Choices (16 page)

Authors: Skyy

BOOK: Choices

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“Are you sure she's going to be okay, sir?” Cooley asked the officer.

“Yes, she is going to be fine. When she wakes up, tell her never to take a drink from strangers.”

They waited for the cab to pull up. Denise stared at the police cruiser that was carrying Tasha and the other girl. She started walking toward it, but Lena grabbed her and put her arms around her.

“I need a hug. Give me a hug, Denise,” Lena said as she pulled herself as close to Denise as she could. She put her head on Denise's chest; she could feel her heart beating fast.

Denise put her arms around Lena and started to calm down some. She noticed Cooley by the stretcher that Carmen was on. Carmen had woken up. They both ran over to the stretcher.

“Carmen, sweetie, are you all right?” Denise asked her.

Carmen nodded her head. “What, what happened to me?” she whispered.

“We will tell you later,” Cooley said. “Let me pick you up.” She put Carmen's arms around her and scooped her into her arms.

The four of them got into the taxi van that pulled up for them. Many people were still watching them until they drove off.

The ride was completely silent.

When they got to the house, Cooley put Carmen into the bed.

Denise sat down in the chair in the living room. She buried her face in her hands.

“Long night, huh,” Lena said to Denise.

Denise looked up at her. “Long as hell,” Denise said as Lena walked to her.

“Well,” Lena said as she sat in Denise's lap. She gave Denise a peck on her forehead. “Happy New Year, roomy.” Lena stood up and walked to her room.

Denise was frozen in her chair. “Damn,” she whispered to herself. She knew instantly that she was in love with her roommate.

Chapter 19

Cooley headed into the living room and noticed everyone's bags by the door. Denise had packed her bags for her. Cooley forgot they were heading back to Memphis today. She saw Lena and Denise sitting at the table eating breakfast.

“Hey, you,” Lena said to Cooley.

“What's up? How is Carmen?” Cooley said, looking in the direction of Carmen's room.

“She's fine, bruh,” Denise responded. “She is a little shaken up, but she'll be fine. She's taking a shower now.”

Cooley fell into a chair at the table. “Man, I have never been so scared in my life,” she said, grabbing some bacon out of the pile in the middle of the table.

“I know. I was scared, too. The only calm one was Lena.” Denise looked at Lena.

“You all weren't that bad. I knew that you all needed me to be strong.”

“Ain't that some shit. Us two big-ass studs freaking out, and she's all calm.” Cooley laughed. “But, for real, thanks. We couldn't have gotten anything accomplished if you weren't there.”

“Yeah, Carmen would have been in the hospital, and me and Cooley would have gone to jail for attempted murder.” Denise gave Cooley dap.

“Damn right, 'cause I tried to kill both those bitches, man before y'all came out.”

“Yeah, I heard from the officer,” Lena added. “You just better be glad they didn't take you to jail, too.”

Cooley and Denise knew that Lena was right. They could have easily taken both of them to jail for assault, regardless of the situation.

“Man, I better not ever see either one of those bitches anywhere.” Cooley added, “I could have lost my sister.” Her face became very stern; everyone became silent, realizing that Carmen could have died last night.

Carmen walking in the room finally broke the silence.

“Carmen!” Cooley got up and hugged her.

“Cooley, I am okay, really,” Carmen said as she took a seat at the table.

“Are you sure you're fine to travel?” Denise asked her.

“Yes, I am fine. Honestly I'm ready to put this week behind me and get back to campus.”

“All I know is that I have learned a valuable lesson this holiday. I am through fucking over bitches,” Cooley said.

“Really now,” Denise said, not really paying her friend any attention.

“Yes, I am serious. Man, I met this girl, Sahara. She blew my mind. I could actually see myself dating her. Too bad she's got a girl. And then this shit with you, Carmen. That opened my eyes. I want something more than some pussy. I want to have something real for a change.”

No one knew what to think of Cooley's acclamation. They had never seen her that serious before. They actually believed what she was saying.

“Well, I am proud of you, man. I hope you stick to it,” Denise said.

“Yeah, way to go, bruh.” Carmen patted Cooley on her shoulder. “Let's see how long it lasts.”

“Oh, it's going to last. I am going to prove it to all of you. I can be serious too, you know. A nigga need love too.”

They all laughed.

Denise and Cooley packed up the bags. They all said goodbye to Lena and headed back to school after a holiday they would never forget. The car ride started off silent, until Cooley quickly broke it.

“Nigga, you ain't slick either,” she said to Denise, who was driving.

