*Morning* 8:03 a.m. *
I wake up to an empty bed. I instantly felt sad to wake up alone. I start to smell the good ass smell of breakfast & hear it sizzling downstairs. I get up almost refreshed toward the door & suddenly stop.
I reach for the door knob not realizing how SHAKEY my hands were. Last night washed over me. I take a deep breath and reach for the door again. I let out a hard sigh with tears in my eyes. I'm scared...I'm so scared. What if CJ is down there. What if he-
I panic at the door and it swiftly opens. I jump back and see a still shirtless East with a tray of food in his hand. I stand there in silence & he stares at me with wandering eyes walking into the room.
East: we can have breakfast here or in the backyard or in the kitc-
Jace: here is fine.
I say out of fear.
East: you don't have to worry about CJ no more.
Jace: you killed him!?
East bursts out in laughter.
East: no I didn't kill him (laugh) it's just you and me today.
I look confused.
East: what happened last night-
He tries to chose his words carefully.
East: I wouldn't want to see nobody after that. If you don't want me here I could leave too.
Jace: I guess you can stay.
I try to find humor.
East: You have nothing to be embarrassed about...
He bends down to catch my eyes cause I was looking down.
East: Nothing.
I nod my head.
East: Kendra told me about a couple of your favorites. I made shrimp & grits, sausage, bacon, eggs, fren-
Jace: you made this ?
I ask eyeing the plate.
East: everything but the mimosas.
Jace: we have mimosas?
East laughs at the sudden perk in my voice.
East: yess we have mimosas.
______________________________________
*1 hour later*
We sat back plates empty still drinking mimosas watching Chucky. It's safe to say we were kinda lit.
Jace: say something or I'm going to throw you into the fire damnit!!!
East laughs at me reciting the lines with the movie.
Jace: why you baby sitting over there?
East: girl I don't know how you women drink this shit I'm already toasted ah fuck.
I laugh at him.
Jace: more toasted than drinkin henny & coke.
East: aahh (he nods his head) so you do remember me.
I blush not knowing how to respond.
Jace: it's kind of hard to forget a drink thief.
East: hol up hol up as I recall you tried to clip my drink.
Jace: you didn't need it. You a lightweight.
East: I'm a lightweight!? Yo lil boyfriend a lightweight.
My little boyfriend? Was that jealousy I just witnessed.
Jace: how is he a lightweight?
_______________________________________
*FLASHBACK* PICKS UP WHERE LEFT OFF*
D.Ease: I wonder what else you would steal from me if I wasn't lookin.
I begin to blush then feel a arm wrap tightly around my waist. My heart skips a beat seeing Jason drunk beside me.
Jason: what you doin?
Jace: oh I was just talkin to D-
Jason: no I see watchu doin why you doin it ?
I was stunned that Jason was talking to me crazy like this in front of a stranger.
D.Ease: it's coo J we just had a drink mix up.
Jason: I'm talkin to my girl.
Jace: I'm not your girl.
It slipped out my mouth so fast I couldn't believe I said it. Jason looks at me in disbelief. It hurt me to know I just embarrassed him like that. He never asked me to be his girl but it was a unspoken thing. More than friends with benefits.
I walk away from him to the car with him marching not too far behind me.
______________________________________
*FLASHBACK OVER*
I swirl my drink in my hand thinking hard.
East: you miss em ?
Jace:......yea..
I take a breath.
Jace: what about you? Anybody you miss?
East: as far as everyone knows I'm home.
I look at him confused.
East: as far as everyone knows I'm still around the hood doing my rounds. We all gotta keep goin on with our regular lives like nothing happened. The only ppl missing are you and Kendra.
I sit in silence realizing what he just said. I didn't even realize him and the rest of the boys were pretending to be home so it wouldn't be suspicious. He was right the only people missing were me & Kendra. That made me scared in hindsight.
East: don't worry I'm not gon kill you.
My mind flashes to East pistol whipping CJ.
