Time Can Only Tell

Chapter 6

Arianna

Everything in my life is going so good right now that I'm amazed. I'm doing good in all my classes and so is Tristan so my scholarship isn't in jeopardy. I don't have any drama going on nor do I have to listen to any of it since Monica and Zaire are doing well. These last couple weeks have been great, probably the best time of my life. IAN WORRIED BOUT NOTHIN! *in French Montana's voice*

That was until today of course, my mother called to remind me that her and "my father" would be coming to town next weekend for a fundraiser gala that also happens to be giving my him a humanitarian award . And just my luck I have to attend also. I thought once I started college I wouldn't have to attend this stupid ass things, at least that's what happened to my sister Adrianna. But, I am the unlucky sibling. It's like I'm a magnet for bad karma. It's not that I'm this ungrateful child who doesn't love her parents, it's that I can't stomach all the BS that goes on at these things. Every year my father gets a different award for a different reason or new milestone accomplishment or lifesaving method he's created. I have to smile and cheese like he's the best dad in the world when really behind closed doors. It's a completely different scene. He maybe one of the world's most talented cardio surgeons in the world but being a part of his family is hell. He's never at home with mom and it's not just because he's busy saving lives. In 20 years of marriage he's managed to have at least 5 different mistresses and even two of them I have children by him. So, he has 4 children instead of just the two with my mother & of course they're boys. Something he always wished for but never could receive because my mother happened to have two little girls instead of boys and with me she had complications causing her obstetrician (OB/GYN) to have to remove one of her ovaries and fallopian tubes. Like I said unlucky me.

I used to think I was the cause of their horrible marriage but that ship sailed a long ago. When I was little kid, I used to try and do everything he liked just to make him proud. I played soccer all through elementary and middle school because no team would let me play football his favorite sport, just hoping that one day he would show up at one of my games. I had straight A's through my entire childhood. Not once did he show appreciation for my hard work or even acknowledge it. Even my lifelong dream was become a doctor such like him, but no f***s were given. So, once I started high school I started living for myself and not him. Yeah, I still want to become a doctor a Pediatric Surgeon to be exact, that's not for him though. Actually it's in spite of him. He's one of the main reasons I decided to attend University of Kansas instead of somewhere he had a colleague or friend. Yeah, with my grades you should probably see me at Princeton, Yale or even my father's beloved Harvard. I got scholarships offers from them all and declined, some I think just wanted to say they have Dr. William Taylor's daughter apart of their community. Probably try and sang a couple medical lectures out of him each year. SHAME! I know I could probably get more out of attending one of the ivy league universities and using my name as a connect, yet I refuse to let Dr. William Taylor be one of the contributing factors in my career. Don't get me wrong I don't hate my father; I just have strong disdain for him. And they say kids with two parents are better than one. Ha, if only those same people could see behind my household doors. Honestly I don't blame everything on him; my mother is too blame as well. Some nights when me and Adrianna (my sister) where little we could hear her crying herself to sleep after they had a fight. I still to this day wonder why she stays through all his bull s**t.

I know one thing, Adrianna and I vowed to never let any man drag us along in life. If he shows any of the disrespectful characteristics of our father NO BUENO. You can see yourself to the door, mister. I think she's found her keeper in her fiancée' Eric. They will be getting married in a couple of months.

Right now, me and Monica are in the mall shopping for a dress for her. Zaire and the rest of the football team have to attend this banquet for their coach. Coach Brooks in getting his number retired and his name inducted of the school hall of fame. The university is going all out for him too. Throwback posters and banners of him everywhere across campus, they even have the boys wearing throwbacks of the old jerseys in Saturday's game. I can't believe that 20 years ago Coach Brooks was the big man on campus. He seems so mean and harsh and he's always chewing and spitting tobacco.

"What do you think about this one?" Monica says holding up this turquoise bodycon dress that looked like it stopped at mid-thigh.

"EWW, no that's way too loud. You need something it's cute yet classy at the same time don't overdo it. You're not going to the club or a party." I said. Monica could shut down a club or party in a second with her style but conservative wasn't her thing. We had been to almost every store in the here and she still couldn't find anything. I was getting tired from walking so much and I still had a study session with Tristan to get to later.

