Time Can Only Tell

Chapter 19

Arianna

I danced to Drake’s Worst Behavior as I was getting ready to head to the club. I’m flying kind of solo tonight. Tristan isn’t really doing anything dealing with homecoming. He has been acting different ever since that night he had that bad dream he won’t tell me about. I keep waiting for him to come to me to talk about whatever it is but nothing yet. I wanna know what’s going on with him but I figure if it’s that important he will tell me. Plus, I know that boy doesn’t like being cornered into doing anything he isn’t ready to do. So I’m just going with the flow. Monica is going on a date with Zaire tonight, so she isn’t coming with me either.

I really didn’t plan on going out tonight, but its homecoming and I can’t just sit at home just because my best friend and boyfriend have other things they have to do or want to do. I’m my own person, I came out of the womb alone and Imma die alone. I’ll be okay for one night. Anyway, I decided to go out since Alicia asked me to come. I wasn’t gone do nothing else but probably stuff my face and watch re runs of old TV shows so why not?

I walked over to my full sized mirror once I was done putting on my outfit. I had on an oversized men’s t shirt that I flipped into a dress. The shirt/dress was solid black at the top and faded into a plaid pattern at the bottom with stripes on the shelves. I threw on some gold hoops and gold chain-link necklace, a gold watch, and some black booties with gold accents on the zipper. I was okay with my appearance so I headed out.

The club was only about a block away so I decided to walk. When I reached the club I saw that the line was wrapped around the block. I saw Alicia at the door standing by the bouncer so I just walked up to her. I sure as hell wasn’t standing in that damn line.

“Hey Alicia” I greeted her.

“Oh, hey girl. I’m glad you made it I was starting to think you were gone stand me up. You look cute” She said as she looked me over intensely. I have no idea why she does that every time we see each other, I guess that’s just her.

We walked into the club and I instantly felt the bass of the music vibrating the floor. I looked around; I saw a few familiar faces and a lot of phony ones in the packed crowd. Now people just waved and speak to me because of who Tristan is. Like he’s fine and good at football, but ya’ll ain’t gotta treat him like he’s king or some s**t and you definitely don’t have to talk to me just because I go out with him. We walked up to a VIP section and I saw more people I knew of. I saw a couple of the Theta NU boys, so I’m guessing Chase isn’t too far off. I swear you never catch them niggas nowhere alone they always in groups in s**t. Alicia walked up to a couple of chicks I have seen around campus and at games since they’re all cheerleaders.

“Ari... I mean Tae let me introduce you to my girls.” She turned back to me.

“That’s Ebony” she pointed to a medium brown chick with a short black asymmetrical bob with a blonde streak bended in the bag.

“Marie” she pointed to a light skinned chick with a few freckles across her face. She has crazy curly dark red hair and hazel eyes. She’s definitely not one of those girls you see every day.

“And last but not at least that’s Keisha” she pointed to her far right to a girl who was currently being tongued down by some dude I’m guessing is her boyfriend. They all waved and spoke. I took a minute to look them over. They all had on some skin tight dresses with cleavage or some other body part showing.

“So you’re the girl that locked down Tristan Hill’s fine ass?” Ebony said as she looked me over just like Alicia did a minute or two ago.

“Yeah, I guess you can say that” I shrug. I swear that’s all I hear and it gets annoying sometimes. I am somebody besides Tristan’s girlfriend.

“I like your dress. Where you got it from?” Marie asked.

“Actually it’s just a men’s shirt I picked up in like Macy’s. I just flipped it into a dress.” I told her.

“Really? It looks really good on you. I wish I could pull off something like that. My ass would be out for all to see if I tried something like that.” Ebony said and twirled her straw around in her drink.

“You just have to find the right fit. You could probably it off and if it’s a little too short you can always throw on some suspender tights or legging under it.”

“Imma try that, thanks for the tip.” She smiled and continued nodding her head to the music.

