Odell Quickies

Stepbrother Pt. 3

Odell

Christmas was over and senior year started back up again. Things with me and Leland hadn't gotten any better but I could say with all truthfulness, she didn't annoy me as much as she used to. On a bright note, national signing day was approaching and I was excited to make my pick. I sat in my English class, with Lee across the way looking over our midterms we'd just gotten back that day.

"Mrs. Bouvier?" I called, raising my hand. She looked my way and smiled. "May I go to the bathroom please?" I caught Lee look up at me.

"Go ahead." She said, tucking her graying hair behind her ear.

I walked out the classroom and went to my locker, I didn't need to use the bathroom, I just wanted to stretch my legs. I pulled out my phone and hit up Juice but I was convinced he wouldn't reply, which he didn't so I loitered around some more until it was about time for the bell to ring. When I got back Mrs. Bouvier wasn't too happy, I played off my extended absence as if I was having stomach issues.

"You're a terrible liar." Lee said smugly as she rushed out of class. Her hair was french braided by her temples and pulled up into a high bun on her head, making it look bigger than normal which was hard to do because her shit was already big as the super dome. "I don't see how you get away with half this shit." I tailed after her in the hallway. "What do you want Odell, I just wanna get to class."

"Nothing, just wanna talk to my little sister." She cut her eyes in my direction, leaning from behind her locker door. "What you technically are."

"I'm technically 'bout to shove my fist down your throat if you don't tell me what you want and leave me alone Hoedell."

"Damn, chill out Wonder Woman. Look, I gotta campus tour of LSU this weekend, I know that's your dream school and I don't want dad with me tryna relive his college days and my mom has a coaching commitment that's gonna keep her from making it. Do you wanna ride with me?"

She looked at me skeptically, tucking her book under her arm. "Why are you asking me, ask Maia." Lee slammed her locker and continued to stare at me. "What's your motive Beckham?"

"Nothing, I'm tryna be nice here and you making it real hard." I breathed out hard and continued walking with her to her next class, I had home economics so I was in no rush. "I ain't tryna invite Maia cause all she'll do is wanna party, I want to see the campus so I can make my decision for signing day next week. I'm taking this serious." She stood by her classroom door.

"I'll go Odell but if you pull any stunts, so help me god I will have your head and the only thing getting signed is your fucking death certificate. I will tear you to shreds." The glare in her eyes sent a chill down my spine. She poked me in the chest and backed into class, leaving me to stare, jaw slack, terrified of moving anywhere else.

*Prom Night

Lee sat in her bedroom alone, her date Tony had stood her up. After taking the campus tour together a few months ago, we'd made some huge strides as far as our attitudes towards each other. I could hear her sobs from in the hall and she wouldn't let her mom or dad, who drove 4 hours to see his daughter head off to prom, in her room.

"Dad I feel bad." I mutter at the base of the stairs.

"What about that friend of hers, where is she?" He sipped a cold beer and looked at me.

"Maia? Maia fucked up and ain't even allowed 20 feet near the venue. Tony was her date she hustled together last minute." My phone buzzed in my pocket, my date Rochelle was calling me. "Hold on pop." I clapped his shoulder and took the call outside. "Yeah?"

She was screaming from the other line into my ear, I pulled my cell away and listened to her chew me out. "YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE AN HOUR AGO!"

"I know, Lee is having a crisis-"

"Fuck Lee! You're my date!" She belted, making me pull the phone away from my ear again.

"If you gone act like this, I'll say fuck it and you'll go alone. Lee is my sister, and she's having a crisis, either you gone wait and let me figure this out, our you gone go by yourself...take ya pick."

She was silent for while before deciding to go with a friend who didn't have a date. I told her I would meet her at the dance and take her to the after party which she was fine with. When I got back inside I told my dad to go tell her that her date was here finally.

After awhile, she let her mom in the room to touch her makeup back up and help her back into her dress. I stood at the steps with my corsage, initially meant for Rochelle, in hand. Her hair was styled in cascading curls, I remember taking her to the hairdresser to get some weave put in so her normal shoulder blade length hair was now mid-back. Her gold dress with a high split, went perfectly with her complexion and her makeup was subtle but elegant. I held back the urge to bite my lip and instead just smiled. Tonight was her big night and I wasn't gonna let some lame nigga ruin it for her. Her brows knit in the center of her forehead in confusion when she saw me, trying to figure out where Tony was.

"I'm your date," I explain grabbing her hand, "I didn't want your night completely ruined."

"What about Rochelle? Isn't she your date?" She flipped her hair over her shoulder, revealing a set of bright diamond chandelier earrings in her first hole and more subdued studs in the second.

"Eh, she'll be okay. Told her I'd meet her at the dance, take her to the after party. Whatever." She hugged me tight, the first hug I'd gotten from her in years.

"Thank you Odell." I could hear cameras snapping as our parents took photos. We posed and smiled for some before walking out the door to head out to the venue for the dance. My mom followed us all the way to the car before my dad had to just tell her to chill and let us go before we were late.

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So there's hope for these two after all