I left out the house and didn't look back. I was so angry with my mother. I could hardly see my way through all the tears that were flowing down my face. I wiped the tears away and continued my trek away from the house. I walked through the neighborhood an came upon the neighborhood diner. When I saw the sign "Hot Food" my stomach instantly growled. I then realized that I hadn't eaten in almost 24 hours. I went into the diner, got a table and ordered a tuna salad sandwich and fruit plate. While the waitress went to go get my food; I sat there and relived in mind everything that happened tonight.
My phone had been ringing uncontrollably for the last hour or so. I checked the Caller ID and saw that I had about 30 missed calls. About 20 of them were from Marguerite and the other ten were from Andreas, Maurice and Chessa.
I was about to call Chessa back when another call came through from Shane. I answered it,
"Hello?' I replied softly.
"Hey Baby.." A deep voice replied. "How's everything going? Are you in your room? What are you wearing right now? " He asked playfully.
I smiled at Shane's playfulness. "No. Actually there was a change in plans." I replied.
Shane's voice instantly darkened. "What change of plans Angela. Are you at your mother's voice?"
I shook my head and replied softly, "No, I'm not. I left my Mom's house."
"Why? What happened?"
Tears began to flow down my face and everything I'd been keeping in; I let go, " My mother has been lying to me the past few years about everything. And it may not be just the past few years. It may be my entire life as a whole."
"Where are you Angela?"
I rambled on, "I wanted my sister to move in with me when I needed help with bills. We had planned it out and everything. When it was time for her to move in; I mistakenly sent the moving information for her to my Mom's phone. And normal mothers would realize that this was a mistake and forward the information to the right person. But no, not my mother. You know what she did? She not only erased the message but she sent me a reply text saying that Marguerite had decided against moving in with me."
"Are you serious?"
"Yea. But that's not all. Not only did she erase the text but she also erased the emails I sent. And to top it all off, she was the one who mentioned it to Sherise's mother that I needed a roommate. Which in turn is why Sherise moved into my house and later burned it down. Can you believe that shit?" I asked.
"Where are you Angela? Let me come and get you."
By this time the waitress had returned with my food. She stood there with the food in her hand looking at me with a shocked expression. She placed my food on the table and silently walked away.
I looked away from her concerned expression and watched the cars go by. Shane was still on the phone.
"Baby where are you? Let me come and get you. You need me right now." He pleaded softly.
"I can't believe that I trusted her. When is this going to be over? I'm just so tired Shane. So tired." I replied softly.
While he was talking to me, Shane had put on his shoes and rushed out the door. He drove straight to my mother's house. He used that as a base point and began to look for me.
We both said nothing on the phone for a few moments. I could hear him breathing. For some reason hearing him breathe calmed me down. I was on the verge of telling him where I was but then he replied,
"I just went through your mom's neighborhood and I'm at a place called Sal's Diner. Is that you I see in the booth by the back window?"
I looked up and our eyes met. I nodded and we both turned off our phones. I wiped my tears away as I saw him rush into the diner towards me. I got up from my booth and we met each other half way. I immediately fell into his arms. He held me close as I sobbed on his chest. The waitress looked on us with a relieved sigh.
Shane lightly rubbed the arch of my back as I held on to him. He continued to reassure me that everything was going to be ok and that he had me now. His love for me generated through every pore in his body. I looked up at him and he took my mouth into his and kissed me with a passion that I knew came straight from his heart. I opened my mouth and allowed his tongue to take control of mine. We were one.
I could feel everyone watching us. I stopped our kiss, took his hand and walked to the booth I was sitting at. I got into the seat and Shane got into the seat across from me. I began to eat and he watched me while I ate. We didn't say anything for awhile. We sat in comfortable silence.
"I want you to stay with me." Shane replied.
I looked at him and smiled, "Thank you, but you know I can't do that."
"Why?"
"Shane I love you more then anything in this world. You love to teach. I know you do. And if it ever came out that I was not only living with you but also in a serious, sexual relationship with you; you would get fired and probably never be able to work in a university again. I could never do that to you. Whilst I won't give you up; I still won't put you in more jeopardy then your already in." I replied.
He looked at me with a concerned frown, "Baby you know I don't give a fuck about that. We're both consenting adults. Who gives a hell what they think."
"I don't want you to lose your job over me. And hey, this isn't over. Me and you are forever. You know that right?" I asked as I reached out my hand to him.
He frowned for a brief moment but then he smirked at me and nodded his in agreement, "You know we are." He took my hand and squeezed it. We smiled at each other.
The waitress came back, "Will there be anything else I could get you suge?" she asked.
I smiled up at her, "No thank you ma'am. Thank you."
"Alright then. You can pay for your food at the register." She looked at us with a kind smile, squeezed my hand and walked away. I looked down at my phone and saw my brother Maurice had left me a text message. I clicked on it and read it. It said "Look outside." I looked up and there he was standing in front of his black escalade waiting for me.
"My brother's here." I replied and nodded outside.
Shane looked up and saw him standing there.
"You mean the big black dude looking at me like he could tear my head off with one swipe." Shane replied.
I laughed, "That would be him." "How is that all of your family are like intimidating hound dogs and you're like a flower?"
I laughed at that, "You haven't seen me when I'm pissed." I replied.
"I hope I never do." we bent over the table and gave each other a quick peck. He kept my hand in his and we eased out of the booth. We went to the cash register, the waitress told us what my total was. I got my wallet out to pay and before I could even open it; Shane gave the waitress a $20 and told her to keep the change.
We walked out the diner. I looked up at him and replied, "You know I could have paid for that?"
"I know." He replied. And that was the end of that conversation. We walked to where Maurice stood.
Maurice glared at Shane and Shane returned his stare. He was trying to intimidate Shane by looking down at him. Shane didn't back down. He stood strong. Maurice's gaze suddenly softened into a smile. He reached out his hand and Shane looked at it nervously,
He looked at me, "So this is the new boyfriend huh? I like him." He turned back to Shane with his hand still reached out,
"How you doing man? I'm Angela's brother Maurice."
"I'm good man. I'm Shane, nice to meet you." Shane placed his hand in Maurice's hand and the two shook hands. Then they started having a squeezing match.
I separated their hands, "Hey, enough of that." I replied with a smile.
The two separated from each other with strained smiles. I shook my head and rolled my eyes at the two. I muttered to myself, "Men!!"
The two kept an eye on each other. I looked at Maurice and asked,
"What are you doing here Mo?"
"I'm here looking for you. I tried to catch you before you left, but you were gone. I glad to see that Shane knew where to look for you because I sure as hell didn't. Good work dude." He put his knuckles out for a dap. Shane looked at it nervously. Maurice smiled. Shane smiled back and returned it.
"Where's Marguerite?" "She's at the hotel. Would you like to go there? Or do you have other plans?
"I was thinking about going to Chessa's house."