“Imma head down to the bar, I’ll be back” I told them. I wasn’t planning on drinking because I really don’t know anybody here and I still have to walk back to the dorm. I just was going to get a cranberry juice or something to make it look like I have a drink in my hand so thirsty niggas won’t try to approach me with the “Let me buy you a drink “line.

“Let me get a cranberry juice” I told the bartender.

“A cranberry juice? You sure you don’t nothing harder?” she asked

“I’m sure” she fixes my drink and hands it to me.

“Nice move chick, I know what you doing” she said to me

“What you mean?” I said taking a sip of my juice

“You just got that drink so no dude can try and buy you a drink and probably spike that s**t. That’s some s**t I’ll pull. Smart move” she nodded at me and continued to serve other people.

I was sitting at the bar still when I felt a strange presence behind me. “Surprised to see you here, little miss Taylor.” I heard a familiar voice say.

I shifted my body so I could see who it was. I looked up to see no one other than Chase.

“Now, why’s that?” I asked

“I know Mr. Jock doesn’t exactly participate or come out during homecoming week. So why you’re here is beyond me” He said

“I can come out of my own. I’m not connected to Tristan’s hip.” I simply stated.

“Could’ve fooled me? Ya’ll be so close together you can’t tell who’s the follower and who’s the leader” he smirked.

“You watching us now, Chase? I sure hope you like what you be seeing”

“Not really, but I do like what I’m seeing right now.” He looked me up and down. I’m tired of people doing that s**t.

“My f*****g eyes up here, nigga” I snapped

“Chill, lil mama. I was getting there eventually.” He looked back up at my face.

“Why you here in my face when ya girl around here somewhere.” I ask.

“My girl?” he questioned. How in the hell do you forgot about your girlfriend? What kind of s**t is that?

“Alicia”

“Oh, yea. This relationship thing still new to me. I got to get used to it” he said like he just remembered he had a girl in the first place. Like is that really a foreign thought in your mind.

“How about until I find her, you come and dance with ya homie?” The nerve of his nigga, I swear.

“I’ll pass and who said you was my homie? You’re more like an associate we don’t talk on the regular.”

“And whose fault is that? I remember very fondly hitting you up a couple of times and not getting a reply.”

“I have a boyfriend.”

“So, what does that have to do with you and me?” he shrugged and looks back at me.

See, that’s the s**t I don’t like. Really niggas have no regard for someone’s relationship. It’s okay if you don’t know and try to push up. But when obviously know and the girl still tells you and you still trying. That’s grimy and disrespectful to her and her man. What niggas don’t know if a girl is willing to cheat on her man for the next nigga she’ll do the same to you. You won’t be her only sidepiece, I can promise you that. I was about to go off on this stupid ass for saying s**t like that but Alicia came up to us.

“Hey baby, what are you two talking about?” Alicia approached us.

“We were just talking about you honeybuns” he grabbed a handful of her butt yet he was still looking at me. Weird.

“Imma let ya’ll have some couple time” I got up and left the both of them I swear s**t getting weirder as the night goes on. I head on the dance floor just as August Alsina’s I Luv This s**t began playing. That’s my jam so you know I had to turn up for that one. I danced to a couple other songs and dismissed a bunch of dudes who tried to dance with me. What part of I have a man don’t they get?

I headed to the restroom to check my makeup and hair. It was hot as hell on that dance floor and I don’t wanna be looking crazy. Surprising it wasn’t a line at the bathroom and the place was relatedly empty. I headed into the handicapped stall, don’t judge me. It’s the only bathroom with the most privacy and a mirror. I hate looking in the mirror and having someone burst into the restroom looking at you crazy.

I was touching up my lip gloss and checking out my hair, when I heard a group of chicks enter.

“Girl, all these niggas broke out there? We need to dip and find out where the niggas who stacking at?” I heard

“Yasss, girl and it’s hot as f**k out there. Dudes sweaty with stank ass breath was all up on me tryna holla. Broke asses.” I heard another voice say.

