Vérité

by Rachel Blaufeld

  I was smart enough to get the double meaning to what he was saying, but I didn’t have the strength to get into it with him. “Yeah, yeah, I know,” was all I gave back.

  He gave me a quick pinch to the butt and I jumped up from the bed, squealing. I never thought I would ever squeal, and here I was doing it with a guy—in bed.

  “Come on, I’ll walk you to the weight room after you stop and get changed,” Tiberius said matter-of-factly, leaving me no room for argument.

  So I got out of bed and wrapped in the blanket to use the bathroom, and then tossed on last night’s clothes to make the walk of shame.

  But for the first time ever, I didn’t really feel ashamed at all.

  “Tingly? Tingleee? Where are you?” I heard Ginny frantically shouting throughout the apartment over the loud spray of the shower.

  After turning off the water and tossing a towel around myself, I stuck my head out of the bathroom door and yelled, “What?”

  It was Thursday and I had to get to my dreaded economics class. I was already going to be late as it was after taking an extra-long run, which was much needed to soothe the pulsing ache for more with Tiberius. We’d spent every night together since Monday, yet we were still moving at a snail’s pace.

  “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you were in the shower,” she said from right outside the bathroom door.

  I peeked through the crack of the door, my hair dripping all over the floor as Ginny bounced from one foot to the other. Mentally, I sighed; I didn’t have time for any more drama. Then again, when did Ginny become so dramatic?

  “What’s wrong?” I flung the door all the way open, not caring if I was covered or not as steam flooded the hallway.

  “Well, Bryce was over at the athletic complex lifting and Logan Salomon was there, going off at the mouth about how you wanted him but he turned you down. He was going on and on about not wanting Professor Dubois’s sloppy seconds.”

  “You’re kidding!”

  “No. And it gets worse. A few of the basketball boys were there—”

  “Shit!” I yelled, interrupting her.

  “Well, it turned into a full-on brawl. Campus security was called and they hauled Bryce, Dan—he’s one of the football players who got involved—the basketball guys, and Logan outta there.”

  Ginny finished and started to pace the length of the hallway when Chey stuck her head out of her room. “We just heard. One of the guys texted Stacy to get the assistant coach.”

  “How the hell did this happen? Was Tiberius there?”

  Ginny gave me a helpless look and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Chey burst out of her room, banging the door into the wall behind it as she glared at me. “For starters, put some clothes on your skinny butt, go down there, and help get those guys out of this.”

  My wet hair was now dripping over my breastbone, landing in the towel knotted across my chest. “Okay. Okay,” I said and started toward my room. “Wait, are you okay, Ginny? I’m sorry I dragged you into this—”

  “Be quiet,” she said, holding up a hand. “You’re a good person, Ting, even though you don’t realize it. Bryce wasn’t gonna let that shit lie. I don’t know what happened between you and Logan, but either way . . . you gave me confidence when it came to Bryce, and we’re both thankful. Now go help them sort out this mess.”

  Her phone beeped and she looked down at the screen. “It’s Bryce. They’re just getting some kind of warning, but he said the basketball guys are wound tight. He thinks you need to go talk them down. They’ve got a game tomorrow night.”

  “We’re going with ya, girlie,” Chey chimed in as Stacy made her way out of her room, looking like hell. Her hair wasn’t in her usual braids, but down and all wavy.

  I turned toward Stacy. “You all right?”

  “Fine. I overdid it last night at practice.”

  “Okay.”

  Chey slapped my butt. “Come on, we don’t have all day.”

  I hurried to my room and tossed on jeans and a loose sweatshirt. It looked like I’d be missing econ today. Oh well, I’d get the notes.

  By the time the three of us arrived at the security building, the guys were filing out, and I heard several of them shout my name. I didn’t see Tiberius, but I did spot Jamel and Lamar. Just my luck. Bryce was right behind them, but Logan was nowhere to be seen.

  Lamar walked swiftly toward me, grabbed my arm, and turned me to walk with him as Chey and Stacy rushed the other guys, looking for the inside scoop.

