LEMONADE|| Keith Powers

Chapter 31: Catch 22

"I contemplate every day if I can make this work with you but then I think back in the past and then you do shit like this" she cried.

"Because you fucking playing. You wanna play these games then when a bitch around me you want to get an attitude. Where is the fucking respect; you know what time I was coming? I yelled.

"You did the same shit to me not too long ago" she screamed back wiping her eyes. "That wasn't intentional so that means you do it back to prove a point. How old are you? I asked

"Pshh how are you? You coming in here acting like a 5-year-old. It wasn't intentional he left his phone over here and he was picking it up" she explained.

"Bullshit... that means he was comfortable in your house," I said.

"Dreux just get off my case okay. If I don't want to be with you now I'm not going to be with you later. I don't owe you shit" she said

"You fucking contradict yourself you just said you contemplate on daily about us getting together. So tell me what do you want! I asked. She stood up rubbing her hands through her hair. I got up walking in front of her. "MIA WHAT DO YOU WANT? I asked holding my hands on her shoulders.

"I don't know" she stuttered

"What the fuck do you want? I screamed

"I don't know... its hard. I have more reasons and I'd take days for you to understand. You just don't know all of these thoughts I have in my head" she admitted.

"I just want you to be real with me and yourself because you say all of this but then when your little friends tell you they seen me somewhere with such and such you act like you don't know me when we see each other. I can't keep doing this I'm making myself exhausted... I can't drown out the feelings but you need to fucking respect my feelings. Imma give you a few days you let me know if you don't want to be with me completely or you do. I don't want no fucking "I don't knows " were grown" I said walking off.

Josie

It woke up looking at the time on my alarm clock. It was 11 am and both Morgan and I overslept. Shit, she was supposed to be in class two hours ago and Ricky was supposed to have a meeting an hour ago. I was hoping he wouldn't be mad at me for oversleeping but knowing him he would've rudely banged on my door to wake me up. "Ricky" I called knocking on his door but no answer. I wasn't going to make it a habit of just invading his privacy but it was odd that everyone overslept. I opened the door to see him sleep on the floor. "Ricky" I called. I walked over to him "Ricky" I called again. He was laid on his back, knocked out.

"Shit" he wasn't answering. I tapped his head a little. "Ricky wake up," I said. I checked his pulse to see that he was still breathing he was just out of it. "Damn, how much did you drink? I asked looking at the bottle of Henny in front of him. His phone began ringing. I reached over to grab it, it was Mark was one of his employees from his restaurant

"Hi Mark"

"Hi, Josie is everything okay? I know we were supposed to have a meeting an hour ago, everyone is still here" he said.

"Um, we had an unexpected family emergency I am so sorry for the inconvenience," I said looking at him.

"Is everything okay? He asked concerned.

"Yes, we're okay. I'll make sure Ricky calls you to reschedule. I'm so sorry that we haven't been able to contact you... everything has been hectic." I said

"No problem Josie, I'll let everyone know" he ensured. "Okay thank you so much... enjoy your day," I said hanging up. "Fuck"

I walked back over to him pulling him into his arms. Shit, he was heavy as hell. I took a break. "Okay," I said pulling him some more dragging him to his bathroom. I turned on the lights. I pulled him some more into the shower. I turned on the shower grabbing the showerhead. I turned the water on cold aiming at his face but he still wouldn't wake up. I'd be dead if he doesn't wake up. "Come on Ricky get up," I said. He was now drenched and the only thing he had on was his basketball shorts and his friend in his pants was definitely showing. Erica was right! I bent down lightly tapping his face. I started to get worried and my heart was beating fast. What he told me last night I'd probably want to drink half a bottle of Hennessy too. I sighed aiming the showerhead to his nostrils, he finally jumped up coughing.