You Remind Me: Part 1

Trish was so thankful for the quietness she was now experiencing in the library, usually it was full of obnoxious college students waiting last minute to cram for an exam or a last-minute assignment. She often wondered why the college students didn’t use the library at the university they attended, she came to the conclusion that maybe they really had to abide by the rules of being quiet so others could focus. This Tuesday night, however, when she walked into her sacred place, she only noticed two other people, the Librarian Ms. Cooper and a young man she barely glanced at. She headed directly for the book she was dying to read in peace. Zora Neale Hurston “Their Eyes Were Watching God”. Her friend Maxine read it a week prior and wouldn’t stop talking about it. After looking through the book catalog she saw where she could locate the book in the library, she headed towards the back aisle searched the shelf and grabbed the book like it was a hidden treasure. Trish went to the sitting area in the library (that is much more comfortable then then the study area) which was empty and quiet, she sat in the comfortable chair next to the window.

From the first paragraph she was captivated and lost already in the words, Maxine was right this book was “the bomb”! Trish loved a good love story, because of the breakup she herself had just experienced with Darnell. She only being a Junior now in high school, started dating him halfway through her him halfway through her freshman year and he was a Senior. She believed and he made promises that they would stand the test of time even after he graduated made the breakup even more painful. “I need to find myself and I can’t do that worrying about what you’re doing in high school, while I’m not there” were the words he used to justify their breakup with her for two weeks, she felt so alone without him. She thought about how she had given her mind, heart, and body. Trish loved him so much that she broke her own vow of staying a virgin, well at least until her Senior year of high school. Darnell had her extremely wooed when he gave her the ultimatum that he either gets to fuck her or he will fuck someone else, Trish wasn’t about to let that happen, so she waited until the summer of he Freshman year to give him her virginity and she made he body available to him whenever he wanted. Darnell was charming and sweet, even her mom thought he was “just so amazing”. Trish just knew he would be her forever, never thinking about the age difference or the fact he was going to be in college besides, it wasn’t like he would be going far, his campus was just a twenty minute drive from her house.

The first year of high school was difficult without Darnell being there, but they talked on the phone constantly and even though they spent the weekends at her house ordering pizza and studying nothing changed. Then things did change two months ago the calls weren’t everyday and when they did occur Darnell would cut them short, he started calling late at night sounding intoxicated. Trish knew she was losing him to the college life, unfortunately she was so blinded by love that she didn’t realize he was already gone. She wanted to talk to her mom about it, however being one of the few doctors in Cedar Cane she could never catch her at the right time, her mom was either working or sleep and Trish didn’t want to interrupt either. Her father had died when she was 2 in a car accident and with the little blood family she did have communication was sparse, basically non-existent, because Trish and her mother lived on what they call the “white side” of town. Trish attended the same high school in town (there was only one the county was not that big) Unity High, but her own cousins would walk right pass her in the hallways like she didn’t exist. That’s why she had always been so thankful for her next door neighbor and best friend since the 5th grade, Maxine. Maxine wasn’t the type of friend that would tell you what you want to hear, she told you what you needed to hear she didn’t sugar coat anything for anyone, not even her best friend. Maxine was still livid that Trish so easily gave her virginity up to a dude that was supposedly in love, however he gave her friend the choice it’s either you fuck me or I go fuck someone else, “Bitch, breakup with him and let him go fuck all the hoes he wants”, was her advice to Trish when she confided to Maxine about it. Now, Trish wish that she would have listened. Trish told Maxine about Darnell’s new behavior, Maxine was pacing, back and forth which didn’t stop Trish from talking, because she knew that was how Maxine processed information, but before Trish could finish explaining things through her tears. After listening for a while Maxine headed for her closet and started changing into black sweat pants, black pullover with long sleeves, and all black high-top Nikes. Maxine grabbed her snatched her car keys off of her dresser, turned back to look at Trish sitting on her bed still talking, making excuses, still blaming herself and still crying. “Let’s go”, Maxine said sounding aggravated, and inside she could feel her blood boiling, she hated seeing her best friend like that. “Where are we going?”, Trish asked in between sobs. “To see what Darnell’s problem is”, Trish stood up and walked to the door, turning around to Maxine as she passed her walking out the room and questioned, “what if he gets mad?”. Maxine wanted to slap her, because Maxine had a “all men are dogs mentality”. She stared at Trish for a split second and said with a straight face, “Fuck Darnell”.

