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Yvonne on the side ----------------->

-Raquel- 

I opened my eyes slowly, not even attempting to move. I can already feel the discomfort in my body from my head to my fucking toes. Ill admit, the nigga I fought last night gave me a run for my money but he still didn't win. He wasn't prepared for a fair fight, his body language told mme he was probably used to jumping niggas. But after the ass wwhooping i dished out laast night, I assure you, he will probably never attempt to raise his fists again.  

After discovering my arms empty of Dante's body I finally , and slowly , sat up. 

Listening, the house sounds empty, but I know better than that.  

Knowing Dante and Raven they're probably laid up in the living room watching tv together and whispering back and forth.  

That's what they do, right? . 

I shuffled across the hall to the bathroom, took 2 asprin and climbed my ass back in bed.  

I woke up a few hours later with Drake standing over me" nigga wake up! " 

I groaned " who let yo' ass in here? " 

" Garret." 

" and who let his ass in? " 

" Trey? " 

" and who let him in? !"  

" Raven, but that's besides the point. Get yo' ass up. We goin' to the basketball court down ont he corner. " he turned to walk away . " oh, and wash yo' ass , too. " 

A took a quick shower, washing away any anger I still feel from last night along with the pain . Its a new day, a new time, I feel like im going to have great new experiences today.  

A game of 2 on 2 with the homeboys and then maybe spend some time with the love of my life. That sounds about right.  

I made a mental note to remind my mother about college shopping. Im going to need a bundle of things for my dorm room .  

Speaking of college I can't wait. I think it'll bring about a new outlook on life for me as well as new experience and laast but not least, a hell of a lot of fun.  

Maybe the fun will ease the pain I know ill feel from being away from Dante.  

I dressed in a pair of grey and black basketball shorts, a grey t-shirt , and a pair off white and grey Nike running shoes. Perfect basketball attire .  

As I made my way down the steps I listened to my mother and sister talk.  

I think its funny how not once do I remember them getting into it like most of the girls and their parents in my neighborhood. My mother isn't strict but what she says goes. Me and Raven have a certain respect for her that , no matter what, is never crossed.  

Today must be one of the rare days my mother has off.  

I peeped into the living room and sure enoguh, The were sitting on the couch watching some soap opera on tv and talking about it back and forth.  

" ma', im going to the 'court. " 

She waved me off" be quiet boy! Im trying to catch up on the show. " 

" Raven, where is Dante? " 

" he went home this morning. He's supposed to be back later on. Now, shush, go! " 

I chuckled . 

Those two and fucking soap operas.  

I have half a mind to run in there and start talking a mile a minute just to distract them.  

" ma', we need to go college shopping tomorrow. " 

" college. . . Shopping. . . Yes. " 

I left.  

the weather outside is hot as Fuck, as usual. But im in my element to be honest.  

I can't heelp the feeling im getting passing by people though. Nobody seems to be upset or dissing me, I hear some heys and get a few smiles and hanshakes, but it still feel different, you know? It feels like everyone is staring at me constantly. Its the most uncomfortable thing I've ever felt.  

And I know that just because some people accept it, don't mean they all will. That fight last night was only the beginning of a long long battle.  

" Raquel! "  

Shit, shit , shit.  

I stopped at the edgee of the basketball court to turn and wait on Yvonne to come to me.  

How is it that I've been able to avoid her ass for well over 2 months and now she just pops up. . . . Damn, looking thicker than ever.  

" so. . . " she said once she reached me with more attitude than necessary. " a guy, huh? " 

" is that any of your business? " 

" as a matter of fact, it is. " 

" and why is that. " 

" because. " she stepped up closer to me, her body touching mine. " I love you. " 

I stopped breathing for a second. Having her body so close, reminiscing about when I had her body crushed against mines while I was buried deep inside of her body. I can still remember how it sounded to have her scream out my name in her moment of heat. . . 

I tried to step back but the fence stopped my actions.  

Play it cool, I thought to myself, she ain't got to know the effect she has on you.  

" you don't know nothing about love, Yvonne. And even if you did, im happily taken. " 

" happily taken? Trust me, he can't do what I can do. " she said teasingly. " but you already know that, don't you. " she placed her hands on my neck rubbing slow circles on my hardened jaw with her manicured thumbs.  

