by Tiece
***
Around twelve that night, Sheila had finally awakened looking around her bedroom and realizing that she was home. “Damn,” she whispered while rubbing her head like at first she was confused. There were no signs of a hangover, but she’d definitely had her share of drinks earlier in the day. Luke had been more than nice to her in helping her get home. All she remembered was him pulling up in her driveway and dropping her off. He waited patiently inside of his and watched her enter her house, and then he left.
She glanced beside her at the empty space in her bed. Jay wasn’t there and it hurt like hell. She reached over and grabbed her cell phone, turning it back on. It had been off due to Jay continually calling and her not answering it. She was done playing the girl that men used and cheated on. It hurt her thinking that Jay was the one when in actuality he wasn’t. Thoughts that she should’ve completely left him alone back when he wanted to leave her alone, taunted her. She felt like such a fool. Of course he’d done all he could do to make up for that and had even asked to marry her, but in the end it just wasn’t enough and over and over again that hurt like hell.
She felt sick to her stomach, feeling like she was about to head into a deep depression. She was literally sick as the tears fell down her face.
“Why is this happening to me?” She thought. She got up and walked into the adjoining master bathroom. The first thing she did was turn on the bathroom light, and then stared at herself in the mirror. Her auburn colored hair looked shabby pulled up in a straggly ponytail with long strands of hair hanging loosely around the edges. Her massacre had smeared around her eyes. “Damn, I look like a raccoon.” She said just above a whisper with a sad shake of the head. “Get it together, Sheila. This ain’t you.” She attempted to coach herself, but it was hard and she didn’t know how she’d come back from this break-up.
She headed back into her bedroom and reached for her phone. She thought about Scarlett and wanted to talk to her so bad. They were close, but not as close as she was hoping they’d start being. It was all her fault that Scarlett had pulled away from her. She wanted nothing more than to change that. She wanted so desperately to call her and tell her how she was feeling. Unselfishly, she actually wanted to know how things were with her since she’d learned of the engagement from Luke. “Damn, why didn’t I know that?” She said, and then scrolled through her messages as she reread the last time they’d chatted earlier in the day.
Hey Sheila, I’m headed out of town for the night. I have some news to share with you when I get back. Red
What news? And where is your fast ass going? Lol Superwoman
I’m going to Savannah with Troy. And, you’ll see when I get back. We’ll be twins now. Talk to you then. Red
Twins huh? Got me wondering what that is about, but Okay, have fun Bestie. We’ll chat when you come back. Superwoman
“That’s what she was talking about.” She said, now not feeling bad that Scarlett hadn’t told her the good news. Apparently things had happened so fast that she didn’t have time to tell her. Troy must’ve seen a good thing and whisked her away before Luke could attempt to come back in her life. “He better be glad he did that.” She said continuing to talk to herself while thinking that with April not carrying Luke’s baby now that Troy had better do something or it might’ve been over for him.
She thought about Luke and the time they’d spent at the Juke Joint. Talking to him was cool and he was indeed a gentleman for making sure that she made it home safely. She could tell that he really did love Scarlett. It was unfortunate for him that she’d moved on. However, if they ended up in the same room and the sparks was still there then no telling how that would play out. She’d promised to help him get her back, but if Scarlett was truly happy then she’d have to think about that one. She didn’t want to do any further damage to their friendship. She only wanted to start making things right for her.
As she sat there now scrolling through her phone’s messages she stopped on a particular message from a name that always stood out to her, because at one point it reminded her that he meant a lot to her.
PlayBoy Mike, she thought with a cautious smile. Mike was Sheila’s ex-boyfriend through high school, and up until she and Jay had started kicking it they’d just really called it completely off. He was also a piece of work and she didn’t trust him no further than she could throw him. He’d broken her heart into pieces and left her hanging on many occasions to go be with another. He even told her once that it wasn’t her; he was just addicted to sex and couldn’t help himself. She opened up the text messages that he’d sent her. Ironically, she had those on a security lock inside a hidden vault on her phone. Some things she just wanted to still keep sacred like reading back over messages that made her smile, even it was from an ex-boyfriend. “What girl doesn’t want to look back on some of her best memories?” She said just above a whisper. Mike gave her that, but he also brought her pain; pain that Jay helped smooth away only to give it back to her triple times that.
“Men,” she said while disappointedly shaking her head. “I wonder how they’d feel if they were fucked over and played with. It wouldn’t be a good feeling I’m sure.” She sat there as her thoughts started thinking of some get back, something she should’ve been good with since she was about as self-centered and evil as they came. “Hm,” she hummed then decided to text Mike back from a message that he’d sent almost three weeks prior.
