Lessons || MJ

Lessons || Chapter 14

DARRYL

Halloween.

The football season ended tonight as well. Unfortunately, we lost after keeping up such a good record. In the name of my religion, I'd opted out of participating with everyone else for the holiday. Mother would've shed quite a few tears considering the evil and dark facts behind this occasion in general.

As a growing man, I'd even switched channels to bright programs every time Jermaine or whoever else decided to watch scary films. Chastising from Mother would've been pointless after she dealt with long work hours. Though still limping, my respect would never change.

After filing out of here with Leslie, we stood in the parking lot. Max, Turk and Fredrick shivered as usual nearby. The dead glare I'd seen from Max returned, but I couldn't scare Leslie with another tantrum in this crowded spot. Never did I plan on gaining a suspension or even worse. There was only one more year left to go.

"What do you plan on doing tonight? I don't celebrate, girl." I asked the beautiful person across from my gloved hands.

Leslie grinned almost bashfully. "Probably gorging with Yvonne. She bought junk food before the game. I'm about to go back to the dorm and we're gonna watch Beetlejuice. There's really no point in giving out candy to kids here." Fellow students kept up their usual noise of happiness and chatter around us.

"Could I tag along?" I almost blushed

Leslie giggled through her words. "Wait. I thought you don't celebrate, Michael. What's the point of coming with me if you don't want your mother finding out?"

I kissed Leslie's dimple. My arms opened to hug her waist before distance closed between us. "I just want to see you smile. Is that wrong, baby?"

"No. Hopefully can we squeeze in enough room for you. The space isn't huge, Mike." She grabbed my hand, leading us back to the dorms. Max, Turk and Fredrick piled in the Wrangle by now. As soon as the engine revved, "Sucker M.C.s" blasted.

Two years ago, a friend of mine.
Asked me to say some MC rhymes.
So, I said this rhyme I'm about to say.
The rhyme was Def a-then it went this way.
Took a test to become an MC.
And Orange Krush became amazed at me.
So, Larry put me inside, his Cad-illac.
The chauffeur drove off and we never came back.
Dave cut the record down to the bone.
And now they got me rockin on the microphone.
And then we talkin autograph, and here's the laugh.
Champagne caviar, and bubble bath...

With the Jeep almost hovering us as pedestrians, Max gradually drove and stopped for a moment. His glare turned to face Leslie now.

"Come with me, beautiful. Max tried to act reserved. I sighed immediately. "There's a Pizza slice with your name on it. Please?" Fredrick and Turk never said anything to trigger possible tension between me and my best friend.

"Already bought some, baby." Leslie rolled her brown eyes. Her grip on my hand only tightened. We carefully moved back and the Wrangler finally drove away. Leslie shivered beside me, but I draped my arm to keep her warm for just a little while.

__

As soon as "Beetlejuice" ended, I found myself resting on Leslie's bunk. Open snack bags and a greasy Pizza box littered the carpet floor. Leslie and Yvonne passed along another bowl of Popcorn to me, but I refused the gluttony for once. If I ate more, my stomach might've blown or something.

"Any plans tomorrow?" I asked both ladies. They soon looked in my direction with some sort of fear in their matching brown eyes. I didn't know what to think.

"Say something, babe?" Leslie addressed me.

Just when I planned to response, Yvonne's usual roommate hurried into this area and switched on the light. Her voice bellowed as she yelled in a sorority jacket.

"Turn on the television. There was a shooting!" It didn't long before we all glare at the news before our eyes. I scooted off the bunk just to stay close with Leslie and reached for her hand. Yvonne shielded her mouth in disbelief before the commentator read aloud.

"Police are now investigating the shooting located at a beloved pizza parlor. Local college students visited this restaurant as usual. Witnesses alleged that two gentlemen began speaking in the restroom. One calmly attempted to settle the other's furious emotional state, but failed. One of the men pulled a gun somehow during the confrontation. Oh, wait. This just in – The two gentlemen have been identified as Maxwell Cooper and Calvin Smith. We will elaborate on this story as soon as possible. Thank you. Good night."

"Oh, my God!" Leslie yelped out of nowhere. I somehow found the ability to move and reached over, but she slapped my hand away this time. Yvonne, Leslie and this other roommate shifted into packing for whatever reason. I'd felt shocked for the sake of my best friend, but packing? What was even going on right now?

"Baby?" I asked, panicking around Leslie right now. "Why are you packing? What's? What's going on ladies?"

"If you're not gonna help her, leave Darryl!" Yvonne barked at me within seconds. Her other roommate soothed my girlfriend with prayers and as she passed items along. Leslie just stuffed everything in as tears rained down her pretty face.

"Why are you guys packing? What is going on?!" I finally shouted.

"Someone's looking for me!" Leslie revealed through tears.

Everything stopped in this room.