“Don't act like you don't know my name Chaz.” Toni said.
“Girl I'm playing I know your name.” Chaz walked over to Toni and playfully tackled her causing both of them to fall back onto their brown canvas sofa.
I left the two of them and walked into Xavier's room. He was sitting on his bed in the dark talking to someone on the phone.
“Oh sorry.” I whispered and turned to leave but he grabbed my arm, pointed to his bed so I sat down next to him and he lifted his leg and crossed it over mine.
“I'll be there don't worry.”
“I promise.”
“How's school, you keeping your grades tight?”
I began listening trying to figure out who he was talking to and quickly realized that it was his sister based on the end of the conversation that I could hear.
“Aye that's what's up.”
“I'm proud of you.”
“I gotta go squirt but you'll see me tomorrow okay and I'm bringing a surprise with me.”
“It's not a surprise if I tell you now, so be patient tomorrow will be here before you know it.”
“Love you too. Alright I've gotta go.”
He ended the call and dropped the phone on his bed.
“Why are you sitting in the dark?” I asked.
“I just came in here to talk because it was so loud out there.”
“What’s she been up too?” I asked referring to Leigh, his little sister.
“Same as always balling and school.”
“Trying to be like you I see.”
“I guess so. You got plans tomorrow?”
“Not really why?”
“Go home with me, her travel team has a game and it's probably the only one that I can catch.”
“What time?”
“2:30. I've got practice at eight and eleven so we can leave about one.”
“So what's her surprise, hopefully not me?”
“You're part of it but I used my upgrade to get her a new phone.”
“Good because she would have been extremely disappointed if you showed with just me.”
“Doubt it, I think she'd rather see you instead of me.”
“Maybe but I don't think I'm surprise worthy.”
“So you down?”
“Yeah I guess so.”
“Good because I wasn't taking no for an answer.”
“Whatever.” I said playfully.
“You know what's up.” He looked at me like he was running things.
“And so do you.”
“Now that's funny.” Xavier said as he laughed and I leaned into him with my shoulder.
“So what's up with your boy Ethan? You know that's the only reason why Toni agreed to come.”
“I told him what's up, he's around here somewhere.” Xavier pick up his phone to make a call.
“Where you at bruh?”
“Alright bet. We'll be down there in a few.”
He ended the call and leaned back enough to slide his phone into his front pocket. Someone pushed his door open so we both turned to see who it was and met Toni’s eyes which were peering at us impatiently..
“All this is pending my love connection so let's press pause on this until my situation is secure.” Toni said.
“Dang girl you starting to sound like those groupies out there.” Xavier said.
“You got me bent boo. I'm a business woman and all this,” She circled her finger in the air towards me and Xavier, “is blocking my business.”
“Let’s go before I have to hurt this girl.” Xavier lifted his leg to free me and the three of us left his room and headed into the hallway. There were several groups of students sitting on the floor and leaning against the walls in various spots. Almost everyone had a solo cup or beer in their hands.
Xavier spoke to several teammates and a few guys that I didn't recognize who I assumed where football players based on their size and build. As we made our way through the hall into the stair well which was equally packed with students and solo cups I moved closer to him feeling uncomfortable about the way that some of the guys were staring at me. He grabbed my hand and made sure I was close to him as we made our way down the stairs to the first floor. I knew that Xavier wouldn’t let anyone get near me but alcohol had a way of bringing out the worst in people and I didn’t need him fighting somebody because they stepped to me the wrong way.
When we reached the first floor Xavier pulled the door and let me and Toni walk through just as two girls passed by us and one of them slide her hand across Xavier’s waistline. Did that trick really just touch him? He glanced at me to see if I noticed. Yeah I noticed!
“What's up Zay, you look good out there tonight.” She was short, slim and I thought I remembered her being one of the cheerleaders but I wasn't sure.
“Preciate it K.” Was all he said and then put an arm around my shoulder which I figured was his way of letting me know he was not interested in whatever she was offering. But I knew if I hadn’t been there he would have definitely entertained the attention she was clearly advertising.
The one that put her hands on Zay cut her eyes at me and then turned to her friend, “Girl, just five minutes with him, that’s all I need. You know those legs are bowed for a reason.” The little trick laughed and looked back over her shoulder at Xavier as he let the door close. These tricks are so disrespectful. Toni looked at me and I could tell from her expression that she was waiting for my okay to follow them up the stairs. I shook my head and kept moving so she rolled her eyes and followed me.
“Have you seen E?” He asked a guy standing just outside the stairwell as he gave him a pound.
“He's down there in 111 hemmed up with Shaunie and her crew.” He pointed down the hallway. Room 111 was the party room which I knew about because of stories that Xavier told about wild nights and too much alcohol. If there was a party at their dorms you better believe it started and ended with room 111.
The three of us continued through the crowd of students that were everywhere until we reached the end of the hall where there had to be about three times the amount of people that were on his hall.
“Wait here. I'll be right back.”
“See, men just can't act right. He knew I was coming and he's caught up with some trick named Shaunie. I don’t even know her but I already don't like her.” Toni said as soon as the two of us were alone. She raked her fingers through her hair pulling it to one side and the flipping it back across her shoulder.
