-2 days later
Erin

"Just come home, we should talk in person." Derrick pleaded over the phone

(Pictured: Derrick. Yes him)

"I need time Derrick..." I put him on speaker and sat the phone on the kitchen counter

"Baby I can't breathe without you."

"You doing it perfectly fine right now" Melanie came into the kitchen "Although you not breathing sounds delightful."

He sucked his teeth "Call me when you alone." Then hung up.

"Why'd you do that?" I groaned, leaning on the counter as I opened my yogurt

"So you enjoy that toxic shit?" She grabbed a water from the fridge "I can't breathe without you, we should talk in person." She mocked Derrick

"Stop Mel." I tried my hardest not to laugh

She scoffed "He sounds pathetic. Anyway, I talked to Mario."

"Who's that?"

"My ex, Chris's older brother." She looked like she was reminiscing

"He must've really left a mark on you." I grinned

"Plenty." She smirked"But that was the past"

"Apparently not, you gave the man your number." I chuckled

"To converse."

"Yeah, ok." I pursed my lips

"Anyway! Chris is interested"

"In what?"

"In you, crazy."

"See man, you always tryna' play match maker. What'd you tell him?" I ate my yogurt

"Actually, I didn't say anything. He told Mario about you and Mario told me."

"Oh wow, how interesting." I reacted dryly

"I can't stand you sometimes."

"That's what sisters are for." I smiled, going back into the living room "Can you take me to work?"

"When you getting your car fixed?" She followed

"I don't know any mechanics. Derrick used to always take my car to the shop."

"Yeah, with your money." She mumbled

"You always take it too far." I squinted, plopping on the couch

"Just reminding you why you need to stay away from him." She shrugged "Mario's a mechanic. I can ask him if he'll fix it."

"Thanks."

"What time you gotta'  be to work?"

"1:00"

"Ok, I can take you but you gonna' have to take an Uber home. I have a date."

"Ok thanks. Let me guess you have a date with-"

"Mario." She giggled like a damn teenager

*

"Ok, you have a nice day." I said as the dental patient exited the office

"Erin, I need you to update Ms. Allen's dental records." My boss said

"Ok. Uh, When is Tracey coming in for her shift?"

"Oh, she called and said she's not coming in. Forgot to tell you. Could you stay all day?"

"Will I be getting overtime pay?" I asked to be sure

"Yeah. Put a reminder on my calendar so I don't forget."

I grabbed a sticky note and wrote down the reminder. Some extra cash would be lovely right now. It'd go towards my photography studio I've been saving for since I was 18.

See, once I graduated I decided to move in with Derrick and my parents cut me off financially. They refused to pay my tuition and any loans I may need, so it's made me have to work a little harder to get the things I want in life.
I ended up going to a community college to become a dental assistant instead of a photographer like I'd dreamed. Even though I graduated I'm still paying back loans and paying the rent to Derrick's apartment all by myself- yes I said Derrick's apartment, I'm not even on the lease.
So I had to put my photography dream on the back burner until I save up enough.

"Erin, I need your assistance in here." My boss called from the back

I like my job and all, but I'd prefer to be the boss and have people assisting me.

*

After work, I decided to take the bus back to Melanie's since it'd be cheaper than an Uber.
Derrick's name flashed across my screen while I waited at the bus stop. I debated on what to do  before I rolled my eyes and answered the phone.

"Yes?"

"You alone?"

"Something like that."

"Stop fuckin' playing. Look when you coming back? I can come get you and we can-"

As he was babbling in my ear, a black Mercedes Benz pulled in front of me. I squinted to see who it was as the window rolled down.

"Erin, right?" Chris' face appeared

I nodded, hanging up on Derrick. "Can I help you?"

"Actually, I was going to ask if you needed a ride."

"No thanks, I don't ride with strangers."

"That's cold. I mean you saw me the other day, I know your sister."

"Yeah, you know her. Not me." I stated

"Don't be like that, I'm just trying to help. It beats paying bus fair." He shrugged

He does have a point.

"I was headed home."

"Tell me where home is and I'll take you."

I mean he seems trustworthy, and if not I'm already sharing my location with Melanie.

