Crossroads: An Anthology

by LaShaun, Elizabeth

  She had no doubt that once she got him in bed his attention would be back where it belonged, on her. Wasting no time she pushed him hard onto the black satin sheet covered bed. Before he could react she straddled him allowing their lips to connect.

  Stacy stood in the doorway frozen. She couldn’t believe that she was attracted to Chad, let alone aroused. She couldn’t help but yearn for him to caress her the way he was caressing Janelle. Seeing his manhood come to life she clinched her legs as her juices began to pool. What in the world, she thought unable to take her thoughts off of him. “Come here,” he told her in a commanding and husky tone. Stacy would never be able to explain how she went from the standing in the doorway thinking about sex to riding a dick that she would swear was made just for her. She couldn’t explain why she was screaming his name and begging for him to go deeper and never stop, but she was. His hands on her hips were driving her wild and she was at his mercy.

  Janelle sat on the bed beet red. Chad and Stacy were in their own utopia miles away from her. She was almost on her way to jail when she reached out to him and he looked at her with a mixture of lust and annoyance.

  “No she didn’t,” she mumbled aloud as she watched Stacy allow Chad to hit it from the back.

  It had taken months of dating for Janelle to be able to see Stacy’s back. It was grotesquely scarred from the third degree burns she suffered as a child. Her father was in one of his infamous drunken stupors when an electrical fire caused the house to go up in a blaze. Stacy called out her father’s name and screamed as the fire danced on her back. Her father looked her in the eyes for a few seconds, which felt like hours and ran out of the house to safety leaving Stacy behind.

  Chad kissed Stacy’s disfigured back as hot tears rolled from her eyes. Feeling his ending looming he slowed down until he felt her center contract.

  “Aargh,” Stacy screamed in ecstasy as her head began to spin and her body forsook her.

  “OK Chad, its time for you to go,” Janelle hissed before he could catch his breath. “Don’t call me,” she continued throwing his clothes at him.“Or my woman,” she said with a threatening stare.

  In his weakened state Chad didn’t argue with Janelle. He knew he would be seeing Stacy again whether Janelle liked it or not.

  Chapter Seven

  Pastor Toplin stared at his son with intense eyes. He couldn’t believe he had the nerve to stand in front of him and tell him a lie. He had been lied to by the best and told the best bullshit ever uttered. He knew his son was having sex and it was damn good sex at that. Inwardly he was pleased, at least he knew he wasn’t gay, but sex complicated things. Finally Jah’s ignorant ass was gone and here was another problem.

  “I want you to invite this non-existent person to the church banquet next month,” he instructed as Chad sighed deeply and stood.

  Knowing there was nothing he could say his son gave him a simple head nod before heading to the door.

  “Chad,” Toplin called after him. “You know I am doing this for your own good and one day you will thank me.”

  Chad once again nodded and left his presence. Toplin only said the words because it was the first thing to say. He didn’t give a damn if Chad thanked him or not. He would be the mayor of the city one day and that was not up for discussion.

  ***

  Stacy sat in a corner booth waiting for Chad. She hated that she couldn’t sit by the window like she normally did, but she couldn’t risk Janelle seeing her. It was funny that her girlfriend passed the diner everyday but wouldn’t step foot in it. Stirring her tea, Stacy reflected on her and Janelle’s relationship. She would be lying if she said that she didn’t love her, but the love was not the same. Her life once revolved around Janelle. She was finally the center of attention for a change.

  “Hey baby,” Chad greeted kissing her softly, producing butterflies in Stacy stomach.

  “What’s up,” he asked picking up on her melancholy mood. Stacy told him nothing and asked if he was hungry.

  “Stacy you need to leave her,” he threw out irritated.

  “It’s not easy Chad, she was there when no one else was and what did I do in return? I have been cheating on her for a month.”

  Chad couldn’t understand the hold Janelle had over Stacy. If anything, Janelle broke her further. Whenever he told her she was beautiful she looked at him with surprise in her eyes as if no one had ever told her.

