Page 7 of Shooting his Shot

"Gosh, I don't want to cry anymore," I whispered. I thought I was all cried out, but apparently I still had tears available. Nothing had changed in my old bedroom. It was still as messy as I kept it. My mother stayed fussing at me to get my room clean, but that was something I always paid little attention to. I laughed as I thought about my mother coming into the bedroom with a belt, and I acted like I was praying. She tore my ass up for playing with God. I couldn't help the tears that flowed down my face from that.

"Mommy, I needed you the most," I whispered.

Deep sorrow pushed its way into my heart, causing me to sob. It was best to get this out, or it would hinder me, and that was something I didn't want to happen. I had never felt this deep pain unless I had a nightmare. I was much stronger than this, but it was hard to let go.

"Yo!" I heard a voice call out, and I already knew who it was.

I quickly wiped my eyes and sniffed, trying to get control of the deep agony I felt inside my body. My heart stuttered as it felt like I was walking in a dream, wanting to wake up. I couldn't escape this feeling if I wanted to.

I cleared my throat. "I'm upstairs. I'll be down in a minute."

"I can always come up there to you."

Akari didn't give me a chance to say anything back before I heard him coming up the stairs. Hopefully, he didn't see any traces of me crying.

I felt his presence before I turned around and saw him leaning against the door. His eyes roamed down my body asbefore, and I didn't know how to feel. The stare was too intense for my liking. Why was he even staring at me like that?

"Wassup? I know you weren't crying. What's the matter?" He stepped closer to me and gripped my shoulders in his large hands. He peered down at me with a concerned look on his face. That was something I didn't need — his pity.

I tried shrugging him off me, but it was no use. "I'm okay."

The frown on his face deepened. "It doesn't sound like you are okay. Were you crying again?"

I didn't know what to say to this man, so I kept quiet. I had a feeling he wouldn't let me go until I told him the truth. "It's all good. I've stopped, as you can see." I sighed, pulling away from him.

He finally let me go and peered around the room. "I guess this was your junky ass room."

I burst out laughing with a nod. "Yes, it was mine. You didn't have to come for my room like that."

He chuckled. "Itisjunky."

I sat on the edge of my old twin bed. "Whatever. What are you doing here?"

He told me he saw my car and decided to stop by again. That was sweet of him, but I didn't know what it meant for him to show up the way that he was. I took a moment to observe him, and my mouth watered.

"It's cold outside, and all your arms are out. You're going to catch a cold."

Akari snickered, taking a seat next to me on the bed. "Nah, I am used to it. Plus, it don't be as cold as y'all make it out to be."

I rolled my eyes. "It's fifty degrees. That's cold. It's cold in this house right now."

His eyes bulged. "Well, duh. There is no power in here. Hell, I bet there is no water, either."

I laughed. "Ha, you got me there." I rose from the bed and picked up some clothes off the floor. "You'd think she would clean up this room after I left," I muttered.

"Maybe she wanted to remember you like this — messy."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You know what, if you’re going to start your mess, be prepared to go tit for tat," I warned.

Akari threw his head back and laughed. His Adam's apple bobbed in his throat. "Bring it on, baby."

We started cleaning the room out. I knew I was going to throw everything in the trash. There was nothing to keep in this house. We worked well together, and I found myself laughing out loud at Akari.

"Your man's not going to get mad that you're in here flirting with me?"

Oh, he was fishing. I could see that from a mile away.

"Flirting?" I frowned. "With you? I wasn't doing that at all. But I don't have a man. I should be asking you that question, Mr. Star." I sized him up.

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