Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Rashawn Kentrel Williams
A WEEK LATER
“How do you think you did on the test, Unc?” Calvin, one of the young niggas in my Elementary Calculus course, questioned as we walked out of the freezing building.
“Man gon’ on with that shit. I ain’t that damn old,” I laughed.
“Shit, you’re the same age as my pops, so I’m calling you Unc,” he joked.
Ever since the first day of class when the professor had us go around the classroom to introduce ourselves with our name, age, and hometown, this motha fucka had all the jokes.
“But on some real shit. I don’t know what you did to yo’ ol lady, but you need to make shit right.
Rub some feet, buy a Chanel bag, or something.
We were the blind leading the blind last night in the library.
We need her to lead the study group. Or better yet, give me her number.
I’ll call her myself,” Calvin whipped his phone out.
“Man, watch out,” I shoved his ass out of my way and continued down the sidewalk.
“What? I ain’t complicit in whatever the fuck you did. Elise is a sweetheart. I know she’ll still help me.”
“Nigga she ain’t helping you with shit. And how the fuck you just assume that I did something to her? She fucked up with me,” I argued as we crossed the street for the parking garage.
“Nah, not Ms. Angel face. She couldn’t have done anything that bad. We just struggled through finals when your girl is our alley-oop. We had a math teacher who was always happy to help us, and you playing,” he laughed.
“Man, if you failed that exam, that’s on yo dumb ass. I know I passed,” I asserted confidently.
“You flaw as fuck, Unc,” Calvin shook his head.
“Yeah, yeah. You have a safe flight back to Cali. I’ll see you in the new year,” I announced before our paths veered off.
“I hope you have a good break and make up with teacher bae. We need y’all back on good terms before the next semester starts,” Calvin shouted, headed to the left where the sidewalk split, while I went to the right.
I waved him off and continued into the parking garage. My truck was on the second floor, and I took the stairs two by two. That was my last final of the semester, and I had a blunt waiting for me in the car to celebrate on my drive to Essex’s house.
As soon as I pulled onto Fowler Avenue, I lit the blunt and took a long pull.
My mood instantly shifted, and I felt relaxed.
Since the last time I saw Elise, I went from smoking a blunt a day to two.
Heading to Essex’s crib, where I knew I would see Elise, wasn’t something I was ecstatic about doing, but the blunt would help lift the dark cloud from over me.
Wait For U by Drake played on the radio, and I instantly turned that shit off.
I eased up to the red light before I hopped onto the interstate and lifted my phone to change the music.
Do For Love by Tupac came on when I switched over to Apple Music.
That was more like it. When I pulled up to Essex’s house, I could tell I was the last one there.
His driveway was full, and I had to park against the curb a few doors down.
I was good and high as I walked down the sidewalk, ready to eat some of that good food, then take my ass home.
Although my messy ass cousin, who still lived in Brooksville and went to Elise’s parents’ church, sent me a video of what went down that day at church, it still felt dystopian to enter Essex’s crib and see Faith sitting amongst the family.
Faith always had it out for Elise, so I didn’t fuck with her.
Now that we knew the backstory, I understood Faith a little better.
Even with that said, the jury was still out on whether or not I’d welcome her with open arms like Essex and Elise had.
Faith was standing in the dining room with a red Solo cup in her hand, her long weave flowing down past her ass.
The back of the head I was staring at in front of Faith belonged to Elise, Lambo by her side while she rubbed the top of his head.
She loved that dog just as much as Essex did.
The knotless braids she wore the last time I saw her were gone and she wore a silk press.
Elise did that shit on purpose. She knew that was my favorite style on her.
Whatever topic they were discussing had Faith cackling like they weren’t mortal enemies throughout college, and Elise didn’t damn near break her hand a few weeks back.
However, forgiveness was never my strong suit, so it was no surprise I couldn’t understand the ease with which Faith was welcomed to the family.
I never played with people, so I expected the same in return.
It was the Friday before Elise and Essex’s birthday, and we were celebrating as a family before Essex took his wife to the mountains the next morning.