  Anger twisting his features, Lamar spat out, “Tingly, that Logan dude’s an asshole.”

  “I’m gonna fuck his ass up,” Jamel said as he flanked my other side.

  “Guys, come on. He was just running off at the mouth. Let it go, you got a game tomorrow.”

  “Shut the fuck up, Tingly, and leave this up to us,” Jamel shouted, his pupils tiny pinpricks of rage.

  “Where’s Tiberius?” I asked.

  “He’s down at the financial aid department, working some shit out with his mother’s death certificate. Let’s go, I’m rolling down there to get him and then we’re gonna deal with this shit.” Jamel started walking back toward the Union where the finance department was located.

  “No! Please, Jamel. Let it go,” I begged him. When he ignored me, I grabbed his arm and jerked him toward me, my nails clawing at his skin as I whispered, “Don’t, Jamel.”

  “Damn, bitch. Why’re you protecting the dude?” he said through clenched teeth.

  “It’s not him. It’s me,” I said in a hushed voice. It was so quiet, I almost couldn’t hear it myself.

  “Come here,” Jamel demanded and pulled me over to the side of the road, underneath a tree. “What’s the deal?”

  I was wringing my hands and my still-damp hair fell limply down my back. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I spoke softly. “You know how the day I met you, you immediately said, ‘I know you . . . you’re the girl that blah, blah?’ Well, if you do this, I’m only gonna be known for more bad shit. Let him go. I can handle Logan, but I don’t want Ty to be associated with any of this.”

  Jamel narrowed his eyes at me. “You know what, girl? You don’t get what you got going on. Brains, booming system for a chick, personality. Stop thinking you’re shit and deserve shit. Because Ty’s all good, and if you want him, you better be good enough for him. I know you are, but do you?” He stopped speaking, brushed past me, and was gone before I could stop him.

  With one last glance back at me, he said, “Let’s go, Mar. We be giving this ass one more chance.” And off the two of them went, meeting up with the rest of the crew enraptured by my roommates.

  Moments later, I stood outside the finance office waiting for Tiberius.

  The door flung open and his wide eyes met mine. “Rex? What’re you doing here?”

  I was back to wringing my hands. Not wanting to alarm him, I forced myself to unclench my fists and straighten my arms at my side. “There was a situation down at the gym. I guess Logan ran off at the mouth about me making a pass for him.” That was all I managed to get out before Tiberius shouted, “Fuck!”

  “The guys were down there lifting,” he said as he stormed toward the elevator.

  “Yeah, and Bryce, my roommate’s boyfriend. They kinda all got into it, and security came.”

  “Do you know where the guys are? We’re gonna have to pay Logan a visit,” he said right before bursting out of the elevator as soon as the doors parted.

  “They guys went home with a warning, but that’s exactly what I don’t want—you or them to pay Logan a visit.” I stopped dead in my tracks and stared down the man in front of me, all six feet five inches of him.

  “No. No guy’s gonna disrespect you.” He turned to leave again.

  “Listen to me, Ty, I’m gonna tell you what I told Jamel. I can’t afford to have any more attention on me like this. I’m already scorned.”

  “That’s bullshit, T. You’re not scorned. You made a mistake, and you’re the o
nly one who keeps punishing yourself over it.” He leaned against the wall, tilting his head back against the plaster, and let out a long, deep breath. “No brother would ever let this go on, Rex. But I’m gonna go along with you for one more try, then I’m done. One more time, and I’m done with protecting Logan. Got me?”

  I leaned on him, bracing my forehead on his chest, feeling the wild, frenetic pace of his heart and the heavy sound of his breathing. We stayed like that, quiet and serene for a few minutes, until he asked, “Don’t you got class?”

  “I missed it when I went to see what happened. You okay? How come you didn’t tell me you had to come over here? That couldn’t have been easy.”

  I ran my hand down his chest, sliding it over his shirt before settling on his hard abs. A shiver ran through him, electrifying my hand, lightning practically sparked through me.

