Pleasurous Pains

Chapter 1

  "Fuuuuuuuuuucccccckkkkkkk!" I woke up in distraught.  "Just another dream", I whispered in disbelief to myself as I sat up in my bed.  I rubbed my eyes attempting to wake myself up.  I look out the window, I never close the blinds.  It was still dark outside, the sun peeking over from the east. Frustrated, I reached for my phone.  It read 6:05a.m.

  Still in a daze, I made my way to my bathroom, tripping over practically everything.  My fingers felt the wall for a light switch.  As soon as I turned the lights on I was temporarily blinded.  I clutched my eyes shut and bent over the sink.  I sighed nonchalantly as i leaned.  With a handful of cold water I splashed my face.  That was the wake up to me.  Then I took the hot water and did the same.  There I stood shirtless, sweaty, and wet.

  I turned around, facing the shower and tuned the knob.  I pulled the shower curtain back and found myself standing back where I started.  Its happening, I thought to myself.  Today I leave South Carolina, saying goodbye for good. I was leaving to return home, back to Georgia.  We lived in South Carolina for four years, but home was there.  We always found our way back  regardless of where we moved. I was born up north but raised mainly in the birthplace of my little sister.  Its one of the many perks of being a military brat. 

  I stood there lost in thought staring into the mirror.  I wonder if I'd see her again.  All I could think about was seeing Shantel again.  She was cute and about the same color as myself (not that it mattered).  She was a sweet girl, innocent and fun to be around with the brightest smile, and always smiling.  Not much of a chest, but she had a big butt.  She was definitely eye candy.  I hadn't seen her since I was in eighth grade, but she was a sophomore then.  I didn't have the confidence to even attempt to try anything with her.  I didn't have a chance.  But do I now?  I stared into the mirror, full of judgment.  There wasn't anything significant about myself: average height, with a milk chocolate complexion, and a slim fit build.

  The air in the bathroom grew thick with steam and fogged the glass.   I wiped back and forth in a narrow line just big enough to see my face.  I looked at the natural waves in my hair. I had good hair, rich with tint. It was probably the only trace of Cherokee in my genes. Same went for my fine mustache, a thin line on both sides of my lips leading to my thick chin beard.  If anything was said to be the same about it, it wasn't my appearance. Well, that and I was a few years older, a couple years wiser. 

  "Q.T.!  You up yet?"

  "Yea, Ma.  I'm getting ready now," I shouted down to her as I got in the shower.  I couldn't help trying to shake 3 thoughts: (1) Shantel, (2) the fact that I was moving back home town, (3) and how much she changed.  The warm water rained down on the back of my neck.  My lungs filled with steam.  I was reaching for the body wash, but I couldn't shake the thought of that girl.  Not Shantel, that other girl I had saw while we went home for a weekend.  Who was she?  I mean, yea, she was fine and all. This girl was legit.  I was rubbing he back of my neck, the bubbles trailing down my spine but my mind was elsewhere. 

  My freshman year I lived in Columbia, South Carolina but my folks were planning on moving back to Hinesville, Georgia.  All I can remember is running a business, easy money was the best money until I got a real job.  For those of us unfortunate enough to not be allowed to leave an open campus, we were denied the privilege of fast foods that were down the street, a fifteen minute walk at most.  I saw an opportunity and I ceased it.  Get a list of wants, get the money and charge a delivery fee.  Like I said easy money, why take a class to learn how to make money when I can make it now.  Well, at least it made sense to me...the education system didn't see it my way.  When the caught me coming back on campus, I suspended on a Friday and my family was going down to Georgia.  So my sister and I had a long weekend.  At the time, I was looking forward to visiting an old friend from middle school, who meant a lot to me.  I had planned to visit Ashanti, so why not surprise her as well?