Girll, don't take this the wrong way but you talk of him as if... you're in love"

Paris: [She shrugs, hopelessly] "...Maybe I am..."

Simone: [Her eyebrows rose in excitement] "Girl do you know what you're saying..."

Paris: [I nodded looking a little weary]

•

Later that evening Simone had left. Vincent kept calling my phone and the fact I haven't even confronted him about his unexpected visit which is not on. I just thought I'd answer to set the record straight but he still doesn't get it and he soo overstepped his mark this time round.

Vincent: "Paris..."

Paris: [No answer] "..."

Vincent: "I'm-..."

Paris: "Before you continue Vincent... I just want to say maybe working with you was a bad idea after all"

Vincent: "What are you talking about, Paris? You love working with me. We are a team!"

Paris: "Are we though, Vincent? Who are we really kidding? I can't do this anymore. And then you showing up at my house! Vincent you are soo lucky I haven't cut you off already"

Vincent: "What's holding you back?"

Paris: "... I don't know but I know this... Me working with you is over. You're making things so much more complicated than they already are in my life and I really can't have that. I have a boyfriend that I'm committed to and he could've caught us. Is this some sort of game to you? I- I don't get it"

Vincent: [He chuckled] "Lets not make this all my fault now Paris. I only do what you fail to do and that's to keep in contact. You don't have to call all the time but to at least to let me how things are going. What a mans supposed to do. Im guessing you don't get enough of that already seen as you have your boyfriend. Am I wrong?"

Paris: "My man is not your concern. You need to stop comparing yourself to him. You'll never be him"

Vincent: "I'm not the one comparing. You are"

Paris: "Vincent... [I took a deep breath] I've had this conversation with you a number of times and you still don't get the message. I'm so over this. So bye to my job and goodbye to you, bye Vincent!"

Vincent: "Pari-..."

I hung up on him. I'm no longer wasting my time on people who aren't there to help benefit me in my life. I can't have it no more. Vincent is my number one mistake and now I have secrets I can't even forgive myself for just yet! I just feel so ashamed of myself. I began tearing up and I had no idea why, it was all just, too overbearing for me...

End of POV

Sunday

The boys were at their apartment. TJ and Darnell were sat on their dining table smoking while playing cards. Hakim was sat beside them in deep thought then his attention was turned to some butt naked girl covering up with her clothes walking out Maurice's room, as Maurice's smacks her ass

Maurice: "Make sure you call me shawty!"

She giggles and nodded as she was passing by the boys sat at the table waving to them. Hakim then looks over to Maurice who had a great big smile spread across his face. Maurice looked over back at Hakim all geeked up and nods as Hakim gets up walking towards him but to his room as he side eyes him. Maurice laughs it off and closes his door going back into his room

Rolling into the afternoon, TJ and Darnell has gone out for the day while Maurice stayed behind to freshen up and so did Hakim but Hakim locked himself away in his room. Maurice went to go check on Hakim. He went and opened his door

Hakim: [He turned to him, frowning then turned back to whatever he was doing]

Maurice: "You good bruh?"

Hakim: [He nodded] "I'm straight... Could've knocked. I could've been butt naked and shii"

Maurice: "Mann shut yo dumbass up [He chuckled] Errybody done seen your skinny ass anyway bruh!"

Hakim: [He screwed up his face] "Man what?"

Maurice: "Nigga chill aight? I gotchu! Look Ima head out aight?"

Hakim: "Aight man"

Maurice left and as he closed the door behind him Hakim mumbled to himself

Hakim: "You needa head out the mf closet, head ass nigga. About you heading out... Nigga please" [He shook his head]

Hakim's POV
Maurice my boy and all but this nigga is more sus than I thought. I'm his boy the worst a nigga can do is lie to his boy. And to think all that mf drama with Jacob all happened because a nigga didn't wanna admit he had urges over another dude, which to me is throwing me off somewhere cause I don't go like that but bruh... If that's what Maurice on then that's what he on

End of POV