The First

.16.

The next morning I woke up and got ready for school. 

Jamal met me outside and we walked to school. 

"So baby, theres a spring fling dance. I was wondering if you'd like to go as my date." He asked as we walked.

"Of course babe." I said while kissing his cheek. 

Latrelle was leaving his house as I kissed Jamal. 

I expected him to say something but he just looked away from us with a look of sadness.

Once Jamal and I got far enough Jamal kissed my hand before holding it. .

"I guess Latrelle's feeling guilty for what he did." Jamal said. 

"I guess so" i quietly replied. 

Last night replayed in my mind. Everything from Latrelle taking his shirt off, down to the kiss. 

I think I was crushing on him. 

Once we got to school and finished our day, Jamal walked me home and kissed me good bye. 

After doing homework and eating with mama, she left to work and I took a shower. 

As soon as I got out the shower I heard the door bell ring.

I peeped outside and saw Latrelle.

I let him inside and noticed he had a cut above his eye to match his black eye and a busted lip.

"What happened to you?" I asked. 

"Nothing. I just need a safe place to kick it." He softly said while he avoided looking at me.

"Look at me" I said while turning his face.

"Geeze latrelle. Come here let me clean you up" I said.

I grabbed his hand and brought him to the bathroom. 

He sat on the toilet seat and I took a wet towel and cleaned the blood from his face.

After cleaning his face with water and alcohol I took out my first aid kit and cut a small butterfly stitch and covered his cut with it. 

While applying it, latrelle looked up at me.

"Thank you Tasha." He said. 

"Sure, no problem. You're all cleaned up. What happened though?" I asked. 

"Nothing. Don't worry about it" he answered. 

"Fine by me" I replied while walking away. 

Latrelle followed me and we sat in my room. 

"So you still with ya boy Jamal" latrelle asked

"Yeah. I love that boy" I said with a smile.

Just the thought of Jamal made me happy. 

"Oh… That's nice" latrelle mumbled. 

"How about you? Anyone special in your life?" I asked while turning the tv on. 

"Na. Well I mean there is this one shorty. She's fine as fuck and I think I odeeee have a crush on her. But it'll never work. We fuck with two different types of people. And she already with one of my boys" latrelle replied.

"Aw I'm sorry. I know the feeling. But maybe you should let her know how you feel. You never know. Maybe she's feeling you too" I answered. 

I noticed latrelle stop and look at me for a while. 

"What you lookin at" i giggled. 

"Nothin," he said while looking at the TV.

"Yeah, right. You hungry?" I asked.

He shook his head yes.

I went to the kitchen and served him some dinner from earlier. Mama made mac & cheese with baked chicken.

"Soda, juice, water?" I asked.

"Waters good" he replied.

I bought him his plate and a water bottle.

"Damn this looks good. I ain't had home cooking in mad long" latrelle said.

After he ate, I cleaned up the kitchen and went back to my room and got comfortable..

"Yo Tasha, I'm sorry about what I did to you. I shoulda never forced you to let me fuck." Latrelle said.

"I appreciate your apology." I quickly replied. 

"Im serious. Im sorry. You ain't deserve that shit. I feel grimey as fuck about it. You a good girl Tasha and I fucked up" he said.

"Howd you fuck up? Isn't boning bitches part of your lifestyle" I asked.

"Yeah but… I just know, cause of what I did to you, you ain't never gonna look at me as a good person. I ain't never gonna have a chance with you. So I fucked up. I ain't worth shit. My ma don't think I'm worth shit, my boys dont think im worth shit, and you… You probably hate me." Latrelle answered. 

I looked over at latrelle and sighed. 

Just seeing him bruised up made me feel sad.

"Boy, I don't hate you. Stop that. You're right though, we don't have a chance together. But its not because you're not a good person. Its cause I'm with Jamal and I love him. But latrelle, you are worth shit. You're a handsome ass pretty boy with a bright future ahead of you. Fuck anyone who doesn't see that. You're worth more than you give yourself credit for" I replied.

He sat there quietly for a while. 

I reached over and grabbed his hand. 

"Keep your head up. You're a young king. And kings don't let their crowns fall" I added. 

In an instant, latrelle leaned in and kissed me. 

This time I didn't pull away. 

He gently caressed my cheek as the kiss grew deeper. 

The moment things started getting heated, i pulled away. 

"I can't do this" I said.

"My fault. I keep forgetting you with that boy Jamal." He said while backing away. 

"I should head back home now" he continued while getting off of my bed. 

I walked him to the door and he smiled at me. 

"Thank you for this. I really needed it." Latrelle said. 

"No problem. Get home safe please" i said while letting him out. 

Once he left I sat in the living room and realized I had feelings for this boy. I was screwed.