  “Didn’t want to burden you. It’s done. But this is more important. I can’t let this Logan carry on, Rex.” He swiped his phone out of his pocket and tapped the screen, then brought the phone to his ear. “Ya’ll ready to roll?” That was all he said, no asking questions or listening to their version of the story––despite the fact he just told me he’d give Logan one more chance.

  “You gonna listen to her?” he said a few seconds later, glaring at me. At their answer, his face tightened and he brushed his finger over the screen, disconnecting a call without another word.

  “Looks like the team is siding with you. Unreal,” he mumbled.

  “I thought you agreed with me?”

  “I couldn’t let the guys think I gave in so easily, babe.”

  “Well, I practically begged Mel. Told him to remember when I first ran into him and he mentioned the professor. I don’t want any more attention like that, Ty.”

  He tossed his arm around me. “Mel says it’s the last time he’s listening to you. Next time, you’re not gonna stop him.”

  “I know,” I said, and before I could say any more, Tiberius turned me toward him and took my mouth in a brutal kiss. It was claiming and passionate, right in the open daylight for anyone to see—especially for the few members of the men’s track team who walked by and whistled. Our lips parted and I gasped for air.

  “Well, not gonna be up for debate now who you made a pass at,” he said smugly.

  “Ty, seriously?” I joked, but I guessed he was right.

  “Come on, I’ll walk you back and buy you a liquid love. We got a walk-through before the game tomorrow.”

  It was a non-conference game but the season opener, so the field house was packed. I never imagined it would be this full when I rushed over there, coffee in one hand and a complimentary ticket from Chey in the other. In fact, I teased her when she said I needed a ticket.

  Once again, I hadn’t told Tiberius I was coming because I’d started working with that student in need of an Italian tutor, and I wasn’t sure how long it would take. At least, that was what I told myself. In reality, I was afraid to let him count on me. I’d never played that role before.

  Lindsay was a sickeningly sweet, shiny-haired brunette from Long Island who wanted to go on a semester abroad in Rome—with her boyfriend, of course. Her parents said she needed to learn the language before they approved the trip, so she’d been doing Rosetta Stone before enrolling in Italian Level Three this semester. It was a leap of faith on her part, but apparently her guy was “so damn hot” and she couldn’t bear the thought of him being there without her.

  “I have to pass Italian Three,” she begged me. She was practically failing. Poor girl offered to pay me whatever I wanted so she could send in her deposit for Rome.

  I accepted the challenge.

  Earlier, we worked for two hours straight, sorting nouns and verb tenses, when I had to excuse myself. Suddenly, I found myself not wanting to miss the game.

  Now I took one last guzzle of my drink and pitched the cup before entering the field house, heading to the right toward my seat. I was sandwiched between Chey and Stacy, a teammate of theirs named Tiffanie behind me.

  The girl Chey called “Tiff” kept leaning forward and slapping me on the shoulder as the guys warmed up. I hadn’t wanted to watch the game alone, but mostly I needed more explanations of how the game worked and the girls offered to help. In return, I had to make sure they would be the first to know where all the guys’ basketball parties were. I didn’t know how I was going to do that considering I was always the last to know.

  The guys were hitting “layups” according to Chey before they ran back toward the locker room.

  Tiffanie leaned forward, yelling into my ear with more slapping on my shoulder. “Get ready, white girl, for your panties to drop. Those brothers are gonna roll out here, sweaty and ready to go.”

  Chey snorted. “She knows what they look like, Tiff. She sleeps over at Ty’s . . . and Trey’s.”

  Tiffanie’s eyes lit up. “No shit? Girlie! Trey’s smokin’. He lights me on fire, girl! You gotta give him my digits. Talk to him about me.”

  My shoulder was going numb from Tiffanie and all her slapping. She wasn’t a small woman; I was pretty sure she played center for the women’s team.

  “Sure thing,” I said, afraid to mention the girl in Cleveland or anything other than my agreement. I liked Trey, but there was no way I was getting mixed up in his love life. He’d been nice enough to me all week, minding his own business when I spent the night with Tiberius.

