BOMAW 10-12

by Mercedes Keyes

  "What? Don't know what? Didn't tell us what?" Omiyah perked up asking, eyes big to hear what she may have missed.

  Rochelle looked at Crystal again, "Well, spit it out - and while you at it, is he - Ben - a no - or a go?"

  Crystal hated being put on the spot - ironically enough - more so about Ben, than about her divorce from Victor.

  "Well come on, spill it - don't be pausing for dramatics!" Omiyah pushed.

  "Victor and I are divorced." She stated simply.

  "WHAT?!" Omiyah couldn't have exclaimed softer if she'd tried, repeating, "What?"

  "Yeah - I filed, he signed them - well - he says he didn't sign them, that his mother tricked him-.."

  "Ah huh, now I see, that's why his ass flipped out and burned his mama's shit down! Crazy ass white boys - I swear. Now, about the one that is your step-brother - ain't no blood, so - is he a no, or a go?"

  "Later for that! What's happening with you and Victor?" Omiyah pushed.

  "They divorced, like she said!" Rochelle drawled, "Why you illin' on that? You wantin' to move in on him again or something?"

  "No! I just wanna know." Omiyah denied, defending herself.

  "Em hm, yeah right - I just bet."

  "Rochelle don't be startin' no shit! Leave it alone." Letté spoke up saying.

  Crystal looked from Rochelle to Letté and then to Omiyah, and immediately started wondering about it, after all, she used to have a thing for Victor, everyone knew that. "Basically, there's nothing much to know, we're divorced-..." Before she could finish her sentence, a light shined on all of them from an oncoming car, they turned to watch it's approach. "...let's get out this road." She instructed, immediately noticing that it was Victor, so did the others.

  "Oooh shit - speaking of the blonde haired, blue eyed devil - he has arrived, ain't that funny?" Rochelle chimed excitedly.

  Inside the car, Victor was eyeing each of them; as soon as he saw Omiyah, his heart took off on him. They were all looking his way, which meant they were talking about him - he assumed so because they no doubt had just gotten with Crystal. He pulled up, parked, got out and was not about to leave Omiyah to possibly say something to Crystal - he swore to himself, if she said one thing, she would be sorry.

  "Why are you back here?" Crystal asked him softly.

  "I told you I would be back, don't act surprised. Whassup ladies?" He asked, but couldn't keep his eyes from straying to Omiyah.

  Crystal was watching him closely, saw the flicker - but there was nothing in it other than a fleeting glance to acknowledge her presence. They all nodded at him, quiet, feeling a bit awkward with him present because they were in the midst of finding out what was happening between them, however him being there, did add a bit of intrigue to it all, even so, Crystal turned to them, "Wanna wait for me on the porch, I won't be long."

  They all turned to head in that direction with Rochelle calling out boldly, joking, "Don't take all night! You still ain't answered my other question!" She quipped, leading the small group to take a seat.

  Crystal turned back to Victor, "You showing up like this - just to stand around, is not helping your case much - I hope you know that?"

  "What am I supposed to do Crystal? You should be home with me right now."

  "Please don't say that again! You should be sleeping to get ready for work, why aren't you at work?"

  "I took off to get my family situation in order."

  "What about the space you're supposed to be giving me?"

  "Come home, I'll give you all the space you need."

  "Come home, come home, come home! Aren't you tried of saying that? I thought that was all beneath you?"

  Victor stood silent a moment, staring into her eyes, discarding her words. He suddenly turned his upper body around to look behind him a space. Crystal could see what his eyes were on, Ben's car - across the road before the studio. A clear sign to him, that his competition was near, too near. He turned back to her, "How often is he here?"

  "This is his father's home - he can come and go as he pleases."

  "Where my wife happens to be staying." He finished the sentence on how he saw things and was stewing once more, "He stay overnight?"

  "He has a home elsewhere, but he works with Shawn - so that's why he's here."

  "Well, he's why I'm here. When he goes, I'll go. If he's here, I'll be here."

  "Victor! This is insane - I can't believe how you're trippin'!"

