Rinse

Chapter 11

For a split second, I felt his soft lips. Then he pulled away from me. “I’m sorry. Let’s head out, it’s getting late and I know you don’t want to be out all night.” With him, I’ll stay all night long for eternity. “Yeah, you’re right.” We got up and quickly headed out the mall doors heading to T’s car. He looks guilty after the kiss. Did I ruin something. This is why I can’t be in no relationship, it’s always bullshit around the corner. As we were driving, he interrupted the silence. “Harlem, I shouldn’t have kissed you.” My heart sank. “Not right now. I’m dealing with s**t right now so don’t take this to heart please.” All I could do was stare into abyss. After awhile, we made it to my house. I grabbed my bags and quickly walked up to the door, until “Harlem, don’t be upset please.” I stopped for a brief moment. And then started to walk off. The connection I wanted, felt like it was breaking apart. “Jas,” I say with my voice trembling. “Hey girl you okay. And I’m sorry I was being a b***h earlier. I was just mad that Raheem left me, but I think I have potential with Cameron. Sorry, what happened, what’s wrong?” The tears started to flow…slowly. “We kissed but he doesn’t want me to take it to heart. Saying he’s ‘dealing with s**t’. I can’t take this anymore Jas.” My intrusive thoughts came back, “Harlem, are you ok? You want some tea. I brought some when I came hear yesterday. It’s really good. It helped me soothe my nerves? You want some, I can also put Love and Lattes.” Love and Lattes is my favorite rom-com tv show. I watch it when I’m in situations like this. “That would be nice.” I spent the rest of the night with Jasmine, crying softly. A few weeks go by, and I avoid Tareq at every turn. One day, Jas randomly comes up to me excitedly, “Girl, Cameron is throwing a party! Please, we have to go!” “You and Cameron are official now?” I see a smile grow on her face. “He said he has something to tell me at the party, it’s tonight. But I have some outfit ideas I know we both will like.” I think a party will be good for me. These past few weeks have been stressful as is. “Alright girl, I’ll go.” By the time school ends Jasmine grabs my hand and we run the nearest clothing store. “Cam gave me some cash to get us both outfits for tonight. Ooh girl, I hope we get together.” At this point they are. “Me too.” We grab a couple of outfits, head home and get ready for the party. We catch the bus, and I start to worry. What if Tareq is there with someone else? I can’t stress about this. This feels like something I would do if I was still with Corey’s b***h ass. After the twenty minute ride and the three minute walk, we made it to Cam’s house. “Hey Cam! Sorry me and Harlem took awhile. The bus took a while.” “You should’ve told me, I would’ve came and got ya’ll but the party gettin’ started, come in!” And this is our first high school party.