Chapter Xavier Press Play
XAVIER
PRESS PLAY
When the game ended, I was anxious to get out of the locker room.
The coach wanted to have an extended talk about how we almost lost the game when my mind was on Phoebe and that nigga.
If I could have thrown a chair at his ass, I would have, but the ball was all I had.
The moment the coach dismissed us, I got up from the bench and headed out of the locker room.
I was angry and felt played. After opening up to Phoebe, I thought we had something strong.
I felt like we bonded enough that we didn't have to go through this shit.
However, because it was the same nigga she told me she fucked while we were fucking, any trust I had in her was gone.
By the time I got outside, the parking lot was damn near empty.
My eyes scanned the few people and cars that lingered.
That was when I spotted her and that nigga talking.
I hobbled toward them. Maybe I should have walked away, but I wanted her to know that she had fucked up, but this time, I was good on her ass.
I also wanted that nigga to see me and know that not an inch of fear lived in this vessel.
The fear died when my mother did. I’d never been a nigga who thought he could beat everybody’s ass, but I also never let a nigga know if he could.
As I grew closer to them, he looked up and saw me. He held a shitty-ass grin on his face. “The man who used to be a star. Xavier muhfuckin Keyton!” he shouted while he clapped.
I wasn’t surprised he knew who I was. Despite whether I had a boot on my foot, the fact remained, I had game. Phoebe’s face wore a look of shame as the guy continued to talk.
“This yo nigga, Phoebe? Huh!?” I shouted at her.
She came toward me, trying to touch me, but I shoved her hand away. I wasn’t with the consoling shit right now. “Baby, it’s—”
He looked at her. “Baby? Since when did we start doing that? The Phoebe I know isn’t with that type of shit.”
She turned to him. “Syior, I just wasn’t with that type of shit with you. Please stop!” she shouted before she turned to me. “Xavier, I fucking swear.”
Syior came closer to me. The nigga stood in front of me and looked me up and down before he looked at Phoebe. “Phoebe, I think he’s too soft for you. This nigga can’t handle a fragile girl like you. This nigga can’t handle the freaky-ass, imbalanced, imperfect piece of pussy that—”
I hit his ass. “Say it again, nigga!” I barked.
Whap! Whap! Whap!
I started drilling on him. “That imbalanced piece pussy ain’t give you no superpowers, nigga!” I barked.
Syior and I were throwing hands in the parking lot until one of his homeboys ran up, pointing his gun at me.
Phoebe rushed over to me. “Y’all stop!” she screamed.
I shook my head. “That shit doesn’t scare me. If you’re going to shoot, then shoot!”
Did a nigga want to die? No, but here I was with cold steel pointed at me.
Syior smiled as he wiped his mouth. “Ease up, Frigga. That nigga played out. We ain’t catching bodies over pussy. Phoebe will be back. She always comes back,” he said as he walked off.
My eyes rolled to her as her eyes begged me not to react. “Xavier.”
I waved her off. “Gang, this shit is crazy. I never thought I would have to go through all this to be with somebody. You come with a lot of baggage that I’m not equipped to handle.
One minute it’s this, and the next minute is that, and before you know it, you’re slicing through your skin like a fucking violin. Phoebe, we don’t mix well.”
I turned to walk off, and she ran in front of me. “Xavier, I fucking swear that nigga just showed up. I didn’t know he was going to do all that. Baby, I’m sorry.”
I wanted to believe her. I wanted all this shit to be a fucking dream.
Phoebe almost hit Zoo Baby material, and each time something happened, she was fucking it up.
I tried to figure out where I had gone wrong.
Everyone in the Zoo had good women. They had riders, best friends, forever partners, but it was I who had the damaged girl, the broken girl, and the complex girl.
How could I ever find love if I was dealing with shit like this?
I glanced down at her while she cried. “You’re chlorine and I’m hydrogen. What happens when the two are exposed to the sun? When that heat simmers on the two, what happens?” I asked.
The tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t say anything.
Clap!
“Come on, Einstein! You’re the scientist, so you know the answer!” I barked.
She closed her eyes. “They explode!” she shouted.
I nodded. “Be easy, Phoebe,” I said and walked off.
I was over everything, and now I couldn’t wait for spring break. I needed to get away from this school and her ass for a while.