Just As I Am

Chapter 15

Sorry for the wait! ~Key

Picture of Isis

After church, Mia cooked a huge dinner, and Bianca looked at her like she was some kind of super woman. I guess, in a way, she was. How many other women could say they ran a million dollar company and still made it to every basketball game, ballet recital and whatever else their kids had going on? On top of all that, she had a handsome, rich husband who worshipped the ground she walked on, and she still cooked a hot meal nearly every day of the week. She was superwoman, and the fried chicken, homemade macaroni, collard greens, potato salad, and hot water cornbread only confirmed it. Bianca and I thought we couldn’t eat another bite, that is until we saw the pecan pies. We ate so much that neither of us could hardly move from the table.

“Y’all won’t be able to fit into your uniforms if you keep eating like that.” Mia teased.

Jermaine sat across the table from Bianca and flirted shamelessly the entire meal. Mia found it hard to keep a straight face, and Trey just kept shaking his head. Tamia rolled her eyes every two minutes, and I couldn't help but laugh.

“So, Bianca…that’s a beautiful name by the way.” He winked his right eye. “When are we going out?”

“Where are you going, the arcade?” Tamia asked. Maine chose to ignore her, but Trey snickered.

“I promise you’ll have the best night of your life! We can do whatever you like.” He smiled, licking his lips. I almost died right there at the table.

“Boy stop!” Tamia laughed. “Who are you supposed to be? T.I? I think not!” Bianca almost choked on her iced tea. Even Mia couldn’t contain her laughter on that one.

“Ignore the midget. “ He smiled at Bianca. “You know how kids can be.”

“Very entertaining.” Bianca laughed. I wondered if Maine got that she was including him in the kids’ category. If he did, he didn’t let it faze him.

“So about that date?” Jermaine pressed on.

“Maybe you should wait until you can drive or can even afford to take somebody out on a date.” Tamia suggested. "Or at least until you're old enough to date. Not that anyone would want to go out with you anyway."

"Tamia!" Mia scolded her. Tamia had one of those well it's true looks on her face, but she didn't say anything else.

"Um, I don't think my boyfriend would like that." Bianca grinned.

"Well, I'm not asking him, shawty. You need to get rid of that problem anyway. I'm trying to show you that I'm better than your past or latest." Jermaine replied confidently.

"I can't take it anymore!" Trey said, getting up from the table.

"Can I get up too, daddy? This is just sad!" Tamia said, shaking her head.

"Come on, Princess, let's go pray for your brother." They both left the dining room.

"I'm sorry, Maine. That was so rude of them." Mia said, barely able to control her laughter.

"Its okay, T Lady. It cost me nothing; I pay them no mind!" Maine responded, winking at Bianca again. I couldn't take anymore myself, so I got up and took Bianca's and my plate to the kitchen. When I came back, T.J was trying to convince Maine to play the PS3 with him. While he was distracted, I grabbed Bianca and made a mad dash for the stairs.

"Girl, your cousin is a mess!" She laughed as we walked into my room. "He is going to be trouble when he reaches our age."

"I know right!" I agreed as I closed my bedroom door. I didn't know what Mia, Trey, and Simone, Jermaine's mother, were going to do with him. I lay across my bed and turned on the television.