“What are you talking about?” Denise said.

“You think I didn't notice how close you and Lena were. Did you finally hit it?” Cooley said.

Carmen and Cooley laughed at the statement.

“Hell, no, man. You know it's not like that.”

“Stop lying.” Carmen added, “Love is in the muthafuckin' air!”

They laughed again.

“Whatever, man.” Denise did not like where the conversation was headed.

“Dude, look me in my eye and tell me that you are not falling for that girl,”

Cooley said. Denise looked at Cooley. She tried to say it, but it wouldn't come out. “Nigga, I told you, you want Lena!”

“Shut up, y'all!” Denise yelled. “Okay, okay. I do want her okay. I wanted her so bad last night, but come on. She's taken. I am not going through that again, no way. No more curious or straight girls in my life.”

“Good, Denise,” Carmen added. “That would be bad, real bad.”

“Why?” Cooley asked.

“Because, that girl's life is planned. She has a whole future to think about. Don't go confusing her anymore than she already is.”

“So, you're saying she's confused. She's curious, huh?” Cooley smiled at her question.

“I am not saying anything, but all that she talked about the whole first day was that damn bracelet you gave her. You know that goo-goo facial expression Denise gets; I see Lena get it too sometimes.”

“Get the fuck out of here. Little Lena is feeling my boy.”

Cooley hit Denise, who was absorbing everything that Carmen said.

“Are you for real? Naw, you're playing right?” Denise asked in a serious tone.

Cooley continued to laugh.

“Denise, I can't lie to you. I think that if you did try, it would totally happen.” Carmen lay back in her seat. “But I still don't think you should try it at all.”

“Fuck that, Dee. You need to fuck the hell out of that girl and let her know which side of the rainbow she really belongs on!” Even Denise had to laugh at that comment.

“Naw, man, I am not going to do it. I care about her a lot, a whole lot, but I am not going to be the one to ruin her future.”

“So, what if she comes to you with it? What you gon' do then?”

Cooley had a good point. Denise never thought about what she would do if Lena propositioned her.

“I honestly don't know, and I am not going to think about it unless she does bring it to me.”

“Good girl, Denise,” Carmen added.

“Whatever. You better be glad you're my dawg, 'cause I would put so much game in that girl she would be like âBrandon who'?”

They all laughed again.

“Oh, what happened to the Cooley who wants a relationship?” Carmen asked.

“I still want one and I am still going to look for one, but hell, Lena is fine as hell. Buddy, if you don't want her, I can make her my last loose piece of pussy.”

“You better stay the fuck away from her,” Denise snapped, causing Cooley to break out laughing.

“Chill out, homey. I don't really want her; I'm just testing you. I knew your ass was in love.”

Carmen and Cooley laughed at Denise's expense for the majority of the ride home.

Chapter 20

Lena opened the door to her dorm. She hoped Denise would be there, but she wasn't. She took a seat on her bed. She missed her crew when they left her house. She was at home alone for the rest of the week and wished she had taken them up on their offer to ride back to school with them. She had to make sure the house was completely proper for when her family got home. She hired a service to clean the entire house and double-checked the whole house to make sure nothing was left behind.

She held her wrist up and looked at her Tiffany charm bracelet. Lena owned many Tiffany items, but this one had quickly become her favorite. The charms dangled down. She thought about Denise every time she looked at it.

She heard a knock at the door, and she opened it to find Brandon standing with a bunch of bags in his hands.

“Hey, baby,” Brandon said as he hugged her. “God, I have missed you so much.” He picked her up and kissed her.

“I have missed you too, asshole,” Lena said as she caught a quick attitude with him.

“I'm sorry. What was that for?” Brandon said, confused by the attitude Lena was showing.

“How was your little romp in sin city?” Lena said as she pouted her lips and crossed her arms.

Brandon laughed. “It was fine, and how was your gay pride holiday?” he said catching an attitude right back with her.

She quickly lost the attitude. “It was fine-ass, and it wasn't a gay pride event. We're going to that in June.” She smiled at Brandon, who didn't find the comment funny. She got up and sat in his lap. “I did miss you, baby.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Take these damn presents before you really make me mad.”

She opened present after present. She was very excited about the gifts she received. “Baby, they're all wonderful!” She squealed with excitement as she kissed him.

“Wait, there is one more, you know,” Brandon said as he stood up. “Baby, there were so many agents all trying to get me. Once we won the tournament, it was all over. They rode my dick, catering to my every need for the rest of the weekend. They kept telling me about all the millions I'm going to make in the NBA. I had to admit, I was feeling what they were saying, especially this one dude. He was for real, the way he came to me.”