I quickly cut my eye at him then look away. How could I sit here getting drunk & chillin with somebody who could rob a bank and beat his homeboy senseless with a gun. In reality I didn't know East.
Jace: I don't know that....
He looks at me stern seeing my mood completely switch.
East: Im gettin you back safe.
Jace: is that what you told CJ?
East looks at me confused.
East: he almost raped you.
Jace: if you could do that to a friend I could only imagine what you would do to me.
East: Next time I won't interrupt.
I catch my breath. How could he say that? We stare at each other. Tensions now high. He abruptly gets up picking up the tray clearly pissed off. He walks out the door closing it & I instantly regret what I said.
Jace: ffuucck
I whisper to myself.
I get up almost running downstairs. I stop before I hit the kitchen seeing East with his back turned washing dishes.
What the fuck is wrong with me?! Why should I give a flying fuck about what a criminal thinks about me! He just told me to my face he wouldn't interrupt CJ if he tried it again! Fuck him!
I take a deep breath and swallow my pride. I walk up behind East & raise my hand to touch his back but I stop mid air. I don't know what to say. He must've felt my presence cause he turns toward me.
I open my mouth but nothing comes out.
Jace: I'm sorry.
I admit.
Jace: This whole thing is just it doesn't make sense you know?
He just stares at me.
East: Don't apologize.... You right. You have a right to be scared, you have a right to not trust us and after what happened last night...I'm sorry.
His eyes were soft. I never seen them like this. My body voluntarily moved closer to him. He turns his body towards me. I was so scared to ask him this question & make this assumption.
Jace: Why you lookin out for me?
East: That's the burning question in yo head?
He laughs.
East: You know I go to war over you lil girl.
He pulls me into a hug and I freeze up. I hesitantly hug him back and he goes back to washing dishes and I instantly feel better.
Did we just have a fight and make up?
______________________________________
*WEEK 3*
The closer we got to a month the more surreal it felt. I feel like I'm developing Stockholm syndrome. I hate to say it but Kendra was right maybe a month vacation Is what I needed. We all slowly began to turn into a family in a short amount of time which was weird. We all became friends? Mikael would chill in my room sometimes, I would chill in Deleon & Kendra's room. East teaches me how to swim when we get alone time and we still kept our ritual of watching horror movies at night together. We all cook together, laugh together, did dumbass experiments & challenges we saw on YouTube. The boys would leave and go back home from time to time and sometimes that gave me anxiety, especially when East left. I always wondered what happened to CJ but no one told me and I damn sure wasn't looking for him.
Tonight was game night but the games Deleon picked up.........
Mikael: nigga how are these games fun for me or East!?
Deleon: man watchu bitchin about?
Mikael: Kendra is clearly off limits-
Deleon: you damn right she is.
Deleon pulls Kendra closer to him and gives her a kiss on the cheek.
We all groan loudly.
Jace: bruh its only me and 2 of them.
Deleon: you don't like threesomes?
I throw a card at him and everyone laughs.
Mikael: Jace is saying if it was 3 niggas and 3 girls is would make sense.
Deleon: oh well! I'm tryna get some tonight we playin this game!
East shuffles the cards shaking his head laughing at us.
We all pregamed with casamigos & dusse with music playing in the background.
Deleon: alright alright baby pull the first card.
Jace: damn you bossy.
Kendra: right!? Thirsty ass.
Kendra pulls the card.
Kendra: kiss the person to your left or take 4 shots.
We all look at Mikael who was next to Kendra.
Deleon: Man hell nah!
We all laugh.
Deleon: you gon have to take them 4 shots!
Kendra: nigga what! Nah!
Kendra leans over grabs Mikael on the sides of his face and kisses Mikael on the forehead.
We all laugh at Deleon looking stupid.
Mikael pulls a card.
Mikael: call the last person you had sex with and ask them when is the next round.
Mikael hesitated and picked up his phone and called a number.
Kendra: oh shit he really doin it ! Put it on speaker!
Anonymous: Hello.
