21

21/Ch. 12

Flashback:

We're in gym and everyone was gone to dress out. Only a few other people were around, but out of all people, Rakim came my way again.

"Hey, um, Elle?"

"If you don't know my name, don't speak."

"Quit playing. Your name is Elle."

"Yep....what is that on your face? Hahaha, you cut yourself shaving?"

"You look like you need to shave."

I started to cover around mouth, but he moved my hands out the way. He grabbed my chin.

"See? I can take care of that, though."

He lifted my chin up, but instead of paying attention to it, he leaned into my lips.

*Whistle Blows*

It's Coach Sanders.

"Get away from her. You not supposed to be doing that."

Rakim was smirking and the only thing that moved was his pupils towards the coach. I was getting impatient and Sanders was coming over to us, so I pecked his lips.
**********


"Then he was like,'Im sorry,' and gave me a kiss."

"Dang. Maybe y'all should have a talk and see if he'd change his ways."

Waitress: Anything else?

"I'd have a couple more cups of Nuvo."

Nikki: Only give her 1. She's going to pass out if she has more.

The waitress left.

"How are you and Mon?"

Nikki: It's still difficult. With college in Florida and him in New Jersey, relationships get rough.

"Speaking of long distance, I wanna go to Rhode Island for the rest of school, but he won't come. I'm not a big fan of trusting him.."

"Honey, not to spoil your milk, but if you don't have trust then what's the point of the last 4 years together? Something has to alternate in y'all connection."

"Maybe I'm just too insecure, but he won't follow me there. Love is hard."

The woman came back with my heavy wine. These aren't even glasses. It's a jug.

"Here you are, ma'am."

"Thanks, Miss."

I chugged it down.

*Ring, Ring*

"Hello?"

"Elle?"

"Wha'?"

"You're drunk?"

"No, I don't drink. Who's this?"

"Where are you?"

"Whereva I wanna be."

"Tell me where you're at!"
*****

I hung up. Whoever that is has everything fucked if they think I was gonna listen to bullshit.

*Ring, Ring*

I check my phone, but no caller I.D. came up.

"Hello?"

Nikki picked her phone up.

"She's right here.....yeah and alot......we're at The Boat....ok."
****
"Come on, Elle. You have to go."

"I'm not about to get up. I wanna stay here forever."

"But you can't stay forever. Rakim called and wants you at home."

I stomped/stumbled my way to her car.
********

This throbbing ass headache is killing me. I don't even remember coming into the apartment and getting into bed.

I got up and swung my feet off the bed, but momentarily stopped when my head started to spin. Not even the good, drunk spin, but the hungover one.

I continued to go to the kitchen to grab an aspirin and glass of water. I didn't go far, though. The kitchen is right beside the living room, where Rakim and Brandon was.

I didn't know there was company and all I had on was leopard-print underwear with an oversized tee-shirt..and a bra.

"Sup, Elle."

I ignored Brandon and went into the kitchen. Rakim followed behind me. He looked mad, but spoke calmingly.

"What were you thinking last night?"

"Everything."

I took the medicine and washed it down.

"You're staying here today, though."

"I was until you said that. I'm not going to do shit what you say."

"Don't start an arguement."

"I'll end it though."

"Your momma called. She's coming to visit you."

"I told you al-fucking-ready how I felt about her and the fact that you invited her here is dirty!"

"Watch who you're yelling at."

My eyes started to tear up. I'm not a little biatch, but I have my emotional moments.

"What you about to cry for?"

"Because I'm tired of bullshit. I just want to be alone with you. I want alone time, but you keep messing it up and I just want you to myself right now."

"So it's all about you, today?"

"I wish it was, but you just want to go out and drink and stuff."

"So I can't go out today?"

I shook my head.

"That's all you gotta say to me?"

"What else do you want me to say?"

He turned around to walk out as I heard him say,"Happy Birthday."

Damn!