What’s up, Playboy? Superwoman
She looked over at her alarm clock. It was almost one in the morning. Mike probably was still up; knowing him up in somebody’s warm pussy. Instantly, her eyes went to her cell phone as a small alerted beep let her know that he was messaging back.
What’s up, Boo? I was just thinking about you believe it or not. Mike
“Yeah right,” Sheila said with a smirk on her face.
Oh yeah? Superwoman
Instantly he messaged her back.
Yeah, I miss you, Superwoman. (smiley face) Mike
Well, that’s nice to know. What have you been up to?” Superwoman
Just call me so we can catch up. I’ll tell you all about it. That’s if you can. Mike
Sheila sat there contemplating if she should call or not, but the minute she chose to call him her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID then answered with a shake of the head.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hey babe, I’m glad you finally answered because I was about to ride over there and check on you.” Jay said.
“I’m good, Jay and I don’t need you riding over here to check on me. I’m a big girl, more like a grown woman. I can take care of myself.”
“I never said that you couldn’t. I just don’t want things to end like this. My God, I gave you an engagement ring. I proposed and you accepted and now you’re going to slap me in the face just because of a mishap and call it quits just like that?”
Sheila thought about it for a moment. “Yep, just like that.”
“That makes no sense to me. I can’t believe that you’re really going to give up on us and our future.”
Sheila softly smacked her lips like this conversation was becoming irritating. “Jay, I should’ve given up on you back when you’d given up on me, but noooooo,” she said feeling frustrated with him. “I held on even when you didn’t want too. Then I took you back after you were the one that dumped me in the first place for the same bitch that’s pregnant by you now. Hm, and you feel like I should stay?” she calmly asked like right about now she really didn’t give a shit anymore.
“I’m just saying that you should give us a chance.” Jay pleaded.
“And, I’m just saying that it’s over.” Sheila responded. Jay sat quietly on the phone trying to get his thoughts together. It was too much going on too fast. He hadn’t found out exactly what had happened at the doctor’s office yet and his DNA couldn’t be retested until Monday. He was sick and feeling helpless.
“Babe,” he said but Sheila abruptly cut him off.
> “Jay, we’re not going to prolong this. Unless you can show me some paperwork that’s proving something different than what Luke told you then there is no us and the sooner we both get that in our heads the better off we’ll be.”
Jay was sad and definitely hurt. He still wanted to try and get through to her, regardless of what she said. “But babe,” he pleaded.
“Bye Jay,” Sheila said and ended their call. Her feelings were hurt that it had to be that way, but she was done being everyone’s doormat. Now it was time for her to play a little bit and give others a taste of their own medicine. It actually was a good feeling to see Jay hurt for all the pain that he’d caused her. “Why not pass this bitter tasting shit around.” She said and with that, she made her phone call. The minute Mike answered; she smiled with trickery dancing around in her head, and then said… “What’s up, Playboy?”
Chapter 9
Scarlett sat behind her desk at work while checking the inventory of auto parts that were in the system. She’d been lost in thought all morning thinking about her blissful night in Savannah with her fiancé. Just the day before, once she’d returned, she decided to call Sheila and Nina over to have a girl’s pow wow session so she could fill Sheila in on her engagement and the pregnancy. She just wanted for Sheila to be in on everything that was going on with her since she’d already told Nina. For once it seemed like she was finally getting her happy, but ironically her besties were just starting to feel their pain.
She looked over at Sheila who’d been unusually quiet that morning as she kept her face stuck on the computer screen. Even though it was a Monday morning; that never bothered Sheila. Every day of the week was more than likely a good day for her, but seeing her so down had Scarlett wanting to see if she could for once step up and help her with her problems.
“You okay, Sheila?”
Sheila glanced over at Scarlett then back to her computer screen. “Yeah, I’m good.” She softly responded.
“No you’re not. We’d just had a great talk yesterday; one that had you feeling like you were okay with moving on.”
“And I am,” Sheila responded.
“Something happened.” Scarlett said sensing it in Sheila’s disengaged demeanor. “What happened between then and now?”
“Jay happened.” She sadly said.
“What has Jay done now?” Scarlett asked already noticing that he hadn’t made it to work yet and it was already ten 0’clock in the morning. His shift started no later than eight 0’clock.
Sheila looked over at Scarlett like she wanted to cry. She was indeed saddened by the events that had already taken place between she and Jay.
“What’s going on, Sheila?” Scarlett questioned again.
“Well,” Sheila hesitantly said then she started to explain. “For one, Jay is headed to the hospital this morning so that he can have another DNA test done to see if April’s baby is really his.”
Scarlett shook her head. That situation was still one that she couldn’t understand. Had those tests revealed the paternity back when it was first done, things probably would’ve been totally different for her now. “So, what if they come back and they’re the same as what they revealed before?”