  "You - are - my wife! I'm not trying to argue with you, make anything hard on you. But the fact remains, I did not ask for a divorce, nor agree to a divorce. No one is going to deny me my right to be with my wife! Just so you know, the attorney I've paid, says we can more than likely get an appointment with the judge who did the divorce in his private chambers to explain the mix up - the misunderstanding and have it reversed. I've asked for the quickest appointment available - next Monday afternoon 1:45. I will be there to see to it."

  Crystal could only stare up at him. With her arms crossed over her breasts she shook her head in disbelief, "I'm not gonna talk about this with you anymore tonight. I need you to back off and let me think about things, like you said you would do."

  "I'm not backing off concerning our divorce, or from the fact that you belong to me."

  Feeling on the verge of snapping, Crystal bit out leaning up at him, "I'm not your possession, you didn't purchase me on a freakin' auction block! You're 200 plus years too late for this shit - snap out of it!"

  "No you snap out of it, you are still my wife! I didn't agree-..."

  "If I hear those words again I'm gonna scream! I know!! You don't have to keep repeating it over and over! I know!"

  "Then come home!"

  "No - do you hear me?" She started backing away from him, "No ... now leave me alone Victor, leave me alone." She spun with her back to him making her way towards her friends. She didn't care if he stood where he was all night; the whole thing was making her crazy.

  Victor remained a moment watching her depart, his eyes then swung past her to Omiyah, narrowing with a harsh glare. She must have caught it because she turned away as if she hadn't seen him, but he knew better. Backing up as well, he went into his car, closing the door, turned on the radio, and pulled out his mobile phone and began a text message session.

  Text; *You keep your mouth shut with her!*

  It only took a couple of seconds before Omiyah felt her mobile vibrating. Crystal was engaged in conversation with Rochelle and Letté, she pulled out her phone and read the message, knowing immediately who from. Her eyes rolled up to across the road where Victor sat in his car. He was sitting with his back to the passenger side door, feet up against the drivers door, watching them from the shadows, and as she knew, texting her.

  In reply, her text said, *See me later!*

  *Are you nuts - no!*

  *You're divorced - accept it - you have me. She doesn't even want you anymore.*

  Getting her reply and reading it, something occurred to him, in reply to her, *Find out what's going on w/that Ben.*

  *Meet me later, I will.*

  *An' keep your mouth SHUT!*

  *I do what I want - meet me I said.*

  *Okay dammit, later - much later.*

  *No, after we leave here - you meet me!*

  "Who you texting like crazy?" Rochelle asked, noticing.

  Quick to cover herself, she brought up her argument with her roommate that took place the day before, "Rachel damn ass - she pissing me off about my damn clothes! I told her already stay out of my shit, now she asking to wear something else of mine! Can't have shit for some people, they wanna take everything you have, or had first!" She lied, the last part with more direct meaning, to redirect anyone from catching it, she asked, "We going out tonight or what?"

  The comment went over Crystal's head because her mind was elsewhere having been telling her friends what was going on, of course unaware of the other conversation happening around her. "Naw, not tonight - I have to pass, maybe this weekend." />
  "Whatever," Rochelle commented and noticing Victor, even though they couldn't actually see him sitting in the dark car, they all knew he was there watching them. "Is he gone just sit there, watching you?" She asked.

  "He says he's not going anywhere as long as Ben is around."

  "Whoop, there it is! So he is a no go huh?" Rochelle asked.

  Crystal could have kicked herself for giving that part up. "We're just friends, but Victor sees him as a threat."

  "Ah huh huh, of course he will, fine as he is, shit!"

  "Crystal, I thought you were head over heels in love with Victor?" Kayla asked.

  "The problem is, Victor is not head over heels for me - he just sees me as his."

  "'Cause he pop that cher-ry!" Rochelle whispered so only they could here it, teasing Crystal, "He tryin' to make sure nobody else get in there. You ain't gone ever get rid of his ass, crazy ass white boy! But if this was my mama's crib, I wouldn't be having that shit, stalkin' ass!"

  "I've tried to get him to leave, but he won't go."

