Wanting You (10 page)

“Thanks babe, I'll head back down in a few. Our plane leaves at 10 am tomorrow.”

“Good. I miss being here with my parents and all, but I'm ready to get back to school. Are you sure you're okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn't I be?” He says standing.

“You look like you have a lot on your mind. That's all.”

“No I'm good.” He says walking past me. I'm going to finish watching the game with your dad, okay?” He says over his shoulders.

“Okay, have fun.” I say mostly to myself.

~ ~ ~

That night Kellen and I slept in separate rooms, not because we were afraid of getting caught by my parents. No, I thought it was best because I believed Kellen needed some space to think over whatever was bothering him. The next morning after packing, I go to his room to find that it's already empty, and he is nowhere in sight.  I go downstairs and find him in the kitchen with my mom and dad engrossed in what seemed like a serious conversation. When they see me, they stop talking.

“Good morning.” I say looking at them strangely.

Kellen gets up from the table and walks in my direction. He places his hands on my face and stares down at me. After several seconds he leans his head down, and lovingly places a kiss against my lips. Until a throat clears behind him.

“That's enough young man.” My dad says. “That better be all you're doing to my daughter.”

“O hush! Leave your daughter alone.” I hear my mom say.

“I love you.” Kellen whispers against my lips. Then he leans down and takes my bag from my hands and takes it outside to our rental.

“Sweetheart, I'm going to miss you.” My mom says walking to me and embraces me in a tight hug. “You take care of yourself. We'll see you at Christmas time.”

“Move women. Let me hug my daughter.” My dad says from behind my mom.

“You just wait until she leaves this house.” My mom says pointing a finger at my dad.

“I can't wait.” He responds wiggling his brows.

“Gross! Wait until I leave.” I laugh.

“Don't act like that. That's what people who love each other do.” He says hugging me. “I'm looking forward to your next trip home young lady. Keep your head in the books and make sure that young man outside treats you right. Do you hear me?”

“Yes daddy. I hear you. I love you guys.” I say squeezing my dad tight.

“We love you too Tamia.” He responds.

I hear the front door close then Kellen reappears.

“Kellen.” My dad says turning his focus on him. I appreciate everything that you and your family have done, to allow my daughter to come and see me. But if I hear that you've been mistreating her in any kind of way, I'm going to come down there and whoop your...”

“Dad!” I yell. “He hasn't done anything stupid yet.” I say staring at Kellen.” But if he does I will let you know.”

“Just as long as we're on the same page young man.” My dad says staring Kellen down.

“Yes sir. I totally understand.” Kellen responds. “Ready?” He asks me.

“Yeah I'm ready.”

We say our final goodbyes. Then we leave and head to the airport.

~ ~ ~

“I wonder what's taking so long. Weren't we supposed to have taken off at 10:15am? It's now 11:00am.” I say looking out my window. “I hope nothing’s wrong.”

“I'm sure everything is fine.” Kellen says looking through his phone. “I'll go and talk to the pilot and see what's going on.” He says laying his phone down, and heads to the cockpit of the plane.

He's gone only a minute when his phone chirps alerting he has a text message. I look down at his phone and see it's from Ashley. Feeling curious, I pick his phone up and see it's already unlocked.
You shouldn't be going through his phone Tamia.
I click on his text message box anyway and regret my decision. The first thing I see is a text from Ashley.

Ashley:
Went by your apartment today. I guess you're still out of town. Do you remember this pic ; )

I hesitantly scroll down and come across a picture of Kellen and Ashley engaged in a sexual act. Then his phone chirps again and this time it's another text message.

Ashley:
  Call me when you get in town. I can come by and we can take more pics like these. TTYL : )

I'm shaking so bad that the phone slips from my hand, and I let it fall to the floor. I cover my mouth and I begin to cry. “I've got to get out of here.” I say to myself. Wiping some of the tears away, I get up and I start to put some of my belongings back into my carry-on bag. I hear footsteps coming in my direction, but I don't turn around.

“We should be taking off in five minutes.” Kellen says behind me. “Tamia, what are you doing?”

I don't respond and keep packing.

“Tamia, baby did you hear me?” He asks touching my arm.

“Don't fuckin' touch me!” I scream turning around to face him.

He's looking at me with concern in his eyes and starts to walk towards me, but I halt his steps with my hands.

“Don't come near me.” I say with tears still falling down my face.

“Tamia talk to me, what's wrong?”

“What's wrong?” I say with a laugh. “What's wrong is I was stupid enough to think that you loved me?”

“Baby I do. Where is this coming from? Tamia talk to me!” He demanded. “Look at me. Baby talk to me!”

I give him my full attention, and I let him see all the pain he's put me through.

“I don't know why I thought our relationship could work, but then again you did cheat on Ashley with me, and here I am thinking you would never do that to me.  If I wasn't what you really wanted, why didn't you just tell me Kellen! I know I may not have a body like a model, the tan skin, brunette hair and green eyes. I mean were you just curious to see how it would be to fuck a black...”

