Prologue #3
“No, I didn’t know. Essex was allowed to go to more unsupervised outings than me so I can see it. Do your parents know you lost your virginity?”
“Yeah,” she chatted, and my eyes ballooned.
Victoria emitted a low chuckle at my reaction before continuing.
“I told my mom after we had sex a second time, so I could make an appointment to get on birth control. I’m sure they already had suspicions, though.
I used to go to Essex’s apartment every day after school and stay there until dinner time.
Once school ended, I pretty much moved in with Essex and Rashawn while I waited for college drop off day.
They can’t really tell me what to do anymore.
I’m eighteen, and I was a few weeks away from leaving the nest. They can’t babysit me while I’m up here, and your parents can’t either,” she proclaimed.
I admired Victoria, wishing I had the courage and confidence to even think something like that. Until I could grow the same backbone, I’d have to continue living vicariously through her unfiltered rants. Victoria pulled her phone out and started texting again.
“I’m telling them your parents are leaving tonight.
Rashawn has family here, and some of his people are having a house party tomorrow.
Are you going to come or are you going to be acting too scared?
I want to enjoy this weekend before we lock in and start classes on Monday.
Oh, and Faith is my roommate, so I’ll be in your room a lot. ”
“No fucking way, they put you with Faith,” Victoria rolled her eyes as there was a knock at the door. “If she tries you, I’mma whoop her ass.”
There was another loud knock, and I knew it was my handlers coming to whisk me away from Victoria once they noticed my absence.
“I’m coming,” I confirmed as there was a knock on the door. Victoria went to answer the door, and of course, it was my parents. “Hello, Pastor Hunter and Sister Hunter,” Victoria spoke, amusement lacing her tone.
She didn’t play about Essex and kept her distance from my parents because of how they treated him.
“Victoria,” my mother greeted her, leaning in for a hug.
“Maybe I’ll see you around,” I put on a front because Victoria was also on the unapproved friends list due to her relationship with Essex. If the Metcalfs weren’t there to distract my parents, they would’ve ensured I didn’t go anywhere with Victoria.
“Yeah, maybe,” she waved.
“It was nice seeing you guys again,” I waved at the Metcalfs before following my parents out of the dorm room.
“Make sure you are not getting too chummy with Victoria while you’re up here.
I hear she was shacking up with your brother like they’re grown.
We love Victoria, always have, but right now, she isn’t under the best influence,” my mother spat.
“You and Faith have been going to school together since Elementary school, so you guys have each other. I’m so glad that you guys are roommates.
I also sent you an Excel spreadsheet with names and phone numbers of all the young ladies from the church who will be attending FAMU.
I color coordinated them by grade level, and the upperclassmen have cars, so don’t be afraid to ask if you need a ride.
I’d rather that than you catching the bus places. ”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Where do you want to go for dinner?”
“Doesn’t matter,” I replied.
It didn’t matter. I was ready for them to get on the road and out of my hair.
I was desperate to breathe easy again. Essex coming to town was the best news I’d heard in a while.
I hadn’t seen my brother since graduation day, and even that was limited to the actual ceremony.
He wasn’t invited to the graduation party my parents threw for all the seniors at the church, and they blocked Essex, Rashawn, and Victoria’s phone numbers from my phone; therefore, all communication with my favorite people ceased since then.
After a long, sermon-soaked dinner filled with lectures and cautionary tales, my parents couldn’t get on the road fast enough.
I waited a good thirty minutes in my silent room to make sure they weren’t coming back before I slipped out of my dorm room and went to Victoria’s room.
Knocking hard to ensure they heard me over the loud laughter on the inside, I impatiently waited for someone to open the door.
“Twin!” Essex shouted.
“Essex,” I bawled, wrapping my arms around him. Those few weeks apart were the longest we’d gone without contact. Even when I was trying to comply with my parents’ demand to cease communication with Essex, I’d at least see him in the school hallways. “I’m whole again,” I sobbed.
“Awww sis, don’t cry,” he squeezed me tighter while I expelled my emotions.
We remained in that position until I got my tears under control.
It took a while; I hadn’t realized how much I missed Essex until I laid eyes on him again.
Essex didn’t rush me; we stood there like the only other people in the room.
When I finally pulled back, I realized Essex was crying too.
