Obsessed

| Nine

I stood over the stove, folding the eggs that sizzled in the skillet. I heard Jaylin yawn, followed by the loud sound of her slippers shuffling across the floor. She walked into the kitchen, reaching into the fridge and grabbing the gallon of Simply Orange.

“ You figure out what you wearin’ tonight? “

“ Yes, Vinny and I found a ketchup and mustard costume. “

“ Ya’ll so corny. “ she chuckled before lifting the glass to her lips. “ I’m surprised yo’ parents aren’t here with you. “

“ It took me beggin’ and pleadin’, which was not easy. “ I shook my head, lifting the skillet and scraping the eggs onto the plates. “ But I’m fine. Seemore called this morning and said they have him locked up, and the restraining order was approved. “

“ David, this is scary. “ she sat down on the stool. “ And you’re walkin’ around like you’re not in danger. “

“ Look, I can’t let this control my life, okay? I refuse to give him my power, I can’t. “ I moved the plates over to the island.

“ And while I commend your bravery, I still feel somethin’ ain’t right. Just be careful, please? “

“ I promise. “

I finished breakfast and headed to see Mrs. Marie before reaching school. I walked into the familiar establishment, taking the elevator, and walking into her office. She had twelve photos from the shoot scattered across her desk.

“ David, your work is unmatched, really. For you to be so young with a vision so clear, it’s phenomenal. “ she gawked at the pictures.

“ If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am in this company. “

“ Please, don’t go pushing your accolades on me. “ she gestured for me to take a seat. She reached into a stack of papers, pulling out the envelope and handing it to me.

“ What’s this? “

“ Just open it. “ she pointed.

I peeled the corner of the envelope, sliding my fingers through the paper. I looked inside at the blue rectangle, reaching inside and carefully pulling it away from its container. I looked at the amount written on the check, widening my eyes making Mrs. Marie chuckle.

“ I can’t take this. “ I shook my head.

“ The hell you can. You’ve done more than earn it, David. “

“ Five thousand dollars? “

“ Listen, quality work is greatly rewarded. “ she flexed her hand, placing the tips of her fingers together. “ Which brings me to my next order of business: we let Mary Ann go this morning. “

“ The Creative Manager? “ she nodded. “ That’s unfortunate. “

“ Not quite. “ she gave me a sly smile. “ The position is yours if you want it. “

I sat up quickly in my chair. “ Excuse me? “

“ David, you hit the floor running soon as you crossed that threshold into this building. Everyone here loves you and can’t stop talking about how easy it is to work with you, except for all these other lazy stylists: that’s how I know you’re doing something right. “ I side-eyed her at that last statement. “Hanson and Jalani couldn’t stop singing your praises and confirmed to me what I already knew. “

“ Mrs. Marie, I don’t know what to say. “ my heartbeat increased.

“ There will be a slight change to your schedule, unfortunately. On days you’re not in school, you’ll be needed here, except for weekends unless there is a shoot. It also comes with a thirty thousand dollar raise, on top of your thirty-five-thousand-dollar yearly income. “

“ s**t, at the rate I’m going, I can buy the damn house I’m renting. “ I mumbled.

“ I can toast to that. “ she rolled her neck. “ So what do you say? I know it’s more responsibility and possibly more stress, but if you’ve proven anything to me over the time you’ve been here, it’s that anything is possible for you, baby. “

She was definitely right. Mary Ann’s job came with too damn much. I would be overseeing all photoshoots, controlling who worked where, and when. I could also fire and hire whomever I wanted. On the flip side, I wouldn’t have to report to other departments for approval anymore. I would be trusted. Excellence would be expected of me. And I was ready. Ready to turn this agency back into the standard, especially since it’s my department that’s bringing everyone else down.

“ You got a deal. “ I smiled and she let out a very relieved sigh.

