Love Me Through the Rain

by A'zayler

  Rain didn’t know how in the hell Summer tolerated all those little grown eighth graders every day. She didn’t even like kids enough to teach them all day. She’d be cussing the whole day if she was a teacher. She guessed that’s why it was something for everybody because she couldn’t count how many times Alex and Summer made fun of her for sitting at home writing all day. Some days she would turn down hanging out with them just to finish one of her stories. As she thought about them it dawned on her that she still had Alex’s car at her house so she called him but he didn’t answer. I know this nigga didn’t send me to the voicemail. She dialed his number right back and he still didn’t answer. Rain threw her phone down and turned her music back up. He was getting slapped as soon as she saw him. If there was one thing she hated it was when either him, Summer, or their mom didn’t answer their phone for her. She hated that. Her attitude would go from one to ten ASAP. She thought about driving to his house anyway but didn’t feel like wasting her gas so she headed towards Summer’s school. As she drove thoughts of Dakota entered her mind. She wanted so badly to see what this little thing they were doing was going to turn out to be. Rain looked down at her phone when she heard it ringing. It was Stacey.

  “You avoiding me beautiful?” he asked as soon as she’d said hello.

  “Nah it’s not like that. I’ve just been kind of busy.”

  “It’s cool. No need to explain. Let me come see you today and all is forgiven.”

  Rain thought about it for a minute. She and Dakota weren’t serious yet.

  “Where you at now? I could meet you somewhere.”

  “Work. You coming through?”

  Rain looked at the clock before telling him she would be there in five minutes. Stacey worked at the Muscogee County jail, which was only five minutes from where she was so she headed in his direction. The closer she got, the more she second guessed her decision. Stacey was cool but he was always so touchy and somewhat demanding. He was cute but that was it. Not fine, not ugly, just cute. When she first met him downtown while she, Summer, and Alex were at a bar drinking, he’d made her laugh continuously so when he asked for her number she obliged. Now, depending on the day, she wished she hadn’t. Maybe he wouldn’t get on her nerves too bad today. Rain passed all of the bonding companies as she drove closer to the jailhouse. When she parked she called Stacey letting him know she was outside. Of course he wanted her to come in. He was such a showoff. Rain wasn’t a fan of people seeing her in public with men because the first thing they assumed was that they were dating. Having too many people see you out like that could be bad for a girl’s reputation so she tried to keep it to a minimum. Rain huffed before pushing her sunglasses over her eyes and grabbing her keys and phone. Men yelled perverted comments at her as she walked up the long sidewalk next to their building. This was another thing she hated. Every time she walked past that damn building it was a fucking circus. The cool air in the main building hit her face the moment she walked in. The dark tinted glass window was directly in front of her while some benches sat to her side. She looked over the entire room quickly before standing off to the corner and pulling out her phone. She’d just told this nigga she was outside, so why in the hell he wasn’t standing up front waiting on her, she didn’t know. Just as she was about to send her text he came around the corner. His smile was bright and he had his arms outstretched for her to hug him. The black shirt and khaki pants looked good on his brown skin. His hair was cut low, and he had big eyes and some sexy lips. Those lips were one of the only things she found extremely attractive about him. When she walked into his embrace she could smell his cologne and it was heavenly. It smelled so good she stalled their hug a little longer. When he finally pulled away he grabbed her hand and let her back out of the door.

  “You looking good as hell girl.”

  “Thank you. So are you.” Rain looked up at him.

  “I can’t tell. You stay blowing ya boy off.”

  Rain sighed inwardly. Here we go. She didn’t have time for a whining ass nigga. He knew just like she did that she blew him off regularly, that didn’t mean he needed to bring it up because she most definitely didn’t feel like hearing it. He was about to cut his own visit short, once again.

  “I just be busy Stacey. It’s nothing personal.”

  “That’s what your mouth say. You probably got other niggas you be kicking it with,” Stacey said as they stopped in front of her car.

  “I’m here with you now, so does it matter?”

