GWEH (Go Away)

23. Pretty Lips

"Your pretty lips look lonely. I want to introduce them to mine," Jermaine whispered, using that corny line I had seen in a movie. "Can I?" he asked in a husky voice, leaning slightly towards me, his warm breath tickling that sensitive spot on my neck.

We were in my bed, and I don't know how we got here. I could swear he was bringing me home, but I forgot what happened after.

"I waah kiss and bite up your lips. Can I taste them?" he asked once more.

I nod my head up and down, which surprises me. What the hell? I meant to shake my head no. I tried again, but once again, it came as a nod.

He leaned further in, and I made to lean away, but somehow, I kept doing the opposite action. I found myself hanging unto him for dear life. His warm breath and my labored one mingled. A chill ran down my spine to the tip of my toes, which curled with anticipation. 

I was about to get my first kiss ever!

My pulse went galloping, and I could feel my blood pump from my heart through my great arteries straight to the capillaries of my lips. My sight got blurry, and my eyelids felt heavy, so I let them close, yet I could still see his image, his aura, tantalizing fragrance, and energy embracing me.

"Tammy," Jermaine spoke my name. His voice sounds weird and demanding.

Taking a deep intake of air, I opened my eyes once more and observed him. My hand reached out and traced his lips, fascinated with its fullness. I watched as his tongue slightly moistened the areas I had previously touched.

 Time seemed to stop when, as I observed his every tiny movement, not even the slight intake of breath or the blinking of his long lash missed me. He was flawless, and I will store this in my memory. Wait, didn't he have a scratch on his face? Where did that go?

Come to think of it, something is off, quite off.

Seriously, how did we get here? 

Am I really ready to do this? 

I began to get anxious. There was a slight panic, but the excitement of the upcoming experience was more potent. Sighing and giving in, I closed my eyes and leaned further to close the gap between our lips.

"Tammy!" I heard Jermaine shout in an annoying voice, but strangely, his lips did not move.

I was losing my vibes and was a bit upset that he asked to kiss me, yet he still hadn't. Why did he ask to leave me hanging?

"Could you just kiss me already?" I bite out.

"Tammy!"

"Why shout? I pulled away to look at him, but instead, he was replaced by a disfigured creature that roared my name. I tried to scream and move, but my body was frozen in the spot. I tried and tried until finally, a bit of sound came out my throat, and I screamed, and then I found myself jumping out of my sleep.

It was only a dream. 

I looked around wildly, seeing I had dozed off on the couch. It all came back to me. After Jermaine had dropped me home, Mommy dragged me all evening up and down from nail to hair salon to spa. I was so sleepy when we finally returned home that it was no wonder I fell asleep on the couch after prepping my equipment to finish the rest of my uniform.

"I looked at the phone that was on the couch beside me and saw that it was minutes past seven. I need to get ready for school. I must have slept through my 6:30 alarm, but I still have time to hustle.

"Tammy!"

Someone was at my front door.

***

"How you take so long fi answer my girl?" Kristen said to me when I opened the gate to see her holding her son on one hip and one bag with a bath pan on the other side.

"Umm, yes good morning?" I said in a questioning tone while raising my brow. Why is this lady here?

"Mmmm, you're the new babysitter, right?" Kristen asked, sounding impatient as she looked me up and down with calculative eyes.

"I guess so..." I trailed off as reality struck. Looking at the bags and the baby, it was now clear what was happening.

"Then open the grill and collect the baby, nuh? I hope Jermaine tells you that he and JT are allergic to nuts, so make sure you don't have anything like that around him. The pen is in his bag, but I would rather you not be careless. The formula is in the bag, along with cereal, a smoothie, and some Gerber puffs. Please don't give him anything else to eat. " She went on rambling off instructions to me.

"Wait, wait, wait, deh. I have to go get ready for school. I can't watch any baby now. And I only agree to keep him when I leave school, not in the morning." I stopped her and explained.

Kristen hissed her teeth, looking angry at this revelation.

"So you couldn't say that you make me waste my time. You have me a knock and call from how long, then come out here and look at me with dry eyes. And make me warn you from now on. Make sure say you nah take mi man, uh, don't look pon mi baby father too hard and try nuh don't do my baby anything."

"How did we reach yah so? I simply explained to you what's what. Your baby will be safe with me and has for Jermaine. I would never look that way even if he was the last man on earth," I said while remembering the dream I had just mere minutes ago. It's just a dream, that's all. I would dare go down that road. Would I?

No, I would not.

"You better make sure. Think me nuh see how you go do hair and nails, that anuh usually your thing. Thread carefully and me and you won't have anything. By the way, where you get them braids done? It look neat but you could have come by my salon still and support me, after all you a make money because you a watch me son. You can spend some back with me." Kristen went from being suspicious to marketing, which caused me to question her mentality. And as for the payment part, I chose not to clarify things with her. "I do nails and lash too. Anyways, let me go bout my business and try to remember Jermaine is off limit," she said, then walked away, leaving me to just look at her back, wondering what just happened.

I got ready in a jiffy for school. It was the first official day, and the trio did not show, but it was not like they missed much. We reviewed our basic stitches before reviewing this semester's project list. By the end of the semester, we are expected to select a theme and make an entire closet of attire.

I already have ideas of what I want to do, and I am excited to see how things turn out.

When go-homing time came, I did not waste a second packing away my drawings and tools. Then I rushed off campus, not even minding the eyes Gellica was giving me. I saw Jermaine's car park, and I hid behind some people and slipped into the back seat of a taxi.

I was happy that I sidestepped Jermaine, but when I reached home, Kristen was at my grill once more, waiting with the baby.

"5 o'clock, Jermaine, say you a keep JT and you late," she greeted me. I looked down at my phone to see that it was 5:04. What a way this lady was watching me.

I sighed, not answering her and instead used my keys to open the locks on the grill and door then take the baby who I have come to learn was called JT. I was planning to bring him in then collect the bag but Kristen followed me in, uninvited with the bag and dropped it on the table.

"I just bathed him and he ate already," Kristen informed me.

"How old is he?" I finally spoke while looking at the curious baby who was busy playing with the ends of my braid. I really don't see why Kristen needs somebody to watch her baby when she could easily keep him in her salon next to her. But I keep my mouth. 

"Seven months. I like how your place is clean. Anyways mamz, him faada a come collect him later and try to make sure you remember what I told you," Kristen said before spinning her roll to the exit. I sighed when she left.

"All right, JT, what should we do first? I sat on the couch, going through the bag, seeing a change of clothes, feeding, and toys. Seeing the building blocks, I decided on that.

(1484 Words)