At Mommy's House...At Daddy's House

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"I ca-...I can CJ." I said, pulling out of his grasp. "We can't do his CJ."

"Why not N'shae?" He asked me. I remained quiet because I really didn't have an answer.

"You don't know why we can't because there is no good reason why we can't. I want you N'shae and I know you want me. I'm sick of the games, ma." He said to me.

"But what about Chase?" I asked.

"What about him?" He shot back. "If he really cared about you he would be here right now. Where he at?"

"He's hanging with his friends." I admitted.

"Right. And where am I?" He questioned.

"Here with me." I squeaked.

"Exactly. I'm where I'm supposed to be. Because when I aint out there slanging to keep food on the table, I'm with my girl. Well that was until we fell off. Despite all the fussing and fighting that we do, I always come back. I come back because it's something about you that makes you just like me and everybody else in the hood. You need somebody that's gonna be here for you when you need them to be and it ain't looking like your parents are doing a good job of that." He said, causing the burning tears to cascade down my cheek.

"Let me be there for you, N'shae." He pleaded looking me dead in my eyes.

I responded by pulling him in for a kiss that we couldn't finish for smiling so much.

"Let's start off by me agreeing to be your prom date. Under one condition though." I said.

"What is that?" He asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Take back what you said about Khadijah, clear her name, and convince Sean to escort her to prom. If she doesn't have a date, I can't go with you." I stated.

"For real N'shae?" He asked in disbelief.

"Yes CJ." I said seriously. He huffed and blew out a deep breath.

"I'll do it." He said with a head nod. "But you gotta break things off with yo dude....before graduation."

I nodded my head because I couldn't pull myself to express a verbal agreement.

"No, that's too long. Why put off tomorrow what I can do today?" I asked rhetorically before grabbing my car keys and heading to the west side.

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"Hey Kyle." I greeted Chase's best friend.

"Wassup Ash? What you doing here?" He asked.

"I was looking for Chase. Is he here?" I asked.

"Naw. I haven't heard from him since Friday." He answered.

I remained calm and straight-faced so as to steer clear of the possibility of rumors.

"Hm. Maybe I heard him wrong. Thanks anyway Kyle. I'll see you Monday!" I waved as I walked back to my car.

My next stop was over to Chase's house.

When I arrived at his house, his mom answered the door. She looked at me as if I didn't belong on her steps.

"Hi Mrs. Knight." I greeted sweetly.

"Ashley. I'd never expect to see you here." She said, thoroughly confusing me.

"If I may ask, why would you feel that way?" I asked her.

"Chase said he broke up with you months ago." She revealed to me, causing my blood to boil.

"Did he now?" I asked.

"Yes in so many words he said that you carried yourself as a whore. I couldn't believe that seeing as how professional your mother is but, then again that father of yours." She rambled on, outright disrespecting my family.

"That's enough Kate." Chase's dad chimed in outta nowhere, walking up behind me. I turned around and saw Chase standing alongside him.

I stared at him and shook my head, trying really hard to bite back the many tears that were pooling in my eyes.

He looked down at the ground. I walked over to where he stood.

"No! You look at me in my face!" I demanded. He lifted his head. "You demeaned my family and lied to your parents about the status of our relationship?! Was I not good enough for you, Chase?!"

He stood there silent. His ears turning red.

"Answer me!" I yelled.

He still remained quiet.

"Forget you Chase. I know I hurt you but I came to you and confessed and made an effort to change. I told you everything about my life and you used it to hurt me." I said, tears finally falling.

"Ashley wait...l"

"Wait for what?! I'm a whore! I'm not good enough! You're just like my parents! Nobody cares about me or my feelings! Everybody is selfish!" I yelled before I turned to get in my car.

That was easy.