The Only Exception

22

Jo

A knock at my office door caused me to look up as it opened. Letoya's sister walked in causing me to smile. "Hey Essence, what's up?"

"Letoya's not here?" She asked in confusion.

I shook my head. "No. I'm all caught up today. Works light, plus she told me she had a test to study for."

"She told me she had to come to work today because you called her in." Essence mumbled.

We both looked at each other in confusion before we mumbled. "Kelly."

Essence rolled her eyes. "I can't stand that damn bitch. Why Letoya had to lie? Lying ass."

I chuckled even though I felt some type of way as well. "I'm pretty sure she has her reasons."

"Nah, she know I woulda snapped on her for going talk to ole crazy. I don't like that girl. Something off."

"Something like what?"

"I don't know just yet... but I'm gone figure it out." She commented as she studied my office. "That's the biggest damn diploma I've seen in my life."

I turned and looked back before speaking. "Oh that's my masters. I was surprised it was that big too." Before Essence could reply, my door swung open causing us to face it quickly. My friend stood there causing my smile to widen. "Shawnette Heard!"

"Janet Jackson!" She yelled back as I stood and went over and embraced her. We rocked for a second before letting go. "I missed you girly."

"I missed you too. And stop calling me by my government." I replied as I turned to Essence. "Shawn this is Essence. Essence this is my best friend Shawnette."

Essence smiled as they shook hands. "Hi, it's nice to meet you."

"You as well, is this her?" Shawn asked me. 

I shook my head. "Oh no, this is her sister though. Letoya's..."

Since I trailed, Essence finished it for me. "Letoya's out doing something she don't have no business doing but I texted her and told her to get her ass here."

"Well, she's on her way apparently." I replied.

"You helping her or something?" Essence asked Shawn.

Shawn nodded. "Yeah, J told me she need some help with her science course and I majored in Biology. I'm actually a clinical lab scientist at the hospital back where I stay."

"Oh for real, that's dope." Essence nodded. "How long have you and Jo been best friends?"

"College." Essence replied. "We were roommates. A Bio and Business Major duo is some people you don't want to argue with together."

We laughed as I agreed. "True. Yeah, so at first we didn't get along, but finally we became close and now this is my best friend other than Gil of course."

"How is Gilly? Still partying and gay?" Shawn asked me.

I nodded. "You know he is. He got himself a office position at some business, but that doesn't stop his turn up."

Shawn shook her head. "If school didn't stop it, work won't either."

The door to my office opened and Letoya stepped in causing everyone to get quiet. Essence and I looked at each other before Essence spoke to her. "Where you been?"

Letoya opened her mouth and nothing came out. She blinked a couple of times before mumbling. "Jo sent me on a run, didn't you Jo?"

I shot her a look. "She's been here too long to lie. You should have texted me the lie before you lied so we could lie together. I can't help you on this one."

She took a deep breath. "Shit. Okay fine, I was with Kelly."

Why did she keep communicating with this bitch? It was a true piss off. Kelly didn't want nothing from Letoya that Letoya could give. It would stay like that for as long as I was around and I didn't plan on going anywhere anytime soon.

"Oh we knew that. What you and ya bestie discuss?" Essence asked pettily.

Toya sighed. "Don't do that E, she just wanted to meet up and squash the beef. So we did, she told me she was happy for me but she couldn't live with knowing I couldn't be hers. So she's moving out the dorm and into another one."

Tuh. She didn't have to go to lunch to come to that decision, she could have very well texted that to Letoya. Something about that woman made me feel weird, and I would be getting to the bottom of it. Soon.

"Okay can someone say something?" Everyone still stayed quiet, especially me for I was still in my head. "Jo?" She called to me.

I snapped out of my thoughts as I changed topics. "Shawnette this is Letoya. Letoya this is the friend that I told you was good in science."

Shawn smiled at her. "Hi, it's nice to meet you, Letoya. I've heard a lot about you."

"Good things I hope, and it's nice to meet you as well." They shook hands briefly. "Thank you for coming to help me."

"Ah, only the best from my dear friend Jo. Now, what science are you taking?" She asked her.

"Anatomy and Physiology 2." Letoya replied.

"Oh girl, that was a breeze for me. I tell you what, we can start studying tonight. I'm staying at Jo's house if you wanna do it there."

Toya nodded as I walked around my desk and began organizing the papers on them. "Yeah that'll work. That's cool Jo?"

I shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

To say I wasn't feeling some type of way about her going see Kelly would be a bold face lie. I didn't feel comfortable knowing that she was around that woman. Kelly seemed to be obsessive, and I would hate to have to show another side of me in order to make her realize that Letoya was mines. Nobody else's. I wasn't equip to share her, and even if I was equip, I wouldn't. Letoya was not the shareable type and I was always selfish with what was mines. Been like that since a child. Nothing changed then and nothing changes it now.

"Jo!" Voices yelled causing me to snap out of my thoughts again and look up.

Letoya looked at me in concern. "You okay?"

I nodded as I lied through my teeth. "Yeah. I'm fine."