ALYSE
I was ready for the day to be over. Colby’s decision to come here today was irritating.
He swore he wanted to see the campus so badly.
I had a long drive back to the city because Thanksgiving was a few days away, and I missed my man.
As we walked through the quad, I pointed out various things to him and explained their meanings.
We strolled until we reached the basketball practice facility.
We stepped inside and up the aisle to see that the team had just finished practice and was heading toward the locker room.
“So what, this is where the next Kobe is?”
My head flew back, “What are you trying to say?”
He threw his hands up, “Nothing. Well, we all know the brothers can play ball. White Man Can’t Jump remember,” he winked.
I rolled my eyes and walked off. “Alyse, wait!” he called out.
He caught up to me and grabbed my arm. “Relax, I’m sorry. I was trying to make you laugh. Look, the school isn’t bad, but Hillsdale is much more fitting for you,” he said as he stroked my cheek.
I knocked his hand out of the way, “Don’t touch me.”
He placed his hand to the bridge of his nose. “What happened to you. You have never been like this before. Maybe your dad was right, this place is a bad influence on you.”
“Fuck you!” I spat. “It’s time to leave.”
I went to walk off, but he pulled me back and put his lips on mine. I thought I felt him trying to stick his tongue in my mouth.
“The fuck is going on over here!” I heard someone shout.
My head spun to see Xavier staring. “It is not what you think?” I blurted out.
Colby pointed. “Who’s he, Alyse? You’re dating guys with dreadlocks?”
Xavier pointed back at him. “White boy, who are you talking to?”
Colby snarled. “You.”
Xavier rushed him. They began tussling in the aisleway.
“Stop!” I shouted.
Xavier was beating Colby up so badly that once Colby got a chance, he shoved Xavier so hard that he tripped and fell back. I begin shoving Colby. “Why the fuck did you do that! Huh?”
He pushed me out of the way, walked over, and did the unthinkable. He stomped on Xavier’s ankle. The scream he let off was terrifying. I tried to check on him, but he cursed me out. The team started to come from the back to help. When I turned around to look, Colby was gone.
“Don’t say shit to my brother,” he gritted.
“But—”
“Ah shit!” he screamed as he held his ankle. His eyes snapped my way. “Look, you got it all; we don’t. You don’t know what it’s like, rich girl. My brothers need me. If you say any fucking thing, I swear I will tell Jalen I saw you kissing that corny ass white boy.”
I wasn’t sure how he was going to pull off an injury.
I knew I had to call Jalen to tell him what happened, but I didn’t know how to explain it all.
I know Xavier thought he saw something between Colby and me, but it was nothing.
I leaned down to try to help, and he swiped my hand away. “That white boy is going to get his.”
“Wha-what are you saying?”
Xavier began sweating profusely. “You heard what I said,” he grumbled.
The coach and some of the other players had reached us as they helped him up. “What happened?” the coach asked me.
“There was—”
“I fucked around and tripped,” Xavier jumped in.
“Let’s get you iced up and have you checked out.” The coach said as they helped him to the back.
Colby’s actions crossed the line. The sad part is, even if I told his family, that they had enough money and power, the entire thing would be nonexistent. This isn’t what I needed before the fucking holidays.