by
Treja

_____"Why not?"
_____"Because." Why is she looking at me like she doesn't know what's going on? She knows what the hell is going on.
_____"Because is not an answer, don't you tell me that all the time?"
_____"I don't need to answer you why. You know why."
_____"No, I don't! If I knew.." Deep breath, Keyna. "I just don't understand why you're making such a big deal out of this. Don't you want to go out tonight? Isn't that what you've been saying all week? 'Keyna, when are you taking me out?' " Yeah, I'm using the whining voice. Hell yeah, I'm mocking you, damn it. I'm getting real tired of you always trippin. "'Keyna, I want to do something this weekend.' I've been hearing that mess all week!"
_____"I wanted to do something with you this weekend, not with you and your friends!"
_____"What do you have against my friends? Look. No, really, look at me. I'm dressed. I'm not staying home tonight." Hell, I look too good to stay home tonight.
_____"Then don't." You think you look good, don't you? No matching ass.
_____"Well, go put on some clothes."
_____"Was I talking to myself? I'm not going anywhere!"
_____"Fine, Dee, but I am. Okay? So, I guess I'll just see you when I get back. Make sure you get every joke on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch for me."
_____"If you're leaving, you need to go on."
_____"Alright." And, out the door I went. Shit, what I look like sitting at home on a Friday night? It's bad enough that I been working over every night for the past two weeks. I mean, can I get a break or what? Ever since we've moved back to her slow ass home town, all she's wanted to do is sit in the house all the time. Did we age thirty years driving down I-85 or something? Ain't nobody tryin to be old before my time. Shit, she trippin. Anyway, it's all good. If Dee doesn't go that just means I can have as many drinks as I want to without having somebody looking over my shoulder like they my damn mama. Well, whatever, it's a nice night out, and my buddie Dria only lives down the block. That's even better; she can drive, so I can get as fucked up as I want to. Damn Dee. She ain't gon' ruin my night.

*
_____Keyna gets on my freaking nerves. I mean, everytime she wants to do something, I'm expected to do it, too. And, she acts like going out with just me is such a drag. I don't get it. If I go and hang out with my sister and my other friends, who I've been 700 miles away from for the past seven years, then I'm not making the most out of our weekends. I know she works hard during the week. She doesn't think I work hard? I mean, we both do; we're trying to build a life together. And, I have no idea why she wants to hang out with those thug wanna-be-men superdyke gangstas at that club. I mean, the club is nice and all, but I know those girls. She forgets that I've known them a lot longer than she has. I know that they're trouble. They run women worst than any man I've ever seen. Anyway, I just don't think that because we're gay, that we have to be the freaking center of the gay community! Umph, well, my show is coming on. And, I don't appreciate her cracking on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. I like this show, especially that little black cat.

*
_____"Hey, Key, what's up? Where's Dee?"
_____"She ain't comin."
_____"Why not? Why she bein a party pooper? You know, a mood killa."
_____"She's not. Okay?" Watch out now, Dria. We cool and all, but you approaching the line. Don't cross it.
_____"My bad, my bad. I ain't tryin to talk about your girl. Well, I'm ready. We can dip. Who's driving?"
_____"I walked over."
_____"I guess that means me, then. Well, let's hit it. Oh, Keyna, I've got some goodies tonight."
_____"Goodies?"
_____"Some real deal herbie. Now, I don't know how you feel about it. But, I hope you don't mind if I get blunted. It's natural, you know. It's a natural thang, straight from mama earth."
_____"I don't care what you do, Dria." Why people always feel they got to justify their habits. Oh, that's right, because they know it's stupid. I mean, I just drink when I've had a long week. And, I only do it with friends. It's not like I'm an alcoholic or weed-head or somethin.
_____Anyway, to make this long story short, we got to the club, and it was cool. Dria was high as hell, so I couldn't really get my drink on like I wanted to. Who would drive us home? They had strippers and a little show before the DJ took over. It was all chill. This lil cutie was peepin me the whole night, though. I mean, every move I made she was all up in my face like she was scared I would just evaporate or disappear or something. It was kinda cool having somebody check me out.
_____I would never cheat on Dee, though, no matter how much of a party pooper she is. Yeah, I can call her a party pooper. But, can't nobody else be talkin 'bout my baby, and that's real. I admit it; it's no fun being out without Dee being here. I mean, I ordered all of these wings and fries, and I ain't ate close to half of this food. I guess, I don't know how to order for one no more. And, I only danced once. Yeah, it was with the girl who was watching me. But, I felt so guilty every time I touched her, I just sat down. Every time she would move in close to dance like most people over 13 dance, I would back up. I could tell she quickly lost interest. It's all good, though.
_____I'm just ready to go home, now. Between keeping Dria out of fights, making up lies about where Dria is when the girl she's been chillin with all night can't find her because she's in the bathroom with some other chick she just met on the dance floor, and avoiding eye contact with cutie from earlier, I'm running out of energy. I should have just stayed at home with my girl. I wonder what Dee's doing.

