Happy Thirsty Thursday, folks!

I decided to skip the questions today because this is another chapter that is actually pretty serious to me. If you are triggered by this whole black lives matter movement or any racial situation, I advise you not to read this but it's sad if you can't.

This is only one of my ways of bringing light to a dark situation. This is not just an American issue, but an issue all over the world. Enough is enough. Please make sure you gain knowledge about the situation at hand, you share that knowledge (knowledge and information are two different things) with others who need it, and share it with no hate in your heart. No frustration or anger. Because that's the last thing we need in a time like this.

Anyway, please see the triggers that are in the summary of this book!

Friends come and go, but best friends come right back to slap ya in the face. 🤭 oops!

You may continue! 💜🤫
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Fuck every last one of those whores. I hope they shove a large ball of mismatched socks in their throats, especially that Spanish-speaking gruel who thinks she knows everything about this country. She only wishes.

They're all uneducated and feel entitled to tell me how I feel. Like how dare these hillbillies blame my anger on me not being able to hear from the little chump that fucked me in the car at our beach house then left me? He wasn't even the problem and they were stupid enough to seriously believe that was the problem. I could care less about that sound-fixing blowhard.

I went to church one Sunday to try and face my fear of the hypocritical house of the Lord and this fool wasn't even there. Not that I was there to see him or whatever, but it would have been nice if he was. Just so he could explain why the hell he left me after we did it doggy style in his truck. Left me there like a damn dog outside being forgotten.

He had to be conceited thinking that I was attending the church just to see him. That was only the second time I've been there and my time there wasn't as...sanctified as the time before that. Going to church wasn't about him. It was about me getting back to my old self. Church was part of that despite the gossip girls and the horny old men eyeing the young adult females. Super creepy.

What the hell do people find so wrong with me? Why do people seem to run away, hate, or even have a problem with me? There's nothing wrong with me and that's why many people look up to me. A part of me wants to believe that many people were just jealous of me. A small part of me wants to believe that it was actually a 'me' problem....but that side didn't show much.

Hanging my clothes up and finishing my laundry, I put my basket in my closet and heard my door fly open. It shocked me so much so that my head popped out from the closet to see who the trifling bitch that busted into my room was. Once my eyes landed on the roommate, I was hit with a heavy backhand across my perfect face and my fragile body fell to the floor. The sting from my right cheek alarmed me that this was definitely going to leave a mark on my face. Damn it! Why do I live with these wild monkeys?!

Fury burned through my irises as I made my way back up on my feet. I bet you all think it was Jess that took a swing at me.

"Bitch, let me-"

"DON'T EVEN START! Let me tell YOU something. Sit the hell down because this is going to take a while," Rena demanded loudly as she pointed at my bed for me to take a seat on my bed. Where in the world did her madness come from? Who made her mad?

Rolling my eyes at the arrogant live action of Flubber, I opened my lips with "You must have forgotten who's room you're in."

"If you don't want another slap against that caked-up face of yours or to be dragged across this carpet by your overly brushed hair, I suggest you zip it, lock it, and put it in your damn pocket!"

No this pile of toe jam didn't just threaten me! Who did she think she was? She doesn't ever speak to me like that.

My eyes widened at her sudden boldness and I couldn't help but feel scared for my face to be slapped again. The sting from her last slap was bad enough. There was probably a bruise on it.

Shaking my head rigorously, I sat back on my bed like a good little school girl and didn't say a word. It was strange because Rena was never this angry. Not with me anyhow. I wondered where the hell all of this sudden anger came from. It had to be Jess talking to her about me. That jealous bitch.

"I couldn't hold that back anymore, Tiff. What you said out there was absolutely uncalled for and you know it. That was wrong of you. I really thought that you'd be more reasonable and understanding considering the fact that I'm really the only friend that you have left. But no, there goes that big ass balloon of yours that you call a head again; letting the helium in it do the talking for you. I can't tell you how disappointed I am in you," Rena explained in her soft words again.

I won't lie. Her words shot at my ego but they missed the target completely. How dare she think that she was my only friend. I had plenty of other friends besides her. They hang with me every time I'm on campus. Even though they haven't called me since school let out, they were still my friends compared to these drama queens in here.

