Chapter 7

August.

I was lyin' on my bed, starin' up at the ceiling.

"Babe, did you hear me?" Chantelle asked through the phone.

"Yup," I said.

Truthfully, I wasn't even listenin' ta her.

"What'd I just say?"

"You was talkin' 'bout how much you love me,"

"That's not what I said," she said.

"Whatchu say then?"

"Really? You didn't hear nothing I said?"

"Not really," I chuckled.

"You're so rude sometimes. Just, ugh!"

"I'm sorry,"

"You were probably thinking about that girl,"

"What girl?" I laughed. "You always think I'm thinkin' about some broad,"

"What the hell is her name?" She spoke to herself. "Ee-sned? Ee-snide? All I know is that her name is Denise backwards,"

"Esined?"

She was completely right. I was thinkin' about Esined. Esined is what's been on my mind since I first met her. I know it's weird, but I can't stop thinkin' about her. It's not even in an intimate way. She's mysterious and it pulls me in. I want ta know about her. I want ta know her.

"Yup. I know she better stay away from you," Chantelle said, breakin' me from my thoughts.

"I know you betta stop messin' wit her. She ain't doin' nun ta you,"

"She's messing with my man after I told her not to and I don't like that,"

"And I don't like this ova protective and jealous side of you. Dead it,"

"I don't care. Don't get that little girl hurt,"

"Why y'all girls be like dat? Don't get dat la girl hurt," I mocked her voice. "What she gotta get hurt fa?"

"Because I warned her,"

"Can you even fight?"

"I don't have to fight her for her to get hurt,"

"You and nobody else gon' hit her," I became more defensive.

"You're sticking up for her and you don't even know her,"

"Does dat matter? Don't be tryna fight and get people hurt ova me. Who raised you?"

"Whatever August," I could tell she was rollin' her eyes.

I shook my head. "Crazy for no reason. Dat ain't cute,"

"Okay? Shut up,"

"Watch who you talkin' ta,"

"Or what?"

"I ain't playin' no games witchu today. So act right or I'm hangin' up,"

"Hang up, I don't care," she sucked her teeth.

That's exactly what I did. I hung up and put my phone on do not disturb. She really think I like ta play games.

"Aug!"

"What?!" I yelled back.

My older brotha, Mel, came into the room.

He hit me upside my head before sittin' next ta me. "Show respect to ya elders," he laughed. "Yellin' at me like dat,"

I rubbed my head. "Yeah yeah. Whatcha want?"

He gave me three stacks of money.

"What's dis fa?"

"You earned dat,"

"I ain't do nothin',"

"You made those drops and you fixed my truck. So I gotchu,"

"Nah. I told you I got you. We family,"

"I know what we is. I was payin' you 'cause I had it. You deserved it,"

I sighed. "Thanks bro,"

"No problem," he said. "You broke up with dat broad yet?"

"Mel, man," I began ta laugh. "Chill,"

"I swea' you da only one who likes her,"

"I ain't break up wit her yet,"

"Hurry up and do it. I'm tired of her ass comin' ova hea talkin' 'bout Hi Mel!" He mocked her voice. "Yellin' at me like I'm deaf and speakin' ta me like I like her,"

"Y'all be so mean ta her," I laughed. "'Specially Trav,"

"'Cause she annoyin'. Why are you wit her?"

"I'on wanna hurt her feelings,"

He gave me a stale look. "How many times she hurt yo feelings? You just gon' keep on lettin' her hurt yo feelings so you can spare hers?"

"She ain't hurtin' my feelings,"

"I know you not sayin' dis ta me when you tell me everything,"

"I know dat I'm almost all she got. I can't do dat ta her,"

"Whatchu mean?"

"Her mama dyin', man. She need me,"

"What I'm about ta say about to sound messed up, but this is da thing... You can still be there fa her, friend wise. Not relationship wise. Don't waste yo time wit her no mo. She don't need you,"

I sighed. "You know my heart ain't like dat, Mel. She does need me,"

"Mine ain't eitha, but she don't need or deserve you. As much as people love to deny dat girls abuse they boyfriends-"

"Don't-"

"Nah. I done seen dat girl hit you too many times. And you sit there, Aug. You sit there and you hold it all back just ta keep her happy. She just usin' you anyway. Just drop her. Her mama leaving ain't no reason fa her to treat you like she do. Imma tell you dis, dead dat relationship or I will,"

"Mel-"

"Now,"

"Gimme a week,"

"No,"

"Few days?"

"No. Now,"

"I can't do it,"

Mel took my phone.

"Melvin!" I stood up.

He pushed me back down and dialed Chantelle's number.

"Imma do it! Swear bro,"

He looked at me and I could hear Chantelle repeating hello in the background. He hung it up and tossed my phone back ta me.

"You don't even like her like dat no mo,"

"And I'on like breakin' hearts eitha. You just heartless,"

He began to laugh. "Whateva you say, lil bro. I'm out,"

"Whea you goin'?"

"Make a drop. I'll be back. Don't worry,"

"Be safe bro,"

"Tell mama I'm goin' ta get something ta eat," He said, walking over to the door.

"Aiight," I nodded and he left.

I began ta think about Chantelle and let everything Mel was sayin' sink into my head. I knew everything Mel was sayin' about her was the truth. I knew dat I should break up wit her, but it would be difficult. I knew she wouldn't let me go without a fight.

After thinkin' of ways to end things with Chantelle, my mind drifted back ta Esined.

I started becomin' frustrated wit the thought of me not bein' able ta get her out of my mind. I wanted ta see her and I couldn't wait fa class tomorrow.

"Yung!" My mama yelled.

