Time Can Only Tell

Chapter 8

Arianna

Tonight is the night. The night of the banquet and the first official date between Tristan and I. It’s been a couple of weeks since the incident that happened at his apartment. I’m nervous as hell, considering that there’s going to be thousand people there. And yeah I’m used to the fancy boring stock market and medical talks that go on at my father’s events but this is a whole different ball game. It’s going to be reporters, legendary ex-players, current superstars, coaches, and even owners of NFL teams in attendance. I don’t want to mess this up for Tristan and what it could mean for his future because I’m horribly awkward in social situations.

Some people were just blessed with social skills, I on the other end I wasn’t one of them. It’s just say that I’m one of those girls who hated high school and all it brung. I wasn’t popular nor was I completely at the bottom of the high school food chain, so I wasn’t bullied or anything. It was just that I chose to distance myself away from all the BS of high school. I saw first-hand what being popular meant with my cousins and my sister and I didn’t want to be a part of all the fakeness and drama. So, I made a decision to just bend in with the crowd and not cause any problems, basically becoming invisible unless you needed help on a project or paper.

That’s not something I’m proud of altering my life around others to avoid problems but, it’s a part of life story and what I felt like I had to do to get by. All of that is my rear view mirror now, I’m moving forward and not looking back one bit (well at least I’m trying).

Monica and I are getting ready in our room. Its 7:45 and the boys are supposed to be here at 8:00. Of course, as she wouldn’t have it any other way: Monica is still getting ready and stuck up in the bathroom that’s exactly why I went ahead of her to get ready. She’s been in there for at least an hour. I guess I should check on her. I walk over to the door and knock twice

“Monica? You done yet, the boys will be here soon?”

“Didn’t I tell you not to be trying to rush perfection? Now how do I look?” she opened the door and stepped out.

She looked amazing, or better yet amazing was an understatement. Her hair was styled straight with a side part and it flowed almost to the arch in her back. Back at the store the dress really did look good, but now with everything pulled together it was stunning on her.

“You look great, but did you expect when I styled you?” I said cockily, pretending to brush dirt off my shoulder. “But how do I look?” I asked spinning around like Cinderella at the ball playfully.

“You straight killing them in that dress? Looks like Tristan won’t be able to keep his hands to himself tonight.” She patted my butt lightly. I was wearing a black gown with a deep slight in it that started at the middle of my thigh with some black pumps with mesh around the front. And of course, I told her about what happened at his apartment. I couldn’t just keep that information to myself. Tristan had my mind gone with just a little kissing and touching, I can only imagine what I would have felt if I hadn’t jumped from under him.

“Ha, you real funny” I balled up my fist at her. “Considering that we both know that dress will be on someone’s floor tonight” I laughed

“Okay, okay. You got me? Although you didn’t seem to reject my idea of Tristan grabbing and rubbing all up on you, so I’m thinking that you like the idea.”

Just as I was throw a pillow and hit her, we heard a knock at the door. We both looked at each other with nervous and unsure glances as we sat on my bed. I was biting the inside of my lip and twisting it and Monica was fiddling with her fingers. We can sit around them and joke all day in chill mode but as soon as we pull out some dresses and heels, we can’t even open the door to reveal ourselves. SMH

Tristan and Zaire knocked a couple more times and then they just decided to walk on in like they live here. Typical.

“Ya’ll ain’t hear us knocking?” Zaire stepped in with Tristan right behind them. Both looked good, but Tristan obviously looked better. Tristan had on red blazer with a black button down with one of the buttons did at the top and black tailored slacks and matching dress shoes. Zaire wore a black well-tailored suit with a white button down and classic black tie with the button of the blazer buttoned up.

Once they saw us, they just stared for a moment and for the first time since I met Tristan his ass was speechless. He stood there with his mouth slightly open looking at me in a trance. Normally I would feel weird that someone was staring at me but here in this moment having Tristan staring made me more confident.

I got up and walked towards him and said “You like what you see? Take picture baby.” I paused. “Before slob starting falling out ya mouth.” I reached up and push his bottom lip up gently to meet his top one.

“Hmm, you talking bad now.” He licked his lips “You got on this tight dress with thigh and leg all out, you got ya man thinking about some things. So, when this lil event over and we alone tonight don’t be getting scared then.”

“So, you like my dress?” I smiled

“Why wouldn’t I like it? You look amazing baby.” He kissed my cheek.

And there he goes making me blush and causing the butterflies in my stomach to flutter more. I almost forgot Zaire and Monica were even still here.

“Thank you, you don’t look at shabby yourself. Your girlfriend sure is a lucky girl.” I smiled sweetly.

“Honestly, I’m the lucky one. But you know what if my girlfriend doesn’t stop smiling and blushing all seductively I don’t think I’m gone make it to this banquet.” He rested his hand on the small of my back and looked down with a sexy smirk on his face.

That’s my clue to stop my flirting right there. I cleared my throat to get Monica and Zaire’s attention from their kiss. They liked like they had the same idea that Tristan just had. No, No not today! I hated being a c**k blocker but I wasn’t sure I had the strength to keep myself from giving into my own lustful thoughts. Tristan was looking too sexy in that suit.

