The Come Up

Chapter 56-Petty

Trisha drops her bags at the entrance of the door, her mouth wide open, her eyes roaming the new and well polished, not to mention decorated house. 

"Ho-ly-shit." She finally says. 

I laugh and pick her bags up from the door then wiggle out of my shoes to take them to the guest room. 

"It's gorgeous Chan! I'm in love." She says taking a tour of her own. I hear her footsteps walk into the living room, then I hear them cross back to the kitchen and backyard. 

I drop her things in the lavender colored guest room with dim lights and calm lavender sheets that smell like they just got taken out of the laundry, and they did. 

"Come upstairs!" I yell. 

She does as told, following my voice. 

"Girl you ain't tell me you have a pool." She squeaks. 

"Yea, we can go swimming tomorrow." I say.  I still haven't been in the pool myself, and it's been weeks. It just looks so pretty and calm. 

She glances at the room and flops down onto the soft bed, head first. 

"Ughhhh." She moans. 

I laugh watching her. 

"Girl, I might never leave." Trish says honestly. 

"Good, move in with me." I say jokingly. She laughs but my laugh has fled. My face is serious. My eyes are sure. I look at her and confused by the silence she looks up at me. 

"I'm serious." I say. "Move in." I repeat firm but pleading. 

"Girl, you know I want to but I can't do that. I still have stuff left at home that I have to sort out, I still gotta finish school, Carmine is still in the house by himself. He's gettin old, I can't leave him up on the block by himself." The words escape her mouth slow as her eyes stare off into the space. She thought about everything I didn't. But it still didn't put things into perspective for me. 

"I'll bring Carmine here, and get him a small apartment a few minutes away. You can apply to a fashion school here. Trisha, please. I need my best friend, I hate having you so far away from me." I say leaning my back against the wall. I fold my arms and bring them up to my chest. 

She looks stiff. Trisha stands up seeming to be deep in thought. After a few moments she shakes her head. 

"I would love to Chan but that's not how this all works. I can't run off to Hollywood with you, I'm not the one making all this money. I'll be there when you need me and I'll fly back when you miss me too bad, but I gotta live my own life too. A life you pushed me to go for and now I'm focused on it. I want to finish and make you proud." She stands in front of me and she talks low, looking right into my eyes. 

"I'm already proud." I say defensive. 

"Prouder." She corrects. 

"We will talk about it later." I say fanning it off. 

"No we won't cause I gave you an answer." Trisha says firmly and annoyed now. 

I don't want to fight about it. I let it go. 

I pull her hand all the way to my room and open the door. 

The smell of my honey candle greets us as the door opens into a warm and cozy room with the tapestry of the strong black woman staring back at us. Trisha loves it so much, all I hear is a loud gasp. 

"I think this is my favorite room in the entire house." She squeals. 

"You can have it if you move in wi-"