Time Can Only Tell

Chapter 17

Arianna

“Urghhhh! I miss my man.” Monica face planted her head into her pillow.

“I know I miss my handsome baby boo” I pouted.

“If Tristan catches you calling him that he’s gone wreck shop.” She laughed

“Tristan ain’t gone do s**t cause he ain’t gone find out.” I wiggled my tongue out at her.

The boys were away at an away game. We wouldn’t be tripping so hard if we got to spend more time with them this week. See, last Saturday they had an away game in Cali so they didn’t back til Monday, throw on extra workouts and practices their coach has been piling on then once again they were leaving on Thursday for Florida. I barely got any time with my baby this week and the time we did spend together he was either too tired to do anything or he was sleep. Yes, that nigga would call me over and come to my dorm just to cuddle and fall right to sleep on my ass. Ain’t that something, smh.

Monica and I have been spending whole weekend in the dorm snacking and watching as many episodes of Grey’s Anatomy as possible. If McSteamy and McDreamy can’t distract you from your problems nothing will cause those two men were two damn sexy for their own good. If I worked in that hospital I wouldn’t be able to keep my legs close either, don’t judge me. (If you don’t know who McSteamy and McDreamy are Google Eric Dane and Patrick Dempsey or just direct your attention to the awesome show that is Grey’s Anatomy).

I was snapped out of my thoughts by my phone ringing. I practically pounced up to grab it off of my dresser.

I looked at the caller Id and it was Tristan. “Hey baby” I sung in the happiest voice I could make up.

“That’s what I like to hear. My love was waiting impatiently for me to call, huh?” he chuckled

“Cocky Nigga”

“You love it. I miss you.” He cooed

“I miss you too baby. We watched the game. You was out there stunting on that defense, don’t think I didn’t see you out there hitting the Terio.” I laughed

“I had to show them how it was done. What you got into this weekend?”

“Nothing much, me and Mon just stayed in watching shows on Netflix and stuffed our faces.”

“I know you ain’t trying to get thick on a nigga. Don’t give me more to play with girl; I swear I’ll have you screaming my name so quick. It’s hard af to keep my hands to myself Na.” he said. If I could see him right now we would be biting down on his bottom lip and rubbing his hands together slowly. I know his ass like a book.

I looked to see if Monica was listening to me, but Zaire must have called because I heard giggling from the bathroom. “Maybe I don’t want you to keep your hands to yourself. Maybe just maybe.” I giggled playing with his emotions a little. He couldn’t do anything about it right now. He’s half way across the country.

“Arianna, don’t start up nothing you ain’t gone finish. You keep talking like that and Imma be hanging up on ya ass to go take a cold shower.” He sounded way too serious.

I cracked up laughing.

“Ion playing, Arianna. You were sounding all sexy and s**t when you said that. Don’t unleash the beast if you ain’t gone wanna tame it when I get back.”

“The beast, huh?” I questioned

“Yeah, the beast. Don’t act like you felt him, you ain’t slick I know what you be doing when you just freely sit on my lap at the crib.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Maybe I just like being close to you.”

“Close my ass, you be lowkey copping a feel. Being close is sitting right beside me, resting your head on my shoulder, s**t even holding my hand.”

“You want me to stop?”

“Hell Naw, I don’t want you to stop. I be feeling up on something too.”

“You come back tomorrow night right?”

“Yeah, our plane is supposed to land at like 6:30.”

“The flight must be early then?”

“Yah, we supposed to be leaving for the airport at like 5:30.” He yawned

“Imma let you get your sleep you need it. I know you’re probably exhausted from the game.”

“I just wanted to call you and check up on you. I missed hearing yo voice.”

“I missed yours too. I love you bae, sleep good.”

“I love you too, I can’t to see yo them dimples tomorrow.” And with that he hung up.

Every time I talk to that man, I can’t help but have the biggest smile plastered on my face. I went to sleep hoping that I got to dream about him.

****Next Day****

It was around almost 6 o’clock in the afternoon. Monica and I were taking a walk around campus because she said and I quote “We can’t let them see us looking all fugly and tore up like we’ve stayed closed up in that room all weekend.” So, we got dressed out of sweats for first time this weekend and decided to join the rest of society again. About an hour ago we headed to the café to get some real food and here we are now taking a scroll around campus. If you didn’t know us you would have thought we were a couple.