  "Call the police on his ass; what your mama say? Your step-dad, what he say?" Again Rochelle, she always dominated the discussion and everyone else just got theirs in when they found an opening - besides, she always gave the ride, so that automatically put her out front leading.

  "My mother is trying to be patient, and my step-dad wants to break every bone in his body."

  "Shit that's my daddy - he don't play that shit! Parking out in front of his crib, his ass would have been gone and that's that."

  "Shawn is the same way, but I asked him to just leave him alone. I don't want him getting hurt, he doesn't deserve that."

  "Screw that! No no no no, that's what's wrong with some of these fools! They don't like taking no for an answer - and you letting him, walk all over you."

  "No I'm not Rochelle! He's the father of my sons, and if what he says is true, I can't just - cut him."

  "So what you gone do? You might as well just take your ass on back home with him then! If you gone let him get away with this, it ain't over! That's why he doin' it!"

  "No, he doin' it because he can't take no for an answer!" Crystal defended.

  "No, he doin' it because your, NO, don't mean, NO, it means maybe, I'll see."

  "I personally, don't think it's so easy as that. I mean, if it were me, I wouldn't know what to do either, he's obviously in love, that's why he's there." Kayla put in.

  "He there because there is a Ben on the scene, let's just be real with it. He there because she turned him out, and not the other way around. Come on now, we all know Victor ass from school, he was the shit! Now here he is, dropped! No no, this all about his pride, that's why he won't leave - no shit on you Crystal, but hey, most nigga's be done stepped off by now, saying, fuck it, whatever - I'm out."

  "I think you right, I mean, not to bring me in on this, but look how he turned away from me? When you're after Victor, he's not interested in you. But if you turn your back on him, he's on you like white on rice - which is why he was after you in the first place Crystal, let's be honest. Plus, you were a freshy - and a virgin, he had to be the one that got you." Omiyah added her thoughts.

  Crystal just listened, turning one way and then the other, hearing what they were saying.

  "Yeah but, he married her after he got her." Rochelle reminded Omiyah, "He wasn't offerin' you nothing but some dick. So obviously he cared some."

  "'Cause she was a virgin, once he knew that, he wouldn't let go! Wouldn't be denied!"

  Crystal heard enough and stood up, "I got to go in, my mama was bathing my boys, I need to see them off to bed."

  "Em hm, other words, get the hell out my business!" Rochelle stood grinning, okay with it.

  "You mean well, but - it's me, I got to work it out."

  "And that fine ass step-brother? What about him? Can I come over for dinner every now and then, or what?" She was again joking, but testing the waters.

  "Rochelle, you welcome here anytime, as for Ben - I have no hold on him." She replied despite knowing the opposite being true.

  Jiggling her keys, rolling her eyes, "Negro please - you ask me, I'm willing to bet, he the reason yo'ass ain't back with Victor right now, that's what the stalling is all about. No biggie, I'll be back to hear about the next phase as this drama unfolds. My life ain't shit right now, so I'll follow yo' shit."

  "Ha ha ha!" Crystal sang out mockingly as they all made their way to Rochelle's car.

  On the drivers side as she opened the door, she turned to yell at Victor, "Take yo' crazy ass home white boy - 'cease that stalkin'!" She laughed at him.

  Victor sounded out with a, "Ha Ha Ha! You just mad 'cause I'm not stalking you!" He joked back, very used to Rochelle.

  "AH! So yo' flaky ass admit it! I knew that shit! Hey, but I ain't mad, shit I need a man with mo' pigmentation - tall - dark - sexy... like a Benjamin." She whispered the last part so he couldn't hear it, but Crystal did. "Rochelle get your crazy ass gone, need you makin' shit worse!" She fussed at the car.

  "He ain't hear'me! I'm just playing." Then got in the car, leaned down to look at Crystal across Kayla's lap, "Not! Go on gurl, sample you some Mr. Ben so you know - sleep around some - got to be sure!" She advised, still playing.

  "No thank you - I'll pass, see ya'll later."

  They were all in, the car was started and they pulled off.

