Save Me From You

Chance.

| By the way everyone, the person who plays Chance was going to be Trevor Jackson, but... I could no longer find an appealing photo of him... Sorry... |

-Next Week

He wants to love and leave, let me do the same.

"You're looking good!"

"Thanks, Candy."

We walked inside the mall and instantly got hit on. I know what you're thinking, but I'm over it. Me and Candy are alright now. I don't like her, but I'm not mad anymore. She's like... Just someone that I know. I'll hang with her, but I won't tell her anything about me. She's one of those people that you only talk to because you have no one else.

"Excuse me miss." I smiled as a boy came up to me. Candy found a boy and walked off with him.

"How old are you, pretty lady?"

"I'm eighteen." I smiled. "What about you?"

"I'm only sixteen, but it's all good. I like older women." He licked his lips.

"Oh you like older women?" I chuckled. "You're a young player, aren't you?"

"Well I wouldn't say that."

"Then what would you say?" I raised my eyebrow.

"I just like a lot of girls. That's not a crime."

I laughed at his free spirited mentality, "You're cute."

"Shouldn't I be saying that to you?"

"No, you shouldn't."

With furrowed eyebrows, I turned to find Sparky standing behind me like some kind of father.

"What, Sparky? I can't talk to somebody?"

"Why are you even here, Taiah? You need to be talking to Rodney."

"Y'all need to stop trying to hook me up with him! As you can see, it's not working!" Me and the boy walked off.

"Who was that?"

"My friend, Sparky, who swears that he's my father."

"What about Rodney?"

"This guy I thought I loved."

He noticed the sadness in my voice and started to joke around, "You could always love me." He did a huge grin like one you'd see on a little kid. I couldn't help but giggle. I could tell he wanted to do an actual smile though.

"You have braces, don't you?" I asked.

"How'd you know?"

"I can tell by the way you smiled."

He sucked his teeth and did a smaller grin, "I'm slipping on hiding them."

"Why would you want to hide them?"

"Cause I've got too much swag to just show them."

"Oh yeah? Well I want to see." He looked around, "Do I have to?" I made a baby face, "Please?"

"Alright." He sighed.

He did a big smile. His braces are black and kind of goldish-brown color. He has some deep dimples and his smile is really cute.

"Saints!" I yelled smiling, "I love that team and your smile is mad sexy!"

"For real?"

"Oh my gosh, yes! Just because you have braces doesn't mean anything. Shoot, they even make some people look better."

He smiled showing his teeth this time, "So you like me, huh?"

"Yeah, you're cute. You seem like a cool person to hang out with too. I don't know about us going out though."

"Why not?"

"Trust me, you don't want to get involved with me."

"Still not answering my question."

"You just don't want to get involved. I've been through a lot and I probably have people after me. Plus, you've met Sparky. He will kill you if he finds out we're dating."

"True that."

"You never told me you name."

"Chance. What's yours?"

"Taiah."

"What's your last name?"

"Richardson."

"Oh no!" He stood up.

"What's your- Oh my gosh, I just called my little brother cute!"

We stared at each other for a few minutes, not knowing what to say or do.

"Tai, I-"

"Why are you in New Jersey?" I asked.

"I asked grandma if I could graduate high school here. Why are you here?"

"I ran away. I wasn't going back with mom and I can't live with you or our grandparents."

"Yo, Taiah!" Magic came up to us. "You need to stop flirting with boys and slide through Rodney place."

"Oh my gosh, no! I'm not going to see him, okay? You and Sparky need to stop with all that!"

"Tai, he-"

"I don't care!" I stomped my foot. "Let me finish my conversation!"

He sighed and sat down, "Leave!" He left and I started talking with Chance again.

"Where do you stay?" He asked.

"I live in an apartment."

"By yourself?"

"Nah. That girl you saw me with. Where do you live?"

"Same, but I stay by myself."

"Grandma paying?"

"Uh?"

"Don't lie."

"Yeah. Some of it."

"Some if it?"

"Most of it."

"Most of it?"

"All of it."

I giggled. Even though we used to completely resent each other, we seem to be pretty cool now. But he does have tattoos. I'll get him later.

"Tai, you ready?" Candy asked.

"Yeah. Here's my number." After giving him my number, me and Candy left.

-2 Months Later

I walked up the driveway with Chance and leaned on the backyard fence, "Hey."

