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Authors: Skyy

BOOK: Choices
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“So how are you doing?” Carmen asked Marcus.
He smiled, and took a few bites of her food.
She instantly knew that it was someone in his life by the way he blushed at the question. “Okay, what's her name?”
“Well . . .” He took a drink from her cup. “I want you to meet her. Can you go with me?”
“I have to make it to the airport in a few hours, but if you want, we can leave now and you can take me to the airport.”
“Good deal. Let's do that.”
Carmen grabbed her bags and said good-bye to her family. She promised her mother that she would call her as soon as she made it to Atlanta. Her mother was still upset, but said okay, knowing that there was no way to stop her. Carmen and Marcus left to go meet his new love.
 
 
Marcus pulled up in front of the house. Carmen saw the serious look on his face.
“Cuz, what's up? Why you looking like that?” Carmen said as he started punching the keys on his phone.
“Oh, I was just texting for them to come down. Carmen, I wanted to bring you for a reason.” Marcus looked into Carmen's eyes. “I think you can understand better than anyone else.”
“Daaaamn, cuz, that's you?” Carmen said as she saw a woman's body locking the apartment door in front of them. The girl was thick in all the right places.
“Yeah, that's me, but you don't understand.”
Suddenly Carmen gasped as the person walked closer to the door; she looked at Marcus.
Marcus turned to the girl as she got in the car. “Carmen, this is my baby, Malaysa, otherwise known as Michael Tucker.”
They rode in silence the whole way to the airport. Carmen looked over at Marcus as he pulled up to the ticketing curb. She could tell he was upset.
“Malaysa, can you excuse us for a moment,” Carmen said to the drag queen in the backseat.
“Look, Carmen, I just want you to know that I love Marcus with all my heart, and I hope that you will accept me.” Malaysa got out of the car and closed the door.
Carmen took a deep breath.
Marcus lowered his head. “Carmen, I, I don't know what to do.”
Carmen looked at her cousin; she knew that he was hurting. “Baby cuz, are you absolutely sure this is what you want?” Carmen loved her cousin, but she knew how much harder it was for gay men than women.
“I am so sure. I love that man.”
Carmen put her hand on Marcus. “Well, if you like it, I love it, but please be careful because it's a lot of stuff out there.”
“I will, I promise. So, when should I tell my mother?” Marcus had a smile on his face.
Carmen thought about her aunt. She knew instantly it wasn't a good idea. “Look, Marcus, I am not telling you to hide yourself. But wait until you are out of high school to be out. People can be real cruel. Get out of this town, go to college and then make up your mind. Don't fuck anything up until you can take care of yourself.”
“So, you want me to stay in the closet?” Marcus couldn't believe what Carmen was telling him. “You came out.”
“And I was headed to school as well. Anything could have happened. My mother couldn't do too much 'cause I have a scholarship to school. You know how your mom is about me being gay. She is going to try to kill you and me. She is automatically going to blame me.” Carmen looked down at the clock. “Damn, I really have to go. Call me okay?”
Marcus hugged his cousin before she entered the airport, and promised her he would stay completely safe.
Carmen couldn't stop thinking about her cousin on the flight. She knew that he had a hard road ahead of him. She just hoped he stayed safe.
Chapter 14
Denise heard the doorbell and figured it was Cooley coming back from her night with the two women from the club.
“Man, you leave me and have the nerve to come back this early in the morning?” Denise said, opening the door, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
“Merry Christmas,” Lena said as she walked into the house.
“Lena. Oh, I thought you were Cool.” Denise quickly turned around. She didn't want her breath to meet Lena before she did.
Lena walked into the house. Denise could tell something was wrong with her.
“Merry Christmas.” Denise followed her into the living room. She grabbed a peppermint off of the table and popped it into her mouth, “Lena, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I am fine. I just thought I would join you all, since my own boyfriend doesn't care about me enough to want to spend Christmas with me.” She sat on the couch.
“What are you talking about?” Denise sat next to her.
“Brandon decided to stay in Miami for the rest of the break.”
“I'm sure he had a good reason.”
“Yeah, I bet the reason probably has big tits and fat asses.” She started to cry.
Denise put her arm around her, so Lena could lie on her chest. “Lena, come on, don't cry. I am sure he has a real good reason. And you're here with us now, so we can have a good time. I know he has to be a little uneasy about you being here with me and Cooley.”
“Well, I don't know, because I haven't told him,” Lena said raising her head. She knew he was going to be upset. Brandon was very insecure about Denise.
