Halo #3
There was no dress code, a DJ played music. It was a buffet of food, an open bar and even weed was allowed. The hall was sectioned off with an area that was just for the couple and their custom chairs. Their picture was blown up as the backdrop.
There were yellow and blue balloon sculptures throughout the room. Yellow was auntie’s favorite color and blue was his. Her dress was lace, long and yellow, and auntie had a haircut like Gina from the show Martin.
Thaddeus wore blue slacks with a blue Burberry button-up on. Him and Greek were cordial with each other, but you knew there was still tension. They did not say much about it and auntie wanted it that way at least until the party was over.
“You cool brother?” Greek wanted to know when he sat down and handed me a Corona.
Our auntie allowed us to drink since we were sixteen. I sat at our table that is close to their reserved section.
“Thanks. And I’m cool as I can be.”
“Auntie asked me why Story isn’t here. I told her that you’ll tell her when you’re ready.” He let me know.
Story and I got into an argument badly last night when we were on a date.
That night when she said she loved me in her sleep.
I decided not to bring it up to her. Instead, I said it to her for the first time since I’ve first said it.
Story only smiled and gave me a kiss. I was glad that I had a job to do with my brothers that took two days.
It was a needed distraction and outlet for me. Before I left, I was a little distant from her. When I got back, I decided to grab my girl and take her out. Even though I was still bothered, I missed her. When we got together, I stopped at the gas station to fill my tank up.
While I was inside Dallas called me, Story answered and it went up from there. I got back to the car, and she had Dallas on the phone. Story started asking Dallas if we had anything going on. I expected Dallas to go off because her cousin Aspen was fast to cuss someone out.
But Dallas kept her energy even and she told Story that we were just friends.
She even apologized about calling and interrupting.
Story was not trying to hear it. She hung up on her then we started arguing.
It got so bad that she told me to take her home.
I wasn’t trying to hear it at first, but she insisted.
My anger was on max, so I told her don’t even worry about the anniversary party. Story slammed my door so hard I thought my window would crack. I started to kick her damn door in and grab her. But I pulled off and we have not talked since.
“Thanks for that. I’ll have it fixed with Story tomorrow. It’s racking my head not being on good terms with her. I just think she is being a hypocrite for trippin’ about my friendship with Dallas when she has Hendrix.”
“I’m on the fence brother. Hendrix sword fights with his dick and other men. They had something but it’s when they were kids. Dallas been on yo’ tip for a while now---
“Used to be on my tip. But not anymore, she knows I’m with Story.” I was tired of repeating the same thing.
“My fault, used to. But still, her and Story had beef from Blake’s party.
Then you pop up and tell her that Dallas is a friend.
Girls think differently, I bet if it was any other girl then Story would be cool with it.
You cool with Hendrix, but Story and Dallas are not.
That ain’t normal if that’s supposed to be your girl. ”
I was overwhelmed. “All off this is too dramatic for me bro. It was better when I was by myself and in my own lane.”
Greek laughed but I did not find anything funny.
“Come on Halo, there was nothing wrong with you before. But you can’t front and act like Story hasn’t made you, well…more.”
“She has but it’s too many rules, to many feelings and waiting for her to feel like I do. I’m overwhelmed.” I admitted then drunk some of my drink.
“If you are not happy you can break up with her.”
I frowned, “Fuck no. I’ll never do that.”
He laughed again, “Then shut up and man up.” He hit me on my back then got up.
“Hope you choke!” I said loud enough for him to hear me.
I took my phone out and went to my text messages and went to Story’s name.
Me: I don’t like this shit between us. I miss you boo and if you at home I’ll stop by when I leave this party. Or I’ll dip now and come to you. Regardless, I want us to squash this.
I sent the message and looked down at the screen until she replied.
My phone was a Samsung Galaxy 10+ so I could not see if she read my messages or not like iPhones could.
After waiting for a while and no response I called her and let it ring until it got to voicemail.
Now I was pissed off because she was ignoring me.
“You look like you’re about to explode.”
I looked up and Dallas was sitting next to me. Then I saw Golden had arrived with Aspen.
“My cousin asked me to come with her to this.” Dallas, let me know. “She thinks her and Golden are a couple because he invited her. Talk about delusional.” She joked.