  “Damn. Don’t bite my head off. I’m just fucking with you.”

  “So what you getting into when you get off work?” Rain asked, changing the subject.

  “Shit. Grab some food, have a few beers. You gon’ come chill with me?”

  Now why he ask that? Rain tried her hardest to keep from rolling her eyes.

  “I might. I already told Alex I would help him clean up his grandma’s house.” Rain semi-lied. She had told Alex she would help, but that wasn’t until the weekend.

  “See, you blowing me off already.”

  “I’m really not. I just already had plans.” Rain rubbed her hand across his arm. “How about this, I’ll come over afterwards. It might be late though.”

  Stacey’s spirits visibly lifted. “Cool. Just hit my line sexy.”

  “Alright. I will.”

  Stacey hugged her before opening her car door and letting her in. Once she was settled he closed the door and winked before walking away. Rain watched him walk up the sidewalk before pulling off headed for Summer’s school. The drive was smooth and long enough to give Summer enough time to be ready by the time she got there, so her ass had better be done and out the door when she pulled up. A short while later Rain was parking her car into the parking lot of Rothschild Middle School. She could see Summer’s car parked two rows over. Hopefully it didn’t take her all day to come out. While she waited she scrolled through her Facebook. She was so tempted to delete that mess. Every time she got on it, there was somebody either complaining, bashing the next person, hating, or just being flat out ignorant. She flipped through her timeline and sucked her teeth when she stopped at a girl’s profile she went to high school with. She was bashing the father of her children and had the nerve to use the wrong word. Bitch don’t even know the difference between there, their, and they’re. Dumb bunny. Rain shook her head again. It burned Rain up when people called themselves trying to talk about the next person and didn’t even know basic grammar rules. It didn’t take her long to get tired of being on there. She closed that app and sat her phone back down. She looked at the children filing out of the school. They were almost as big as she was. What in the hell were these parents feeding these little monsters these days? It looked like a school full of grown people. Her eyes sifted through the crowd just as she saw Summer coming out the door with two little boys and a girl following her. They were all around her talking. Rain watched them follow Summer all the way to her car. She cranked up and pulled out, stopping behind Summer’s navy blue Lexus.

  “It’s about time.”

  Summer turned around and looked at her. “These li’l niggas wouldn’t leave me alone.”

  Rain laughed at Summer. That silly girl had just called those children li’l niggas. They all laughed and made more jokes with Summer before walking away.

  “Follow me to my house so we can take Alex his car, then we can go eat.”

  Summer agreed, and they left.

  Chapter 5: Undercover Secrets

  Reruns of Grey’s Anatomy played as Alex sat in his living room balled up on the couch. Today was a lazy day and he was enjoying it. Wrapped in his favorite green blanket with his scarf on and a bag of Salt and Vinegar Lay’s, Alex’s day was complete. His little boo had left a few hours ago. Thank God. He liked Demonte and everything but that undercover nigga was starting to get on his nerves. Alex liked men that were comfortable with their sexuality, not ones that felt the need to hide who they were. Those kind of men went out of style in middle school.
The only reason he tolerated it on most occasions was because the undercover ones seemed to always be his type. He wasn’t a fan of men that were overly gay, if that made sense. He was a man that liked men. If he wanted a nigga that dressed like a woman with tight ass pants, see through shirts, or a face full of makeup he would just date women. Because he carried himself as a woman, he preferred a manly man. Ones that knew they were men and acted as such, and sadly these were always the undercover men. The ones with wives, girlfriends, sometimes even kids. Although he tried to stay away from them, for the obvious reasons, it seemed as if they were drawn to him. It never failed, a “straight” man was always in his Facebook inbox, low-key sliding him their numbers in clubs, or liking all of his pictures on Instagram. If half of these women knew their men liked other men, they wouldn’t be so quick to jump into relationships with them. Some of the realist niggas were undercover. He couldn’t count how many of his relationships had been with men that didn’t consider themselves gay. He tried on many occasions to dodge the ones with girlfriends and wives but somehow he always ended up right back with them. After a while he accepted it and just moved on. Some days he would get down about it but others he just blew it off. It is what it is, every man for themselves. He hated that he could never go on public dates and stuff like that, but oh well, hopefully his day would come soon. Alex popped another chip in his mouth to keep himself from crying. He was watching the episode when George O’Malley died and it got him every time. He’d just snuggled deeper under his covers when he heard a knock on his door.