" come on, why you playing? " 

" im not ." 

" yes you are. " 

She continued her slow massage on my neck. 

My neck. . . 

I feel caught up, staring into those eyes of hers. She's got me, holding me steady in her grasp. I could feel myself slowly lowering my mouth to press my lips against her nice, plump ones.  

" ay, yo! Raquel. " 

I snapped out of it, pushing her away and speed walking onto the court where Drake, garret and Trey stood . 

" what the Fuck was that? " Trey asked as he bounced a basketball smoothly back and forth betweeen his legs.  

" ball. " I said simply. He tossed it to me and threw it up to the rim. It swished through the net. I turned back to my boys. " I was going to kiss her. " 

" well, duh. State something besides the obvious. "Garet choked out as he shot the ball himself and made it.  

" I dont know man. I was barely6 thinking about anything but that kiss. . . And how it felt when I was inside her. " 

Trey shook his head" nigga you in love. . . . In love with the puszy. " 

They laughed and I gave a small lil chuckle . Its the best I could choke up.  

Drake snatched the ball from Garret and handed it back to me so I could shoot. " let's just run this game rewal quick. Maybe that'll settle yo dick. " 

I gave another sorry laugh. " aight. Drake on my team. " 

To be honest, its not like any of us are really better than the other in basketball. We all practice together, run games together, put together plays.  

Anthony is the only one of us not really into basketball. He can really bust some ass when its time but he's more of a football kinda brotha. 

Me and Drake busted 21 before the first 10 minutes were over. We were neck and neck the whole game . It was a surprise Drake was able to take that last shot with Trey all over him.  

" bullshit, man" Garret said after the last shot was taken. " another game. " 

I sat my ass on the blacktop to breath in and out deeply. " Fuck you, we won. " 

" then you wouldn't mind playin' another game then, huh? Nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition. " 

I laughed. And hauled myself back up. " come on. How about 1 on 1 ?" 

Tre sighed" y'all always do this shit. " 

" because, Garret can't take one funky ass lose. " 

" no, no, no. I can taake it. I just wanna show you something. " 

" first to 5 wins. " I held my hands up and the ball was tossed to me.  

I dribbled slowly as I leaned over a bit. I bounced it inbetween my legs back and forth until I saw Garet's eyes trained solely on the ball.  

I shook left and he followed only a second too late beause I was already passed him. I took the ball up for a quick lay up. " 1 to zip. " 

He congratulated me but grimaced as we checked the ball.  

Once that was over and I had the ball back in my palms I decided to play with him a bit.  

I bounced the ball carelessly, letting iit slide on my fingers tips, giving him more than enough opportunities to reach for it. And when he finally did I took two steps back and did a fade away right in his face. " 4 to zip. " I announced the score again.  

I gave him thde ball this time . He dribbled, faked left, went right. But I caught up to him. In one quick move he turned away from me and rolled his back off of me to turn left and put the ball up. I stumbled a bit as I heard the ball make that swishing sound but i caught my balance.  

"1 to 4 . " he said this time.  

And in the next five minutes he made 2 more layups with a series of spins and foot moments to get past me. I give him one thing , he's got foot skills like nobodies business. Once he gets the ball, believe me, 9 times out of ten he's takin' it home.  

" 3 to 4 ." He said again with this cocky gleam in his eyes.  

I didnt say anything. Im taking this one home. . . . With a backward dunk.  

But its all in good time.  

He bounced the ball Criss cross, going between his right and left hands.  

" let me show you this. " now that he's getting up there in the score he started talking shit a bit but I do nothing but ignore him . That's Garret for you.  

He tried to go left but I cut him off, snatched the ball from his hands . He stumbled forward giving me enough time to take a few steps back and catch a bit of air . I came around the left side of the basket, pushed up up off my left leg, holding my right one up, missing Garret's head by only a inch.  

at the last minute I decide that instead of showing off with a backward dunk I would just keep it simple and dunk sideways.  

Flying to the rim, I raised my right hand over my head and slammed the ball down inside the net aggressively.  

The cheap, neighborhoodd basketball rim shoot with the power behind the dunk . 