“Girl chill.” I said and laughed.
“You're a long way from home aren't you?” I didn't look up when I heard the voice because it was unfamiliar and I assumed they were talking to someone else.
“Ky.” Toni poked me in the arm to get my attention.
“What?”
Toni pointed to the guy standing in front of me. He was about my height with a low clean haircut and dimples. He was wearing jeans and a UNCG t-shirt.
He repeated himself this time pointing at my floral printed wallet that held my A&T ID card. “You’re a long way from home aren't you?”
I smiled sheepishly. “Visiting someone.”
“Is that someone a guy?” He asked flashing the craters in his cheek.
“Yeah, why?”
“A boyfriend guy or just a friend guy.”
I could feel Toni's stare burning a hole in the side of my face.
“An it's complicated guy.”
“I figured. Pretty girls are always caught up in something complicated. Can I see your phone?”
I didn't know what made me hand over my phone so freely but I did. I unlocked the screen and handed it to him. He was cute but a little too aggressive having just met me and all.
“Here, whenever you need something a little less complicated call me.”
He put his number in, handed it back to me and then disappeared into the crowd. He listed his contact name as “uncomplicated” it was cute so it made me smile but I knew I would never call him. He had sort of a creepy vibe goi
ng on.
“What the heck is up with that?” Toni was almost yelling. “You actually got a number, what is the world coming to? Kya Renee Grant I'm impressed and you better call him.”
“Call who?” Xavier asked. He was now standing in front Toni. I frowned when I saw him because he was holding a bottle of beer and half of it was already gone.
“You dummy, you were taking forever!” Toni winked at me.
“Whatever man. E, this is Toni.” Xavier looked and Ethan and then back to Toni.
“So I hear you've been looking for me?” Ethan said.
“Something like that.” Toni said with a flirty grin.
“Oh really and what are you going to do with me now that you found me?”
He placed his hand on the wall behind Toni so that they were close but not touching.
“I guess you'll just have to spend some time with me to see.” She said.
“Aye we can just chill upstairs. I'm not with a crowd tonight.” Xavier said. I’m sure he was just afraid of running into to one of his situations while I was around.
“That works, let me get my keys from Rick.”
Ethan disappeared into the crowd and reappeared again shoving something in his pocket. The four of us made our way back to Xavier’s room this time opting for the elevator instead of the stairs. I moved close to him and whispered, “So you're drinking tonight?”
“Chill, this is it.” He said nodding toward the beer in his hand.
“Okay.” I said without looking at him. I knew he still drank occasionally but it didn’t mean that I was okay with it. I could see images of him drunk, high and barley aware of where he was or who he was with. The “with” was always some low class girl that opened her legs way too easily simply for the right of being able to say that she had been with Xavier Adams. Mhm I bet.
When we reached Xavier’s room it was empty so Ethan and Toni got cozy on the couch while Xavier sat in the arm chair with me on his lap. He had one arm bent behind his head and he was messing with his hair while the other hand rested on my stomach underneath my shirt. He was always so comfortable with me. It's like we never missed a beat and were right back where we had left things every time we fell back into our old habits.
“So what's up with your name?” Toni asked Ethan. They were snuggled up in one corner of the sofa. Very comfortable for two people who had just met ten minutes ago.
“What do you mean?” Ethan asked with a strange look on his face. I couldn't help but notice how perfectly smooth his dark chocolate skin looked and how the glare from the lights above his head made his low cut neatly trimmed jet black hair shine.
“I mean what sane black woman names her son Ethan?” She threw her head back so that she could see his face.
Ethan laughed. “Hell I don't know because my mom is white.”
“Wait what, stop playing.” Toni slapped her hand down on Ethan's leg.
“I am serious.”
“Uh boo there's no way you're mixed with all this sexy dark skin.” Toni traced the muscles in Ethan's arm with her finger.
“I'm not mixed but my mom is white. I'm adopted.”
“Seriously?” Toni sat up and turned towards him.
“Tell her Zay.”
“He is.”
“Well hell that explains it.” We all laughed.
“So you’re not feeling my name.” Ethan said pulling Toni back into him.
“I can work with it.”
“That's what's up.” He reached down and linked his fingers through hers. “So what are the goods on you? I don't need some random dude running up on me talking about ‘you kickin’ it with my girl yo’.”
“Yeah Tee, what's up with you.” Zay smirked at Toni.
“Let's just say I have a situation, but nothing serious.” She said and then shot Xavier a bird.
“Well you need to handle your situation.” Ethan put emphasis on the word situation, “Before we fall into something.”
“I got you but that goes for you too.” Toni said.
“I don't have any situations to handle. I’m just chillin’.”
“Famous last words.” Toni said sarcastically.
“I'm good, you can bet on it.”
“We're gonna take this to another room so that we don't have to testify.” Xavier said as he lifted me and attempted to stand. When we were both on our feet he stepped behind me and shoved his hand into the pocket of my hoodie and leaned forward to place his chin on my shoulder.
