Too Young: A ChriLiyah Story

Chapter 4

A few weeks later one morning, Chris was in the bathroom taking a shower. He sang as he washed.

"You don't have to call, it's okay girllll cuz imma be alright toniiiiight, you don't have to call..." The water beat down on him from the shower head. He squeezed body wash into the palm of his hand and began to build up a lather. He scrubbed his shoulders, under his arms and the rest of his upper body. "Aw girl, your face is saying whyyyyy, tears in eyeeeeeeees..." Chris stood under the showerhead and let the suds wash off his body. He continued to sing, "Ohhhhh should've been more smart ab-"

"Get out!" Loud shouting disrupted him.

Who is that? How dare they interrupt my singing... He said to himself. He resumed singing. "Should've been more smart abouuut it"

"No Damon, don't touch me!" The shouting continued. "I do what the hell I want, you ain't doing shit!"

Is that...Aaliyah? His eyes widened. Chris turned off the water and sprang out the shower. Sensing danger, he hurried and threw on some shorts and then ran to the door, still soaking wet.

"Aaliyah, are you alright?!" Chris asked in concern as he dashed out into the hallway. Aaliyah glanced back at him with woeful eyes. Damon and Aaliyah were standing in the doorway of her apartment; Damon had her pinned up against the knob side jamb.

"This is grown folks' business little boy," Damon said as he looked at Chris. He looked back at Aaliyah and continued to yell at her. "How could you accuse me of something like that as if you're not doing it yourself? Huh?!"

"Ugh," Aaliyah scrunched her face up. "You reek."

"Who is it?" Damon demanded.

"Damon, I'm not doing this with you."

"Answer me! Dammit Aaliyah, answer me!" Damon shook Aaliyah.

"Let her go." Chris balled up his fists. Damon looked at Chris.

"Didn't I tell you to mind your own business?" Damon stepped forward. Aaliyah eased her way out of the doorway and up against the adjacent hallway wall. She hid in Damon's shadow and looked at Chris.

"Chris-" Aaliyah started to say. Damon turned around and faced her.

"Was it this nigga?!" Damon pointed at Chris. Aaliyah didn't answer. "Huh?!" Damon raised his hand towards her.

"You not bout to hit her!" Chris ran over and pushed Damon causing him to stumble back towards the door, obviously drunk. "Yo, you good?" Chris directed at Aaliyah. Before she could answer, Damon pulled on Chris's arm. Chris kicked him off, and as Damon got back up, he tried to punch Chris. Chris dodged his attack and then punched him once on the side of his nose and once in the jaw, knocking Damon out cold.

Chris turned to where Aaliyah was and placed his hands on her shoulders. He looked in her eyes. "Are you alright?' Aaliyah turned her head and put her hands up in front of her face, shielding herself from Chris's exposed flesh.

"I'm fine," Aaliyah said. Chris let go of her and Aaliyah glanced at Damon. "Did you really have to do that to him?"

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that." They both chuckled, and Chris led Aaliyah into Shad's apartment. Shad was waiting for them near the door.

"Yo what was that?" Shad asked.

"NOW you come out," Chris said as he shook his head.

"I'm alright now," said Aaliyah. She sat on the couch. Chris sat on the arm rest next to her, and Shad stood up in front of them.