Looking for Something

Chapter 5

"The more connections you and your lover make, not just between your bodies, but between

your mind, your hearts, and your souls, the more you will strengthen the fabric of your

relationship, and the more real moments you will experience together."

-Barbara de Angelis

~~Dominic~~

"Ken, I'm catching up bruh. It is about to be ON!"

"In your dreams!" He starts sabotaging my remote.

"Back off!" I start sabotaging his and soon we are both losing. "See what you did, now no one won."

"Hey, don't start blaming me."

"I told you to stop speeding, this is why Andie don't like riding with you." I recognize that voice anywhere. but I have to be hallucinating. Then I notice Ken, Chandler, and Craig start to look around too. Next thing we know, there is a knock on the door. I get up to answer it and when I see who it is, my smile instantly grows.

"What the hell, man. Am I really looking at you two suckers on my porch?" I open the door and immediately greet Kyle and Darnell.

"Wassup big pimpin'?"

"What are y'all doing here?!" I step aside so they can walk into the house.

"Damn Dee, you have gotten big as hell." Darnell says this as I lead them in to the living room.

"Workouts man. I'm in the gym no less than twice a day these days." We enter the room and Craig and Chandler are racing against each other now. "Aye, these are my guys from back in Chicago. Kyle, Darnell...this is Craig, Chandler, and Kendrick...but we all just call him Ken. They are my house mates."

"What is up? What y'all playing?" Kyle goes around the other side of the couch and sits down. He hasn't changed at all. Still talks to any and everybody. Never shy.

"So how you been man?" I elbow Darnell. We are both standing behind the couch watching them play. Haven't seen my best friend in person in almost a year. Mainly just FaceTime, phone calls, text, and video chat.

"I have been hanging in there. My grades this semester aren't looking too hot, but I got a tutor once spring break is up." I ask him about his basketball. "Bruh, it has been better than I thought it would! Coach has me mentoring two freshmen this year, and they are pretty cool. Act like I am their big brother, ya know? It's pretty cool."

"Nice. Yea, my grades aren't looking the best either, but my tutor is Syd. Her ass been on the Dean's List since we got here."

"Damn bruh, you got it easy then. Just don't get distracted."

"Yea, no promises." I hear him laugh. "Sooo, when you are mentoring the guys do you have to take them everywhere with you?"

"Nah. Sometimes I hang out with them just to, talk to them. But it is mainly during practices. Why?"

"Coach told me I start mentoring one guy after spring break is up."

"Nice, you got this! You will probably be better than me." He lightly punches me in the arm.

"Eh, I hope so."

"Andie! Wait!" We both turn around and Andie comes stomping through the door.

"I am going to kill her! She does not know me, she is testing MY patience! Where is the damn bathroom?" I point down my hall and she walks to the end of it and slams the door. Lauren and Syd come running in behind her with the other three following. Rosetta looks pissed off.

"Puta está siendo mezquino! (b***h, is being petty!)" Rosetta says this in sort of a growl!

"Llámame puta más uno y voy a tirar de la lengua! (Call me a b***h one more time and I will pull out your tongue!)" What are they talking about? Rosetta looks shocked at how Andie knows Spanish.

"Uh, ENGLISH PLEASE?!" Syd says this looking at the both of them. "Andie, come out of the bathroom! Don't make me come and get you."

"I'd like to see you tr----AAAHHH!" Syd runs to the bathroom and catches the door before Andie can close it. "Sydney Serenity Williams, if you don't let go of my ear!"

"I don't think you are in a position to threaten anyone." Syd drags her back out and pushes her into Darnell.

"Hold her, before I have to kill her." She turns back towards Kiana and Isabelle. "Come on, I can take you back to the dorm now before they kill each other.

"Agreed. Had fun...a little today. Come on." Kiana walks out with Rose and Isabelle following behind. Syd rolls her eyes and follows them out the door.

"Want me to come with you, baby?" I call this before she closes the door all the way.

"It's fine, I'll be back in a second." She closes the door behind her and I watch her walk to the car through the window.

"Well...that was...I don't know." Kyle turns back towards the TV with Ken, and they continue playing the game. Lauren goes, without another word and sits beside him on the couch. The door opens again and Syd comes back in with her keys jangling.

"I need an aspirin."