I landed on my feet a bit off balance.  

Garret smiled shaking his head" alright, alright. You won. "  

I laughed and we shook hands.  

It wasn't like either one of our prides were on the line. It was onlyy for fun.  

Friendly competion , like he said.

I finally made it back home, the sun still shinning brightly above, even a little more than before. I checked the time on the alarm clock sitting on myh dresser. It read 3 p.m.  

not a sound rang through the house which kind of caught me off guard.  

I caught another quick shower to wash away the sweat from the basketball game3.  

I dressed in a pair of light blue jeans, a fresh lime green t-shirt with white designs and white Adidas. 

I grabbed my cellphone and checked it.  

3 missed calls , 4 text messages.  

The texts are from a few girls I used to Fuck saying how they still want me even after finding out about Dante.  

2 of the calls came in from Raven's number and the other from a private number.  

I dropped my phone in my pocket with a quick sigh.  

Whyy can't this be easy?  

Its bad enough I've got Yvonne back on me but now its these other girls as well. None of them I want.  

I just want Dante, but even though I love him turning down sexual advances from girls is still a challenge for me.  

I ddont even want to fight these urges anymore which is this worst part of it all.  

I just need to get away for all the temptations. . . It'll do me and Dante more good than anything else.  

I found myself exiting my house and crossing the yard to get To Dante's house which is just to the right of our house.  

I knocked on the dark brown door and waited.  

To be honest, I've never been inside of Dante's house. I've always, in the back of my mind, wondered what's behind this door.  

I doubt if Raven hass evem ever been inside.  

The door swung open faster than I I expected and I took a quick step back.  

I know what Dante's dad looks like. I've seen him for time to time on his way to work dressed in a post office uniform ; about 5"8 , 240 pounds with balding hair at the top. 

He looks intimidating to some people but to me he's just another dude.  

I didnt comment on the tore up clothes he wore or the stinch drifting from his breath as he stood with his mouth partly open, panting like he'd just run a marathon.  

" what do you want? " he grumbled out.  

" im here to see Dante. . . Is he around? " 

" what do you want with him? !" 

I had to stop myself from saying what I really want to say. What I really want to tell him is to get the Fuck out my way and let me see my boyfriend. But I it my tongue . If it wasn't for self control. . . .  

Breath.  

" can I see him, sir? " 

He stepped back and I stepped inside.  

The house. . . Is in worse shape than I would have imagined.  

But I tried to over look it.  

Garbage littered the living room, and over turned coffee table and shattered glass.  

The screen on the 52 inch tv was smashed in.  

But the thing that caught my attention was the bottle of Gin sitting half empty ontop of the tv.  

He brushed passed me" his room is upstairs. " 

Maybe this is why Dante never invited me over. . . 

I took the steps two at a time to the second floor. Everydoor was open except one and that's the one I went to.  

I knocked . Well, I rather banged a bit but its only because I miss Dante. And plus I don't feel comfortable with him being in this house now that I know about his father.  

Dante is almost a third of is fathers side. If his father were to get dead drunk and take his anger out of Dante it would be nothing he could about it.  

That thought scares me more than anything.  

I didnt get a answer so i banged again.  

" go away! " his shaky voice called out. " go away. " 

" its me. " 

It got quiet for a second and I heard some commotion inside.  

The door finally cracked a bit and Dante stuck his face out" Raquel? " 

" yeah. " 

" what are you doing here? " 

" im here to see you. " 

He sniffed a bit. " you should leave. " 

I narrowed my eyes as I pushed the door open and stepped inside. His room was lighter than the hallway. I can see his tear streeked cheeks now, and his red nose . 

I stroked the sides of his face, just as Yvonne had done to me, and I stared into his beautiful brown eyes.  

" tell me what's wrong. " 

He collapsed into me, his body shaking as he sobbed and cried into my chest and I held him. 

" if I tell you. " he ssobbed a bit. " you- you wont like me anymore ." 

" look at me. " I pulled his head up. " I already love you. Nothing you say , will ever change that. " 

" but- " 

" im serious . You are everything to me. You're smart, funny. . . Beautiful. Don't doubt my love for you. " I sighed, wipping at his tears. " now tell me. "

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