The Rumor Mill

Ch. 8

"Not ruining," I reassured and confessed, "you're more like....interfering." We both started laughing, until we saw his grayish black 2009 Cadillac car pull up. He got out, saw me, and began walking my way.

I must've had a displeasing look on my face when I saw James, because William noticed and suddenly figured out why I'm alone. He waved his index finger back and forth from James to me. "Oh, I get it now," he seemed to realize. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see him, I just still mad at him for being a lying cheater. As James got closer, I got even more tense. When he got here, he looked at me, then at William, then back at me with an emotionless face.

There was an ackward pause until William broke it. "Okay," he began while getting up, "I'll take this ackward silence as my cue to leave. See you 'round Tracey," he said before leaving. We have to work this situation out before it gets even more out of hand.

James' eyes looked deep into mine as he spoke the words, "You're right. I did take another girl to the dance."

"That's not persuading me to believe you," I admitted while looking away from him, trying not to forgive him so easily.

"But Porsha and I had yet another stupid fight and broke up.....two days before the dance," James retorted back. Now I'm confused.

"So what are you trying to say? That Porsha made the whole thing up?" I asked, now I felt a little lost.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Porsha and I weren't together on Halloween," he explained some more while making quotation with his hands when he said together. Lots of different questions started pouring through my mind at once. If that's true, then why would Porsha say you two were together?

"Then why would she say you cheated if you two weren't together?" I repeated out loud, copying him and making quotations when I said together.

He made sure he was at a reasonable distance, giving me some space. "I don't know," he shrugged modestly, "I guess she was mad at how fast I found a date." He sat down in the chair to my right. I felt like a fool for believing Porsha. Something in me told me not to let her get to me, but I just had to know the truth. I sat there feeling stupidity rising inside me as I sorted out the details.

"So technically," I began, still trying to get it right, "You didn't cheat?"

I felt even more stupid as I said it out loud. James shook his head as he waited for my next reaction. When he noticed I was lost for words, he took that oppurtunity to apologize. "And I'm sorry for how I've been acting in class. I'm just so use to being in a relationship where there's a lot of agruments. So when you asked about us, it just came out like a reflex," he explained.

Why did I believe Porsha anyway, knowing she doesn't like me? The question just kept trying to jump out of my mouth, but I kept it in and started my apology. "I'm so sorry James. I don't know why I didn't believed you? It's just that, her story added up, you know. And with the way you reacted and ugh! You must think I'm some kinda crazy idiot for believing her," I confessed as I was still trying to sort out the things that just happened.

I've never felt so foolish and embarassed in my life. "Tracey, I've thought you were crazy since the first time I met you," he joked while puting his hand on my cheek. "I also think you're easily persuaded if someone comes to you with the right details, but not an idiot," he laughed while letting my face go. "And?" he asked impatiently.

I gave a little laughed when I realized what he was waiting on. "And...." I chuckled. "I'm sorry for accusing you of cheating on me in the near future." We both laughed again.

"Apology accepted," he began. "Can you do me one favor though?" I agreed and waited on his offer. "If you're curious about me, just come to me, okay? I'll always be honest with you, and I have nothing to hide." I agreed while still feeling stupidity. We both got up, and I started to walk towards my car, when he grabbed my arm to stop me. "Oh, and another favor," he began as though he just remember something.

I laughed as he seemed to put his thoughts together. "I thought there was only one favor?" I humored as he was conjuring up his thoughts. He chuckled under his breathe before speaking again. He spoke in a gentle demanding voice, something I've never heard before.

"Don't compare yourself to Porsha. What you and I have is way more then what me and her ever did."

I held up my hand as if I was testifying on the witness stand in court. "Scoute's honor," I joked while I stood up. As we began walking to my car.

"So, I see you've made a new friend during our days of no communication," he asked jokingly while referring to William.

"I wouldn't say he's a friend, he's more like an associate," I reassured while opening my car door.

Before I got in the car, he spun me around and kissed me. It was much needed and it felt good to feel the warmth and gentleness of his lips again. We stood there kissing until my phone interrupted us. "Don't answer that," he said during breaths.

At first I didn't want to, but it could be Yvette with an emergency. I slowly pushed James away as he let out a deep sigh. I reached down and grabbed it out of my purse. It was Andrew, and I couldn't make it out, but there were people shouting in the background. What's that all about? "Hey Andrew, what's up?"

"I kinda need your help!" he shouted so I could hear him.

"Okay," I said unsurely. "What's going on?"

"You remember that girlfriend I was telling you and Yvette about?"

"Yeah, uh.....Tina, right?"

"Tasha."

"Tasha, right. So what about her?"

"Well," he paused. "She's sorta kinda over at my house." I was confused.

"Okay?" I asked.

He paused again so I can hear Yvette's voice in the background. "Vetty was here when she showed up and, well, know you're up to date."