Chapter 24
“Hey, baby girl,” Brandon said as Lena ran up to him. Brandon, his teammates and their various girlfriends were all headed to the girls’ basketball gym.
“What’s going on? Are you all going to watch the girls play?”
“Something like that. We got out of practice early, so we decided to come and challenge the girls to a little one on one.”
“Really? Cool.” Lena headed into the gym with the rest of the group. She noticed Denise right away. She was covered in sweat. She looked at how intense and serious she looked while playing.
The girls’ team stopped playing when the guys walked in. Her and Denise’s eyes met. She hoped Brandon didn’t notice it.
“Y’all ladies up for a little free play?” one of the players on the men’s team said.
“Oh, I know these ladies can give us a run for our money, right, Dee?” Brandon said throwing a basketball at her.”
She caught it. “Yeah, we’ll see.” Dee threw the ball back to Brandon, and the game officially began.
Lena took a seat on the bleachers by two of the other girls that were dating the male basketball players. She hated those women, but out of respect for Brandon she grinned and smiled at their conversation about life when their men went pro. She secretly knew that there were only two guys on the team that were pro worthy, and neither of them was dating those girls.
“Lena, girl, look at your man. He is totally doing it,” Sunshine, one of the girls, stated. “You’re the one that’s set for life.” The girls laughed.
Lena just smiled. She never liked discussing her and Brandon’s relationship. She knew that these women would quickly betray her for the chance to get in his bed, and she was not going to give them anything to make that happen.
“Yeah, he is.” Lena glanced at Brandon, who was guarding Denise.
“Hell, that girl is pretty good. Isn’t that your roommate?” one of the other girls asked Lena.
“Yeah, her name is Denise, and she’s my roommate.” She smiled. For some reason she felt really proud to say that.
“Isn’t she, you know, gay?” Sunshine questioned.
“Why?” Lena snapped back.
“I was just asking. I mean, she looks gay, and she hangs with that gay girl who got into it with that other girl at the beginning of the year.”
“I still don’t see why who she dates should matter. It’s really none of my or your business,” Lena said to the girls as the two of them giggled.
“Damn, girl, don’t get so defensive. I was just sayin’,” Sunshine said. She looked at some of her friends, who all hated Lena. “Well, I heard you’re going out for Chi Theta. I’m going out for something else next year. Chi Theta takes anyone nowadays.”
“Really? They do? I wasn’t aware of that. I guess it is the fact that they have the highest GPA average of all the sororities on campus. So why aren’t you going out this year? Grades?” Lena turned her head. She wanted to laugh, but caught herself.
“Wow, Lena. You’re involved with the best male and female basketball player I see. I guess you want them all to yourself,” Sunshine snapped back as the other girls laughed.
“If that’s what you want to think, that’s fine. Funny, regardless, you won’t have either.” Lena turned around and focused back on the game.
“Well, with pledging you might not have time for either of them.” Sunshine smiled and walked down the bleachers. “Guess that leaves the door open for someone who does have the time.”
It took everything in Lena not to push her down the steps.
Denise quickly caught her eye. She was sweating from head to toe. Lena studied her form, she looked at her tribal tattoo on her arm, and it definitely was a sexy tattoo. Lena had never realized just how focused Denise was; she was in another world when playing basketball. The intensity in her eyes was wild.
Lena zoned out; Denise seemed to be the only person on the court. She watched Denise jump up toward the goal. When she came down she smiled, Lena felt herself starting to get wet.
“Damn, girl, Brandon got it like that. She sitting up here getting all hot watching her man play,” one of the other girls said as she patted Lena on her back.
Lena quickly realized what just took place. “Shit,” Lena caught herself. “What the fuck is wrong with me?” she said to herself. She grabbed her books and headed out the gym.
Denise and Brandon stopped playing basketball when they noticed Lena walk out of the room so abruptly.
“Where the hell is she going?” Brandon looked confused as he stared at the door. He shook his shoulders. “Hell, maybe she forgot something.”
Brandon and Denise headed to get some water. “Man, Denise, can I ask you a question?” Brandon turned toward Denise with a concerned look on his face.
“Um, yeah, man. What’s up?” Denise really didn’t want to talk to Brandon. She had a feeling it wasn’t going to be a good chat.
“Look, yo, does my girl ever tell you anything about us?” He sat down on the bench and put a towel over his head.
“No, she never says anything about you really. Well, when I see her, you know, things been kind of hectic since the season began.”
“Yeah, I feel you. I mean, she just been acting a little strange lately. I don’t know what’s up with her.”
“Maybe you should ask her.” Denise stood up; she could tell he wasn’t satisfied with the answer she had given.
“Man, I feel you, but, um, let me ask you something else. You know my girl is one of the finest women on campus, and you live with her. How do you not get turned on by looking at her? I mean, you are gay.”
Denise suddenly felt hot. She always liked to sneak looks at Lena. She secretly wanted her since day one. “Naw, man, I don’t dig straight girls like that, even if they are fine. Lena is a good friend. Friendship is much more important.”
