Quentin's Way

Chapter 20

            Following a handful of December bowl games, the football season ended and I honestly couldn't have been happier about it because I'd have free time for other things. I survived my first semester of college, made dean's list; and most of all, I'd gotten Demi back. I entered the new year with a kiss from him in his bedroom while we were cuddled up together under the covers. It was almost as if holding out on the sex was enhancing our connection. By the time we began classes for the spring semester following the winter break, I felt like nothing could stop us.

            "Man, where do you be every day?" Orlando asked me while I was getting ready for my first class that morning.

            "I be around," I told him. "I'm involved in a lot now that the football season is over."

            "A lot like what?"

            I laughed and said, "None of yo business, nigga."

            "Probably some bitch you don't want anybody to know about because she probably fine as fuck."

            "Yeah, you can say that."

            "Is she the one who has you dressin' up and shit lately? Whatever happened to goin' to class with sweatpants and a hoodie on? You got on some slim fitted jeans, a flannel shirt and a coat? What the fuck is that anyway, one hundred percent goat skin or some shit?"

            I laughed out loud as I asked, "Nigga, you got jokes? Sit over there in your boxers so you can jackoff once I leave."

            "You damn right. As soon as you leave, I'm gonna get on my laptop and find some good shit to beat my meat to. I don't have a class until noon, my nigga."

            I shook my head as I grabbed my backpack and told him, "Just make sure you keep that nasty shit away from my bed. I don't want no nigga's special sauce on my bed but my own."

            "Sometimes I can't control it, bruh. I can shoot far."

            "Ugh, nigga. That's too much info." I made sure I had my keys and phone before I told him, "I'll catch up with you later."

            "Okay, bro."

            I left our dorm room and headed towards the stairwell. As I took the stairs down to the ground level, I thought about how different it was sharing a room with somebody I not only got along with but also wasn't sexually involved with. I regretted the situation I had going with Reggie but I was grateful to have another shot at being just a dormmate with Orlando. When I made it outside to see Jacen talking with some dude from the basketball team, I was quickly reminded of another mistake I'd made the previous semester.

            "Yo Q, hold up," he called out after I passed him and the basketball player. He ran and caught up with me and walked alongside me as we got further away from Kingdom Hall. "What you been up to, bruh?"

            "Same old, same old," I told him. "What about you?"

            "Nothin' much. Shit is hella borin' now that the season is over and we didn't make it to the championship. I am glad we don't have practice every day anymore."

            "You can say that again."

            "So, where's your first class?"

            "The business school building. It's a finance literacy class."

            "Damn, I'm in the other direction. I got an English class." He shoved his hands in his pockets as he told me, "Maybe we can kick it sometime, man."