Читать книгу Who Can You Trust (The Break Down) - Keosha Boone's Gowins - Страница 14

Ciara

“Alright Ciara and Daniella, this is y'all house. We gotta win this.” our coach yelled to us over the crowd. We were down by 7 points with 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and we had the ball.

The coach quickly showed the play to us. We nodded and did our signature, “Go Gator”. We ran out on the court.

My team ended up winning by 4 points. My teammates and I huddled around smiling and cheesing as our coach sang our praises. I saw my parents and Trey close by. I waved and put up a finger signaling I'd be out in a minutes. Right as I said it I saw Joe coming into my line of vision. He hugged me tightly bringing me off my feet. When he sat me down he rubbed my head. “You did alright kid”, he said as I started to walk away

“Alright”, I asked with mock sarcasm. “Please boy, I was way better than alright and you know it”. I then saw Angie wrap her arms around Joe from behind. He smiled then turned back to her. I'd look so much better than her with him.

When I came out the locker room, I heard my parents discussing where they wanted to take me out to eat. “I just want to go home”, I said tiredly.

“You just wanna go home. You feeling alright girl. That don't sound like my best friend”, Joe felt my forehead with fake concern on his face.

“Whatever Joe! You ain't funny.” I pushed his hand away. “But yeah, I just wanna go home. I don't feel like being around a crowd right now”, I said looking right at Angie.

“Okay”, my dad said.

Joe hugged me once again. Angie said congratulations, with a fake forced smile, I can't blame her. It was taking everything out of me to smile at her.

We drove in comfortable silence until Trey said, “I godda go poddy momma”, just as we were on the street of our house.

“Just a minute sweetie”, my mom said to him. “Almost home”

When I got home, I took a shower and fell right into bed, forgoing eating or even dressing. I went to bed in my birthday suit.

Tap! Tap!! TAP!!! I woke up and looked over at my window and Joe was on my balcony. I opened it quickly so that the squeaky sound would be quick and wouldn't alert my parents.

“What are you doing here at 2 o clock in the morning”, I whispered shouted. I shivered from the outside air, and then looked down to discover that I was still naked. “O my god”, I grabbed my comforter and covered myself with it. “Joe why didn't you say anything”

“I haven't seen you naked since the what, seventh grade. I'm startin to think you do this on purpose.

It happened like this last time didn't it?” he asked with a laugh.

“No, it wasn't 7th, it was 9^th. The first time was in 7^th grade and you walked in on me in the shower. 9th grade year, you came in my room and I was just lying on my bed naked”, I grabbed him by his arm into the room. “Anyways...what brings you by at 2 in the morning?” I asked.

He hesitated. “You looked mad when we left the game”,

“And?”

“You should be happy. You won”

“And?” I said again. “You came over here to tell me something I already know”

“I just---I couldn't go to bed thinking you were upset with me”

“Why would I be upset with you?” I asked confused.

“You not mad at me”, he asked. I shook my head. “Huh, well than goodnight”, he started walking back towards my window when I pulled him back.

“Hold on a minute. Why would I be mad at you Joe? What did you do?”

“I uh, I forgot to buy the tickets for the game and its Saturday”

“You thought I would be mad at you over some game. Really Joe, do you not know me at all”

“You---I just wanted to make sure you know. You my favorite person and I were just making sure”, he took off his hat rubbed his head then put it back on.

“Okay, well yeah, I'm straight. Don't worry about me”

“That's all I do.”, he said. He then pulled me into a hug kissed my cheek and left. He is so sweet. I seriously love that boy. Love? God, where is this coming from? I jumped back into my bed and fell straight to sleep.

Friday was a crazy day! As soon as I got to school my friend Daisha, came and told me that I of all people should run for prom Queen. I told her I didn't want to and that she should run, but she said I'm more likely to get nominated because I'm more known so she said she would post up posters. I could care less! Then Derek came and hugged me. That almost never happens. He's usually in a bad mood in the morning, and evening. Just pretty much all the time!

He hugged from behind and planted a big kiss on my cheek. We continued walking down the halls with him still holding me. “Hey”, he whispered in my ear.

“Hey”, I laughed when he gave me a slobber kiss on the other cheek. I wiped it off and pushed him away. “That's nasty”

“Whatever. You kiss me on a daily bases so don't even try that.” I rolled my eyes and kept walking towards my class. He put his hand on my hip to halt me and I turned around to face him. “Skip with me”, he half whispered as he came closer to me for a kiss.

