Chapter 19
Cooley headed into the living room and noticed everyone’s bags by the door. Denise had packed her bags for her. Cooley forgot they were heading back to Memphis today. She saw Lena and Denise sitting at the table eating breakfast.
“Hey, you,” Lena said to Cooley.
“What’s up? How is Carmen?” Cooley said, looking in the direction of Carmen’s room.
“She’s fine, bruh,” Denise responded. “She is a little shaken up, but she’ll be fine. She’s taking a shower now.”
Cooley fell into a chair at the table. “Man, I have never been so scared in my life,” she said, grabbing some bacon out of the pile in the middle of the table.
“I know. I was scared, too. The only calm one was Lena.” Denise looked at Lena.
“You all weren’t that bad. I knew that you all needed me to be strong.”
“Ain’t that some shit. Us two big-ass studs freaking out, and she’s all calm.” Cooley laughed. “But, for real, thanks. We couldn’t have gotten anything accomplished if you weren’t there.”
“Yeah, Carmen would have been in the hospital, and me and Cooley would have gone to jail for attempted murder.” Denise gave Cooley dap.
“Damn right, ’cause I tried to kill both those bitches, man before y’all came out.”
“Yeah, I heard from the officer,” Lena added. “You just better be glad they didn’t take you to jail, too.”
Cooley and Denise knew that Lena was right. They could have easily taken both of them to jail for assault, regardless of the situation.
“Man, I better not ever see either one of those bitches anywhere.” Cooley added, “I could have lost my sister.” Her face became very stern; everyone became silent, realizing that Carmen could have died last night.
Carmen walking in the room finally broke the silence.
“Carmen!” Cooley got up and hugged her.
“Cooley, I am okay, really,” Carmen said as she took a seat at the table.
“Are you sure you’re fine to travel?” Denise asked her.
“Yes, I am fine. Honestly I’m ready to put this week behind me and get back to campus.”
“All I know is that I have learned a valuable lesson this holiday. I am through fucking over bitches,” Cooley said.
“Really now,” Denise said, not really paying her friend any attention.
“Yes, I am serious. Man, I met this girl, Sahara. She blew my mind. I could actually see myself dating her. Too bad she’s got a girl. And then this shit with you, Carmen. That opened my eyes. I want something more than some pussy. I want to have something real for a change.”
No one knew what to think of Cooley’s acclamation. They had never seen her that serious before. They actually believed what she was saying.
“Well, I am proud of you, man. I hope you stick to it,” Denise said.
“Yeah, way to go, bruh.” Carmen patted Cooley on her shoulder. “Let’s see how long it lasts.”
“Oh, it’s going to last. I am going to prove it to all of you. I can be serious too, you know. A nigga need love too.”
They all laughed.
Denise and Cooley packed up the bags. They all said goodbye to Lena and headed back to school after a holiday they would never forget. The car ride started off silent, until Cooley quickly broke it.
“Nigga, you ain’t slick either,” she said to Denise, who was driving.
“What are you talking about?” Denise said.
“You think I didn’t notice how close you and Lena were. Did you finally hit it?” Cooley said.
Carmen and Cooley laughed at the statement.
“Hell, no, man. You know it’s not like that.”
“Stop lying.” Carmen added, “Love is in the muthafuckin’ air!”
They laughed again.
“Whatever, man.” Denise did not like where the conversation was headed.
“Dude, look me in my eye and tell me that you are not falling for that girl,”
Cooley said. Denise looked at Cooley. She tried to say it, but it wouldn’t come out. “Nigga, I told you, you want Lena!”
“Shut up, y’all!” Denise yelled. “Okay, okay. I do want her okay. I wanted her so bad last night, but come on. She’s taken. I am not going through that again, no way. No more curious or straight girls in my life.”
“Good, Denise,” Carmen added. “That would be bad, real bad.”
“Why?” Cooley asked.
“Because, that girl’s life is planned. She has a whole future to think about. Don’t go confusing her anymore than she already is.”
“So, you’re saying she’s confused. She’s curious, huh?” Cooley smiled at her question.
“I am not saying anything, but all that she talked about the whole first day was that damn bracelet you gave her. You know that goo-goo facial expression Denise gets; I see Lena get it too sometimes.”
“Get the fuck out of here. Little Lena is feeling my boy.”
Cooley hit Denise, who was absorbing everything that Carmen said.
“Are you for real? Naw, you’re playing right?” Denise asked in a serious tone.
Cooley continued to laugh.
“Denise, I can’t lie to you. I think that if you did try, it would totally happen.” Carmen lay back in her seat. “But I still don’t think you should try it at all.”
“Fuck that, Dee. You need to fuck the hell out of that girl and let her know which side of the rainbow she really belongs on!” Even Denise had to laugh at that comment.
“Naw, man, I am not going to do it. I care about her a lot, a whole lot, but I am not going to be the one to ruin her future.”
“So, what if she comes to you with it? What you gon’ do then?”
Cooley had a good point. Denise never thought about what she would do if Lena propositioned her.
“I honestly don’t know, and I am not going to think about it unless she does bring it to me.”
“Good girl, Denise,” Carmen added.
“Whatever. You better be glad you’re my dawg, ’cause I would put so much game in that girl she would be like ‘Brandon who’?”
They all laughed again.
“Oh, what happened to the Cooley who wants a relationship?” Carmen asked.
“I still want one and I am still going to look for one, but hell, Lena is fine as hell. Buddy, if you don’t want her, I can make her my last loose piece of pussy.”
“You better stay the fuck away from her,” Denise snapped, causing Cooley to break out laughing.
“Chill out, homey. I don’t really want her; I’m just testing you. I knew your ass was in love.”
Carmen and Cooley laughed at Denise’s expense for the majority of the ride home.