He had a cabin in Sevierville, Tennessee, and they spent his birthday up there since the year they met.
Since Elise loved hibachi, Essex hired a hibachi chef to come to the crib and put on the dinner for the family.
It was the middle of December, and the weather was in the low seventies, perfect for the occasion.
I continued across the living room with plans to head straight to the back to have a seat, but Ms. Candace, Essex’s mother-in-law, halted my stride.
“Rashawn, you are coming in awfully quiet today. Hell must be about to freeze over,” she greeted me with a raised brow.
“And I’ve known Rashawn since he was in sixth grade, that boy ain’t never been quiet,” Mrs. Nina added in. Her husband, Mr. Jordan, eyed me as well.
Mrs. Nina and Mr. Jordan were Essex’s late wife’s parents, and I’d known them since we were in middle school.
They stared me down like I was an ancient artifact while their words garnered the attention of everyone else on the first level of the home.
I spotted two of Nariyah’s cousins from the incident on Halloween exiting the house through the sliding glass doors that led to the backyard.
“I’m chilling. I just finished finals last week. I’m still recovering from all of those late nights and early mornings.”
“That’s what’s up, man. I’m so proud of you, Rashawn. If your father were still here, he’d be so proud. Terrell is smiling down on you mam,” Mr. Jordan dapped me up then pulled me in for a hug.
“Thanks, man. I appreciate that,” I nodded, feeling proud of myself.
Then my eyes landed on Elise’s face, and I regretted my decision to pull up.
I successfully avoided Elise since that day at her crib, and the way my heart sank when I saw her face told me I did the right thing by avoiding her.
Elise’s hold on me was clearly stronger than my disdain because the anguish on her face still tugged at my heart.
I had to remind myself not to lick her wounds.
After offering quick hugs to Mrs. Nina and Ms. Candace, I shuffled towards the backyard to distance myself from Elise.
Hearing that she killed our baby shattered my world and everything I thought we were building.
Various emotions consumed me at different times over the weeks.
I was angry thinking about how our life could’ve been with our son or daughter here.
Then resentment smacked me when I thought about Elise not wanting to have a child with me.
Above all else, I was furious about being left in the dark, but she went and told her parents, completely robbing me of any say in the matter.
I could be honest and admit that I would’ve done my best to convince Elise to keep the baby, but it was her choice at the end of the day.
We definitely would’ve ended everything we had going on right there.
That I could confirm one thousand percent.
With our history, I at least expected that type of respect from Elise.
“Rashawn, you’re childish for not coming over to speak with us,” Faith shouted at my back.
“Faith, stop,” Elise urged her.
I didn’t bother responding. Instead, I slid the sliding back door and net closed. Faith’s snide remark told me that she was Elise’s new confidant, and I didn’t know how I felt about that. Then I realized that wasn’t my damn business and took the seat next to Nariyah’s cousins.
“Wassup, ladies. I’m Rashawn. What’s y’all names again? Y’all are Nariyah’s cousins, right?”
“That’s correct. I’m Melissa, and this is Tyra,” the one directly next to me offered introductions.
“It’s nice to see you, ladies, again,” I smiled.
My phone vibrated, and I whipped it out to see a text from an unsaved number. It was probably Faith’s phone, but it was definitely Elise texting.
352-555-5555: Of all the empty seats at that table that’s where you chose to sit?
Me: Bye Elise.
I blocked the number and slid the phone back into my pocket.
“Y’all put any more thought into moving down here? This is my second time seeing y’all in what? Two months?”
“We would be too homesick. But we can easily come down to visit now that Nariyah has extra space for us, and we only have to pay for flights. The last few times we crossed paths you seemed so mean. You must’ve had a girlfriend then, and you’re single now,” she flirted.
“Something like that,” I nodded, reaching over to grab the bottle of water positioned near the plate.
The table decor was geared towards Elise, just like the menu.
Yellow plasticware was placed on top of a black tablecloth.
Four large sunflower bouquets in glass vases were strategically placed along the center of the table.
