ALYSE
I checked my phone every hour on my way to my parents’ house to see if Jalen would text or call, but he hadn’t.
His leaving was too sudden; I didn’t know if I had done something wrong.
I was trying my best not to think the worst, but it was nearly impossible.
I had given my body to him, and now he wasn’t talking to me.
Many thoughts went through my head as I drove.
Did I not move my hips well enough? Was my pussy not good enough?
Was he mad because I didn’t give him a blow job?
The thoughts were non-stop, and for every reason I came up with, I tried replaying the night in my head, going down the checklist of things we did to make sure I had filled all the boxes.
I pulled into my parents' driveway and noticed a car I had seen multiple times, but didn’t know why it was there. This was supposed to be our family dinner, something we did more than often. After parking, I got out, fixed my pink dress, and headed inside. “I’m home,” I called out.
“Lyse!” Brice and Alice screamed as they came running into the foyer, hugging me tightly.
“Hey! Where is Brennon?”
“Ah, Brennon is being a baby,” Brice hissed.
I began walking through the house, looking for him. Their idea of him being a baby was that he did not want to play whatever game they had come up with. Brennon was very much to himself. He wasn’t wild like the other two. While trying to find him, my mother called out to me. “Alyse, we’re in here.”
I moved toward the dining room and was surprised to see the Hansen’s sitting at the table.
It wasn’t Mr. or Mrs. Hansen who shocked me; it was that they had brought their son, Colby.
Colby and I went to private school together.
I remember at one point we had a crush on each other, but over the years things changed.
Once he got accepted into an Ivy League, which I’m sure his parents had some dealings in, he became a complete asshole and far from what I wanted to deal with.
A weak smile eased on my face. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Hansen,” I paused. “Colby,” I said dryly.
“You’re sure looking good, Alyse. It’s been a while.”
I pulled the chair out to sit, “Apparently not long enough.”
“Alyse!” my mother gasped.
My eyes rolled her way. “Relax, Mom, Colby knows I’m just joking,” I said as my eyes rolled toward him.
As my mom placed the food on the table, I felt uneasy because of Colby's watchful gaze. I shifted in my seat as my mother sat down to join us. I glanced at her curiously, “Wait, what about the trio?”
She patted my hand, “They’ve eaten, this is about you tonight.” She grinned.
My stomach sank because I could only imagine what the hell they had up their sleeve. The sound of the forks clinking at the table was the only sound in the room until Colby cleared his throat. “So, Alyse, your father tells me you're a dancer at TSU.”
I stopped moving the food around on my plate and glanced at him. “And is.” I smirked.
My mother damn near choked. “Girl, what has gotten into you?”
My father laughed. “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. She just picked up bad habits from that school. Bob, have you considered what we talked about?”
My father was a trip. The nigga acted like he wasn’t even black, like it wasn’t him who went to TSU back in the eighties.
Like it wasn’t him who pledged and probably did worse things at the very same school I was attending.
Mr. Hansen looked at me as he picked up his napkin, dabbing at his mouth.
“Yes, I have, and I see,” he paused. “That you need this favor more than ever. Alyse, your father loves you very much, so much that we were able to get you transferred over to Hillsdale University.”
I slammed my hand on the table. “What!”
My mother seemed shocked as she turned to my father. “Wait, you didn’t say anything about trying to transfer her. She is fine where she is.”
My father looked at my mother. “No, she’s not. Look how she talks. Did you see the boy she was with? We agreed we didn’t want the—”
“Hello! I am sitting here,” I said as I glanced at Mr. Hansen. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hansen, but I will not be going to Hillsdale,” I finished as I stood from the table.
“Alyse Maverick. Spring semester, you will be in Hillsdale, and if you choose not to go, I am no longer paying your tuition.”
I didn’t bother to say another word as I stormed off. I grabbed my coat and purse and headed to my car. “Alyse, wait!” I heard Colby yell.
I spun in his direction. “What!”
He held his hands out to me. “Relax. First, your father is looking out for your best interest, and second, Hillsdale isn’t that bad.
It’s out of state, but not bad at all. Look, consider it.
How about I come up to TSU to check out your school, and you come to my school for one weekend to check it out? Friends?” he offered.
I gave him a quick nod, jumped in my car, and took off, leaving Colby standing there. I pulled my phone out to see Morgan’s name on the screen. “Hello?” I answered.
“Girl, I’ve been calling you. Have you seen the news?”
Wrinkles formed in my forehead. “No, why?”
She got quiet. “Hello, earth to Morgan.”
“It’s Flex, Alyse, she,” she paused. “She was killed in a bad car accident after dropping me off last night.”
My head spun because what Morgan just said made me feel sick.
Tears trickled down my face as I tried to make sense of what she said.
Flex said she was going to help me with my audition.
She had always been so nice, and she had come all the way to TSU to see me.
Now she was gone. I didn’t know what to think, but I knew I just wanted to be alone.