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“Malajia why do you continue to leave empty cereal boxes in the cabinets?” Alex asked, annoyed as she tossed two empty boxes in the trash.
“I leave them so whoever goes shopping can remember which ones I like,” Malajia shrugged.
Sidra looked up from her cup of coffee, perplexed. “Just write it down on the list that we keep on the fridge,” she said. “Why take up room in the cabinet with empty boxes?”
“‘Cause maybe I don’t feel like throwing the damn boxes in the trash,” Malajia snapped, moving out of the way to allow Chasity to reach for something in another cabinet.
This morning—like many others—all five girls were trying to maneuver in the small kitchen for breakfast before classes.
“Ever think about that?” Malajia added.
“No. I don’t,” Sidra sneered. “But I’m not surprised.”
Alex let out a loud sigh, putting the lid back on the trash can. “Malajia, you do know it’s your turn to clean the kitchen, right?” she reminded.
“No the fuck it’s not,” Malajia loudly protested. “Sidra said if I cleaned the bathroom for her this week, she would clean the kitchen for me.”
“But you didn’t even clean the damn bathroom,” Sidra hissed. “Alex did.”
“Exactly, so like I said, you have to clean the kitchen,” Alex added, pointing at Malajia who was visibly irritated.
“It doesn’t matter if I actually cleaned the bathroom. A verbal deal is a verbal deal,” Malajia argued, pointing to Sidra whose eyes widened.
“But you didn’t even hold up your end of the verbal deal,” Sidra flashed back. “You’re always trying to get out of doing any damn work.”
“What did you clean?” Malajia questioned.
“Our entire room, including your mess,” Sidra answered, teeth clenched. “Do you know how much of your trash I threw out?”
Malajia sucked her teeth. “Nobody asked—”
“God, Malajia shut the hell up already,” Chasity cut in. “Stop being lazy and clean the damn kitchen,” she barked, frowning at Malajia. “We go through this shit every damn week.”
Malajia ran her hand over her hair. “Fine,” she grunted.
“You salty, you got chastised.” Alex laughed at the look on Malajia’s face.
“Yeah well, you did part of my work anyway you mop-headed troll,” Malajia mumbled.
Alex’s laugh came to an abrupt halt. She narrowed her eyes at Malajia before walking over to the trash can. She removed the empty boxes and tossed them on the floor. “Have fun,” she teased, a phony smile plastered to her face.
“Bitch,” Malajia scoffed, folding her arms in a huff.
Emily, who was sitting in the living room eating her toaster pastry, glanced out of the front window. She watched Mark slowly walk past the house, staring in the window with a sad look on his face.
“Mark is walking past the house again,” Emily informed.
“And?” Sidra hissed. “He can walk past as many times as he wants, he’s not getting in here.”
It had been four days since David and Mark had had their falling out. Neither David nor the others had any interest in associating with Mark after what he did, and were giving him the silent treatment.
“No, he needs to quit that stalker shit,” Chasity sneered. “Yesterday he stared in the window for like ten minutes straight.”
Emily chuckled at the thought. “Are you serious?” she asked.
“Yes, I was sitting on the couch,” Chasity replied.
“What did you do?” Emily laughed.
“I stared right back at his dumb ass,” Chasity said evenly.
“Josh told me that he just sits in the living room looking at the TV, waiting for one of the guys to say something to him,” Alex put in, biting a bacon strip.
“That’s what he gets,” Sidra barked. “He has to learn that he can’t treat his friends like shit and expect everybody to be okay with it.” She reached for creamer from the refrigerator. “He’s always acted out and he’s always targeted David, ever since we were children.”
“He still is a damn child,” Malajia scoffed, wiping the counter top with a sponge.
Emily looked at Malajia. “Do you feel bad for giving him the silent treatment?” she asked. “He’s your boyfriend after all.”
“Fuck no,” Malajia spat out. “And don’t remind me about the boyfriend thing. He’s on couple time out until he gets some damn act right.”
“Is he still out there Emily?” Alex asked, grabbing her book bag off of the step.
Emily looked out the window. “Yes, he’s staring at me right now,” she said.
“Great,” Alex drawled sarcastically. “Chaz, you ready?” she asked, putting the book bag on her shoulder.
“He’s such a fuckin’ creep,” Chasity ground out, tossing her bowl in the sink.
Malajia frowned. “Bitch you better wash that bowl,” she ordered. “You see me trying to clean the kitchen.”
“And the dishes are a part of it,” Chasity teased. “Have fun,” she added, walking to the door.
“I really hate you right now,” Malajia spat at Chasity.
“I love you too,” Chasity taunted, walking out the door with a laughing Alex following close behind.
“God Mark, give it a rest!” Alex barked to Mark, shutting the door behind her.
Sidra grabbed her purse and books from the arm of the couch. “He needs to take his ass to class,” she said. “See you later ladies.”
As Sidra darted out the door, Emily headed up the steps to grab something that she had forgotten.