  “She deserves what she gets if you ask me,” Chad began anew.

  “Chad, you don’t understand,” she screamed louder than either one of them expected.

  “Why don’t you help me understand,” Chad countered curious about the hold Janelle had on Stacy.

  Seeing that Chad would not let the conversation go, Stacy released a heavy sigh and began.

  “I have known Janelle for a few years. She is a model and I told you my best friend Riley is a fashion consultant.”

  “The same Riley that doesn’t like her either and you are not talking to because of an argument about her right,” Chad asked sarcastically.

  Are you going to let me finish,” Stacy answered and continued when Chad gave her a lazy shrug of his shoulders. “Well I knew her but we weren’t close or even talked. I always thought she was attractive but wouldn’t approach her,” Stacy paused uncomfortable with talking about her lover with her boyfriend.

  Picking up on her apprehension Chad encouraged her to continue.

  “Well I was staying with my foster mother if she had an available room and working at McDonalds. Janelle approached me telling me how pretty I was and we started dating. I moved into her place three months later and she encouraged me to apply for the job at the library since I was always there.” Releasing another sigh Stacy asked, “Now do you see why I have a hard time leaving her? She was there for me when I had nothing.”

  Chad didn’t see how Stacy could feel indebted to Janelle. He was sure that Janelle had an ulterior motive for her sudden attraction to Stacy. He didn’t know how right he was. Janelle knew Riley and Stacy were best friends. She observed the love the two shared for each other. Starting a relationship with Stacy revitalized the small modeling career she had, with Riley’s reluctant aid.

  “Look,” she continued lowering her voice and grabbing his hands. “Let’s just go to the hotel and concentrate on us.”

  A look of disgust came over Chad’s face. He had been lying to his mother and Pastor for a month. He was actually falling for her and she was too afraid to leave her trifling ass chick. “I feel sick all of a sudden,” he said nastily. “I guess I’ll talk to ya later.”

  Stacy reached out for him, but Chad pulled away. He was risking everything to be with Stacy and she could care less it seemed.

  Stacy could not believe Chad was being so inconsiderate and didn’t protest when he walked away. She was risking a lot by having an affair with him. If Janelle put her out she couldn’t stay with him. He still stayed at home with his parents. She really did care for him and even felt she was falling in love, but she felt obligated to Janelle. She was fully aware of Janelle’s eccentric attitude but there was a loving and protective side of Janelle. Just this morning they argued because Janelle said her jeans were too tight and her shirt was too revealing. They had been arguing a lot since their threesome. It seemed as if Janelle’s jealously had increased tenfold. She would pop up at her job unexpectedly and had begun checking her phone. With Chad being upset with her too, she felt overwhelmed.

  “I need to talk to Riley,” she said to herself as she grabbed her purse.

  ***

  The Bears and Green Bay game was tied in the third quarter. Riley had no true interest in the outcome since neither team was his home team, but decided to root for the Bears being that they were the underdog.

  “Who is that,” he mumbled as he heard the doorbell ring. He wasn’t expecting anyone. Chantrese was on location at a photo shoot. Walking down the stairs he saw his front door open and knew only two people had the key to his house. He doubted
it was Ms. Mary, but he hadn’t seen Stacy in a month. His mouth dropped as she came into full view. She was gorgeous; chic, breezy, happy. Her form fitting cropped pants and pale pink baby doll top were so different from her normal attire. He wasn’t aware that she was so curvy. Does she have on makeup, he wondered as he examined her beautiful face. She doesn’t have on a baseball cap, he continued to brood completely taken aback.

  “I hope you don’t mind me using the key,” Stacy stated awkwardly. “I rang the bell a few times and wanted to make sure you were okay,” she stammered.

  Finally recuperating from his shock, Riley told her to come in and have a seat on the couch.

  “Dang I forgot this game came on,” Stacy stated excitedly with her eyes glued to the television.