“Ya’ll two ready?” I turned toward Monica and Zaire.

“Umm…… yeah?” Monica said more of as a question that statement as she pulling away from the kiss.

“Cool, let’s roll.” I said heading to the door. I had to get away from that room and away from any beds or ya girl was gone pass out. The bad thing is that Tristan hadn’t even kissed me on the lips or anything. My hormones have been all over the place ever since that fateful day in his room, even though I told myself that what happened didn’t mean anything. It was like my body was deceiving me every time Tristan placed that smirk on his face.

Surprisingly, Tristan and Zaire both drove their cars. I mean we are going the same place we could have rode in the same car. I know Monica thought the same thing because once we figured that out we glanced at each other confused. I kept my mouth closed though and went with the flow on things. The car ride was quiet and calming. Tristan was playing a playlist made up of J Cole’s album Born Sinner and Wale’s The Gifted. Every so often at a stop sign or light he would look over at me and grin. He was so childish sometimes but I loved that.

Once we approached the hotel where the banquet was being held, all I saw was craziness. They had a red carpet outside, photographers spawned around snapping pictures of everything. There must have been a celebrity convention going on in town because it was so many of them here. I saw Diddy, Deion Sanders, RG III, Reggie Bush, Justin Timberlake, Nas, Nia Long, Regina King, Victor Cruz, Lauren London and the list goes on. And this is just my view from the car! It’s way worse on the inside. I could feel myself starting to sweat so I started fanning my face. This was going to be a long night.

Tristan POV

I handed my keys to the valet and ran around the car to open Arianna’s door. She was so cute, acting all-star struck and we weren’t even inside yet. Her mouth flew open as soon as we pulled up.

“Close your mouth, you don’t want flies to fly in” I whispered in her ear as we walked towards all the craziness hand in hand. She looked startled by my comment then gave me her unanimous smile. That same smile that got up me caught up in the first place.

We were just about to walk into the red carpet and then she stepped back.

“What’s wrong?” I asked with a look of concern on my face.

“You go ahead and uhh walk the carpet I’ll wait for you inside.” She faked a smile and was about to rush towards the entrance. I grabbed her before she could run off.

“You have nothing to be scared of; it’s just pictures. That’s it. You look beautiful and don’t you want to be able to tell our grandkids you walked a red carpet when you were young?”

“Our grandkids? You have to have babies before we have grandkids.”

“We gone work on that later tonight, just wait.” I whispered in her ear then tugged at her ear lobe sneakily so no could see. I grabbed her hand and lead her onto the carpet.

“Just smile and pose, that’s all to it.” I said through my Hollywood smile. I was used to these things now. Being a superstar college football star does have its perks. You get invited to things like this all the time, meet all sorts of people, get some connections, and I even went to the ESPY’S last year. The team was nominated for best play. It was this final second scramble play from the 40 yard line which ended in Zaire scoring a touchdown off a pass from me after shaking off three defenders. Yeah, boy here just that good. I’m a man of many talents.

After a few awkward poses and pics, Arianna just into the motion of everything. I knew she would be a natural; you can’t be that gorgeous and not shine through pictures. Above everything else, we looked good together on that carpet, just like I knew we would. I dapped it up with and introduced Arianna to a few of my teammates. Then, we headed inside. Monica and Zaire were surprisely already seated. Well, Monica was. Zaire was talking to some reporter that looked like he was from ESPN off to the side.

Once we reached the table, I pulled out Arianna’s chair. She looked surprised by my gesture and smiled sweetly before saying “Thank you”

“No problem”

Before I could even sit down, Monica and Arianna started talking/whispering about all the celebrities and people here. They were so excited and nervous about this whole dinner like two lil school girls giggling about a guy who smiled or winked at them.

“Relax and chill, their just people like you and me.” I interject. They look at me like I have two heads.

“What do you mean? Their just people. The net worth at that table alone can put me and my future kids and grandkids through college” Monica says pointing over at a table with Jerry Rice and both of the Peyton brothers. Leave it to her to point out the obvious.

“Only difference between us and them is their tax bracket, they bleed red just like us”

“No, it’s a difference between having money and having their kind of money.” Arianna says agreeing with Monica. That comment made me think about that the event she had to attend with her parents last weekend. She dreaded going and I even asked her to let me go with her to help her cope, yet she insisted she go by herself. I said it was for my own good I stayed away from her family to be exact her mom and dad. I was offended by that just because s**t I ain’t no random ass hood nigga that you can’t bring home to your momma. I’m that guy that your parents pray you get. I have my life together and bright future ahead of me with or without football. No baby mommas, no kids, no arrest on my record. Parents love me, even though I normally don’t cuff girls. All the chicks from high school that I used to mess with parents always trusted and liked me. Now, I finally have a girl I seriously like and committed too. All of a sudden, I can’t meet her parents that was bullshit. We even had a lil argument over it. I was offended that she didn’t believe I was good enough to meet them. That was like a slap in the face.

