Chapter 27
PEANUT
I checked my phone for the time as I stood outside the rink.
After asking Alyse to link up, and she accepted, I knew this was my only chance to try and strike.
To meet a girl whom I could talk to without talking wasn’t often.
The few girls I’ve dated in the past didn’t last long because they couldn’t accept that I had a speech problem.
I don’t know whether they were embarrassed or didn’t have the patience.
At first, it bothered me, but after a while, I just accepted it for what it was.
Although my father tried to tell me I wasn’t different, the truth is that I was.
I was a person who couldn’t form proper sentences without breaking words to make them sound right.
I had been ridiculed, shamed, and judged for it.
I had become used to all of it. To top it off, I came from a poor home with a mother who died, a drunk for a father, a brother who followed behind him, and another brother with every Black boy’s dream to make the league. It was like the typical BET movie.
However, Alyse knew sign language, and that shit meant a lot.
In the small time we talked at the mall, it made me feel normal, and I didn’t want to lose that feeling.
The only other person who made me feel normal was blessed with a permanent stay in heaven.
After that shit with Mison being around someone right now seemed like the perfect mental getaway.
I was becoming worried that Alyse played me.
I knew she had to get back to school, and I offered to drive her back, but I guess that wasn’t enough.
I headed back toward my bike when I saw a car pull into the parking lot.
When she pulled into a nearby parking space, I recognized her and smiled.
I didn’t want to look like a thirsty nigga, so I slowly walked toward her car and opened the door for her.
She looked beautiful. She wore a two-piece blue skirt set that exposed her flat chocolate stomach.
“I should have worn jeans,” she laughed.
Nah, you look pretty as hell. I signed.
She gave me a tight-lipped smile as she nodded. She led the way into the building. I wanted to grab her hand or put my hand to the small of her back, but she had a nigga scared. When we entered the crowded space, she turned to look at me, “Is it always this crowded?”
My face scrunched. You haven’t been here before?
She went to say something, then stopped. I knew she had only kept talking to get me to talk back, but I wasn’t ready.
No. I’m kind of a sheltered kid.
I nodded. Well, let me show you what it’s like on the other side. I winked and held out my hand for hers.
She placed her hand in mine as we walked further inside.
The lounge space was packed along with the rink’s floor.
I came here during my downtime to skate so much that the owner and the people who worked there knew who I was.
Most people knew the Keyton brothers. If it weren’t for my father’s history, it would be because of Zay.
It was almost as if Mison and I lived in his shadow.
I walked her over to get her a pair of skates. I could see her curious eyes wander as the guy left and came back with a pair for me and her. We walked over to a nearby seat and put them on. When we stood, she wobbled a bit before she gripped my arm.
You don’t know how to skate?
I’m a dancer, not a skater.
It’s the same thing. I got you, though. Can you trust me?
She rolled her eyes. I don’t trust anybody!
I ran my hand over my lips as my eyes narrowed in gazing into her pretty ass eyes.
Alyse was different. I could tell this shit was new to her.
It almost made me wonder if she’d ever had a boyfriend before.
I took her hand to lead her toward the floor when I spotted the girl that Beans had been doing his podcast with.
She was glancing our way as she smiled. I became confused because I didn’t know if she was staring at me or behind me.
When I saw her scooting our way, I got nervous.
“Hey, Alyse!” she squealed.
“Hey, Paige, I’m surprised to see you here. I thought you would have been at school.”
Paige shrugged. “Yeah, me too. I don’t have class tomorrow. I will be driving back up then. I,” she paused as she glanced at me. “I thought I was coming to see someone, but didn’t, so I went to see the family.”
Why the fuck did she look at me like that? Was it because of Beans? I thought. They said a few more words before she scooted off. I didn’t want to be a dick, but I didn’t want another fucking soul bothering us. This was my time, and it was already limited.