  Riley smiled unseen by his best friend. He had missed her a lot. He could see a change in her instantly, but he could see she was still his Stacy.

  “Can you get me a beer,” Stacy asked absently, still engulfed in the game.

  Riley chuckled and headed to the kitchen for the beverages.

  The last month had felt awkward. Before a day hadn’t passed without them talking but he had made it, with Chantrese’s help. He was feeling Chantrese but something was missing. The sex was great and she was fun to be around, but he couldn’t see himself falling for her. He had thought about breaking it off. It was obvious that Chantrese was falling for him, but he continued seeing her. Since he had never been in love he assumed that he was expecting too much.

  “It’s about time,” Stacy joked when Riley handed her the beer.

  “Shut up big head,” he chuckled while plopping down on the couch.

  The bond the two friends shared was strong and soon they found themselves back in their rhythm. Stacy was rooting for the Packers, just to irritate Riley. They laughed and talked smack for the next twenty minutes. Riley couldn’t help but take in her shapely body in her conservative, but sexy outfit. He was curious to know what caused her change, since she always dressed tomboyish.

  “So, why haven’t you called me,” Stacy asked after the game ended.

  Riley laughed before giving her a look.

  “I guess it’s the same reason you didn’t call me. I have a girlfriend,” he replied snidely.

  “What,” Stacy asked with wide eyes.

  Riley had slept with more than his fair share of women but he never gave any of them titles let alone the coveted title of girlfriend.

  “And when did this happen,” Stacy asked, sucking her teeth. Is she jealous, Riley wondered bewildered.

  “We have been talking for about a month,” he replied with a smirk. “You thought you were the only person who could get a woman.

  An unexplainable anger came over Stacy. She didn’t know why she was so upset but she wanted to rip Riley’s head off right now.

  “I haven’t been spending much time with my girlfriend lately,” she began putting emphasis on girlfriend. “Most of my time has been spent with my new boyfriend.”

  Riley’s jaw clenched and his eyes quickly scanned her body. That was why she had changed so drastically. She has a man? Naw, not Stacy, she would never be with a man, he inwardly concluded calming a bit.

  “So where did you meet this so called man,” he asked deciding to play along with Stacy.

  A frown came across his face when she diverted her eyes.

  That was the one question she didn’t want to answer. She could never lie to Riley, and she knew with the guilt she felt about the threesome attempting to lie would be pointless. “Where you meet him at,” Riley asked again forcefully, assuming Janelle had pulled her into some more bullshit. Stacy jumped at the sound of his voice and mumbled, “We had a threesome”.

  “Why the fuck would you let Janelle convince you to do such a thing,” he boomed disappointed.

  Stacy quickly explained that she was trying to compromise and be understanding. Riley gave her a look, making her feel a deeper need to explain. “I didn’t expect to be so attracted to him Riley,” she continued with a lustful look in her eyes as her mind went back in time. “It was like we were the only two there.” Stacy was so wrapped in her memory that she shared the details of their loving making with a look of total bliss covering her face.

  Riley was fuming as he listened to Stacy talk about this Chad character. Quickly the question of: why wasn’t I good enough, popped into his head. She didn’t even sound like this when she first met Janelle.

  “So just because you had great sex he is your boyfriend?”

  Stacy quickly rolled her eyes. What she had with Chad was so much more. She told him how he loved reading and wanted to work in the literary industry. Her eyes lit up as she talked about his dream of being an author and the great quality of his work. Joy was in her voice as she talked about the way they could talk for hours about jazz, movies, and current events. She is in love, he concluded as she continued to talk and the envy screamed on the inside.

  “Well as long as he makes you happy,” he said weakly.

  “He does,” she quickly answered but became sullen when she said, “and Janelle is making me miserable.

  Chapter Eight

  “Uggh,” Janelle screamed as she once again got Stacy’s voicemail. “Where the hell is she!” Stacy was changing and it was definitely for the worse. The skimpy clothes and missed calls were driving Janelle up the wall. She wanted the Stacy that doted over her every need back. This new bitch had to go. Janelle found herself checking on Stacy and Chad the best she could. She could never catch them together but deep down she knew they were together.

