Chapter 29

August

I was in my room, looking back at the pictures and videos of Esined and I. I wanted ta be back at dat carnival wit her right now. My phone started ringin' and Mel's face flashed across.

"Whatchu want?" I answered.

"Getcho ass in the livin' room and tell us about dat date of yours,"

"Who is us?"

"Me, Trav, and V,"

"Did y'all tell Mama?"

"No. I'm about to,"

"Nooo. Don't do dat. I'on want her ta know until me and Esined really got somethin' goin',

"Alright. Bring yo ass down hea and tell us how it went,"

I went downstairs after hangin' up on him.

"My boy!" Mel slapped my chest.

I glared at him before sittin' down.

"Sooo! What happened?" Viola smiled.

"We went on a date and dat was it," I shrugged, not wantin' ta tell them all the tea.

"Boy," Travis said.

"Okay,"  I sighed. "So, I picked her up. We went to the carnival. We had a really good time. We had good conversation. We got close too,"

"What type of close?" they all moved closer ta me.

"If y'all don't get," I moved back.

"Did y'all hold hands?"

"Yeah,"

"Did she sit on yo lap?" Mel asked.

"Close ta it,"

"Ooowee!" Travis said.

"Explain! Ex-Plain!" Viola demanded.

"I chose a ride dat would get her close ta me. She sat in between my legs and yeah,"

"Yeah?" Mel asked.

"Yeah!"

We started laughin' and did a handshake. "Yeah!"

"Did y'all kiss or anything?" Viola asked.

"On da cheek,"

They all sighed.

"I'm disappointed," Viola said.

"Very disappointed," Travis shook his head.

"Man, gimme back my handshake and my yeah," Mel said.

"What? Whatchall disappointed fa? It's too soon," I said. "We kissed each otha cheeks. Was dat not enough?"

"Man, wit the way she was all ova you in dat video, I thought y'all was kissin'," Mel said.

"Esined ain't like dat. I gotta take it slow wit her. She ain't neva even been dat close wit a boy before,"

"Are you tellin' me you got the motha of all the virgins on yo hands? You blessed. You ain't gotta worry about her hoein' around," Travis said.

"Man, chill," I said.

"Wait. Hold on a minute," Viola put her hands up.

Mel fake swiped an imaginary card in the air. "Feminist card has been activated,"

"Now just what do you mean by that statement, Travis?" she turned ta him.

Mel dug in a bowl of popcorn dat he was eatin'. I sat next ta him and ate some too. Watchin' Viola and Travis argue was the highlights of my day because she always made him look stupid.

"I meant what I said. He ain't gon' have ta worry about her hoein' around," Travis said.

"Just throw in da towel," Mel said.

"I mean, it's true," Travis continued.

"You had yo chance ta give up," I shook my head, ready fa Viola ta drag him.

"You said that as if girls who aren't virgins just hoe around all the time,"

"Hmm. Well," he shrugged. "If the shoe fits,"

"Lord,"  Mel and I said.

Viola sighed, rubbing her temples.

When she rubbed her temples, I knew it was ova fa him. He might as well just headed fa the door when she did that.

"See, Travis. You need to get out of this misogynist and unrealistic meninist mindset. You can't just say things like that. Why? Because it is stereotyping us non-virgin girls into some type of hoe. And it is also slut shaming. Most girls who aren't virgins don't just hoe around. A lot of guys put girls who are virgins on a pedestal and praise them while they try to slut shame and put down girls who aren't, as if they aren't human and also a woman,"

"I ain't put dat girl on no pedestal,"

"Yes, you did. You told August that he was blessed. You called her the mother of all virgins. Do you know how ignorant and idiotic that statement was?"

"I was joking. And honestly, I'on know what planet you live on, but most girls hoe around after they give it up,"

"It's always a joke when people get called out for their bullshit. And that's just your opinion though. There's no facts on that," Viola laughed a little. "Who hurt you, Travis? Who? They got you all messed up in the head, boo. That is false. What is true is that boys, like you, call women hoes for every little thing they do,"

I shoved a bunch of popcorn in my mouth just like Mel did.

Travis got up.

"Am I hurting your ego?" Viola touched her chest, pretendin' ta be sincere.

"Why you had ta drag the po' boy like dat?" Mel laughed as Travis stormed off ta his room.

"I'm sorry, but y'all brother," she shook her head. "Ooo, he gets me heated,"

I busted out laughin'. "You get his ass every time,"

"How did y'all come out so chill and cool and he came out like that?"

"Them dumb ass friends of his," Mel said. "All they do is get girlfriends and cheat on them then swear it was they girl fault,"

"Accurate," Viola laughed. "I'm sorry,"

"It's cool. Maybe you'll end up breakin' through ta him before you break his neck," Mel said.