  “Come in,” he yelled from the sofa.

  He didn’t even bother moving because he already knew it was Summer and Rain. They’d told him they were bringing his truck after they got done eating. He’d declined their offer because Demonte had still been there, and now he was regretting it because his stomach was growling. He could hear his locks clicking as one of them used their key to get in. He’d given them both one because they were pretty much the only family he had. After his parents found out about his lifestyle they’d basically disowned him. His grandma was elderly and lived in a nursing home, and he was an only child. When he’d moved from Atlanta to Columbus a few years ago, he moved next door to Summer. From there he met Rain. He clicked with them instantly. They were like the sisters he never had. Summer was crazy as hell like him, and Rain was their baby. She was a little meeker and more sensitive than he and Summer. She was so sweet and always trying to be the peace maker. Her heart was so big and loving. She’d go out of her way to do anything for him and Summer. Occasionally she could be a little naïve but that’s just who she was. Summer, now that was his bitch. She was always on go. Her mouth, attitude, and personality were the exact replica of his. The both of them were always in some mess. They drove poor li’l Rain crazy with their wild asses. They couldn’t be more alike if they tried to be.

  “This is all you do.” Summer plopped down on the sofa and grabbed his chips.

  “You might need to try sitting your ass in the house sometimes,” Alex said.

  “Why you ain’t tell me you was watching Grey’s? I would have come over here with you instead of being out in the streets spending money with this heffa.”

  “You should have stayed with me earlier instead of running out of here to see Love in the Club,” Alex said to Rain.

  “Now see, I couldn’t do that. That might be bae right there. I had to go kick it with him for a little while. Plus you had that nigga here when I woke up.” Rain turned her nose up. “You know I can’t stand being around the ones that refuse to believe they’re gay.”

  Alex shook his head and tucked a piece of his weave back under his headscarf. “Chile you? I can’t either. They get on my nerves. Especially him. He loves to tell me what I can and can’t do but leaves my house and goes straight home to that li’l baby mama of his.”

  “I swear I don’t know how you do it bestie. I would have been told on his ass. Every time I get on your Facebook I see their ugly li’l family pictures. I just be like poor little tink-tink. I almost feel sorry for her dumb ass.”

  Rain and Alex laughed at Summer. She ain’t have no chill.

  “I done told your nosey butt about being on my Facebook,” Alex said

  “You know I love drama and your page be having all of the damn tea. Hell, I’m still single. I have to make sure I don’t run up on none of the niggas that be in your inbox.”

  Summer had Alex and Rain crying from laughter. She didn’t have not one piece of sense.

  “I’m not about to play with this ho,” Alex said as he snatched his chips back from her. “What y’all finna do for the rest of the night?”

  They both said nothing.

  “Good. Y’all coming with me to this little house party one of my friends invited me to.”

  “What? No we ain’t. I don’t want to be nowhere an undercover nigga invited you to. All of his friends might be the same way.” Rain shook her head no.

  “See, while you so busy running your mouth it’s a girl I work with that invited me.”

  “Will some men be there? I’m not trying to go sit in a house full of bitches I don’t know.” Summer made herself comfortable on the sofa.

  “Yeah. She said she invited some of her close friends and most of them are men. A few women.”

  After a little more convincing both of them agreed. Alex was glad because he wanted to go but hadn’t wanted to go alone. They made plans to meet back up at his house before they left to get dressed. Alex looked at the clock as he entered his room to find his clothes. He chose a pair of fitted boyfriend jeans, low top white Converses, and his white, black, and red True Religion shirt. He hopped in the shower, combed his weave out, and put his make up on. Once he was finished he accessorized and grabbed his phone to call his girls. It had been almost two hours since they’d left and they should have been ready by now. Summer told him that they’d just come through his gate and for him to come outside. Alex flipped his lights off and headed outside. Just as they said they would be, they were waiting for him in front of his apartment building.