“Yo that cornbread was popping. It reminded me of my Nana’s back home. That should hold me over until Thanksgiving; I need a real southern home cooked meal.”

“If that cornbread from the café tasted like your grandma’s cooking then maybe I should make a trip to the dirty south to see her.” I joked

“Girl, my nana is crazy. But I got a feeling she would love you and actually all of the crew especially my booh.”

“So that’s where you get your craziness from?”

“Nana got me beat by a long shot. She maybe old but don’t sleep on her. I remember one time my mama tried to act like she was bad and was cursing right in front of my Nana like she wasn’t there. Before I knew Nana had grabbed my mama up so quick you if you blinked you would have missed it. It was so funny watching my 35 year old mama get a whipping with a belt by my 60 year old grandmother. I died laughing while it was happening but I didn’t dare let my mama see me laughing I didn’t want to get beat next.”

“Damn it was like that. I wish somebody would beat some sense into my parents.”

“Buy my Nana some cases of Pepsi and a plane ticket she’ll wreck shop all over the Taylor residence.” She laughed. “But in all seriousness you really should come down to Atlanta for Thanksgiving with me.”

“Ion know, Mon. I don’t wanna impose on your family; I plan to just stay on campus.”

“Hold up stop the mother loving’ press, my girl is not staying here on this campus on Thanksgiving. This place becomes a ghost town during holiday breaks and I don’t need you turning into some kind of zombie. You are coming with me.”

“Mon I don’t want Tristan to think I’m some clingy chick that follows him around all the time. That ain’t me.”

“Tristan bubble head ass ain’t gone think that. Besides it’s not like you coming to be with him you gone be with me. I need someone to balance out the foolish that will go on anyway.”

“Isn’t Zaire going home? Ya’ll live in the same city. Use him.”

“Nope, Imma use you. Plus I don’t need Zaire being around my family for too long. My daddy, uncles, and older cousins gone interrogate my poor suga bear. “

“Fine, Mon. You got me and like you told me if Zaire catches you calling him that he gone check you.”

She stopped walking aside me and began doing to cabbage patch right on the sidewalk.” I knew you would cave in; I have that effect on people. And Zaire ain’t gone do s**t I wear the pants in this relationship.”

“Oh, yea. Ion know how my brother gone feel about that, we gone find out when I tell him.”

“Tell him. But Imma just tell my brother about old boy that was flirting with you the other day.”

“No you won’t. If you tell him then you gone have to tell him why we were around him in the first place and you gone get it too.”

As if talking about Chase brought him in our presence. He popped up. He was with Alicia. They kind of looked like a cute couple. I’m glad he got someone to keep him occupied, maybe he will stop flirting with me.

Monica and I sit down on a bench in courtyard overlooking the school mascot statue and fountain. They spotted us and walked over.

“Hey Tae, Monica” Chase and Alicia greeted us.

“Hey wassup with ya’ll?” I said. Monica just looked up waved a little and began to look at her nails.

“Just walking Alicia back to her dorm after our study session.” Chase said

“I see. I’m glad you found someone to help you Alicia.”

“Yea you wouldn’t believe how glad I am that I found Chase to help me with some things.” She smirked and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Oh ya’ll two together. That’s cute, I didn’t know. Congrats to ya’ll” I smiled

“We would love to stay and chat more, but we have to get back to our dorm. Tristan and Zaire should be getting back sometime soon. Bye!” Monica grabbed my hand and we walked off from them

“You so cold Mon”

“What? I told you I don’t like them and why the hell you lied to them? They do not make a cute couple they make a creepy weird one.” She shrugged

“They were just being nice and speaking that’s it.”

“That’s the problem. I still don’t like lil miss cheerleader and the boys and Chase don’t get along. He knows that yet he still talks to us in public like it’s nothing. It shows he don’t give a f**k about any of our relationships. That’s disrespectful and like I told you before I get a bad vibe from them both.”

“I feel where you coming from but let’s just get back up.” She nodded.

