Southern Gossip: A Complicated Love Story

by Tiece

  He looked over at Marlon, thinking quickly about the 4-wheeler that was parked out front. “You knew too huh, Bro?”

  Mrs. Gray intercepted the conversation on Marlon’s behalf. “I just told him this morning, A’keem.”

  Seth chuckled. “This would make for some good TV.” He chimed in.

  “Seth,” Mama Gray called out to her quiet her grandson. “Not now.”

  A’keem grinned at the situation as he looked around at the concerned faces. “Look at y’all. I didn’t know that she was back, but I’m cool with it. It’s not that serious anymore. I’m OVER Miss Jada Kent.” He emphasized. “She’ll always be a great friend, but that’s it.” He said, remembering how bittersweet it was when they finally ended things.

  “Lil Bro, that’s the same thing I just told them.” Marlon commented.

  A’keem grinned, looking over at his mom. “I guess the so-called love triangle between the Gray men and the Kent women are over now unless it hits the next generation.” He then looked over at Mama Gray already knowing her feelings about that situation. “Mama Gray, don’t look at me like that. There is no hex, no curse, no voodoo or whatever else you want to call it. Uncle Gray has had y’all paranoid for years. It’s time to get over it. For that matter, I hadn’t seen Jada in years. I’ve moved on.”

  “Maybe you have,” his mom whispered, but she wasn’t buying it.

  A’keem looked at his brother and smiled. He knew Marlon most times better than himself. “So Bro, is she good? How did she look?” He boldly asked not even knowing if Marlon had seen her, but he just figured that he had.

  Without hesitation Marlon answered. “She’s good and she looked good. Nothing much has changed about her accept the fact that her butt has spread, but in a good way.” He teased, but was very serious.

  A’keem nodded his head with a satisfied smile across his face. “Okay good.” He responded. He kissed his mom quickly on the cheek. “I’m going upstairs to shower. Mama Gray, we’ll talk when I’m done.”

  Mrs. Gray stopped him before he could leave. “A’keem, I know you hadn’t gotten your license straight, because you made it here too quick.”

  “I know mom. It was crowded at the DMV, but I’m going back after the crowd thins out. I’ll stop by the house later this evening so we can talk.”

  “Okay,” Mrs. Gray said. “And don’t be driving until you handle your business.”

  “Mom, chill out please. Seth’s gonna drive me today.” Seth and Marlon laughed, because Mrs. Gray could be quite relentless. “Geesh Marlon, get your mom,” he teased.

  Marlon grinned, and then gave A’keem dap, both snapping at the end. “A’ight Bro, we’ll catch up later.” He said as A’keem hurried up the stairs. Marlon then looked from his grandmother back over to his mom. “Okay well, since Keem and Seth are here, I’ll be leaving. I have a lunch date with Jennifer.” He said looking down at his watch.

  “Yes, please don’t skip out on your lunch date with your girlfriend. Jennifer is definitely a keeper.” Mrs. Gray said hoping that her son wouldn’t let his unresolved feelings for Jada come between him and his new love interest of two years. “I’m gonna leave, too. I have other places to be.” She added while getting up and grabbing her handbag.

  “Mom, I need you to drop me off at the house so I can get my ride since you’re leaving now. Cuz, park the 4-wheeler in the back for me.” Marlon instructed.

  “I got’cha Cuz,” Seth responded.

  Mama Gray gave her daughter-n-law a concerned look. “Celeste, make sure you call me later. We have some things to talk about.”

  Mrs. Gray nodded her head. “Okay Mama Gray,” she responded as she and Marlon made their exit.

  Mama Gray looked over at Seth who was taking the last bite out of his apple. She didn’t waste any time grilling him. “Do you think that Marlon is over Jada?”

  “Nope,” Seth truthfully spoke.

  “And, what about A’keem?” she pondered knowing that Seth knew the boys very well.

  Seth grinned. “Hell No, Mama Gray! He ain’t over her either.” Mama Gray slowly shook her head from side to side. It was nothing for Seth to curse out loud. Ever since he was old enough to talk, Mama Gray always said that Seth had been here before. He just had an old spirit in him. Seth headed towards the front door. “Tell Cuz that I’ll be outside cuttin’ wheelies until he’s ready.”

  “You better not dig up my grass!” She yelled out as Seth exited the house.

  Mama Gray stood quietly in her thoughts. Thinking about the boys and the bad blood between them feuding over Jada Kent had her in her feelings. She’d seen firsthand what the feuds consisted of and she didn’t like it. It wasn’t something that she’d want to see her grandson’s fall out about again. Hopefully, they would get over Jada or she’d wise up and choose one. It would surely hurt the other, but they’d get over it somehow. More importantly, the bitter history endured between the two families would finally be over.

  Chapter 3

  Jada and Serenity did a little shopping inside of the Rocky Spring’s Mall. Serenity couldn’t wait to question her best friend about her encounter with Marlon. She looked over at her as she browsed through a rack of clothes and decided to just come on out with it.

