Time Can Only Tell

Chapter 15

Arianna

I sigh as I watch Tristan make his way down the hallway. I began to mentally prepare myself for what I’m about to see and hear all night. From the sniffling I hear I know Monica is still crying and if any indication from the past week proves right. Her side of the room is trashed; tissue paper is thrown all around her bed and she’s about to cry herself to sleep. I’m been trying all week to get her to talk, she just wouldn’t cave in.

I was going to get her to talk tonight even if I have to physically make her do it. Of course, she’s stronger than me and more experienced in the fight department than me so she probably could take me down easily. But I won’t go down without a fight. After the scene that took place in the hallway she needs to spit out whatever is going on. I’m sure the whole campus is going to know what went on by tomorrow.

I unlocked the door and finally walk in our room. The scene before me is exactly what I predicted. I make my way over to Monica and sat at the foot of her bed. She looks from under the covers and peeks at me.

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” I ask

“I’m not talking, I already know Tristan and Zaire are on standby to get a call from you telling them what’s up.” She said still wrapped up under her covers.

“If you don’t want to tell them, I won’t. It’s that simple.”

“We’re talking about two physically fit men who can be very intimidating when they want. One happens to be very pissed off and the other is your boyfriend who you are avoiding spending to the alone with him so things won’t get intimate. You aren’t exactly very threatening so they could easily get you to talk”

“Hey, we are discussing your problems not mine. Don’t change the subject. I have you know I can be a badass when angered and you haven’t been girlfriend of the year lately.”

“I have my reasons”

“Reasons you won’t tell anyone, not even your best friend. I’m starting to get offended by your secret keeping” I say as I fold my arms across my chest and pout. I doubt she can see me because of the darkness of the room.

If she can act childish so can I.

“Are you pouting?” she asked

“Yea, can you see? You must have owl vision? You know like the OVO owl? Get it?”

“I get it, only you would come up with such a lame and corny joke at a time like this.” She laughs. The first genuine laugh I’ve heard from her in a while. She finally unravels herself from her mountain of covers.

Yes, score one for me. Make sure you give yourself a pat on the back for that one.

“So… what’s going on with you?”

“Tae, my life is so messed up. I came to school to get an education, have some fun, and to get away as far as possible from my family. I’m a freshman for fucksakes. I moved from Georgia so I wouldn’t end up like every other woman in my family you know. But, no only dumb ass me would come half way across the country just for the s**t to happen anyway.”

I wanted to ask her what exactly was she talking about but I felt like she needed to get all of this out. So I let her continue.

“I’m going to be the laughing stock of my whole hood if I go back there like this. Everyone already hates me because they think I think my s**t doesn’t stink when that’s what even the case. I left because I wanted better for myself than what I would get from staying home. Why is that so wrong?” she says all in one breathe

“What has happened to you and why would you have to move back home?”

“Because of f*****g this” she reaches under her bed, pulls out a box and removes what looks like a stick and hands it to me.

I hop up and flip on the lights. Once I’m not blinded by the brightness of the lights, I compose myself enough to look at what’s in my hand. It’s a f*****g pregnancy test that says positive. The hell?

Oh, f**k! My best friend is pregnant.

My first thought was to take a little trip to the boy’s apartment and beat the living day lights out of Zaire. But, then I remember that I’m currently holding a stick that someone peed on. I instantly flung that test flying across the room.

“Oh, don’t be such a priss. I washed it with soap and water before I even placed it back in the box.” She got up and picked up the pregnancy test.

“Umm, you know those test can be wrong” I question. My initial shock has worn off and now I’m choosing to deny deny deny until proven wrong.

“I took two of them and they both were positive.”

“So, they both could be wrong? You need to take a real pregnancy test from a doctor to be sure.” I said pacing back and forth across the floor.

“I can’t go to the clinic, everyone knows I’m Zaire’s girlfriend and the news would spread like wildfire that I’m pregnant before I’m even could see the results. I can’t go to a primary doctor or hospitals because that will appear on my insurance and I’m as good as dead if my mom even thinks I’m half pregnant.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before now and why haven’t you told Zaire, it takes two?”

“Well I first I thought I was just being paranoid about my period being late. Then more weeks passed by I got scared and here I am. I didn’t tell you because you were so happy and I didn’t want to be selfish and ruin your joy because of my problems. I haven’t told Zaire because it’s the middle of a life changing season for him and he doesn’t need to be stressed out. He already has enough on his plate.”

