That's South Side

Chapter 13

"What?" Alinea asked, as her heart broke in a million pieces.

The usually happy and sweet guy she'd come to really like was looking at her with an expression she'd never seen on him before

"Just," He sighed, trying to stay calm, "Tell me."

"What do you mean by thing?" She questioned, suddenly feeling her heat race.

"Dammit, Alinea." He shook his head, putting his head in his hands, "Did you and Jimmy ever sleep together?" He finally got out, as he looked up at her with hurt clearly in his eyes, "How's he know about your tattoo?"

"Um," She breathed, "Well sorta." She frowned.

"You're serious?" He asked, as anger clouded his face again.

"Taj, just listen." She insisted, as he stood up, "It was stupid mistake."

"I can't believe this." He shrugged, walking to the door.

"T, please!" Alinea begged, "Just let me explain!" She pleaded, "It was before us, it didn't mean anything to me."

"I don't care when it happened." He shook his head, "Alinea, you lied to me." He shrugged.

"I'm so sorry." She apologized, tears wallowing up in her eyes, "Please, T."

"We need a break." He admitted, walking closer to the exit.

"Taj, please, if you just let me explain, it-" She began.

"No." He shrugged, taking a deep breath to try and keep himself calm, "You're not who I thought you were."

And with that he was out the door.

----------

"Really man?" Dwyane asked, from his spot-on Jimmy's couch.

"I'm serious!" Jimmy defended, the story he had just finished telling his friend as suddenly there was loud knocking on the door, "Who the hell is that?" Jimmy groaned, getting up.

"Well you get that, I'm goin pee." Wade laughed, as Jimmy shook his head as the knocking on the door persisted.

"My god." Jimmy whispered, as he swung the door open to reveal a fuming looking Alinea, "Alinea, what are-"

"What the hell is wrong with you?" She exclaimed, pushing her hands into his chest, forcing her way inside.

"Okay, okay just calm down." Jimmy tried, "What's goin on?"

"No," She fumed, "You calm down." She shook her head, as angry tears began forming in her eyes again.

"What?" Jimmy asked, with his back against the door, Alinea now in front of him.

"How could you?" She questioned, sadness running through her voice.

"What are you talking about?"

"Taj," She sniffled, as Jimmy's face fell. "You said you knew about my tattoo?" She crossed her arms.

"It slipped!" He defended, "I'm serious, it was a mistake. Look, Alinea, I'm sorry okay? I'll talk to him, I'll fix it-"

"He doesn't wanna talk to me, he broke up with me." She revealed, "He knows we slept together, he doesn't want anything to do with me now."

"Fuck." Jimmy breathed, "I'm so sorry. It just came out, I didn't mean for it to, I-"

"So, what?" She asked with tears starting to slip, "You just hate me that much?" She wondered, as Jimmy's heart fell, "You hate me that much, you can't just let me be happy?"

"No! Look, Alinea..." Jimmy trailed off, putting his hands on her shoulder – trying to think of what to say.

Alinea wasn't listening anymore as emotions clouded her mind, she brought her small fists into his chest as he tried to block her to calm her down. Suddenly, she felt another strong pair of arms pull her off and away from Jimmy.

"Alinea!" Dwyane pulled her off, gently holding her back, "What the hell is going on?"

"I am so sorry." Jimmy repeated, as her anger faded and hurt creeped into her eyes again, "What can I do? What do you want me to do?" He asked, frantically.

"You know what?" She sighed, pulling away from Dwyane as tears rolled down her face, "Just leave me alone." She managed to get out.

"Alinea, c'mon." Jimmy insisted, as she opened the door, "Don't be like that."

"I'm such an idiot," Alinea realized, with one foot outside, as she turned around towards him for a second, "I can't believe I thought you might be different." She shook her head, "You're exactly who I thought you were." She concluded, slamming the door behind her as Jimmy just let out a deep breath, putting his head in his hands.

"Fuck." He let out.

"Is someone gonna tell me what's goin on here?"