“Oh, well, I think you need to let him know. I don't want no shit.” Denise laughed. She wondered about Brandon sometimes. He seemed to always want Lena at his place. She barely came back to the dorm, except to change clothes and get more. This had been going on ever since Mema passed.
Denise secretly wanted to tell Lena to forget about Brandon, but she knew that would be wrong. “But, seriously, Lena, I believe that if he is there, it's probably for a really good reason.”
“I am going to tell him tonight. I am a little fucked up about all the booty that is probably being thrown his way, and this was the best idea I could think of to have fun without him. Hell, but he should be happy I'm with you all instead of some of my straight friends here, who would easily find me a few men to kick it with. Instead, he's wasting his time being worried about people that I would never be into.”
Lena's comment cut Denise like a knife.
“Girl, you know Brandon has eyes for you and you only. I have heard about that tournament, and agents are all over it. I am sure that if he stayed, it was about business only.”
“You really believe that?” Lena asked, as she looked Denise in her eyes.
Denise didn't want to stare into her eyes, simply because she feared she would want to kiss her.
“Yeah, I am positive of it,” Denise responded.
Lena stood up. “Well, I decided since Brandon could have fun, I could as well, so I decided to join you all. Carmen called me and told me that she was taking a flight today, so I wanted to join. I hope it's okay.”
“Sure, it is. It's your house, after all.” Denise followed Lena to her room. “Oh, wait, I have something for you.” Denise ran to the guest room to get her gift for Lena. She handed the little blue box to Lena.
“Tiffany's. Denise, you didn't have to do that.”
“I know, but I really wanted to show you how much you mean to me.” Denise quickly realized what she had just said. “I mean, you are a great friend to me and have done so much. I wanted to get you something to show my appreciation.”
Lena smiled as she opened the package. Enclosed was a silver charm bracelet. “Oh, it's beautiful.” She noticed the three charms on it.
“I'm glad you like it. “Denise unhooked the clasp to put it on her arm. “The charms mean something. The shoe is because you're crazy about shoes, the ball is for Brandon and me, since we play ball, and the key is for you opening yourself up to new experiences.”
“Oh, it's wonderful, but what experiences am I open to?” Lena asked Denise.
“Well, you are open to being my friend, as well as Cool and Carmen. We are not what you are used to, and we truly appreciate you looking at us as people and not as lesbians. You could have kicked me out the room the first day, but you were open to having me as your roommate. And I'm sure Brandon wasn't too thrilled about it.”
“No, he wasn't, but that's just the male thing going on. I really love the bracelet. Thanks a bunch.”
Their eyes met again. Denise really wanted to kiss her, and for the first time she felt as though Lena wanted her to kiss her as well.
Denise decided to take a chance. She closed her eyes and leaned in.
Chapter 15
Cooley woke up in the arms of Sahara. Michelle had her arm around Cooley, but Cooley had her back to Michelle.
Realizing the time, Cooley got up as peacefully as she could and went into the bathroom. A few seconds later Sahara walked in and started to kiss her.
“Girl, what are you doing? What if Michelle wakes up?” Cooley whispered as she leaned out the door to check Michelle's sleeping status.
“You didn't care last night when you were kissing me. I thought maybe you felt the same connection that I felt.” She started kissing Cooley again.
Cooley backed off again. “I did feel a connection, something I never feel with chicks. Girl, what did you do to me?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.”
They smiled at each other.
Cooley and Sahara talked for another hour. Cooley was very intrigued by her. She couldn't believe such a wonderful girl was dealing in a non-monogamous relationship.
“So, tell me what the deal is. Y'all just pick up girls for kinky extras?”
“Well, that's Michelle's thing. She likes to travel to cities and hook up every now and then. I usually don't get involved as much as I did last night. I never let anyone put their mouth on me besides Michelle.”
“Then why me?” Cooley asked her.
“I told you, I felt a connection with you.” She blushed.
“Sahara,” they heard Michelle call.
“I'm in the bathroom with Cooley. Come on in.” She pecked Cooley on the lips one more time.”
Michelle entered with a displeased look on her face.
“What the hell is going on here?” Michelle questioned them.
“Nothing, baby. We were just talking. We came in here so we wouldn't wake you.” She kissed Michelle.
Michelle grabbed her by the arm. Sahara squinted in pain.
“It better not be anything else, right? Cooley, you weren't trying to get a piece of my bitch without me present, were you?” She looked at Cooley while still grabbing Sahara's arm.