“Okay, okay, I feel you. I can’t lie. I have been real uncomfortable with her living with a gay woman. She might as well be living with a man. And I admit, when I saw that bracelet you got her, it pissed me off. I don’t need no one buying my girl expensive jewelry.” Brandon had a real strict look on his face. He stood up and grabbed Denise’s arm. “I just want to make sure you understand that she is completely off limits.”
“Yeah, I know. Now can you let go of my arm?” Denise didn’t back down.
They stared at each other for a moment. Brandon smiled and let go and headed back toward the male locker room. Denise grabbed her things and left.
Anger filled Denise as she walked home. She couldn’t believe Brandon had considered himself warning her from looking at Lena. She grabbed her cell phone and called Cooley.
“What’s up, bruh?” Cooley answered her phone.
Denise could hear a woman in the background. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Practicing for my show tonight. Carmen called and said that Misha and Lena are going.”
“Dude, you are serious about this girl, huh. Did you say Lena is going?”
“That’s what Carmen said. Misha, I am diggin’ the hell out of that girl. I’ma turn her ass out tonight.” Cooley laughed. “So what’s going on? You sounded all serious and shit when I answered.”
“Man, Brandon’s weak ass just called himself giving me a warning about looking at Lena. I bet he don’t let her ass go to the club tonight.”
“Get the fuck out of here. For real? Damn, bruh. Guess he finally woke up.” Cooley laughed.
“Whatever, dude. Anyway, what’s up with that?”
“Maybe he’s intimidated by you. Maybe he can tell Lena getting a little flava for another kind.”
“Naw, dude, she worships his dirty drawers.”
“Okay, yeah that’s what you say. Hell, I see how she look at you. I think curiosity is killing that cat.”
“I’m hanging up now.” Denise hung the phone up. She didn’t pay any attention to Cooley. After all, Cooley lived by the motto that all women are going.
Denise walked into her room to find Lena sitting on her bed.
“Hey,” she said.
Denise could tell something was wrong. “Hey, what’s up? Why did you leave the gym like that? You had your boy worried and shit.” Denise took her basketball jersey off.
Lena took a deep breath when she saw those abs. “Oh, oh no. I will see him soon. It was um, um, those girls just irritate me sometimes, always in my business.”
“Oh, I get it. Well, I gotta take a shower. I’m all sweaty and shit.”
“Yeah, you are,” Lena said with a seductive voice. She quickly changed it. “Yeah, you’re stinking up the whole room.”
“Whatever, man.” Denise threw her jersey at Lena. “So, you know I’m leaving for the tournament this weekend. You are going to be without me and Brandon for three weeks or more. Are you going to miss me?”
“Oh, yes.” Lena caught herself again. “I am going to miss you and my baby. You know I am going to your club tonight.”
Denise smirked. “Yeah, okay. B ain’t finna let you go.”
Lena looked at Denise. “What B don’t know won’t hurt him. He thinks I have to do Chi Theta shit tonight.” She grinned mischievously.
“Dig that, you little liar. Let me go get in this shower.” Denise picked her clothes up and headed to the bathroom.
When Denise came back into the room, Lena was gone. She could smell Lena’s Creed perfume all in the room. She laid on her bed.
“Damn, Denise, you got to stop thinking about that girl,” she said to herself. She decided to take a nap, and hoped that she didn’t just dream completely about Lena.
“Damn, now you want to see me,” Brandon said as Lena walked into his room.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. Those girls were irritating me.”
“Oh, well, whatever. So what’s going on?”
“Nothing much. I don’t want to do this pledging shit, but I guess I have to.” Lena laid down on Brandon’s bed.
“Yeah, you do. It will look real good for you later, you know. And you need to meet some regular girls.”
“Regular girls. We aren’t gon’ start that shit again. Are you packed up for the tournament?”
“Yeah, I am. I wish you could stay with me tonight. It’s gon’ be a while before I see my baby again. Are you going to miss me?” Brandon smiled.
“Why don’t you let me show you just how much I am going to miss you.”
Brandon walked over to the bed and climbed on top of Lena. They kissed. It was sensual, but not as passionate as it used to be. Something was very different.
Brandon kissed on her breasts. Lena closed her eyes, trying to focus on what was happening. She opened her eyes when she realized that Brandon had stopped. He had a curious look on his face.
“Lena, are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah. Why do you ask?” Lena already knew the answer to the question.
“You are not getting aroused, your nipples are soft, and well, you’re not wet at all.”
Lena knew that Brandon knew her body. He was the only one who had ever had it.
“Really, Brandon, I don’t feel too well, and I have a lot on my mind.”
“Well, why didn’t you just say that?” Brandon got up.
She could see that he was rock hard. “You are leaving me, and I don’t know how long you are going to be gone. I just wanted to give you something to remember me by.”
“Baby, it’s cool. I know you have a lot on your mind. Just let me hold you for a while then you can go. I’ll go win this championship and come straight back to you.” Brandon put his arms around her.
“Okay, baby.” Lena took a deep breath. She decided to please him orally, something that didn’t require all of her body, ’cause it just wouldn’t respond to him.
