“So when she comes back, you can apologize, kiss and make up like regular couples do. Say you didn’t mean it and take it back… We say things we don’t mean all the time, right?” I stared at him as his eyes widened. “A part of you believes it…”
“I know it wasn’t her fault. I know that.” I snapped. “I…She told me I wasn’t enough for her. I said I gave up everything for you and I’m not enough?”
“She hurt you, you hurt her,” Moore nodded. “Now she’s disappeared, which…in this place, this world… Nothing too unusual about it, especially if you’re her.”
“I blamed her for…” I didn’t even want to think about it anymore. It was all I could do not to replay the argument in my head. “I blamed her for being her.”
“You got your feelings hurt and you responded. Both of you said some damaging things but nothing you can’t overcome. I’ve seen y'all move outside of this place. Y'all look good. You make sense and you look happy when you’re with her. It will all work out in the end, trust me. You’ve had all your life to be who you are in this world. She only just found out last year. She has some learning to do still so give yourself some grace as well as her. Now, go get some rest. You look like you woke up from hibernation too early.”
“Wolves don’t hibernate,” I said as he nodded.
“Exactly.” Moore walked out with his things before speaking over his shoulder. “Keep your head in the game and be ready when it’s time. You understand?”
“Yes sir,” I said as he walked off. “Also, keep her friends in check before they become a liability.”
As soon as the classroom was cleared, I watched Maggie’s friends come walking in with a guy I didn’t recognize. Asha stood with her arms across her chest, attitude on her face and looked me up and down like she was disgusted at my lack of urgency.
“Let me say this,” I said in a calm tone as I glanced at the stack of papers from the meeting. When I looked up, they were all patiently waiting while the guy looked around. “Who is this?”
“Harvey Miller,” he said as he adjusted his glasses. “I’m the newest member of the group.”
Souxie rolled her eyes before quietly stepping in front of him with her body.
“Can you wait outside? This is a private matter.”
She didn’t have to ask twice since his phone began to ring at the same time when he stepped out. Souxie waited until he was away from the door when she turned to look at me.
“We need to talk.”
“Let me just say this,” I went on, ignoring her completely. “I don’t appreciate you barging in the middle of my meeting–––”
“Nobody barged in,” Asha argued. “We came in because at this point, you’re a little too calm for my liking when this girl is literally in love with you! We’ve been waiting for you to react, to say something, to stand up for her honor. Not a fucking word. You are playing nice in front of these people–––”
“Asha,” Isis muttered, trying to calm her down.
“No! Fuck that! Somebody has to know there are people that will react when she goes missing! We’re ready to come behind her by any means, even if you aren’t but best believe when she gets back, I’m gonna tell her the type of man you claim to be, you clearly aren’t. She deserves better. Period.”
I stared at her. Isis kept her head down, refusing to make eye contact while Souxie only stared at me. She didn’t tell them my plans. She didn’t want them to know she’d been talking to me. Asha threw her hands up.
“Well?! What do you have to say?! Where is she? Have you heard from her?”
“Look, we’re all a little frustrated right now,” Souxie said as she stepped in between like Asha, and I were bound to fight. “Wecame here because we wanted to know if you think she might be in danger? We are willing to stop everything and find her…”
“No, I don’t think she’s in danger,” I said, keeping my eyes on Asha. “I don’t know where she is, but I don’t think she’s in danger until she gets back here.”
“How do you know for sure?” Asha asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” Souxie whispered. “He knows her better than–––”
“So if this was my man, I can’t even imagine him just sitting here like shit is sweet–––”
“But I’m not your man,” I said, trying to calm myself down. “Let’s get that straight right now since you seem to center shit around you when it comes to her. I’m not nor will I ever be anything remotely close to being your man, and you’re not her. What I do and how I choose to handle Maggie is my business.”
“Oh you handled her alright when ol boy came at her. Now he has the entire grounds thinking she attacked him!” Asha argued. “What did you do to retaliate besides throwing a fucking ball?!”
“Asha?” Souxie whispered before turning to face her.
“You’re not going to get the reaction you want out of me Asha…I’m not going to argue or fight with you. I don’t owe you shit and I’m not going back and forth with you like we’re mates.”