“ David, you don’t know how many headache-free days I can have from now on. “

“ When do I start? “

“ Well Jason is in the position temporarily until December, so I’ll give you time to enjoy your holidays before you hit the last stretch of your schooling, and the last stretch of normal life. “

We both chuckled before I thanked her again and happily left the office with many congratulations on the way out. I jumped into the car, heading to school and making it there just in time.

“ So how did it go? “ Jaylin shuffled excitedly in her chair.

“ Well... “ I hesitated before smiling at her. “ You lookin’ at the new Creative Manager. “

She squealed loudly causing everyone to look over at us, but out of curiosity. Once they knew it was her, they brushed it off and continued their conversations. “ David, I am so proud of you. Four damn years, and you already a Manager. “

“ Technically not until the first of December, but thank you. “ I moved my bag to the side, sitting down in my chair. I caught Vinny’s eye as he gave me a wink. I blew him a kiss as he fell in the chair, acting as if he fainted.

“ Alright, ladies and gentlemen, “ Mrs. Yolanda twisted into the room. “ thank you all for being prompt and prepared, as usual, but today is going to be a little different. I have some clients who want free haircuts from the best class I’ve ever had. “

The familiar faces of the faculty and the staff walked through the door, giving us nervous smiles and head nods.

“ Now I’ve seen what you are all capable of, so please don’t let me down. “

Our trial run clients spread out across the room, sitting down in our chairs. The room filled with the sound of clippers clicking on and flat irons clapping together.

“ I’m loving this blouse, Ms. J. “ I told her, sitting the flat irons down on the small towel.

“ Thank you, baby. “ she sung. “ How’s everything going with you? “

“ I’m good. Just got a promotion at work I’m pretty excited about. “

“ Ain’t that great? “ she assured me. “ Do yo’ thang, baby. “

“ Thank you. “

“ So what’s up with that light-bright brotha’ over there? “ she danced in the chair. Jaylin snickered as I gave her a sharp look.

“ Which one, CJ or Vinny? “ I continued combing through her hair, bluntly cutting the ends.

“ The bald one. “

“ I think he’s already taken. “ Mr. Garrett hinted from Jaylin’s chair.

“ Does that matter? “

Does having hair on your head matter?

“ That’s Vinny. Maybe you should talk to ‘em one day. “ Mr. Garrett and Jaylin both shot questioning looks in my direction. I widened my eyes and curled my lips, telling them I knew what I was doing.

“ Maybe I will. Maybe I will today. “

Once the day was done and everyone had gone home, Vinny and I cleaned up the floors and made sure the stations were set for the next day. Mrs. Yolanda kept us in rotation, and today was our turn.

“ So you single? “ he moved the broom across the floor, collecting the clumps of hair.

“ She actually did it? “

“ Hell yeah, she came over here spittin’ game. “

“ And what did you say? “

“ I told her I got a man. “ he chuckled, reaching for the dustpan. “ She backed on up real quick. “

I laughed, performing one last check on the stations and making sure everyone completed their exit checklists. I walked over to Vinny, sitting down in the chair across from his. Damn, this man was fine.

“ Lemme’ cut your hair, lil’ daddy. “ he broke me away from my fantasy. Quickly.

“ Huh? What? I don’t know. “

“ Come on now, you don’t trust me? “ he pouted.

“ You know how picky I am, okay? I actually have hair. “ I joked.

“ Mhm, I see. “ he nodded. He walked the dustpan to the trash can, placing the broom down and washing his hands. He removed the black covering from the chair, waiting for me to sit down in the chair.

“ Fine, but if you mess my head up, I will never forgive you. “ I exaggerated.

He didn’t say anything, just flipped the switch of the clippers and went to work. As he did, I noticed how detailed he was with me. I was notorious for stealing glances while Vinny cut hair, and I knew his routine very well. But this was different. He edged me up with blade precision, even put some product into my beard. The little things like the way he gently bent my ears, to the way he held my head, just screamed that I was important to him.

