Thick & Thin

Chapter Seven; "Be-Fuckin-Careful!"

Michelle stared at Kevin, practically in amazement as he stood in front of the mirror in her coy bathroom; brushing his teeth.
Luckily she had a spare toothbrush stored away in her cabinet; in case of an emergency. But this was definitely no emergency. More like a miracle in her eyes. Kevin had been her first lover since some no good brotha; her freshman year of college. That being almost 6 years ago, she had undoubtedly forgotten the highs of having a companion despite the cons of relationships, she had none to complain about yet.
It had been almost a month since their first session and since then; they were inseparable.
Unintentionally drifting away from her two best friends, she hadn't informed them about anything, so to speak. Depriving them of the newfound news of her and Kevin getting closer and closer; nothing had been made official yet and she was simply waiting until he mentioned the title of being her man before she went bragging about him to anyone. Nothing could be worse than showing off something that wasn't yours.
Michelle unfolded her arms and took a few steps before she was standing right behind Kevin, rubbing the side of his arm; instantly causing him to shiver.
"What are you getting into today?" he asked after spitting out the Colgate suds in his mouth and wiping it. He turned around and leaned on the sink; while she answered.
"I don't know, I was hoping we could hang out around here."
"Damn babe. I wish I could, but I have to get going." he touched her side before walking into the bedroom to find the rest of his clothing. "Where ya girls at? Haven't heard you talking about them in a long time!"
"Who knows." Michelle shrugged; making a mental note to call at least one of the two, in the hours to come. It wasn't like them to just not keep in touch for so long. Some serious stuff must be going on with them to not even track her down, at that!
"I guess since you're going to be busy, I'll catch up with them and see what they're doing."
Being as though, her teaching job at the local high school took up most of her time on a regular basis. All of her free time had been dedicated to him all of a sudden. Not wanting to smother each other with their affection; she decided it was best that he had plans for the day already. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?
Kevin slipped on his shoes and stood up. "I'll call you later!" he pecked her lips before seeing himself out.
Reading the clock and sighing, she decided this would be the best time to get some work done before she even thought about catching up with Beyoncé or Kelly. She jumped in the shower and threw on some sweats before pulling out a folder of tests that needed to be graded. The worst thing about being a teacher was that she always found herself, overwhelmed with grading things when she honestly didn't want to. Somebody had to do it though.
By the time she finished, half of the day had faded and it was now going on 7 o'clock. Putting the papers aside, she retrieved the phone from it's base and dialed Kelly's number.
Thinking that she wasn't home, Michelle was just about to hang up and call her cell before Kelly finally answered.
"Hey!.What's going on over there?" Michelle questioned her; hearing the commotion in the background. The sound of Beyoncé's voice in the background along with the tunes of an Erykah Badu album- made it obvious that she was missing out on something. "Y'all havin a party and aint invite me?"
"Girl NO! and where the hell you been? Don't know how to call your best friends no more!"
"Laid up with that nigga Kevin, probably!" Beyoncé yelled purposely; hoping Michelle would hear her. She giggled and sipped from the Grey Goose bottle before flopping down next to Kelly on the sofa.
Much to Michelle's dismay, her two best friends were in the dumps and had unfortunately resulted to liquor and neo-soul music to make them feel better after their venting rants.
They were both having some serious issues and Michelle literally wanted to kick herself in the ass for not even knowing; better yet, not allowing herself to know. She had always been the mediator of the group. The advice giver.
Roy was out of town, yet again and Brendan was at birthday party one of his friends were throwing. Luckily it was a sleepover, so Beyoncé had no worries of going to pick him up anytime soon.
"How you been Chelle?" Kelly said slowly, obvious that the alcoholic beverage she was sipping on was easing threw her.
"I'm just fine Kelly! I was just calling to tell you I was going to stop by. It's obvious that you two need me right now, so yeah. I'll be there in like 15!"
"Okay!" Kelly replied in a jolly-like manner and hung up.
"What she want?" Beyoncé asked still in the slouched position she had been stuck in for the past 5 minutes.
"Something about..stopping by when she was 15 and fine." she shrugged and Beyoncé frowned.
"WHAT!?"
"the hell if I know!" Kelly rolled her eyes. They laid back on the sofa and continued venting about their man problems until Michelle showed up; like she had promised.