"Ok" I said while getting in, making sure my taser was in my purse just in case

*

The ride was comfortably quiet, the only sounds were the ones from the street and the radio. My phone was vibrating in my pocket the entire time, of course it was no one other than Derrick calling to argue about me hanging up. I didn't feel like hearing him right now so I ignored it.

"Right here." I said as we pulled in front of Melanie's townhouse

He put his car in park, taking a glance at me "So, I never knew Mel had a lil' sista'."

"Yeah. I stayed in the house all the time."

"Why's that?"

"My dad got stationed around a lot, never could get comfortable, so I just stayed to myself." I shrugged, accidentally locking eyes with him

Even though I wasn't saying much, he seemed so intrigued in what I had to say.

"You should've came out more, we could've chilled togetha'." He ran his tongue across his bottom lip before biting it

"Yeah, well thanks for the ride. I'll-"

"How old are you?" He blurted like he'd been eager to ask

"23" I awkwardly stared, grabbing my purse

"Ok, I'm 25. We should go out sometime if you down."

"Sorry, I-I can't."

"Let me down easy, I get it." He played hurt

"No it's not that I just I-" I was about to say too much so I decided to exit "I gotta go. Thanks again." I got out, closing his door

He waited until I was inside before pulling off. I smiled at the small gesture because no man- well Derrick- has ever done that before.

"Who was that?" Melanie asked soon as I closed the door

"Nobody. Why you home so early? Date went bad?"

"Actually, smartass. The date was great, just like old times. It was so great that we're having dinner tonight." She sat on the couch

"So how come you never told me about this Mario guy when we were younger?" I put my bags down, doing the same

"Same reason you didn't tell anybody about Derrick's triflin' ass. I started dating younger than mom and dad allowed, so he was my little secret."

I nodded

"Now, who dropped you off? I saw that Benz and I know it ain't Derrick's triflin ass, so..."

She calls him that so much you'd think Derrick's Triflin Ass would be on his birth certificate.

"No one." I knew if I told her, she'd over exaggerate, per usual "Were you staring out the window or something?"

"I heard the car door close" she shrugged

"Oh it was my Uber."

"And you were in the front seat?" She squinted "Girl, please"

"Uber pool, duh."

She straight faced me, knowing I was lying.

"Ok it was Chris." I said lowly "So how was the date?"

"Oh no ma'am, you are not getting off that easy. How'd you end up with him?"

"He picked me up from the bus stop, drove me here, that was it." I pulled my hair in a bun

"And?" She urged for me to say more

"Seriously Mel that was it. Now, how was the date?"

"Mhm...Ok so first he took me to Orion's and the food was delicious, drinks were great, the vibe just everything..." she zoned out, smiling hard

I felt something balled up underneath me, so I lifted up, seeing her thong "I see it ended well too."

"Oop, sorry." She chuckled, picking them up "It definitely did though."

"Do me a favor, if you plan on fucking tonight, please go to his house."

"Ok" she chuckled at me "Oh and by the way he said he'll fix your car free of charge."

"For free? Aww you sold your coochie for me." I hugged her tightly

"Girl hush." She pushed me off "He would've done it for free regardless, we got real history."

I laughed, getting up "Make sure you remind him of all that history on the dick tonight so he don't change his mind."

She threw a pillow at me as I walked out of the living room.

Soon as I reach the guest room my phone rang. I decided to answer now, feeling bad for hanging up earlier and ignoring his calls.

"Yes Derrick?" I answered, putting the phone on speaker

"The fuck you got going on!? First you hang up on me, then you got niggas coming to get yo' car. Who the fuck is that nigga?"

I assume Mario must be towing my car from the parking lot as we speak.

"Well earlier my ride had pulled up, and the person who's towing the car is a friend of Mel's"

"The fuck he helping you with yo' car for then?"

"He's gonna fix all the damages you caused. You should be happy." I began taking my work clothes off

"You lying! You prolly' fucked that nigga. I always knew you was a ho."

"Wow really? I'm telling the truth"

"Whatever. Bye." He hung up before I could get another word out

I put up with his crap because I genuinely love him, he's my first everything. I've been with him for 7 years and I just know he loves me too. He didn't really become abusive until his mom passed and everyone turned their backs on him. I wasn't going to leave him like everyone else did, but sometimes it gets tiring being someone's punching bag.
Maybe one day things will change for the better, but until then we need some time apart.

-Carlisha ❤️