All of our mouths drop hearing a man's voice on the phone.
Mikael: Hey I was just thinking about you....wondering when we can have a round 2?
Kendra & I try our best not to squeal with excitement! East & Deleons faces looked appalled.
Anonymous: you know I'm always open for you baby.
Me and Kendra fall out on the floor.
Mikael: alright I'll call you later, goodnight.
Mikael hangs up and we all scream.
East: nigga you bold.
Deleon: too bold!
Kendra: Mikael you gay!? Y'all knew he was gay?
Mikael: I'm bi sexual mam.
My mouth drops.
Kendra: y'all knew!?
East: why wouldn't we know? I ain't robbin no bank with no nigga I don't know.
I was pleasantly surprised at everyone's maturity.
East picks up a card.
East: it's a reverse card..says y'all have to pick a dare for me to do.
Kendra and Deleon rub they hands together and look and me and East back and fourth. My heart starts to pound. It was so hard to play it cool when I was burning on the inside.
Kendra: okay okay! Jace you gotta straddle East.
I nod my head, okay that seems simple. I begin to get up.
Deleon: nah nah nah....you gotta get on him in straddle position and grind on him like it's a goddamn pretty Ricky video.
Kendra: for a minute & thirty seconds!
Mikael: I'll pick the song!
I turn my head to Mikael like what the fuck? You supposed to be on my side. I glance over at East who wasn't even fazed by the dare.
Mikael cuts on Tsunami by Sammie. Now I start sweating it seemed too real now with everyone's eyes on me.
I stand awkwardly in front of East & he looks at me like...like a lion about to attack.
East: Afraid you gon like it ?
My pussy jumps.
Mikael: You afraid yo little boyfriend gon find out!
I get annoyed at everyone teasing and quickly get on him. I felt awkward and you could see it in my body language. I had my left hand on the arm of the couch and the other next to East's head resting on the back of the couch. I look away staring at the tv and I can feel East gazing at me intensely. He held his hands on my bare thighs and I melted.
Kendra: come on sis! That's not what I taught you!
I start to move like a rusted up robot in need of oil. I stare at the TV praying for it to hurry up to a minute.
I whip my head to East once I feel him grip my thighs tighter.
Deleon: Ride him like you ride that nigga J-Woo!!
Every comment pissed me off but that last one did it for me. I thrusted hard and slowly against East's lap. I looked into his eyes & I now felt like the lioness & he was my prey.
Mikael: oh shit...
Everyone gets silent.
Sammie- Tsunami
Shawty I love it when you ride my wave
Baby lose our manners, I need me a bad girl
That's gon, misbehave
I love it when you ride
You sure know how to ride
Ooh girl I love it when you ride my wave
Baby lose our manners, I need me a bad girl
That's gon, misbehave
I love it when you ride
You sure know how to ride
Baby I love it when you ride my wave
Maybe it was the shots. Maybe it was the song. Maybe it was being on top of this man but I felt a desire in me that I never felt before. I felt seductive & I felt wanted. My hand that was resting on the back of the couch was now wrapped around East's neck. My breath got heavier but not cause I was tired I was now enamored. East looked into my eyes like a man bowing to his Queen. In this moment if I ask him to kiss my feet he would. I got lost in my thoughts and it hit me that I was grinding on the hardest biggest dick I have ever felt in my life. If black girls could turn red I would be a tomato. I snap out of my trance and look away slightly lifting up hovering over East so I wouldn't be on his member. East moves his hands from my thighs to my hips and slowly pulls me back down on his dick again. I let out a slight quivering moan feeling it against me again. His eyes were saying "don't run from it".
*SILENCE*
How long has the music stopped?
I slowly turn around to the group and everyone was clutching their pearls mouths gapped open.
Kendra: if y'all need the room we can leave!!!
I laugh and slowly peel myself off of East and he gets up turning around hiding his obvious erection. He walks off to the restroom & I sit down awkwardly.
Kendra gives me the excited ooooooo GWORL look.
