Chapter 28
ALYSE
“Couple skating and couple skating only. Let’s slow it down for the lovers,” The DJ announced.
I wanted to focus on the time I was spending with Jalen, but every time I looked at the clock, it was getting later by the second.
I knew I should have been heading back to school, but Jalen sparked something, something that had me piqued.
I felt a light tap on my waist. When I saw him holding out his hand to go onto the floor, I became nervous.
Come on, don’t be scared. Nobody is watching you but me.
I wanted him to talk. I didn’t mind using sign language, but it was something about him not being vocal that made me curious. He didn’t know how lucky he was to have a voice to be able to yell and scream when people like Brennon couldn’t.
Could you talk to me?
Is my voice important?
Yes. Everyone is vocal about something.
I’ll tell you what if you skate with me. I will talk.
I let out a sigh. Fine.
I took his hand as he led me onto the skate floor.
My first couple of rolls were shaky until he grabbed my waist. Jalen pulled me in closer to him as he spun us and began to glide backward.
The way he moved around the floor was the same way I moved when I leaped across the floor to a classical tune.
The cologne he wore wafted across my nose after each lap we took around the rink. The longer we skated together, the more I began to get lost in his world. I hadn’t dated many guys because I tried to keep focus on school, but the ones that I did date were nothing like this.
Jalen’s hand tattoo on his caramel skin, his street attire, and hood demeanor was a first. I closed my eyes and allowed him to finish leading. His hands slid down my bare thighs and tapped to the music.
Roll backwards, tap.
That’s when I felt his body moving snake-like. He was so good at this. The way his body was in sync with the music and me, it was so easy to get lost in it all.
Roll backwards, tap.
“Oh, I like this,” I hummed.
It was like a different form of sex, something like sensually dry humping.
Roll backwards, tap.
I felt his nose nuzzle in my neck before the feel of his lips graced it.
Roll backwards, tap.
Suddenly, he did a move as he came from behind me and in front of me, which made me open my eyes. He had me floating around the rink. Now his taps were to the small of my back as he continued to guide me. His eyes watched me as we moved. Pretty ass. He mouthed.
I could feel my face getting hot as I tried not to blush. I closed my eyes again to take in the moment when I heard someone shouting as they passed by. “I see you nigga!” I heard someone say.
My eyes followed the younger guy, whom I thought I had seen on campus before.
He laughed as he and the girl he was with floated past. When I glanced up, I spotted my neighbor’s daughter staring at me.
I panicked and tried to turn around so fast that I stumbled and caused Jalen and me both to hit the floor.
“Shit!” I mumbled. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled.
He helped me up and off the floor. Before he could ask me anything, I glanced at my phone to see that it was almost midnight. I needed to get out of here. “Jalen, I need to leave. I’m sorry.”
I hurried over, sat down, and took off my skates. He picked them up and turned them in along with his. When he came back, he grabbed my hand to lead me outside. As soon as we stepped out the door, some guys were leaning on my car. “Ayo, Peanut!” one of them shouted.
My head spun to look at Jalen. Somehow, I was hoping he would open his mouth and say something, but he said nothing. “You know them?” I asked him.
He didn’t bother to look at me, yet his attention was solely on them. They wore biker jackets and looked ready for trouble. I didn’t need to be a part of whatever it was that was about to happen. Jalen seemed nice, but if this is what he was into, I couldn’t be involved.
The guy who had called out to him came forward, stepping only a foot away from us. “Mute nigga!”
I quickly turned and pointed at the guy. “Don’t fucking talk to him like that!” I shouted.
The guy’s eyes landed on me before he laughed. “Oh shit. Pretty Princess sticking up for this nigga. Pussy won’t save you. I know you hear me. I see you're a part of a crew now. You niggas still owe me money. We haven’t forgotten how your brother fucked us!” he shouted.
Jalen moved me out of the way, and suddenly his arms started swinging.
He hit the guy. Once they started fighting, the others jumped in.
Five verses one. They were tussling so badly that I got shoved back.
That’s when the guy from the inside came out with his girl.
“Fuck going on out here!” he snapped. “Oh shit, Peanut,” he grumbled as he rushed over, jumping in.
“Dio!” the girl screamed.
I watched as he and Peanut moved in that circle like wild animals. The way their fists were moving was wild, pound for Pound.
Security tried breaking it up, but it wasn’t helping. I glanced at my car because I knew being around this type of shit would cause me problems, but I also knew leaving Jalen would be fucked up. Car or Jalen. Stay or go.
Whatever I decided, I needed to do it now.