“Suck it up. We know we only here cause this the only club the Theta Nu’s get in and Licia needed Chase here.” Now that voice I recognized as Alicia’s friend Ebony

“Why she wasting her time with him anyway? She needs to jump back on that NFL train with Tristan sexy ass. That little ass girl he got ain’t got nothing on her.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Did you see what she had on? Poor girl don’t know how to dress. She might as well came out of the house in a house robe. No skin only or nothing, where they do that at?”

“b***h, I admit she a lil girl and Alicia is killing her in the looks department, but what she had on was cute. Imma have to steal that look, hoe and besides from what Licia told me , she was just with Tristan at his apartment last night getting acquainted if you know what I mean” I heard Ebony laugh

They stood outside the stalls, talking about how Tristan and Alicia used to mess around and how I wasn’t good enough to please Tristan and sooner or later he was going to get bored and dump me. My head was spinning and all I wanted to do was cry and punch someone in the face. I swear I thought I was done feeling like this. Every time it looks like my life is looking up something always happen. Why do I even try? I couldn’t let them see me torn like this though. They would get too much satisfaction from that. I felt a couple of tears fall from my eyes but I quickly wiped them away.

Once I heard them leave and I made sure I looked okay and that the coast was clear. I stepped out of the restroom and headed for the door. Not even stopping to look at or talk to anyone who tried to stop or slow me down. I had to get out of there, before I broke down. I finally made it out of the club and into the street. I felt relieved that I was out of there and sighed heavily. I had so many emotions and feelings going around in my head. I was angry, sad, hurt, and pissed off all in one. I needed to talk to Tristan about what they were saying before I convince myself that everything they said was true and that he’s like every other dude.

I saw a bus shuttle stop up at the corner; I raced to get on it. I was going to talk to Tristan tonight before I slept. It was a must.

Alicia

My plan was going as planned. I convinced little miss perfect to come back to the club with me. I knew Tristan wouldn’t come so that wasn’t a problem. I assumed that loud mouth girl she’s always with would be coming along. I could handle her though so I’m not worried. Chase is here so everything should go alright. I just was gone play with her feeling a lil nothing major. Tonight that is.

I was waiting up front by the bouncer for her why I have no idea why? I should just let her ass wait in line. But then again people knew who she was and so she would probably still get in pretty fast. Tristan’s name rings bells all around this city, if you his girl you automatically got connects. The heffa has the power I want yet she doesn’t even use it. That just pisses me off. I was just about to leave and go back inside when I spotted her. She greeted me and I greeted back and looked her over. I was glad she didn’t her rude ass friend with her.

The more I see her, the more I don’t get what Tristan sees in her. Yea, she a little cute in the face but she has one of them petite frames. Not enough ass or tities if you ask me. So why Tristan and Chase want her so much is beyond me. I mean here I stood with curves so dangerous they could kill a man and she’s just plain and I’m the one without a man. This world is really f****d up.

We headed up to the VIP section my crew was in. I introduced my girls to Arianna, I expected for them to give her the cold shoulder especially Ebony but she didn’t. That bothered me and I was gone let them know that as soon as we were alone. I took my chance when she went off to grab a drink.

“What the hell do ya’ll think ya’ll doing?” I snapped

“We were just talking to her s**t chill.” Marie said

“I know what you were doing and I don’t like it. She is the enemy, she took my man and my spot. You don’t need to be friendly with her.”

“If you were woman enough to make him wife you up, we wouldn’t have to talk to her in the first place. Hell we wouldn’t be in this club full of niggas with no money.” My girl Keisha said finally removing herself away from her on and off boyfriend Jamal.

You see all my girls are just like me. We all bad as f**k, we turn and break necks, and all of us have the same goal to catch a baller and live happily ever after. The only love we have is for the money and the fame. It’s our ambition. Except for Keisha she believes in what we do but she f****d around and fell for a broke f**k buddy. Jamal is fine I give him that but he doesn’t play any sports, he broke, and he’s a scholarship kid. No ma’am or no sir. Three strikes on that brother. Nigga don’t even have a car.

