“What’s funny? I’m being serious!”
“I know!” I laughed. “That’s what makes it worse! First of all… I don’t get hungry when I have sex with you. I’m just…in the mood, I guess. I don’t know, the stupid fangs just come out on their own. Secondly, I didn’t feed on anyone. I…I met Gaia, and she made me feed on her which turned out to be myself.”
Namir was in the middle of shooting another airball when he turned to look at me with his mouth dropped. I hadn’t even told the girls yet because I was waiting to tell him first since this was technically our story.
“Like you said,” I told him as I started to walk, leaving him standing in place. “A lot has happened while I’ve been gone.”
His phone suddenly went off in his pocket as he reached to grab the screen and swipe to answer on speaker.
“We’re good bro,” Namir told Seth. “Everything is fine. We’re about to leave in a few–––”
“I’m not calling about y'all,” Seth whispered in a hushed tone. “I’m calling about ol girl…This dragon girl. You got me on speaker?”
I shook my head as Namir rolled his eyes.
“Say it. You’re good, and why are you whispering? Where are you?”
“In the bathroom, look… I’m minding my own business, drinking my beer and finishing off a plate. Everybody is cool and chill. Maggie’s friends are on one side talking amongst themselves and out of nowhere…the dragon princess comes walking over to me. She said, what are you?”
I almost cracked at the sound of him imitating her accent that I had to turn my head.
“I said, funny enough? I was about to ask you the same thing because I’ve never heard of dragons being real. Game of Thrones is as far as it gets with me and that’s white people shit. She said her people had em long before anywhite people. I said oh aight. I’m just staring at her because I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as beautiful as her. I mean she got the type of face you gotta turn away because you start feeling ugly, you feel me?”
“Uh huh,” Namir said as mindlessly listened while shooting another airball.
“She said she is a princess that is going home to confront her mother and save her sister. I said oh okay, that’s what’s up. Bruh… On everything I love, on my future kids, why did she lean in and whisper, she wants me to break her body in half–––”
“OHH!” I gasped before gagging with laughter.
“She what?!” Namir let out.
“I swear to God! She said, I want you to break my body in half and put it back together again. She said, "I want my body to experience the highs and lows of sex so when I go home, I return as a true woman.”
Namir looked at me. I pulled the shirt up to cover my mouth and nose to catch my silent tears of laughter.
“What did you tell this girl, Maggie?”
“I didn’t say anything!” I laughed, ignoring the replay of our conversation when we were stuck in the sand dunes.
“Aye, thank you baby sis,” Seth said with a laugh. “Thaaaank youuuu. I’m getting the car ready now so we can leave.”
“Don’t do it, Seth. You already got enough going on,” Namir let out with an incredulous tone. “Leave her be. You got three other women from the pack fighting over you already–––”
“Mannnnnnnnn, I’m about to Reese’s Pieces this bitch–––”
Namir hung up as I fell over in laughter.
“You know he’s serious,” Namir said, clearly not amused which made it even funnier. “He’s going to do it. He might actually hurt her because Seth will never be serious with anyone, and you know he can be too violent.”
“I have no doubt,” I coughed, trying to get myself together. “I have no doubt in my mind that she can handle herself. Trust me. Ayira is that girl.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Souxie Lafayette
Maggie never returned back to her aunt’s house that night. Her mother lost her shit all over again because Maggie didn’t even say goodbye. Just sent a message through Namir when he walked back in the house to tell everyone thank you. He told all of us he hoped to see us back at the school if he hadn’t lost his job, and if he hears anything about the status of Drew Collins, he’ll let us know. When asked about Maggie, all he said is he was taking her home so she can rest.
We all knew she was about to get stretched from the roots and back. Maybe catch up on some needed sleep even though to her she said it was only a day that she was gone. The rest of us were out back talking amongst ourselves. While her family stayed in the house adjusting to each other’s personalities in real time. With Maggie out with Namir having a much-needed conversation and time alone, it was charming to see the different variations of her colorful family. From hanging a dead body in the shed to let the rest of the blood drain in a bucket below, to the wolf pack belonging to Namir roaming free and hunting the wild rabbits in the area. They all belonged to her now, including us.