From the kitchen, Malajia craned her neck to peer out of the window. Seeing Mark standing there, staring at the house looking pitiful, made her feel bad. It was clear that he was missing his friends. She wondered if she should just go talk to him, then quickly dismissed the thought.
“No, his ass needs to learn a lesson,” she said to herself, going back to washing dishes.
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“Why is there never any damn food in this house?” Mark complained to himself, slamming the refrigerator door. He’d just gotten back after class and was starving. As he rummaged through the cabinets, he heard the front door open. He looked up, anticipating seeing the guys walk in.
“I’ll just be a second guys, let me change my shirt really quick,” Josh said to Jason and David, hurrying up the steps.
“You gotta hurry up man, the game starts in like twenty minutes,” Jason called up the steps, looking at his watch.
Mark slowly closed the cabinet door as he stared. “Hey guys,” he said, voice hopeful. Maybe this would be the day that his friends stopped ignoring him. Jason and David looked at him briefly before going back to their conversation.
“So anyway, I heard that this team plays really good,” David said. “I was talking to—”
“So y’all are about to go to the basketball game?” Mark interrupted.
“Yep,” David spat.
“So um...how about I come with you?” he proposed, “I won’t even guilt y’all into buying me any snacks.”
Jason shot Mark a glare. “How about naw?” he hissed, not amused by his attempt at a joke. “You’re not invited.”
Mark slammed his hand on the counter. “Come on!” he barked, furious. “I can’t believe you people are still mad.”
“Believe it,” Jason countered. “Josh, come on bro, we gotta go!” he yelled up the steps.
“Alright, alright,” Josh said, hurrying down the steps. As the three guys headed for the door, Mark sucked his teeth.
“I hope y’all know that you’re acting like a bunch of girls,” Mark scoffed. “How long are you gonna keep this shit up?”
The three guys looked at each other, then looked back at Mark. He wondered what they were going to say. He was sure that he was going to get a verbal lashing.
“Hey man, you wanna come with us?” David asked, much to Mark’s shock and delight.
“Yeah,” Mark smiled. “I’m just gonna go grab my wallet.”
As Mark made a mad dash in his room to retrieve his wallet, David looked back at the other guys who eyed him in confusion.
“What are you doing?” Josh asked.
“Let’s see how he feels when he’s played,” David said, motioning the guys to hurry out the door. Mark came out just as the front door shut. Realizing that he had been pranked, his smile faded.
He tossed his wallet on the counter. “I ain’t wanna go with y’all punk asses anyway,” he mumbled, leaning against the counter.
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“Emily, I swear if you don’t come on, I’m leaving you,” Chasity called up the stairs, pushing her straight hair over her shoulders.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Emily replied, quickly trotting down the stairs. “I couldn’t find my ID.”
“You’re always losing that thing,” Chasity commented.
Emily giggled. “Sad, but true,” she agreed.
Both girls were supposed to meet the others at the football field for a campus wide extreme Easter egg hunt.
“I don’t even feel like going,” Chasity complained.
“Well, you already promised that you’ll go,” Emily reminded, heading for the door.
“I promised nothing,” Chasity mumbled, following Emily out of the house. Both girls were startled to see Mark standing right on their front step.
They let out a scream.
“What the fuck, Mark?!” Chasity snapped, annoyed.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack,” Emily followed up, putting a hand on her chest.
“What are y’all about to do?” Mark asked, ignoring their reactions.
“We’re about to mind our damn business,” Chasity bit out.
Emily turned her head, avoiding Mark’s gaze. Emily knew that Chasity was more inclined to keep up the coldness towards Mark just as the others had. But she felt that it was hard to be mean to him, even if he did deserve it.
“Come on Chaz—”
“You’re wasting your time with me right now,” Chasity spat, interrupting Mark’s pleading.
Mark narrowed his eyes at her. “I can’t believe you guys are still treating me like shit,” he fumed. “This is ridiculous, it’s been five days.”
“Has it?” Chasity questioned smartly. “I lost count.”
Mark rolled his eyes at Chasity before turning his attention to Emily, who was busy staring out to the side of her. “Em, I know you really don’t want to keep this nonsense up,” he assumed, smiling slightly. “Can I have a hug?” He stood there, arms outstretched.
Emily swallowed hard, seeing the hopeful look on Mark’s face. She then looked at Chasity, who was tapping her foot impatiently.
Chasity had no intention on restricting Emily from communicating with Mark if she wanted to. But whatever she was going to do, Chasity wished that she would just hurry up.
“We have to go Mark,” Emily softly replied, much to Mark’s disappointment, which showed on his face. It also didn’t help Mark when Chasity busted out laughing at the look on his face.
Mark shook his head. “You are so fuckin’ evil Chasity,” he hissed.
“Yeah?” Chasity replied, nonchalant. “At least our friends still like me,” she taunted as she and Emily walked away, leaving Mark to sulk.
