Chapter 59

Next day at school, August

I stood behind Esined in the line fa Subway. I had my hands on her hips. I told the man what we both wanted and he made our subs.

"Baybeh, why you so quiet today?" I asked her. "What's wrong?"

Esined shrugged softly and kept her head down.

I stepped from behind her ta pay fa our lunch. I glanced at her as I put our subs, drinks, and chips on a tray.

She messed wit her nails and her curls hung in front of her face. "Thank you," she spoke.

"No problem,"

We picked a table and she sat across from me. We ate our food and the silence between us was killin' me.

"You good?" I asked.

She nodded, still not looking at me.

"Es, look at me,"

She looked at me then back down.

I stood up and went ta her side of the table. I sat down wit one leg on each side of the bench. I stared at her and took her hand into mine. "Would you rather talk about whateva it is in private? Is it about yo mama?"

"It's nothing. I just didn't get enough sleep. That's all," she smiled faintly.

I sucked my teeth. "Sure,"

She sighed. "I'm just worried about you. Had another dream,"

"Oh," I said.

That explains it.

"Did you go somewhere after you dropped me off?" she asked.

"Nah, I went home," I said.

"Oh, okay," she mumbled.

Of course I wasn't gonna tell Esined dat I went ta make a small drop. It was just ta an old regular, Tiffany. She texted me and I had some on me, so I took it ta her.

"Seems like everything else is wrong," I said.

"I don't know, yet," she said. "I met my grandparents for the first time last night,"

"Really? What were they like?"

"Feels like I've known them forever. They're so funny and cute. You and my grandpa act alike,"

"He must be cool as hell then," I chuckled.

"He's okay so far,"

Just as quick as her mood picked up, it fell back down.

"Tell me what's goin' on," I said.

"I thought we dropped that," she sighed.

"Not really. I'd like ta know what's wrong wit my baybeh. So tell me?"

"W-Would you ever have interest in another girl?" she looked down, messin' wit her fingers

I blinked at her even though she wasn't looking at me ta see my reaction. "What?"

"I mean... Like I'd be hurt or whatever, but I'd rather you leave me than cheat," she spoke softly, afraid ta express her words.

"Where is all dis comin' from?"

"Sometimes I get worried. Just like you do, I get worried,"

"You should know betta. I ain't out ta hurt you and I thought I been proved dat,"

"I thought I proved that I had no intentions to hurt you either... I know that you say you love me, but-"

"But what? What are you questionin' my love fa?"

"Can I talk?"

"Go ahead," I mumbled.

"I was on Instagram and I saw some pictures and videos of you with a girl and I didn't like what I saw..."

"Who's page?" I asked.

"Hers,"

"Lemme see,"

She went to it and handed me her phone.

I looked at it, shakin' my head. "She's lying. Baybeh, I promise you dat I ain't know she put dat up. I don't even follow her,"

"Why were you in her car?"

"Dis what happened. I ain't plan to drop last night, but she texted me while I was leavin' yo house. She asked me if I could sell and I had it on me, so I said sure,"

Esined folded her arms and sighed.

"When I got to her place, she asked me ta roll it fa her too. So I rolled it and she asked me ta smoke wit her, I did. We hot boxed in the car and then she started flirting too much. I caught her takin' pictures of me, so I left because she started playin' too much," I explained.

"What is flirting too much to you?"

"When she's startin' ta fa'get her place, which she definitely has,"

"Why didn't you leave when she first started flirting? Why did you have to wait to leave when it was too much for you?"

I honestly didn't have an answer fa dat. I slightly shrugged.

"Tell me when you find out," she stood up and I grabbed her wrist.

"Baybeh, wait,"

"August, don't grab me like that,"

"I'm sorry. Just don't walk away, okay? Hear me out. Don't let this conversation end on a bad note,"

She looked at me befo' sittin' back down. "Does she know about me?"

"Everyone who's knows me knows about you, so yes. She knew,"

"Why didn't you check her? I'm not trying to seem like I'm blaming you, but I really think that you shouldn't have got in her car in the first place. If she can't roll her own stuff, then oh well, that's a personal problem..."

"You right," I sighed. "I'm sorry,"

"I just feel that if you didn't get in her car, I wouldn't be upset or feeling some type of way. And to top that off, you just lied right to my face,"

"What?"

"You said you didn't go anywhere after you dropped me off. That was a lie,"

"I didn't wanna just be like Oh, I went ta make a drop because I know how you get. You woulda been all worried and mad,"

"I see, but just don't lie to me, okay? I can handle the truth,"

"Okay,"

There was a lot of tension and an awkward silence between us.