“ I see you been usin’ your coconut oil. “ he unbuttoned the cover and shook it out. I looked in the mirror, noticing the swooped line he had put in it. I guess I was so caught up I hadn’t noticed. “ My baby swimming. “ he ran his hand gently across my waves.

“ Thank you, baby. “

I pecked his soft lips as he hugged my waist, bringing me close to him. I always loved the feeling of his chest against mine and the way it heaved up and down, his heartbeat always going a mile a minute.

“ Don’t forget, be ready at eight. “

“ Oh, so you rushin’ me away so you can talk to Ms. J? “

“ You the only one for me, lil’ daddy. “ he smacked me on the butt. “ Now gone, sexy. ”

____________________

By the time seven o'clock came that night, the children were out with their costumes and going house to house. After I was showered, powdered, and ready to go, I sat down in the front room on the couch and waited for Vinny. Suddenly, the lights went completely out. The laughter of the children outside went quiet. Too quiet. You could hear the insects singing, making it eerily quiet. I looked out the window, seeing the power out on the whole street, so that eased my mind a bit. Then there was a knock at the door. I looked at the clock on the stove that read seven fifty-five. I sighed, walking over to open the door for Vinny. But it wasn’t Vinny.

I felt the sharp object pierce deeply into my flesh, ripping muscle and ligaments as it was snatched back. My legs went limp as I gripped my neck tightly, blood pushing through the seams of my fingers. I looked below me, shivering as I saw the amount I was losing. My throat burning from the liquid filling my lungs, causing me to cough inconsistently.

It hurt to even try to force a word out, and I knew it was a lost cause. I would die here. I was beginning to lose consciousness, blacking in and out. And then they spoke.

“ And that’s for getting my husband put in jail. “ she spat with envy. “ Let’s see if you run your fuckin’ mouth after tonight. “

My body turned cold and the pain began to subside. She ran away, leaving me there on that wooden floor. Dying. Choking. Lying in my own blood.

“ What the.......David? Oh, f**k, David? “ Vinny immediately picked me up, placing me in the backseat of the car and rushing away from the house. “ Come on, stay with me baby, stay with me. Don’t let go. “

I heard the engine roaring and the sound of the cars he zipped by. I began to accept my fate. I began to pray to God for forgiveness. For everything I had done. I was a good person, and I never did anyone wrong. But this was my sin. I should have avoided Jonothan at all costs, just like I had said. I could have saved myself.

“ He’s in the backseat. “ he pulled the back door open.

I was pulled from his car and placed on the white stretcher. They rushed me inside to the blurry white fluorescent lights. Their muffled commands and directions were lost to me. The woman stood by my side, assuring me they would do everything they needed and that I would be alright. Then the energy turned tense. Vinny was raging at that point. They wouldn’t let him back with me, and he wasn’t having that. And then I felt it. I felt my soul leave my body. My lungs tightened along with my chest. I felt light. I felt free.

I felt alive. My ears turned in first, adjusting to the faint beeps of the monitor sitting to my left. I opened my eyes, adjusting to the room. The sun illuminated the khaki-colored drapes covering the window. I took a breath and swallowed. That was the worst thing I could’ve done. The pain I felt was so unbearable and uncomfortable. It felt like a million ants delivering their pinching bite at one. Consistently. I wanted to cry out, but there was no sound. That puzzled me. I turned my head, feeling the tightness of the bandages around my neck. I touched them. I felt the tubes, and it was made worse once I could feel them inside my throat. The tears came falling as I looked around. My mother, my father, Jaylin, and Vinny. I felt for him. He still wore the blood-stained clothes, and even Jaylin was still in her costume. My mother held her bible to her chest as my father held on to her.

There was a sudden knock at the door. Talk about a trigger.

I tensed up as the dashing man in the long white coat walked through the door. My father stood up to meet him and they shook hands. He then looked over to me, realizing that I was awake.

“ David! “ he called out, rushing over to the bed but stopping once he didn’t know how to go about showing his affection.

“ Good Afternoon, Mr. Huff, how are you feeling? “