Choices (28 page)
Authors: Skyy
“Yeah, you're quiet 'cause you know that bitch don't give a fuck about you,” Cooley said.
“Look, I don't know. I am not certain about anything. But this is a chance I am willing to take. I love Tameka so much, y'all. I just want to make sure you support me.”
The room was silent again. Cooley didn't say anything.
“Yeah, C, I really think you should reconsider, but if that's what you want, I will support you.” Denise walked up to Carmen and hugged her. “Look, y'all need to talk, and I need to get ready for tonight. Meet at my room later, okay.” Denise walked out of the room, leaving Cooley and Carmen to work out their problems.
“Man, I am getting ready to go pick up Misha. I don't have anything else to say.” Cooley grabbed her keys and walked out the room, leaving Carmen in the room alone.
Chapter 37
Cooley pulled up in front of the old apartment complex. She had to borrow Denise's car to go pick up Misha. Cooley hadn't decided how to tell Misha about the fight from that day. She knew she was going to be very upset. Misha had asked her to meet her at her sister's house because her sister was doing her hair for the sports banquet.
Cooley walked up the stairs. It had been so long since she had been there; she laughed to herself about how she'd met Misha. This time she didn't hear anything in the hallway. She knocked on the door, expecting one of Alexus' kids to come to the door. Instead, Alexus answered the door herself, wearing only a robe.
“Long time, huh,” Alexus said as Cooley walked into the house.
“Yeah, I guess so. Um, where's Misha?” Cooley noticed the way Alexus was looking at her, and she knew the look spelled danger.
“She went to get me some more hair. Everyone ain't blessed with all that hair like she got. Sit down. She'll be back soon.”
“Um, I think I'll go wait in the car for her.”
“Girl, please. Look, I am not about to do anything to you. You are with my sister and I respect that, y'all actually look kinda cute together.”
Cooley let out a breath of relief. She looked around the apartment. It was actually clean, and there were no kids running around.
“So, where are the kids?” Cooley yelled to Alexus, who had gone to the back of the apartment.
“They're with my friendâOhhh!”
Cooley heard a loud bang, like Alexus had fallen off of something. She ran to the back to see if she was okay. She found Alexus lying on the floor with one leg in between a broken chair.
Cooley quickly helped her up. “Damn! Are you okay?” she said as she got the chair off of Alexus foot.”
Alexus seemed shaken up. “I knew that chair was going to break. Damn!” she responded.
Cooley noticed her robe was coming undone. She could see her breasts, and obviously Alexus was naked under it.
Alexus tried to stand up, but fell back over. She let out a yell. “Oh, it hurts so much. Cooley, please help me to the bed.”
Cooley obliged and picked her up and placed her on the bed.
Out of nowhere, Alexus grabbed her and started to kiss her.
Before Cooley could break free, she heard a sound that she didn't want to hear.
“What the fuck?” Misha stood in the doorway of the room; she was furious.
“Baby, it's not what you think!” Cooley quickly jumped up. “Baby . . .”
“I told you, sis, that the bitch was no good. She couldn't wait to get in here and get at me!” Alexus exclaimed.
Cooley turned around, ready to slap Alexus in her face.
“Bitch, you are fucking lying. You know that you grabbed me!” Cooley yelled at Alexus, but quickly turned back around. Misha was crying. Cooley ran over to her. “Baby, please believe me. It wasn't me, I promise.”
“Cooley, how could you? My fucking sister!” Misha yelled as the tears continued to fall from her face.
“I told you from the get-go that she was no good, Misha.” Alexus smirked as she put her robe on.
Cooley turned around; she was ready to kill her.
Before she could respond, Misha lit into her.
“Bitch, shut the fuck up! You had no business even letting my woman come back here. I can't believe your scandalous ass either!” Misha's tears turned into anger again. She walked up to her sister and punched her in her face, causing her to fall onto the bed.
Cooley didn't know what to do. She was in shock by the whole situation.
Misha began walking out of the room.
Cooley grabbed her arm, but was met with a punch to her face as well.
“But you love me, huh, Cooley. You love me! I knew I shouldn't have trusted your ass. I fuckin' hate you!” Misha ran out the room.
“Misha!” Cooley yelled as she ran out of the room as well. Cooley caught up to Misha on the grass. She grabbed her arms. “Misha.”
“No, leave me the fuck alone, let me go,” Misha said, struggling to get loose.
“No, not until you listen to me.”
“Let. Me. Go!” Misha hit Cooley on her side that was already damaged, causing Cooley to hit the ground. Misha looked down at Cooley, who was in pain. She was too upset to help.
Carmen opened the door to the dorm to find a distraught Cooley standing there.
“Cooley!” she exclaimed as Cooley staggered into the room.
“Misha left me, she left me!” Cooley said, pacing the floor.
“What are you talking about Cooley? Where did she go?” Carmen didn't understand what was going on. She had been in the middle of getting ready for the banquet when Cooley had come to the door.
“Her bitch-ass sister set me up. Misha walked in on her kissing me, but I wasn't kissing her. She fell on the floor, and I helped her up. She set me up, Carmen. The ho set me up!” Tears of anger fell from her face.
“Cooley, I am sure that once you explain to Misha thatâ”
Cooley cut her off. “No, she won't even talk to me. She punched me in my fuckin' face! She won't answer her phone. Shit, I want to kill her sister!” Cooley fell on her bed.
