A Lesson Learned

Chapter 19- On My Own

"What else is new," Ahmad laughed.

"Nigga I know you want a drink too, especially considering your week," Navarre digged.

"You right, but don't make me depressed bringing up my mess of a life." Ahmad warned.

Navarre heard his line beep and when he looked to see who was calling his face lit up.

"Ahmad I'm going to have to call you back," he said before clicking over.

Ahmad didn't even half a chance to reply, he only heard the line click in his ear.

Ahmad didn't feel like sitting idly by the Hudson River sulking any longer, so he got up and began walking. He wasn't ready to go back to the shitty motel, so he decided it was a cool enough night to just walk around and explore the beautiful city. As he walked further into the inner streets, he began thinking about the only other guy that made him smile these days. Though they had not been connected in a while, their new restored "friendship" was deep, complex, and exciting. Ahmad didn't know what was happening, but he knew there was just something about the man. He pulled his cell phone back out and dialed Maxwell's number.

After about the sixth ring someone picked up, "Hello?" said a female voice.

"Hello?" Ahmad replied surprised. "Can I speak to Max?"

"Who is this?" The woman asked.

"Ahmad," He told her wondering if he caught Maxwell at a bad time. For some reason he was curious to know who this woman was and why she was answering Max's phone.

"Okay hold on sweetheart," The woman said before putting the phone on hold and calling Maxwell to the phone.

"Yo," Max said taking the phone off hold.

"What's up Max caught you at a bad time?" Ahmad asked.

"Nah, it's cool," Maxwell whispered. "What's up with you I haven't spoken to you in a good while?"

"Yeah sorry about that, I've been dealing with a lot these days. So who you with?" Ahmad found himself asking, he just had to know what the situation was with this woman.

"I'm with a friend," Maxwell responded not feeling like he had to explain himself.

Ahmad didn't like the response, but he wasn't about to question Maxwell.

"Oh ok, so what are you doing this weekend?" Ahmad changed subjects.

"I got a few things here and there, and I got to finish this project for my internship." Maxwell informed him.

"That's right! I keep forgetting you're only here for the summer. And I was getting used to you being here." Ahmad remembered knowing he would miss him.

"Yeah okay," Maxwell brushed him off. "But what's up why you ask?"

Ahmad tried his best to ignore the fact that Maxwell just played him a little and just went on to answer the question.

"My friend Charles is performing at this club this weekend and I wanted to know if you wanted to come." Ahmad asked.

"Like I said I'm real busy, but I'll try to make it. Text me the details, oh yeah, my friend Yahira can come through too right?" Maxwell responded.

Ahmad figured Yahira must be the girl who answered the phone, and now suspected there must be something going on between them. He wasn't about to tell Max he couldn't bring someone to an open public venue, but he felt slighted that he opened up the personal invitation. He wanted to hang out with Maxwell exclusively, but he knew Maxwell must be backing off.