Our Love (12 page)
"Let's go try to find a table," I said to Michael as Kim, Andre, Eva, and a guy she knew all went out on the dance floor.
"Sure," he said.
When we were walking to the nearest table, someone walked by Michael and purposely bumped into him. The drink he had in his hand spilled on Michael's leather jacket. The guy looked at Michael as if he was the one who bumped into him and started to walk away.
"Excuse you," I said in a loud tone.
The guy turned around and looked at me with a crazy stare.
"For what? Your boy bumped into me."
"Don't pull that," I said as I tried to walk up to him.
"Let it go, Char," Michael said.
"No, I'm not. He needs to apologize."
"Listen to your boy. Let it go," he said and walked off.
"Man, some people are so rude," I said.
"It not like he hit me or anything. It was just soda. I can wipe it off."
"That's not the point. He did that on purpose."
"So what if he did? Let's not let ignorant people ruin our night, okay?"
I smiled and took Michael's hand.
"Let's dance. I want to see you move again."
Michael smiled and we went out to the dance floor. The sound of Daft Punk and Pharrell was full blast as we got closer to the floor. Michael took my hands and we started to dance to the beat of the music. I later turned my back to Michael and started to grind slowly on him. Just the feeling I was getting from dancing with him made me think about things I don't normally think about. It wasn't that I didn't think about sex, but since I met Michael, I been thinking about being with him more and more each second of the day. Hopefully these feelings would go away, because I don't think we're ready for that phrase in the relationship. It's too soon. While we were dancing, Michael whispered in my ear.
"You are so sexy," he said.
Just hearing him say those words made me tingly all over again. I could tell the feelings I was having were not going to go away soon.
I could tell people were watching us, but I didn't care. I was just caught up in the moment with Michael. Nothing could bring me down now.
When the song was over, and a rap song started to bang the club walls, Michael and I walked off the dance floor. While he went to the restroom, I was going back to the table we found earlier. On my way there, I bumped into someone.
"Sorry," I said to the guy.
I looked up and my heart dropped on the floor. There, standing in front of me, was Derrick Marberry, my first true love.
I had to admit tonight was turning out to be good. Even though we hit a rough spot at the dance, going to Range was fun. Maybe I should have listened to Charlie and skipped the dance, but I didn't think people would act so ignorant. I guess I never really saw the true side of Belmont until now. The next time I saw Danielle, I swear I would cuss her out. As I came out of the restroom, I went back to the table Charlie and I were sitting at before, but she was nowhere in sight.
Maybe she ran into someone. I thought as I sat down. When I did, I saw Eva walking over to the table. She sat down near the chair facing the crowd and sighed. Since meeting her, I couldn't figure out why she didn't like me. I didn't really care, but I figured for Charlie's sake, I'd try to find out.
"Are you having fun tonight Eva?" I asked politely.
Eva looked at me and sighed.
"Don't bother with the small talk Michael. You don't have to talk to me."
"What is your problem? It seems like you don't want anything to do with me. What have I done to you?"
Eva looked at me as if I knew what her problem was. She leaned in closer to me and stared into my eyes. The look she was giving me gave me the creeps. I leaned back toward the wall so she wasn't in my face.
"As if you didn't know."
"That's why I'm asking. What is it that makes you so angry towards me?"
Eva looked around the club and sighed. I could tell from the look on her face she didn't want to bring up why she disliked me. But I needed to know.
"Remember a year ago, there was a party after Belmont and Elkins game. Someone from Elkins threw the party."
I looked at Eva as if she had lost her mind. I didn't remember anything about a party, especially one from last year.
"Please remember it. It wasn't that long ago."
"I believe so, if it was last year."
"Try to remember alright. Let me refresh some of it for you. You were there with Danielle, and I was there with my boyfriend, who went to Elkins. Anyway, after Danielle went off with some of her friends, you were by the drinks table drinking yourself to a stupor. I came by and started to talk to you. We talked for hours about everything, school, life, Danielle. We decided to go upstairs to talk some more since we couldn't do it downstairs. I don't know if it was the alcohol or what, but before I knew it, we were on somebody's bed making out."