“Naw, dude, it isn't even like that, and I would appreciate it if you not grab on her like that in my presence.”
“And why is that, Cool? This is my property here. I can do what I want to it,” Michelle said as she grabbed Sahara's butt.
Cooley felt herself getting angry. She gritted her teeth when she saw water forming in Sahara's eyes.
“Look, anyway, last night was cool. It was nice meeting both of you, but I got to roll.” Cooley headed to the other room to grab her bags. She heard a smack in the bathroom when she walked out. She knew that Sahara had just been hit. She wanted to run in and save her, but she knew that would make it worse on her.
Michelle walked out of the bathroom. “Yeah, it seems like y'all muthafuckas think I am a fool.”
“Man, Michelle, it's not like that, and I told you that. All that bullshit you talking is falling on my deaf-ass ears right now. But I tell you one thing—I don't watch women get hit, so be glad I wasn't in the bathroom just then.”
Cooley was pissed, Michelle could tell, so she backed off, knowing that she would not be able to fight Cooley and win.
“Look, it was cool meeting you and if you say y'all didn't do anything, I apologize.”
Sahara walked out of the bathroom. She was a red-boned girl, and the side of her face was still red from the slap.
“Baby, I apologize. I just get so jealous when I think that someone is trying to get close to my baby.” She kissed Sahara, and Cooley instantly felt ill. “Well, Cool, maybe we will see you out New Year's night.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Cooley hugged Michelle, then walked up to Sahara and hugged her. “901314cool.” Call if you need to get away,” Cool whispered her number in her ear. She walked out the room feeling like she just lost the chance of a lifetime.
 
 
“Yo', anyone here?” Cooley yelled when she made it back to Lena's house.
Denise came from the back room. “Hey, bruh, how was your night?” She looked anxious.
“Man, I got to tell you about it. Were you doing something? Did I interrupt something?” Cooley could tell her friend looked like she was hiding something. Cooley's mind started to race when Lena came from the back, also with a strange look on her face. “Oh shit!” Cooley exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
“Dude, come tell me about your night.” Denise grabbed her hand, and they headed to the guest room.
Cooley was laughing the whole way. “Dude, what is really going on? What did I interrupt?” Cooley fell on the bed, still laughing at the thought of Denise and Lena finally hooking up.
“Nothing, man. Nothing happened. I just gave her the gift.” Denise sat down and took a deep breath.
“You are bullshitting me. What else happened?” Cooley wasn't giving up until she found out the truth.
Finally Denise gave in. “Man, okay. We were sitting in there, eyes locked completely. I decided to go for it, so I leaned in to try to kiss her, but then we heard you and came back to reality.”
“So, she was trying to kiss you back?” Cooley was still smiling.
“I don't know. I had my eyes closed.” Denise couldn't say for sure if Lena wanted her to kiss her back. “Actually, I'm relieved that you came in. I shouldn't have tried that.” Denise lay down next to Cooley.
“Fuck that. You should have gave her the best kiss she ever had. Make her forget all about Brandon.”
“Whatever, man.” Denise stood up and headed back into the other room.
Lena was sitting on the couch on the phone. “Okay, Mom. I'm here. Tell Daddy I love him. The house is fine. I'm going to go now, so I can get ready to go eat.” Lena hung the phone up with her mom.
Cooley also joined them in the living room. “So, Miss Lena, what do you have planned for today?” Cooley asked.
“Well, some of my friends are coming over, so we can go to the Christmas mixer at the club.”
“Oh, the Christmas mixer at the country club. It's going to be all the rave,” Cooley said giving her best impression of a high-society girl.
Lena hit her. “Yeah, my mom wanted me to go and represent the family. I don't plan on being there too long. Do you all have something to eat?”
Denise and Cooley realized they didn't have anything planned for Christmas Dinner.
“It's okay. I will order you all something to eat. You think Carmen will be in by then?”
“Yeah, she's supposed to be here by eight
P.M.
” Denise said.
“Cool, I should be back by nine-ish hopefully.” Lena looked at Denise, their eyes met again.
Cooley started laughing. Lena got up and headed to her room to get ready.
 
 
Lena scrambled to finish getting ready; she knew Misty and Susan would be there soon to pick her up. She heard the doorbell and got a little nervous when she heard Cooley yell out that she would get the door. She headed to the living room to find her two friends gawking at Denise and Cooley, who were sitting at the table eating the food that Lena had ordered for them.
