WHO ARE YOU?

Chapter Nine

Tyler POV

I woke up around two in the morning realizing Gabby wasn't beside me anymore. I stayed on the couch a little while longer laying my head back. I hope Gabby got home safely, I didn't have her number to check on her. I was beyond stressed out all over again and needed something to help clear my mind. I got up, grabbed a glass out the kitchen and poured me two shots of Henny. I felt the burning sensation go down, but ignored it and poured me two more shots.

Brie words kept playing in my head. I couldn't believe she said she didn't think I would have cared about how our mom was doing. The only reason why I was distant was because of my pops. I was sick of watching my pops mistreat my mom and also watch her constantly forgive him. Growing up, I watched him leave months at a time and come back when he pleased. When he was home , he talked to my mom any type of way and started arguments just to leave again. I swore he had a secret family on the low. I watched my mom cry at night and be too depressed to be present with her own kids. My pops didn't teach me how to be a good man. I taught myself. I always told myself I would never be like him. I'm going to treat my women with respect and I stood on that.

About a year ago , I saved enough money from working with my grandfather doing construction and he co signed on getting me this apartment. I've been focusing on school and getting my shit together that I didn't even check on my moms as often as I should have. Now that she's sick, I regret that shit so much right now. I picked up my phone and tried calling Jade again. As usual it went straight to the voicemail.

" Fuck, I dont even know why I put up with this girl." I said to myself.

She's been acting really different lately , but I've been trying to be patient with her because I do love her. I always knew Jade wasn't into dudes like me and she made sure she made that clear the day I tried to come at her a few years ago. It was the same day after we won our home football game. I had a lot of confidence that day, so I decided to throw my shot. I walked up to her and said

" Hey beautiful. Can I take you out sometime?"

" No, I'm good." she said, laughing and walking away with Chris from school.

I tried a good three more times and then she eventually gave me a chance. Now I'm wondering if it was even worth it. I treated that girl with the most respect and made sure she was taken care of. She aint want for nothing. Still till this day, everytime I tell her that I love her she just says thank you and smiles. What type of shit is that?

I saw Chris a few times outside slanging dope. I guess that was really her type. That nigga a bitch forreal and I proved that the day I had to grip him up for Gabby. Speaking of Gabby, it's something about her that makes me want to know more. I can't explain the feeling that I get around her, but some days I can't get her out of my mind. I remember the day at the lounge when I saw dancing on the dance floor. I chuckled to myself when I saw how uncomfortable she looked at first, but then the liquor took over and she showed me a side I never knew she had. I was so engaged in watching her move her hips and touch on her body, that I didn't even realize she saw me looking at her. That girl is beautiful, I'm just mad that she can't see that. I had to pull myself together and realize that's my girlfriend's best friend, but I do wish I would of came at her first. Her being there for me today and praying over me really made me interested in getting to know her more. Nobody ever did no shit like that for me before.

The alcohol was taking over my body and I needed to release some build up stress. I tried calling Jade one more time and the phone just rang this time. I decided to fall back and not call her phone anymore.

The more I sat there , the harder I got. Then it dawned on me that the jawn Kim from the diner slipped me her number last week before I left with my food. I hopped up and went into my dirty clothes hamper and dug for the jeans I had on that day. I looked into the pocket and there it was, a small folded paper with a number and a kiss lipstick stain on it.