“Why are you talking like that?” I asked.
Harlem didn’t sound the same; he sounded like a fucking white boy. He dropped his head and laughed. “I’m doing exactly what you’ve done for the last two and a half years, putting on.” He winked. “Anyway, you got fried last night. After like the sixth drink, you were done. The way you were working that dance floor was pretty impressive.”
I rolled my eyes. “Get to the point.”
He tossed his hands up. “I watched as your sisters tried handling you, but for some reason, you were upset. The moment Jesaiah came over to you, well, you gave him everything you had, in your stomach that is. So, I helped you. I picked you up, put you in my car, and brought you here. Once we were inside, I realized that not only were you fried, but you were also in a conversation with Mother Nature,” he said as he pointed toward my center.
I was frantic. “I-I—”
“I didn’t want to violate you. Instead, I took off your smelly clothes and put you in my bed. I didn’t come in hereuntil a few hours ago because of your groaning. It wasn’t until I wrapped my arms around you that you calmed down.”
I looked at the bed and saw the bloodstain and rushed to the bathroom. All I could do was cry because the universe had its foot on my neck and wouldn’t let up. I could hear Harlem at the door.
“Apple, it’s okay. You don’t have to be ashamed. I’m not like that.”
That was the thing. Harlem doing what he did for me was sweet. I didn’t want to take what I was feeling out on him, but I needed a moment. I wiped my face.
“I will be out in a minute,” I muttered.
“I’ll leave clothes out for you. The shower is yours. Once you're done, I’ll take you back to campus.” He paused. “Apple, it’s really okay.”
I heard him moving around the room, then the door closed. I slowly stood from the bathroom floor and captured myself in the mirror.
“It’s going to be okay,” I mumbled to myself.
The girl I used to see in the mirror was nearly depleted, as the true Apple was front and center. I knew I needed to acknowledge her, but I was afraid.
XAVIER
Phoebe’s light snores were the current tune as her head rested on my lap while I sat gazing at the TV. I tried not to focus on the scars she had on her thighs, but knowing Shorty was destroying her flesh bothered me. It made me play out different scenarios in my mind about what could have happened to make her do something like that.Were her parents abusive? Did she get raped? Is she depressed?I didn’t know, and going into the unknown with someone was scarier than not knowing whether I would ever have a basketball career.
My phone lit up nonstop with texts and calls. I leaned forward, grabbing it to see, and the only thing that stood out was that they could not find Dio.
“Shit!”I mumbled.
I knew right then shit with him and Samara went left. I leaned forward and kissed Phoebe’s forehead.
“Einstein, wake up,” I whispered in her ear.
Her eyes fluttered open.
“I gotta shake. I’ll get up with you tomorrow, promise,” Itold her.
I could tell she didn’t want me to leave, and I didn’t want to. This was just the beginning with her and me, and the last thing I wanted to do was crowd her space and cause her to push me away.
I got up, slipped into my hoodie, and left. I was told to meet up at Beans’ house, so that was exactly where I went. When I pulled up and saw Chevy and a worried Zu with Beans, Jalen, and Scooter, I knew shit was about to get nasty. I could barely get out of the car before Zu’s roar lit up the block.
“Fuck, Dio!”
“Hu-hu-he’s n-n-n-not answering,” Jalen said.
I looked at Beans then at Chevy. “What happened?”
“A fucked-up situation. Do any of you know where he could be? This fucking town isn’t that goddamn big.”
I shrugged. “Nah, Chev.”
Zu looked at me as if I had done something. “If anything happens to him, I swear to fucking God y’all niggas are going to be doing online courses.”
