"Ken," Janet begins, walking outside behind Kendra. "how did you get into Jazmyne's room if the door was locked?"
Kendra dangles a key in Janet's face and smiles deviously.
"Is that the key to her room?" Janet asks.
Kendra beams then stuffs the key into her front pocket.
"Yes, Teyonna had an extra key made a loooooong time ago. You see, Jazz loves locking people out, so we stole her key one day and made a copy."
Janet smiles at the friendly conniving ways of Teyonna and Kendra.
"So what did she do when you stuck your arm in her room?"
"She just gasped." Kendra shrugs.
"That's it?"
"Yup."
"She didn't yell anything or charge over to the door?" Janet blinks as Kendra shakes her head.
"She didn't do anything," Kendra shrugs again. "I told you she just gasped a little."
"Oh," Janet sighs. "Do you think she's answered the phone?"
Kendra shrugs once more.
"If I wanna tell Michael what's on my mind Siggy!" Teyonna yells just a few feet from Janet and Kendra. "I will tell Michael what's on my mind!!"
Janet shakes her head as Teyonna and Siggy argue some more.
"I hope she answered." She mumbles. "Answer the phone, Jazz."
*
"Baby? Baby, are you still there?" Michael asks softly. "Baby?"
"I'm not," I sigh and hold back the sudden urge to scream at him. "I am not your baby, Michael."
"Jazz, you will always be my baby." He guarantees. "Always."
The thought makes me roll my eyes then I walk over to the edge of my bed to sit down.
"Michael, why don't you let Shana be your baby?" I hiss, comfortably crossing my legs. "I mean she was yours, according to her, plenty of times, while I was out cold in a coma."
I think I hear him wince, but I'm not quite sure.
"That was a mistake," Michael speaks softly. "I don't want her. It was a mistake, and, baby, I'm sorry."
"For what?" My tongue is riddled with bitter acidic anger.
Michael sighs heavily, and I can practically feel him rubbing his forehead from frustration.
"For hurting you." He speaks, hoarsely. "I never meant to hurt you, Jazz."
"Who says I'm hurt, Michael?" I scoff at his audacity to tell me what I'm feeling.
"Your actions."
"My actions?" I deplore with a look of disgust. "You haven't seen me, Michael. How can you speak on my actions?"
"I don't have to see you to know how you feel, Jazmyne." He grits, obviously thwarted from my attitude. "Babe, we're connected in sooo many different ways, emotionally....physically. Even though you might not want to acknowledge it right now."
"What's to acknowledge, Michael?" I ask smartly. "Our entire relationship was a lie."
"No, it wasn't!"
There's anger in his voice, but I don't give a fuck.
"Michael, you cheated on me at my most vulnerable and unaware state. Therefore, you showed me you didn't give a fuck."
"I give plenty of fucks, Jazz!!" He hollers.
I roll my eyes and chuckle at his little outburst.
"Yeah, right, dude." I file my nails disdainfully.
Michael takes in three deep breaths to calm himself.
"Jazmyne," He begins in a new voice. "I am still the man who loved you past your pain."
"Yeah, Michael," I begin in a mocking tone. "and you're still the man who gave me said pain too."
Damn, that was a low blow even for me.
Michael doesn't speak for a few seconds.
"Jazz, we've both," His tone is soft and pleasant. "baby, we've both caused each other pain."
"Ummm," I hum sanctimoniously. "I don't recall cheating on you at any stage in our relationship, Michael. So how have I hurt you?"
Michael sighs, exasperated. "By being wishy-washy."
I scoff. "Wishy washy? Boy, please, I am not nor have I ever been wishy-washy."
"Yes, you are, Jazz."
"Examples, please?" I challenge.
"Okay," Michael accepts my challenge. "first you don't want Devonte then you allow him to kiss you. Then you're friends with Will, but then you reveal to me that you've turned him down for sex plenty of times."
"No, I didn't." I reply taciturn.
"Correct my errors then." Michael smacks his mouth.
I know he ain't getting an attitude with me.
"I saaaaiiiiidddd," I sarcastically drawl. "I've turned down DICK plenty of times, not Will's dick."
"So Will wants to have sex with you?" My asks accusatory.
"Probably," I shrug to vex him. "what's it to you, man?"