"I'll show you where it is." I follow her into the kitchen and she leans up against the counter rubbing her forehead. I pull the bottle out of the cabinet and drop two into my hand. I pour a glass of water and take it over to her. Her eyes are closed and I nudge her.

"Thank you." She lays her keys down and takes the pills from me. I watch her take the medicine and she puts the glass in the sink. I walk up behind her and wrap my arms around her.

"Better?" She lays her head back on my chest.

"We'll see." I kiss her on her forehead. She gives me a small smile. "Please pray that I don't strangle them."

"I am sure you won't. What do you say you, me, Darnell, Andie, Kyle, and Lauren all go out and hang tonight. Like old times."

"That'd be cool! I'll be back in a few." She pecks me on the lips and walks out of the kitchen.

*

*

*

"So are you guys going to tell us where we are going, or are you going to keep trying to be secretive?" Lauren says this as she climbs into the car. Kyle climbs in beside her and I climb in beside him. I pull Syd into the car onto my lap and she leans back against me.

"We are going to a parade that is going on down the strip."

"Oooo yay! Parades are fun!"

"Nells, I love your new ride. s**t is sexy as hell." Syd looks around and admires it.

"Thaaank ya. Parents bought it for me, on my birthday. My new baby!" He pats the dash board.

"And he won't let a damn soul other than himself drive it." Kyle says this glaring at Darnell through the mirror. "Didn't your momma ever teach you how to share with others?"

"Lol, no. Or she did and I just was not listening. Either way, keep your hands off my steering wheel." Kyle starts mumbling under his breath and looks out the window. I just stare out the window and I play with Syd's hair. Ever since it got longer, I have been obsessed with it. It calms me down, especially if I am mad or just tired and stressed out. When I look up at her, she has a straight face on and she is staring out the window. What's wrong with her?

We park in front of some shop and then we climb out and we start just walking around. "What's wrooong?" I shake her. We are kind of behind the others.

"Nothiiiing." She tries to push me away.

"Liar. Are you still irritated about earlier?"

"No."

"What's bothering you then?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now."

"Well, could you at least pretend like you are having a good time with me?" I stop her from walking and turn her towards me. She looks up at me and I make a puppy dog face. She rolls her eyes. I push her lips up into a smile and then I give her a peck. "You look so pretty." I start laughing. That makes a smile come across her face.

"Why did you laugh punk?" She tries to punch me but I dodge it.

"Who? Me? Laughing, girl you are delusional." I push her and then take off running and I know she is chasing after me. I hear her yelling at me to come back.

"DOMINIIIC!" I laugh as I pass Darnell and Andie, then I pass Kyle and Lauren. When I get down a little ways I turn around and she comes crashing into me. I hold her against me and she starts squirming in my arms. "Let me go!"

"Uh uh, because then you are going to hit me." She laughs.

"How did you know?" She is so goofy. "Boy, you are going to run into somebody."

"Man, they can see. They better go around." I turn to look behind me and I see no one in my way for the time being.

"Alright, when you run into a pole I am going to laugh my ass off."

"You are so mean to me. After I have been nothing but nice to you." I try to play hurt and start to put my hand over my eyes like I am about to cry.

"Tuh! Nice people don't push people for no reason and then take off down the street like a psychopath."

"Who did that?" I grin down at her. She rolls her eyes and starts shaking her head.

"You are too playful for me." I turn around and walk behind her with my arms wrapped around her waist. "See, you got scared."

"Aw, you wish. How do you know I didn't just want to feel your ass on my d**k?" She hits me in the leg and I laugh.

"You are such a pig."

"Only when it comes to you." I lean down and kiss her cheek. "Because you my baby!" I lean my head back and yell it to the sky. I feel her laugh and she turns to face me. I pick her up so that she is eye level with me. I give her a kiss.

"You made me feel better." She smiles at me.

"Good. Because you were killing my vibe." She hits me on the arm, and then wraps her arms around my neck.

"You are so mean to me."

"It's because I love you. Tough love is good for a young nigga!"

"I'm not a young nigga, nigga!"

"That's right! You MY young nigga, nigga!"

"I can't stand you." I kiss her again, then I set her back down.

I'm glad I got her smiling again. Whatever is bothering her, we can talk about that later. Right now, I want her smiling with me. There are very few moments the gang is all together these days. We have to enjoy them when they do come.