"Listen, I ain't thinkin' about no otha girl. You're the only girl I care about,"

She rolled her eyes. "Okay,"

"Don't do dat shit. I'm serious, Esined. These hoes ain't gettin' my attention or time. If I say I'm about you, then I'm about you. No one else, aiight?"

"Yeah yeah, I know. Did she touch you in any kind of way?" Esined asked, completely ignorin' what I said.

"No,"

"Good. I don't have to slap the bare skin off of her," she mumbled, sipping her drink.

"Chill, Denise," I laughed.

"You're laughing and I'm serious," she said. "I was thiiis close to askin' for the addy," she pinched her fingers together.

"You own yo thug shit today?"

Her leg shook and she sipped her drink.

"Aye,"

She looked at me.

"Chill, ma. Ain't nothin' happen, aiight?" I placed my hand on her thigh, tryna get her ta stop shakin'.

"I know... I don't like when girls mess with my boyfriend though. That really pisses me off, especially when they know about me,"

"I feel you. I get the same when I see guys flirtin' wit you," I chuckled. "She was just tryna get you mad,"

"Well she succeeded because I wanna punch her,"

Sometimes I loved when she was mad. She looked so good and protective. Her anger was a turn on as long as she wasn't mad at me. Sometimes it was hard ta talk and get through ta her when she was mad.

"If it makes you feel betta, I'm not sellin' ta her again,"

"You can do whatever you want because I can't control you," she shrugged.

"I'm not," I said.

I didn't want Tiffany to mess up anything with Esined and I. I would lose out on some money if it meant dat my relationship wit Esined would stay good.

We were just gettin' togetha afta bein' distant fa a while and I wasn't lettin' nothin' get in our way.

"PoohBear," I cooed at Esined.

"Chill with the nickname in public," she said.

I laughed and leaned into her face. "I luh you," I kissed her cheek.

"Thanks,"

"Esined," I dropped my smile and straight faced her.

"I'm just kidding," she laughed. "I love you too, Snugga,"

I smiled again. "Can I have a kiss?"

She gave me a small peck on the lips.

"What da hell was dat? Are you serious ri-"

Esined grabbed my face and kissed me deeply.

"Mm," I said, tryin' ta pull away when she started suckin' on my bottom lip a lil. "Chill ma. We in school,"

"Well, you were complaining about the kiss I gave you,"

"You pecked my lips like a bird. Whatchu expect?"

"You to deal with it,"

"Nah. I love good kisses. I don't like bird pecks,"

The bell rung and we stood up.

"C'mere," I said, pullin' her hand when she tried ta walk off. "What's wrong witchu, ma? I thought we was good,"

"We are. I've been late to art lately and I wanna be on time,"

"I can't get a goodbye or nothin'?"

"Thanks for paying for my lunch. I'll see you after class, babe," she gave me a kiss and I couldn't even kiss her back because she left so quickly.

I sighed as I watched her walk off. I threw away our trash and left the lunch room.

I walked ta my next class, which I didn't have ta really do anything in.

I was bothered about what happened wit Esined, so I decided ta say somethin' ta Tiffany. I couldn't let what she did slide.

Whatchu pulled last night wasn't cool. Why u gotta be messy? 12:04 pm

Tiffany: What are you talking about? 12:05 pm

I know u tryna break me and my girl up. Idk why u always needs to be reassured. I don't want u, Tiffany 12:07 pm

Tiffany: What was last night then? ... Exactly 12:08 pm

Delusional. That was just smoking 😴 I've never done anything with u & I never will. I know u get around 😂 12:10 pm

Tiffany: This must be his girlfriend lol. 12:11 pm

Nah. It's August. Don't post no pictures & videos of me. False claiming & upsetting my girl. I'on like that. 12:12 pm

Tiffany: It was a joke, but okay. 12:13 pm

Everything a joke when somebody get checked. 12:14 pm

Tiffany: No one checked me. Gtfo boy 😂 12:15 pm

Yo thirsty ass was begging me to stay wit u last night & now u mad bc u got caught tryna be messy. Fxckin lame'o. 12:17 pm

Tiffany: W/e. Bye August 12:18 pm

Bye hoe. 12:18 pm

I deleted and blocked her numba afterwards.

I didn't have time fa these hoes tryna come in between Esined and I. First it was Chantelle, then Joslyn, now Tiffany's delusional ass. When was it gonna stop?

