Pizza Kills 10:
After that we avoided each other like the plague. Well I did anyway. He deserved to be slapped but I'd never struck out like that. It takes a lot to get me that angry. A lot. I was also stubborn. I couldn't stand going up to him and saying I was sorry knowing he'd rub it in my face and he wouldn't apologize for his part.
It was a quiet day and I was looking at car books. Michelle popped up on my IM. She wanted me to come and see her. I agreed and we made arrangements. Before I left I had settled on a red jaguar. I may have been 29 but I wasn't old. I also got a blue Bentley. For business trips.
It was the Thursday. The day before I was scheduled to leave. I hadn't gotten my tickets but when I called they said they'd mailed them off. I sighed and said I may have misplaced them. I looked up and there was Willy. His face was…cold. Like it was carved from ice.
"You lied to me," he said in such a low voice I almost missed it.
"What are you going on about?" I asked.
He flashed the plane tickets.
"You said you weren't leaving," he said as his breath hitched.
I walked over to him and looked him in the eye.
"I'm going to visit a friend Willy…I'm coming back," I said.
"No," he said shaking his head no. "You're going away…just like my mommy."
Before he could run out I grabbed him and made him look at me.
"Willy…I'll never leave you of my own free will…do you understand that," I said.
He nodded but I could tell he was still upset.
"Would you like to come with me?" I asked.
"You want me to?" he asked looking surprised.
"Sure…you could get to know all about me from people who know me," I said.
"I'd like that…you'll still be my bodyguard right?" he asked.
"Yes Willy," I laughed lightly. "Willy?"
"You've changed your mind?" he asked eyes wide.
"No…I'm sorry I hit you…there's no excuse for putting your hands on anyone. Forgive me?" I said.
"Yeah…you're a hormonal woman and can't help it!" he said smiling.
"If you were anyone else I'd think that was an insult," I said and sighed. "I think I'm accustomed to you Willy."
"I'll take that as a complement!" he said.
The airplane ride was hell. Willy is…annoying. He kept pressing the call button. I swear I thought the lady wanted to toss him off the plane mid flight. The Buckets joined us. I knew he needed them for support so I said okay. We all checked into a hotel. I had to make Willy leave the desk clerk alone after he kept calling to ask why his candy wasn't in the mini bar. When it was all said and done the chain had a new candy bar contract. Willy was all business.
I talked to my friend Michelle and agreed to go out with her in spite of being tired. I wanted to see how she was and show off the non-metal look. Willy came in after I was dressed and begged me to let him go too. He wore me down. We went to his room and picked out an outfit. He was Sean johned down and sharp as a knife.
We had agreed to meet at the club so he and I took a cab. He was so excited I had to slap his hand a few times to get him to settle down. When we got there he smiled at all the people in line and waved. I paid the driver. At least he wasn't the only white person there. Music is music as long as you love it. We got in line and he said it.
"Hi Africans!" he said and waved.
Everyone turned to look at him glaring.
"He's from England," I said and they all got that oh look and waved it off.
We got inside and that's when all hell broke loose. We paid to get in and went to find my friend. She was sitting with another of our friend's Anitria. She ran over to me and hugged me.
"Girl you look good!" said Anitria.
"Thanks, so do you. Got rid of the ball and chain for the night I see," I said laughing.
"You know I did," she said. Then she saw him. "And is this yours? He is fine!" said Anitria.
"No…I work for him," I said.
"Work…play…same thing," she said.
"Willy Anitria…Anitria Willy…don't even think it," I said.
"She wants you," said Anitria. "Buy us a drink."
"Okay!" he said.
"Keep him," said Anitria as he went off into the crowd.
We sat down talking until he came back with the owner carrying the drinks. He took us to the VIP room. Who knew the guy was in love with Willy Wonka candy. He had brought us at least three bottles of alazay. I then noticed Michelle watching him. I recognized that look. He didn't drink or smoke anything. He sipped on some Perrier water and lemon. I knew he wasn't a drinker and didn't want anyone slipping him anything. When he got up to dance with Beyonce Michelle pounced on me.
"What is that honkey doing here?" she asked angry.
"He has a name," I said.
"What is it with you and white men. Black man not good enough for you?" she asked.
"Yet your mother married one," I said. "Pot calling kettle black here I think."
"It's different…she's my mom," she said.
I saw it coming. It had been brewing since we were little.
"I care about him," I said.
"Enough to give up our friendship?" she asked.
I looked her in the eye, "If you're making me choose…yes."
"Years of us for some white guy you've barely known months?" she asked.
I made sure Willy was out of earshot.
"You know what…I see it now," I said.
"What?" she said standing over me. She was tall and big. Like a pro wrestler.
"You can't tell me what to do…now that I'm gone…and it's pissing you off," I said with a stern face.
"You've changed," she said shaking her head. "The moneys got to you."
"No…that's not it," I said. "I see you now…and you're ugly."
"I know you lying cause I look good," she said.
"No…you're ugly on the inside…it's poisoned you," I said.
"Don't bother to call me again," she said.
"You called me," I said standing.
Anitria and Willy came back laughing and holding pictures they took. They stopped laughing when they saw us squared off. She eyed him as if she was going to do something. I stepped in front of Willy and crossed my arms.
"Fuck you!" she said and walked out of the VIP lounge.
Anitria sighed, "Call me girl." She took a bottle for the road and followed after Michelle.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Forget it…she's not worth being sorry over," I said. "Let's go."
We got back to the hotel and went to our rooms. I had taken a long bath and was laying in bed thinking. I just lost my best friend…and I was all right with it. It was like I'd just been paroled from prison and won the lottery the next day. There was a knock on the door and I went and opened it.
"I have strawberry cheesecake!" he said smiling slightly.
I let him in and we lay across the bed watching a movie and eating the cheesecake. I lay back and relaxed. I laughed and he looked at me puzzled.
"I bet I'm the first woman whose bed you've ever been in," I said.
"Wow! You're right!" he said.
"Then I feel honored," I said with a laugh.
"As you should!" he said finishing his last piece of cheesecake.
"You are something else Willy," I said.
He sighed, "I know!"
I sighed, "We should get to bed…I have to meet my mom tomorrow."
He looked up, "Can I go?" he asked.
"Sure," I said removing the left over cheesecake plate.
"Can I stay here tonight?" he asked so low I almost missed it.
"Can you handle it?" I asked.
"I don't want to be alone here," he said.
"Pick a side," I said.
He did and I got in and turned out the lights.
"Night Willy," I whispered.
Silence.
"Night bunny," He whispered back.