When we got back to the dorm it was around 7:15. Monica and I were on pins and needles, anything that sounded like a knock or a phone ringing we were about to attack. I was sitting comfortably on my bed when I heard the knock I been waiting on all damn day. I jumped up and beat Monica to the door because my bed was closer. I opened it and there was Zaire swole ass with Tristan standing behind him.

“You know I love you bro, but move the hell out of my way.” I shoved his ass to side to hug then kiss my baby.

“Damn, Tae I’m happy to see you too.” I heard Zaire say right after I shoved his ass. I just ignored him. I haven’t felt Tristan’s lips in days and missed his embrace.

When Tristan and I pulled apart from our kiss, we both were panting and breathing heavily.

“Maybe I should stay away more often if you gone kiss me like that every time I come back.” he smiled.

“Oh, hush up.” I kissed him again.

“Tae we heading to the apartment.” I heard Monica say. I nodded without breaking our kiss.

“I guess you’re stuck with me tonight.” He whispered against my lips and tightens his grip on my waist.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I responded with a cheeky smile

Chase

*An hour earlier*

I was waiting on Alicia Ramirez ole gold digging ass. She was the worst kind of hoe. The kind that opens her legs to any athlete that looked like he had a chance of going pro just to try and trap a nigga. Not realizing that she should be flocking to the engineering and pre-med majors. That’s where the real money is. A doctor can practice medicine way longer than any athlete that went pro. All she sees is the glitz and glamour that being with a pro athlete can provide for her. Groupie ass.

I only agreed to meet her because she called me up talking about she got something important to discuss with me. I have no idea what she has to talk to me about but I’m here anyway. She walked into the coffee shop with her snobby ass nose turned up like she’s better than somebody because she got a lil money. Scratch that because her daddy got some money. Of course she had on some tight ass clothes. I’m not gone lie and say she didn’t look good cause I would be crazy as hell to say that. Her t**s and ass always be sitting up pretty, I just never went there cause I know what she about. I like good girls that I can turn bad not the other way around.

“Hello there Mr. Theta Nu” she greeted me as she sit down on the other side of the booth I was occupying.

“Sup? Let’s just get straight to the chase. What you got to talk to me about?”

“Straight shooter I like that. Anyway I need you to help me bag Tristan Hill.” She was really off her rocker if she thought I was gone do that.

I burst out laughing “Now why would I help you do that?”

“Cause I know your father Mr. Avery Harper himself has his baby boy on a tight leash after that incident he had to clean up after you. You do know what incident I’m talking about right or should I elaborate more?” she smirked at me. “Anyway it wouldn’t look good if mommy and daddy back home found out that their son has still been partying and getting caught up with these native freshman girls who wanna pledge your sister sorority. They wouldn’t be too happy. Now would they?” she crossed her arms across her chest.

She’s smarter than I thought, yet she’s still stupid cause everybody knows I have no leverage when it comes to Tristan or any of the football guys.

“See your blackmailing would be effective if you weren’t barking up the wrong tree. Tristan and I don’t see eye to eye and you know why.” I simply said and went to get up from the booth

She grabbed my arm “I’m not finished.” I sat back down

“I know you can’t do anything with Tristan but you can do something with that little ass girl Arianna. I know you like her. This can be a win for the both of us; I get Tristan you get her.”

“How exactly would we go about this?” I asked. She maybe a hoe but I want Arianna Taylor and I want her bad. Ever since she turned me down I had been trying to plant seeds in her mind. Ion care if she got a man, his jock ass ain’t got nothing on me. She deserves better.

“Well, first we have to pretend to be together.”

“Nah homie Ion cuff hoes.”

“Nigga Ion want your lab coat wearing ass either. I only date athletes remember. This will only work if we get close to them. She’s friendly towards me, but I can’t do everything by myself. I need your help too.”

“So we pretend to be together to make it seem like we not playing them any attention. When really we scheming up on them.”

“Yes for someone who’s supposed to be pre-med you dumb as hell.”

“If I do this that commenting s**t gone stop.”

“So you’re in?” she cheeked up

“Yeah, I’m in. Just tell me the rest of the plan. You right I want Arianna. So let’s get it.”