Trust

Chapter One

Louis Allen

I ran a hand down my face, unsure of why my mother was crying her eyes out. She'd been stoic all weekend while we'd been packing. She'd been quiet on the drive down to the city and presently all she was doing was crying.

"How you gonna act like you're going to miss me now?" I questioned her, "You treated me like shit all week!"

Sherane, my mother laughed softly through her tears and shrugged sheepishly. I sucked my teeth again as she pulled me in for a hug. I wanted to push her away but let my annoyance go. I was her only child and she was seeing me off to the next chapter of my life. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it though. It was no secret that I was spoiled by my lifestyle. My mother was a high-powered investment banker. She made bank on a regular and kept me up right for as long as I've known. I hadn't known a dusty day in my life. My father was made to come to heel even in court messing with her. Whether she cooked a meal or not, I was fed. I never had to beg a family member for money because she always had us. It wasn't really the material things that mattered however, it was her support and love that kept me even when she should have kicked me out. Now, I was facing a new chapter and some of my luxuries were gone.

I honestly wanted my own space but my mother had been against it. Since she was the one footing the bill, I had to take the L, but I was none too happy. My girlfriend was lucky enough to be in an apartment setting in what's known as the U-Hall, short for University Hall. Me on the other hand, had to make do with Brittany Hall. I wasn't sure why my mother wouldn't put money down for a better space, but I assumed because she didn't want me going nuts my first year away. I pushed the thoughts to the side before I got even more annoyed.

We were interrupted by the door opening. Pulling away from each other we watched a familiar face walk through the door.

Imagine my shock when it's Trevor Jackson and his parents stepping inside.

"Yoo! What's good?!"

Trevor had immediately dropped his bags and walked over to me for dap. Our parents looked at us with a quiet mirth in their eyes and left us to chat excitedly. I was under the impression that they partnered us together, but I wouldn't jump to the conclusion too quickly.

In the mix, I learned that Trevor's people decided to move to New Jersey, but he wanted to come to NYU in the long run. It worked out for his people because he could be back home in minutes. I was guessing his people had reservations about letting him go away as well. Perhaps we could prove that we were mature enough to handle college life well. Of course, knowing my mother it would always be up for debate. I wasn't sure why, however. I had calmed down quite a bit over the past two years. The last fight that I ever was two years ago and I hadn't even been the aggressor in that round. I was pretty much keeping my life simple. I went to school, did what I had to do, sat up under Ketara.

Rinse, wash and repeat.

I didn't have time for complications, and I wished people would lean onto the better parts of me than the bad. It was bad when I was shocked at who paid attention to my growth and who totally missed it.

Before long, our parents made tracks and I was back to setting up my space. Trevor had begun to hang up some clothes he had in the closet we shared, and I was setting up my desk area. I pulled out a five by seven of Ketara's senior class picture and placed it opposite of the desk lamp that was already provided. Trevor passed by to gather more clothes as he spied the picture.

"Son, who's that?"

I smirked at the tone in his voice and picked it off as envy. I shouldn't have been as pleased as I was, but I was. My girl was finer than most and only a fantasy to everybody else but me. I intended to keep it that way.