"Now what the hell are y'all heifers in here moping about?" Michelle yelled at the two of them after using the key Kelly had given her when her and Roy moved in about 4 years ago.
"Who the fuck ..let you in!?" Beyoncé slurred her speech a bit startled by her sudden presence and lifting her head off of the couch.
"I have a key, you numb nut- Just like you!" Michelle sat down on the love seat and stared at the pitiful sight in front of her. There was no need in mediating anything- they had already taken care of that themselves. "Are y'all drunk!?" Her eyebrows sunk in once she noticed the TWO half-empty bottles of Grey Goose on the coffee table.
Beyoncé and Kelly looked at each other first before they began cackling. Michelle just shook her head and joined in with the laughter. She had to admit, even though it wasn't healthy, they were seriously funnier than ever when they weren't sober.
"So ladies.." Michelle got up and walked into the kitchen; grabbing a glass and filled half of it with Ocean SprayT grape juice before filling the rest with the alcoholic substance; remaining in ear shot. She might as well join the buzz; she wasn't going anywhere no time soon. "What's been going on with you two!?"
"Look who wants to know about us now Kells!" Beyoncé huffed and propped her feet up on the table. "After she dun dumped us for that ....fine ass.Tank looking mother fucker!"
Michelle couldn't help but giggle. She'd always thought he resembled the singer Tank as well. "Whatever B! You know it's not like that! I've just been busy!"
"Busy my ass! You mean you been busy gettin busy!"
Michelle blushed and took a sip from her glass while Kelly chuckled in her relaxed state. She was definitely feeling the buzz; too good to talk in her case; just listen. Beyoncé on the other hand was known to just talk too much; under the influence.
Beyoncé nodded. "Be-fuckin-careful Chelle. That's all I'mma say!" she continued to nearly chew Michelle's ear off; contradicting her statement automatically. Of course that wasn't all she was going to say. "...before he traps your ass..and you end up having his baby..then you're stuck with him........for life!" she let out a depressing sigh.
"So, I'm guessing you're mad at Terrell!" Michelle asked her.
"When is she NOT mad at Terrell?" Kelly finally spoke up and chuckled again.
"Hey 'scuse me!" Beyoncé held up her index finger; like what she was about to say was THAT important. Kelly focused on her with a questionable look. "Fuck you okay!?" B finished her sentence and Kelly shook her head.
"Y'all are terrible!" Michelle chuckled and turned on the television. The channel was already on lifetime; instead of changing she just decided to leave it there. Surprisingly, the room had grew quiet until the commercial break.
"Men aint shit!" Kelly fumed and B raised her glass as the plot of the movie stuck in their heads. It was the usual a cheating husband and a poor wife left with the kids.
"Y'all know what!?" Beyoncé held her cup up and swung it around gently before taking a sip; waiting for their full attention. "I've decided..I'm going to be celibate!" she stated in all seriousness.
After Shawn's little intervention; she had seriously contemplated it. Even though celibacy wasn't exactly the point that he was trying to get across to her, she believed it would put an end to a lot of her current problems. Shawn was right about everything, I'm too old to be playin around like this, she thought. Only God knows why it had taken her so long to come to the damn light.
Not knowing if she was serious or not Kelly and Michelle couldn't help but double over in laughter. "WHAT!?"
"I'm serious!" she glared at them while sitting up straight.
"what the hell B? shut up!" Kelly mumbled and gave a joyous sigh after the good laugh she had let out.
"Y'all are so fucked up! Here I am, trying to get my life together and y'all just gonna laugh at me!?" she stood up; resting her hands on her widened hips. "Some friends y'all are!"
"ooh she's serious!" Michelle eyed Kelly and they composed themselves to console their obviously confused friend. They weren't exactly laughing at her decision to be celibate. It was just the simple fact that it was coming out of her mouth of all people. It had to be a joke.
Feeling a faint dizziness, Beyoncé flopped down on the couch and laid her head back. She didn't know what she was thinking standing up so fast in her current condition. She never knew how to handle her liquor well and it was just a matter of time before she would be in the bathroom throwing up every single thing she had eaten in the past two days.
Brushing off the nonsense Beyoncé was talking about, the movie on Lifetime resumed and the three ladies focused their attention back to that; eventually falling asleep before it ended. Beyoncé and Kelly sprawled out on the L-shaped sofa hugging the wall and Michelle; curled up on the love seat.