GUILT

Chapter 16

     The next morning, Chantelle woke up, reminiscing about last night. She really couldn't believe that they made up and were back on good terms. The way Trae put it down made her fall for him even more. Damn, he something special, she thought to herself while she laid in the bed, staring at the empty side. After her shower, she sat on the bench at the end of her bed, scrolling through her newsfeed. She checked her follower request and saw that she had a request from an unknown person, but it wasn't unusual to her to get a random request so she accepted it. Chantelle put her phone to get the laundry from the laundry room and to dry another load of clothes.  When she returned to her room, her phone began blowing up with text messages.

     Hey sexy, I haven't seen you in a while. I would love to meet up later.

     The text was from JT. Chantelle didn't want to reply to him at all but she remembered that she had to act normal as if she didn't know about his scheme. She put her face in her hands and texted him back.

     What did you have in mind? Chantelle's hand began to tremble.

     Dress casual, I was thinking we could do something fun. What about a walk around the park and a trip to the movies?

     JT's charm meant nothing to Chantelle anymore. Chantelle immediately started screenshotting the messages and forwarded them to Trae, Shay, and Devin. Shay replied a bunch of emojis and stated how ignorant he is. Devin told her to make sure Trae knows about it, but Trae never replied. Chantelle waited for about ten minutes and called Trae.

     "Hello?" Trae picked up the phone with a raspy voice.

     "What the hell you doing? You didn't get my messages?" Chantelle yelled into the phone.

     "See ma, you starting already. Dick got you acting different," he laughed.

      Chantelle rolled her eyes. "Trae, this isn't the time to play. I seriously don't wanna talk to dude anymore. I don't feel comfortable around him anymore."

      "Who, JT? What he do?" Trae said waking completely up now.

     "He's trying to take me out tonight and I don't wanna go."

      "Where he said y'all going?"

      "To the movies and park. I don't wanna do this Trae," she said whining into the phone.

      "Look ma, as much as I hate to say it, you have to. The minute you deny him, he's gonna suspect something up. I would say one of us could be there in secret but he see me, or any of us, he's gonna know. Just go baby."

     "Fine Trae," she said

     "I know you don't want to, but it's to keep you and everybody else safe."

     "But what if ..."

     "If, what?" Trae asked.

     "If he attempt something," Chantelle asked nervously.

     "You mean have sex with you? He ain't gonna see the next day." Trae began to laugh into the phone.

     "Yeah, Yeah. Bye Trae." Chantelle hung up the phone and texted JT to tell him that she'd be ready at 5 o' clock.

     Chantelle slipped on her black jumpsuit with her pair of Adidas. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail and wore her all white Nike snapback. Then, she texted JT to let him know she was ready. Chantelle wondered around her home, listening to music and drinking apple juice until she saw his truck pull up outside. She grabbed her wallet and keys then headed out the door.

     "Damn, Chantelle you stay looking good," JT said as he got out his side of the truck, opening her door.

     "You don't look so bad yourself," Chantelle sniggered.

     "I try. It's just for you." JT began to drive downtown towards the park. "You know Chantelle, I'm surprised you'd give me the time of day again."

     "Oh, really now," she said staring out the window.

     "Yeah, it's just after all this time, I would have thought that you would have moved on," JT said admiring her. 

     They arrived at the park and there were people there jogging, walking their dogs, and sitting, enjoying the view. Chantelle plugged in one of her earphones and let the other hang while they walked around the park.

     "Chantelle, can I ask you something?"

     "Yeah, what's up?"

     "Why we never worked out? Like, I feel like we could've had something better, you know?"

     Chantelle busted out laughing. "JT, why you wanna bring this up? That was a long time ago."

    "I was a fool to lose you Chantelle. I never should have left you. Now that we're grown, I see how much you've grown. And you've grown into a beautiful young lady. I really didn't mean to hurt you. I wish you would give us a chance again but I feel like there's no hope."

     "JT, I just--I can't. It's not you. I don't mind being cordial but the whole relationship/regret talk, I just don't want to talk about it. We've grown up and grew apart on that. Can you please respect that?"

    "It's hard for me to respect that because somehow you'll always be apart of me. I feel like if we work things out, it will all fall into place. Why don't you feel the same? I could've sworn on our last date, you were a little more open to me Chantelle."

     "I'm just going through some things right now," she said looking at the river.

     "I've heard that before. I'm not that far off into that," he chuckled, "You got somebody else on your mind."

     "It's not your business what I do," Chantelle laughed.

     "That's it then, you're undecided on who you wanna spend your time with," he smirked.

     "Is this what you do for a living? Invade in on what other people got going in their lives?"

     "Invade? Hell no. Go after what I want? Hell yes. And I'd be damned if I let someone else get in the way of that."

     "Whatever JT. Change the subject, I don't want to talk about this anymore." 

      "Okay, what movie did you want to see?" JT asked, trying not to sound disappointed.

     "To be honest, I really would feel more comfortable if you could just go ahead and take me home."

     JT didn't say anything. All he did was started back walking to his truck and Chantelle followed behind him. The entire car ride was silent. As he parked in front of her house, he stared at her as she looked out the window, biting on her nail. He got out the car and opened her door. Chantelle walked towards her front door with her keys held tightly in her hand. 

     "Look, Chantelle. I'm sorry for the way I acted today. I was out of character," JT said following behind her.

     "You don't have to apologize."

     "No, forreal. I'm sorry. Can I do anything to make it up to you?"

     "I don't think so JT," Chantelle said trying to unlock her door.

      JT grabbed her by the waist and kissed her cheek. "Please, Chantelle."

     Chantelle pried from his grip and stumbled into her living room, shutting and locking the door behind her.