I laugh to myself and think maybe I should go to the restroom too cause I feel like Niagara Falls right about now.
I go to the kitchen to get a water bottle but don't see any.
Jace: I'm gonna go get some water from the garage y'all.
_____________________________
Deleon: what the fuck was that ?
He whispers.
Mikael: that was sexy as FUCK
Kendra: not to sound like a perve but I would have fasho let them keep goin.
Deleon: chill!
Kendra: now I wanna see them have sex!
Deleon: cchhiilll!
Kendra: how come you never look at me like that during sex?
Mikael: ew.
Deleon: Kendra what the fuck I look at you...
Kendra stares at him with her arms folded.
Deleon: I look at that ass bouncing up and down on ma-
Kendra: UGH!! You-
She playfully slaps his chest & they all laugh.
East: where's Jace ?
They all look around.
Mikael: she said she goin ttthhhheee-
They all look at each other.
Mikael: oh shit
Without saying another word. East bolts down the hallway to the garage.
____________________________
I open the garage door and the lights automatically cut on.
I shriek loudly ready to run slamming into East's chest.
He slams the garage door closed and holds me with his free hand. I hyperventilate into his chest trying hard to hold in my tears.
Everybody stood in the back feeling horrible.
CJ was tied to a chair beaten & battered in the middle of the garage unconscious.
________________________________
I take a shower and try to understand or probably forget about this weird ass night.
I walk out the bathroom & see East leaning against our closet door with a mug in his hand.
East: I made you some tea.
I sigh.
Jace: thank you
I take the mug and sit on the bed in my towel.
East: I got Freddy vs Jason ready in the room.
I was excited but then I looked up from my mug slowly looking up at his dick in those basketball shorts...I didn't see a print but I knew what was in there.
Jace: I think ima sleep in here tonight.
East: oh you wanna watch it in here ?
Jace: no...I...I think I'll be okay alone in here tonight.
East: oh iight.
He stands up from leaning against the door.
East: I'm next door if you need me alright.
Jace: gotchu
I awkwardly look away back into my mug. He goes to his room and I sigh loudly falling back onto the bed. Everything in me wanted to watch the movie with him, but now I wanted to touch him, kiss him, hold him, and goddamnit I wanted whatever was between his legs to be between my legs.
______________________________
*2 AM*
I was restless! I heard East's tv from my room & wanted to be in that room. I get up and walk into our closet, I cut on the light and begin rummaging through the hangers making random noise.
His side of the door opens.
East: watchu lookin for?
That dick.
Jace: My Nike leggings I wanted to work out tomorrow.
East: uh huh
He chuckles at me closing the door.
I huff wanting to see him just a little bit longer.
I lie back in my bed more restless than I was before.
When in doubt masturbate.
I reach down in my pants, now that I've felt it against me I can only imagine what it's like-
I gasp out loud surprised I was already more excited than I thought.
I see the light cut on in the closet and hear the same rummaging I was doin. I get up and open the closet door.
Jace: watcha lookin for ?
East: some swim trucks for tomorrow
Jace: you plan on taking a dive?
East bites his lip & chuckles.
Jace: Goodluck
I close the closet door and get in bed.
________________________________________
*NEXT DAY*
Kendra & I chill in the jacuzzi getting drunk off margaritas while the boys were chillin upstairs.
Kendra: bitch!
Jace: what?
Kendra: BITCH!
I laugh.
Jace: what!?
Kendra: you know what!
Jace: nothing!
Kendra: Nothing!?
*Silence*
Kendra: y'all like each other.
Kendra says turning her lip up & taking a sip.
Jace: I - no..we don't like each other.
Kendra: his girlfriend gon beat cho ass
Jace: he has a bitch!?
Kendra: hhhhhhaaaaaa sike bitch you do like him!
I take a sip pissed off cause she got ma ass good.
Kendra: he likes you too.
She says assuring me.
Jace: I don't like East, East doesn't like me. Period.
