Origins (The Black Diamond Series Book 3) Page 6

  Sean nodded. “Yes, he said no matter what you said or did that I was always to take care of you.”

  Carolyn turned away. All this time she'd thought that Xavier simply hadn't cared what happened to her, but he'd made their teenage son promise to take care of her and he'd fulfilled that promise over and over.

  She turned back to her son, her incredibly loyal son.

  “Thank you Sean. I've always loved you even though I may not have shown it.”

  Sean smiled. “I know Ma.”

  Carolyn smiled. “So tell me...how are the wedding plans going?”

  ***********

  Trent concluded his visit with his mother and after being dropped off at his car headed to the USC Campus.

  As he passed the green scenery, he thought back to another location having the same greenery.

  He remembered the park he’d slept in before his friend Kent’s mother had taken him in…

  Trent was fourteen, all alone and in trouble with the law. He’d been ordered to mandatory anger management classes stemming from him trying to protect himself from his foster father. He was now considered a juvenile. He’d run away from the foster home and began sleeping wherever he could stay safe and close enough to attend school. He’d collected bottles and cans for change to wash the few clothes that he had and to buy snacks to eat in the evenings.

  Kent was his friend in one of his classes at high school. Kent was always getting into it with other guys because his mother had five children with no father around and by default he'd become the man of the house and the protector of his mother and siblings. Because of this, he had begun to dabble into other things to help support his family unbeknownst to his mother.

  Trent was walking through the park one night looking for a spot to camp out for the night when he walked up on Kent and two other dudes. The guys were threatening Kent and had their hands on him. Kent really wasn’t a fighter per se, just basically doing what he had to do to survive; so when the two guys began to pound on him, Trent jumped in. Trent managed to hold off the guys long enough for someone to come along and the guys quickly disappeared vowing they would be back.

  Trent turned to Kent on the ground.

  “Dude, what the hell are you doing?” Trent asked helping him up.

  Kent touched his swollen jaw. Due to his light complexion, his jaw was now beet red.

  “Man, I’m just trying to help my momma out,” Kent managed to say.

  Trent shook his head. “If you keep helping your momma out like that, she’s going to be burying your ass.”

  Kent sighed. “Thanks dude. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you didn’t step up.”

  “Look, I can’t be involved in this. I got enough problems of my own,” Trent told him.

  Kent stumbled a bit and Trent caught him.

  “Let me help you home man,” Trent said allowing Kent to lean on him.

  Trent grabbed his bag from the ground where he'd dropped it before jumping into the fray. Kent looked at him through a swollen eye.

  “What are you doing out here dude?” Kent asked.

  Trent shrugged. “Just chillin...”

  Kent stumbled and Trent grabbed him. “Come on.”

  Trent helped him all the way to his house. When they arrived Kent’s mother was waiting on the porch. She had been wondering where Kent was since it had gotten so late. She ran to them.

  “Oh my God, what happened?” she screamed when she saw Kent’s face.

  “It’s okay Ma. I’m good,” Kent said weakly.

  Trent looked at her. “He got beat up.”

  She looked at Trent. “I can see that baby. Who did this?” she asked.

  Kent looked at Trent sending him a silent message he hoped Trent would understand.

  Trent looked at Kent then at his mother. “Just some dudes at the park ma’am,” Trent shrugged. Kent gave him a look of gratitude and his mother looked between the two.

  “Can you bring him in the house?” she asked and Trent helped Kent inside while his siblings ran through the room.

  Trent laid Kent on the sofa and his mother left the room to get some ice for his face. Kent looked over at Trent.

  “What were you doing in the park Trent?” he asked again.

  Trent looked away. “Look man, you're home so I'm out now.”

  Kent's mother returned placing the ice on his face while he winced. She turned to Trent.

  “Thank you for bringing him home.”

  “No problem.”

  “It’s late baby. How are you getting home?” she asked.

  Trent shrugged. “I’m cool,” he said looking away.

  “I don't think Trent has anywhere to stay,” Kent told his mother.

  Kent’s mother looked at Trent. “Where do you live honey?” she asked watching him.

  “I should just go now,” Trent said heading for the door.

  Kent’s mother shook her head. “Sit down baby,” she instructed.

  Reluctantly Trent took a seat.

  “What’s your story son?” she asked.

  Trent shrugged and lowered his head.

  “Do you need to eat?” she asked.

  After a while, he nodded.

  "Somewhere to sleep?” she asked.

  Again, he nodded.

  “You sell drugs?” she asked.

  Trent looked at her. “No ma’am.”

  “You do drugs?” she questioned.

  “No ma’am.”

  She looked at her son and then at the boy his age sitting so quietly in the chair with the lost look on his face.

  “You can stay here tonight Trent,” she told him.

  “I don’t want to be a problem.”

  “The only problem we’ll have is if you even look like you’re thinking about touching one of my babies. Then you won’t have to worry about eating or sleeping ever again. Okay?”

  Trent nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

  She nodded. “I’m Ms. Baker. There’s food in the kitchen. Go eat.”

  Trent smiled and stood. “Thank you.”

