Pride

Chapter Seventeen

Louis Allen

"All you niggas fall back, I'll split yo wig..."

Party Life; Jay-Z

I was grinning from ear to ear on the second day of break. Ketara had actually hit me with a good morning text. Even better, she'd asked me to take her to the mall. I was pretty sure she was aiming to shop as Christmas wasn't that far away, but I wasn't against spending the time with her at all.

Our text conversations were light-hearted more often than not. I generally asked about her day although her days were spent next to me as opposed to next to Broderick. I knew at first it was only because I was the lesser evil but after a while, it became a pleasure to watch her walk into class with the smile on her face pointed at me. I always smiled back. It was a helpless reaction. Although we hadn't made things official yet, the motions were there. I waited for her after every class to walk to the next one. I watched for her when it was time to leave school as more often than not lately, I drove her home.

Kissing was few and far between and although it irked me at times, I always waited for Ketara to initiate. I hated that but craved her so bad my irritation meant nothing. I realized that I didn't care at all so as long as I could just be with her.

Before long I was sitting in my car. I busted a U-turn to park in front of her house. It only took about ten more minutes before Ketara stepped outside. I grinned automatically watching her skip down the stairs. I got up to open the door for her and watched her slide inside to my delight. After I shut the door, I jogged back to my side and pulled off.

"Where we headed to?" I questioned, remembering we didn't have a definite destination in mind,

"I was thinking about Kings Plaza." she mentioned, "I think Fulton is going to be too crowded, plus it's mad cold."

I sucked my teeth, "Kings Plaza is crazy far though."

"Yeah but it's warm and every store I need is there."

"At the cost of my gas."

Ketara slid a glance at me, "You wasn't saying any of that earlier when I asked if you wanted to take me."

"I didn't know you wanted to go to Kings Plaza, either." I said, "But I got you."

"You complain like you're already not going to take me." Ketara said, "Why?"

I laughed, "Because you're not a driver, yet. Once you start driving you'll understand why I'm complaining. I do it anyway because somebody said awhile back how they were worth investing in, every single time..."

We slowed up at the light and I looked into her face. She looked back and I had to remember to breathe. Reaching forward I ran a finger from her ear down to her chin.

"...I also happen to believe them."

Her blush both pleased me and turned me on. I pulled off when the light turned green.

"How's your studying coming?"

"Hm?" Ketara questioned, her tone dreamy, "Oh, studying. It's coming, I guess. I didn't do much of it because it was nice remembering that I was off for the week. I'm going to start tomorrow though."

"Tomorrow?"

"Well, I have to help Ma do a last-minute grocery store run if she doesn't get back in good time. Then, I have to wrap up everything I get today. Plus, I may or may not be hanging out with someone later today if they act right."

I rose a brow, "Who's this someone?"

"If you have to guess then I don't know what to tell you."