I got up from my bed and opened my door. "Yes?!"

"Can you go ta the store fa me?"

I put on my shoes and grabbed my keys. I grabbed my wallet and tucked it in my pocket. I left my room and went down the hall then the stairs.

"Whatchu need me ta get?" I held my phone in my hand as she spoke. I took my phone off do not disturb incase my mama needed ta call me or something while I was out.

"Here," she gave me a list along with some money.

I passed her the money back. "I gotchu,"

"Thank you,"

"No problem," I left the house and walked to the garage.

I got inside of my Benz and put on my seatbelt. I started it up and backed out. I drove ta Walmart and took forever ta find a parkin' spot. When I finally got in, I began to search for the first item on the list, eggs. I went ta the refrigerated section and got the eggs. Next was cheese, which happened ta be close ta the eggs. I grabbed all the different types of cheese that she wrote down.

I looked up and saw Esined pickin' out fruits. What a coincidence? I just wanted ta see her and there she is.

I began ta think of ways I could approach her. I looked at the list, noticin' that apples were on there. I walked over ta the fruit wit my head down, purposely standin' next ta her.

"Excuse me," I leaned over her, grabbin' a bag fa fruit.

Esined looked up at me before movin' back.

"Oh, hey Esined," I smiled.

She looked around. "Hey, um-"

"August,"

"August. Hi," she looked every where except at me. "I-I have to go,"

"Esined wait," I said. "Will you be at school tomorrow?"

She nodded before turnin' away from me. She rushed away.

I noticed that she had dropped a piece of paper. I picked it up and looked at it. There was directions on the paper and an address. I wanted ta find her and give it back ta her, but I didn't want it ta seem like I was creepin' on her. I pushed my pride aside and went ta find her because I figured those directions would be important ta her.

"Ned, pass me that," I heard a man with a similar accent ta Esined's.

I followed the voice and saw her in an aisle wit two tall white men.

"Excuse me," I said.

All three of them, Esined and the two white men looked at me.

"Who's this?" A man asked her.

"I-I don't know," she said, starin' up at him.

When our eyes locked I felt like she was beggin' fa help.

"I'm sorry," I approached them. "You dropped this in da fruit aisle," I put my hand out fa her ta take the piece of paper.

The taller white man put his hand on her shoulda before takin' the paper from my hand wit his otha.

I looked at him and backed up. "Sorry fa disturbin'," I mumbled.

He gave me a look before they went back to shoppin'.

I sighed and walked off. I finished shoppin' and went home. I was curious ta know why she was with two white men. No duh that Esined is clearly a mixed girl, but I was curious still.

I was curious as of why she pretended that she didn't know me. I didn't know ratha ta be offended by dat or not.

As I put up the groceries, I tried my best ta keep Esined off my mind. It was a fail. I couldn't stop thinkin' about her.

The door opened and Mel walked in. He closed and locked it before approachin' me.

"You good lil bro?" He asked, helping me put up groceries.

"Rememba when I told you dat I couldn't get dat girl off my mind?"

"Yeah. What about her?"

"I really can't stop thinkin' about her? When I went grocery shoppin', I saw her,"

"Did you talk ta her?"

"Yeah, but she was actin' weird. She was actin' like she ain't wanna talk or she ain't know me,"

"Whatchu mean?"

"So I pretended like I ain't see her there. I'm like Oh, Hey... She forgot my name and everything. She ain't even look at me,"

"Damn. That's cold hearted,"

"Right. I noticed she dropped somethin' and I picked it up. Found her in a few aisles ova wit two white men-"

"She a prostitute?"

"Nah!" I started laughin'.

"I had ta ask," he laughed too. "Continue,"

"I approached her about what she dropped and like, one of the men started speakin' fa her. He asked her who I was and she said she didn't know me,"

"That's messed up. Maybe they family and he's protective,"

"As heck. Maybe abusive too. She looked at me like she was scared,"

"How scared?"

"He put his hand on her shoulder and it was the most awkward situation I've been in - in my entire life,"

"Maybe it's her boyfriend,"

"He had ta be in his thirties or forties,"

"Girls be fast like that nowadays man,"

"Nah. Not her,"

"Ask her,"

"I can't just ask her,"

"Why not?"

"She's private and real lowkey. I think dats why I worry and think about her so much,"

"Just ask her why she acted like she ain't know you,"

"I will,"

We finished puttin' up the groceries and I went back ta my room. I grabbed my towel and went ta my bathroom.

My phone began ta vibrate just as I was about ta get in the shower. I looked, seein' it was Chantelle. Not wantin' ta speak ta her, I slid ignore and got in the shower.

When I got out, I picked out my outfit fa tomorrow. I knew I was barely goin' ta get sleep wit the way Esined has been on my mind.

-Eh heh. Hey y'all. :]

It's weird to write August's pov like that. Buuuut ayyye! Aug got a pov.

August says he isn't thinking about Esined intimately, but this tea in sipping is telling me differently. -sips-

Yes, Mel is in my story and I'm really hoping that no one takes it offensive. If so, feel free to stop reading now.

Spoiler alert: Mel isn't gonna die in my story.

I just thought that having Mel in my story, alive and being there for Aug would be a unique twist. I want to incorporate Mel in this story as the way August talks about him in real life. Him being there for August and giving him advice, being like his father figure.

Besides that...

I just wanted to say that I really appreciate all of the love that I am receiving on this story and my others. Y'all are so amazing.

I noticed that I'm also at 2k. -smiles soft like Jadakiss in my avi- lol.

Okay. I'm done now. Lmao.

Comments & votes are appreciated.

Much love, Shia. Xoxo.