  “Talk about fucking irony,” she chuckled as she turned to the mirror to apply her makeup.

  She was the one to bring Chad into the relationship and now she was plotting to kick him out.

  “Fuck,” she hissed as she looked at the pimples that were on her face.

  All the stress was causing her to have terrible outbreaks, which was making her lose money. The chirping of her cell notified her that she had a text. If she could break everything in the dressing room, she would. Stacy was sending her a message that she was going to check out a jazz club since she was working late and would see her when she got home. For a second the thought of leaving the shoot and heading to the club crossed her mind but she needed the money badly. She had been cancelled from three previous gigs because of her acne.

  ***

  “Looks like you could use some Proactive,” Riley joked as he placed the clothes on the rack and left the room.

  Laugh now bitch, she thought as she snatched the lipstick off the vanity. She knew soon she would be getting the last laugh as far as Riley went.

  “You are a bad bitch,” she repeated to the mirror until she believed it.

  Taking a deep breath she went to the clothes rack and grabbed the hideous dress. She would take care of Riley, get Stacy back in line and live the life she was accustomed too. For the first time in weeks Janelle had a genuine smile on her face as she headed to the set.

  ***

  The day was perfect for a picnic. The sun was shining and it was a perfect eighty degrees. Chad had been checking out Swan Park for a few days and determined that it was safe. He had instructed Stacy to meet him in the park for a walk. He wanted to surprise her with the turkey sandwiches, chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. Seeing her crossing the street he hid behind the wall of the parks entrance.

  “Boo,” instantly Stacy jumped and grabbed her chest. “Aww sorry baby I was just practicing,” he whispered in her ear.

  “That wasn’t funny,” she pouted walking ahead of him.

  Chad laughed and ran to her. He told her that he just wanted to make sure she was prepared for the stalkers that would come since she was dressed so sexy. No matter how hard she tried Stacy could never stay mad at Chad.

  “I thought we were going for a walk,” she said noticing he was leading her off the walk trail.

  Chad didn’t answer her, instead he continued to lead her deeper into the park.

&
nbsp; Chad smiled as he felt Stacy squeeze his hand. “Aww baby,” she squealed before kissing him so deeply that he fell on the ground, Stacy on top of him.

  “I get all this for a turkey sandwich,” Chad laughed.

  “Its so much more than turkey sandwiches,” she began as her eyes became misty. “It the fact that you took the time to make the sandwiches or buy them, put them in the basket, and set this up for me.”

  Chad wiped the two tears that had fallen from Stacy’s eyes. That’s why he loved her, she made it easy. While other girls expected the moon and the stars, Stacy just wanted him; making him want to give her the moon and the stars. The banquet was in two weeks and he was nervous to ask her until now.

  “Baby, I want to ask you something,” he began nervously. Stacy quickly kissed his lips reassuringly. “My parents want to meet you at our church banquet in two weeks,” he blurted out as a smile came over his lover’s face. She knew how much Chad tried to live up to his father’s expectation and was floored that he wanted her to meet them. Quickly she agreed kissing him passionately once again. The fire inside of them raged so high that they left without touching their food.

  ***

  “Bitch, I wish you would back out,” Janelle hissed through clenched teeth. “Your career will be over before the measly son-of-a-bitch begins,” she added for good measure. She heard the other party try to speak but hung up. There was nothing left to say. The job would be done because of self-preservation. Smelling smoke Janelle ran to the kitchen to check her roast. She couldn’t believe that she was cooking to make Stacy happy. She had been with a few men and women since the threesome to get back at Stacy but only found herself more miserable. None of them cared about her. They didn’t smile because she smiled. It was just sex. She heard the front door open and quickly went to the front door to greet Stacy.

  “Hey ba-,” was all she managed before Stacy ran to the bathroom with her hand over her mouth.