Chapter 32
“So, Carmen, what seems to be the problem?”
“The surgery isn’t working. I need you to check the band. I’m getting big again,” Carmen said to the doctor as he picked up the chart.
Earlier that week Carmen had decided to do something special for Tameka. Things had been going downhill and she wanted to make sure things were not her fault. She decided that since Tameka loved Lisa Raye, she would get a pink teddy like the one she wore in The Players Club and act out the infamous dance scene. She had the whole look going. She did her hair the same and had on the heels and the garter. She wanted to make Tameka happy.
She heard the music to “Seems Like You’re Ready” by R. Kelly start. It was show time. She walked out of the bathroom doing the little sexy walk like Diamond. Before she could get down for the crawl, Tameka stopped the music, laughing uncontrollably.
“Carmen, what the fuck are you trying to do?” she said in the midst of her laughing. “I know you aren’t trying to be Diamond. That’s a joke, right?” She continued to laugh.
“Why is that a joke? I was doing something for you.” Carmen was hurt by Tameka’s comments. “I thought you would like it.”
“Carmen, you are only ruining my biggest fantasy. You should not be trying to do all that, with your body shape. You are no Lisa Raye.” Tameka continued to laugh.
Carmen felt her heart drop. She couldn’t believe what she just said. “What is wrong with my body shape?” Carmen asked a question she really didn’t want the answer to.
“Carmen, don’t start, okay. It just wasn’t a good idea. I mean, look at you, baby. You’re starting to get chubby again. You need to watch that.”
Carmen felt the tears forming and ran into the bathroom. She couldn’t believe what Tameka said to her.
“You know what? All I wanted to do was do something special for you, and you ruined it.” She put her regular clothes back on.
Tameka got off the bed and stood by the door. “Girl, calm down and stop being so dramatic. You was cool, you just picked the wrong color. You should have got black or something slimming.”
Carmen came out of the bathroom and started to grab all of her things.
“Oh, so now you mad and gonna leave ’cause of that?”
“I just don’t want to be around you right now.”
“Well, you know how to contact me.” Tameka lay back on the bed.
Carmen slammed the door. She got in her car and turned around, realizing that Tameka did not try to stop her.
Carmen put her clothes on after her exam. As she put her shirt on she noticed the incision marks from her surgery. They had cleared up mostly, but still had a long way to go. She pulled her shirt down as she heard the doctor opening the door.
“Carmen, you are in perfect health. The band is still completely in place, and you have the right amount of weight. I honestly don’t see why you even think that you are getting big.”
“I don’t know. I noticed my clothes have been fitting differently.”
“Carmen it’s normal for many people to be very cautious of their weight gain and loss. That’s why we usually refer people that are going through weight-loss surgeries to see a counselor to help them deal with the major changes that are going to occur. Did you ever see one?”
Carmen had decided that she didn’t want to see a counselor. She didn’t want to seem strange. “No, I didn’t see one, but I think I am fine. I just wanted to make sure about the band, but thank you anyway.” Carmen headed out of the room. She turned when she heard the doctor call her name.
“Carmen, here is a card of a counselor, just in case you change your mind.” She smiled and walked away.
Carmen waited until she got out of the building to throw the card away.
Carmen walked into her dorm to find it empty. She noticed something pink; it was the teddy hanging out of her bag from the night with Tameka. She put the teddy on and looked at herself in the mirror.
“Tameka was right. I look big as hell in this,” she said to herself. She walked back to her bed to take it off right as Cooley and Misha walked in.
“Damn, Carmen, or should I say Diamond. You got a new job at the strip club or something?” Cooley said as she walked in the room.
“Funny. No, I just picked this up, but I’m taking it back. It makes me look funny as hell.”
“Girl, please. You look good in that. You need to keep it for whoever you date next,” Misha added.
“Whatever.” Carmen pulled the outfit off and put it in the bag. She was happy about what her friends said, but she still couldn’t get the comments that Tameka made out of her head.
“So, how many more days do you all think y’all gonna be doing that pledging shit?” Cooley said as she grabbed Misha and pulled her into her lap.
“Can’t be too much longer. We got exams and the Alumni weekend.”
“Well, I will be glad because I don’t need Misha out all times of the night anymore. She is a married woman now.”
“Aww, baby, that’s so sweet.” Misha kissed Cooley.
They started to get heated.
“Well, I will leave you all to be. I will see you all later.” Carmen headed out the door. She didn’t know if they even heard her, because they were too busy making out.
Carmen headed to the University Center. She found a bench to sit on. She just wanted to think.
“Hey, you.”
Carmen heard a familiar voice. She turned around to see Nic standing behind her. “Hey, how are you?” Carmen smiled. She felt like someone knocked the wind out of her when she saw Nic standing there. She realized that Nic still looked damn good.
“I’m good, I’m good, and you, Miss Carmen?” Nic smiled.
“I am glad to hear that.” Carmen tried to fake a smile, but seeing Nic made her realize what she gave up.
Nic sat down on the bench next to her. She could sense something was wrong.
“Carmen, what’s going on with you? Is everything okay?” Nic put her hand on Carmen’s shoulder. Chills went over her whole body.
“Nothing much. I am dealing with a lot, with pledging and classes. I am gaining weight, and I don’t know why. It’s just a lot in my life right now.”
“Shorty, I can’t tell you’re gaining weight. You still look damn good to me. But I doubt you will ever not look good to me.” Nic smiled, which made Carmen smile as well.
“Thanks. You are still a sweetheart, I see.”
“Nic, I’m ready.” A girl had walked up to them. She was very petite and cute.
Carmen felt jealousy overcome her.
“All right. Well, Miss Carmen, this is Courtney.”
Carmen mustered up everything in her to say hello.
“Well, I have to get going as well. See you around, Nic.” Carmen got up and walked off as quickly as she could. She thought she heard Nic call her name, but she kept walking and never looked back.
She picked up her phone and dialed Tameka’s number.
“Well, well, it’s about time you called me.” Tameka answered the phone with her usual cocky attitude.
“Yeah, look, I don’t appreciate the way that you spoke to me last. Do it again and you can kiss me good-bye.”
“Damn, baby, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I have been missing you like crazy, you know.”
“Really, I can’t tell. I haven’t received a phone call in a week.”
“I didn’t think you wanted to speak to me. You were so mad, I was just going to wait for you to calm down and talk to me. So, you want to go to our spot?” Tameka replied in her deepest, sexy voice.
Something in Carmen told her to say no.
“Okay, I’ll see you in two hours.” She ignored her bad feeling. All she wanted was to be loved.