#4 Truth and Nothing But

by Stephanie Perry Moore

  “If you thought I threatened you, miss, then my apologies.” Then he leaned in closer to me and said, “But I meant what I said.”

  I started shaking. Mr. Hobby rolled his eyes and walked off. I was very frustrated that the whole encounter occurred in the first place.

  “How you going to defend her? I really thought that we had a chance,” Trevy yelled at Reese before he could check her.

  “You gon’ get with my cousin, and you think we have a chance?” he said, letting another bomb drop.

  Shocked, I said, “It was his cousin?”

  The more I knew about all the details between the two of them, the less I wished I knew. Trevy was trifling. Before the month started, love wasn’t on my mind. Now I was open to it. It was clear to me that she didn’t deserve a second chance. He was way too cool of a guy to settle for her crap. Why should I always be the one yielding? Sometimes it is just time to go for it.

  Trevy placed her arm in Reese’s. The chick was not backing off at all. When he didn’t walk away, I turned to leave. He quickly stepped to me then and grabbed my arm.

  “Please, let go of my arm,” I said to Reese. I wanted to go and sit with my sisters to watch the rest of the football game.

  “Come on, Sloan, just let me talk to you for a second,” he begged.

  “What do you have to say to me?” I uttered.

  Trevy was standing there practically breathing fire down his neck, looking at me like she wanted to throw daggers my way. And he wanted me to stand there and talk to him? As bad as I wanted them to be done, what they had was not through.

  “Trevy, could you please give us some privacy?” Reese said, sensing I was uncomfortable.

  With her watery eyes, she pleaded that he should give her a second chance. He shook his head in rejection. She threw up her hands and stomped away.

  “Now it’s just me and you,” he said in a relaxing tone.

  “Okay,” I said, trying to sound uninterested. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “Us…”

  “Us?” I laughed. “There is no us.”

  “I sense there’s something starting. Now that you know all my relationship history, I want to lay all my cards out on the table. I like you, Sloan. I tried to come at you in a sly, slick sort of way, but you deserve to know what’s up.”

  Trying to not get pulled into the mess, I said, “You’re not finished with whatever you got going on with Trevy.”

  “Yes, we’re done. You didn’t hear what I said? I caught her cheating with my cousin. I’m not going down that route no more.”

  “Well, this road’s blocked too.”

  “Why you doing that when you know you want to be with me?”

  “That’s mighty presumptuous, Reese.”

  “So I’m just making up this magnetic force between us? I can’t take my eyes off you. I’ve been longing to do this,” Reese said as he leaned in and kissed me.

  I wanted to smack him. I wanted to pull him even closer. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. So confused, I yanked away and ran off to find my sisters. Instead, I bumped right into our assistant principal, Mr. Hobby. “Listen, you know I wasn’t stealing anything, right?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. I didn’t have any time for his bull, but he wouldn’t move. Thinking back on what just happened, I wiped my mouth, still not believing I had been kissed for the very first time.

  “I don’t know, sir. If you say so, okay,” I said, trying to step around him.

  “No, you need to know I didn’t because I don’t want you going around telling people what you think you know and have that cause me a lot of drama. So, we settled it, right?”

  “Okay.” I said, willing to admit anything that would make him go away.

  “Good, because I have a wife and kid. I don’t have the next mayor in my back pocket. I’ve got to look out for me and make my own way. I had a baby at a young age. I had to put myself through school. So I was working two, three jobs.”

  I didn’t need him to hate on me because he made bad choices. Again, I just tried to walk around him, but he stepped the same way I did. He would not let me get to the other side.

  Once more, using a scary tone, he said, “If I don’t have this job, I don’t have anything.”

  “Okay, sir,” I uttered loudly as I stepped back.

  Now I knew he had taken the money. He was going way overboard, trying to ensure that I didn’t turn him in.

  Since I had no proof, I firmly looked him in his eyes and said, “I’m not going to say anything right now.”

  He went off. “Right now? What, what does that mean?”