“Hey, ladies,” Lena said as she hugged her two friends, who were still concentrating on Denise and Cooley. “Denise, Cooley, this is Susan and Misty.”
Denise stood up and shook each girl's hand. The girls' eyes were mainly focused on Cooley. “Okay, well, let's get out of here.”
They headed out the house to the Club.
The ride started out very silent. Lena sat in the backseat of Misty's Lexus. She knew they both wanted to ask questions. She just didn't know who would start. Misty and Susan were the closest to being friends that Lena had. Susan was the usual high-society white girl from a very rich family. Misty was black, but very rich as well. She acted more like a rich snob than Susan.
Lena's main reason for going to Freedom was to get away from their kind and to meet some regular black people from different backgrounds and social classes.
The silence was killing Lena so she decided to break the ice. “So, what do you all think of my roommate and her friend?” She knew that would start them up.
“Lena,” Susan said, “are they, you know, lesbians?” She whispered
lesbian
like it was a forbidden word.
“Yeah, I figured you would notice that.”
“Lena, what are you doing living with that kind of woman?” Misty said with her snobbish attitude.
“What do you mean? Denise is a great roommate.”
“I knew you going to that college was a mistake,” Misty added.
“And why is that? Because out of the thousands of students there I'm living with a very smart, intelligent woman who just so happens to be a lesbian?” Lena snapped back.
“Aren't you afraid that she is going to look at you or something?” Susan added. She was very uncomfortable with the conversation.
“No, she is not like that at all. Actually she is one of the stars on the girls' basketball team. I barely see her.”
“Speaking of basketball, how does Brandon feel about you living with a dyke?” Misty asked. She always was envious of Brandon and Lena's relationship.
“He is fine with it. They are actually cool with each other.” Lena knew Brandon was feeling very insecure about the relationship.
“Well, what about your parents?” Susan asked. “I can't see your mom actually liking your choice of roommate.”
“Actually, they don't know, but my mother is very fond of Denise as a person.”
“So, you haven't told them that she's gay?” Misty asked.
“No. Why does it matter?” Lena snapped.
“Because it does, and you know it. Lena, you are probably one of the luckiest girls on campus. You come from one of the school's best alumni, and you're dating the star basketball player. You mean to tell me that there aren't any rumors floating around about her, or especially about that other one. For goodness' sakes, she looks like a man for real,” Misty added.
“Yeah, people are going to talk, but I was fortunate to end up with a very nice, sweet, loving roommate, and I wouldn't change her for anything.” Lena blushed. Susan looked back at her. “Okay, so, I have a question. Have you ever seen her in the act?” Susan giggled at her own question.
“No, actually she really doesn't date. She is really into school and all.”
“Yeah, or she's saving up for you.” Misty laughed.
“Whatever. Let's just change the subject?”
“Well, you know, I hear that Mary Ann dabbles with women.”
“Honey, Mary Ann will dabble with anything that will touch her skanky ass,” Misty added and they all laughed.
The country club was decorated to a high level of elegance. Tables were lined with the finest linen and crystal. The centerpieces were lavish, filled with orchids and other exotic flowers. Women and men dressed in their finest formal wear conversed about politics and gossip.
Lena noticed the children's area. She remembered when she was a little girl wearing a dress that cost as much as her mother's. She realized that she did miss some of the elegance that came with her life while she had been at school.
Lena heard a familiar voice call her name. She walked over to a group of what she called “old money” people. Lena knew it was time to perform. She had become a pro at putting on a good act in front of her family's high-society friends. In their eyes she was just like them; in her mind she was dreading every bit.
“So, Lena, where did you end up, Harvard, Yale?” Ms. McGee was an old, rich woman who put the capital S in
snob
.
“No, actually I attend Freedom University.”
The crowd became silent. Lena looked around at their blank faces.
“Why on earth would you go there?” a man asked. “That's not Ivy League by far.” He stuck his nose up in the air.
“It may not be Ivy, but it is a fine institution. After all, my mother and father graduated from—”
“Yes, back when there wasn't an option, dear,” Ms. McGee added. “All those black schools have gone to the dogs, no true sense to get an education. How do you expect to get a job after school?”
“She won't need one.” Misty walked up and interjected. “This one is destined for celebrity wife status.” Misty smirked at Lena; she was completely aware of the can of worms she had opened.
Lena rolled her eyes at Misty. She knew that she was always jealous, but to put her business out like that was unforgivable. She quickly wanted to be at home with her real friends.

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