You Before Me [dave east]

| seven

Xiomara;

I scrunch up my solo cup and throw it in the trash, heading back over to the guys now that I'm done partying in the pool. There's water dripping down my body and my hair is soaked. I even feel a little light on my feet, just a little tipsy after drinking some.

"Y'all seen Dave?" I ask, catching my shorts that DeShawn threw my way, putting them back on.

"Think he left. That nigga don't talk much. Must be an introvert." He frowns, picking up his drink from the little table in front of the L-shape couch.

"He left?" I frown too since Dave was supposed to be my ride. "For real?"

"Shit I think so."

I roll my eyes. "Okay well I'm finna head out to see if I can find him. Byee, love you!"

"Love you too sis."

I place a sloppy kiss on Deshawn's cheek and pick up my purse which he was guarding for me, heading inside from the backyard.

I walk out of the beach house and thankfully find Dave's car still parked out front. I see him through the windscreen and realize he probably just took some time out to hit a blunt since that's what he's doing. Pursing my lips, I walk over and knock on the window.

The smell of weed hits me in my face as Dave rolls down the window. His eyes are low from smoking but the high-look looks good on him. "Thought you left me."

"Nah I'm just chilling." He pulls from his blunt and I watch as he puffs out his cheeks before releasing the smoke from his mouth.

"Welll, you tryna go for a walk?" I ask, wanting him to sober up before he drove us home. I would drive myself but there's something scary about getting behind the wheel of an expensive sports car.

He side eyes me and looks me up and down. Dave takes another pull from his blunt before getting out of his car muttering something under his breath. We start walking as I lead the way down to the beach.

"Okay so I'm just gonna go ahead and be honest with you." I say after some silence, making him look at me in confusion. "I know about what happened."

"Huh?"

"About what happened with the whole rape charge and the exoneration. I did my research and I'm sorry for invading. And especially for me to push myself onto you knowing what you went through with that girl, I should've been more considerate and I'm realizing that was wrong. So I'm sorry. You probably want nothing to do with me—" I try to say but he cuts me off from rambling.

"The fuck is wrong with you?" Dave snaps, looking at me like I lost my mind. His reaction is worse than I would've thought, having thought he would just wave it off and say it's nothing because of how much of a nonchalant person he is. But now I'm seeing just how out of pocket I was for researching him, even though it's not like it wasn't on Google. "The fuck?" Dave repeats. "That was sum' I was tryna keep to myself. That's the whole fucking reason I came here."

"Damn I said I was sorry." I frown as we stop walking in the middle of the sand. "Dave, I ain't even tryna judge you. I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for trying to 'seduce' you and that I know how you probably feel about it. What happened wasn't your fault so I don't get why it's such a big deal."

He sucks his teeth. "So that's the typa' shit you be on? Just going 'round invading people's privacy? You'on know shit 'bout what I feel or what the fuck I been through the fuck?"

I roll my eyes, getting a little annoyed now. "Okay, stop crying! Don't act like I called up a private investigator and asked all about your life. It was on the internet and last time I checked, that's public! Forgive me for being a little curious!" I exclaim.

He shakes his head and starts walking away so I grab his arm. I felt bad. I'm not exactly the most understanding person when seeing people get mad over things. At the same time, I do understand.

"Dave, I'm sorry." I sigh.

"Nah fuck that." He snaps, snatching his arm out of my hold. "I ain't gotta put up with this shit. Shit, I'on even fucking know you you weird ass bitch."

"Okay damn cuz' that's just harsh for no reason. I'm sorry, okay? You cool people and I don't want us to fall out like this."

"Fuck you mean fall out?" He says, looking at me like I lost my mind. "You delusional? Shit, who the fuck said we even friends? You just sum' crazy hoe, bruh. Get the fuck off my dick."

I watch Dave walk away, feeling embarrassed and upset.

Researching him didn't seem that wrong but for him to blow up on me like that, it clearly meant something to him. I guess I can't imagine spending 6 years in jail for some shit I didn't do. Now here he is finally trying to get a fresh start in a new state, only for me to dig up his past again.

I head back to the party so I can get a ride home.

"Latoya?" I call out, heading over to her dancing with Marquis.

"Hey girl!" She yells over the loud music. "Where Mr. Big Apple at?"

"He left." I say, making her frown. "You think I can get a ride home though?" I can see she's having fun which makes me feel bad for interrupting but I have to get back to Alonzo anyway.

"Sure girl. Ask Marquis since you know he don't let me take his car anywhere." She says so I look at Marquis pressed up behind her, seeing him roll his eyes.

"Killing my damn fun." He mumbles, taking his car keys out of his pocket before walking away.

"Thanks brother!" I call out to him, throwing my arms around Toya as I'm about to leave. "Love you, sis."

"Love yo' ass too. Call me!"

I walk out of the house, finding Marquis already sitting in his car. He drives me home and makes sure I get in the house before heading back to the party. I sigh, dropping my keys in the bowl before walking into the living room.

It's only 9 p.m but Alonzo is already sprawled out over the couch sleeping. I roll my eyes at his lazy self and throw a blanket over him, heading into the kitchen to see if there's anything to eat.

I open up the fridge, finding a glass tuppaware dish containing enchiladas that senora Brenda must've brought over. She's an older woman, Mexican like myself, who lives next door and helps out from time to time simply because of the goodness from her heart. I'll have to remember to thank her.

I eat and take a shower before getting into bed butt ass naked since it's one of those nights. I try calling Dave and the phone rings for a couple seconds before he declines my call. I try one more time to no avail, rolling my eyes as I put down my phone.

I don't even know why I'm so into him. He's like a mystery and his looks are just a bonus. And then there's everything he's been through which just makes me want to be there for him, even though I didn't do a very good job at that today. I can't even be upset that he wants nothing to do with me. Shit, half the time I don't even want anything to do with me.

Maybe I just need to fall back and stop chasing.