Chapter 6

On Friday, everyone was walking around all worked up over this new manager that was assigned to our department. Me, I didn’t care. I sat, ate my biscuit, and drank my juice, while I thought about the pleasant conversation I had had with Jefferson.

Henderson nudged me, “My brother likes you. Imagine us as in-laws.”

I chuckled, “Wow, calm down sir. We haven’t even made it through the first date.”

“I know, but give him a chance. He’s a real nice guy.”

“And why isn’t he already with someone?”

“I don’t know, but If he’s pursuing you, it’s because he wants you.”

Henderson looked up, “Oh, is that the manager?” I stood up and looked over my partition. I saw Vivian with him….my mind immediately flashed back to undergrad.

Naturally, I was somewhat of an introvert. I had learned to stay away from people as much as I could because they were always staring, making rude comments, and making me feel unwanted. However, that somewhat changed when I met my roommate Mallory Jones.

She was this pretty high yellow girl with that long wavy hair that most men went after. And no shade, she was pretty. She started inviting me to hang out with her and a few of her friends.

We would go bowling, watch movies, and hang out at the park. I thought I had found my tribe, and maybe I had, but it’s weird how when someone wants something, the **** lengths they’d go through to get it, even if it meant destroying a friendship.

One night we were having lunch at a burger spot when Preston Wright walked in. He was this basketball player, that a lot of girls wanted to get with, mainly because, let’s be real, many of them saw dollar signs.

He was tall, muscular, dark-skinned, and attractive. When he walked in, he spoke to us. Mallory nearly jumped in her seat, “Did you see how he spoke to me?” she said gleefully.

I was like, girl, he spoke to everyone, not just you. I didn’t respond, so she added, “Don’t be like that, I told you, one day, you’ll find a guy that appreciates the way you look.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked with a huge attitude.

“You know.” She looked at the other two people and continued, “She’s always talking about how no one finds her attractive because of her skin condition.”

“I never told you that.”

“Not in so many words, but I’m like a psych major, I get it.”

I rolled my eyes. Preston walked over to our table with his food, “Mind if I join?”

And this is where my disdain for the fake influencer voice began. Mallory suddenly started talking with that voice, “Oh my god, Preston, of course not, join us.”

My face morphed into confusion. Where the hell did you get that voice from and suddenly, the other two girls opted to use it as well. Me, I just used my regular voice.

He looked at me, “You’re in a few of my business classes, right?”

I nodded, “Yeah, we have Accounting, Finance, and Business Law.”

“You’re like hella smart. Might have to get you to tutor me.”

Mallory chimed in, “I took finance in high school and my teacher totally told me I should have majored in Business and Finance when I got to college. I could probably lead a study group; Elise could help of course.”

This was from a woman that couldn’t figure out what twenty percent off of eighty was in a department store. Kept insisting that the sales associate didn’t give her the proper amount off, “It’s supposed to be twenty dollars off. I want to speak to a manager.”

I pulled her to the side, “It’s twenty percent off, which is sixteen dollars off, making it sixty-four dollars, and then you have to add the taxes.”

She smiled, “Oh, I knew that. I was having a brain fart.” She walked back to the register, “On second thought, I don’t want it.”

That should have let me know that she was on some heavy bull. Anyone can make a mistake, but it’s how you conduct yourself afterward. She didn’t even apologize.

Anyway, a person with her limited math skills leading a study group for business majors was a whole hot mess. She spent most of the time walking around in booty shorts and crop tops.

I didn’t interfere. If that’s what he wanted, then, I let him go for it.

Yet, one day, I was in the room alone, doing my homework and I heard a knock, I answered the door and he was standing in the hallway, “Can I come in?”

“Mallory’s not here,” I said looking at him oddly.

“I actually wanted to see you,” he replied as he walked in and took a seat at my desk. “I need mad help and studying with Mallory ain’t cutting it.”

I chuckled, “Okay, so what exactly do you need help with?” I asked.

He sighed, “All of it.”

And from that moment on, we would spend time studying without Mallory. I had been to his house and met his family. We were friends.

One night, we’re studying for finals in his room. He looked into my eyes, “I never told you this, but you have pretty eyes.”

I blushed of course and he leaned in and kissed me. I placed my hands on his chest, “Wait.”

“Come on Elise, I know you like me.”

“But do you like me?”

“I’m always spending time with you, aren’t I?”

“But I’ve never—”

“I got you, babe.”

“Protection?”

He nodded and walked over to his drawer and pulled out a condom. He took off his shorts and I watched him put it on. My heart raced. He undressed me, licking and sucking my breasts. I laid on his bed and he proceeded to taste me for a while before laying on top of me and pressing his way inside. I held onto him tightly.

“Relax baby, breathe,” he whispered.

We would meet up a lot. Until one day, I went to his house and overheard him talking shit about me to his friends, “Nah man, it’s not like that. She’s just tutoring me. You know I gotta have a dime.”

They all laughed at my expense, “Yeah, who would want to be with a chick with all those spots on her face, shit look weird as fuck.”

I cleared my throat. They turned and saw me standing by the door, “Very disrespectfully, fuck all of you. And Preston, I don’t know why you’re fronting like you did something. Your stroke game is weak and your tongue game is mediocre at best.”

They all erupted, “Damnnnnn. Don’t worry man, she just mad.”

I rolled my eyes and left. I was hurt. And I said what I said out of spite. Truth was, nothing about his sex game was weak or mediocre. Our time spent was precious, but fuck him.

I had to work that night. He showed up at my job and acted all hurt, “Why did you say that?”

“Why do you care, I’m just some bitch with spots on her face, unworthy of your love.”

He frowned, “You know I didn’t mean that. You know how I feel about you. It’s just…guys talk…and they expect me to pull, you know—”

“Dimes. Girls that look like Mallory.”

“Come on Elise. We’ve talked about how we feel.” He leaned in to kiss me.

I turned my head, “You want to be able to fuck me in secret, while you parade Mallory or some other chick that looks like her around. No, fuck no.”

Then something in my head clicked, “You know what…I need my car note paid for this month and I need some new clothes.”

He chuckled, “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. This has been a one-sided relationship. I’ve given you hours of free tutoring and now, it’s time for you to pay up.”

At first, he walked away, and then I didn’t hear from him for a few days, but when he finally showed up at my job, he was like, “Here’s the money for your car. I can take you shopping tomorrow.”

And from that moment, I felt the emergence of Onyx, although, I didn’t truly let her out until after undergrad school. When I went to grad school, I was determined to graduate without any student loans and thus Onyx emerged.

When Vivian introduced him to everyone, I played it cool and acted like it was the first time I had seen him, “Elise James.” I said with a firm handshake.

“Preston Wright,” he replied puzzled by how I greeted him. He gave a speech about how he was glad to be on our team and that if we ever needed anything to ask.

Preston working there didn’t bother me, just as long as he stayed the hell out of my way.