“Don’t you think, cutting off communication with him without reason would stress him out? The boy has been like a stalker for the past week wondering if anyone has talked to you.”

“He wasn’t supposed to act like this. I expected him to send a couple texts, call a few times a day. How was I supposed to know he would go all bounty hunter on me?” she shrugged

“Mon, just like you told me, he loves you obviously. You have to tell him, pregnant or not. He deserves an explanation for your craziness.” I finally stopped pacing because I got how we’re going to get a doctor appointed pregnancy test without anyone knowing.

I flop down on my bed directly across from Monica.

“Ooh, I know that face you have a plan?” she jumped up excitedly.

“I do have a plan, it involves breaking a few rules, but I know just the man to help us.” I rubbed my hands together slowly.

“Whatever it is, I’m in.”

---

“Come on, Monica. Stop being so scary.” I said walking upfront of Monica. She has on all black, a hoodie thrown over her head and she is creeping slowly around the parking lot. You would think we were robbing a bank by the way she’s acting.

“Excuse me if I don’t want to go to jail for breaking into a freaking medical clinic.” She stressed the last part of her sentence.

“One: we aren’t breaking in and Two: We aren’t going to get caught.”

“That’s what Thelma and Louise thought too and look where they ended up.”

“Did you forget that we’re here because you’re possibly pregnant and is afraid to tell Zaire?”

“You would want to bring that up. When will you let it go?”

“Let’s see… maybe when you don’t have to sneak into clinics or maybe just never.”

“Where’s this dude who’s supposed to be helping us? I have to pee, you should’ve let me pee before we left?” she said squeezing her knees together as we stood at the back door of the clinic.

“If you would’ve peed back at the dorm then you wouldn’t be able to pee in the cup we’re practically stealing.” I said shaking my head.

“I thought you weren’t doing anything illegal?” she questioned

Lord Jesus, please help my best friend.

“Sorry I’m late” Chase Harper said as he opened the back door of the clinic and let us in.

Chase is the guy that’s going to be helping us obviously. His dad basically owns this clinic. He donated a huge donation to the university to open up this place. It’s used to help train last year medical students in general medicine. People can come to get pregnancy tests, STD vaccines, flu shots, and general check-ups for free if you’re a student, but being as though Monica is difficult and didn't want to be seen in here. We have to sneak in.

I met Chase a little while ago at the awards banquet my parents made me attend; his father was being awarded also. That’s also where Chase tried to charm his way to my pants, but once he saw his advances weren’t working he gave up and from there on we had a good time talking and just hanging together. That in itself is amazing because I hate those f*****g banquets with a passion, so if someone gets me to enjoy one they’re good in my book.

“It’s fine. We just got here.” I said.

“No, the hell it’s not. My bladder is about to explode. I appreciate you doing this and all because I know you could get in trouble for doing this, but can we hurry this up?” she was now rocking slide to slide with her knees still squeezed together.

“Believe me, ma. You couldn’t get me in any trouble we good. Let’s go.” He said leading us down a long hallway.

“I’m not your ma and I’m pretty sure this is illegal so I’m pretty sure ya light bright ass can get fired.” She said

“My dad owns this place, hence the name Avery Harper Teaching Clinic.”

“Oh” was the only thing Monica could say.

“Yeah Oh. Now go pee in the cup, so we can get this over with.” He chuckled as he handed Monica a clear cup with a white lid on top and pointing her to the bathroom.

“Your friend is very interesting?” he leaned on the wall directly in front of me and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“I know, what can I say she’s my girl, she grows on you.” I shrugged

“Is that your way of telling me that she’s always like this and once you’re around her long enough you get immune to her excessive unfiltered talking?” he said.

“Yeah, that’s basically it.” we both laughed

“I heard that.” Monica yelled from the bathroom which only made us laugh harder

“So tell me what’s been up with you? I haven’t heard from you since the banquet, I was starting to think you purposely avoiding me” he said suggestively

“Mid-terms came up and I got really busy.”

“There you go being nice again. You really want to say I gotta man and I ain’t checking for you which slightly offends me.” He placed his hands over his hearts.

“Why are you only slightly offended?” I asked

“Because knowing Mr. Football Star it’s only a matter of time before he f***s up and then Imma be there to fix whatever he broke.” He said walking towards me, but I stepped to the side before he got to me. He just smirks at my movement.

Monica stepped out of the bathroom and handed the cup full of pee to Chase. He started down the opposite end of the hallway.

