Once I got myself together I walked back into the dinning area. Michelle had a plate of fried shrimp, pork fried rice, chicken wings, and those sugar-coated fried dumplings. I went through the line and came back with a bowl of Won Ton Soup. I was not in the mood for eating. I had lost my man and my appetite.
As I sat sipping at my soup I saw Skye and a few of her friends walk into the restaurant. At first she didn’t realize I was there. All I could do was hope that the waiter didn’t walk her past our table. I would have no such luck. As her friends walked past our table Skye stopped.
“So, I guess I’m spoiling your little date huh!”
I was not in the mood for some funny shit. “Skye you know this is my roommate Michelle.”
“I can see that but what I don’t understand is why ya’ll all out up under each other!”
Almost every head in the place was now looking in our
direction.
“Skye ain't shit going on here. We are just out grabbing a
bite to eat.”
That’s when all hell broke loose. “Hold up Eric, you
don’t have to explain shit to this trick!” Michelle stood up and
was in Skye’s face.
Skye was much smaller than Michelle. Skye’s crew
didn’t even come over to back her up. They just walked off. As
she realized she had just got punked she turned and looked
towards me.
“This ain’t over Eric. And Michelle, watch your back!” “Fuck you bitch. Go sit down,” Michelle yelled, as Skye
went to the other side of the restaurant.
“Come on Michelle, let’s go.”
“Why we got to leave? I haven’t got my second plate yet.” “Girl, I’ll treat you to some Burger King. Let’s get the hell
out of here.”
We left before any other altercations could happen. In the
car Michelle started with all the questions again. “What’s up with
you and Thomas?”
“He ain’t trying to get down with a brother. I tried to edge
him in my direction but he’s sold on some pussy so I just gave up
the chase. We’re still cool but it will have to be a determined
effort on my part and I ain’t trying to devote an entire year trying
to fuck one guy.
Chapter 15
Tracy My world is upside down. My man is tripping and I can’t get away from my past. I hate having to come to his class. As I walk down the hall way I get to his class door. I hear a familiar voice.
“Why would I have to lie?”
“Fine, I believe you, just keep me posted.”
I walked into the room and saw Michelle and Byron
talking. My eyes almost fell out of my head. They both looked as if they had seen a ghost. Byron walked over to me and tried to explain. “Hey Tracy. How’s it going? Michelle and I were just talking about her trying to get into the culinary program.”
Michelle chimed in on time. “Well Professor Caldwell, I’ll be sure to get back to you about that okay?”
“Yes Michelle, you have a great day.”
I guess they thought I was stupid. I knew something was up but I didn’t know what. I walked over to Byron. “I want to end this between us Byron. It’s causing me to lose people that I really care for.”
“Okay then. Not a problem. You want it over, it’s over.”
I was shocked. He seemed to be serious. He went back to writing in his book, without even looking back at me.
“I’m glad we were able to handle this like adults.”
“Yeah me too. Well look, I have to make a stop at the post office to mail that tape of us together to your parents before my next class. So if you’ll excuse me.”
He tried to walk past me but I jumped in his way.
“But, I thought you said it was cool if we ended this?”
“Oh it is cool, but if we end this I’m going to have to mail that package. See, what you don’t seem to understand is that I say when it’s over between us. Not you.”
If looks could kill he’d been dead soon after those words fell from his lips.
“I fucking hate
you!” “So, and?”
I just walked towards the door. His words stopped me before I could walk out.
“So I guess tonight is a good night for us to get together then. I like it when you’re all pissed off. The pussy is great when you’re mad. I’ll give you a call later tonight.”
I stormed out of the classroom. I could no longer take being with Byron. I am going to take matters into my own hands.
I walked across campus with a purpose. I didn’t stop to talk to anybody. I was on a mission. I walked into the Add and Drop Department and withdrew from Byron’s class. When he calls me tonight, yes, I’m going to meet him and tell him exactly what I think about him and his little tape he’s holding over my head. I walked out of that office feeling liberated. I know that I’m taking a huge risk by doing this, but I have to end this.
On the way home from campus, I called Brandon’s cell phone. He had gone back to Miami and I had not spoken to him in a few days.
“Hello?”
“Hey baby, it’s me.”
“Hold on, let me turn my music down…okay, Tracy, how are you doing today?”
“I’m good. Look, I just want to tell you how much I really love you.”
“I love you too baby, you know that.”
“I know, but I just need to hear that from you every so often. But look. There might be something coming to your house. I don’t know what it will contain, but just remember that I love you.”
“You’re sending me
something?” “You can say that.”
When I hung up the phone I noticed that Brandon and I were listening to the same song on the radio and it was at the same point in the song. That’s really strange, or is that a sign that we are more connected than we thought. It’s meant for us to be together. I walked in the house and went directly to my room. I picked out the most revealing dress I had and laid it across the bed. I said to myself I want that nigga to see what he’ll never get again.