*
_____A re-run. Why is it that everytime I finally get to see a show that I haven't seen in a while, it's the same freaking episode? Oh well, I guess I'll just pop in The Five Heartbeats. Is that the phone?
_____"Hello?"
_____"Hello."
_____"Kesha?"
_____"You remember my voice. I'm touched."
_____"Don't be." How did she get my number? She can't be calling my house like this. What if my woman had have been home? "How did you get this number, Kesha?"
_____"Whoa, calm down. I'm not stalking you, if that's what you're worried about."
_____"How, Kesha?"
_____"Your sister gave it to me."
_____"Really?" I'll kill her.
_____"So, what are you doing at home? Your woman can't afford to take you out?"
_____"Kesha, don't start. I see that we can't even begin to have a civil conversation."
_____"I'm just saying what's true. You wouldn't have to work nearly as hard as you do, if you were still with me. That is, if you were still with a w-o-m-a-n, not a little girl trying to find her place in the world. Hell, you could be in graduate school right now, like you need to be. I could have found care for your mother."
_____"Excuse me?"
_____"Isn't that why you moved back home? To take care of your mother? Isn't that why you're not inschool? See, I could have taken care of all that. But, I don't know, maybe I was too classy for you. Things were good when we were together. I gave you every thing you needed."
_____"Obviously not. Is there something you wanted? Some reason why you called?"
_____"I would like to see you."
_____"No. Is there anything else you want?"
_____"Why can't I see you? Your little girlfriend doesn't trust you? Or is it that you don't trust yourself."
_____"Kesha, do me a favor."
_____"What's that, baby?"
_____"Say goodbye so that I don't have to hang up in your face."
_____"Let's go grab some dinner. Have you eaten, yet?"
_____*CLICK*
_____I can't believe her! How dare she call me talking about taking care of my mother? Is she crazy? I wouldn't take her back for all the money she could ever imagine having. Damn, I miss Keyna.
_____Keyna has been so good to me. She's my best friend. Yes, we have our problems. No, I don't like that crowd she's taking up with, or the way she acts when she's around them. But, ain't nobody gonna be talking about my baby. Keyna cares about me. We build each other up. It's not one person taking on the other like a project or some home improvement venture. I love her so very much.
_____ I don't think I've ever been happier than I am now with Keyna in my life. I've realized that happiness is a lifestyle, not an emotion like surprise that's dependent on moments. Kesha's gifts gave me shallow momentary feelings of just being content. But, I didn't truly experience happiness until I fell in love with Keyna and she fell in love with me. I miss her so much right now. I wish she was here.

*
_____"Dee? Dee, you sleep?"
_____"Hey, baby."
_____"Hey, sweetie. Look, I'm sorry I left like that. I just wanted to have a little fun, you know?"
_____"I know, baby. I'm sorry, next time we'll work out some compromise, okay? I was being a bit spoiled, I know."
_____"Naw, bay, it's just that you ain't feel like going out with them. I understand, you're right. Next time, we'll work out some kinda compromise. I ain't have no fun without you."
_____"I missed you."
_____"I missed you, too. That sounds silly don't it. I mean, I was only gone or a few hours."
_____"It seemed like so much longer. What did ya'll do tonight?"
_____"Nothing. What did you do?"
_____"Nothing. Baby, you smell like hot wings."
_____"Oh, I almost forgot. I brought these from the club."
_____"You brought home hot wings and french fries in your coat pocket?"
_____"It wasn't the same eating them without you."
_____"Aww.I'll go get the ranch dressing."
_____"Well, hold on bay. I kinda got a taste for something else right now."
_____"Oooh, you got that nasty look on."
_____"Yeah, and you got too many clothes on. Come here, bay.."

THE END

Copyright © 2000. Used by permission of author. All Rights Reserved.