  “Well don’t y’all look cute.” He slid in the backseat and buckled his seatbelt.

  Rain was in light blue jeans with her thighs cut out and a fitted white shirt with no sleeves. Her hair was straight again, pushed back with a gold band. Summer’s hot ass wore a floral print bodycon dress. Her hair was still down in her wrap.

  “So do you bestie.” Rain blew air kisses over the seat.

  They conversed about a little bit of everything as they drove to the girl’s house. When they pulled into her yard they saw a lot of other cars. It looked like her little party was popping. They were all glad because they loved to party, and were hoping it wasn’t going to be boring. Summer parked her car and they got out.

  “Why y’all ain’t tell me y’all was wearing heels? I would have put some on.” Alex looked down at the laced heels Rain wore, then at the camel-colored wedges Summer had on.

  “I didn’t think it about it for real. I just got dressed. I didn’t know she was wearing some too,” Rain said.

  His sweet little Rain. She was trying to explain when he didn’t even care for real.

  “It’s okay Rain baby. I was only playing.” Alex rubbed her arm playfully. “Summer this ho got to explaining like I’m her man or something.”

  Summer laughed. “Didn’t she though? She good because I wasn’t stun your ass. You grown. You know how to put on clothes.”

  Alex mushed the side of her head. “Rude ass.”

  “Oh you ain’t seen rude. It better be some fine niggas up in here or I got something for your ass.”

  “Bitch do you always have to be on the ho stroll?”

  Rain made a loud squealing noise before laughing dramatically. Summer shot both of them birds as they approached the door. She knocked and stood back, waiting for the door to be answered. When it opened it was a short Korean-looking chick. Her hair was big and wild all over her head, and she had tattoos all over her arms.
Her smile was warm and welcoming as she pushed open the screen door for them to enter. She stood on her tip-toes and hugged Summer, Rain, then Alex. Alex laughed when Summer jumped back when she first grabbed her.

  “Hey Alex. I’m glad you came boo. Who’s your friends? They’re pretty.”

  Alex stepped between them. “Connie, these are my best friends, Summer and Rain. Y’all this is my Korean cookie, Connie.”

  The women exchanged smiles as Connie stood to the side for them to enter. “Beautiful names for beautiful women. Food and drinks are in the kitchen. Make yourselves comfortable.”

  “Thanks,” Rain and Summer said in unison before walking past her and down the dimly lit hallway.

  Summer led them, with Alex being the last one. The living room was partially lit with a lamp being the only source of light. It was cloudy with smoke as people sat around on the sofas smoking. Others were leaning against the wall or standing around in odd places. A few people were even dancing to the music that was flowing throughout the house. Beer bottles, empty plates, and hookahs decorated the table. Some people looked up at them as they walked in, while others paid them no mind. Summer bopped her head to the Boosie track playing as she walked deeper into the house. When she paused they were standing next to the bar. When Summer propped her arms on the counter Rain and Alex made themselves comfortable as well. They looked around taking in the atmosphere. It seemed like a pretty cool vibe for the most part. Nothing looked suspect. Everybody seemed to be chilling.

  “What y’all think?” Alex looked at them.

  Summer shrugged.

  “It’s cool,” Rain said.

  “Y’all want to go get something to drink?” Alex asked.

  They both said yes. He led them out of the living room and through a shorter hallway that brought them into the dining room. All of the lights were on in there and there were more people sitting at the table playing cards. Connie had the whole little setup. Alex moved slowly as he surveyed all of the people sitting in there. Whenever dealing with a house party he had to secure their surroundings before he completely relaxed. He wasn’t a fan of unnecessary bullshit and the wrong people could bring just that. He caught a few looks, but nothing major. Once they were finally in the kitchen Rain went straight for the bar.