Esined

I was in the middle of sketching out a self portrait when a boy came up to me.

"Hey Esined," he said.

I recognized his voice and face, but I couldn't remember his name.

"Hi, um-"

"David," he smiled.

"Oh," I mumbled. "You're that boy that called me a broke bitch with your friend last year,"

"I don't remember that. I truly apologize if that was me. I was childish last year, but I don't think I said that,"

"Mm, I think it was you,"

"Would you forgive me if that was me?"

"If you actually admitted and owned up to the fact that it was you," I smiled.

I knew it was him. It was in my first week of school and everyone was bullying me.

"Alright. It was me and I'm sorry,"

"Okay. What did you come over here for?"

"I just have been noticing you lately and I wanted to say that you look really pretty. Gorgeous actually,"

"Thanks," I said dryly. "I'm gonna get back to my sketch now,"

"Wait wait," he said.

I sighed and looked at him. "What?"

"I was wonderi-"

"No,"

"You didn't even let me ask,"

"Whatever it is, no," I laughed and picked up my pencil. I continued sketching.

"Damn. You cold hearted,"

"I guess so,"

David stood there. "So I can't ask my question?"

"You could, but you'd be wasting our time and my answer will remain a solid no,"

"You going to prom?"

"Yep. With my boyfriend, of a year, who I love so much. Who makes me very happy," I added.

"Okay, I get it. Can't blame a brother for trying,"

I continued my sketch and after a moment, David walked away. I laughed to myself and shook my head.

Once I finished the outline, I showed it to my teacher.

"Very nice," she smiled. "You can start painting. Make sure you number your colors,"

"Thank you. Will do," I smiled and went back to the quieter room.

I used a gray scale color scheme and began to paint my portrait. I had done half of it and decided that I'd done enough for today. I didn't want to be too ahead. I put my painting on the drying rack and washed my paint brushes. I put them away and took off my apron.

The bell rang just in time and I began to leave.

"Esined, wait," Ms. Dan said.

I stood beside her and she handed me a folded piece of paper.

"Thank you," I said and left her classroom. I unfolded the paper and looked at my grades. I smiled at all of the A's and nice comments about how great of a student I was.

When I saw August in the hallway, I smiled.

"You got your report card?" I asked.

"Yeah," he sighed.

"What's wrong?"

August handed me his report card and I unfolded it.

He had two B's, two A's, a C, and an E.

"How'd you get an E in English?" I asked.

"I didn't turn in dat last essay,"

"Why not? It was easy,"

"Esined, dat essay was four ta six pages long in MLA format, plus a work cited page. I didn't have the time ta do it and it was hard,"

"You could have asked me for help, babe. Have you talked to Ms. Angie about it? Maybe she can give you an extended date,"

"She's not givin' any extensions,"

"Aren't you her favorite student? Just talk to her in private and sh-"

"Esined, she already said she's not givin' any extensions. What part of dat don't you understand?" he asked harshly.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled. "I just want you to walk across the stage with me," I explained.

"Well, I don't know how I'm gonna graduate now, so dis is just great," he sighed, folding up his report card that I have back to him.

"You'll graduate, don't worry," I said, hopeful. I held his hand, rubbing my thumb over the back of his hand. "If you want, I can help you next semester so you can have an A in her class, okay?"

"I'm just gonna sign up fa credit recovery and start stayin' afta school... By time I do dat, my grade should be okay and I'll get my credit for that,"

"That sounds good," I said. "You seem like you know what to do. You got this babe," I smiled.

"Thanks fa the encouragement. I gotta get ta class and you do too. I'll see you afta," he kissed my cheek and we went our separate ways.

I walked off to class. I could barely pay attention in class because I was so worried about how August was going to graduate on time, if at all. It was only December, so he had a little time to get his grade up, but not when we were about to have our Christmas break soon.

-Hi. How is everyone?

This chapter was a filler. I'm going to be jumping in the story a little bit. It's moving slowly and I don't want to have like a million chapters.

Idk what to title the sequel.

Tiffany was in Chapter 33. She was the regular who asked Mel & August if they wanted to roll up.

I forgot what chapter David was in.

Idk what I'm doing with Tiffany and David yet, but I'm up to something lol.

-smiles in evil author-

Skipping to Esined's birthday for the next chapter. Don't ask me if that's a freaky chapter. You'll see.

Excuse typos please.

Comments & Votes are appreciated.

Much love, Shia. Xoxo