I went to say something until she held her hand up at me to say "I'm not done here and I'm not listening to your ignorant words again, Tiff. It's your turn to sit down and listen like you do to those rich men you went to dinner with. You know the ones that left you hanging at those fancy restaurants and your black best friend had to save you from total embarrassment? You really don't understand how much your words hurt and offended me as your black friend. Is that how you truly see me?"

Okay, so maybe those words hit my ego in some aspect. She did save my ass from washing dishes at those restaurants to pay them for dinner. Why was she offended though? She wasn't one of those loud black friends that was loud or ghetto. Why was she so mad at me for?

"As much as I let you get away with many things you say around this house, this was one thing I couldn't let you get away with. You constantly mistreat and speak foul to the most important people in your life just to put the people that couldn't give two shits about you on a higher pedestal. All because they have money or they're popular so they make you look good. Since I'm fat and black, I don't make you look good?"

"Rena, that's not-"

"That's what it seemed like from the conversation that happened in the living room. Tiff, sometimes, I wonder why in the world I stick around to entertain your constant insults and shady attitude. You don't think Carmon, Jess, and Jana feel the same way? Do you not see why you don't have many friends? You're even losing close family members. They don't even want to be around you because of your nasty attitude. Why do you think you didn't get anything for Christmas besides that beautiful blouse from that popular boutique in the mall?"

My eyes felt to the ground as I felt a little guilty. She didn't have to bring up the Christmas thing. Everyone else got more than one gift and here I was thinking I didn't get any. Somehow, a beautiful blouse shows up by my door. I thought it was one of the guys that kept eyeing me around the apartment complex or something. There was no name on it or anything.

"I really think you just needed that one friend who would just slap you back into your senses. I also considered the fact that, without me, you wouldn't have anyone else to speak to. That's why I'm in your room right now. Once again, your colored friend is saving you because she cares. You don't seem to care about that, do you?," Rena finished as she bit down on her bottom lip and her dark chocolate eyes turned glossy.

The tears about to flow from Rena's eyes are what made me feel even worse. Rena never complained about our friendship until just now. She just let our friendship run its course and would say something from time to time. I guess I just didn't take her seriously until that slap to my face. My heart sank at Rena's words and...for the first time in a long while, a certain phrase came from my lips.

"I don't usually say this to anybody, but I'm sorry. You may not be my only friend, but you're definitely the only friend who will listen and correct me. When we were having that conversation in there, I wasn't trying to offend you. I was just mad at Jess talking time and time again. She just doesn't know how to shut the hell up sometimes. I really value our friendship and want you in my life, Rena. I'm sorry about everything I said. I understand if you don't forgive me, but it would be nice."

Did those words really just come out? Did I really just apologize. Oh, Rena better be grateful that I can't live without her in my life. I wouldn't even say that to my own sister. Somehow I said it to my best friend. That's so crazy.

As Rena wiped her cheeks and looked up at me, she said "I don't think you really mean it, but I'll take it because you never say that to anybody. We'll work on your apologizing skills. I also came in here to show you something."

She took my hand in hers and led me through the living area while my eyes watched my roommates do what they do around the house. Jana and Jess were snuggled up on the couch sleeping while Carmon and Raina were making cookies together with smiles on their faces. It was as if this conversation didn't happen and the house wasn't tense anymore. Maybe that was a good thing. But how long was I in my room for?

Soon, Rena and I reached the balcony door while my eyes studied the blue and red lights flashing through the windows. That sent an alert through my body. The police had to be at our apartment complex due to some rowdy college students partying too hard. They probably had to break it up or whatever. Now, they should go see our neighbors upstairs. Couldn't sleep at all last night.

Once Rena opened the door, I couldn't believe what my eyes saw unfold. My heart beat so fast and my thoughts went blurry as I saw a redheaded Megan being handcuffed and pulled off of a male body. They pushed her into the cop cruiser as she yelled swears and hollered at the police officers.

"Still think it's just black people that have that problem?" Rena spoke as I continued studying the scene at hand. She was right about that, however, that wasn't what really had my attention.

My eyes fell on a, what looked like, a lifeless Bryce laying on the ground in the parking lot. My heart grew so worried because the police just left him laying there like a piece of garbage that roams around the parking lot. Side note: College kids are the worst when it comes to trash. Lazy as hell. You want to know the real reason behind pollution? They are why.