“What---Derek---no, I can't skip.” he pulled on my arm.

“Come on”, he started pulling me towards his car.

“Where we goin”, I asked him.

“My pops”, he said.

“He's okay now right?” I asked.

“Yea sort of, I mean, he has lung cancer but other than that he's okay”, he sped out of the parking lot and onto the road.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“I ain't wanna bother you with all that.”

“Derek, I'm yo girlfriend. If you not gone tell me yo problems then who you gone tell? Don't keep it all in like that”, as I was saying this he was taking out a cigarette and lighting it up. “You need to stop smoking”,

“Who you? My momma”, he asks with a smirk.

“Why we can't have a regular conversation like adults? Or like regular couples for that matter. Regular couples talk about feelings. Regular couples spend time together. Regular couples show up to their mate’s events. Regular couples talk about college without getting all---”

“Dang baby, chill out”, he opened the window slightly breathe deeply then let out a puff of smoke. I shuddered in disgust. “First off, why you gotta ask so many questions? I told you before, I ain't normal and I don't do normal. I'm with you so apparently you ain't normal either.” I scuffed at his comment and folded my arms over my chest to show my aggravation. “We can't have normal conversations because you ask too many dog’on questions. Second, we can't talk about feelings because I ain't a sissy, and I don't have little girlie sessions where we talk about feelings. Third, we don't spend time together because you always with yo sideline man Joe. I can't stand that fool by the way. Fourth, what event?” he stopped to take a breather then he looked at me crazily and annoyed. “And fifth, we ain't gone have another college conversation. If you wanna leave and go where ever, go. I ain't stopping you so don't pretend that I'm standing in the way of yo decision. Yo mind made up, and I know you well enough to know that when yo mind made up, ain't no changing it”, that was the most I have ever heard Derek speak. See what I mean by crazy day!!

I sat there quietly, thinking about all that he said, and realized my mind was set and that we weren’t going to change my mind. Joe and I had a dream college ever since we were in 5^th grade. Derek knew that, and I know it probably bugged him, but he wasn't going to let me know that it did. “I had a basketball game yesterday”

“I ain't know I’m not a psychic”

“They announced on the morning show”, I forgot who I was talking to.

“When do I ever go to first period? And when I do go, I'm sleep so you shouldn't assume I know every time you got something.”

We sat in silence for awhile, and it was getting uncomfortable so I said the first thing that came to my head. “Why are you so happy today?”

“I'm not”, he said as he threw the cigarette out the window.

“More than usual”

“I don't think I'm actin’ different.”

“So, what has happened within the last couple of hours?”

“Nothing really”

“Come on, gotta be something? What---“

“Man here we go again with all the questions”

We approached an old looking one story white house with a baby blue trim on it.

“Your dad won't mind me coming and interrupting ya'll father, son moment”

“Naw, I asked him already anyways, Jerry open up!!!” he yelled in through the locked screen door.

“Sup, boy. Long time no see”, a man I assume is Jerry said as him and Derek went in for a manly hug.

“I know man”, Derek said as we walked in.

“Pops back there sleeping”, the man said.

“I told him I was comin. He shoulda went to sleep earlier”, Derek said harshly.

“Hush boy”, a older looking man said as he descended from the darkness of the hallway.

“Sup Pop's. This my girl CC”, Derek introduced us.

“You ain't gone introduce me? I know you see me standing here”, Jerry said.

“CC, this is nobody. You don't need to know him. And after talking to him for awhile, you probably ain't gone wanna know him and you gone be running away screaming”, he said with a laugh. I have never seen Derek like this before.

Jerry shoved him. It was perfect distance to the couch so he just sat down pulling me down on his lap. “Naw, but for real this my cousin Jerry, but he’s like my older brother.” Derek's dad sat down on the chair opposite us and turned the TV to some fishing channel.

“Derek, get me something to drink”, Derek's dad said.

“Yes sir”, I now see that they have high respect for this man. Wow, Derek actually respects somebody. I thought I would never see the day.

“Jerry pass me my pills from over there on the table”, Pop’s said to Jerry when Derek brought back the drink.

“What's up Pops?” Derek asked as he clapped his hands together happily.

