Pride

Chapter Three

Ketara Greene

"You never choose to fall in love with the enemy...you break me in two, only you get the best of me, only you..."

MDNR; Fall in Love With the Enemy

The day was long but no less interesting than I thought it would be. I had bouts of anxiety because of all the boys that approached me and catcalled me in the hallways. There'd been sweet moments like Kofi telling me I truly looked beautiful. Another had been walking into Broderick's arms for a hug. I'd always savor Louis' silence. It was the most beautiful white noise I ever heard.

I wasn't used to this attention and honestly, although it was a far cry from the mean things I'd heard all the time, it was definitely something I had to get used to. My reaction time to people addressing me was slow. I never had been the 'it' girl before. I definitely wasn't someone that people wanted to be around, but the sudden popularity was different.

At press time, Broderick had me in his arms on the way to our last class of the day. The feeling was beyond words at a time when I used to want nothing more but the moment I was having with him.

Broderick and I were always the weird pair that liked each other but could never leave square one. Years ago at a birthday party, he was doing everything that indicated he liked me. I was fully expecting to have at least made out with him by the end of the party, but nothing ever happened. He had sadly bid me goodnight and went on his way. Days later, I find out that Louis had paid a guy to tell Broderick that we were seeing each other. Not even an hour after finding that much out, I was in another fight with Louis. I tried to kill him but to no avail.

Even after the truth was found out, Broderick had gotten with his ex and all the magic that had been between us before, faded away and it put me into a deep sadness. Broderick had been one of the few guys that hadn't balked at my weight but actually liked me. He even seemed attracted to me and I could pretty much taste his full lips everywhere on me. That Louis would go out of his way to destroy the chance I had was ruthless and wicked to me. My hatred of him had peaked in that moment and showed no signs of slowing down.

"I hate Math." I said, sighing, "I could definitely go for not even showing up."

Broderick laughed and squeezed me closer to him. My body melted.

"I'll be there to lessen that pain, baby don't even worry about it."

"Not even you could get me through the pain of some shit I don't understand." I said, as he finally released me.

We walked into class and sat next to each other were jokes and laughter would abound for the next forty-five minutes. Even though I was having the proverbial time of my life, the thought of his ex-girlfriend kept crossing my mind. It had been no secret that although he liked me a great deal, he'd been in love with Ashley when they were together. I couldn't forget the jealousy and envy I felt every time I saw them together. Shakyra had stopped a couple of fights from happening because every once in awhile she felt the need to shove the fact in my face that I had lost my shot.

"And even if you had one you couldn't keep him."

She had deserved nothing less than for me to lay hands on her and not in prayer. I did nothing to that girl but it was like she couldn't let it go that she ended up with him. All for naught, as she moved away and the word was she wasn't coming back.

It still left me a little wary of him, however. Broderick was prone to believe in things too easily. It wasn't lost on me that he hadn't even stepped to me to confirm the truth for the truth when Louis' paid liar walked up to me. Although I could forgive that back then, I wasn't sure if anything else in the future could be forgiven that easily. During my time working out and learning my body as well as myself, I had to learn that I was worth more than the disrespect people had handed me. It was already enough that although I liked him a great deal, I had to keep my guard up. Broderick had to prove himself worthy of my time as well as me if he wanted to actually be with me in more ways than one.