“Tameka, what do you want?” she asked her ex, who was standing in front of her, obviously mad about seeing her with Nic.
“I am wondering the same thing about you. Who is this clown you’re with?”
“Clown? Dude, you don’t know me like that,” Nic snapped back. “Carmen, is this a problem for you?”
“No, Nic, give me one moment.” Carmen grabbed Tameka’s hand and walked off. “What do you want, and why are you trying to start shit with my friend?”
“Who the fuck is that, Carmen? What the hell you doin’? What about us?”
“Tameka, it’s been almost two months, and I haven’t heard shit from you, so don’t go there.” Carmen found herself getting upset.
“I know, baby. I just needed some time. But I am back now.”
“No, it doesn’t work like that. You didn’t even wish me a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year; hell, you didn’t call me at all.”
“Well . . .” Tameka looked down at the ground. “I was going through some thangs, Carmen. That’s no reason to start messing with someone else.”
“Whatever. I am leaving.”
As Carmen turned to walk off, Tameka grabbed her arm.
“Come on, Carmen, baby, don’t be like this. I lost my phone and didn’t have your mother’s number. I was going to come to your room, but you know the whole situation with Cooley. I figured you had a new schedule. I didn’t know it.”
“Whatever, Tameka. No excuses, okay. I don’t have time for—”
“It’s not an excuse!” Tameka exclaimed. “Baby, I have missed you like crazy. I just needed to get my mind completely right before I asked you to be my full-time girlfriend. I am tired of this secret shit. I want it to be me and you.” Tameka looked Carmen in her eyes.
Carmen felt herself getting weak in the knees. She heard Nic call her name. “I don’t think so Tameka. You missed your chance, and I have someone else now.” She turned to head toward Nic.
“Carmen, I am not going to make it without you. You’re my air.”
Tameka sounded so sincere; it broke Carmen’s heart to say no. She kept walking. She knew that her future was in front of her. She refused to go back again.
“Is everything cool?” Nic asked her.
“Yeah, just my ex. Things are good,” Carmen said as she smiled at Nic. “Let’s go eat.”
“So, tell me, what’s up with you and your ex?” Nic said as she nursed her beer.
“Well, to make a long story short, she was my first love. She dogged me out. When I got back to school and was thin, she wanted to get back with me. Like a fool, I tried to give her a chance, and she messed it up.”
“Wow! Okay, so you must have been a little thick last year or something?”
“A little isn’t the word. I had Lap Band surgery.”
“Really? Man, I know that had to hurt. Why did you get surgery?”
“Just was tired of being so big, and it was draining on my health. I knew it was something I had to do. So, the day school let out, I made the appointment.”
“Do you think you made the right decision?”
“Hell, yes. After all, look at us now. Would you be sitting here with me if I was three hundred plus pounds?” Carmen took a sip of her drink as Nic pulled out her wallet.
“Yes, see.” She opened her wallet and showed Carmen a picture of her and a plus size girl. “That’s my ex. I date for the person, not the physical.”
“She’s pretty.” Carmen was shocked; she held the picture in her hand. “And would it be wrong of me to ask why you still have a picture of your ex in your wallet?
“No, it’s not wrong of you to ask. She was in a car accident and passed away. I just keep it to honor her memory.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” Carmen said, rubbing Nic’s hand.
“It’s all good. I will always have love for her, but I have to move on, you know, find that someone special.” Nic looked Carmen in her eyes. “Maybe I have found her.”
Carmen blushed. “Nic, you are truly one of a kind. Do you know that?” Carmen smiled as their eyes met.
Nic smiled back at her. “I’ve been told that a time or two. Hopefully, I will be able to show you just how unique I really am.” Nic took Carmen’s hand in hers.
Carmen felt butterflies in her stomach. “I actually think that’s a great possibility.” Just then her phone rang. She looked down to see Tameka’s dorm room. She pressed ignore and placed the phone on silent.
After dinner arrived, Carmen focused on Nic for the rest of the night. She didn’t want the feeling she had to leave.
As they headed out of the restaurant, Carmen looked down at her phone. She had ten missed calls and four new text messages. Against her better judgment she read the first text message.
Carmen I need you, please don’t do this to me.
Her heart dropped. All the texts were pleas from Tameka. She suddenly felt the need to speak to her.
“Is everything okay?” Nic asked.
“Oh well, it’s my roommate. She has drama as usual.”
“Do you need to go back to your room?” Nic looked at Carmen.
Carmen contemplated what she needed to do. “Actually, I think that would be best.” She turned her head to the window as they drove back to the dorm.
“So, can I see you later this weekend?” Nic asked as Carmen opened the door of her car.
“Well, I am going to the club tonight ’cause Cooley is in the show. You should come.”
“Oh yeah, I am going to be there. Look out for me, okay.” Nic smiled.
“I surely will. You’re gonna have to fight the girls off of you. They like fresh meat.”
Nic laughed. “Fresh meat, funny. I only want one to get me though,” Nic replied, causing Carmen to blush.
Carmen felt a warm feeling growing in her stomach. Slowly she got out of the car. She wasn’t going to mess this up for Tameka, but she knew she needed to end it right.