Kendra: Honey, the way y'all made love on that COUCH you can't tell me shit!
Jace: it was a LAP. DANCE.
Kendra: strippers don't even give lap dances to strangers the way you did...did his dick get hard?
Jace: no.
I say coldly.
Kendra: damn bitch you a good liar.
I start to think.
Kendra: what's wrong ?
Jace: even if we did like each other it wouldn't work. Hey kids I met your daddy while he was robbing my bank job & as soon as he flashed his gun at me I knew it was first love at first sight.
Kendra: we'll technically yall first met at a party.
Kendra whispers under her breath while I continue my rant.
Jace: and while I was held hostage I fell in love with your dad the kidnapper.
Kendra stares at me with her mouth wide open in glee.
Jace: HYPOTHETICALLY speaking!
Kendra: nah bitch you love him! Too late!
Jace: how would it even work out when we get back?
Kendra: are you still hypothetically speaking? You don't like him remember?
Ugh PMS is actually quite literally kicking my ass this week. Emotional as fuck for no reason.
Kendra: I'm going to make some more margaritasssss and when I come back you need to figure it out.
Kendra gets out the jacuzzi while I sulk.
______________________________________
*East's P.O.V. *
East: it's gon take us like 2 hours to get there.
I tell Deleon as we walk downstairs. I stop and see Jace & Kendra talking in the jacuzzi.
Deleon: go on say bye to yo little girlfriend you know how y'all are.
East: shut up.
I say walking to the back but I stop at the back door hearing Jace.
Jace: Even if we did like each other it wouldn't work. Hey kids I met your daddy while he was robbing my bank job & as soon as he flashed his gun at me I knew it was first love at first sight.
My jaw tightens & I look down to the floor.
Mikael: watchu waitin for??
I put my finger to my lips telling him to shush real quick.
We listen to the conversation & I walk away to the kitchen. Mikael follows behind me. Deleon was already in the kitchen.
That's why she don't wanna kick it no more and watch movies in bed? Cause she don't like a nigga like that.
I snatch the keys from off top of the fridge. Open the fridge door and snatch a water out. I slam the door and check my pockets making sure I have everything I need.
Mikael: D you know she saying that shit cause she like you.
Deleon: To keep it G real this shit is fuckin weird.
Mikael: that part! if a Nigga kidnapped me then I start liking the nigga I'd be confused too.
East: You heard her, she don't like me.
Mikael: what kind of beauty & the beast shit is this.
They all laugh.
Deleon: you like her??
Kendra: Umm! Step away from our margaritas!
Mikael backs up.
Kendra: where y'all goin ?
Deleon: you know we gotta go home. Make the rounds, see what the word is n shit.
Kendra: you gon leave without seeing Jace?
Kendra looks at me confused. Damn did everybody know about our little ritual.
I walk to the back where Jace is.
Jace: East!
She instantly perks up and catches herself.
Jace: where you goin?
East: gotta do the weekly round.
Her face changes. She looks to the side of the house where the garage is & I can feel her panic. I realize this is her first time knowing CJ is still in the house with her and I won't be here.
________________________________________
*Jaces P.O.V.*
I look at him standing up in the jacuzzi hoping our telepathy powers would activate. I felt like I was practically pleading to him with my eyes to stay. I will try to run away if he dares leave me in the house with this rapist.
Jace: don't go.
My voice cracked & I was scared. This is the first time I was this vulnerable with a man.
East: let's go watch a movie.
I leap into his arms and hold him close. I inhale his scent & damn. I exhale. He held me tight & I promise I've never been held with so much depth..with so much promise. Does that make sense ? I felt like a Jill Scott song.
I lift my head from his neck & we look into each other. I stare at his lips.
Mikael: E you still comin ?
Kendra: no muthafucka he ain't comin! Go!
Kendra pushes Deleon & Mikael out the doorway staring like creeps.
*2 hours later*
Us not getting any sleep last night came back to bite us in the ass. Soon as I showered and we cut the movie on we passed out.