  Trent had stayed with Ms. Baker until he'd left to find his brothers. She’d fed and taken care of him as one of her own. Kent and Trent had become as close as brothers and neither had been involved in anymore altercations. Kent had quickly gotten out of the game as his mother had handled both him and Trent about what had actually happened at the park. She wasn’t that dumb….

  *********

  Trent pulled into the parking lot of the theater hall at USC. The play that Isis was starring in was opening tonight. He quickly parked, grabbed the flowers off the seat and headed towards the box office. Trent was standing in line to purchase his ticket when someone came up to him from behind wrapping their arms around his waist. He turned quickly removing himself and staring down at the perpetrator.

  “Hey cutie!”

  Trent smiled down at her. “Hey April, what's up?”

  “I'm here for Isis' play.” She glanced at the flowers. “I see you are too huh?”

  “Yeah...”

  April looked him up and down in a light blue dress shirt, navy slacks and tie. “Damn Trent, you look like a man now.”

  “Uh, thanks, I guess.” He laughed.

  “Nah baby, it's all good,” she said giving him a look. “All good.”

  Trent laughed some more. “Okay.”

  April looked around. “How'd you get here?” she asked.

  “I drove.”

  “You driving too?” she asked.

  “Yeah...and I go to USC now.”

  April stepped closer. “You really are a man now huh?”

  Trent stepped even closer. “I was a man when you met me.” He winked at her.

  April tilted her head. “Well when I met you at Isis' graduation party you were following her around like a little puppy.”

  Trent shook his head. “Nah, you must have been at another party.”

  April smirked. “So you still sprung on Isis or what?”

  “I'm not
sprung on anybody.”

  April put her hand on her hip. “Okay then, why don't you give me a ride...home later.”

  Trent smiled. “You want a ride?”

  “Can you handle that?” she asked.

  “Hell yeah.”

  April smiled. “Then let's get our seats next to each other so I don't have to look for you when it's over?”

  “Cool.”

  Trent and April purchased their tickets and went inside to find their seats.

  After the performance was over the pair went to find Isis. They spotted her in a crowd of well-wishers and she turned to them. Trent saw the flash in her eyes when he walked up with April.

  “Hey Isis girl! You were great!” April hugged her but Isis’ eyes were on Trent.

  “Thanks April, and thanks for coming,” Isis said graciously.

  Trent stepped up.

  “Hey Isis.” He handed her the flowers. “These are for you.”

  Hesitantly Isis took the flowers still watching him. “Thank you Trent. They're beautiful. That was very thoughtful.”

  Trent bent and kissed her cheek. “You were really good.”

  When he straightened, Isis' gaze connected with his dark one. “Thank you, and thanks for coming,” she told him.

  April turned to Trent. “Hey cutie, I have to see one more person then we can go, okay?

  Trent nodded and Isis turned to look at April.

  April smiled. “Trent's taking me home tonight.” She gave Isis a look before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

  Isis turned to walk away and Trent caught her arm.

  “Isis wait!”

  Isis slowly turned back. “Yes. Did you need something?” she asked nicely.

  “You can't even talk to me?” he asked staring down into dark brown eyes.

  Isis lifted a brow. “Talk to you about what Trent?”

  He shrugged. “I haven't seen you in a while.”

  “Really Trent?”

  "What?”

  Isis shook her head. “This is why I couldn't take you serious Trent. You show up at my play with April?”

  “I ran into April outside and she asked me for a ride home,” he calmly explained. “Are you mad about something?”

  Isis stared up into his eyes. “Why would I be mad?”

  “You acting like you mad,” he pointed out.

  “Bye Trent.” She turned and he stopped her again.

  “What's up Isis?” he asked. “Why are you acting like this?”

  Isis looked away for a moment. “Honestly I don't even know Trent. If you want to mess around with April, it's really none of my business.”

  Trent placed his hands in his pockets so he wouldn't grab her and kiss her. She was so damn fine especially when she was so obviously jealous.

  “I told you if you want me Isis, you know where to find me. Just say the word Tamale and I'm all yours,” he whispered to her.

  Isis leaned into him. “Sorry babe. I don't do seconds.”

  Trent smiled. “Then you should do me first.”

  Isis stepped back. “You wish.”

  Trent looked her up and down slowly. “I do…every night.”

  Isis saw April returning. “Your girl is coming. Have a good night.”

  She turned and began to walk away as she heard Trent say, “April isn't my girl, but you're going to be my woman.”

  Isis kept walking as Trent smiled broadly at her retreating back.

  Chapter 7

  Trent led April to his car and opened the door for her.

  “Oooh, so you a gentleman huh?” she said climbing inside.

  Trent shook his head and moved around to the driver's side. Once inside the car he turned to her.

  “Give me your address so I can program it into the GPS.”

  She smiled. “I can just tell you which way to go.”

  Trent smiled back. “I prefer using the GPS. It's just easier.”

  “Well, I was hoping we could stop and get a few things to set the mood,” she told him.

  “Like what?”

  April shrugged and gave him a look. “Like a little Remy, a little Kush. However you get down.”

  Trent looked at her. “April I'm seventeen. You think I'm about to stop and get some liquor and some weed? Girl, you out of your damn mind!”

