August's Empathy

You Can't Sit With Us

AUGUST'S EMPATHY

Camry tapped her pen against her notepad. The instructor looked back at her, then the students turned towards her. She continued to tap the pen, speeding up her pace. A wrinkly hand landed on the pen. She looked up at the elderly woman, who politely told her to stop. She, embarrassed, sat her pen down.

After class, she exited the room while calling August. Every moment she was calling him to check in on him. She missed him, plus she had to make sure that he wasn't around Monique. After the little talk they had, Camry found herself watching Monique closer.

The girl cooked, clean, and kept to herself. She never spoke to Camry unless it was an inquiry. Camry just couldn't bring herself to like her. She was unsure if it was because August showed favoritism when it came to them, or the fact that she was so close to August. Camry just felt threatened and August should have never made her feel that way.

She drove home in silence. Jay had not spoke to her since their time at the restaurant. She was vacationing in the Bahamas with her new man. That left Camry without anyone to complain to. Any time she opened her mouth to her boyfriend, he would leave out claiming that it was business.

August met Camry at the door as she walked in. She gave him a kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Who's home?"

"Nobody. Debarge and Mo went to get something to wear for the club tonight." August replied with a knowing look. Camry pushed the mention of the club to the back of her head. She wrapped her legs around him as he lead her over to the sofa. She giggled once he began gently biting on her neck.

Monique trailed behind Debarge as he argued with someone over the phone. "What you mean it was late notice? I have other shit planned and you just pop up here! That was different. I had just got home. We can meet up tomorrow morning or something because I'm busy tonight. I'm going out. Bye."

"Who was that?" Monique inquired as she bit into her pretzel, the cheesy deliciousness exploding in her mouth.

Debarge answered, "My girl, man. She tripping talkin' 'bout she in my city. I don't like surprises."

"You was a li'l mean. She was just trying to be sweet and pull up on her man. You must feel guilty if she can't come into your city. So, tell me, what's this side chick of yours going to act like?"

Debarge closed the door as he hopped into his truck. "There ain't no one else. I'm just not into her-" Monique was giving him a questioning look. He wasn't fooling her. They grew up together.

"All right, she gon' act a monkey if she find out that I got a girl. She's cool and all but she thinks that I'm single and ready to commit. The only things is I already hit so you know she feeling like we're headed somewhere. My real girl doesn't even suspect that I got somebody on the side. I invited the side piece out tonight because nobody really knows me down here."

"Go with the main. The other chick been waiting on you to commit how long? She can wait to be seen in public with you."

"You know a lot to be a main," Debarge replied, smiling. Monique jokingly hit his arm before shaking her head. Play was the first person that she had even been a side piece to. Technically, she wasn't even his side piece because she had no feelings for him. And then, they were just messing around with no strings attached. Monique rolled her eyes after realizing how dumb she sounded, trying to justify it. She was the side piece and that was it.

"Speaking of mains, you feeling Camry or what?"

"Definitely not feeling her cold shoulder towards me. She doesn't say much to me about anything. I thought that maybe we could bond on some woman-to-woman type stuff. She turned out to be different but, hey, that's first lady so I respect her. August like it, I love it."

Debarge nodded his head. "I feel you. At least you're being mature about the situation. Different topic, why haven't we met or even seen you with your ole' dude?"

"Because it's complicated. Right now, we're off so I'm ready to meet new people." Monique confessed, while glancing at Debarge. She was sure he had taken her lie in.

There really wasn't a reason for her to lie. She just told August the white lie to refrain being asked why she was single, then she guessed he forgot to tell Debarge about her secrets. She wasn't ready to tell anyone else just yet but she was definitely going to tell him soon. Debarge and her were just as close as August and her.

Tremane rubbed his arm while looking at the plain city. He wasn't familiar with the environment. He wanted to badly return back to New Orleans. Something deep down just told him that she was there. Bianca insisted on him staying until she could find out about Clarissa's case.

While unpacking, Bianca looked over at her brother. "You know, there's a lot to do up here. All you have to do is use cash."

"I know," he replied, "But I'm going to stay inside and just chill. This city is different. I don't want to run into anything."

"Fine, you can sit inside and sulk. I'm going to see if there's a bar nearby. D is missing out on all of this. I'm going to meet me a Georgia man." Bianca zipped her jacket up, then grabbed her wallet.

The hotel was decorated in Thanksgiving decorations. She sighed heavily while walking. It would be her first Thanksgiving that she didn't get to spend with her sister. The cold air whipped around her face, causing her hair to hit her in the face. She began to walk down the sidewalk, noticing that a lot of people weren't out. Tremane was right about Atlanta being different.

She looked around her at the cars parked near the curb. Sighing, she pulled out her phone then dialed Debarge's number. It rang on and on as she proceeded to walk, her boots coming in contact with the concrete.

"Oo, look at Miss Monique," Debarge chanted, laughing as Monique smiled at him. August laughed whilst handing her-her first shot to start the night. Camry came to his side then showcased her shot glass with a weak smile.

Debarge put his up. "This to the three amigos, and to Camry."

Camry forced a smile before tilting her shot glass back. August looked down at her with a smile on his face. She sat her glass down then looked at Monique. Deciding to be nice, she said, "What about a picture? We both look nice."

Monique nodded in approval. Camry stood, awkwardly, beside Monique who was posing. They looked at the camera together as Debarge took the picture of them. He passed Camry her phone then they began to get ready to go.

"So, Monique, I hear you taken. Is your man meeting us there? We would like to meet him." Camry smiled.

Monique rolled her eyes playfully, noticing her humorous tone. "Nope, my two men are right here with us. I don't need the company of anyone else."

Debarge noticed the tension rising, but August was oblivious to it, driving along the road. Debarge spoke, "Let's listen to some music or somethin'."

"Or August could be a sweetheart and sing for us?" Monique added, a smirk on her face.

Camry looked over at him. "You sing? How come I never knew?"

"It's just somethin' I do. Monique, why don't you rap for us?" Debarge and August began to laugh. But Camry felt so uncomfortable, starting from the shots to the car ride. It was obvious there was only room for the three amigos.