Maia (BWWM)

Chapter 3

Tonight was the night Lucas was gonna take me out and only two hours prior to pick up I was getting cold feet.

"Nita, I don't think I should do this."

I was over at her apartment picking out clothes for later tonight.

Juanita was at her vanity putting on an old lipstick I got from Dollar Tree that I let her borrow. I know what you're thinking; that lipstick is ghetto as hell. Don't you think that if I didn't live in the hood and had more money I would get better makeup?

Juanita closed the tube and set it down.

"Why not? You finally get a date with the one guy that you've had a crush on for like the past five years!"

"I know but..."

"But what?"

I paused and flopped on her bed.

"But what if Tony finds out I'm with another guy? He's for sure gonna kick my ass."

"Psshh...Tony can go sit his hot ass down somewhere. Why is he always on your case anyway?"

"I dunno. Tony's the only man in my life and I've gotta put up with his mess."

"Come on. Just go out with Lucas."

"I can't!"

"Why not?"

"I just told you!"

I rub the cut on my arm.

"Let's be real Nita...it's not worth it."

I shake my head and a tear rolls down my cheek.

"Hey," Juanita says joining me on her bed. "Look if you really don't wanna risk feeling Tony's wrath I understand."

I sniff a little.

"Y-y-you do?" I stammer.

"Well....not...really but I do know that it's not fun being in that kind of situation. I'll let you call Lucas and tell him you can't go."

"Thanks Nita but..."

"But what?" She says pausing at her cell phone.

"Can you tell him for me?"

"Me? You're the one who's cancelling on him!"

I get up from the bed and groan.

"I know!"

I stand folding my arms when Nita comes next to me with her cell phone in hand. After many seconds of pressure, I give in and retrieve it from her.

"Fine." I say.

I start dialing Lucas' number and I turn to Juanita to seek any last minute offers.

"I told you Maia, I'm not calling him for you!"

Dang it.

The phone starts to ring and the receiver picks up.

Hello?

I panic and start sweating.

"What do I say?" I whisper to Juanita hoping to get an immediate answer.

Juanita brushes me off and says, "Just tell him you can't go!"

Hello??

I decide to start speaking.

"Hey Lucas, it's Maia."

Maia? Hi, how are you? Ready for tonight?

"About that...this isn't going to take me very long. I can't go tonight."