Shaking my head as tears developed in my eyes, I turned into the living room and raced out of the house. This couldn't have been happening. How in the world did he get over here? Why was Megan all over him and what was so wrong with him? What the hell happened to him?!

Once I got down the stairs and across the parking lot, my heart just broke. Something in me wondered why the hell he wasn't talking to me lately. Why the hell would the police just leave him there like that? These college kids don't care and could have ran him over.

As soon as I got there, I studied the scene and found a random black guy with a curly top afro just sitting by the pained sound man.

"What happened here?" I asked with so much stress in my voice as I slowly kneeled on the other side of Bryce's body. My manicured hand laid across his lean back and I felt his breath going at an unordinary pace. It scared me so much that I almost called the ambulance again until...

"He's fine, but can I ask who you are before I tell you anything?" the black guy spoke as he got closer to us. He had a darker skin complexion and buffy but still looked like he could pass for 21. He was a little darker than Brian.

"I'm his...uh...I'm his girlfriend," I spoke without thinking about my answer clearly. Damn it, Tiff! Why the hell did I feel obligated to say that shit? We barely knew each other and this was a serious situation. This was what Rena was talking about. Opening your mouth before thinking. Hell, I talked about it too.

As my face came in contact with the palm of my hand, I heard a "Well, he was walking out of our apartment until this crazy redheaded chick came in and beat him with a bat. Then, she pushed him down the stairs. She kept saying she was tired of him seeing this Tiffany girl. I'm guessing that's you..."

Oh my goodness. This bitch was seriously crazy about this guy. Maybe it wasn't worth hanging around this guy anymore. Next thing we know, she'll hunt me down and make me into her next fashion collection.

As my eyes landed on Bryce's bruised face, I watched him sit up slowly just to say "Tiff, what are you doing here?"

His once small slim lips were now thick and bruised. I helped him sit up and get him comfortable. Then, out of instinct, my hands wrapped around his swollen face and my heart just sank. However, there was still a spark in this green-eyed beauty's weakened smile.

Shaking my head at his look, tears grew in my eyes as I said "I live here. I didn't know you lived here too. I can't believe that sorority witch did what she did to you."

He wiped a tear away from my cheek as he just studied my saddened face. Somehow, he was still lightly smiling through all of this and it made me question why he wasn't so frustrated.

He chuckled with "Maybe this is just what I needed after what I did to you. She was mad because she found out about our little sexscapade in my truck a while back and got jealous. Lamar, my roommate, can tell you how crazy this girl is. She gets passed around from frat house to frat house. Good thing Lamar and I aren't in a fraternity."

I giggled at his words as Lamar brought out a bag of ice for me to put on his throbbing lip. As my hands held the bag against his lip, his forest green eyes sparkled in the night while looking into my eyes. It was as if his smile repaired my heart and made it jump. There was some tension between us and it wasn't negative tension.

His sudden gentle smile pushed aside a Tiffany that occupied too much space in my soul. The pushy, self-centered, egotistical Tiff was put on the backburner as my lips opened with "Do you need help getting to your room again?"

"I'd like that a lot...Girlfriend."

My eyes widened at his response as I moved out of from in front of him.

'Girlfriend'?

He heard me say all of that and I blushed at the thought of it all. At the same time, my mind debated on moving forward with this due to past experiences. Was I ready to make a move with another man after my history with them? Was I ready to be serious with someone? It seems like he's changed, but what if it was just to get in my pants?

As my face fell from a smile to a frown, I heard him say "Don't worry about it. We can take it one day at a time. However, just know that I do have a thing for a specific blonde-haired and blue-eyed woman and I'm pretty territorial when it comes to her. So side pieces should watch their backs."

I laughed at his words while sitting beside him. After he said that, he just wanted to sit there on the sidewalk with me and watch the stars dance in the sky. His roommate left to go to bed and Bryce let me lay my head on his shoulder even though he was pretty weak.

How could someone be so comfortable with me after everything I did? How could he just sit by me, be my friend, and be interested in me even though I was prideful and big-headed? Even though he seemed like a predator at first, he seemed to have changed a whole lot since then. He was something truly different and just what I may have needed in my life.