I looked at Eva confused. I didn't remember any of the events she was replaying to me.
"I think you have me confused with someone else Eva. I don't remember anything you're telling me."
"Of course not, because you blocked it out of your memory. I don't have you confused with someone else because I remembered everything about you."
I looked around the club in a blur. Everything about that night started to come back to me, really quick. Now that she mentioned it, I do remember that party and talking to Eva. I also remembered us doing a lot more than making out.
"We had sex, didn't we?"
Eva looked down at the table and sighed. She nodded her head yes.
I started to shake my head. I couldn't believe this was happening. How could I have been so careless? Not only did I have a one-night stand that night, but, I had a one-night stand with a girl that was now my girlfriend's best friend!
"Well that explains why you kept giving me the cold shoulder," I said.
"Pretty much. I haven't heard from you at all after that night. I figured you went back to that skank of a girlfriend. Instead, you didn't. Turns out you're dating my best friend!"
"How I was supposed to know you and Charlie were friends? Parker is a big school."
"Yeah, but you knew that we always hung out."
"It's not like I knew I was going to fall for Charlie. Eva, I really like Charlie, and I don't want anything to ruin it."
"You expect me to keep my mouth shut about us? Think again, Mike. I have to tell Char about this. Ever since she told me about you, I've been miserable because of the fact that I was with you. When Char finds out about this, it will kill her."
"That's why she can't find out about this. Please Eva, don't tell Charlie about us."
Actually, I was begging Eva not to tell Charlie. There was no point for Eva to bring up the past by telling Charlie we slept together. What's in the past needed to stay in the past.
Eva looked at me and gave a small groan. I knew she wasn't going to tell Charlie, but I could tell from the look on her face, she wanted to.
"I won't tell Char. Happy now?"
I nodded my head yes. "Thank you, Eva."
"Just promise me one thing Michael. Treat Charlie right. I love her like a sister, so I don't want anything to happen to her. It wasn't what you said that made me reconsider telling Charlie. It's just the fact that I don't want to hurt her."
I nodded my head in agreement. "I agree. I don't want to hurt Char either. Are we cool now?"
Eva nodded her head and extended her hand out to me.
"We're cool," she said.
I took my hand and put it in hers. We disclosed our agreement with a handshake.
Hopefully the conversation Eva and I had would be the first and last. But I had a feeling that it wasn't.
After Eva told her revelation to me about us, she decided to let her frustrations out on the dance floor with the first guy that asked her to dance. I looked at my watch and wondered what was taking Charlie so long.
She should have been back by now.
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Chris's number. I had to talk to someone about what Eva told me. I looked around the crowded club and sighed heavily.
"I guess I'll look for her," I said to myself as I got out from the table I was sitting at. I waited patiently for Chris to answer as I went over to a quieter area, which was hard to find, by the second dance floor in the back of the club.
"Hey Mike. You know you and Charlie caused quite a scene at the dance," Chris said.
"Yeah, well I never realized how ignorant Belmont kids could be."
"Nothing you can do about it. That's how they always have been. Are you having fun at Range?"
I sighed. "At first I was, but not anymore."
"What's wrong? You don't sound too good."
"I think I messed things up with Charlie before they got started."
"Why do you say that? You two got into a fight at the club?"
"No, it's nothing like that. I just found out some stuff from her best friend, that's all."
"Is it about Charlie?"
"No, it's about me. Remember that party we went to that night after the game against Elkins?"
"What about it?"
"Well turns out I met Charlie's best friend there and we ended up hooking up. I guess I was so drunk that night I didn't even remember it."
"Damn, Mike. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. Eva promised me she wouldn't tell Charlie about us, but I have a feeling she will."