  “I was going to get it Trent. I know you can't buy it yet but you can put up the money,” she told him.

  Trent ran a hand down his face. “Where do you live April, so I can take you home.”

  April folded her arms. “Fine, no wonder you all thirsty for Isis, she ain't no fun either.”

  “The address?”

  April gave him the address and Trent prayed this was actually her house and not some drug house or anything like that. His brothers would totally beat his ass if he was caught somewhere like that. Trent didn't get down like that, never had and he didn't have any plans to start.

  During the ride April talked about how her last boyfriend ended up having a wife and how she was now looking for a new man. She began to go over her list of qualifications for the lucky dude. He had to be fine, a baller, buy her stuff, take her places, answer his phone when she called, and a freak.

  Trent decided that April talked too damn much and she was basically what other dudes called a THOT. No wonder Isis had tried to warn him away from her the first time they met. Ray's words begin to resonate in his head.

  “If she's talking about getting your money, other dudes or drugs; get the hell away from her.”

  April had checked all the boxes and Trent was about to do just what Ray had advised. He pulled up in front of the address and looked over at her. Trent looked at the neighborhood they were in and decided it was probably best for him to stay in the car or he could possibly end up needing the security his brothers had following him.

  “So you coming in or what?” she asked.

  “Nah, I'm cool.”

  April smacked her lips and reached for the door. “Your loss cutie” She hopped out of the car and walked to the front door. Trent waited until she was inside and quickly pulled off.

  “Not my loss at all,” he said to himself.

  Trent's phone buzzed and he glanced at the screen when he stopped at a light. He had a text from Isis. Pulling over to the side of the road he checked his messages.

  Isis: I wanted to apologize for the way I acted tonight. It was very rude and I am very sorry.

  Trent: Call me. I'm driving.

  A minute later Trent's phone rang and he put it on hands free as he began to drive home.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi Trent.”

  “Hey Isis.”

  Isis sighed. “Like I said in my text, I just wanted to apologize. You were sweet enough to come to my play and to bring me flowers. I'm sorry.”

  Trent smiled. “It's cool Isis.”

  “No, it's not. My mother and sister would be appalled at the way I acted tonight. I was raised better than that. Anyway I didn't want to interrupt your evening, so I'll let you go.”

  “I'm just driving home you can keep me company until I get there.”

  Pause.

  “Don't you have company already?” she asked.

  “Nah, I dropped her off and kept it moving.”

  Isis smiled on the other end.

  “Can I ask you something Isis?” Trent asked.

  “Yes, what is it?”

  “If I was there with April, why did I have flowers for you?”

  Silence.

  “I don't know Trent,' she said quietly.

  “Because I was coming there for you,”

  “Thank you for supporting me Trent. It really does mean a lot to me.”

  “I wanted to see you,” he said softly.

  Pause.

  “It was nice to see you again. You've changed,” she commented.

  Trent laughed. “How is that?”

  “You look more grown up.”

  “April said that I look like a man now.”

>   “I'm sure she did.”

  Trent laughed again.

  “How's school?” Isis asked changing the subject.

  “It's cool. If I saw you more on the campus it would be better.”

  “I'm only there for rehearsals and performances.”

  “So...my family is giving me a party for my birthday in a few months. Will you come?”

  “You're turning eighteen,” she commented.

  “Yeah...”

  “Yes, I'll come. Thank you for inviting me.”

  Trent smiled. “Will you give me a present?”

  “Of course I'm going to bring you a gift.”

  “Nah, not a gift.”

  Isis laughed. “Okay Trent what do you want me to give you? I know where this is going.”

  “At my first birthday party ever I want a kiss from a beautiful girl.”

  “This is your first birthday party?” she asked.

  “First party of any kind,” Trent confirmed.

  “So is this beautiful girl me?”

  “Stop playing girl.”

  Isis laughed. “I will think about it. How is that?”

  “I'm talking about a real kiss. Not on the cheek or anything like that.”

  “Not on the cheek?” she teased.

  “Hell nah...I'm talking about mouths open, tongues and grinding.”

  “Stop. Back up.”

  Trent laughed. “Okay, no grinding then.”

  “What do you know about mouths open, tongues and grinding anyway?” she asked.

  “Isis, you keep thinking because I'm not a certain age I don't know anything. I know a lot Tamale; a whole lot more than you think.”

  “Okay Trent.” Isis shook her head holding her phone. “Are you still driving?” she asked.

  “Nah, I've been home awhile.”

  “Why didn't you say anything?”

  “What?”

  “You asked me to keep you company while you were driving,” she reminded him.

  “Yeah, after I dropped off April I was trying to get out; she lives in the straight hood.”

  “April is something else,” Isis commented.

  “How do you know her?” Trent asked.

  “She's friends with some people who were in a few of my classes.”

  “She was coming at me hard.”

  “Oooh, you poor baby. So fine he has to fight off all the women,” she teased.

  “It's a curse but somebody has to live with it.”

  Isis laughed then sobered. “Seriously though Trent, I'm not trying to block or anything, but April is into some things that you may not want to be a part of.”