Pride

Chapter Thirty-Two

"If you hang in long enough they say you're comin' back...just take a look, we're living proof and baby that's a fact..."

Bon Jovi; The More Things Change

Ketara Greene

"So, all you motherfuckas are team Louis now huh?"

We'd been at the pool, enjoying the day. I was aiming my passive-aggressive question towards Lichelle who turned towards me from the lounge chair she was sitting in. I'd just heard from a couple of people that she was dancing with Louis the night before after I left. I was shocked because months before Lichelle couldn't stand Louis. Now that she had every reason in the book to spit on him and curse his name, she was partying with him? Where were my friends' heads at these days?

"You can at me, it's okay." she chuckled, "But I'll keep it a buck though. I peeped him dancing with his ex and I felt bad for the nigga. Whether he cheated on you or not, he's definitely sick."

"I don't give a fuck if he was dying, Lichelle!" I snapped, "Do y'all niggas even care about my side of the issue?"

Shakyra sighed, pulling her phone out from her duffle bag. She started scrolling but had nothing to say which was also very telling to me.

"I care very greatly about your side of the issue. Was he a little off for letting the girl in his house? Maybe. But what proof do you have that he cheated other than a thong shoved in between his couch?"

"Since when did you give a fuck about his feelings?"

Lichelle shrugged, "Since I saw he actually gives a fuck about you. Besides, everyone gets free game from me one time and one time only. Apparently, it's your turn. I get that you saw what you saw, sis. I just want to know did you even give him the benefit of the doubt? You worried about him cheating so bad and you're just pushing the man away. In case you didn't notice, he doesn't want to belong to the streets! He wants to belong to you!"

"He can't fuckin' belong to me if he's cheating! Why does nobody seem to understand that?"

"Because you don't seem to understand that for some strange reason, this girl been hanging around trying to break y'all up since she popped back up on the scene. Why did nobody even question where this girl came from? Nobody is the least bit curious that she wants to hang out with Shakyra like it's going out of style-no offense boo-"

"-None taken. I wondered myself."

"-but as cool as Kyra is I'm not hanging out with her every chance that I get...oh unless she lives across the street from the dude I'm trying to get with. Even if I don't care that his girlfriend and my cousin lives right across the street from him. She's a ho, Kiki! She doesn't care! And if he didn't care...girl you already knows what it's like when a nigga doesn't care."

I balled up my fists, the temptation to fight coming up on me. I swallowed the ball of anger that welled up inside of me. Lichelle was only trying to help and that much I did know. However, I didn't need help. I didn't need help from a soul. I was hurting and it seemed like everybody cared about Louis' feelings more than mine. When I said that much, her features softened. However, Shakyra turned to me with a raised brow.

"I was having a good time at that party last night. Despite Wendell being there trying to flaunt every other bitch in my face. Despite that I was having a great time with Tre. Even though I truly believe that Louis did NOT cheat on you, I stopped everything when I saw you were hurt. You're out of pocket for even uttering those words."

I was. So, I apologized. Shakyra nodded but I could tell she was still hurt.

"I mean...I saw what I saw. Hurt me once, shame on you. Hurt me twice, shame on me. I can't keep repeating the same mistake over and over again. Until I get solid proof that he didn't cheat on me, I can't be bothered. He was stupid for even letting her in his house."