Keith. It’s nice to meet you,” I say awkwardly, not being used
to compliments. “Thank you.”
“So! Why you eating by yourself, honey? I figured you would
have a fine man, like I do, by your side,” Jamal asks as he leans toward
Keith.
I’m kind of caught off guard because I picture Jax for just a split
second and then shake the thoughts away as I remember my plan. “No.
No man and I really don’t have time for one either.” I take a sip of my
drink then continue. “My friend Jazz usually meets me, but she had to
meet with Professor Wallace.” They look at one another and smile.
“What?”
Keith answers my question. “Well, Professor Wallace is one fine
piece of ass, and I’ve heard rumors about him...” He bends toward me
and whispers, “...giving private lessons to some of the female students,
if you know what I mean.” He winks.
I think about this and immediately shake my head. “I don’t think
Jazz would do that. She’s smarter than to fall into a relationship with a
staff member here and risk her reputation.” At least I hope she is.
“Well, just watch out. They may just be rumors, but I had him last
year and the way he looked at the asses of some of the girls, I believe
they’re true.”
Jamal holds his hand up in a stop gesture and says, “Okay, enough
about the George Clooney look-alike. Trudy, tell me about yourself
and where you learned to dance?” They both look at me with
eagerness on their faces.
I clear my throat to think about where to start. I don’t tell many
people about my past. Jazz is the only one besides Brad that I’ve ever
told how I ended up in foster care, but that was because I trust Jazz and
I thought I could trust Brad. I clear my throat and give them as little
information as possible. “I’m from Atlanta and the lady who raised me
signed me up for classes and encouraged me to dance the whole time I
lived with her.” I want to change the subject, so I ask where they’re
from.
“I’m from Chicago and Keith was raised here in Mobile,” Jamal
says and looks at Keith.
“How long have you two been together?” I’ve never met a samesex couple before, and I’m curious about how they met, but I won’t
dig too deep into their personal life.
“We met last year during tryouts. I was auditioning and Jamal was
a judge. I came out when I left high school, and I still hadn’t told many
people because this is the South,” he says, his arms in the air, gesturing
our surroundings. “I talked to Jamal about it because he’s so open and
free about his lifestyle, and I knew I wanted that for myself.” Keith
turns to Jamal and puts his head on his shoulder. “He helped me and
our friendship just grew after that.”
I can see the friendship between them as well as the trust. I want
that for myself someday. However, I don’t know if I can let myself
trust like that again and not get hurt. Looking at my phone, I notice
that I need to hurry to my last class of the day, so after exchanging
numbers with the guys, I say goodbye to run out the door.
I’m still texting Jazz on my phone, not looking up, when I feel
something cold and wet land all over my shirt. “What the hell?” I ask
to no one in particular and look up.
“Oops. My bad!” Ashton says with a fake smile, batting her
eyelashes. “I’m so sorry, Rudy, but you really need to pay more
attention where you’re going.” She’s holding an empty cup in one and
while the opposite hand sits on her hip.
I’m about in tears for two different reasons. One, I’m so angry that
I’m about to give her a new asshole, and two, everyone is watching
and the place is dead silent. I take a deep breath and exhale slowly.
“Geez, Ashton, you can be such a bitch.” Jamal has his arms
around me and pushes hard against Ashton’s shoulder to move past her
and Amanda. Keith has my bag that I hadn’t realized I dropped and
walks behind us as we make our exit. As soon as we get away from
everyone, the tears run down my
to compliments. “Thank you.”
“So! Why you eating by yourself, honey? I figured you would
have a fine man, like I do, by your side,” Jamal asks as he leans toward
Keith.
I’m kind of caught off guard because I picture Jax for just a split
second and then shake the thoughts away as I remember my plan. “No.
No man and I really don’t have time for one either.” I take a sip of my
drink then continue. “My friend Jazz usually meets me, but she had to
meet with Professor Wallace.” They look at one another and smile.
“What?”
Keith answers my question. “Well, Professor Wallace is one fine
piece of ass, and I’ve heard rumors about him...” He bends toward me
and whispers, “...giving private lessons to some of the female students,
if you know what I mean.” He winks.
I think about this and immediately shake my head. “I don’t think
Jazz would do that. She’s smarter than to fall into a relationship with a
staff member here and risk her reputation.” At least I hope she is.
“Well, just watch out. They may just be rumors, but I had him last
year and the way he looked at the asses of some of the girls, I believe
they’re true.”
Jamal holds his hand up in a stop gesture and says, “Okay, enough
about the George Clooney look-alike. Trudy, tell me about yourself
and where you learned to dance?” They both look at me with
eagerness on their faces.
I clear my throat to think about where to start. I don’t tell many
people about my past. Jazz is the only one besides Brad that I’ve ever
told how I ended up in foster care, but that was because I trust Jazz and
I thought I could trust Brad. I clear my throat and give them as little
information as possible. “I’m from Atlanta and the lady who raised me
signed me up for classes and encouraged me to dance the whole time I
lived with her.” I want to change the subject, so I ask where they’re
from.
“I’m from Chicago and Keith was raised here in Mobile,” Jamal
says and looks at Keith.
“How long have you two been together?” I’ve never met a samesex couple before, and I’m curious about how they met, but I won’t
dig too deep into their personal life.
“We met last year during tryouts. I was auditioning and Jamal was
a judge. I came out when I left high school, and I still hadn’t told many
people because this is the South,” he says, his arms in the air, gesturing
our surroundings. “I talked to Jamal about it because he’s so open and
free about his lifestyle, and I knew I wanted that for myself.” Keith
turns to Jamal and puts his head on his shoulder. “He helped me and
our friendship just grew after that.”
I can see the friendship between them as well as the trust. I want
that for myself someday. However, I don’t know if I can let myself
trust like that again and not get hurt. Looking at my phone, I notice
that I need to hurry to my last class of the day, so after exchanging
numbers with the guys, I say goodbye to run out the door.
I’m still texting Jazz on my phone, not looking up, when I feel
something cold and wet land all over my shirt. “What the hell?” I ask
to no one in particular and look up.
“Oops. My bad!” Ashton says with a fake smile, batting her
eyelashes. “I’m so sorry, Rudy, but you really need to pay more
attention where you’re going.” She’s holding an empty cup in one and
while the opposite hand sits on her hip.
I’m about in tears for two different reasons. One, I’m so angry that
I’m about to give her a new asshole, and two, everyone is watching
and the place is dead silent. I take a deep breath and exhale slowly.
“Geez, Ashton, you can be such a bitch.” Jamal has his arms
around me and pushes hard against Ashton’s shoulder to move past her
and Amanda. Keith has my bag that I hadn’t realized I dropped and
walks behind us as we make our exit. As soon as we get away from
everyone, the tears run down my
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