  Crystal refused to look towards Victor even though she could feel his eyes on her, she even thought he called her name, even so, she headed back across the yard into the house where right away, she could hear her boys excited chatter from the room Mundo moved out of, that now belonged to them. They were excited because Ben was in the room with them, calming them down, putting them to bed, talking low and soothing with a voice so masculine and soothing, it worked on her frayed nerves as well. She quietly eased up to the door, staying just out of sight. There were only low, soft lights on from the lamp and night lights, she leaned over carefully peaking in to watch him. He was sitting on the bed leaning over Isaac, who was under the covers.

  "Come t'bed Ben - lay down, g'some sleep." He was patting the space next to him.

  "When I lay down, I'll be somewhere else now, our little vacation together is over."

  "You sleep here Ben, i's okay." Isaac was almost insistent.

  He was stroking Isaac's hair looking down at him, he didn't see a little boy that belonged to Victor, that looked like Victor, he saw Crystal's precious son, Isaac, that he positively adored. "If things were different, I would little man. Right now, we have to go back to normal - and that means, you won't be seeing me that much anymore - not as much as when we were in California - it'll be just now and then - when I'm working in the studio maybe. We'll talk some more later, time to get some sleep."

  "I see you in the mornin' Ben?"

  "Em, not first thing. You'll be seeing more of your father now, you should spend more time with him."

  "I'ma be wit' you Ben, Darren can be wit' him."

  Ben sighed, "Get some sleep tonight okay, give me a kiss and hug?"

  Isaac sat up right away, hugging him tight. Ben held him, squeezing him, kissed his forehead, his brow, and held him for a moment as if he struggled to let go, until Darren called out, "Kiss Ben, kiss!"

  He smiled, telling Isaac, "Lay down now, gotta learn to share me." Isaac laid down, quiet, watching him as he moved to the crib, lifting Darren out of it, hugging him, his large hand palming the round back of his blonde curly head of hair, kissing his face, his sweet little mouth and holding him, rocking him a moment, "Love you little mister, gonna go right to sleep right?"

  "Ni-ni Ben." He nodded with Ben Laying him back in the crib, covering him up. He stood staring at him a moment and then turned his head to look at Isaac. He missed them already, because he knew - it was only a matter of time before Victor probably blocked him from them entirely - he could see it coming.

  He turned away heading for the door and saw Crystal standing back, that she'd been watching hi
m. He had nothing to say and so pulled the door slightly to and went to pass her by.

  "Ben - please ..." She whispered real low.

  He stopped, his back to her, hating the sound of her voice, the pleading in it. That's all she had to do, just say his name and he'd stop. She moved closer to him, right behind him, he could feel her there, her hand lightly touched his back as she softly reminded him, "... you said - you promised me - we'd always be friends. Remember? You promised me that."

  He turned to her in the dark hallway, staring down at her, "It was something you promised as well. How can I be a friend to someone that doesn't even trust me? You claim, to not know me, why should we be friends if that's true?" He whispered back.

  She gazed into his eyes there in the hallway, and wanted to sink into him. She wanted his arms around her even if just for a moment, it was as if he hadn't heard her words, because he wanted her to say something more. All she knew for certain is that she didn't want to lose him, what they shared. Having Rochelle go on about him shook her up a bit within, if she were to be honest with herself. She didn't want him turning to another woman, yet - she would not give him what he sought from her. She knew she was being selfish for this, but couldn't help that, she couldn't move forward - nor could she move back from him, not now.

  "Well?" He whispered sharply.

  His tone with her brought tears to her eyes, she didn't know what it was about him? With Victor, the tone would have made her bristle up, take offense, as if she had to defend herself, but with Ben, it made her want to reason with him, make things better.

  "Between you - and him, you guys are draining me. I don't wanna lose what we share. I'm sorry I accused you instead of asking you. I'm sorry for everything happening right now. I'm sorry - that - I'm handling this so wrong. Everyone has the answer - but they're not in my shoes. All I want to do - is - is..." She was on the verge of crying, "... is be fair - to him and be honest - with you - but it's not enough, I'm getting it from both ends, nothing I do is eno-..."

  Ben grabbed her, herding her into the bathroom they stood next to for quick privacy.