The Taylors

Chapter Forty

The college atmosphere was absolutely electrifying. The group arrived on campus around 8:30am, casually dressed for the autumn weather and ready to start the tour. There were bodies crowding the campus around them, paying the high schoolers no mind as they marched to their destinations.
Migo walked behind the pack a couple steps as he held his phone up to his ear.
"My fault, I know I was suppose to call you back last night. My ass knocked out as soon as I hit the sheets." He explained to Gia. She sighed deeply on the other line.
"Sure Migo. I've heard better lies from my own child."
"Gia, I don't need to lie to you. And I told you bout all that insecure shit. Chill."
"So, when am I gonna see you again? There's a few things I wanted to discuss."
"Like what?"
"Like things about us. What is this Migo? We've been talking a while now and instead of treating me like your girl, you treat me like a.. like a hoe."
Migo exhaled. This conversation with Gia was becoming repetitive. He liked the girl, sure. The pussy was good, sure. But sometimes he could do without all the nagging and complaining.
"Do you miss me?" She asked.
"I do." Migo replied.
Kaia had turned briefly to gaze at him and they locked eyes. Migo could tell she was wondering who was on the other line of his phone call. He kinda chuckled when she faced forward again, walking beside O'Shea near the university center where they had planned to meet with Bryce McCoy.
"Look, mama, I gotta do but I promise I'll hit you tonight. Alright?"
"Sure, Migo." She replied before ending the call. He felt bad for not paying her much attention but there had been another curly headed female consuming his brain.
"Trouble with the misses?" Asked Kaia who had paused briefly to let Migo catch up to her.
"Uhhh..no misses but yeah. She'll be alright."
"Hmm. As many smoke sessions as we've had, I thought you would've told me about this..Gia. That's her name, right?" Kai had ear hustled his entire conversation.
"Ain't much to tell. We talk. She cool." He shrugged, replying in a nonchalant tone. Kaia smiled knowingly then decided to let it go. Migo then subtly reached out to grab her wrist gently.
"Say, did you tell your brother we be getting high?" He asked in a whisper.
"No, Migo, I didn't. And you ain't gotta warn me, I already know." Kai kinda rolled her eyes.
"I mean.. we just got cool again after the whole Savage situation so-"
"Don't worry. We're good."
The two shared a quick nod of assurance. Kaia looked around quickly before putting her mouth close to his ear. "By the way, I know you probably brought some with you. Let's have a quick session when we get back to the hotel." She suggested.
"Mama, you wildin'." He cackled. "I wasn't finna carry that shit through the airport."
"Then what now? All these students on campus, I'm sure there's a plug around here somewhere.."
"Uhhh..." Migo scratched his head, looking around at the passing students. There were more white preppy faces than any other color. Migo felt somewhat uncomfortable in the college atmosphere, especially amoungst the filthy rich and fortunate. He knew that even the smartest and wealthiest individuals at Auburn most likely indulged in drugs just as the dumb and poor. But he wasn't gonna go around asking for it.

"Well, we're here. Where's your boy Bryce?" Asked O'Shea.
The group stood on the concrete steps of the university center, looking around aimlessly. Many bodies passed them back and forth but there was no Bryce McCoy.
Khalil exhaled deeply and shook his head. "Let's just give him a second, fam. He's coming." Khalil wanted to believe his own words. After standing there a good 20 minutes,  he had started to lose hope. Migo was standing beside Khalil now. He had noticed the slight concern and hesitation he had towards Bryce last night. Now there was nothing but disappointment.
"Fuck him, bro. Knew he was a snake when we met him." Migo said low key, folding his arms. He shared a look with his boy but nothing was said.
"Soooo.. what now?" Asked Kaia with a shrug. The group exchanged looks in silence.
"Say is that 'Shea? O'Shea Washington?"
Hearing someone call her name behind her, O'Shea did a 360 to find an extremely handsome young man, tall with broad shoulders, brown skin, and black thick framed glasses like Malcom X.
There was a light skin guy with a polo sweater and book in his hand standing behind him.
O'Shea was squinting her eyes looking at him, feeling for some type of recognition. Something about him was familiar but she couldn't place it.
"It's me, Noah." He said, holding out his arms. It finally hit O'Shea. "Oh shit, look at you!"
They embraced tightly, Noah even picked her up off her feet with a slight spin.
"Nah, look at you, man." He grinned and admired her sexy frame. O'Shea had bawdy, hips and ass. He was subconsciously licking his lips.
"Oh my god. You go to school here?"
"I do." He stated proudly. "I'm in my junior year. This is my home boy Clay. Clay this is O'Shea. I use to go to her pop's church back in Texas."
"Nice to meet you." said Clay, shaking her hand.
"Who's your friends?" Noah pointed to the quizzical looking group standing behind her.
"That's Khalil, his sister Kaia, Ali and Migo. Just came to see wash poppin' at this big ass school." She replied casually.
"Damn, you bout to graduate. I feel old as fuck."
They laughed.
"You're only, what, four years older than me?"
"Around that, yeah. Why y'all standing around like some lost puppies?"
"Waiting for you to show us around." O'Shea boldly interlocked her arm with his and waited for him to lead the way.
"Uhhh.. sure. Why not?" Noah shrugged with a shy smile.
Following behind Clay and their new tour guide, the group spent close to two hours walking every square inch of Auburn University. From the technology department to the communications building, recreation center and of course the grand football stadium. They spent time getting to know each other as well as the campus. Noah and Clay seemed to be genuinely cool people.