Chapter 48 PAIGE
PAIGE
“Your final paper is due this week. Normally, I wouldn’t remind you because you all are grown, consider this my Christmas gift,” the professor said as everyone began to exit the class.
Finals were the last thing on my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about the night Braylen and I had.
I figured he would have at least texted me to talk about it, but I had heard nothing from him since.
I left the class to head home. When I reached my car, a guy was standing next to it. “Paige, or shall I say Piggy?”
Wrinkles formed in my forehead because, although Piggy was my on-air name, no one called me that, but Braylen. The guy leaned on my car with his arms crossed over his chest. He was handsome, tall, pretty, with brown skin, low-sitting eyes, and a low haircut. “Can you get off my car?” I mumbled.
He lifted, throwing his hands out, “No harm, little mama. I wanted to holla at you, is all. Let’s say I know your brother.”
“So.”
“So, I figured, why not get to know his sister. Leek is ill on the mic. I know he locked up, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I talked to you. When I found out his sister was the queen of the Hood To Da Mic podcast, I had to meet her for myself,” he winked.
I rolled my eyes. “Ok, you met me now, bye,” I said as I tried to get in my car.
He held my door open. “You should let a nigga get to know you, the name is Papi,” he said as he smiled.
His smile was everything, but my interest wasn’t in anyone but Braylen right now. “No, thank you,” I told him.
“Look, I know that nigga Beans is probably trying to hog you up because y’all do the little podcast together. I can promise you he ain’t who you think he is. He slicker than a muhfucka though.”
I didn’t know what he meant by that. I pulled at my door and closed it with him standing there smiling. I couldn’t lie, his bringing up my brother Leek caught my attention. I rolled my window down, “Give me your number.”
He ran me his number, I quickly stored it, and took off. I was going to call him, but I needed to figure out what was going on between Braylen and me right now.
***
“Hey, thanks for stopping by. Come in. Dio isn’t here. He’s been super busy with school,” Samara said as she smiled.
When I stepped inside her apartment, it was just as I imagined. Luxurious. “Your place is nice.”
“Thank you. If you had seen my place in New York, you wouldn’t be saying that. You can sit anywhere,” she offered.
I noticed a huge painting on her wall of a guy in an orange helmet, which I assume was of Dio. “Nice painting.”
“I painted it. I was going through so much that it was the only thing that kept me sane. Do you have a passion for something?”
The only passions I had were making it through school and gaming. “Gaming,” I mumbled.
She nodded slowly. “You play video games? Like a girl gamer. That’s cool.”
I shrugged. “It’s pretty fun. So, what’s up? You said you wanted to ask me something.”
She clapped her hands together excitedly, “Yes, I do. I’m waiting for someone else to show up. Then I can ask. Tell me more about you,” she asked.
Samara seemed so chill. Her vibe was contagious, and usually, I wasn’t so open to telling people about my mediocre life, but she seemed so interested. “I’m a struggling college student, well, not now because my brother Pierre helped me—”
“Wait, you mean, Sasha’s ex, Pierre?”
I laughed. “Yes.”
“Ok, the whole Zoo Cove connection, I’m still learning. So, you and Beans knew each other before the Zoo?”
“Yes, is that who he rides with? That side of him, I don’t know much about.”
I didn’t want her telling me things about Braylen that I didn’t know, because if that was the case, it was clear I didn’t know him at all.
She laughed, “Yes, when he’s around, he’s quiet mostly.
Those are the ones you watch out for, though.
I used to be the quiet one, and I was into all kinds of shit. ”
Now I was intrigued. “Like what?”
“Kink. I only did it for money, though. I told you I was homeless. Anyways, those days are over.” She shrugged.
“Is that how you met Dio? Like through kink?”
She shook her head. “No,” she paused. “I met him trying to pick someone's pocket. The moment I saw him, I fell in love. He didn’t know it yet.”
My feelings for Braylen were exactly as I believed. The more I spent time with him, the stronger my emotions grew, and I started to wonder if I was delusional. I was pushing the limits of my own feelings, as each encounter with him challenged them further.
“Does he know?” I heard Samara say.
I looked at her, confused. “Huh?”
She pointed at me. “I see it in your face. You're in love, does he know? Have you tried talking to him about it?”
I shook my head. “No.”
She nodded. “I think you should tell him. Stare into his eyes, and right then, you will know if it’s worth fighting for. That was one of my mistakes.”
I had so many more questions, but I couldn’t ask because there was a knock at the door. She hopped up from the couch and went to answer it. When I saw Alyse and Morgan, I smiled. Alyse stepped inside. “Samara, this is my friend Morgan, and she will be with me for a while, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Paige, this—”
“I know, Alyse and Morgan,” I said, waving.
They both looked and smiled. “Hey!” they said in unison.
It felt good to be around people other than my gamer friends.
Samara clapped her hands together, “Well, since I have you guys. I’m doing a date night, but since I’m trying to get the Zoo boys to act right, I need to create a super chill environment.
So, we have invited Peanut,” she paused, then looked at me.
“Beans will be here. Also, Streets and someone else, I can’t remember his name, but it’ll be at my house this weekend, cool? ”
Alyse nodded. “I’m down.”
Morgan shrugged. “I would rather be getting fucked, but since I can’t, I will be here.” She laughed.
They all burst out in laughter, but I didn't. Couple’s things were not my style, but Samara seemed so excited about it, so I agreed. I hope being in a space with Braylen like that wouldn’t backfire on me.