He used the back of his hand to gently wipe his tears away.
“We’ll never go that long without seeing or speaking to each other again.
Of course, I wanted to chill with my girl, but I needed to see you, Elise,” his voice cracked.
Essex placed his fist in the middle of his forehead, closed his eyes, and leaned his head back, taking a deep breath.
“You’re free, Elise. You don’t have to put up with their shit anymore than you want to.
I got you another phone,” he explained, walking over to grab the white bag from Victoria’s bed.
Victoria silently shed tears off to the side while watching us and Rashawn leaned up against the wall staring us down. I wasn’t embarrassed. They’d seen us at our lowest and emotional multiple times. The last two years with Essex out of the house were extremely difficult on both of us.
“If they want to cut you off, I got you. They can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do, Elise,” he insisted, cupping my chin.
I nodded, taking the phone from him. “I love you, Essex.”
“I love you, Elise,” he said, kissing my cheek.
“I think we should all stay in tonight, y’all got us getting emotional,” Victoria noted.
“No, I want to go out and have fun. I’ve watched from the sidelines for so long. I’m fine,” I lifted my shirt to dry my tears.
“Are you sure?” Essex wondered.
“I’m positive,” I reassured him.
“It’s a party then!” Victoria bubbled. “Go pack a bag, though. We are going to just stay the night there since we don’t have to be back until noon for the second part of orientation.”
“Okay. I’ll pack a quick bag.”
They trailed me back to my side of the dorm and we entered my room.
“Look at this bullshit, you don’t even like pink,” Essex grumbled. “We can go shopping tomorrow and redo this. I’ll donate this pink shit to somebody in need when we get back home. They know your favorite color is yellow, and you hate pink, but they still bought you all of this pink shit.”
“It’s okay, Essex. We don’t have to do that. You’ve already done enough,” I refuted.
“It’s never enough.”
I didn’t bother arguing. I’d already come to terms with the pink side of my room. My only focus was some fun.
“Go in that bag,” Rashawn suggested, interrupting my stare down with Essex.
My eyes lifted towards him for the second time.
He looked good as always, his waves were spinning, clothes crisp, and white Forces fresh.
Tattoos covered both of Rashawn’s arms, and a single chain with a Jesus piece rested on his neck.
I prayed they couldn’t see the twinge of excitement I stifled after hearing Rashawn’s voice.
When I opened the bag, there was a new phone, plus all of the medals I’d won in wrestling over the last two years, and a yellow picture frame with a picture of the four of us at my final wrestling match.
As bad as I wanted to shed more tears, I fought them and rushed Essex, wrapping my arms around him again, incessantly pecking his cheek like a woodpecker.
“This will make the perfect addition to my room decor,” I admitted.
“Rashawn told me to bring the medals for you, so it’s him you need to be thanking,” he acknowledged. “Me and Victoria got you the picture frame, picture, and phone.”
“Thank you, Rashawn,” I chirped.
“You’re welcome.”
An hour later, we were headed to Trisha’s rental property. It was my first college party and I enjoyed myself. I didn’t drink, but everyone else did. Trisha kicked all the boys out except for Essex and Rashawn since they were family.
In the middle of the night, I left my room to grab a bottle of water.
The house was dead silent, but a faint plume of smoke floated out of Rashawn’s room, leaving behind a trail of potent weed smoke.
My feet veered off my original path back to the room I claimed, and I was in Rashawn’s room before I could stop myself.
His head whipped around in my direction, and he offered me a low, lazy smirk when he heard me enter the room.
“What you doing up?” He quizzed.
I padded into the room and plopped down on the foot of the bed beside Rashawn before I could stop myself.
A part of me wasn’t sure what in the world I was doing in his room, but the newfound free part of me pushed those thoughts away.
There was a massive window overlooking the pool, and Rashawn was staring out of it, observing the endless stretch of trees beyond the pool.
“I never went to sleep. I just had so much on my mind.”
“Oh yeah, you want to talk about it?” He questioned, glancing over at me.
“I was just mulling over my future. Nervous about the next few years in college up here.”
“Why you nervous? Yo ass been smart as hell since we were in elementary school. Always sitting in the front, ready to learn. What changed?” He queried, taking a long pull from the blunt.