Not Nearly Metta

My Choice

        Fall semester had come and gone and it was now finals week.  The whole semester Antonio and I drove back and forth to see each other. Well mostly he did the traveling because he didn’t like me on the road by myself even if it was for three hours. Everyone seemed okay with my relationship but for some reason Marvin started to act strange towards me. When I confronted him about it he said I was tripping. We started to spend less to no time together unless everyone else was around, and he never came by my room anymore. One day I saw him talking to a girl so I thought he was in a relationship. To come to think of it I never saw him talking to another girl other than me and Carson. It was no secret that he did not like Alicia for reason I never cared to know so I never asked. He just put up with her in which a lot of people did until they got to know her.

      “I have something to say I said when we were all out at lunch. At least once a month we would all go to lunch without any extra partners. Meaning if we were in a relationship they were not welcome. “What’s up” they all asked at different times. “Um this is not easy for me to say” I said. “Well just spit it out the best way you can” Danny said. “I will not be coming back to Clark” I said letting out a deep breath. “What you mean” Alicia ask. “I thought your grades were good” Marvin said standing to his feet. “They are Marvin! I am transferring to the University of Alabama” I said just making that decision in my mind. “Lela how can you just leave like this without talking to me” Carson said. “It’s not what you think Cars I promise you I...”.  “You’re moving in with that clown. For you to be so smart that is really stupid of you Lela” Marvin said angrily and then leaving out the restaurant. “No Marvin, let me explain” I shouted after him. He walked out the door and I ran after him almost knocking a few people over but still never slowing down pace. By the time I caught up to him he was just pulling out of his parking spot. I jump in front of the car as he stomped on the brakes just in time. “What the fuck is wrong with you Lela” he shouted as he got out the car. “Let me explain Marvin! It’s not what you think” I said with tears falling from my face. He then rushed to my side “I’m sorry for screaming at you Le-le. Please stop crying” he said holding me so tight I could barely breathe but I didn’t care. “Get the fuck out the way” hunk hunk some lady yelled out her car. Marvin car was blocking the exit. “Look here you stupid bitch if you know what’s good for you, you will shut up and sit tight before I do it for you permanent” I said. “Calm down little tiger” Marvin said with a slight smile. “I now know the damage you are capable of when you get mad. Go get your things while I move the car” he added. The lady in the car mumbled something I couldn’t make out but she was saved by one of Gods Angeles just now so I hope she was praising him. As I entered the restaurant Ronnie approach me asking me if everything was okay. I nodded and went to collect my things. “I’m sorry for dropping the bomb like this on you all. I know you are thinking this has something to do with Antonio but it doesn’t. It has everything to do with Nicole. I will explain everything to you later but I have to go” I said and left without anyone saying anything else to me. Instead of hoping in my car I got in Marvin’s as we drove to another restaurant we sat in complete silence. Not even the radio was playing. It seemed like we was driving for hours and miles in silent never once taking our eyes off the road. He then pulled over in a vacant parking lot.

      “I thought we were going to a restaurant” I said to Marvin.”I’m not hungry and food can wait. What’s going on” he said cutting straight to the point. “I know you think I’m changing schools to be with Antonio but that’s not it. And he doesn’t even know right now. I made up my mind late last night. I’m moving to be with Nicole” I explained. “Your little sister” he said looking confused instead of pissed. He was one of the few people other than Carson to know about Nicole and I upbringing. Everyone knew I had a sister but I rarely talked about my pass and that’s how I planned to leave it in my pass. I nodded and continued on explaining. “Our mother kicked her out when she found out she was pregnant and she moved to Alabama to be with him. Not only didn’t I know she was pregnant but that she was even in Alabama. We talk every week and she never told me and it’s not like me and my mother talk so she couldn’t tell me. To make a long story short last night when we talked she told me that she caught her boyfriend cheating on her with one of her coworkers. She fought with Trevor and kicked him and the girl out the house naked.  However, the apartment is only leased to him so she doesn’t have any right to stay there let alone kick him out. I drove down to Alabama last night and put her up in a room until I could figure out what to do next. She doesn’t have anyone else but me, she‘s 3 months pregnant and she has no money.” “Damn Lela is she and the baby ok” he said rubbing my hand. “Yeah! I took her to the hospital and they said she and the baby were find they just needed to rest” I said. “Lela I am so sorry for what I said earlier. You are a smart woman and I should have listened to what you had to say before jumping to conclusions” Marvin said with sadness in his eyes. “It’s okay Marv, I still love you any ways” I said as I playfully punched him on the arm and smiling. “If there is anything I can do just let me know” he said. “Weeeeeeeeeeeeell there is one or two things” I said smiling. “Name it and you got it” he said with a serious look. “One take me to go get something to eat I have been so busy since last night that I forgot to eat. My stomach is seriously cussing me out and trust me you do not want to know what its saying. And two help me move into my apartment next month” I said knowing that I didn’t even need to ask him for his help. “Done and done” he said taking the car out of park.

         Hours later me and Marvin was laughing in my dorm like we use to. It felt good after everything that went down the night before to finally have something to smile about. I called up the crew and explained to them why I was leaving. They all understood and volunteered to help me in any way I need. Later on that night when I went for my midnight run I broke the news to Antonio. Who was of course happy about the news about me changing schools but not what happened between my little sister and her now ex boyfriend. He offered his guess room to my little sister but I told him I had to talk it over with her first. I couldn’t imagine a sweeter man. To offer his room to someone he didn’t know just showed how caring he was. I could one day see myself falling for this man. He was intelligent, caring, a good cook and FINE! He was too perfect and even if I did look I couldn’t find a flaw. 

           Like I said a month later I was moving into my apartment. It was a one bed room but it was all I could find on short notice. And plus it was close to the school so Nicole could use my car instead of riding the bus to work. And if I needed to go anywhere I had Antonio. Since Nicole was pregnant I gave her the bed and I took the couch. Between going to school, working and all the doctor visits I was overloaded with responsibilities. Antonio pitched in when he could and I even stayed at his place when I was too tired to go home which was often. My grandparents also helped out as much as they could and when they came to visit Antonio let them stay in his guess room. Things where hard but I had my sister, friends, family and a great man by my side. I knew I was favored by God to be so overloaded with responsibilities but was still able to stay afloat.