"Maybe she won't. If she does, she's losing her best friend."
I sighed again and ran my hand down my head. I couldn't believe this was happening. Just as soon as I was doing well with someone I could grow to love, this scandal pops up.
"Don't stress yourself out over this. It not like Danielle or anyone else knows."
"That's just it. Danielle knows enough to destroy what I have with Charlie."
"What you talking about?"
"I can't say right now, but I'll tell you soon."
I looked over at the bar and noticed Charlie talking to someone. I could tell from the expressions on their faces that the conversation was pretty tense. I looked at the scene for a few minutes wondering if Charlie knew the guy.
"Mike, you there man?" Chris asked.
"Yeah, I'm here. Listen, I'll call you back later."
I hung up my phone and started to walk towards the bar. Whether Charlie knew him or not, I wasn't going to stand around and let them continuing talking. Not while I was watching.
"Hey, Char. It's really nice to see you," Derrick said smiling.
I looked at Derrick and sighed. Derrick still could take my breath away. He looked so handsome standing in front of me. His caramel colored skin looked as if it was glowing under the club lights, his hazel eyes were staring wide and bright at me, and his low cut fade was now a little wavy from the last time I saw him. Even though he was finer than ever, I knew what Derrick was all about, so whatever he was about to spit at me, it wasn't going to work.
"Derrick," I said coldly.
Derrick smile at the rude tone I was giving him.
"I understand you're still upset with me. I hurt you. If I could go back to that day with Theresa, I would in a heartbeat. I felt bad about it then, and I still feel bad about it now. I can't believe I was so dumb to cheat on you."
"I'm glad you realize how dumb you were that day. Now if you excuse me, I have a date to go back to," I said while walking away.
"I know about your new man. Eva told me."
I turned around and looked at Derrick wide eyed. How could Eva tell Derrick about Michael! I didn't want him to know I had a new boyfriend.
Why Char, because you never got over Derrick?
"So it's true? You're dating Michael Collier?"
I sighed and went closer to Derrick.
"It's true. I'm dating Michael Collier. So what. I moved on Derrick. What do you want me to do? Forgive you and go back to you as if nothing ever happened? I can never get over the fact that you cheated on me. And with Theresa of all people!"
"How many times am I going to have to say I'm sorry about what happened that day? I feel so bad about it, and I will never forgive myself over it."
"Evidently, you were not feeling guilty when you were feeling Theresa up, were you?"
Derrick started to laugh at the remark I made. I guess what I was saying to him was funny.
"What the hell is so funny?"
"You know you always looked beautiful when you're upset. That used to turn me on. It still does."
I looked at Derrick and rolled my eyes. I couldn't believe he was being so nonchalant, while I was showing my frustrations to him.
"Why do I bother?" I said while walking away again.
"That's your solution to everything. You walk away whenever there's a problem. Real mature, Charlie."
"I know you're not talking about someone being mature. You couldn't be man enough to tell me you wanted out of the relationship!"
"I never wanted out! I was with Theresa because you wouldn't give me any!"
Several people that were around the bar looked over at us with curious glances.
"May we help you?" I asked in a hostile voice.
Derrick looked at me and sighed.
"I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry."
"That's why we broke up. Because I didn't want to sleep with you?"
"I'm sorry, Char. I didn't want you to know about that. Charlie, I loved you, I still love you, but we'd been together for three years, so of course I would have wanted more. I understood your beliefs, and I respected that, but I wanted more. You weren't ready to give that to me."
A tear started to run down my cheek. I really didn't want to hear what Derrick was telling me, but I at least I knew the real reason why he was with Theresa.
"I understand if you wanted more from the relationship, but that doesn't change the fact that you cheated on me. That will never be an excuse for what you've done to me."
Derrick nodded his head in understanding. "I understand, so I don't expect you to accept my apology. But, I do want to know one thing. I told you how I felt about you, so it's your turn. Do you still love me, Char? Because I never stopped."