She eventually got me to understand that she wasn’t worried about her parents meeting me. She was concerned about me meeting her parents. Something about her family life isn’t what it seems and I just have to trust and believe in her. Everything would make sense later. I brushed it off and let it go. I do trust her, so I didn’t’ have anything to worry about. She would tell me everything when she was ready.

“Tristan? Tristan?” I hear Arianna calling my name over and over. I must have zoned out for a couple minutes or so. Zaire is back at the table and everyone is looking at me confused.

“Are you okay? You were just staring at your napkin for a couple minutes.” Arianna asked concerned.

“Uhh, yeah bae. I was just thinking that’s all.”

“Well, they need you and Zaire at the back for your speeches.” Zaire and I were captain and co-captain, so we had to give a speech on behalf of the rest of the team.

When it was our time, we flowed through our speech effortlessly and we didn’t even write anything down. It was all off the top of our heads. And of course, it was the best speech of the night. Call me cocky, but when I say I’m good, I’m good. The rest of the night was filled with laughter from corny old people jokes from couple of coaches’ old teammates from high school, college, and even some of old rivals from the NFL. It was kind of fun hearing tales from his heyday back in the day.

Around 12 o’ clock, Arianna and I decided we should leave. Monica and Zaire had left about 45 minutes ago and I knew what they were about to get into. That’s why we both drove our cars, so we could leave separately and do whatever. He was gone take Monica back to the dorm and I was gone take Arianna back to the apartment. And no, I don’t expect to get any from her. She got me so wrapped around her finger; I’ll sleep on the floor if she wants too.

“So, I guessing you and Zaire both drove because he plans on spending the night in the dorm?” Arianna says as we pull up to my apartment building

“I have no idea what you’re talking about Tae.” For someone so smart she is just figuring this out. They do say smart people don’t have too much common sense.

“You two ain’t slick, did you call me Tae?” s**t. I did call her Tae. I never call her that and one time I do, I’m lying. What did I just do?

“Yeah, I can’t call you that now.” I asked getting out of the car and walking around to open hers; still trying to be smart and play cool. I have lied to girls plenty of times, yet I can’t lie to her. s**t, I have it worse than I thought for her.

“I been trying to get you to call me that, you refuse.” She steps out of the car

“I like being the only one calling you Arianna; it shows me and everyone else around your mine.” I kissed her gently.

“Uhh, Tristan... Everyone knows we are together now and even if you call me Tae, people aren’t going to think any different.” She pleads as we walk into my building and toward the elevator.

“It really doesn’t matter, I just like Arianna better and you’re not going to change my mind so stop pleading your case, honey. It’s not going to work.” We hop on the elevator and are on our way up.

Once we make it to the apartment, we head straight into my room. I look through some draws and find Arianna a black tee and some boxers. I hand to her and she takes them and just looks at me.

“What?”

“Oh, I’m just waiting for you to get out so I can change. “She says playfully.

I flip the light switch off. “Now, its dark I can’t see anything. Just change.” I smirk hoping she can’t see that.

“I’m not playing, get out. You perv.” She starts pushing me out.

“Chill, bae. Damn, you can’t blame me for trying to get a lil peak.”

“You know what? Never mind, I’ll just go change in the bathroom.” She stopped her violence towards my chest and switched toward down the hallway.

“You playing dirty now. I like it though.”

She’s so dramatic. I take this time to change out of my suit and slip on some grey ballers. It’s hot and a nigga ain’t sleeping with no shirt on. I turn on the TV and flip through some channels and I decide to leave it on BET. They were playing Waist Deep, one of the hood classics and also one of my favorite movies. (Hood classics consist of Love & Basketball, Baby Boy, Juice, Poetic Justice; all of the Friday series, Boyz in the Hood, and the list goes on. If you haven’t watched any of those check them out.) I sat on my bed waiting for Arianna to come back. I wonder what’s taking so long anyway all she had to do was change. I will never fully understand girls.

I hear the bathroom door close, so I know she’s coming out. But I don’t expect what I see and once again today she got me speechless. She had on my tee and boxers, but somehow she even made that look sexy. By the time she made it to the bed I had looked away, hoping she didn’t catch me staring for a second time today. She sat on the bed right beside and rested her head on my shoulder.

“Oh, Waist Deep. Yess, turn that up.”

“What yo yellow ass know about Waist deep?” I fumbled my eyebrows

“Boy, bye. This is an ultimate hood movie. Who hasn’t seen this movie?” she looked up at me

“Exactly, it’s a hood movie? You from the suburbs, baby” I grabbed her chin, tilting it up so she could my expression.

“Ughh, yo ass ain’t funny. Turn it up for real though.”

Eventually we laid down and watched the rest of the movie that was until her ass KO’ed (knocked out). She was snoring and everything. It wasn’t a trucker snore, but a little cute one. I didn’t bother me though; I just marked it off as one of the many details I learned to love about her. I turned the TV off, wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her closer to me. I kissed her on the forehead. Not long after that, I drifted off to sleep.