"You're my girlfriend, woman." Michael spits back.
"My ass." I guffaw before smacking my lips together. "Michael, boo, Jazmyne stopped being your girlfriend the moment you wiggled your dick inside that bitch Shana."
"Jazz, I---" Michael begins and an apology lingers.
"I'm not finished!" I snap, cutting him off, and his end of the phone stays silent.
I guess he doesn't want to rile me up anymore.
I don't blame him.
"Michael," I continue. "I noticed a change in you a month back, but I never knew--" I suddenly giggle "Shit, no wonder you were trying to accuse me of cheating on you. You were accusing me, because you were doing it!"
Michael sighs heavily and I know I've hit the nail right on the head. "Yes, baby, I felt guilty, and I was being an ass about the whole thing because of it. I shouldn't have projected my wrong doings on to you. Jazz, I know you weren't messing around with Will, but I just needed an excuse to make myself feel somewhat better. I know I was wrong. Dead wrong."
"And you fucked her before you left." I hiss, ignoring his apologetic tone.
Michael's end of the phone rains silence down on the line.
"Michael," I sigh, letting go of some of the anger in my voice. "I was with Will, but I made him take me to your hotel, because I wanted to see you. I wanted to show you that I was totally devoted to you. Will and I are friends, yes, but he does nothing for me. I loved you, Michael, but you showed me your love and devotion when I found that bitch naked in your bed!"
"It'll never happen again, Jazmyne." Michael assures and I can feel his eyes closing.
"Damn, straight it won't, Michael," I bark. "because we won't be together again for you to do it to me again."
He gasps. "What?"
I can hear the panic.
"Michael, I don't want you." I say with so much conviction I actually believe myself.
"Y-You don't want--Jazz," Michael stutters in a panic, and I can practically hear his heart beating through the phone. "baby, I know things have been difficult, but I'm better now. I'm done with those pil--"
"I'm done with you. I don't love you anymore, Michael."
"You can't just fall out of love with someone that fast." Michael scoffs. "You know you still love me, Jazz. I know you still love me."
"How?" I challenge.
"It's all in your voice."
I clear my throat, hoping to ice my voice more.
"Jazmyne," Michael swallows. "baby, I know you're mad at me, and I don't blame you, but we can fix this. Don't deny your feelings for me. We can fix this."
"I'm not denying a nonexistent entity, Michael." I mumble nonchalantly.
Michael takes in a sharp, painful breath and breathes in silence for a second.
"Jazmyne," I know his eyes are closed. "where can we go from here?"
I sit in silence thinking for a second.
"Jazmyne, baby, where can we go from here?" Michael repeats, and I can hear the urgency in his voice. "Baby, where? Tell me where can we go?"
"Nowhere." I answer snarky. "You go your way, Michael, and I go mine."
"No." Michael shakes his head.
"We're not meant for each other," I continue obdurately. "so let's just get off this hellish roller coaster we've called a relationship and let go."
Michael sniffs, holding back tears.
"I don't wanna get off and I don't wanna let go, Jazz. Baby, I swear, we can fix this."
I bite down on my bottom lip to hold back tears.
The first real emotion I've felt since we started talking.
"Michael," My voice cracks as tears pour down my cheeks. "you have to. We don't need to be together. There's just too much pain between us."
"Baby, please--"
"Michael, just let me go." I sob, tears flowing heavily now. "It's over, and there is no coming back. We're through for good."
"Baby, don't say th--"
I start sobbing as I hang up the phone in his face.
I sit still, sobbing louder, as I stare at the phone in my hand.
Did I just do that?
Did I just leave the first man I've ever really loved?
I did.
I bury my face in my hands and cry some more.
A few minutes later, with puffy eyes, I stand and wipe my nose on the sleeve of my pajamas.
I sigh as I walk over to the door and open it.
"Oh!" Kendra exclaims, stepping back from pressing her ear against my door. "He-hey, Jazz, I was just, ummm, you know walking by."
"Thanks, Kendra." I sniffle, placing the phone in her hand. "Now I can move on."
"Move on?" Janet asks, sticking her head into the hallway. "Jazz, what do you mean move on? Did you fix things with Michael?"
I shake my head. "We're through. Forever."