It Comes Naturally

A Promise of Forever

Arlene Whitehall looked around the crowded lunch hall. Another day and no sign of that spoiled fat bitch Janine. She noticed her absence and her change of attitude last semester but brushed it off by her trying to be popular on her own. Eli Johnson has been disappearing also, the stupid jackass thinks with a bit more body weight and change in his looks he can strut around her like he owns the place. He was still a handout.

"What's wrong? Aren't you hungry?" her friend Breann asked while taking a bite of her salad. 

"Don't you think it's strange Janine and that white boy aren't around?" Arlene queried her friends at the table. The entire length of the table sat in silence and thought about it. One by one they gave their opinions and experiences of the two, over the last semester. It was January, a new school semester, and a few months away from entering senior year. 

"Trev says the white boy has a crush on Janine but I bet she won't stoop so low for some dick. Being with a white guy will ruin her family's image. The Carlisles are one of the few black families who are pure African American, no bad blood," she voiced. 

"She ain't stupid to do that. That's bad publicity," one said lowly in a disbelieving tone.

"Well, she did break up with Trevor. Publicly."

Arlene narrowed her eyes at Breann who turned her head in remorse. "It wasn't serious between them. He was using her," she said aloud. 

"Rightttttt" 

Before she can react, Trevor approached the table and took his waiting seat beside her. "What are y'all talking about?" he asked with a full mouth of pasta. Breann was about to answer but something better, yet, someone caught her eye. All of their eyes, the entire lunch hall was on two, not one, two persons who were slowly making their way to an empty table far away from the wide-eyed crowd. 

"Is she stupid?" one girl from their table shrieked. The once quiet murmurs were becoming louder, Arlene's eyes never left Eli and Janine. They sat with their backs towards the crowd and seem to be in their own world. Beside her, Trevor was simmering in anger and high humiliation, his fat bitch of an ex, though pretend, was being cozy with a broke white boy. Oh, he felt the inquisitive stares of most of the student body and his friends, it all made him even more pissed.  

"Are we even sure they are together, together? She is a student counselor," one of his friends said, trying to be the voice of reason.

"I think after an entire sophomore and half of junior year Eli Johnson is extremely settled into St. Lawrence Prep. The fucking nerd even has a fan club he doesn't even know exist. Anyone with eyes can see it way more than friendship. What a disgrace. She's such a fucking sell-out, Eli probably wants to latch on to her for benefits," another voiced.

"Maybe chocolate isn't for everyone. Vanilla is a classic, you know," one said with a laugh.

"Shut the fuck up," Trevor growled leaving the lunch table in a flash. Arlene watched him leave, her insecurities surfaced, manipulating her thoughts to jealousy. Trevor's misunderstanding of anger led her to believe that her boyfriend may have feelings for Janine. Turning back to the couple, she saw just in time Eli placing a kiss on Janine's temple as she leaned into him.  jealousy formed anger and that anger wanted comeuppance. 

                                                                                    *****

"Are you okay?" Eli asked softly.

Janine smiled up at him, they spoke of this over Christmas break via emails, making their relationship public after being in each other's space for months. School, home renovating projects, weekend dates, the two were inseparable. Over the months, Janine never told Eli about her parents or her home life. Being with him she didn't have to worry about them until school's over. She didn't tell him how secretive she had to live in her own home and be compliant so her mother can finally find her worthy enough of her time. She will always love her mother but her actions towards her are the ones that made Janine resent her. Janice was back home and have been causing hell on her. Her relationship with Eli was kept a secret, she allowed the fat jokes whenever they found her cooking and packing the two meals for lunch. Her new career choice and college options were all hidden, even the clothes she found more to her style. She was living a whole other life outside the walls of the Carlisle mansion and it was taking a toll on her. She didn't want to give up Eli, not now, not ever, agreeing to make their relationship public will only speed up the incoming shitstorm.