  “Soooo, how was it to see your ex-almost fiancé for the first time since you left?” Serenity pondered as she eagerly waited for a response.

  “It was good seeing him. He brought back a lot of memories in just that little time. I can’t lie, I’ve missed him.” Jada responded not once looking up from the clothes she was searching through.

  “Do you think you’ll travel back down memory lane with him or will you just let it go?”

  “Serenity, you know I have a lot to come clean about before I can even go there with Marlon or A’keem for that matter. Hell at this point, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” She said walking off from the rack of clothes like there was nothing there that she wanted to get.

  A minute later, they were walking out of Forever 21 and heading inside of Victoria’s Secret which was right next door to the store they had come out of. “So have you decided if you’re gonna stay?” Serenity pondered.

  “No, but I think I need too.” She said.

  “I think you should stay. It’s not going to be as bad as you think once you do reveal your reason for coming back. I mean hell it could change this feud between the Gray’s and Kent’s for the better.” Serenity said.

  “Or make it worse,” Jada added.

  Serenity held up a skimpy, see-through, lavender lace lingerie piece then asked, “Hey you like this?”

  “Yes that is real cute,” Jada responded. “That color would look good on you.”

  Serenity smiled. “I don’t know. Le’me see if I see something else.” She said looking over on another shelf of lingerie, bra, and panties.

  “So explain to me why we’re shopping in Victoria’s Secret? I mean who is the lucky guy? Flow?” Jada asked.

  Serenity grinned, almost blushing. “No girl. Flow and I are just kicking it.”

  Jada smirked. “You mean just fucking.”

  “Yeah, you know what I mean.” She laughed. “We’re good though. He’s definitely a sweetie, but I’ve already told you that he’s working with a Vienna. What in the hell can I do with something like that?” They laughed. “Plus, he has way too many women riding that small dick. Surely he must know that we all can’t fit on it.”

  Jada laughed out loud. “Girrrrl, you are a fool!”

  “I’m for real girl.” Serenity said with loud laughter.

  “But, you know he’s more into the women that lives in the city anyway.”

  Serenity nodded her head somewhat agreeing. “Especially the hood ones,” she said.

  “What can you expect? He’s from the hood.” She said holding up a teal blue, Ruffle-trim Garter Slip. “He knows what it’s like to grow up in the projects. The women from that part of the city love him.” Jada laid the sexy piece back on the shelf. It wasn’t her
taste then she continued. “I mean he’s only known as the city’s most notorious drug hustler. You know them chicks gonna flock to his cute ass and all that flow.”

  “I guess you’re right, but I just don’t see myself being with him. I love his bad boy image, but it takes more than that to keep my attention. I mean hell, we’re country girls, and we have money. So, it ain’t that serious.”

  Jada grinned, shaking her head. “I feel you girl.”

  “Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you what the tea is.” Serenity said with a smack of the lips.

  “Girl, what is the tea?” Jada asked know that the tea was nothing but gossip at its finest.

  “Well, word is that he and Nia Green are reportedly back seeing each other. It seems that they were spotted leaving the Lion’s Den after hours and he allegedly stayed the night with her.”

  “Him and Nia are back together?” Jada inquired. She and Nia were from different sides of the track, but were always cool school buddies.

  “That’s the word according to, ‘Here’s The Tea.’” Serenity said as if reading about the news was a tad bit disappointing.

  “Well, I hate to say it, but most of that shit is true. Yes, it’s a lot of speculation and accusations, because they’re trying to come up with something, but for the most part, it’s true.”

  “Same thing I was thinking.” Serenity uttered. Jada could tell that it bothered her, but Serenity was the type of girl that felt like she should always be on top because of her wealthy background. But, for a change, a girl from the other side of the tracks had the upper hand and she didn’t know how to handle it.

  “Does that bother you, being that y’all are just fucking?” Jada questioned.

  “No girl. Why should that bother me?” She falsely grinned. “She can have that lil Vienna.”

  Jada laughed, but knew better. Serenity definitely liked Flow, because he was different and unlike the ass kissers she normally dated. He had an opinion and didn’t mind giving it to her ass. He wasn’t intimated by her family’s long money or her fancy ways. He just kept it real with her and she had to learn how to handle that.

  “Okay, I’m gonna take your word for it then.” Jada said.

  “Nia Green may be one of your home girls from way back in the day, but I was never impressed by her. She doesn’t intimidate me.” Serenity said holding up a fuchsia, flyaway-front-Ruffle, baby doll, two piece lingerie set. “This is it.” She smiled.

  “Yep, that’s a bad ass.” Jada commented. “Now since I know you aren’t getting this for Flow then who are you getting it for? You’ve not told me that somebody else was getting the cookie.”

  Serenity grinned. “He’s about to be served the milk too, Honey.”

  Jada laughed out loud. “So are you going to tell me?”

  Serenity glanced around as if to make sure that nobody was listening. “He’s a Gray.” She whispered.

