Loyalty Lies (Volume One)

Chapter 4

As sure as this earth is turning souls burning/ in search of higher learning turning in every direction seeking direction" Regrets, Jay-Z 

Pulling up to the curb, Cherise was still on a roll. Throughout the ride home, as either of her friends tried to get a word in, wanting to share their experience, she would quickly shift the conversation back to her.

Now, she was over-talking a nervous Faye, going on and on about how she was "feeling Desmond", and "can't wait 'till next weekend."

"Okay, Cherise." Putting the car in park, Deja was exasperated. She wanted Faye to have a chance to be heard.

"No! Not 'Okay, Cherise.' More like, Okay Faye, damn...what are you trippin' for, anyway?" Karma interjected.

"Okay, Faye?" Faye asked in confusion.

Karma spoke again, "Faye, look. While you over here, stressin' and what not, you need to just chill. You ain't even do shit to be worried about!"

Karma, my dad's home!" Faye exclaimed, pointing out her father's maroon Oldsmobile in the driveway, "what am I supposed to say when I go inside?"

"Say what you always say, 'school was fine', or whatever." Karma, not having this concern, kept a nonchalant tone while shrugging her shoulders in disinterest.

Faye rolled her eyes, and looked to Deja for help.

Deja shrugged, "Faye, just-"

"Like I said," Karma rudely interrupted, "just say what you always say. Easy. How he gonna know that you wasn't at school anyway?"

"Or, what you were up to." Cherise added with a smirk.

"Cherise, stop, she wasn't up to anything." Deja warned.

"Right." Karma agreed, "I could see if she came in with a hickey...."

"Or walking funny...", Cherise followed up.

"Oh, like this one you mean?" Karma nodded in Deja's direction.

"You guys, I'm for real right now. And you're cracking jokes." Faye tried to bring the conversation back into focus. Looking at her father's car in the driveway, she couldn't help but be nervous. She knew her father was either in the den or sitting in the kitchen, and without question, he would ask about her day.

"And you're for real trippin' right now." Karma said reassuringly, "Just keep it cool, and you'll be straight. Walk up in there with the confidence and a belief that you really went to school. Play the role and keep it simple. Then bounce out, saying you got a grip a homework to do."

Cherise and Deja nodded in agreement to what Karma advised.

Faye took a deep breath, and began to undo her seatbelt. "Okay." She stepped out the car, and turned to lean back in. A big smile spread across her face, "I can't wait to do it again!"

Cherise matched her smile, feeling just as enthusiastic. "Don't trip, it's on this weekend."

Faye stepped inside the house and peeked into the kitchen. Her father was seated on a barstool, a newspaper spread before him. The Reverend Zechariah Anderson looked up, smiling at his daughter.