Consequences

24

"What's up, chicka?"
Nic said when she answered her cell phone.
"Nothing much. Where are you?"
Larissa asked.
"About to walk into my dorm. Where are you?"
"Come to room 405."
"Whose room is that?"
Nic asked as she got on the elevator.
"Just do it."
Nic got off on the fourth floor. She spoke to a few girls who knew her from being with Zaria. She heard music coming from the room. She knocked on the door.
Larissa answered it with a big smile on her face.
"Well, hello there,"
Larissa said.
"Whose room is this?"
Nic asked.
"Come on in."
Larissa opened the door and let Nic in.
Nic looked around, surprised not to see anyone else in the room.
"Welcome to my happy home."
Nic's eyes widened.
"Word? What happened to ya house and your fiancé?"
"I said good-bye to both."
Larissa sat on her large bed. She did what many single-room owners did, pushed both beds together to make one large bed.
"Are you serious? You all right?"
"I have never been better. Nic, I couldn't take it any-more. He was always complaining about me going to school. You know he wouldn't let me get a computer
cause he didn't think I needed one at home, but then he also didn't want me staying on campus to finish my work. Well, during break I just couldn't take it anymore. I made sure I had a place on campus, I saved up a little money, and I got out. I've never been so happy in my life."
"Well, I'm happy that you're happy."
Nic hugged Larissa.
"I owe you so much."
"What do you mean?"
"Nic, you showed me how a girl is supposed to be treated. That nigga wouldn't open a door for me. He wouldn't walk me to my car if it was night time. You treat Zaria and women in general better than most men do. Then they sit up and wonder why women leave for other women."
Nic laughed.
"Well, thank you, I guess. But I wasn't trying to break up a home."
"Trust me, breaking up that home was the best thing you could have ever done."
Larissa smiled and gave Nic a kiss on her cheek.
"You are a lifesaver."
"Oh, shit, so are you. I passed the damn class."
Nic gave Larissa another big hug.
"I read my paper you know. Thank you so much for fixing it."
Nic remembered Larissa helping to type her paper. Larissa actually made it better, and Nic earned an A on her final paper.
"It's no problem. I read it and knew you needed a little push. It was all you in the end."
"Yeah, I admit Othello wasn't that bad."
"I told you. So how is Zaria?"
"She's good out with her friends."
"So you all are still doing good? No problems at all?"
Larissa said, trying not to show her true feelings.
"Yeah, things are going real well right now. We had a real good break. Shit, I gotta get going. We should hook up later."
"Yeah, let's do that. You're welcome here anytime."
"Cool."
Nic smiled and walked out the door. Larissa stared at the door. She wanted Nic to walk back in.

"Oh my God, the dead has arisen!"
Zaria yelled as she and Fantasia ran to hug Armani.
"I was starting to wonder if you came back this semester. Why haven't we heard from your ass in weeks?"
Armani took a seat at the table with her two friends.
"Girl, I'm sorry. Classes have been killing me. Oh, and I've been going to Atlanta on weekends to look for a job and a place to stay."
"Damn, is anyone staying in Florida with me?" Fantasia pouted her lips.
"Hell, no!"
Armani and Zaria said in unison. Everyone laughed.
"The only reason you are staying here is 'cause of that phat-ass crib and that man of yours,"
Zaria said.
"Yeah, and I bet you she stays at our places more than at her own,"
Armani added her two cents. Fantasia hit her on her arm.
"Hell, the only reason you been home lately is 'cause Kendall got you on house arrest."
Zaria was against Fantasia not taking classes on campus. She never said anything to Fantasia, but she believed that Kendall was hiding something.
"I am not on house arrest. Kendall is just being careful. He's a star now, and who knows what women are capable of."

"So, where did you tell mister superstar you are right now?"
Zaria looked at Fantasia, who had a guilty look on her face.
"I told him I had some business to take care of. After all, we need to go shopping don't we?"
"Excuse me ladies."
a very attractive stud walked up to the table.
"Haven't I seen you at the club or something?"
The woman looked at Armani.
"Maybe. I don't know."
Armani looked at the girl. She was attractive. She was around five foot seven with braids like Iverson. Armani noticed the small four-leaf clover tattooed on her neck. She loved the labret piercing she had as well.
"Well, I'm going to say that is a yes. And if I haven't, I would love to maybe go there with you or somewhere else. By the way, my name is Trey."
Fantasia laughed to herself. Zaria was smiling very
hard. Armani looked at her friends then looked back at Trey.
"You know what, Trey, that really sounds tempting, but I am going to have to pass. But, baby, charge it to my head and not my heart."
Armani took a sip of her drink. Trey looked disappointed. So did Zaria and Fantasia.
"Well, then maybe I will catch you at a better time."
"Maybe."
Armani didn't look back when the girl walked away. She didn't want to look and see what she just passed up.
"Bitch, what the hell is wrong with you? That bitch was fine as hell!"
Zaria hit Armani on her arm.
"Ouch! And, damn, I'm just not looking for anything right now."
Armani took another sip of her drink. Fantasia began to smile at her.
"What? What are you looking at me like that for?"
Fantasia started to shake her head.
"So, who is the woman that got you so open that you pass up a girl who had damn near every quality on your attractive list?"