"Hopefully. It's hard to teach someone who isn't trying to learn,"

"That's why I say you can't lead the blind," I said.

"What?" they looked at me.

"Don't tell me y'all ain't neva heard dat sayin'. You can't lead the blind because they can't see,"

Viola covered her mouth, tryin' not ta laugh.

"You just got a one way ticket ta hell, laughin' at blind folks," I said.

"Oh my gosh. No it's not at blind people. I swear," she busted out in laughter. "You just sound so old saying that,"

Mel laughed too. "You did sound old,"

"Wow. When yo brotha call you down and now him and his girlfriend gangin' up on you," I stood.

"Wait no. Finish telling us about the date,"

"Wait. Tell me why y'all ain't deny what I just said," I smirked.

"Huh?"

"Y'all datin'?"

"No," they said, lookin' at each otha.

"Betta not be,"

"Why not?" Mel asked.

"'Cause it's too soon,"

"Duh," she said, elbowing him.

"Girl," he looked at her.

She laughed and I looked at them weirdly. "Okay okay, the date,"

"Yeah, whateva. We was just chillin'. Caked up a few times, nothin' serious, but I enjoyed myself,"

"Did you ask her out again?" Mel asked.

"Not yet. Too soon fa dat too. I don't wanna be askin' her out back ta back. Dats weird,"

"I mean, you want anotha dude ta step up to da plate and snatch her from you?"

"Dat ain't gon' happen," I said.

"You sure? Keenon seems to be persistent," Viola said.

"Nah. He out da way,"

"What did you do?"

"I ain't do nothin'. He did it himself," I chuckled.

"What happened?"

"I was at my locka and I saw Keenon at hers, so I went ta her locka too. I looked at him and didn't care fa his presence, so I look at Esined like You ready ta go or whateva and he got hurt. Talkin' about Next time let a brotha know you ain't feelin' him," I started laughin'.

"Dats my brudda," Mel laughed, shakin' his head.

"Oh well," Viola smiled. "At least she'll be with someone who won't cheat on her and break her heart,"

The shade was real.

"True," we all said.

Mama came into the house with Chay. "Hey," she smiled at all of us.

"Hey mama," we said.

"Hey baybeh," Mel kissed Chay's forehead when she came ova ta sit on his lap. "How was ya time at work wit ya mama?"

"Hi Daddy," she seemed so upset. "It was okay," she sighed.

"What's wrong? Talk ta me,"

Mama sighed, going into the kitchen wit the groceries.

Viola and I went ta help her put them up, just ta give Mel and Chay some privacy.

"What's wrong wit my niece?" I asked mama.

"Po' child got ignored the whole time. Apparently her mama got a new man and he came ta the salon. She started ignorin' Chay,"

"Damn,"

She looked at me and I covered my mouth.

"Sorry,"

"Betta stop dat," she thumped me.

"You ain't even have ta thump me," I said under my breath.

"Heard that,"

I continued puttin' up groceries wit Viola. When I finished, I was tired. I decided dat it was time for me ta go to sleep, so I told everyone goodnight.

I went up ta my room and I saw dat I had a missed call from Esined on my phone. I listened ta the voicemail.

"Hey. It's me, Esined. I know we said goodnight already, but I wanted to tell you thank you again. I really appreciate you taking me on a date... I couldn't stop thinking about what you said to me on the Ferris wheel... You know, about the whole modeling thing? It's something that I really want to get into and I'm so glad that you said what you said to me," she paused. "I know that I can't stop being insecure overnight and it's a whole progress, but I just wanted to say thank you for giving me the push to start seeing what you see in me,"

I heard her name being called in the background, which caused her ta rush off the phone.

"I have to go now, but thank you once again. I hope I'm not too forward, but maybe we can go out again. I just really enjoyed being with you. Maybe just to a park or something, just to get to know each other more and start our project? I don't know. Tell me what you think on Monday. I'll see you. Goodnight August,"

I smiled ta myself, lickin' my lips. I replayed the voicemail, listenin' ta her sweet and small voice.

I think I really like this girl. It was really somethin' about her. The affect she had on me this early was crazy, but I think I like it.

-I hope you all had a wonderful day and enjoyed this update.

I had an okay day, feeling a lot better. I appreciate the prayers so much.

Still going through things, but I decided that I shouldn't turn away from writing because writing and music are my escapes from reality.

Random s/o to my best friend who's been making me feel hella better. She knows who she is. GrannySquad.

I appreciate all who have been patient with my slow updates.

-DJ Salad voice- YALL DA BEST! lmao, but yeah this it bc I'm talking too much.

But thanks again.

Excuse typos please.

Comments & votes are appreciated.

Much love, Shia. Xoxo.