  Jada frowned with hesitation then quickly asked, “A Gray, as in one of the Gray men?”

  “Yes, but not A’keem or Marlon. I would never do anything scandalous like that.”

  “Oh girl, I had to hold my chest on that one.” Jada said as they laughed.

  “As if we didn’t make that pact a long time ago,” Serenity stated. “I know that those two are off limits. Although, giving Marlon that lap dance for his 21st birthday had me thinking about him a little.”

  “Stop girl,” Jada laughed.

  “For real,” Serenity admitted making her way to the checkout counter with Jada following. “Plus, you already know that A’keem and Flow are best friends. So either way I couldn’t mess with them if I wanted to.”

  Jada chuckled. “That would be true unless you’d want them to consider you a hoe.”

  Serenity frowned. “Coming from a trick that’s in love with two brothers?” she questioned with sarcasm causing Jada to laugh out loud as she playfully hit her on the arm. “And, before you ask again,” she leaned over and whispered in Jada’s ear. “It’s Seth.”

  Jada’s grin quickly turned cheesy as she looked past her best friend. “Hey Flow!” She spoke immediately, informing Serenity that her fuck buddy had crept up on them. Serenity turned quickly to address him trying not to look surprised.

  “Uh, what’s up Flow?” She asked easing the lingerie up on the counter.

  “Nothing much Boo,” he said leaning in to hug her then Jada. “What’s good Jada? I hadn’t seen you in years.”

  “Yeah, I know. How are you?” She asked as Serenity tried paying for her lingerie as if Flow wouldn’t notice it.

  “I’m good. Are you just visiting?” He asked.

  “I’m not sure yet.” She responded.

  Flow grinned. “My boy must not know you’re back. He hadn’t mentioned it.” He observed Serenity getting her Victoria’s Secret bag from the cashier.

  Jada smiled. “I don’t think he does.” But I’m sure he will now, she thought.

  Flow looked over at Serenity with a smile on his face then he directed his attention back to Jada. “I’m heading over to Mama Gray’s now. Him and Seth are there waiting for me. I’ll make sure I tell him I saw you.”

  “Yeah, you do that.” She said, but felt uneasy about not being the one to tell him herself, especially now as she thought about their last encounter.

  “It was good seeing you.” Flow said then leaned over to whisper in Serenity’s ear. “I look forward to seeing you in that fuchsia.” And with that, he walked off.

  Jada shook her head not knowing what to think. “What the fuck just happened?”

  Serenity was still stunned that he had just showed up like that out of nowhere. ”I almost pissed myself when I heard you speak his name.”

  Jada laughed. “I know you did.”

  “You don’t think he heard me do you?” She nervously asked as they exited the department store.

  “No girl,” Jada assured her. “But, you better be ready to wear that thing twice.”

  Serenity looked at her and burst out laughing. “You heard him? I couldn’t believe my ears and then he mentioned that he’s going to hang with Seth. Damn, that did something to me.”

  Jada smirked with a shrug of the shoulders. “Well, you know that’s nothing new. They hang together all the time.”

  “I know and that’s what scares me. I mean, A’keem and Marlon have known about you from day one. These fellas don’t know that I’m seeing both of them. I don’t wanna get caught up like that. What if they start talking?”

  “Well, you at least need to tell one of them about the other or something.” Jada suggested.

  “You’re right. I guess I’ll tell Seth.” Serenity quickly responded.

  “Which means that you like Flow more?” Jada pondered with a concerned raise of the eyebrows.

  “No, just means that I was with Flow first,” she explained.

  “Alright now, don’t get yourself caught up in a love triangle. Trust me; it can be very confusing and complicated.” She said thinking about the love she had for the two brothers.

  Serenity smiled as they exited Rocky Spring’s Mall both holding several shopping bags. “Don’t worry about me. I got this.”

  “That’s the same thing I used to think.” Jada confessed with a slight smile. “Now let’s go grab a bite to eat. I’m tired of shopping and I’m hungry as hell.”

  ***

  “So how has work been thus far on this beautiful, sunny Saturday?” Marlon asked as he looked across the table at his sexy girlfriend.

  “Are you trying to be funny?”

  “No,” he grinned.

  “Well, it’s been going great, if you must know. We have a town’s meeting today at three to discuss a project that they’re trying to get started on Lover’s Lane and Park Drive.”

  “Yeah, I think my dad mentioned something about that earlier this week when we talked.”

  “He called me earlier this morning to clear his schedule this morning. He said that he had some important business to take care of involving A’ke
em. Is he alright?”

  “You know A’keem, but to answer your question; he is alright. He was just arrested last night.”

  “I knew it had to be something serious. Your father usually waits until the sun rises before he calls me for me to handle business for him.

  Marlon grinned. “It must be nice working for Mayor Gray, especially on the weekends.” He teased.

  “Being his Administrative Assistant for the past four years does get a little hectic at times, but you know it’s nothing I can’t handle. My hours are sometimes unpredictable, but I don’t mind. I work hard because I love my job.”