A few hours passed, and finally my cell phone
rang. “Hello?”
“I told you I was gonna call
you.” “Yeah, I’ve been waiting”
“You have?”
“Yeah, I’m tired of fighting you. It’s obvious that you love me and it’s time I stop denying myself the one man that really cares for me.”
The phone went silent. For the first time I felt incontrol of Byron.
“Well, meet me at my house in, say, in thirty
minutes.” “I’ll be there.”
I hung up the phone and started to laugh a little. I knew that tonight I was gonna finally end it. This wouldbe the last time I would have to see this man. As a matter of fact, I’m going to take out a restraining order tomorrow.
I walked into the front room. Michelle sat straightup when she looked at me in my dress.
“Damn, you need to let me rock that one night to the club!”
“I tell you what, after tonight, I’ll let you have it.” Then I mumbled to myself, not that your fat ass would ever get it on.
When I pulled up to Byron’s house, I thought, this poor, sad muthafucka has no idea what’s about to go down. I guess he was watching me walk up the walkway. He opened the door before I could ring the bell.
“Now, that’s what I’m talking about. You look good tonight!” I had never seen him so giddy.
“Well thank you.” I walked in the house and stood right next to the door. There was no way I was going to walk any further into the house. “Please, let’s go into the den”
He stuck out his arm showing me the way.
“No, actually I have to tell you something.” I backed up against the door. He couldn’t tell but I had my hand on the doorknob just in case I had to make a run for it.
“What is
it baby?” He looked concerned and attentive.
“It’s over between us. I don’t care if you send that tape to my parents. I don’t care if you send it to Brandon ’cause he and I are no longer together anyway.” I gripped the door handle, ready to run.
Byron just stood there staring at me. His face went from concern to pure hate. He lunged at me. “Come here bitch!”
I snatched open the door and ran like hell to my car. I fumbled with the keys, trying to press the remote to unlock the doors. I didn’t know if he was behind me and I didn’t turn around to see. I heard the doors unlock and I just jumped in my car locked the door and started the engine. When I finally looked up the front door was closed. I hit the gas as I backed out the driveway. I noticed one of his neighbors was outside watering his yard.
“I know that man must think I’m crazy as hell,” I said to myself as I sped down the street.
My cell phone rang over and over. I looked at the caller I.D. and it was Byron. I drove around town for a little while, trying to calm myself down. My hands were shaking and my heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest. I hadn’t realized that I had been driving around for three hours. I went into a convenience store to grab a soda. The older white guy behind the counter tried to talk to me but I wasn’t having it. I went home and went directly to Eric’s room. He was standing in front of the mirror trying on some new clothes.
“Guess what?”
He turned around.
“What?” “I’m done.”
“What are you talking about?”
I sat him on the bed and told him everything. I went all the way back to when I went to school in Miami. He sat and listened to me go on and on. He never interrupted me one time. I told him about the relationship between Byron and me. I told him about how mad Brandon was when he found out. I told him about the other night when I was over there. I told him everything. I guess you can say that I really trust Eric. After I told him everything, he pulled me close to him and held me tight. That’s exactly what I needed at that point. A good hug.
The next morning I got up and felt wonderful. My cell phone had not ringed all night. The first thought I had, finally was not of Byron. I felt like a new woman. I went into the kitchen to have breakfast. Michelle sat to the table eating a bowl of cereal. I remembered I still needed to check her for the way she acted that night in the club with Brandon, but I even forgave her, I was feeling so good. I jumped in my car andheaded for the campus. From a distance I saw emergency rescue lined up behind the culinary building. I drove up slow in traffic trying to get on campus. The school’s security was directing trafficto go around where all the emergency vehicles were. I found a parking space on the other side of the campus. I heard several students talking as they were coming from the direction of the culinary buildings. I listened in on one conversation as they walked past me.
“They say his body has sat there for a while,” one of the students said.
A body, I said to myself as I sped up a little to really find out what was going on. The front of the building was sealed off with yellow tape and police everywhere. I walked up to one of my professors and asked, “What happened?”
Her face was soaked with tears. “They found him dead this morning half in his car.” Her voice was shaking after every word.
“Who’s dead?”
“Professor Caldwell.”
It was like everything was in slow motion. Everything went blank. I saw people moving but they were all in slow motion to me. I went to the parking lot. The policehad it blocked off as well. I saw Byron’s car and a black filled body bag was on the ground next to it. There was blood all over the place. The police were asking people if they saw anything, to come to them and tell what they knew. I turned to walk away and one of the detectives walked up to me.
“Hello miss, did you see anything here today?” “No officer.”
“You sure. Did you see or hear anything at all?”
“No sir. When I left him last night everything was fine.” Right then I wanted to take back every word I had just said. As soon as those words fell from my lips I knew I was in way over my head.
“You were with him last night?”
I knew I couldn’t lie, I would only look guilty. “Yes detective. I was over at his house last night.”