“Look, she will be at the banquet tonight. Just give it some time. I am sure she will calm down. It's just the initial shock. I am sure she is going to forgive you. It wasn't your fault, and I believe you.” Carmen placed her arm around Cooley.
“Everything is going to be okay. Now, get ready for the banquet, and I will make sure she talks to you tonight.”
“Are you sure? You are going to have her talk to me?” Cooley asked like a kid asking for candy.
“Yes, I will make sure of it. Everything is going to be all right, boo boo.” Carmen hugged Cooley again.
They both started to get ready for the banquet.
“C, I'm sorry I reacted the way I did about Tameka. I just want you to get all you deserve, ya know.”
“I know. Now get dressed. We gotta meet Dee.” Carmen hugged Cooley.
They finished getting ready for the night.
Denise looked at herself one last time in the mirror before Cooley and Carmen knocked on the door. The awards banquet was a big deal. The star athletes were all introduced to the school, and as two of the best players, she and Brandon would be introduced. She wondered if Lena was doing okay.
Cooley and Carmen walked in the room. Cooley was dressed to impress, and Carmen was stunning in a black strapless dress. Denise complimented Carmen, as she brushed her hair back into a perfect ponytail.
“Yo', Lena already left?” Cooley asked, struggling not to walk with a limp.
“She was never here. Yo', bruh, are you okay?” Denise asked.
“I don't think she is. I told her to go to the student health center, but she refused. I can't believe that psycho did this to you,” Carmen said as she fixed her lipstick.
“Man, look, I'm cool. Misha is hurting me more than this pain is. God, I have to get her back.” Cooley sat down on Lena's bed. She knew she was hurting bad, but she didn't want to make her friends worry. “So, you haven't talked to Lena at all.”
“Nope, I think she's still upset.” Denise had tried calling her five times, but never got an answer. “I hope she's okay, and, dude, Misha will cool down. Things will be okay.”
“Yeah, Lena was pretty upset. I think it was just the shock of seeing the act.” Carmen secretly knew that Lena was dealing with more than just seeing it. She remembered how it was when she was just curious about lesbianism.
“Misha will take a little time, but I will make sure she understands the truth. You two belong together.”
“I just want to make things right. I don't want her to feel uncomfortable in her own room,” Denise added.
“Man, I gotta make things right. I can't lose her,” Cooley said as they headed out the room.
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The student ballroom was packed. The awards banquet was one of the largest events. Everyone was dressed nice. It was not a casual event, and most women were dressed in their little black dresses. Alumni were ever present in the old Greek adorning suits with their Greek organization crests on them. Tables were all decked out in Greek colors.
The three walked in, and Carmen headed over to the Chi Theta table; they were required to sit together until each organization was announced with any awards they won. Chi Theta stood to win sorority of the year.
Carmen was glad to sit there. Tameka had told her that she would be running late. She noticed a seat next to Misha, who was looking very distraught.
“Hey, girl, you okay?” Carmen said as she sat down next to Misha.
“No, not really, but I guess you heard, huh?” The puffiness in her eyes showed that she had been crying.
“Yeah, I heard, girl. Cooley is losing it too. I know my friend, and what happened was not her. Believe me, I don't know your sister, but that was a total setupâ”
“Look, I know my sister set Cooley up. I realized it as soon as I sat down and thought about everything.”
“So, you're going to get back withâ”
“I didn't say that.” Misha lowered her head. “I don't know what I want to do just yet.”
Carmen decided to drop the conversation when she heard the announcer call for the women's basketball team. She knew Denise would receive an award or two.
The sports presentation was pretty boring. Denise hated standing on the stage, mainly because after standing there for so long she still had to stand to take pictures. Freedom was just like any other school, with its focus on the men's teams. The women's team had only been added to meet the requirements of Title IX. Denise hoped that the women's basketball team winning the championship would help change things for the newer players coming up.
They announced Denise's name for five awards, including most valuable player, which she graciously accepted, smiled for the camera and waited on them to relieve her. As she turned her head for a different photographer, she noticed a vision of pure beauty walk into the room. Lena had never looked as stunning as she did now to Denise. She had on a knee-length black dress that seemed to fit perfectly around her curvaceous body. She walked in holding Brandon's arm. They were with the other basketball players and their women.
Denise walked off the stage and headed over to greet her. “Hey,” she said as she tapped Lena on the shoulder.
“Hey,” Lena said as she walked away from Brandon's side.
The tension was high.
“I called you a few times . . .”
“Yeah, I was with Brandon all day.”
“Yeah, I figured that much,” she lied. She was worried sick about her. “Are you okay withâ”
“Yeah, Denise, everything is fine.” Lena cut Denise off again, obviously not wanting to discuss anything.
They were silent, and it became awkward.
“You look beautiful.” Denise couldn't resist.
“Thank you. You look wonderful, too.” Lena couldn't catch her in time.
They made eye contact, both wanting to say more, both not able to say anything.
“Yo', yo', Denise.” Brandon walked up and shook Denise's hand.
“Yeah, Brandon, how are you?”
“Good, good. Can't complain.”
“That's great. Well, I gotta get back over there with Cooley.” She quickly walked off. When she got to her chair, she slinked down into it. She was stuck. She officially knew that she was in love with Lena.
Cooley tried not to stare at Misha, but she couldn't resist. She looked so beautiful, and Cooley knew all of the pain in her eyes was her fault. Cooley wasn't used to the feeling she was having. She immediately wished for the old days when women didn't affect her. She noticed Misha walking toward her.
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