  The lights in the stadium went out and the crowd cheered. A spotlight whipped in figure eights around the field house as a rap song played with heavy bass and some yelling that sounded like “Bring ’em out!” Then the announcer came over the loudspeaker, introducing the team one by one. Tiberius was at the top of the lineup, the last one waiting to slap hands with the starting five. Chey explained this was normal for the new guy on the bench.

  My heart swelled a little as the announcer’s words echoed throughout the arena. “Starting at guard, a six-foot-four junior, number thirteen, Trey Dawson.”

  Trey made his way through the line, slapping up high-fives, and the girls all gushed and swooned around me.

  “He is one fine brother. Damn, girl, you gotta introduce me to him,” rang in my ears from behind me.

  “Look at your man’s ass,” Stacy said on my left as she elbowed me. “You could bounce a quarter off that shit.”

  “Ladies, let’s all calm down,” I said, patting the air to encourage them to hush up.

  Before we knew it, the team was at center court, ready for the tip-off. Hafton got the ball, and Lamar dribbled it toward the hoop. He sprang up on both feet, dunked the ball, and hung on the rim while the Jumbotron flashed a replay with the words SLAM DUNK plastered across the screen. The girls went into another series of oohs and ahs and general chatter about Lamar’s body and form.

  I watched as the opponent brought the ball back down the court. They were a smaller school from Georgia, and their bright-yellow uniforms left something to be desired. The other team made it all the way to the basket, where Jamel slapped the ball out of their hands into the stands.

  “Ooh, he got stuffed,” Chey yelled.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Stuffed, that’s what that is.”

  “You mean when he slapped the ball out of his hands into the crowd?”

  “Yes, Tingly. Pay attention, girl.”

  The first half went by fast, finishing with Trey “crossing someone up” at center court and “driving” for his second three-pointer. Hafton was up by twelve as the boys went to the tunnel toward the locker room, when Chey stood up and yelled, “Hey, Ty! Look up here!” She was jumping up and down, pointing at me, until his sight line focused on me.

  Unfortunately, so did the Jumbotron. There I was, blushing, surrounded by the women’s basketball team, with the camera traveling between Tiberius winking at me and me sitting there, mystified.

  I sank down in my seat, hunching my shoulders to make myself smaller, and my phone pinged like crazy in my pocket. Sliding it
out from my jeans, I noticed ten notifications from Facebook. I hated that app—I needed to delete it—but I pressed the icon to open it. Sure enough, ten people had just written on my wall.

  “Tingly, just saw you on the Jumbotron!!”

  “Who is the guy winking at you? You sure know how to pick them.”

  “Go, Tingly—at the game.”

  One of the posts was from Stephanie, my section coach.

  “Hey, Tingly, just saw you starring on the big screen at the basketball game!”

  Was she here? Christ, I needed to get out of this place; the walls were starting to close in on me. Why couldn’t I remain anonymous?

  “Hey, girls, this was fun, but I gotta go. See you at home. Great meeting you, Tiffanie,” I said as I stood and grabbed my backpack.

  “Why’re you leaving? Because I embarrassed you?” Chey stood up, towering over me.

  “No, it’s fine. Really. I just have work and an early practice,” I lied, swinging my bag on my shoulder.

  “Tiberius isn’t gonna be happy about this,” she whispered to me, the tips of her braids brushing along my cheek.

  “I’ll text him,” I said, and then I was out of there.

  I walked back to my dorm as fast as my feet could take me, and locked myself in my room. My phone buzzed with a call, and I answered in a fit of rage, not bothering to check the caller ID.

  “Hello?”

  “Tingly, I’m glad you answered.”

  Shit. Second fuckup of the day.

  “What, Dad?”

  “We’ve been trying to reach you.”

  “Why?” I stalked around my room, stopping to kick at the closet door to vent my frustration.

  “Well, your mom and I weren’t happy how things ended for you last year. And I’m dealing with it.”

  “What do you mean, dealing with it?” I made my way over to my bed and flopped down on my back, squeezing my eyes shut. “I thought I told you that I was fine on my own.”

  “Well, I know you’re not in a good space out there, and I’m fixing it.”

  “What the hell do you mean?” I shrieked into the phone.