“Then I’ll take him back,” Sheila answered quickly. “But, if they come back showing that he is the father then nothing changes and I’ve already begun the process of getting over him.”
“Damn Sheila, you don’t think that’s cold?” Scarlett asked.
“Come on Scarlett, no one in their right mind wants to deal with that bitch April. That’s the reason why you left Luke.”
Scarlett nodded her head, definitely agreeing with what Sheila had said. “You’re absolutely right about that. I can’t even argue with you. That bitch is psycho.”
“Hm, tell me about it.” Sheila said, and then looked over at her best friend. Scarlett was glowing and looking even prettier than ever before. For some reason this actually made Sheila smile. “I still can’t believe that you’re pregnant.” Scarlett smiled feeling pretty good about it herself. “I must admit it bestie; I am so happy for you. No lie.” She said with a genuine smile on her face.
For once Scarlett actually believed her. “I’m happy about this baby too.” She said.
“Well, I don’t mean to sound anything other than being excited for you, but what are you planning on doing about Luke. I mean, do you plan on telling him that the baby could be his?”
“Like I told you yesterday, I’m still undecided when I’ll tell him, but I will tell him. Troy and I have agreed that telling him would be better for everyone involved. I don’t want to keep him from knowing his child if this baby is his. Troy doesn’t plan on leaving me, either way.” She told her.
“Troy is that man.” Sheila said. “Who doesn’t want a Troy in their life?” She asked feeling like it might just be over for Luke after all, regardless of there being a baby or not. Sheila thought about their time together that Saturday and figured that she’d better tell Scarlett being that she didn’t want to keep secrets from her anymore, especially secrets involving her ex-boyfriend.
“What Sheila?” Scarlett asked noticing the befuddled expression on her face.
“I saw Luke on Saturday.” She confessed.
Scarlett’s eyes widened a little. “You saw Luke?” She asked like it actually meant something to her.
Sheila noticed that her whole demeanor changed as she continued. “Yep, I saw Luke.”
“Where at?” she questioned.
“Well, I was at the Juke Joint drowning my sorrows with drink after drink and guess who walked in? Yep, you guessed it; Luke.” She said like Scarlett had actually answered her.
Scarlett frowned. “What was he doing there?” She pondered knowing all too well about the Juke Joint. It was one of Sheila’s favorite spots that Greg had put her down on. It didn’t seem like a place that she’d hang out at, but they loved her there and always took care of her needs since Greg’s tab took care of the bill that they’d always run up.
“He was there to drown in his sorrows too, I guess. Hell, I was just as shocked to see him there as he was to see me there.”
“I bet,” Scarlett said not knowing that Luke knew anything about their little country hide out spot. “So, what happened? Did you talk to him?”
“Actually,” Sheila hesitantly said. “He actually sat at the table with me, but the only person he wanted to talk about was you.”
Scarlett looked in Sheila’s direction not wanting to seem bitter about her and Luke sharing small talk about her. “So, what’d he say?”
“First off, he was the first one to tell me that you were engaged.”
Scarlett raised a concerned eyebrow. “So, you already knew that I was engaged? Why didn’t you tell me this yesterday?”
“I didn’t say anything, because you were happy and excited about being pregnant. Believe it or not, I’m truly happy for you. I didn’t think that it was the time to even talk about that lil situation with Luke.”
Scarlett sat quietly for a few seconds and then she responded. “So, is that all that he told you?”
“Well, you know I asked about that paternity test situation, but he didn’t explain any more than what we already know so far.”
“That shit is crazy.” Scarlett said with a shake of the head.
“Tell me about it,” Sheila said. “Anyway, the only person that was on his mind was you. He’s hurt that you’re engaged and have moved on. Do you feel at all that maybe you’ve moved a little too fast with Troy? What if Luke is the one and not Troy? What if that baby is Luke’s and you began to have a change of heart? I mean, at one point Luke was that guy in your life.”
Scarlett sat thinking for a moment. At one point in her life, Luke was that guy. It was funny how quickly things could change. One minute he had all of her attention and the next he’d allowed another to make her smile. Not only did he allow another in their space by not being the person that she was hoping he’d be, but she allowed another to s
teal pieces of her heart; pieces that he’d probably never get back how she was feeling.
“So, is there anything else that Luke talked about or that you even talked about for that matter?” I know your ass, she quickly thought to herself.
“I told him that I was over Jay and that if the baby was his that we won’t be getting back together.”
“That’s it?” Scarlett pondered.
“Actually, it’s not. I’d gotten so wasted that he ended up bringing me home.”
Scarlett’s distasteful expression definitely showed her dislike for hearing her say that. “He did what now?”
Sheila laughed. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that you still loved him.” She teased.