Trish was standing in front of Maxine Knocking on Darnell’s dorm room door. She knew that Maxine could hear the moaning coming from the other side of the door just like her (she was embarrassed). Trish knocked louder, “I’m coming!”, Darnell yelled when he finally got to the door, he was only wearing a towel, but Trish new he hadn’t just gotten out of the shower. Maxine kicked the door the rest of the way open and brushed past Darnell. “He got a bitch in here, and she naked”, Maxine yelled which explained the moaning. Trish just stared at Darnell and glanced down at his chiseled chest that she would miss being on top of her, the arms she would miss holding her, then her eyes shifted to the towel he had wrapped around her waist and even though she had only experienced Darnell’s dick she knew that she would miss it. “Maxine let’s go”, was all she said, Trish turned and walked down, the dormitory hall that led to the exit. Maxine had to catch up with her. Trish stopped walking when they were closer to the car, she had not shed a tear, however Maxine could see the hurt on her best friend’s face, so she embraced her with a hug. “It’s going to be okay Darnell is an idiot.” Maxine felt like it was her heart that had been broken and not Trish’s. She let go of Trish and placed her arm around her friend as they continued the walk to the car. Trish was quiet the whole car ride home not shedding a tear just caught up in her thoughts feeling angered, because she had giving so much of herself and even more angered at the thought she had used so many tears and word to keep him in her life. Maxine pulled into Trish’s driveway knowing her best friend needed to be alone. “You going to be okay?”, she asked. “I will after, I get over being the real idiot.” Trish got out of the car and went in her house to deal with her heart.

In the library Trish didn’t think about Darnell, a good book helps her to escape the world, especially now. So, she didn’t notice the person who had taken the sit across from her. Until she turned the page of her book and quickly glanced up. “Is it a good read?”, the mystery guy asked. Trish kept her face in the book and answered with a nodded head of yes. “You look familiar”, he said. Trish lowered the book and looked at the dude quickly and he did look familiar. Trish was annoyed by his presence for two reasons, because she finally had a peaceful place to read, and now this dude was sitting across from her with no book in his hand (which is the purpose of a library) staring her down. “You go to Unity High right?”, he asked. Trish sat her book on the small table beside her annoyingly to investigate this dude who seemed to be interrogating her. Trish was thrown off because her earlier glance of him didn’t catch her attention, but she was caught off guard by his flawless caramel skin, thick eyelashes, long eyelashes placed around his almond shaped eyes that held pitch black eyes (a very piercing look), he had a low fade taped to perfection to fit his head, he was wearing a red sweater, but Trish could tell that he was muscular, his lips were undeniably what her and Maxine like to call “kissable”, he was wearing baggy dark blue jeans, with a clean pair of all white Air Force Ones, however she noticed the big gold chain around his neck and the sparkling watch around his wrist. He cleared his throat probably noticing that Trish was observing him from head to toe, she directed her attention back to his face. “You come here and just read, why not just check the book out and read at home?”. It was an innocent question, unfortunately Trish wasn’t in an innocent mindset, “Why is any of that your business?”. “Kadian”, is how he replied to that, “what?”, his fast introduction threw her off. “My name is Kadian”, he smiled and his straight white teeth, that had a slight overbite. Trish began to soften just from his smile. “I’m Trish”. “I know who you are, you’re Darnell’s chick right?” Trish’s blood started to boil, Kadian almost had a chance with at least a conversation, however he blew it just that quick, technically it wasn’t his fault, he didn’t know what had happened. Trish knew she needed to leave to keep from taking her anger out on him, she grabbed her book from the table and retrieved her bag from the side of the chair she had been occupying. “Wait, shorty did I say something wrong?”. Trish stood and shook her head no, “Maybe I’ll see you around school, it was nice meeting you Kadian.” He stood, “nice meeting you too, hope we can talk again sometimes”. Trish walked towards the entrance, sitting the book she had been reading on the front desk as she left. Kadian watched her amazed, he was going to make it his mission to see her again.