Loyalty Lies (Volume One)

Chapter 5

"Don't be a fool like those that don't go to school/ Get ahead... and accomplish things/ You'll see the wonder and the joy life brings"

Hey Young World, Slick Rick

"Here we go, as usual, waiting on slow ass Cherise." Deja commented as the three friends waited in the driveway, the beginning of another school day at hand.

Faye was oblivious to the long wait, as she filled in her friends of the phone conversation with Sudain the night before.

"What up, my nigs!" Cherise called out, clearly in a good mood as she entered the car, "Got good news!"

Faye bit first. "What? We're going back to Des's house?"

That surprised them all. Faye suggesting the ditch?

Cherise shook her head, "Not today. Unless you set something up." At Faye's shaking her head in the negative, Cherise continued, "So, you know my parents are gone, as usual. And Ronnie's gonna be at his boys this weekend, I'ma have the house to myself. We should do something."

"I'm down!" Faye eagerly agreed, glad that she would have a few days to work on getting her parents to be down, also.

"You know I'm for it." Karma added.

"Mos def, and I was thinking we need to go shopping. Get some fits for the Barbeque, anyway."

Faye frowned, "Deja, you know I don't have money for that."

"Did she say anything about money?" Karma asked. Faye shook her head no. "Exactly, she wouldn't bring it up if she wasn't on deck."

"Well... no, I'm okay. I don't want to get caught up in anything", Faye responded in a wary tone, but there was also some haughtiness to it. Not knowing the how 's and the extent of all her friends' activities, she only had an idea that some of them had illicit undertones.

"Damn, Faye. You should know me better that that." Deja was hurt, deeply affected by her friend's apprehension. "Like I would ever have you around anything to get caught up in."

"Likewise," Karma was also bothered by Faye's assumptions. They should have been better than that.

The conversation dropped, as a hush fell over the car. Without any music, the silence felt louder than it really was.

"So, Deja, what are you doing tonight?" Karma asked.

"Shit, why?"

Karma nonchalantly shrugged. "No reason." They both knew the reason, and also knew that around Faye, some reasons were best left discussed at another time.

Making it to school a few minutes before the warning bell rang, the girls had some extra time to socialize, when a forest green old school Cadillac pulled up alongside Deja's car. The girls were in the process of stepping out when the driver spoke.

It was Terrell, "How ya'll ladies doin?"

Deja rolled her eyes, still feeling a bit salty towards him, and still fighting off her attraction. Nonetheless, she kept it cool. "Hey", she responded uninterested.

"You steppin' in right quick?", his smile was still as charming as ever. Despite herself, Deja noticed his fresh cut and his even light brown complexion. As well as the hopeful look in his hazel eyes.