You Can Trust Me (Keith Powers Story)

1

Graduation Day

Manhattan, NY

• June 2, 2013 •
• 6:25 am •

You're getting older, and you'll see that life isn't like your fairytales. The world is a cruel  place. And you'll learn that, even if it hurts.

__________

"Baby cmon, wake up!"

The deep and attractive voice yells at me. Why are his hands shaking me? Can't he see that I'm enjoying being in dream land?

"Venus. You gotta get up ma. We gon' be late!" He says with frustration in his voice as he shakes me harder. How rude can he be? I wouldn't dare take such precious peace away from him like he's attempting to do me at the moment. I heard him sigh before he started counting to ten. Uh oh.

"One...two...three...four..."

Okay okay I guess sleep isn't more important than getting beat up on my graduation day.

I groan and turn over so my face is visible. Opening my eyes, I almost cringe at the amount of sunlight illuminating my box sized bedroom. We've been together for two years and all of a sudden he's oblivious to the fact that my love for him and sleep are just inches apart. I slowly rub the sleep out of my eyes and manage to focus my eyes on him. Needless to say, Joshua is looking like a fine glass of wine. I mentally slap myself because like, who says that? I still can't give or think of normal compliments without sounding like a forty year old perve.

"What time is it?" I ask while stretching and yawning.

He laughs at me showcasing his pearly whites, looking down at his watch then focusing on me once again.

"It's 6:30 son, wake that ass up." I cut my eyes at him, immediately preparing to cuss him out. I open my mouth, ready for him to feel my rage. Before I could even get a breath out, he sits on my bed putting his big chocolate hand over my mouth. First of all, did he wash his damn hands?

"And before you open that big ass mouth talkin' bout how I shoulda let you sleep longer, just remember that the ceremony starts at 9:00. We all know how long you take to get ready and how long it takes to get downtown, especially with traffic. So might as well chill b." His exclaims while cutting his eyes at me now. We have a stare down for a good ten seconds before I sigh and give up. He's right, the annoying ass is right.

"Plus we gotta pick up Maria ugly looking ass." He makes a face like he's disgusted with the mere mention of her name.

I slap his arm while laughing hard as hell at the face he made. You see, their relationship isn't the best. They'll call each other every name in the damn book just like Martin and Pam. It's honestly hilarious and I'll never get tired of it. Maria's the sister I never had though. Believe me when I tell you that we've been through some shit, whether it was together or separately. She's been rocking hard with me since middle school and I wouldn't trade her little five feet ass for the world.

"Fine fine. How you even get in here nigga?"

"Momma let me in. She knew you'd take years to get up so she sent me to do the job." Damnit ma. His cheeky smile is irking my soul at the moment. Just knowing that he found joy in ruining my slumber is just cold.