PAIGE
Braylen’s sudden urge to leave last night pissed me off.
Just when I thought things were looking good for us, he pulled another disappearing act.
I tried asking what was wrong, but all I got was that he needed to leave.
At this point, I was drained and done trying to get him to see that he could trust me, let his guard down, and allow me to love him as he deserves.
It began to make me question things about myself.
How I had been crushing on this man for three years, allowing him access to my body, and even that wasn’t enough.
I’d watched my father chase my mother for years after they separated, but she wouldn’t budge.
It had gotten so bad that he somehow distanced himself from not only her but us.
We saw him from time to time, but it wasn’t the same.
At first, I didn’t understand, but as I got older, I did.
When you love someone so much, and they don’t reciprocate what you’re offering, sometimes it’s best to fall back.
I knew this was how I needed to move with Braylen because if I didn’t and he kept playing this mental mind fuck, I was going to snap, and the Piggy he knows would be long gone.
It was almost time for Samara’s little party to start, and I was already dreading it.
If Braylen were there, it would be awkward.
I sat in front of my game, dressed and ready.
I wanted to dive into the new level he helped me reach.
He probably didn’t think I noticed, but I caught a glimpse as he navigated through the game like a fucking pro.
He knew things about the game that he shouldn’t have known for someone who claimed they didn’t play.
Right then, I knew Braylen was hiding something.
I watched as the story mode started in the game. This level was centered around Pyran. My eyes grew wide as I sat up. She looked different. It was as if the game had been updated overnight. My phone buzzed with a call from Fallon. “Hello?” I answered.
“Paige! Have you seen the new update? I would be lying if I didn’t say that the character looks identical to you,” she squealed.
My voice trailed off. “She does, doesn’t she?”
Something was happening, and I didn’t know whether to be flattered or scared. The sound of Dio’s loud laugh caught my attention. “Fallon, let me call you back,” I told her as I hung up.
I got up and went outside. Samara stood at the door, “Come on, girl.” She waved.
I closed my door, locking it, and walked across the hall. When I entered their place, I noticed drinks and snacks neatly lined up on the island, and the music was playing. Dio came from the back, and when he saw me, he smiled. “Sup.”
I shyly waved. Moments later, Alyse, Morgan, and Peanut came into the apartment. My head slightly tilted to see if Braylen would come in next, but he didn’t. “Stutter Man!” Dio yelled.
Morgan made her way toward me and sat down. “I guess we’re the oddballs,” she laughed.
I had given her a weak smile. I was already considered an outcast, and tonight it looked like I was going to be one as well.
A few more minutes went by when there was another knock on the door.
Dio rushed over and opened it. My heart raced as I knew it was Braylen, but it was Xavier, the star player for the TSU Blue Hawks.
Right behind him entered Pheobe. When she saw me sitting there, she smiled. “Paige?” she called out.
I got up from the couch to hug her. Phoebe and I shared a course.
We talked here and there, but that was as far as it went.
She seemed more reserved and didn’t really say too much.
So, to see her out with him was a bit of a surprise.
Samara walked around introducing herself to everyone and thanking them for coming.
The more I watched how she was interacting, the more I was trying to figure out how she ended up with a hood nigga like Dio.
“Waddup, gang?” Dio said to Xavier.
Morgan tapped me on my shoulder. “You know there is another party coming up, are you going?” she asked.
I hadn’t thought about a party since the last one, but I couldn’t deny the urge to go. I shook my head. “No, I’m going to miss the next one; besides, I wasn’t invited.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to see I had another text from Papi.
When he texted me last night, I ignored it because I wanted to give Braylen all of my attention; however, had I known he was going to do what he did, I should have.
He messaged saying he wanted to link up.
I told him I would think about it. If Braylen was going to be on the same type of time as he was the other night, holding out for something that would never happen wasn’t worth it.