Monica shoved through a couple more racks and pulled out this white dress with blue and green floral pattern on it. It was one of them dresses that could be cute on one of your old aunties or grandma but not for a college freshman.

"I said classy not old fashioned, Mon." I sighed. We were going to be here all day.

"What's the difference? I mean I don't want to look out of place. There are going to be people that Zaire needs to network with at that banquet and I can't show up looking tacky and embarrass him."

"Alright chill, girl. I gotcha you. But, you have to be open minded to what I pull together."

"Cool, but"

"No, but's Mon. Now just go wait for me in the dressing room."

She stared me down for a couple seconds then scurried her ass in that dressing room just like I told her. I shuttled through a few racks and found some pieces that could be cute. The key to finding a good outfit for dinner and events like this is to remember that you are there to complement whoever you are there for. The spotlight doesn't belong on just you. Together you & your date are supposed to reflect on each other. That's one lesson I learned from my mother. "Always complement, Never over step" she always says.

"Monica" I yell once I reached the back of the store where the dressing rooms are.

"Yeah, I'm down there." she opens for the door, so I can see her.

"Here, try these on and don't take forever. I'm tired and hungry."

I wait for about ten minutes and she finally steps out of the dressing room wearing the red and black leopard dress I found her. It fits her like a glove in all the right places and looks gorgeous on her.

"Oh my gosh, I am so good at this." I squeal

"I can admit it, you did good munchkin." She pinches my cheeks

"Now, hurry up and take that dress off. While I go and find you some accessories, I'll meet you at the register."

I grab her a black blazer to wear over the dress to make it look more business appropriate and a gold necklace and then we were out of there and headed to Applebee's to get our grub on.

Tristan

I think I maybe sprung on Arianna. Yeah know, I poke fun at Zaire for being whipped by Monica but damn at least he is in a relationship with her. All me and Arianna are and friends. Sure, I have my fun teasing and playing with her. But, what nigga wouldn't? It's just she just be around me flashing that gorgeous ass smile and not knowing she's stealing a little piece of my heart each time she laughs. I call her my baby, all time she just brushes it off though and try to pretend it doesn't have an effect on her. But, I know it does just by her actions. She lets down her guard and opens up more when I'm around as if she's safe. At least I like to think I have something to do with that. And that kiss we shared at the coffee shop the other week? That s**t blew a nigga mind! I done kissed a lot of girls so I'm not easily impressed but, it was this little spark in that kiss that I haven't felt with any chick other than her.

She got me pressed and all I had was a damn kiss. No ass grabbing, no touching, no rubbing, no nothing. I got to stop f*****g with these hoes and officially take her off the market. Although these dudes around campus know not to f**k with her, I mean they see me treating her like my girl and everyone knows that Tristan Hill don't cuff these hoes. So, all of this with Arianna is new for me. The kid got this though, and I even know where I'm going to start from. After our study session tonight I'll ask her to be my date for the banquet for coach. I can take everything from there. Let see if we still on for tonight.

*text mode*

Tristan: Hey, we still on for tonight?

Arianna: yeah, I'll be over in about an hour. Mon's gone drop me off.

Tristan: Aight, cool. Where her crazy behind got my baby stranded at now?

Arianna: Lol cool it, I cut niggas for my best friend and Applebee's.

Tristan: you done hurt my feelings baby L I thought I was ya best friend. In this relationship we have to honest with one of another, k honey? And when ya ass became a thug.

Arianna: Aww, I'm sorry babe. You r my bestie too. And I been thugging since before you were born, you don't want these hands boy. Lmao

Tristan: Whatever we gone see about them hands you got when you get here, just hurry yo hungry ass up and come over I got something to ask you.

Arianna: See I was gone bring yo overgrown ass something to eat, but since you just tried to play my gansta you gets nothing.

Tristan: You always thinking about me, boo. Bring me some of that shrimp pasta. I was jk

Arianna: Nope, nigga stay hungry. I'm out, bye