Monica just stood there and looked at me.

“What?” I questioned

“You know what, ole boy was tryna push up and he knows you got a man. Do I need to cut ass?”

“We good, Monica. He’s just being a guy, he’s harmless.”

“I don’t know about that harmless s**t. He looks familiar for some reason though.”

“And you call me paranoid.”

“I’m not paranoid, I’m careful. I don’t like him; I get a bad vibe from him.”

“You say that about everyone, you said that about Alicia and she’s cool.”

“Oh, ya’ll on first name basis now? Where was I when this happened?”

“Let’s see you were locked up in our dorm room keeping secrets.” She had that one coming.

“You being funny and I’m serious. I don’t like that Alicia chick or Chase. Just be careful with them.”

“I will Mother.” I said sarcastically

We had to be talking for a while because we saw chase walking back towards us with what I’m guessing is Monica’s results in his hand. He now had on a black jacket with orange lettering on it. I’ve seen a couple of other dudes on campus with them on.

“Here you go. You’re not pregnant so I’m guessing your lil menstrual cycle is just changing its rotation. It does that every so often. It’s probably aligning itself with Arianna’s since ya’ll live together.” He said calmly handing the papers in his hands over to Monica. It is refreshing to see a dude talk about periods without screwing his face or freaking out.

“You sure?” she asked

“Yea I’m sure.”

Monica immediately wrapped Chase in a hug, she did it so fast she scared him cause he jumped back a bit.

“Thank you for helping me with this.” She said letting him go.

We walked back to the door we entered in.

“Chase, thank you again for doing this.” I smiled

“Stop thanking me, we good. Just know you owe me one and don’t let the next time to communicate with me be for a favor. “He said as Monica and I stepped out of the clinic and began walking back to the car.

“I know where I seen him before. He’s the leader of the Theta NU’s. He was the guy that Tristan yelled at the party you passed out at. Oh my Lord, Tae we can like never tell the boys who helped us out with this.” She said as she started up the car.

“I wasn’t planning on telling them anything anyway. Why you so amped about this?”

“Because Tae, the football guys and the Theta Nu’s don’t exactly get along. Heck they practically hate each other.”

“Okay, so if they don’t get along why was Tristan and Zaire at their party in the first place and why don’t they get along?”

“I have no idea. When I asked Zaire all he said was to stay away from them and that the Theta NU’s were grimy niggas.”

I wonder what that’s about; Tristan never mentioned anything about the Theta NU’s or Chase to me. I wanna know but I’m not gone ask him about it because curiosity killed the cat and like he always says to me when he’s ready to talk about it he will.

“So you finally going to talk to Zaire?” I asked when I realized Monica was heading towards the boys apartment.

“Yup, I miss my baby.” She said smiling.

We pulled up to the apartment building, Monica parked and we both hopped out the car.

“You gone head up there, Imma wait down here in the lobby. Tell Tristan I’m down here.”

“Aight.” She said as she boarded the elevator.

I waited for about five minutes when I saw Tristan walking towards me. He had on some red basketball shorts and his blue football hoodie with his Nike slides on with some black socks.

“Hey baby” I said right before I kissed him not even waiting his response. You can say I was a little excited about seeing him, I haven’t seen him all day.

“Damn, you missed ya man. Didn’t you?”” he smirked down at me.

“Of course I did.”

“I missed you two, baby girl.” He initiated another kiss.

“You wanna come back to my dorm with me?” I said as we pulled back

“Hell yeah” his whole face light up and he immediately grabbed my hand and started to pull me towards the exit of the building.

“Hold up, Shawty. I only asked you to spend the night because I know Monica and Zaire have a lot to talk about and probably will be up all night not because I’m taking the lid off the cookie jar.”

“Oh you should’ve said that first then. You done got my little man excited for nothing, he thought he was coming out of lockdown tonight.” He slowed his pace of walking.

“Tristan?” I called

“Yeah?”

“Stop being so perverted and just take me home.” I smirked

“Aight, let’s go. But tonight don’t be surprised if I cop a feel while you sleep. Imma have to fondle a titty or something.” He said as we opened the door of the passenger side of his car for me. I muffed his ass as soon as he entered the car his self.

“You’re so silly.” I laughed

“s**t, Arianna you laughing but I ain’t playing. You gone get felt up tonight.” He said as we pulled out of the parking spot.

I just smiled silently, knowing that he’s dead serious. I don’t mind though he’s the man I love and he loves me back so why not?