Just As I Am

Chapter 24

Isaiah

Picture of Tamia and Tremaine Jr.

“Zay, man, what you showing your teeth for?” Tim laughed as he came to sit next to me on the bench. He’d just finished playing a game of 21 with Marc, and I’d been thinking about Jasmine. What can I say? The thought of her just made me smile.

“I’m still kind of mad at you about hookin up with my future ex-wife. How you gone do me like that, Zay? I thought you were my boy.” Marc said, shaking his head. I actually had to laugh at that one.

“All is fair in love and war.” I replied with a huge smile.

“Aww, he’s in love! Lookin ass!” Marc laughed.

“You’ll feel differently when it’s you.” I said. I didn’t deny the fact that I was in love, because it would have been a lie. I was so very much in love with Jasmine and I didn’t care who knew it!

“I’m too player to fall in love.” Marc smirked.

“Naw, you too lame to get a girl.” Tim joked, causing me to laugh out loud.

“Whatever man! Girls step to me all the time!” Marc said defensively.

“That’s because you can sing, not because you got game.” Tim replied.

“You need to stop with the hate crimes, T. The ladies love Marcus!”

“The one thing we can all agree on is that the girls that approach you are far from ladies.” I said.

“Church!” Tim shouted.

“Okay, I can give you that one, Zay. But the point is I get girls!” He smiled.

Tim shook his head and I just laughed. Marcus was tripping, because as far as I was concerned, there was nothing like being in love. It just felt so good loving somebody when you knew they loved you back! Jazzy was my girl and one of my very best friends; what more could I have asked for? Things didn’t seem to change at all, but they had. We still did all the same things, but now I didn’t have to hide the way I felt. I could kiss her lovely lips and look into those gorgeous brown eyes all I wanted. Even holding her hand was more than it had been. She was just amazing!”

“There you go again! What did Jasmine do to you?” Tim asked.

“I can imagine.” Marcus commented. My face must’ve shown him what I was thinking because he quickly put his hands up. “Just playing. Don’t pop a vein!” He laughed.

“Whatever, man. I’m about to go see my girl, so I’ll holla at y’all later. By the way, what are you singing for the next part of the competition?” I asked.

“I really don’t know.” Marc answered seriously. “Any suggestions?”

“You haven’t picked a song yet? You do realize its Wednesday and the show is Saturday, right?” Tim yelled. Apparently he was taking this more seriously than Marcus was.

“Yes, Timothy, I do know that! And reminding me is not helping me pick a song! It would be different if I could perform on of my own songs, but I can’t.”

“I’ll try to think of something for you. We can go to the studio later to work on it, if you want.” I offered as I got up to leave.

“What? And miss a chance to spend more time with your girl?” Tim teased.

“I’ll catch y’all later.” I laughed as I went to my truck.

I had to go home and shower before meeting up with Jazzy and I also needed to get something to eat. I was about to starve to death! I quickly drove home and hopped in the shower. I called my lady after I got dressed to see if she wanted me to bring her something to eat, and she told me if I could wait until I got there, she’d fix something for me. I loved the idea because now there was nothing in the way of seeing her. After we hung up, I sprayed on a little cologne, checked my reflection in the mirror, and walked out the door.