  “Okay, I’m not going to say anything. Now, please move.”

  Our principal, Dr. Garner, came by and said, “Is everything okay over here?”

  Mr. Hobby stepped out of the way and said, “Yeah, just congratulating Miss Sharp here on being one of the first daughters.”

  “Is that true?” Dr. Garner asked me.

  That made me think he had some doubts on Mr. Hobby himself. Still, I nodded. No need in making things worse just yet.

  “Have you seen my sisters, sir?” I asked, looking on the home side of the stands.

  “Yes, they are sitting right up top of the student section,” Dr. Garner said, still sounding cautious of Mr. Hobby.

  “Okay, thanks,” I said before taking off.

  Seeing Shelby, Ansli, Slade, and Yuri was sure a sight for sore eyes. I practically missed the whole game. Now it was going into the fourth quarter, but thankfully, Marks was winning.

  “Tell us about the boyfriend!” Shelby said, striking up a conversation as soon as she saw me. The game was nothing much to watch.

  “There’s nothing to tell,” I told the four of them in a strong tone. I didn’t want any of them to ask me any questions, particularly Yuri because she always knew how to read me.

  If she looked deep into my eyes, she’d be able to tell I was hiding something. I couldn’t even believe what had just happened. I certainly wasn’t ready to talk about it.

  “Hey, Dad!” Shelby said into her phone. “Naw, we’re about to blow this joint. Probably come home. You on your way there?… Huh, you’re in the parking lot?… Yeah, we can come out… Dad, I’m sure whatever you picked is fine… Okay, we’re coming.”

  Soon as my sister got off of the phone, all of us wanted to know why dad was in the parking lot. We gave Shelby an inquisitive look. She looked back at us like, “Don’t ask. Just come on.”

  Since I always asked questions, I said, “What’s going on?”

  “Dad’s doing something for Mom, so he’s got these two pieces of jewelry that the jewelry store loaned him. We can help decide which one she’d like.”

  Fifteen minutes later, we easily spotted the Town Car that my dad was in. He stepped out of the car, but I could see female legs sitting inside. So I opened the car door, but my dad shut it quickly.

  “I’m working on something,” he said.

  But I’d seen those legs, those perfectly toned and shaped legs. And I remembered the shoes. Miss X was in his limousine. My father showed us two suede jewelry boxes, and when he opened them, my sisters were all goo-goo eyed, and they were arguing over which necklace to pick. I didn’t even bother looking.

  When they decided on one, he hugged them and said, “Your mom is going to love this.”

  “And who’s getting the other one?” I said sarcastically.

  Looking at me like I was crazy, my dad hesitantly said, “It’s going back to the jewelry store. That’s where I’m taking it now, and I’m gonna buy this one.”

  “Yeah, okay,” I said rudely.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Shelby asked.

  “Dad knows,” I said as I looked at him in a way that said I wanted to punch him.

  “Dad, we’re going to get some pizza. You want to come out with us?” Yuri asked.

  He replied, “No, I’ve got to go to the jewelry store, and I’m still working with a colleague. I won’
t be in for a while.”

  “Aw, Dad…” Yuri said.

  “I know, Joybell. You girls eat though, and get on home,” he said.

  “We just wish you could come,” Yuri told him.

  “Yup, trying to get everything in order for January. After the inauguration, I want to get going full speed, so I’m working overtime. I know it’s a lot to ask you girls to give up your dad like this, but I’ve been around so much when we were campaigning, I’m sure you’re tired of me now.”

  I told my sisters I’d be right there, and my dad said, “What’s been going on with you?”

  “Why can’t I get in the limousine?”

  “Why’d you need to get in the limousine?”

  “That’s not what I was asking, Dad. Seems like there’s a problem, and I know what it is.”

  “What?”

  “Who’s that in there?”

  “I just told you and your sisters. I’m working with a colleague.”

  “Yeah, right, Dad. I guess I’m just disappointed. I thought our family meant more than that to you.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Forget it.”

