PHOEBE
Persia and I had been riding for the last hour.
I was forcing myself to try to get better acquainted with her, but the chemistry wasn’t there.
Honestly, I didn’t even want to be here, but the way shit ended with Xavier and me, I didn’t want to be alone near the campus.
So here I was at my parents’ home during my spring break, just as I said I wouldn’t be.
I couldn’t believe Syior pulled that shit.
It didn’t make sense that he was acting that way, since he swore there were no feelings involved, but the Syior who showed up to that game was a nigga whose feelings were hurt.
Did he really expect me to be only for him?
Since then, he had been texting me to come talk, but he fucked things up for me, and I didn’t want to see him. At least not yet.
I walked Persia back to the stable and put her inside to rest. Once I knew she was secured, I walked down to see Monk, who was lying there looking helpless.
My heart ached because all I wanted was for him to get up and be the Monk I knew he was.
However, the fact remained that he was probably dying.
“Aw, Monk,” I whispered.
I opened the Dutch doors and went inside with him. I squatted down and stroked his silky hair. “I know you’re tired.”
I leaned forward and kissed him. He was the last thing I had of Kyle, and I didn’t want to let him go. But I knew it was time. I kissed him again before standing and walking out of the stable toward the house. The closer I got, the more I noticed a motorcycle in the driveway.
“What the hell?”
I moved quickly to get inside. Before I could say anything, both my parents turned to me with bright smiles.
“Phoebe, remember I mentioned we would have a guest staying for a while. I want you to meet him. He goes to your school, so you might have crossed paths. Your mother has been talking to him about you nonstop. Now he can finally meet you. Xavier, I want you to meet my daughter, Phoebe,” my father introduced us.
Xavier limped around to look at me. He didn’t give an "I missed you" gaze, but more of a "how could this have happened?" look. Flutters went through me as I stood there wanting to run up to him and hug him tightly.
“Phoebe, say something,” my mother whispered.
“I, uh, nice to meet you, Xavier. I have seen you around campus,” I played along.
“Hmph. I’ve seen you too. I’m sure everyone else has as well.”
My head flew back. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means what I said. A pretty face can never be missed.”
I couldn’t believe he was trying to call me some fucking pass-around in my parents’ faces.
“Phoebe, show him to his room. The one next to Kyle’s,” my father told me.
I didn’t want to show him shit if he was going to be acting like this. “Dinner will be done in an hour, Xavier. Until then, make yourself comfortable.”
My parents walked off, leaving us standing there. As soon as they were out of earshot, I moved closer to him.
“Really?” I snapped.
He leaned forward, putting his lips close to mine. “Really. Room, little Einstein. I’m not here to play house. I’m not here for you. I’m here for your pops, so let’s go.”
I rolled my eyes and stormed up the steps. I turned to see him struggling. “Come on, peg leg. You got a lot of mouth and no motion. Your room fucking awaits.”
It took him a minute, but he finally made it up the steps.
We made our way down the hall, and I stopped in front of Kyle’s door.
It was as if I could feel his spirit. Since his passing, I hadn’t walked in or past his room.
A feeling of sadness came over me as I forced myself to pull my eyes away from his door and open the door next to his. Xavier stepped past me but stopped.
“What was that?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes. “None of your fucking business!” I snapped.
I tried to slam the door, but he gripped my wrist before pulling me inside the room, shoving me into the door, and closing it. “I have nothing to say to you. Let’s not forget you were talking shit,” I hissed.
“The shit talking will commence because a nigga ain’t forgot what happened, but I also don’t want to be in this muhfucka while you're around here grating your skin like cheese. So, I’m going to ask again. What was that? Are you cool?”
“Xavier, fuck you and your insults. Dinner will be done in an hour. Clean yourself up, and be downstairs. Oh, and don’t say shit to me!” I pushed him out of the way and opened the door.
“When that pussy gets to purring, don’t bring your ass in here either.”
I left and closed the door behind me. Between dealing with my emotions and his smart mouth, I didn’t know how I was going to survive spring break.