A Lesson Learned

Chapter 19- On My Own

Charles wanted to tell her the raw deal but he knew that would just make her run away and probably get married even sooner. So he tried to reason with her in hopes that in the next few months she would realize she was making a big mistake.

Shelly sighed and wiped her mouth with her handkerchief. "Alright Charles, I'll give it six months. At least then I can plan out a big, fly ass wedding."

Charles gave her an odd look and then put his hand on his forehead.

~~~~~~~
Ahmad sat on a bench at a park adjacent from the West Side Highway. He looked across the river towards New Jersey and felt himself missing home. For the umpteenth time, he reflected on his shitty life and how he foolishly allowed his heart to lead him down this downtrodden path. He could still be at home with his mom and dad, starting off his junior year of college.

Ahmad pulled out his cell phone and dialed his mother, hoping this time she would pick up. The phone rang and rang but all he kept getting was her voicemail. Each time he declined leaving a message. He didn't know why he was calling or what he would say to her. Since attending Darius's and Taliah's wedding, he had not gone back to their apartment. He had been staying at a motel near 96th street and moping around New York City like a lost puppy.

Suddenly his phone lit up and he excitedly answered it thinking it must be his mom calling him back.

"Hello," He said into the receiver.

"Waddup hoe," Navarre greeted.

"Oh hey," Ahmad sulked realizing it wasn't his mom on the other end.

"Well fuck you too," Navarre retorted feeling unloved. "What bit your ass?"

"Oh it's nothing, what you been up to homie?" Ahmad lied not feeling like divulging.

"Same shit, different toilet. Well and the fact that Winston won't stop tearing up these guts," Navarre loved bragging up getting dicked down.

"Ugghhh more than I needed to know. I still can't believe dude is gay," Ahmad responded.

"Please who isn't these days," Navarre feigned like he wasn't surprised as well by Winston's bisexuality.

"I know but still, the way he came on to you was so, so gay." Ahmad laughed at his own choice of words.

"No it was so controlling, I loved that shit!" Navarre admitted. "And speaking of being so gay, Winston done pulled your card."

Ahmad grimaced, "What do fuck you mean? How he know?"

"He said you be spilling your tea all over Darius's apartment girl!" Navarre explained.

"I do not, please I should've been peeped his card the way his eyes would follow my ass all around the room." Ahmad retorted out of anger but wished he hadn't.

"Bitch come again?" Navarre fumed.

"Nothing, never mind." Ahmad wanted to switch subjects.

"Naw you said something real slick! Winston be flirting with you and shit?" Navarre questioned.

"I never said flirting! I just think I caught him staring at me a couple of times, but maybe I'm exaggerating it." Ahmad played it down, since he did remember the boy practically drooling over him as they smoked with Darius on random afternoons.

Navarre was quiet for a minute as he thought things over, "Nah I know just what you mean now that I think about it. It's the same way he be looking at me, like he watching each bounce my booty makes. He ain't slick!"

"Alright Navarre calm down, it ain't that serious. And ain't nothing happen between me and Winston," Ahmad clarified hoping to get Navarre to calm down.