  “I know it’s a lot. I’m secretive about things going on right now, but a lot of this stuff is…”

  “What, classified?” I cut in and said.

  “Not necessarily, but isn’t everything you girls want to know? It will reveal itself in time.”

  “Yeah, but then it might be too late.”

  “Trust me, baby, I would never let anything harm you or hurt you or our family.” He tried to sound reassuring.

  “I hear what you’re saying, but I’m not sure I believe it.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but relax. Go have fun with your sisters. I hate that I can’t be there. Don’t wait up.”

  He kissed me on the cheek, got in the car, and drove away. Playing the good daughter and not confronting him was becoming harder and harder. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold it all in.

  Monday, walking into Marks High School, I was all smiles. Reese and I had been texting back and forth over the weekend. It was simple stuff, but it was cute stuff. We had a connection that was growing. I couldn’t wait to see him. He wasn’t in the front like usual, so I went on to PE class.

  In class, all the girls were mad because we had to run around the track. No one wanted a zero, so we had to get running. I looked at my phone and debated texting Reese. I decided against it. I just planned on seeing him after class. I locked the phone, locked my locker, and took off to the track.

  Reese ran through my mind even when I was running. When I saw him, I was going to give him a kiss no matter who was around.

  Finally, class was over, and we all needed a shower. I was the first one in. I had a really bad habit of taking long showers. My sisters always got on me at home for doing that. I really couldn’t afford to do it at school. For one, other people were waiting to get in the shower, and two, I had to hurry up to get ready to go on to class before I was late. However, for some reason just thinking about Reese made me take a long shower anyway. When I turned on the water, I leaned back. I put my hand on my head and just stood there. I heard a click, and when I opened my eyes I realized time was passing and I was hallucinating.

  My sister yelled for me. “Girl, you better come on!”

  “Alright, Yuri. I can’t believe you let me stay in there that long.”

  “I didn’t know if your cycle started or something, girl, and you needed to wash up.”

  “Hahaha…”

  “Hurry up!”

  When I dashed out of the shower and went over to the lockers, Trevy was standing there. I had my towel on all tight. I needed her to give me some privacy, but she would not move.

  “Trevy, I got to hurry up and get dressed.”

  “This won’t take nothing but a second.”

  “You heard my sister. She needs to hurry up. We’re going to be late,” Yuri told her.

  Trevy held up her finger. “Real quick.”

  “Okay, okay. Yes?” I said.

  “I just wanted to apologize to you. I feel bad that I was so rude Friday. I really wanted Reese back, but over the weekend I had a chance to think about it, and I’m the one who messed up our relationship. He deserves to try something new, and you seem to like him. So can we be friends?” Trevy stretched out her hand.

  “Friends is a stretch,” Yuri said to her, sounding like me.

  “Yeah, I don’t know about all that,” I said, holding tight to my towel.

  “I just don’t think it would be wise for us to be enemies,” Trevy said coldly, like there was a double meaning with what she was saying.

  “Can we just take it one day at a time?” I asked her.

  She went from a frown to a smile. I didn’t know how to take that. Was she faking or what?

  Trevy said, “Okay, sounds good. You better hurry and get dressed. The bell is going to ring any minute, and nobody wants to miss what’s next.”

  “What’s next?” Yuri asked her.

  “I think we’re having a fire drill.”

  “How would you know that?” Yuri asked.

  “Mr. Hobby just keeps talking to me now. Wonder why, Sloan, huh?”

  I knew why. Because she sucked up to him and told him that Reese and I were hot on his tail. My sister walked Trevy out. I didn’t have a lot of time to get dressed. Since I had to share a bathroom with my two sisters, I was accustomed to moving quickly. I opened up my locker, and within minutes I was dressed.

  Before the bell rung, the fire alarm went off just like Trevy had predicted. We were all outside in a minute, and we were out there for a long time too. With as long as it was taking, we didn’t know if this was an actual fire or a drill.