“Tamia!” He interrupts me. “This has nothing to do with the way that you look. I love you and only you. Why can't you understand that?”

I wipe my face with my hands and stare in the direction of Kellen's phone that's still lying on the floor. He follows my gaze and when he sees what my attention is on, he begins to look pale.

“You tell me Kellen.” I grab my bag and leave the plane. 

CHAPTER 12

Is It Over?

Tamia

Voice mail One hour later
....

“Tamia. Please baby, let me explain........”

Thirty minutes after...

“Tamia, there's nothing going on between me and Ashley. It's not what you think. I need you to call me............”

Fifteen minutes later...

“Tamia, I'm sorry and I love you. Please call me..........”

Two days later...

“Tamia...... (sigh) call me.........”

Yesterday...

“Happy Birthday Tamia. I know I'm the last person you want to hear from. Baby please call me. I'm worried about you, we need to talk. Love you.....”

“Yeah Happy Birthday to me.” I say to myself putting my phone away after listening to all the messages.

The day I left Kellen on the plane, I hailed a cab back to my parent's house, and I've been staying here for the past couple of days. Today I'm packing up my stuff and heading back to East Florida. Thanksgiving break was officially over, and I've already missed two days of school. So that I wouldn't fall too far behind, I made sure to contact all my professors, and get all my assignments.

I head downstairs and find my mom in the kitchen. “Well my cab should be here in a few minutes. Where's dad?”

“He's taking a nap. Are you sure you don't want me to take you to the airport? I don't mind.”

“No mom, but I do appreciate everything you and dad has done for me the last couple of days.”

“Well that's what parents do.” She replies, then pauses.

“What?” I ask hesitantly.

“What are you going to do about Kellen? Have you talked to him?”

“Mom, do we really have to talk about this right now?”

“Tamia.” My mom says calmly. “You can't keep running away from the situation. Talk to him and find out what's going on. I believe Kellen is a nice young man and I know he really cares about you. I just find it hard that he would drop everything to come here to be with you, just to leave you for someone else. Talk to him.”

“What if there is something going on between them? I'm afraid of the answer, plus I've never been in this situation before.”

“That's why you have to talk to him.”

(Ding Dong)

“
That must be your cab. Think about what I said Tamia.” Then she hugs me.

“Yes ma'am. I'll think about it.”

“You have a safe trip and call me when you get back. We'll see you soon.”

“Bye mom. Love you.”

“Love you too Tamia.”

~ ~ ~

When my plane lands, I wait until the pilot gives all passengers permission to use all electronic devices, then I pull my phone out and text Katie:

Tamia:
Plane just landed. Are you here?

Two seconds later
...

Katie:
Yes, waiting outside your gate. Can't wait to see you!

I smile and put away my phone. I wait until some of the passengers clear the plane, then I stand and grab my carry-on bag and make my exit. When I step foot in the airport, I spot Katie immediately and wave. She runs in my direction and embraces me in a hug.

“I'm so glad that you're back.”

“I missed you too Katie.” I laugh. Then she pulls away.

“Let’s get your bags and let's go home.”

We walk to the baggage claim area and grab my bags. Next we walk to the parking deck and load my bags into Katie's Audi, then we're on the road.

“So does Kellen know that I'm back in town?” I ask Katie.

“Nope.” She responds shaking her head. “Tasha is the only one that knows.”

“Thank you for not tell him.” I say relieved.

“Well just to let you know, he's been a mess since you left. You really need to talk to him. He already told me what happened and trust me, he and Ashley have been over. The bitch is trying to start something.”

I turn and look out the window. “I know we need to talk, I just needed some time to think.”

“I know Tamia. Just know that Kellen really cares about you. I know he's my brother and can be an ass at times, but I would hate to see you guys end things over some stupid shit that he had no control of.”

I don't respond, but continue to look out my window. She drives and I ride the rest of the way home in silence.

~ ~ ~

“Okay, I need to run to the library for a couple of hours to finish this lame ass paper. Do you need anything?” Katie asks.

“No, I think I'm going to take a nap. Thanks again for picking me up from the airport.”

“No problem.” She says opening the door. “And Tamia.”

“What's up?”

“Happy belated birthday.” She says with a smile and leaves.

I grab my bags and head to my room. When I open the door I see a big balloon that says Happy Birthday on it and gifts on my bed.

Smiling I walk over and the first present I see is a gift bag from Jay. I take out the tissue paper and reach in and pull out a book called “The Art of Karma Sutra,” and all I can do is laugh. I put my book back in the bag and reach for the next one, and it's an envelope that says it's from Katie. I open it and find a $100 gift card from Victoria Secret. “She would get me something like this.” I say laughing to myself. I put the gift card inside the gift bag Jay gave me, and reach for the last present I see on my bed and it's from Tasha. It's a box wrapped in pink paper. I quickly tear the paper away and open the box to find a bottle of wine and a box of condoms. I begin to laugh so hard. “Priceless Tasha, just priceless.” I say gathering all my gifts, then I sit them on my desk. I turn my attention back to my bed, looking to make sure I didn't overlook a gift from Kellen, but nothing else is there.