He looked up at me with cold eyes, "Don't look at me like that." I sighed.

I hopped the fence and he looked at Chance, "Who's he?" He nodded towards him.

"Oh, this is my boyfriend." I smiled.

Chance hopped the fence and smiled at him. He sucked his teeth, "Get out my yard, Taiah."

I hugged him, "No, Rodney. I was just playing."

He hugged me back, "I missed you."

I looked up at him, "I missed you, too."

He kissed my forehead and looked back at Chance, "But for real though. Who is he before I shoot him?"

"Remember when I told you about my family?"

"Yeah?"

"This is my brother. Chance."

"Your brother? Where your sisters at? When this happens, y'all supposed to have a family reunion and all that extra stuff."

I giggled at his comment.

"I don't know." Chance said, "We all went our separate ways after everyone got split up."

"Well, after me and him were spilt from the family." I added.

"Finally!"

I buried my head in Rodney's chest as Magic and Sparky came up, "After months, y'all finally acknowledge each other!"

"Oh shut up, Sparky."

"Lil girl, I will whoop your butt!" I rolled my eyes. "And why are you still hanging with him? I thought I told your disobedient self not to be flirting with no boys unless it's Rodney!"

"First off, I I'm hanging with him because I can!" I yelled, rolling my neck. "Secondly, he's my brother!" I spat with distaste.

"Oh." All he said was 'oh' and looked down, "I'm sorry baby girl."

"You better be sorry!"

We all walked inside. Just being in the familiar surroundings made me melt! I haven't been here for months, but I still feel at home. I guess being around him could make anyone feel at home. The only difference was the fact that Chance is here.

"I heard you're cool with Candice." Rodney said while sitting on the arm of the couch.

"I wouldn't say I'm cool with her. I'm not mad anymore, though."

"What happened between you and Candy?" Chance asked.

"Long story." I said. "But there's a problem with Darrius."

"Do I need to shoot somebody?" Sparky stood up.

"No!" We all yelled while laughing.

I don't think I'll tell them. I mean, it's nothing major. Just that Darrius has been trying to get back with me and stuff. But I doubt that he'll do anything. It's just Kareem we have to worry about.

"Bro, why you always feel like you need to shoot somebody?" Magic asked.

"Cause this my baby!" He smiled and hugged me tight.

"I'm being squished!"

He let me go and I looked at Chance. His eyes we're glued to his phone and he kept smiling. I snatched the phone and read the messages aloud.

"Aw babe, I miss you too!" I said in a girly voice.

Everybody laughed and Chance's face turned red. I continued to read the messages until I came to a particular one. It read:

'My big sister is fine, though! When I saw her in the mall, I was about to make her mine. Then, you know.'

I laughed and looked at his still crimson face. I handed him his phone and texted him:

'Don't worry. You're cute, too.'

"Why am I the only girl here?"

"Want me to call Indi?" Sparky asked.

"Heck naw! That chick is crazy!"

"Then stop complaining."

I playfully rolled my eyes and Sparky pushed me off the couch, "Rude much!" I scoffed.

He hopped over the couch and sat in my seat, "Yo! For real?"

Rodney pulled me softly towards him. I leaned back on him and he hugged me.

"Y'all are the cutest couple ever!"

Everyone looked at Chance in confusion, "What? I can't compliment them?"

"Yeah, but don't say cutest couple ever, man. It makes you seem gay." Magic said, shaking his head

I giggled, "Y'all, leave my brother alone."

"Yeah, leave me alone."

Kissing my neck, Rodney squeezed me, "You know what I want." He whispered in my ear.

As a sly grin spread across my face, I leaned back to give a slick reply, "Boys always want what they can't have."

He did a low sigh. His aggravated breath on my neck gave me goosebumps. He kissed my shoulder, "Please? We haven't been together for months and this is how you treat me?"

I did a light chuckle, "Yes." Again, he sighed. A little heavier this time, though.

"What game should we play?" Asked Magic while he went through the games.

"GTA V." Chance said.

"Oh yeah! You already copped that?" Sparky looked back at Rodney who was busy kissing me. He did a low, "Yes," and continued to kiss me.

"Ew, go in a room with all that." Magic said.

"Get out my house with all that." Rodney retorted.

"Naw, we straight."

"Thought so."