Trust Must be Earned

Chapter 34

The next morning I woke up on top of Andre, like completely on him. His arms were wrapped around me protectively. Honestly, this is the way I want to wake up for the rest of my life. I wiggled around and tried to detach myself from him. After a minute of him whining in his sleep I finally got out. I put a pillow in my place and headed for the kitchen. Just as I stepped off the last stair, Mariah walked through the front door.

"Oh shit!" She hissed when she saw me.

"Yeah, 'oh shit' is right. come here so I can beat the crap out of you." I joked.

"Ok before you get all mad at me, let me explain." She sighed.

"I'm not mad, Riah." I laughed.

"You're not?"

"No, I'm not. I'm actually really grateful. I just want you to explain what happened."

"Well, basically, last night when you left to go get Gatorade the door bell rang. I assumed you left without your wallet or something. So I opened the door...."

****Mariah's POV****

I was seriously going to kill that girl for making me get out of her nice warm bed. I giggled at the idea of her forgetting her wallet. I opened the door and jumped back. There was a tall muscular teenage boy at my door. He was super attractive, like mega sexy. I giggled. I tend to do that a lot.

"Mariah?" He asked hesitantly.

"Who's asking?" I said with attitude.

"I'm looking for Tatianna." Was all he said.

"She's not even here." I rolled my eyes. I'm normally very laid back and happy all the time but finals have really put a damper on my cheerfulness.

"Do you know where she is or when she'll be back?" He sounded kinda desperate.

"Ok listen dude, I don't know who you are, but, Tati, knows a lot of scary guys. Now, you don't seem like one of them but she did tell me that if anyone ever came looking for her I should call the police and run. I don't know what kinda trouble she got into but you need to leave now before I call the cops."

"You don't understand. I need to see her. I need to tell her." His voice cracked. He looked on the brink of tears; this was getting weirder by the second.

"Tell her what? I'll make sure she gets the message." I folded my arms across my chest.

"I need to tell her I still love her." He whispered looking down at our feet, and that was when it hit me. Andre. Tatianna had been pretending, for the last month, that he doesn't exist but I think she still misses him. His picture is still on her desk and when I mention him she just shuts down. Tatianna still loves him too.

"Come on in. Her room in up this way. Make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back." I said kindly. My nice side was back. I packed my dance bag and then went back to Tatianna's room. Andre was sitting on her bed with his head in his hands. He looked so scared.

"It's gonna be fine. I promise." I smiled at him knowing a little something that he didn't.

"Where are you going?" He asked looking at my duffle.

"The two of you are gonna get loud. So I'm gonna give you two some privacy and stay at a friend's house."

"Get loud?"

"I know Tatianna, and if you are anything like she described you as, I know that you will get loud. Whether it's yelling from an argument, or make up sex, or both, I cant say but either way Imma give y'all some space."