“Excuse me. Are you talking to me?” I ask as if I don’t know the answer already.
“Weren’t you at the beach the other day?” he says so surely of himself. “It’s me, the douche who made your chair collapse with the ball.”
I softly laugh. “You said it.”
“Did you find the number I slipped in your bag?”
“Oh! That was you? I didn’t know where that number came from. Maybe I’ll give you a buzz later. I’m in a rush right now. I have to make it to the library before class.”
“Cool! That’ll work!”
“It was good seeing you,” I say turning to rush off.
“I have some questions, Ms. Beach Baby? It won’t take us long,” the female detective says sarcastically, stopping me in my tracks.
“Oh, let her go, Reed. I’m sure she knows nothing about this incident,” Sexual Chocolate says while keeping his eyes on me. I look at his name tag, and it reads Det. M. Jackson.
“Thanks, Detective Jackson! And he’s right, Reed, I don’t know anything about any-thing. I have to get going now. If I hear something, I will let you know,” I promise Detective Jackson.
While rushing to the library, I make a mental note to talk to Vanessa and Skylar about our assignment. Maybe that’s what Vanessa wanted. But damn, she will not remember she went to the room wanting to talk to me once they give her that shot. I must talk to Skylar to figure this out.
At the library I purchase my supplies and book, and just as I’m leaving, I hear my name. “Melody! Melody! Over here!” I see Casey waving and trotting towards me.
I really don’t have time for her right now. “What’s up? I’m running late for class, so make it snappy,” I say, hoping she tells me never mind and that she’ll catch me later.
But she doesn’t. “I was just wondering if the police questioned you. They are interviewing everyone in our dorm since some girl named Vanessa said she saw him going there last night. Weren’t you and he a couple last year?”
“Yes, we dated, but it’s been over. I have had little to say to him since our breakup.”
‘Oh wow, I didn’t know that. I thought you guys were still together,” she pauses, “What class are you headed to?”
“Professional Writing.” I glance at my watch.
“Oh, okay. I have that class too.”
That’s just my luck, but I don’t entertain it. Instead, I continue to class. Casey follows me across campus, and we make it right on time. I sit in the back, while she goes to the first row. In case I need to let my head down and take a nap, no one will see me. I can tell this will be a long, drawn out course because the teacher is talking slowly. Not even ten minutes in, sleepiness kicks in so I pull my journal out and write instead.
Tuesday, August 26, 2006
3:10pm
I haven’t been in this class for ten minutes, and I’m already over it. This damn professor needs a slapping for being so boring. It’s been an interesting past couple of days. “Sexual Chocolate” slipped his number in my bag, Jarmaine tried to take my cookie, Skylar and her girls whooped his ass and almost killed him, and one detective investigating the case turns out to be the same “Sexual Chocolate” from the beach. I’ve been super horny lately. Maybe I’ll give Detective Jackson a.k.a. Sexual Chocolate a buzz to see what he’s talking about. Or I could use him for sex only.
Someone nudges me just as I’m getting into it. I look up, and its Detective Jackson and Reed. “Can we speak to you in the hall, please?” I pick up my things and follow behind them. All eyes are on us. I keep my head down.
“So, Ms. Moore, how do you know Jarmaine,” Detective Jackson asks as soon as we get in the hallway, wasting no time.
“He and I dated for a little over a year, but we ended it at the start of the summer,” I answer.
“Two people say they saw you and him talking at your car.” Reed steps closer to me.
“Let’s just say he was the one doing all the talking. I may have said four words. Why does this matter, Reed?”
“That’s Detective Reed to you. We’re asking because they say they also saw you guys talking outside of your building yesterday. Is this true?” She checks her notepad.
“Again, he was doing all the talking, or shall I say begging,” I inform them.
“Do you know a Vanessa Phillips?” Detective Reed asks.
“Yes, I know her. She’s in one of my classes.”
“Do you have any idea why she would say she saw him going in your building yesterday evening, and that he asked about you?” Detective Jackson chimes in.
“Look, Jarmaine is a whore which is why we’re no longer together. There’s no telling who he isn’t fucking, or who he would not see. He has groupies everywhere and in every dorm. Why he asked her of all people about me, I don’t know.” I try to contain my frustration.
“Do I sense a little bitterness, Ms. Moore?” Detective Reed asks.
“Bitter?! Why would I be bitter when I’m the one who broke it off with him, and I’m the one who ignores him when he tries to talk to me? We must have two different definitions of bitter.” Now I’m ready to slap her.
“Calm down, Ms. Moore,” Detective Jackson says calmly. “We’re only following protocol by questioning everyone from that building. You’re free to go back to class now.”
“Thank you,” I say snobbishly towards Detective Reed. I look at Detective Jackson, “I’ll call later on this evening.”