“Yo nigga one of the broke ones. So shut TF up.” She always giving us smack about s**t. Jamal done changed her ass and made her think she better than what she is. Money rules the world and if you ain’t got any you lost in the world like the rest of the hood rats and ghetto baby mamas of the world. The rate she going she gone be one of them.

“What’s yo problem with Jamal, s**t you ain’t f*****g or sucking him so why you worried.” She said getting amped. I was taken aback by that. Keisha is the more reserved one out of all of us. She just goes along with whatever.

“He broke and tired as hell, that’s my problem. You know what we stand for.” I smirked and stepped closer to her face.

“He not stacking so what? Money isn’t all that matters Alicia. He treats me right and cares about me so for once M.O.N (money over niggas) don’t apply.” She shook her head and stood her ground

“You really think he care about you? He just like all these other males who just wanna get they d**k wet. You p***y to him nothing else. Get a f*****g clue? If he care so much, why ya’ll ain’t together right now?” I questioned. This hoe pissing me off even more than I already was. Thinking that somebody love for her ass.

“We not together because of me and that stupid ass code we live by. But no f*****g more, I’m done with this shit.” She stormed off.

“Anybody else wanna go find the mythical legend called love?” I snapped and mugged Ebony and Marie. They shook their heads no.

I was f*****g fuming; if I was a cartoon character steam would have been coming out of my ears. I glanced down at the bar and spotted Chase cheesing all up in Arianna’s face. That’s not part of our plan; he’s supposed to only be around her with me. Not alone with her. I stormed down to lower level of the club yet I made sure I put of my acting face once I approached them.

“Hey, baby what are you two talking about?” I stressed out the baby part. The hardest part of this s**t is acting like I actually his grimy ass. He looked like child who just go caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“We were just talking about you, honeybuns” he composed his self and grabbed my ass and pulled me to him. Yet the nigga was still gawking at the b***h in front of us.

“Imma let ya’ll have some couple time” she dashed off somewhere and as soon as she was out of eyes reach I shoved Chase off of me.

“Chill with that pushing s**t. Yo mama never told you to keep ya hands to yourself. Push or hit me again Imma bust ya ass open” he said with a straight face as if he didn’t just threaten to commit assault and domestic violence. He really is crazy.

“Look what were you doing, we supposed to make her think we together for real. So she feels comfortable around you and me. You eye f*****g her and pushing up gone make her run from us both.” I snapped but best believe I kept my voice down and my hands by my sides. This b***h won’t get her ass beat. Nope, I’m too cute for that.

“Why did I even agree to work with yo nagging ass?” he asked with a scowl on his face.

“Because I know your secret that momma and daddy paid so much money to keep in the dark. Keep messing with me and I might just let it slip out in conversation with Arianna.” I said dryly looking at my nails.

He looked like he was in thought for a second and then said’ Bring ya ass on here girlfriend we finna go look like a couple so yo ass can shut up” he motioned for me to walk in front of him. Ain’t no way in hell, I’m letting him walk behind me.

“You lead the way”

“Ion trust hoes to walk behind me, plus my momma always say ladies first. You ain’t no lady but you got a v****a at least I hope so let’s go sweetheart.” He laughed and wrapped his arms around my waist and moved me in front of him.

We took me up to the Theta NU’s VIP section where we sat for about an hour. He was smoking, drinking and joking with his friends and he insisted I sit on his lap the whole time. Every time I tried to get up his grab only got tighter.

When he finally let me go, I was heading to the restroom. I saw my girls leave out first and then some moments later I saw Arianna exit. She was moving fast as hell getting out of here. Some people tried to talk to her and she ignored them and kept moving. Aww, hell what my bitches done did now??