“Do you mind going to the station and answering a few questions?”
“No sir. Anything I can do to help, I will.”
Me and my big mouth. I went to the station and told them everything I knew about Byron. What happened next, I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. They had me sitting in a small room. Two detectives asked me question after question about Byron. Finally one of them said, “Tracy we’re goingto let you go. But, don’t leave town. We may need you back here for more questioning.”
Even in his death he still has control of my life.
Chapter 16
Michelle The campus was still in shock as the news of Byron’s murder ran rampant. A student found his body in his car, is the story I’m being told. But the surprising part that has everybody talking is they saw Tracy getting in a police car at the scene. I found Eric sitting with Skye in the student union. Skye saw me before Eric did and her smile went south as I walked through the door.
“Hey Eric, you got a minute. We need to talk!” Before Eric could say a word Skye jumped in. “No he don’t have a minute, he’s with me now. I take up all his minutes”
I had, had enough.
“Look bitch, I’m tired of your funky ass talking shit to me! Open your mouth again and I’m gonna fuck you upright here, right now. Now try me!”
She looked as if she was going to jump, bad But Eric stopped her from getting the beating of her life.
“Hey wuz up Michelle? Skye give us a minute.”
She looked at him like he had just cursed out her mother. She hopped up and stomped off like a child.
“Eric, have you heard about Professor Caldwell?”
“Yeah, I heard they found him dead in his car.”
“Yeah, but did they tell you who they took downtown in the police car?”
“No who?”
“Tracy.”
He didn’t move or blink. He just sat there I guess waiting on me to say I was just trippin’.
Finally he asked me, “Are you
serious?” “As a heart attack.”
“I need to call Brandon and tell him what’s going on.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. Tell him he needs to come up here.”
This is going to work out in my favor. If she’s locked up for killing Byron and Brandon is up here I’m going to fuck the hell out of him and there is nothing she could do about it. Life is good. I heard Eric on the phone talking to Brandon as I left the student union.
I had my white boyfriend, Steve, bring me home. As soon as he pulled off, an unmarked police car pulled up.
“May we talk to you ma’am?”
“Sure. What’s on your mind officer?”
“We’re trying to find out about your roommate Tracy.”
“What about her?” Hell, I really didn’t like that bitch anyway, so what ever they wanted to know I was going to tell them.
“Did she have a relationship with Byron Caldwell?”
“Yes she did. They were lovers.”
The cop looked stunned for a second.
“So the two of them were in a romantic
relationship?” “Yes.”
“Did they have an argument or anything like that, that you know of?”
“Well, towards the end of the relationship she was trying to break it off with him. I don’t think he was taking it too well.”
“That’s all I’m going to need from you for now. I’ll be in touch.”
I went to my room and began cleaning up. There is nothing stopping me from fucking Brandon this time. He’s a good man and deserves a woman like me. Eric walked into the house.
“Brandon should be here in a few hours. He said he would b
e on the first plane coming this way as soon as he gets to the airport.” I need to head to the mall to get something special for this occasion.
“Eric, can I use your car to go to the mall real quick?”
“Yeah, in about an hour. I need to run to the library to pick up something.”
“Okay, that’s fine. Thanks.” I am as giddy as a schoolgirl
looking at her first crush. I can’t wait to see him again. Hell, I’ll even play female number two just to get some of Tracy’s money and fuck her man. I’m in a win, win situation.
About an hour later Eric returned with the car. “Be careful with my ride!”
Eric loved his car more than he loved himself. That car was his all and all.
“Yeah Eric, no problem.”
I headed to the mall as fast as I could. I knew the store I was going to and I was in the store the other day and saw the outfit I’m going to buy. I walked in the mall and headed right for Lane Bryant. Some people hate on big girls, but youknow that it takes a real man to handle a sistah with a little meat on her bones. I picked up a pair of black lace thongs and a blacklace Bra to match. I even went the extra mile and picked up stockings and a garter. If I was going to wow Brandon I was going all the way. Since Tracy was, nine times out of ten, locked up, I took the liberty of picking up a white outfit just in case Brandon stayed an extra day. I went over to Payless Shoe Store and picked up a pair of cheap black heels. It didn’t make sense to go out and buy an expensive pair of shoes when they were just gonna be over my head and around his waist most of the time.
As I walked out of the shoe store I saw a man that looked just like Brandon. “Brandon!”
The guy kept walking. He had the same shape, haircut and even the same walk. I might be mistaken since the guy is about a good two hundred feet in front of me. I guess this town has more than one fine ass guy in it. I tried to catch up with the guy but he went into Dillard’s, and by the time I got there he was nowhere to be found. I must admit, that had me baffled a little bit.
It had been a few hours since Eric told Brandon what was going on. I decided to go home and get things ready for my soonto- be man. I drove up to the house and there was a car that I had not seen before parked in the driveway. It was a black Toyota Camry with Texas plates.
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