It had been a few months since my mum's funeral and I can honestly say that I was back on track. I had to attend a month's worth of therapy which did me good. I'm back to my old self. Same old bubbly Tiff. I had even gotten a new job alongside Samuel as a steward at venues. Also, Theodore was now part of my life. We had become close during the summer. We weren't a couple or anything though. He was just there for me and I was there for him. But recently, things have changed. We had become too comfortable around each other so we lost that excitement we felt when we were in each other's company. Well, he did.
Like today for example. I was over at his as usual. College had started again a while back and the summer holidays were over. I was on my laptop doing my fresh set of English Language coursework that was due next week and Theodore had offered to help me, since he's an A* student at his college in English. But instead he was entertaining all his friends and completely ignoring me. I wouldn't have minded if they were here first. But I had come in the morning and everything was fine, but as soon as Josh and all his other college friends came over to 'chill', I suddenly became invisible. I felt like some side chick.
After an hour or so, I left them all in the living room and walked into the kitchen sitting on the high chair. Breathing out a heavy sigh, I looked over my paperwork once more before continuing my sentence, trying to ignore the 808 bass that penetrated through the walls and the loud male voices.
"Tiffany." I looked up to see Theodore walk into the kitchen in his full navy adidas tracksuit. His build fit it well, I noticed as he scratched his head and opened the fridge looking for something. I ignored him and continued to type. From the corner of my eye, I saw him pause and stare at me.
"Tiffany." He said again slowly.
I ignored him again. You guys don't understand what sort of guy he became as soon as his friends came round. This n*gga was acting brand new.
"What? You're not talking to me now?" he said, still standing there. I dragged my eyes from my laptop and looked at him. He kissed his teeth and walked out, returning to his friends. I cut my eye at thin air and continued with the coursework, eager to get it done.
I was up to my conclusion when I decided I deserved a break. Saving my work, I closed my laptop and started to dish out some food from the pot, which Aunt Catherine left for us. I was putting the plate into the microwave when Theodore walked back in, with shoes on and car keys in his hands. I could hear his friends by the front door getting ready to leave.
"I'm gonna go drop these lot home. You want anything from the shop?" he asked.
"No." my back was towards him.
"What's your problem?" he asked defensively.
I turned around in confusion
"Nothing." I say creasing my eyebrows. "I don't want anything."
He paused again and just stared at me. I looked up and stared at him back with my eyebrows raised.
"Ite, say nothing." he said after a while of us just standing there, staring at each other. "I won't belong. Be here when I get back."
"Pardon?"
"Be here when I get back." he repeated in the same tone. I sighed and turned back to the microwave. I was most definitely not going to be here when he got back.
"Bye Tiffany!" I heard Josh's voice from the hallway.
"Bye guys." I called out and received byes from the rest of them. I then heard the front door open and close, followed by silence.
I sat down and ate my jerk chicken and rice whilst on Vine. Moments later Marques came down from his room and ate with me. We spoke and joked before we both finished and I washed our dishes. After that I finished my conclusion and happily turned off my laptop. Theodore had not come back yet so I packed my stuff, said bye to Marcus and went home.
