Curly
Chapter theme song: 'Bad' by: Wale ft. Tiara Thomas (Melanie Fiona cover)
"That was fun." She spoke softly, kissing my cheek. I laid back against the bedspread and allowed her to crawl into my arms. She snuggled deeper inside the crook of my neck, placing another kiss on my cheek before resting against my chest to hear my heartbeat. My breathing was shallow and ragged, my body clinging to sweat as the mid-day heat of early summer beat against us while her ceiling fan swung crazily. I remained silent, feeling a small wave of guilt. I only called her because I was still feeling crappy about my 'breakup' with Rhonda and I needed a distraction to keep me from answering her many texts, messages, and calls. I blocked her number but Rhonda is so rich and connected, she managed to pay off my phone company to undo the block I had against her number. Part of me wanted to change my number and not tell anyone about it and the other part of me silently desired to call her. I was conflicted.
I felt Serena's manicured hands glide against my toned chest, settling against the small, hidden, tattoo I had near the crevice of my right underarm and shoulder blade. She asked what it stood for and I lied, letting her it was the initials of my late grandmother. "You ok?"
I nodded. "Well of course, my sweets. After a wild morning like that what is not to love?"
She giggled, running her hands against me. She moved from her resting place to straddle me; her deep, cocoa-kissed complexion contrasting beautifully against me. Her curly hair that draped a little past her shoulders swept across her back as her full, ample breasts bounced lightly when she moved. I smiled, placing my hands on her waist, moving them to caress her backside with ease. She was a true beauty and had a beautiful soul to match. She was one of Gerald's exes cousins who I happened to fall for one evening while doing my usual routine. I had left Ms. Vetillos' flower shop with the hydrangeas I needed for the voodoo concoction I was making when I ran into her getting arrested for pouring bleach on some woman's leather coat. Apparently she was an animal's right activist and a bat-shit crazy like me. She smiled at me when our eyes locked, being forced roughly into the squad car. I did not think I would see her again until a week later when she was at the zoo trying to free the animals from captivity with a group of PETA protesters. I fell in love at first sight.
"Curly, when am I going to be your girl?"
"Serena, baby, you know how I feel about rushing things. Let's just coast and keep this love boat afloat." I wiggled my eyebrows for good measure but she didn't laugh. Instead, she gave me a light punch to my chest-stinging a little- before shifting herself off of me to get dressed. I let out a deep sigh, feeling another migraine come on. "Serena, you know I didn't mean it like that."
"You are still stuck on that prissy Rhonda, aren't you?"
I remained silent, falling backwards against the fluffy pillows and stuffed animals of her bed. "Serena, my sweets, let's not do this now."
"And why not, Thaddeus?" she snapped, re-clasping her bra before shucking my clothing at my face. I grabbed my glasses from atop her night stand. "You seriously are still in love with her."
"Serena, darling, let's talk about this over some cool whip and crackers, hm? I know how much you enjoy low-calorie snacking after a rambunctious time in the sheets."
She scoffed, putting on her sweatpants before tying her hair into a messy bun. I let out another sigh, beginning to get dressed. I knew Serena was getting tired of my antics and the distance I was putting between us but I had no idea how to patch up the mess I had created. I had feelings for Serena, but I also could not deny my love for Rhonda. As much of a bitch as she is and as rude, ignorant, and arrogant she may be, I loved that woman since I was nine years old and it was not going to wane over night.
"Curly, maybe you should just go home. I have some things to do around the house anyway."
My ears perked up at her crestfallen tone. "Serena, baby doll, let's talk this out."
"No!" she snapped, throwing a stray cup from atop her desk in my direction. I could see her eyes grow glossy as she tried to turn away and avoid eye contact. My heart burned a hole through my chest and I felt that familiar wave of guilt crash over me like a plague. I knew what I was doing to her was wrong but I was unsure on how to stop it. "I'm done talking. You clearly just want to sleep with me."
"That's not it at all, baby doll." I smoothed over. I managed to put in my shirt and pants with haste, making my way over to her quivering figure. I touched her delicate arms and ran a single finger along the contours of her spine along the razorback of her tank. She brushed me aside and raced out her room into her connecting bathroom. "Serena, look, things are complicated."
"So what am I, your little African slut?"
"Wait, whoa, what!?" I was taken aback slightly. I didn't know how to respond to that. "Serena, you are not a slut- maybe a little trashy and whore-like from time to time- but no slut."
"Thaddeus!" she screamed, her manicured hands stinging the side of my face in a cold, hard slap. It was damn near a punch and had me stumbling backwards to catch my balance. I should have expected that. The girl was raised by a single-father and had three older brothers- all in the military. I could only assume she know how to properly throw a right hook. "The hell you just say to me?"
"I meant in the sheets my love!" I held my face, flinching as she grew closer. "I didn't mean as a whole. Please spare my face; it's my money maker."
She rolled her eyes, shoving me before making her way downstairs to the kitchen. I called down from the banister to make sure it was alright if I followed and her silence only stirred me more. I decided just to wing it.
"Serena, doll face, let's have a chat, shall we?"
"You can talk to my hand, Thaddeus, because my ears aren't listening."
