Fate

Three: Church Boy

"Yeah, church boy. That's what the fuck thought!" I call out then turn towards Chanel who's crying softly. "Chanel, what the fuck was that? When did Jarell start tryna be a thug and why you putting up with that shit? What's going on?"

"I'll explain at the studio tonight. Thank you for always being there and I'll see you later, Lani." Chanel says before giving me a quick hug and heading out the door.

Moments later, Brandon comes into the living room and starts getting dressed. I take a few quick looks at his chiseled abs and thick bulge before finally looking away. "So that's her boyfriend? I can tell from that nigga's voice that he didn't mean none of the shit he was saying. Nigga wouldn't hurt a fly."

Walking into the kitchen, I fill my mug with coffee and pop two pills for my headache then walk back into the living room, joining Brandon on the couch. "Yeah, that's Jarell. I don't know whats gotten into him, but he's not that person. When we were younger me and Jarell met at church and became friends. While I was in the hood, he was in the suburbs, but we both went to a church in the hood because our mama's grew up in that church. Jarell always have wanted to be from the hood so he kept fooling around in the streets. I guess he's taken it to the next level by acting like that, but I know for a fact that, he ain't no killa tho."

"I hate a nigga that wanna struggle. Niggas like me that's actually from the hood, don't wanna do nun but get out so for a nigga from the burbs' to try and be hood don't sit right with me... I know we met while you was fucked up last night, but I'm Brandon. Drummer is my homeboy." He says as he laces up his tennis shoes.

"Exactly, but I'ma get to the bottom of that shit when I talk to Chanel at the studio tonight. Yeah, I remember your name. I'm Milani, but you can call me Lani. So I'm guessing Drummer is the nigga that was feeling me last night? How the hell he get a name like that?"

"Nice to meet you, Lani. What studio y'all going to? I know y'all ain't no rappers." He laughs, licking his thick lips. Ian gone lie, this nigga is beautiful in a medium ugly kinda way. "Shiddd when me and Chanel walked in that office, it looked like you was feeling him too. Drummer is his nickname, but I'll let him explain that to you. Just know it's sum dumb shit."

I laugh as I sip my coffee. "Nah, we ain't no rappers. I have a dance studio downtown called, "MRDance" and I train girls that compete in competitions and shit. I also dabble in competitions myself, but for the grown and sexy category, if ya know what I mean. As for Drummer, he aite."

"Ima come check y'all out sometimes if that's cool with you. That'll give me a better chance at getting to know Chanel and aye, get off my boy cause last night it looked liked you was gone swallow him whole."

"That's cool and Speaking of Chanel, how the hell you end up on my couch with her last night?" I ask, finishing up the last of my coffee.

The rest of my afternoon/ evening is filled with funny conversations, jokes, and dinner with Brandon. He also wouldn't spill tea about Chanel because he said she probably would wanna tell me herself. Although we just met, he seems like a cool guy and I'm looking forward to getting to know him more, on a friend level, of course. Before he left, we exchanged numbers, I ate again, then got dressed and came to the studio.

"Y'all doing too much talking to be messing up the routine like that. Since you can't keep your mouths closed and focus, this is now a silent practice. Don't say another word to each other until this routine is correct!" I yell out, slamming my clipboard down on the table.

"Ahh man!"...."See there Jas! You got us in trouble!"...."I told you it was 3..4..5.. and 6" Different students say as they complain about silent practice.

Rolling my eyes, I run through the routine again and try to keep myself from getting irritated. Working with a group of 13-16 year old girls gets very annoying because it's too many attitudes in one room. It doesn't help that I have almost 40 students. I wish Chanel was here to help me, but she's late which is a first. The girls have been worried about her, most importantly, so have I.

"Okay girls, I know you're tired and we've went over this hip hop routine over 10 times. How about this? If you all can get it right and do it full out this last time, I'll let you leave right after. If not, you're staying till midnight and working your asses off!" I say as I wipe sweat from my forehead and chug a bottle of water.

"But we all know that Ryleigh is gonna mess up! She always fucking messes up and we all get punished!" One of the students sighs.

"Watch your mouth, liyah. You never rule out someone just because they've made mistakes in the past! It doesn't matter how many times you mess up, as long as you give it your all. I don't punish you all because of one person's mistake, I punish you all because you need discipline. Yeah, one student may mess up terribly, but that's not always the cause of the punishment. Some of y'all get sloppy, y'all make mistakes..even if it's tiny, I notice them which is why I punish you all because if I notice it, I know the judges will too. Each one of you does something in the dance that's wrong, not just Ryleigh, so worry about yourselves. Now run the dance again!!!!" I clap my hands and turn on the music, watching them closely.

After watching the girls do the dance full out, I'm satisfied with the progress for now so I send them back outside to their parents and watch as Chanel walks into the studio wearing shades and a thick hoodie with long pants even though it's hot as hell outside. Deciding that I need to release some stress, I close all of the blinds and press the button that lets down the poles. Once the studio is free from students, I walk over to Chanel.

"What's going on?" I ask her, snatching her shades off and tearing up when I see her, bruised face.
"W-W- who did this to you bitch? I'll kill them!"

Chanel doesn't say a word but instead, breaks down crying in my arms. Rubbing her back softly, she winces when I touch her so I make her take off her hoodie and long pants, leaving her only in a sports bra and spandex shorts. Her body is covered in bruises that look darker each time I glance at them.

"It was J-Jarell. When we left your house he beat my ass for hours because he said I put him in a position to be embarrassed meaning he was embarrassed because of all the shit you said to him. I blacked out multiple times during the beating and he woke me up with a kick or punch every time. L-Lani, this isn't the first time he's done something like this. This time was just the worst." She sobs softly into my arms, wetting my shirt.

"Chanel, babygirl, you don't have to deal with his shit!! I'm so sorry I said that shit to him. If I had of known that he's been hitting you, I would've killed his ass right then and there. You know I gotta glock under my bed and if you ever need it, please use your key to my house to get it." I say as I hold back the tears that are pooling in my eyes. "Do you wanna go to the police?"

"It's not your fault, Milani, because everything you said about him today was true. Money has changed him and now he acts like he's head huncho in the streets. He'll never step to a nigga because he lets his boys handle it but as soon as I do the slightest thing, he beats my ass. At first, it would just be a slap or he'd choke me, but now, he's started full on beating me! I can't go to the police because he has some of his boys working there. It's dirty cops everywhere so they'll only tell him that I made a report against him. Listen to me good Lani, I can already tell that you're thinking of getting involved. DON'T DO IT!! I will handle it eventually."

"Chanel, that shit is crazy! I can't believe choir singing, Bible reading ass Jarell has switched up like that. If his grandma knew how he was, she'd be turning over in her grave. What the fuck do you mean don't get involved!? You're my best friend and he could literally kill you!!" I scream, getting mad at her for being so scared.

"I promise I'll handle it ASAP. Just promise me that you won't get involved." Chanel says as she holds my hands. "Say it, Milani!"

"Okay, Chanel. I promise I won't get involved."

After drying Chanel's tears, she wants to take her mind off it so I turn on Sex with me by Rihanna so we can practice our pole dancing routine for the upcoming competition.

"You sure you're not too sore to dance?" I ask her before taking off my long sleeve shirt and joggers, leaving me in only my red sports bra and matching spandex shorts.

"I'm sure. Let's do this."