I just wasn’t in the mood or cared.
“Things between you and Story are still messed up?” She asked me.
“Yeah, and now, she’s ignoring me. I’m about to pull up on her.”
Dallas made a cringing expression. “Might not be a good idea. You are way too mad right now, and you’ll say something you’ll regret. You love her and I’m sure you don’t want to break up.”
“I don’t.” I was fast to confirm that.
“Then wait until the morning. Right now, let’s go have some shots and have fun with your friend.”
Dallas was right, all I would have did was yell at Story for ignoring me. I sound like Golden. He hated being ignored. Normally I did not care, I preferred it but not from Story. I went to go get me and Dallas some shots of vodka. Golden had some edibles and I popped a few gummy bears in my mouth.
The DJ cut the music so Thaddeus could get the mic and say some words to his wife.
It was nice and had auntie Imani crying.
They shared a kiss and the party turned wild after that.
The shots were floating around, some stepping music played and my drunk ass actual got on the floor to do them.
It made me think of our parents because they used to do them with us in our living room.
The Cha-Cha slide, Cupid Shuffle, Turbo Hustle, and my mama’s favorite Step In The Name of Love.
When the DJ played that song, he shouted our parents out.
That made the entire party cheer and take more shots.
I was sweating and hot even though the hall had air conditioning.
I went over to where my brothers were, Golden was kissing on Aspen. Greek was with some chick he met.
“I’m about to head out. It’s hotter than a bitch in here and I’m done for.” I told Greek.
“You good to drive brother?” He wanted to know.
“Yup. All clear!”
He stood up and gave me a five then a hug. He kissed the top of my head then I went and told Golden I was leaving as well.
“Hey! You’re about to leave?” Dallas caught up with me after I said goodbye to Thaddeus and my auntie.
“Yeah, I’m out. It’s hot and if I don’t get home then I’ll drive to my girl’s crib.” My words were slurring out a little. But driving while drunk came easy to me and my brothers.
“Can I get a ride? Golden isn’t ready to leave, and Aspen is glued to his hip.” Dallas was drunk too. She did not need to be in nobody’s Uber that wasted.
“I got’chu.” I told her.
She went and got her purse then told her cousin that she was leaving. We made it through the crowd and outside. It was still hot outside even though it was close to one in the morning. But it felt better than the hall. We got in my car, and I let the windows down.
“You feel like stopping and getting me a Shawarma from Sami’s? It’s on the way to my condo.” Dallas asked me when she put her address on my Maps on my phone.
“Got’chu.” A shawarma does sound good now.
I put Gunna’s album on and let it play while I drove. We got to Sami’s and I was glad I did not have to go inside. I got me two chicken shawarmas and Dallas got her one lamb and some seasoned fries.
“Here you go.” Dallas passed me twenty-dollar bill.
“Can’t go out like that girl and you know it.” I moved her hand.
Dallas laughed and put her money back in her purse. “I forgot how much of a gentleman you are.” Her words were slurred a little worse than mine.
It sounds funny to me. I gave the cashier my card and paid for our food. I put mine on the back seat and gave Dallas her bag. In fifteen minutes, I pulled into her condo.
I parked where she told me then I took my phone out of my pocket. When I saw that Story still had not called me back or texted me, I almost wanted to pull my steering wheel off. Dallas turned the music down a little.
“No word from her?” She inquired.
“Nope. I don’t get this shit man. It shouldn’t be this hard. All I want is for my girl to tell me she loved me and to not be a hypocrite.”
“No relationship is easy Halo. It might be time for you to just flat out ask her why she has not said she loves you yet.”
Before I could shoot that counsel down, she pushed my arm.
“Do not tell me that you can’t at this point. Because nothing else works and it’s stressing you out. As for me and our friendship, I do not want to cause trouble. We can stop being friends until Story is comfortable.”
That idea did not sound too bad because things were all messed up right now.
I looked at my phone, the text thread from me and Story’s messages was on the screen.
I thought about what Dallas just suggested again.
Then I heard her sniffing, so I looked at her.
My vision was spinning around from all the vodka and edibles, but it was obvious what she was doing.
“Are you crying?”
“No, I’m fine.”
I turned towards her some. “Quit lying girl, you are crying. Don’t even do that, we don’t have to stop being friends.”