I walk into my bathroom and undress and get in the shower. Then the tears begin.
Why are you crying Tamia? You're the one who wouldn't return his calls.
I think to myself. I duck my head under the shower spray and wash my tears away then I begin to wash my hair and body. I stand in the shower for several minutes until my fingers start to look like raisins.

After towel drying my hair and body, I stand and look at myself in the mirror and I look exhausted. My eyes are red and puffy from all the crying that I've been doing. I wrap my towel around my body and walk back into my room. I put on a long East Florida T shirt and a pair of panties. I quickly lotion my body and hop into bed and I stare at the empty pillow beside me until I fall asleep.

~ ~ ~

I slowly open my eyes not knowing how long I've been asleep. I sit up to check the time, but a small box with a red bow laying on the pillow next to me catches my attention. Curious, I pick up the box and stare down at it. The tag on the box says it's to me from Kellen. I slowly remove the bow and open the box and see a handwritten note inside that says:

Happy Birthday Tamia. I hope you love your gift. If you don't I will return it. I just know that when I saw it, I wanted you to have it.

                                                                 Love,

                                                                 Kellen

I remove the note and frown because there's nothing inside the box.

“I'm sorry I didn't leave a gift like everyone else, but I wanted to deliver it personally myself.

At the sound of his voice, I turn around so fast and find him sitting in my desk chair.

“Kellen?”

~ ~ ~

Kellen

As soon as I receive the text message from my sister, letting me know that Tamia was back in town and at the apartment alone, I took that as my opportunity to put my plan in motion.

When I get to their apartment, I find Tamia fast asleep in her bed. Without her knowing I get in beside her, and watched her sleep. She was just as beautiful as the last time I saw her, minus the tears. Not being able to help myself I trace my finger down her cheek, then I plant a kiss to her lips, then I get up without waking her and place a small box on the empty pillow beside her. I make my way around her bed and take a seat at her desk and wait until she wakes up.

Minutes later, I'm watching her sleeping form, then I see her start to move around. She begins to sit up, but stops when she sees the gift box laying on the pillow. I watch quietly as she examines the box. After a moment, she opens the box and sees the note I left inside and begins reading it. After she realizes that there's nothing in the box, I take that moment and make my presence known by speaking to her, and after I'm done, the way she said my name makes me think that there was a chance for our relationship.

I stand and walk towards her and I take a seat on her bed facing her. She's looking at me with a shocked look on her face and all I wanted to do at that moment was kiss her.

“Happy belated birthday Tamia.” I say giving her a rectangular box.

“Kellen, how did you...?”

“Tamia, please open your gift.” I interrupt.

She looks down at the box sitting on her lap, and begins to open it slowly. When she sees what's inside, she quickly covers her mouth with her hand.

“Kellen it's beautiful.” She says staring down at her charm bracelet.

I reach and pull the charm bracelet out the box showing it to her.

“I hope you like it. I asked them to add some charms to it. This one.” I say pointing to the charm of a key. “Represents the time you couldn't find your keys.” I laugh. “And the statue of liberty charm. If you'll let me I would love to take you to New York one day.” I say staring into her tear filled eyes. “The last one is a heart. It represents my heart Tamia. I love you.” I say wiping away her tears. “Ashley is my past. The picture you saw on my phone was taken a long time ago. I just hate that you had to see it. I know that I cheated on her with you, but you have to believe me when I say I would never do that to you. I've asked Ashley not to contact me no more, and that we'll never get back together. I think she has it in her mind that I would step out on my 'virgin girlfriend' but what she doesn't know is that I've already had you and I can't get enough of you Tamia. I lean forward and press my forehead to hers. “Baby please don't give up on us.”

~ ~ ~

Tamia

I close my eyes and continue to let my tears fall.

“Kellen, I...”

Before I can finish he grabs the back of my head and smashes his lips to mine and begins to kiss me hard but lovingly like this was our last kiss. He took all he could get from me and poured every emotion he was feeling into it. He pulls his lips away and is breathing hard. He wipes my tears away again, and kissed me softly.

“I know you need time Tamia, but I had to come by and see you. Please think about what I said.”

I nod my head yes and watch him stand to his feet and he begins walking backwards away from me, but keeping his attention on me.

“I'm going to give you all the time you need Tamia. You know where to find me when you're ready to talk.” I watch as he turns around and makes his way to my door. Then he's gone, leaving me to my thoughts.

~ ~ ~

Tamia

Two hours later, I'm banging on the Katie's door.