Boomerang (A Short Story)

VI. If I Knew

Tru

Kemi is immediately surprised to learn that my ma knows who she is without introduction. She looks at me and I know a million things are running through her head right now. When my mom leaves she's going to want an explanation from me, which is quite simple. Before I got home to call Kemi, I pulled up at Miracle's crib and ended things. Of course, I left the part about Kemi out of my reasoning, but either way she wasn't happy about it. However, she's no longer my problem, I have better people to worry about.

"Yeah, hey ma."

"Hi Ms. Williams. It's nice to meet you."

"You too, hon," Ma looks at me with one of her eyebrows raised questioningly. I smirk as a response, "So? What happened to Miracle? Y'all broke up?"

On the ride here, I was hoping my mom would ask something like that. I just want to see the look on Kemi's face when she learns I broke up with Miracle earlier today. If my mom hadn't asked, I still planned on telling Kemi after she left.

"Yeah, actually" The shock of my mom knowing who she is hasn't wore off, so the look that Kemi gives me with the newfound information lets me know, this whole thing is worth it, "I finally came to my senses about who I need in my life and who I don't."

"Well that sounds enlightening. I'm headed off to work and I trust you two will conduct yourselves accordingly, yes Mr. Karl Marx?" We both nod, but I know mine, Kemi, and my mother's definitions of accordingly are three different things right now.

"I've heard much about you. Once again it's nice to finally meet you, Kemi."

"You too Ms. Williams."

They share a quick hug before my mom hugs me and leaves, but not before telling us to behave for the final time.

Finally, I'm alone with Kemi in a non-school environment and I'm going to use that, as well as all the time we have, to my advantage. She will know and believe how I feel about her before the night is over. That's my main goal.

I lead her up to my room and she automatically starts walking around looking at all the stuff I own. She looks at the Juice Wrld poster I have on my wall and smiles before she stops and picks up a picture of a younger me and her smile grows. After watching her for a few seconds, I come up behind her, feeling around her waist until my hands meet in the front, and rest my head on her shoulder. For added effect, I leave a kiss on her neck before nuzzling her.

"You look the same."

"You saying I look fat now?"

She snorts and I laugh at the sound. She never cared about what she sounded like when she was laughing or amused. I haven't heard her snort in so long, I forgot she even did. But anytime she did snort it was always hilarious: one because she can't help it and two, because you wouldn't expect it from her if you didn't know her.

"No dummy. It was supposed to come off as a compliment. And you weren't fat."

I roll my eyes playfully because I definitely was fat. She puts the picture down and turns around to face me, her arms wrapping around my neck.

"Were you going to tell me you broke up with Miracle?"

"Yeah."

"Uh huh. When?"

"Hmm..." I turn her back around to face my mirror. She begins asking me what I'm doing but I shush her, my arms still around her, holding her as close to me as possible. My lips close to her ear, so she can hear every word I'm about to say clearly. She places her hands on top of mine, softly smiling at us in the mirror.

"I was gonna tell you when my situation with Miracle wouldn't matter to you anymore. When what you feel for me would consume you and all you feel is love. When you'd let all your cares and worries go and trust me and more importantly trust you. When you'd acknowledge and accept that what we have could be something so beautiful. When you believe that you're worth the world and more. When you realize I understand you. When you recognize that's how I feel about you and nothing's going to change it. But ma asked and ruined it."

She's speechless as we look at each other in the mirror. Nothing is said because nothing else needs to be said.

It was taking everything in me not to feel her up. The look on her face speaks volumes, saying what she won't allow herself to say out loud right now, but I know. I don't want her for sex or anything of that nature, but my mind is on what's happening here and what happened in the car. It's different now that we both know I wouldn't be cheating if we do anything. I'm trying to focus on the goal at hand, however, my mind keeps picturing her face down, ass up on my bed, moaning my name.

I let go of her to gather her thoughts and step back before I do some accidently predatory ass shit. Since we won't be going anywhere anytime soon, I kick off my shoes and pull my hoodie over my head. I still have on a wife beater, sweatpants, and socks. Enough that I'm comfortable but won't make her uncomfortable. She starts to make herself comfortable as well, taking off her shoes and jacket. It looks like she has already changed into her comfortable clothes when she was at home.

I sit on the side of my bed, debating if I want to spark up again or not. I'll remember anything that happens, but I don't want her thinking I'm doing things or acting a certain way if I do. She still hasn't said anything about what I said. I'm a little anxious, but then again I know what I said got to her or otherwise she wouldn't be this quiet.

"Go ahead and smoke Tru," she laughs a bit and I smile in response. She knows me a little too well.

As I get my process going, she continues to look around my room which was heavily decorated in posters and music related things. As I take my first drag it occurs to me that I smile a lot more than I usually do when I'm around her. It's not something I'm ashamed of or mad at, it just puts things in perspective. I have a reason to smile with her.