"Haven't heard that since fifth grade." I chuckled, slinking my way towards my angry princess. She began making herself a cheese sandwich, me taking a few steps back when she removed the butcher knife from the utensil drawer to dice it in two. She winked at me before licking the edges of the blade, enjoying the coppery taste of her own blood. I grimaced at the woman, feeling the need to give her time to cool down. "Maybe I should just call you later."
"Or you can lose my number and never see me or this fat ass again."
I shook my head at the thought. One thing Serena had that Rhonda surely did not was a bombshell figure. I hate being stereotypical- it made me feel like I was the male version of Rhonda herself when I did this- but Serena had that coca-cola bottle body that was infamous for the Black woman. Full chest, round backside, with thick thighs and hips just begging to be touched. It made me salivate just by thinking about it. If course I liked Serena for her personality as well, but her body won hands down. She was a little off-centered and bi-polar like myself, but she was a sweet person who I had grown to cherish more and more each day…but her body, that was something I was not ready to part with as of yet.
"Now, let's not get hasty my sweets. No need to make empty threats you intend on not keeping."
"Try me, Curly." She bit into her sandwich. "Either you make us official or you walk out my front door and risk having a seizure from getting your ass handed to you by my older brothers."
"Let's not bring violence into this, dear." I cringed at the thought. Her brothers, Malcolm, Xavier, and Ryan, all were big, buff, Black dudes I had no intentions of pissing off. I sometimes would come over to watch a movie and fool around with Serena and find them in the backyard sparing. They offered to teach me a few kickboxing moves and to join them for a beer but I declined in fear of saying the wrong things. How was I supposed to converse with them and not be fearful? I couldn't just tell them I was banging their sister and we weren't together because I was still in love with my ex. That was suicidal.
"Then make a decision, Curly. For six months we have been fooling around and having fun. What is it going to take to get me to be your girl?"
I ran a single hand through my hair. I had no idea how to answer this question. Truth was, I did have deep feelings for Serena, but my heart belonged to Rhonda. I knew I was never going to be good enough for her or her family so I decided to give a relationship with Serena a fair shot. I had no idea that it would be this hard moving on from someone who you never really had in the first place. I thought it would be easy, considering how Rhonda saw me as some giant leech on her sultry skin since fourth grade. I figured I would be relieved to find someone that actually wanted me and who appreciated me and my heritage. Rhonda was everything wrong with high-class society and yet I love the ground she treaded on with ease. She was one of the most vile, evil human beings to walk the face of the earth and yet, I loved her with every fiber of my being. I had it bad for her and yet, it crushed me knowing she could live her life without me and not once think about my well-being.
Serena was the complete opposite. She came from a lower-class background and worked for everything she owns. Even when her father's home business began to pick up, she not once asked him for money and earned her independence the old-fashioned way. Serena was just as quirky, unique, and odd as me and never once threw insults at me or grew repulsed by the idea of us having a solid future. She actually craved it and wanted us to grow more serious into something other than 'fun buddies'. I needed to give her a fair shot if I was going to get over Rhonda and I would be a hypocrite if stringed her emotions along the same way Rhonda did with mine. It hurt something serious knowing the person you loved thought of you as lower than the dirt on their feet. It was time to let go of the privileged princess and see what was standing in front of me.
My cell vibrated. It was Arnold, forwarding the text message that was sent from Rhonda earlier this morning about one of her infamous parties. Tonight's theme was a costume theme and she specified that all guests are encouraged to bring a date for the evening dance that was set to take place. I look a look at Serena, a small smile creeping across my lips.
"What are you doing this evening, doll face?"
She flipped me the bird. "Sharpening my sword collection, why?"
"How do you feel about going to a party with me; an introduction to my friends as being…'Curly's Girl'?"
She dropped her cheese sandwich, racing up to me to plant a deep kiss upon my lips. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to my frame. "You serious, Curly?" I nodded. She smiled. "In that case, I am free!"
Tonight was going to serve to be interesting at best.
A/N: I love you guys oh so much. BlackRob, I received your PM and you are so sweet darling! Yes, big things are headed my way for me and my family so I am super excited and let's keep our fingers crossed that I blow up and can do book signings like ZANE herself. Then I can travel and possibly meet you lovely kittens in person in your hometowns. You can finally put a sexy face to my even sexier writing.
Also, welcome to my fantasies and league of adorable kittens RocketMan131! I am so pleased to induct new members into my sexy cult of literary fantasy. (Not really a cult so no need to be afraid). And thank you to my longtime friend, Jose. He has been with me since I was like sixteen so it's amazing to see the same people support me. You guys are amazing, seriously and I am humbly gratefull.
Side note: I like the Melanie Fiona cover of Wale's track MUCH BETTER than the original. That girl snapped, crackled, and popped on that track. She is AMAZING.
Also, I want to say R.I.P. To Kevin Ambrose- Another victim of senseless Chicago gun violence. (Yes, I live in Chicago) His sister is a fan of my stories and both of them are good friends of my brother. She was sweet enough to even tell me she wanted to be an author just like me. My heart bleeds heavy for you love and if you are reading this, know my prayers are sent to you and your family.
Until next time kittens. Thanks for enjoying my dark, twisted fantasies.