One Step Closer

OSC/ Twenty-Four

One Step Closer/ Twenty-Four

                              Criss pulled into the parking lot of the Anaheim Regional Medical Center. She looked at the building, taking a deep sigh…she really wanted to avoid all of this, but it had to be done. She stepped out of the car, walking to the entrance…there she saw the target of her confirmation.

                              Bryant Carter.

                              He was leaning against a structural pole, with that cocky smile on his face. “Hey kiddo…I thought I wasn’t gonna see you again, after you and Austyn checked out,”

                              “Let’s just do this lunch thing,” groaned Criss. “Where did you want to eat?”

                              “Keno’s?”

                              Criss followed behind Bryant, in his car- a burgundy 1996 Chevy Caprice Classic. They pulled into the parking lot of the sports bar…she then followed him in, where they were seated. The host approached them. “Welcome to Keno’s…have you decided what to order?”

                             “I’ll have a chicken Caesar salad, and an iced tea,” said Criss. The host then looked to Bryant. “And you sir?”

                              “Let me get your King Cobb sandwich with fries,” answered Bryant. “With a Coke Zero,”

                              “It’ll be about 15 minutes,” advised the host, as he left the booth. Criss crossed her fingers, as nervousness ran throughout her body, like ants crawling on her skin. “So…how’s Jameel?”

                              “He’s doin okay. I spent the day with him on Tuesday, helping little man with his colors and stuff. We played at the playground, then I took him to Mc Donald’s,” answered Bryant. The host returned, setting their drinks on the table. Bryant took a sip of his Coke. “How is Miss Austyn?”

                              “She’s doin fine. She signed a contract to do some photo shoot for the X-Games calendar, and she spent the night at her boyfriend’s a couple nights ago,” replied Criss.

                               Bryant let out a soft laugh. “Austyn has a boyfriend? Wow…I never thought I’d see that girl in a steady relationship,”

                               “That’s what you get for thinking…people can change,” laughed Criss, as the host finally brought their lunches. Criss poured the basalmic vinaigrette dressing, onto her salad. “How is Jameel’s mom?”

                               “She’s okay…she still trips sometimes,” Bryant answered, lowering his head, as he dug into his sandwich…Criss took a bite of her salad, slowly chewing as Bryant finally lifted his head. “Why you ask?”

                               “Do the math, Bryant- all she really wanted was for you to grow up, and take care of Jameel like you are supposed to do,” blurted Criss. Bryant held his hands up, as his voice went up an octave, or two. “That’s what I’m doin! And she still trips!”

                                “Maybe she still wants you,” said Criss.

                                “If she still wanted me, why did she kick me the fuck out?” griped Bryant, as his voice went down. Criss rolled her eyes. “Because you weren’t doing what you were supposed to do. You were runnin around doin that tired-ass ‘baby boy’ shit, trying to live and mooch off of other females. She doesn’t want Jameel to see his father actin like that! Now that you are working, she feels better about letting Jameel spend time with you. She’s only trippin because she wants you to be a real man to her like you now are, to your son. She needs you, Bryant,”