“That's wonderful. I am so happy for you.” Lena was very excited about the news.

“No, be happy for us, because wherever I end up, I am taking you with me.”

Lena blushed at Brandon's statement. She realized that he really loved her a lot. She realized that she was feeling a little guilty, but she didn't know why. She hadn't done anything.

Brandon pulled a bag out of his gym bag and handed it to Lena.

She pulled out a blue box with a white ribbon. It was Tiffany. She began to smile when she saw the box, but when she opened it, her smile faded. It was a Return to Tiffany's toggle bracelet with a heart, a bracelet that she already had.

“Brandon, baby, I love it, but you know I already have this one, right?” she said to him. Brandon laughed and got on his knees in front of her. “Baby, look at it closely.”

Lena turned it over to see the initials L.M.R. engraved on the back of it.

“It has the last name that you are going to have soon.”

Lena's eyes started to tear up as Brandon began to explain.

“I think that you should start getting used to saying, “Lena Redding” because whenever I go pro, the first thing that I am going to do is marry you.” He grabbed her to put the bracelet on it, revealing the charm bracelet that Denise gave her. “Damn, that's nice. Expensive, too. Your dad always gotta upstage me.” He laughed as he removed the charm bracelet.

“Actually, Daddy didn't give me that. Um, Denise did.” Brandon stopped what he was doing when she made that comment. Lena knew he was upset.

“Hold up, you mean your roommate gave you a four-hundred-dollar bracelet? What the fuck is she doing buying you a damn Tiffany bracelet?” Brandon stood up. Anger was all over his face.

“Baby, calm down. It was a gift to thank me for all I did for her grandmother's funeral. It's not that serious.” Brandon quickly cut her off.

“No, Lena, a gift certificate, or a card would show appreciation. This is not something you give to a friend!”

“Why? I bought Carmen a Tiffany bracelet for Christmas.”

“That's different.”

“How?”

“Carmen doesn't want you!” Brandon yelled.

Lena suddenly felt uneasy. She hadn't seen Brandon that upset in a very long time. The room got silent. Lena stared at Brandon, who was turning red with anger.

“Baby, please calm down,” Lena pleaded with Brandon. She walked up to him and put her arms around him. “It was just a gift. Denise has never tried anything with me. Believe me, it's nothing between us.”

“I want you to prove it. I want you to get a new room-mate,” Brandon said.

Lena quickly became upset. “You're not serious,” Lena said as she let go of Brandon.

“I am very serious. Now, you go to your R.A. and ask her to move Denise to a new room.”

“Brandon Taylor Redding, you must have left your brain in Miami, 'cause it certainly is not here.”

“Baby, do this for me. I don't want my girl staying with some dyke! Now Steve's girl's roommate left. You can let her move in here, and Denise can take her room.”

“No, I do not like Steve's stuck up-ass girlfriend.”

“Baby, she's going to be your sorority sister. You need to get to know her.”

“Fuck that. I am not moving, and I am not making Denise move either. You just need to get over this bullshit insecurity you have.”

“So, you telling me you are picking her over me.”

“I'm not picking anyone over anyone else, but you are not going to tell me what I better do. Brandon, I am your woman, the woman you just said you want to marry. If you don't trust me, then I don't need a bracelet with your last name on it, do I?” Lena held the bracelet out toward Brandon.

His angry look quickly became sad. “Baby, you are not serious, are you? You're breaking up with me?” He sounded like a little boy who lost his dog.

“No. I'm not breaking up with you. I love you, Brandon, but if you can't trust me, there is no relationship.” Lena looked at Brandon. She had tears in her eyes, and she could tell that he was minutes away from crying as well.

“I trust you, Lena. I don't trust her.”

“She can't do anything to me that I don't let her do. I am strictly dickly and don't want nothing from her like that. She, Carmen and Cooley are my only friends on this campus, and I am not going to give them up because you have a crazy male insecurity.”

The room became silent again. Brandon slowly calmed down.

“Look, Bae, I apologize. I don't know what I was thinking. I know you are my girl completely.” Brandon grabbed Lena and hugged her tight.

“Good. Now kiss me.”

Brandon gave Lena a long passionate kiss.

They got in her bed and began to make passionate love.

Afterward, Brandon held her in his arms and fell asleep.

Lena turned over. She didn't want him to see her face. She was not satisfied by their lovemaking. It felt like something was missing.