Derek's dad scrutinized his face for awhile before speaking. “What's got you so chipper?”

“I don't know Pop's. Would you rather I be mad at the world. I mean I don't see a difference but everybody else seems too”, Derek answered.

“Are you high?” Jerry asked Derek.

“Naw.”, Derek answered.

“You usually are, so maybe that's it”, Jerry said nonchalantly like this is an everyday conversation.

“I don't think so.”, Derek said while laughing. I didn’t think it was funny.

Apparently Derek's dad didn’t think so either because he said my thought. “I know you aint doing what I think you doing? You ain't stupid!”

“Man, Pop's I gotta make this money”

“Like I said, You ain’t stupid!” Derek's dad said. Jerry and Derek's dad shared a laughed. “So, how's yo mom”

“Getting on my nerves”, Derek said with a chuckle.

“She gotta a way of doing that to people. I told you to just move in here. There’s plenty of room.”

“I basically take care of them. If I move out they’re screwed”

“You shouldn't have to pay the bills and take care of her and her boyfriend. But”, he stopped. I don't know if it was to gather his thoughts or for dramatic affect but he put up his index finger. “I understand why, shoot, I did it too with my mom and three sisters. So, I guess you have that trait from me, because yo mama ain't good for n---”

“Thank you pops”, Derek quickly interrupted looking at his father pointedly.

“I'm just saying. She could work, she ain't disabled. And so can that piece of s---”

“Pops.”, Derek raised his voice.

“You should be worrying about school, not how to pay the next light bill. How you making that money anyways? Other than the money I give you monthly, you ain't got a job”

“I told you I get money Pop's”, Derek said proud of his self.

“The wrong way I bet?”, when Derek didn't answer he kept going but this time with more anger in his voice. “So you just gone go out and make the same mistakes I mad?”

“I got you Pop's”, Derek said. Not looking at his dad.

“Yeah, but do you hear me?” he asked.

“Yes, Pop”

“Good”, he took a sip of his drink then looked back at Derek. “And what are you doing about college”

The whole time, I was trying to make it seem like I wasn't being nosy, but I just had to open my big mouth. “I've been talking to him about it”, his dad had snapped over to look at me as if he had forgotten I was sitting there. “He doesn't wanna go?

“I ain't saying that”, Derek said angrily at me.

“Then what did you say then”, His dad asked.

“I don't wanna talk about it”, his good mood was gone. He stood up. “I gotta go Pop's. I gotta drop her off at home”

“Ok, son, don't be a stranger.” His dad said.

“I won't”, he said to his dad. He then turned to Jerry. Jerry pushed him and he pushed him back making him fall back a little. “That's why you a 21 year old man living with his uncle-daddy.”

“Just until I get a steady job! I'm getting paid though bruh best believe that, I gets my money too”

“Yea whatever peanut. Bye Pop's”, he went over to hug his dad. His dad gave him a fifty then looked over at me.

“Nice to meet you”

“You too”

“Pops you just gave me money for this month. I should be alright for a few weeks.” he tried to give it back.

“It's burning a hole in my pocket, if I don't give it to you, who I’m going to give it to, Jerry?”

“Naw, give it to me”

“Hey, I need money”, Jerry shouted.

“You just said you get money.” His dad said.

“Bye, CC”, Jerry said as I began to walk out.

“Bye”. We walked out and got into the car.

When I got home, Joe was sitting in his car on the phone. It looked like nobody was in the house, which would explain why he wasn't inside.

I gave Derek a kiss goodbye and got out, promising to call him tonight. He drove away.

I walked towards my door. I heard Joe yelling as I walked up the steps to the door.

“You skipped class CC, finals are coming up. You can't be skipping so close to the end. We're graduating, Derek might not be, so don't let him drag you down”, he kept on rambling as I threw my bag by the door and started walking up the stairs; He followed me. He didn't look like he was going to stop when I reached my room so I just went in ignoring him.

I did my normal routine when I get home from school, and it stunned him into silence. Finally!!

I took off my shirt, followed by my shoes and jeans. I had lifted up my bra when he taps my shoulder causing me to turn around. He ran out of the room yelling while covering his eyes. “CC, my eyes I need something for my eyes.” “Shut up boy”, he started laughing from the hallway.

“For real though, put some clothes on woman. I don't wanna see all that”

“Pa-leaz!! You know you do”