Page 16 of Pieces of Us

“Sorry. We lost track of time.”

“Hey, Hemi.” Drue waved to me.

“What up doe, Drueski?”

“A little advice…If y’all are going to sneak around, make sure you have her home on time before Mr. Holier Than Thou brings his ass home.”

“Noted,” I replied.

“Drue, language!”

“Girl, please. Let’s go before you get both of us in trouble.”

Morgan turned to me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“Just a few more months until you leave and another boring year until I join you. We won’t have to worry about any of this anymore…right?”

“Facts, baby.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, Mo Boogie. Dream about me, a’ight?”

“Always.”

She placed a soft kiss on my lips as her sister smiled and dragged her away.

Morgan

ThePast

I sat on the park bench, waiting for Nehemiah to arrive. He had called me earlier to meet him at the park so he could take me out on a date. Since my father was out of town on business, my mom had extended my curfew to 10:00 p.m. instead of 8:00 p.m.

It had been three years since Nehemiah and I started dating, and every day, I fell more and more in love with him. He was such a gentleman and nothing like what my father said he was when I introduced him last year.

Going against my father was a first for me. I had never been so bold as to disobey his orders, but Nehemiah made me feel as if my life should be celebrated. Before, all I’d ever done was go to school, run track, go to church, and stay at home. I didn’t have friends until I met Nehemiah’s sister Chelsea. Other than that, it was just me and Drue.

Five minutes later, a clean, dark blue, 1976 Cordoba pulled up the block bumping Jodeci. I instantly knew who it was because Jodeci was my Hemi’s favorite group. I smiled as Istood and headed toward him. He got out, came around to the passenger side, and opened the door for me.

“What’s up, Mo Boogie?”

I smiled. “Hey, booby. This car is so clean. Where’d you get it?”

“Thank you, baby. Pops just bought it for me as an early grad gift. You like it?”

“I love it!” I replied, grinning as I hopped in the car.

Nehemiah leaned inside, kissing my lips as I blushed. He closed the door, got in the driver’s seat, and pulled off.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“I like surprises.” I beamed.

“I know you do, and I love surprising you.”

He interlocked his fingers with mine and kissed my hand. Any time he touched me, I felt my heart swell and saw my future with him. My father would never understand what my young heart felt for Nehemiah because he didn’t want to get to know him. He saw him with the fly gear, fresh kicks, hood swagger, and automatically deemed him unworthy. What he didn’t know was that Nehemiah prayed with me every day. He didn’t care if we were between classes, at lunch, or before a game. He made sure to find me every time at the same time to pray with me, and I loved that about him. If only my father understood.

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