Imarni: did you delete my number?
Me: are you drunk?
Imarni: no.
Me: yes you are I can hear it in your voice, where are you?
I stood up putting my trainers and a hoody on.
Imarni: nowhere.
Me: tell me?
Imarni: answer me first?
Me: no I didn't delete your number now tell me where you are?
Imarni: so that means you do love me right?
Me: you're drunk aren't you?
Imarni: so what?
I kissed my teeth leaving the house so I could start driving in the direction of her uni.
Me: are you at a club?
Imarni: but what I don't understand is, if you love me why do you want us to never talk again?
Me: tell me where you are and then we can talk about this.
Imarni: no. We can talk about this now.
Me: who are you with?
Imarni: I just want to know.
I sped up as I could hear her talking to someone in the background and then the line went silent.
?: Hello, who's this?
Me: it's Tyree
?: Whatever she said just ignore her. She's drunk right now. Goodnight.
Me: wait, Vanessa?
The line went silent again.
Me: where are you guys?
Vanessa: don't worry. I'll take her home safely.
Me: listen, I know me and you need to talk properly to clear everything up but I just wanna make sure Marni's good right now and I'm on my way already so can you tell me where you're at?
Vanessa: I'll text you the address.
Me: thank you.
**
Me: where do you want me to drop you?
Vanessa: back to our apartment.
I slowly nodded as the awkward silence began I haven't seen or spoken to Vanessa since she had a fight with Imarni back in school so we didn't leave on a good note but I don't think right now is the best time to clear things up. My mind is on Imarni right now. Thankfully the apartment wasn't too far from where the party was so the awkward silence didn't last too long.
Me: thanks for looking after Imarni. I'll bring her back tomorrow.
Vanessa: alright kool. Make sure she calls me in the morning please.
Me: yeah don't worry.
I decided to take Imarni back to my house since I know if I take her to her mum's, Jeremiah would kill us both just for being together.
*
Imarni: Tyree?
I stopped in my tracks as she called me just as I was about to leave the room to let her sleep.
Me: yeah?
Imarni: don't leave.
I sighed out making my way into the bed next to her making sure to keep my distance but she clearly didn't want any space between us. I held on to her thigh as she wrapped her leg around my body.
Me: Marni. I can't do this with you.
Imarni: I just want to feel you.
I started biting my jaw as she tried to kiss me.
Me: I'm serious.
Imarni: don't you like me?
Me: you know I love you.
Imarni: then stop pushing me away.
Me: I can't do this right now.
Imarni: why not? Has she taken my place?
I knew this would come up eventually.
Me: good night Imarni.
I got up out of the bed leaving my sister's room going into my own. I managed to get into my bed and turn the TV on before Imarni came in.
Me: where's your dress gone?
Imarni: it was too tight.
I sat up as she came into my bed only in her underwear.
Me: Imarni I already told you I don't wanna do this with you.
Imarni: you said you love me right?
I got a t shirt out of my drawers putting it on her to cover her up a little.
Me: go to sleep.
Imarni: you said we could talk.
Me: we can talk tomorrow when you're not drunk.
Imarni: I'm not drunk.
Me: yes you are Imarni.
Imarni: I gave up Jamal for you don't act like I'm nothing because of this new girl that's in the picture.
Me: no you gave up me for him.
Imarni: but I want you.
Me: you can't say that when you're drunk. I can't take you seriously.
Imarni: how can I prove it then?
Me: I know you know we are better off being apart.
Imarni: but if we love each other we should still try.
Me: no. It's too late.
Imarni: so are you with that other girl then?
Me: I don't know who you're talking about.
Imarni: yes you do. I heard you on the phone to her.
Me: I've told you already I'm single and I'm working on myself.
Imarni: I will find her and message her to tell her that I love you so she can't come in-between that.
Me: you can do whatever you like tomorrow when you wake up but you need to get some rest right now.
**
Thankfully Imarni fell asleep in my bed but I kept waking up every hour to make sure she was okay. All the things she was saying to me kept replaying in my head because I know from experience that the truth comes out when you're drunk.
I decided to get up to jog a couple miles around the block before Imarni woke up so I could get my mind straight but as soon as I saw her walk into the front room in my t shirt everything came back into my mind.
Imarni: how did this happen?
Me: you called me last night.
Imarni: fuck.
We both looked at each other for what felt like minutes until she eventually broke the silence.
Imarni: I need to go.
