The Deep End

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"No new friends! No new friends, no, no, no, noooo-," Mikey sang off key as he shimmied around the room.

"Mike, shut the hell up!" Dre snapped as he tossed a pen at him.

Mike dodged and bent over to laugh, wrapping his arms around his waist with the force of it.

"If we get another noise complaint from JaJuan, I'm beating your ass! You be doing too much."

"You always sour, like vinegar, you hating ass negro." Mikey chuckled as he sank down onto the sofa. They were sitting in the lounge, supposedly studying and yet unable to concentrate on the large paperback books laid before them.

Wyatt was preoccupied. Though he was sitting with his friends, his body physically in the space, his head was stuck in his phone. The text messages assailing him were long paragraphs about disappointment and his grades and his lack of initiative. As he moved his fingers over the keyboard, he scowled, typing: You wanted me to come to your alma mater, I'm here. You wanted me to major in Pre-Law. I'm doing it. Nothing satisfies you! I'm over this shit. What do you want me to do?!

Before his father could respond he turned off his phone and then tossed it onto the coffee table. He sighed, running a hand down his face.

"Your dad?" Mikey asked, leaning back in his seat with a raised brow.

"Damn, he still on your ass?" Dre said.

"He's never fucking happy with shit. I gotta poop gold bricks for him to be satisfied at this point. I'm tired of it."

Mikey shook his head, "When we were kids, he was cool. I wonder what happened. You think it's menopause?"

They both turned to look at him before laughing. "How the hell did you even get accepted, Mike? Your ass is dumb as hell."

"What?" Mike asked.

"Nigga, men don't get menopause. You live in a house full of women, why don't you know that?" Wyatt asked with a chuckle.

Mike shrugged, smirking, "Man, you think I be in my moms and sisters' business?" They all got silent for a moment, thinking back on the moments throughout their lives when they had encountered the women in Mike's household. Mike's two older sisters' were beautiful but could definitely debate circles around any presidential candidate. His mom was kind but took no bullshit, each of them had a memory of her scaring them with a single look.

Dre shook his head, "Nah, you right. I ain't even mad at you, they crazy as hell."

"See!" Mike said, "Y'all already know I'm not messing with them or asking them about no damn menopause. I am not tryna die."

"Your mom is cool though." Wyatt said.

Mike grinned, scratching at his stubble absentmindedly. "Yeah, she is cool. I love my mama, nigga."

"You would think with all them women in your family you'd know how to get a girl and keep her. Damn shame. Ain't this yo third girlfriend this year, and it's only September?" Dre mumbled before he laughed.

Wyatt joined in, nudging Dre on the arm as they cackled.

"Y'all some assholes!" Mike snapped, "The last break up wasn't even my fault!"

"You not remembering that girl's birthday wasn't your fault?" Wyatt asked.

Mike shrugged, "I mean... technically, I didn't even know that girl. How was I supposed to remember that shit? We were only together for 3 months. Be serious."

Dre laughed, "You're such an asshole, it really doesn't make any sense."

He picked up his notebook and tossed it, the book went flying, stopping at their feet on the other sofa with a splat. They laughed at the failed attempt and Mike chuckled.