The sliding glass door opened again, and chatter sounded off behind us.
Essex came over and dapped me up while I wished him a happy early birthday.
When Essex pulled away to take his seat next to Nariyah at the other end of the table, I smelled Elise’s perfume permeating near me.
I held my breath, hoping Elise would find another seat besides the one next to me.
My body finally relaxed when she claimed the head seat opposite Essex, and Faith sat next to her.
I felt their eyes on me, but chose to ignore them for the duration of dinner. We all watched while the hibachi chef introduced himself and got the show started.
“So we’ve established that you’re newly single, are you open to mingling again?” Tyra questioned towards the end of dinner.
“Definitely,” I responded between bites of fried rice.
A platter filled with crab rangoon and gyoza was placed on the table in front of us. I reached for the tongs and my hand brushed against Tyra’s.
“You just wanted to touch me,” she giggled.
“Your hands are soft, so I didn’t mind,” I laughed.
We continued conversing through dinner, and I felt Elise’s eyes on me a few times, but I ignored them.
When dinner was over, everyone abandoned the table, but I remained in my seat conversing with Tyra in the empty backyard.
She was beautiful. A high school teacher like Elise, with a jovial spirit to match.
The similarities only made me think about Elise, and that made me want to cut the conversation short, but I didn’t want to be rude to Nariyah’s cousin.
I smelled and heard Elise approaching from behind in the silent backyard and took a deep breath. That was my cue to exit the party.
“Rashawn, can we speak in private?” Elise questioned, her voice threatening to crack.
“Nah, I’m good,” I declined, not bothering to look up at her. I knew those eyes were searing into the side of my head, and her nostrils were flaring. Tyra’s eyes diverted between both of us, searching for answers she’d never get.
“Rashawn, can we please talk in private?”
“I heard you clearly the first time you asked, and my answer still remains. We don’t have shit to discuss.
You did the talking with the people who mattered when it mattered.
Let’s keep it that way,” I retorted, and Tyra’s eyes went from me to Elise.
Tyra was locked in like she was anticipating a response for the soap opera unfolding in front of her.
After a few moments of silence, Tyra’s voice chimed in. “I don’t think he wants to talk sis.”
“BEAT IT BITCH!” Elise snapped on her, and the malice in her elevated tone had everyone spilling out of the sliding glass door to see what was going on.
“Bitch?” Tyra mocked, standing from her seat.
I stood between Tyra and Elise. I was saving Tyra more than Elise because I knew what she could do to her.
Tyra’s gaze went from Elise to me and she roughly nudged my head.
“You a pussy for smiling in my face…” Tyra started talking shit, but Elise snatched her wrist and yanked her across me before she could finish her sentence or before I could stop her swift hands from reaching the woman.
“Don’t put your hands on him! Have you lost your mind?” Elise snarled, while I pried her hand from around Tyra’s wrist. “Are you saving her?” Elise shrieked in my face, anguish lacing her tone.
My lips flattened at Elise’s audacity to question me about a fucking thing.
Essex mugged me as he pulled Elise away from me, and Ms. Candace got a hold of Tyra.
Innocent Elise was already the victim because she put on one hell of an act.
I could give her that. The disgruntled stares Tyra and I received further pissed me off.
“What the fuck y’all did to my sister?” Essex questioned as silent tears streamed down Elise’s face. He cupped her arms, ready to baby her ass like he always did.
“Man, get the fuck out of my face with that bullshit! Your sister ain’t as innocent as she portrays!” I snapped. “You better talk to her and get the fuck up out of my face.”
Essex looked between me and Elise before I stalked off. “Happy birthday, twins. Essex, I hope you and Nariyah enjoy your birthday trip.”
“What’s going on?” Nariyah questioned, her stomach leading her path through the sliding glass door.
“Nothing at all,” I replied. “See you later, sis.”
“You’re leaving before we cut the cake?”
“Yeah. Tonight was beautiful, and I don’t want to ruin the rest of it,” I informed Nariyah before wrapping her up in a hug.
I’d rather be anywhere but there.