Struggling to Survive

Chapter 4

Nigel and I pulled up to Chick-fil-A and decided to eat inside since the drive thru was really long. We went up to place our order and found a seat.
"So Crys, you going to college?"
"Man I don't know. I want to but I don't know what I'd go far. I'm not good at nothing."
"What you mean? You're amazing at drawing and making music."
I chuckled "I don't make music. I make 20 second songs up in my head."
"Aii same thing"
The waitress came over with our food. As I was eating my chicken sandwich I saw that Stephanie had texted me.

-BESTIEEEEEE🤪💕 12:15
Girl wya I came to visit you during lunch and you not here?

Stephanie didn't come to school because she went to a college tour at Berry University.

-Me 12:16
I'm at Chick-fil-A with Nigel. He took me out for lunch.
-BESTIEEEEEE🤪💕
Mhmmmm just lunch🤔😏
-Me
Um yea what else would we be doing??
-BESTIEEEEEE🤪💕
Idk maybe ya could be bonding rn😉
-Me
Girl goodbye I'll see you after school 🤣

I put my phone down and began eating my food. When I looked up Nigel was staring at me with a smirk on his face.
"What?" I said with a mouthful of food and lettuce hanging out of my mouth.
"Nothing." He began to chuckle and continued eating his food. I went back on my phone and started checking social media. I felt two fries be thrown at me.
"What the hell Nigel?!"
"You're a terrible lunch date."
I began to laugh and put my phone down.
"You're right I'm sorry I'll stay off my phone. I guess we could talk about you. How come you never really talk to anyone in school?"
"Well no one has met my standards. At least no one I've met. I mean I just want someone who everyone else hasn't had a taste of. And girls don't like to go for the good guys these days so you know, that's another reason." He shrugged his shoulders and began sipping his lemonade.

The waitress came over to take our money for the bill. I began to take out my wallet and Nigel gave me a confused look.
"Put the wallet away. This is a lunch date which means I pay. Damn no one ever took you on a correct date before?" He gave the waitress his card and she walked away. I rolled my eyes

"Yes I've been on a 'correct date' I just like to pay for myself."
"Cute but I did all this to treat you today. So therefore next time you can pay okay?"
"Aii cool with me."
We went back in his car and the ride back to school was pretty quiet. Sometimes we'd begin to talk about school and other stuff but we weren't holding the conversation. I could tell he was still stressing about his parents but I know he doesn't wanna talk about it.

When we got back to school the rest of the day went by pretty quickly. As soon as the last bell rang I practically ran out of the school. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket so I checked it. I saw I had a message from Carter and Nigel.

-💔.... 3:03
Crystal avoid me all you want but we gotta talk eventually. I'm coming over tonight so we can talk. I promise I'm not gonna try nothing.

-Me 3:05
Aii
I then went over to text Nigel.

-Nigel✨❤️3:03
You wanna ride home or to Stephanie's?
-Me 3:07
Damn I get three rides in a day? You got laid or something🤣 cause you never this friendly
-Nigel✨❤️3:08
Hahaha yea whatever bro enjoy taking the bus.
-Me 3:09
I'm going to Stephanie's.
-Nigel✨❤️3:10
Nah you not.
-Me 3:11
Excuse me?
-Nigel✨❤️ 3:11
Trey is over there and we already know what they doing😂 so imma take you home.
-Me 3:12
Smdh she didn't even tell me they were talking again.

Nigel pulled up in front of me and I got in the car.
"So how was your day?"
"It was good. Thank you so much for the flowers and food today. How was yours?"
"Better after I left home." He gripped his hand on the wheel and stared straight at the road.
"You wanna come over? I mean I might need you cause Linda is working late and Carter is supposed to come over so we can talk. And we all know what ends up happening when we talk."
He gave me a look and shook his head.
"Yea I'll come over."
"You been shaking your head a lot lately. You know that?"
"Nah I ain't notice. I probably do that so I won't respond in a rude way."
"Nah I'd like to hear the rude response." I crossed my arms and turned towards him.
"Aii don't get mad." I nodded my head.
"I don't understand how you saying how you not gonna take him back but you saying how you need me there to basically make sure ya don't sleep together. Shit is wild to me. Sounds like you don't have as much self control as you made it seem."
I stared at him for a minute before rolling my eyes. I went in my phone and the rest of the car ride was silent.

When we pulled up to my house, Nigel sat on my couch while I went up to my room. I threw on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt and tied my hair up in a messy bun. I went back downstairs with a big black throw blanket. I went in the kitchen and grabbed some chips and queso sauce. I went back in the living room with Nigel.
"Move over." He gave me a confused look and moved over.
"What ya doing?"
"Carter isn't supposed to be here until like 8 cause he gotta work and it's only 3:30 so we about to watch some Netflix. Take off your shoes. "
He took off his shoes while I picked out a movie. I don't remember falling asleep but when I woke up my head was in Nigel's nap while he was knocked out with his head leaning back. I checked my phone and saw it was only 7:23.

I got up quietly and went to use the bathroom and take a shower. When I came back downstairs Nigel was still sleep so I decided to wake him up since Carter was coming over soon.
"Nig wake up." He didn't move.
"Nigelllllllll wake uppppppp." I pushed him. He still didn't wake up. I went and got a cup of water from out the fridge and dumped it on his face.
"BRO WHAT THE FUCK?!" He jumped up wiping his face. I began to laugh.
"I needed you to wake up." He gave me a devilish look.
"Oh okay you find that funny. I got you." He threw me over his shoulder and carried me up the stairs. He body slammed me on to my bed. He then began to playfully punch me and put me in a headlock.
"Yea shit still funny huh?" I began laughing trying to break out of his grip.
"Aii stoppppp. I'm done. You winnnnn." He let go of me and laid on my bed. I sat up and just stared at him.
"Aii what's up with you Crys cause you been staring at me a lot lately. Like I know I'm cute but damn." I threw a pillow at him and he threw it on the floor.
"Obviously I like to stare. "
"Mhm staring gonna get you in trouble one day."
"And how is that?" I smirked at him and leaned closer.
"Crys chill bro. We not about to being nothing. Cause if we start something it's not ending."
"Issa joke. I'm not tryna sleep with you so relax yourself." We heard the doorbell ring and Nigel sat up.
"You want me to get it?"
"Nah but you can come downstairs with me."
I peeked out the window and saw that it was Carter. I took a deep breath before opening the door.
"How you gonna have your new nigga with you when we talking?" Carter pushed passed me and Nigel and went to sit on my couch.
"Aii what we about to talk about?"
"I just came to apologize. I wanted to be the first one to tell you this before anyone had the chance." I could tell he was genuine and serious. I quickly became concerned.
"Carter what happened?" He looked like he was on the verge of tears so Nigel left the room. Once Nigel left he broke down.
"Man you were such an amazing girlfriend bro. All I did was cheat and take advantage of you. And now I'm sitting here trying to ruin your chances of happiness cause I'm selfish. And the crazy thing is you don't even know all the dirt I did to you. " He rubbed his hands over his face.

"Carter what else could you have done to me?"
"Crystal I got someone pregnant while we were together. And you need to get tested." I moved away from him and began pacing the room.
"Get tested for what Carter?!" He looked down and shook is head.
"HIV."