“Don't do anything I wouldn't do.” Toni said.
Xavier looked back at Toni, “Stay out of grown folks business.”
“I will when you show me some grown folks that have business.” But Zay ignored her and kept moving.
We walked in his room, he pushed the door so that it closed but didn't shut all the way and laid back on his bed with one arm folded behind his head with on foot resting on the floor. I sat down at his desk.
“Why you over there? Come lay down with me.”
“This is my safe zone.” I said with smile.
“You don't trust me?”
“Should I?” I asked.
“Always. And I should be your safe zone.” He said trying to sound offended.
“You are.” I bent my knee and grabbed my left foot and tugged at my UGG boot until it came off and then did the same to my right foot. I tossed it on the floor and then laid down next to Xavier.
So you're drinking now?” I asked unable to let the beer situation go.
He maneuvered his had under my hoodie and slid his thumb under the waistband of my leggings but he stopped there. I flinched because his hand was cold against my skin. “It's just one beer Ky, I'm good.”
“Okay.” I whispered softly.
He pulled me closer to him and kissed the side of my neck. “I told you I'm done with that and I mean it. I closed my eyes and let it go. I didn't want to ruin the moment.
Xavier Lee
When my alarm went off I half expected Kya to wake up too but she just rolled over and covered her head with a pillow instead. I climbed over her and stood up my body was stiff and sore from the game last night combined with a headache from hell due to the four shots and two beers I had. I lied to Ky about what I was drinking because I didn't want to start an argument. I had learned my lesson about that years ago and I knew that she would never know since I downed them while I was waiting on Ethan to lie his way out of spending time with Shaunie so that he could meet Toni.
I walked into the bathroom, turned the light on and then shut the door trying not to wake up her. After I lined my toothbrush with toothpaste and stuck it in my mouth I lifted my right arm and turned to the side to check to see if I was bruised from the elbow to the ribs that I received during the game. I could still feel it as if it had just happened.
When I was done in the bathroom I shut the light off again, stepped back into my room so that I could finished getting ready. As soon as I was done I grabbed my practice bag out the closet, plugged Kya’s phone into my charger, left my room and shut the door behind me.
I had already received a text from Ethan saying that he and Toni were on their way up to my room so I stepped into the hallway to see if they were coming. They were nowhere to be found so walked back inside, sat down on the sofa and closed my eyes. A few minutes later I heard the door opened and Ethan and Toni walked in.
“You ready to roll?” Ethan asked.
“Not really but it doesn't look like I have a choice.”
Toni fell back into the sofa next to me still half asleep so I got up to give her room to stretch out. She was wearing Ethan's team sweatshirt on top of her clothes so the second I moved she balled up and pull her knees to her chest and tucked them under the oversized sweatshirt.
“Do you want covers?”
Toni just waved her hand at me as if she wanted me to leave her alone which I did but not before I leaned down and whispered, “stay outta my fridge,” which prompted her to hold up her hand up to shoot me a bird.
We left my room and headed towards the elevator.
“So what's up with you two anyway?” I asked curious about whether or not he was feeling her.
“She's straight but I’m going to have to calm her down a little.”
“Good luck with that.” I said and laughed. “She's always on one.”
“She’s just use to those weak dudes. I can tell but I got something for her.”
“Bruh, like I said good luck with that and you better keep Shaunie away from her because you haven't seen crazy until you've seen Toni in action.”
“Shaunie knows we're just chillin’ but Toni needs to take care of her so called situation before I do anything.”
“Man don't sweat old boy. He's some old wanna be thug. I've seen him a few times. He barely even speaks, always trying to play hard. I told Ky I'll lay his ass out in a heartbeat if he keeps walking around there acting like he’s brand new.”
“So she like thugs?” Ethan asked now curious about Toni's past.
“Not really. Toni always picks weak dudes that she can control and old boy tries to play hard but I can tell she's running him.”
“I'm not the one she wants then if she’s trynna run things.” Ethan said and laughed. “Only one of us can call the shots and it damn sure won't be her.”
“That’s between you and Toni, my parts done but I feel ya though.”
Ethan and I took the elevator downstairs and then got in his truck. It was a charcoal gray 2000 Land Rover discovery in perfect condition. He said he loved that body style so his dad searched for months to find one for him that was in good condition with low miles and then they spent another couple months getting it painted and serviced.
I thought that was weird because they could afford to buy any vehicle he wanted but this old school classic was what he chose. Ethan was just like that and in fact you would never know that he came from money at all if you didn't know him and his family personally. He was just kind of chill not flashy or arrogant the way money sometimes made people.
In fact because of that, Ethan was one of the few people I trusted enough to know about the trust that my mom set for me and Leigh with her insurance policy. Every time anyone found out they couldn't understand why I wasn't so called balling out being so young with access to so much money but Ethan on the other hand was cool about it. He understood that the money wasn't worth not having my mom around. Maybe it was because he was adopted and both his birth parents had died when he was a baby but either way he was always chill about it.
Kya & Xavier: It's Always Been You (Life As We Know It Book 1) Page 6