  Then people starting looking at me. First, I thought I was being paranoid. But when I looked to the left, I got stares, and when I looked to the right, I got smiles. Once we were told we could go back in, Shelby, Ansli, and Slade came running up to me.

  “Oh my gosh, Sloan! Why would you take that?” Shelby yelled as she shook me hard.

  I stared at her, confused. Shelby didn’t let up.

  Shelby said, “Don’t play. I know you just thought you sent it to that guy, but guys are trifling.”

  “What are you talking about?” Yuri asked her.

  “Yeah, what are you talking about?” I repeated.

  “Just show her!” Ansli said, shaking her head in disgust.

  “I don’t even know how to,” Shelby said.

  “You better show her. It’s going around,” Slade uttered.

  Shelby started twiddling with her phone. I grabbed it, and I was appalled to see myself leaning up against the bathroom shower with my head back, a smile on my face, and nothing on my body.

  “What, who, huh? How did you get this? Who else has this?” I stuttered.

  Yuri leaned in, and as soon as she saw it, I closed the thing, automatically embarrassed. Even though my sisters had seen me bare before, never had it been on a phone and never had it looked like I was posing for Playboy or something. What in the world was going on? How did Shelby have this on her phone? Is that why people were looking at me all crazy? Oh my gosh! My eyes started watering up. People were laughing and pointing. Mercifully, the all-clear bell rang. Ansli and Shelby put their arms around me, and we went into the girls’ bathroom.

  “What happened? Why would you take a selfie like this? And why’d you send it to that boy?” Shelby asked me.

  “I didn’t take this! How could I? And I didn’t send it to anybody! What is going on?” I cried out.

  “Well it’s been forwarded from Reese’s phone to a whole bunch of people.”

  When she told me that, I just broke down crying. I didn’t take a picture of myself nude, and I didn’t send it to him. Even if I did, I could not believe he had the gall to send it out to other people. Just when I let my guard down a little bit and trusted him with my heart, he stomped on my sacrifice.

/>   CHAPTER FIVE

  SPEECHLESS

  My mouth hung open. I couldn’t take my eyes off of my own body plastered on the cell phone for the world to see. It was like I was in a trance. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream, but I was frozen. How did this happen? Clearly, I could see myself in the shower, leaning back and smiling like I was posing. But I did not take a selfie. Though I remember dozing off, dreaming about Reese and imagining us together, I didn’t have my phone in the shower, so I could not have done this.

  “We’re talking to you, Sloan!” Shelby said after shaking me a bit.

  Ansli grabbed my hand to wake me out of my haze and tried to get me to focus. “How did this happen, Sloan?”

  “I don’t know? Yuri and I just left gym,” I said, trying to get my thoughts together. I was starting to choke up.

  “Yeah, I don’t know either,” Yuri said, completely dumbfounded as well.

  “Well, I got two problems,” Slade said. “One, I can’t believe you would take this, but guys can make us do dumb junk. I’m sure you meant it for his eyes only. My second problem is why would he send it out to other people?”

  My sister had a great point about Reese selling me out. However, it was hard to focus on that when I was still stuck on how the gross picture got taken and sent to him from my phone. Why was this happening?

  “Guys, I didn’t take this picture,” I tried explaining to my sisters with the utmost sincerity in my eyes.

  They couldn’t even look at me. I could see the doubt on their faces. Realizing they didn’t believe me, I knew I had a big problem. I stared at Yuri. Surely she still had my back.

  “If she said she didn’t do it, she didn’t do it,” Yuri explained very unconvincingly to the other three.

  “That’s all well and good, Yuri, but where was your phone, Sloan?” Shelby asked.

  Slade piped in, “Yeah, if you didn’t take it in the shower with you, where would it have been, Sis?”

  Tired of the interrogation, I yelled, “Locked in the locker!”

  Shelby shrugged her shoulders. “Doesn’t add up. Are you sure you locked it up?”

  “Yes, I am,” I uttered, insulted.