I went up to my apartment and unlocked the door before going in with my bag.
A surprised Keisha came into the living room from the kitchen.
"Omg, Sha."
"Kee." I laughed happily and we rushed to hug each other, laughing.
I'd been gone only for a weekend but I'd missed her greatly. We hadn't been together with the things that'd happened recently.
She helped me with my bag while I lockedthe door behind me.
"Girl sit down! I made some fried chicken with fries." she said.
"Mmmm, great! I'm hungry."
"Good. Lemme go dish the food for you so you eat while telling me every single thing about the weekend!" she exclaimed and I giggled. I'd missed her so much.
Some minutes later, she returned with a full plate which she gave me.
"Thanks."
"No prob, hon. Now tell. What happened?" she asked impatiently. I gave her a shy smile."Hum! What's the shy smile about? Cmon. Answer me or I'm gonna explode."
I laughed.
"Okay, okay. Kee?"
"Yes."
"I did it. Well actually, we did it."
Keisha's eyes widened.
"Did what?"
"We had sex."
"Seriously? Oh my gosh. Shayenne, you're kidding!"
I laughed."No, I'm not. We actually did."
Keisha gasped.
"When?"
"Yesterday night."
"Weren't you scared?" she asked with a surprised little laugh.
"I was at the start but then it all passed away. He has absolutely nothing to do with Josh."
"In bed?"
"Hahahaha, what a question. Of course."
Keisha's mouth dropped open and Ilaughed.
"Absolutely nothing, huh? And don't get me wrong, I mean in the physical aspect."
I chuckled.
"In both aspects."
She was silent for a moment.
"I knew it!" she exclaimed all of a sudden. I laughed.
"Knew what?"
"That you wouldn't resist that dude. And I'm just happy he's helping you forget that ugly ass.""Oh no." I laughed, "And speaking of Josh, you'll never guess what happened while Shane and I were in bed."
"What? Tell me everything!"
*
After Keisha had left my room that night, I got ready to sleep. It felt awkward all of a sudden to be back in my apartment. Alone. I already missed my boyfriend. It felt so good to refer to him as that.
I changed and got ready to sleep. I knew I'd have him in my mind throughout the class of the next day.
Monday morning, things were back tonormal. Keisha and I left for class.
On entering the class, the professor wasn't there. But what caught my attention was the fact that all eyes were on me. People would look at me and fidget amongst themselves. I quietly followed Keisha to our seats.
"Why is everyone looking at me?" I asked once we were seated.
"Maybe because everyone saw you on Holly trends."
'Oh that.'
Yup, the world officially knew about Shane and I.--
When the professor didn't show up after an hour, I decided to leave class with Keisha but we were soon surrounded by students. Some greeted and asked lots and lots of questions, while others struggled to film me with their phones. I got confused.
"Please, why are you filming me?"
"Cuz I wanna prove to my friends and family that I'm in the same class with Shane's gf!" was a reply in the crowd.
Great. Now my own classmates were some sort of paparazzi.
*Our classes ended at seven that evening. Keisha and I returned to the apartment. On reaching , I was shocked to meet my mother in front of the door waiting.
"M– mom?"
"I've waited quite long." her reply was dry and I knew she was angry, "There are a lot of things we need to talk about, Shayenne."
'Uh oh.'
--
Once my mom and I were seated in the living room, Keisha went to her room to give us some privacy.
"Um, mom would you like some–""Shut up." she cut in dryly. I was silent.
"Shayenne, what did you tell Josh?"
I stared at her quietly.
"I believe I'm speaking to someone."
"Mom, I told him no. I broke up with Josh."
"For the celebrity." she stated with a slight tone of disgust.
"Mom I–"
"So you've started?" she cut in, "So you've decided to be one of those random girls looking for famous men to get money from?""Excuse me?"
"What does Josh not have? What? You prefer to fall for the first stranger you meet?"
Shane wasn't a stranger to me. Not anymore.
"Mom, Shane has nothing to do with a stranger."
"Shane, huh? Hmm, I see. Are you trying to disgrace your family? I was called by Josh's mother who'd seen you on TV with that Shane. Is that what you were desperately in need of? Fame?"
"Mom, do not judge me. You don't evenknow me well, yet your my mother. How could you say that I'm in search of fame? How?"
"Then why are you with that rascal?"
This was going way too far. I got angry on the spot and stood up.
"Rascal? You don't even know him!"
"Exactly! And I don't care to. His tattoos say enough."
"Oh, really? Well guess what, that rascal loves me. And I more than love him too."
"Don't you say that! Josh gave you all you wanted.""I didn't ask for anything! Anything but one thing which he didn't give me. Love."
My mother stood up angrily.
"You've gone crazy. You will never be with that rascal. Not as long as I live."
I was very annoyed now.
"Dad and you have never asked me what I want. You used me from birth to secure your friendship with the Nelsons."
My mother slapped me hard across the face. It shocked me.
"You slapped me?"
"Yes! And I'll do that again if you ever saysuch again."
"You can't stop me from loving who I want."
"That's you're business. You will end with a good guy like Josh. Like it or not!"
"So you'd prefer me to spend the rest of my life with someone who raped me?!"
My mother's eyes slightly widened.
"What?"
"Oh, so now it's surprise taking over you. I've been living with Josh in fear! You gave me off to stay with him after highschool. At my age. Who does that?! He would beat on me and yet when I tried to tell you about it, you wouldn't want to hear it! There! You happy?? The result was that I was raped. In that house! Threatened into silence!"
My mother was speechless, her mouth slight open.
"Shayenne, I–"
"You know what mom," I cut in, my eyes full of tears and going to open the door, " You would have to sleep elsewhere tonight. I'm not keeping you here."
My mother's eyes began to water, still shocked at what I'd told her.
"Honey, I– I didn't–"
"Mom please." I insisted strictly, "Leave."My mother after about five seconds of silence finally left my apartment. I sat on the floor in tears. Keisha came to console me. I'd said what I had to.