“Please do.” His smile is cute and shows off his perfect teeth.
“Good day, Ms. Moore. We will be in contact if we have further questions. Don’t stray too far.” Detective Reed rolls her eyes and smacks her lips.
As she walks away, I take Detective Jackson’s arm and say, “Check your partner before I do it for myself.”
“Don’t let that offend you, she’s just doing her job.” Detective Jackson rests his hand on my shoulder.
“Whatever! Her doing her job can be the same reason she loses it.” I turn and go back into the classroom. I go to my seat, ignoring the stares and whispers. I continue writing in my journal.
3:30pm
That was a close call. That damn Detective Reed acts like she has a problem with me, and she doesn’t even know me. She must be jealous or something. What she cannot realize is he wants me. All I’ll do with him is hang out and have sex here and there. I know one thing, she better calm down and stay off my back before I go to jail for assaulting a police officer. Detective Jackson is good eye-candy, and fine from head to toe. He’s not worth all the fuss if that is what her issue is. Maybe I’ll call him tonight and see if he wants to get a bite to eat, just to ruffle his partner’s feathers. I can use him to get information on Jarmaine since he’s one officer working the case. The damages are so bad, whoever did this to him will have an assault and battery charge, plus attempted murder. I couldn’t fathom going to jail for assault and battery, let alone attempted murder. I’m not trying to be nobody’s bitch behind bars.
“Class dismissed,” I hear the professor say. I immediately close my journal, place it in my bag, and run the entire way to my dorm room.
Skylar is sitting on the floor. “Did those officers talk to you?” I ask, bent over and out of breath.
“Yea, they did. I ain’t have shit to tell em’. You talk to em’?” She looks up to me from the game.
“Yes, I did. They told me Vanessa said she saw Jarmaine coming into our building yesterday and he asked about me. Now they will question everyone in the building.” I throw my backpack on my bed.
“Well, I talked to Carmen and Vanessa’s taken care of. If she told anybody anything before this, her ass won’t remember.”
Relieved about that, I then remember our assignment. “Will she remember we have an assignment together?”
“Shit, honestly, I don’t know what all she will or won’t remember. We’ll just have to see what happens.”
“Okay. Or how about I just outline who can do what by assigning each of us equal portions. If she doesn’t remember, I’ll explain everything to her.” I suggest.
“That’ll be cool. I have an evening class in a little, so I’m gone change and head out.” She takes her basketball shorts off and puts on jeans. She’s wearing boxer briefs. Damn, she’s sexy. I shake my head, trying to change my thoughts. It doesn’t work. I’m just admiring the beauty she hides. There’s nothing wrong with that. At least I don’t think it is. “I should be back no later than five or six. What are your plans for food later? I’ll be out, want me to grab you somethin’?” she asks.
“I’m cool. I’ll find something around here. If I can’t find anything, or I change my mind, I’ll hit you up and let you know. You look better in jeans.” I wink my eye. She looks nice, and they fit her well. Not too big and not too small, but exactly right. Now that she’s not wearing baggy basketball shorts, I notice how nice her body is.
“Okay, now you gettin’ weird.” She picks up her backpack and tosses it around her shoulder.
“So, me giving you a compliment is weird?”
“I’ll holla at you after class.” Skylar opens the door just as Carmen is about to knock. “Hey, what’s up, Carmen?”
“My pay please.” Carmen invites herself in.
“I got you damn. You don’t waste no time, do you?” Skylar comes back in, goes in her backpack, and gives Carmen four one hundred-dollar bills.
“One, two, three, four,” Carmen counts out loud.
“It’s all there,” Skylar says.
“I’m just making sure.” Carmen grins, and turns to me and says, “Hello again, Melody.”
A warm, tingling something covers me from head to toe. Unsure why, I reply nervously, “Hey, Carmen, again.”
She grins as if she knows the effect she just has on me and then goes to sit on Skylar’s bed. “How do you think you will like this Financial Accounting class we have together?”
“Math is one of my favorite subjects so it may be a piece of cake,” I lie knowing I don’t like math.
“While you two are playing fuzzy toes, I got to get to class.” Skylar walks towards the door. I forgot she was here.
“Later, Skylar. Don’t forget to contact Vanessa after class so we can discuss our assignment.”
“I got you! Don’t forget to hit me up if you change your mind about food.” She closes the door behind her.
“I can take you to get food,” Carmen says.
“No, I’m good. Thanks though.”
“You sure?”
“Very.” I pick up my backpack to retrieve my books.
The door bursts open and it’s Brit. “That dude died! Have you guys heard? As soon as he got to the hospital, he died. Said it was internal bleeding that caused it. What the fuck is we gone do? Man, I can’t go to jail for beating the shit outta that dude. My entire basketball career will be ova. What the fuck I’m gone do?” She paces the floor in fear.