Link Up ✔️

Chapter 73

I loved being back at school and hanging out with my friends. Each day one of them was by my side. Mostly King.

He made a point to meet up with me for breakfast and lunch, changing around his normal routine to be with me. Every night except when he had an evening class, he hung out with me in my room or downstairs at the front desk if I had to work. He would sit near and do school work on his laptop. He did not even care to be a part of the Association of Black Collegians, but he came to the meetings with me.

I decided I wanted to go out for Resident Assistant the following year. Yes, I had more than enough money to pay for school without free room and board, but I liked doing something for myself. And knowing where the money came from now, I felt different about it. Angel had to go through hell with her ex to inherit the money I did not think I deserved. Good riddance to that monster.

I still sent my mother whatever I made working part-time at the front desk. She never even sent me thank you texts or anything, and she did not beg for more so that was progress.

I set up a separate saving account and put a hundred thousand in it. I would give that to my brother Jalon when he needed it. Someone needed to be there for him, and if my mother could not, I would, however I could, and not just financially.

I planned on spending the summer at home and working with Angel if she would let me. I wanted to do more than work as a cashier or stocking clothes, I wanted to shadow her and learn the business. How to run a successful company. I had not told her what my plans were, I wanted to wait till after my little sister was born.

"No sighting of the creep, he is really gone," Allura said to me after an ABC meeting. "My mom said Todd is home but she did not say much else."

I did not want to hear that boy's name ever again.

"Mental illness is real girl, you dodged a bullet with that one."

"Has Jon heard from him?"

Allura shrugged. "I'm not speaking to him. At all! No more do-overs for him in my book. I cannot believe I wasted all my high school years and then some after that boy. I've moved on to better."

King's attention was elsewhere, talking with some guys. Gay never wanted to come to the meetings because she said it was like following after her brother's shadow. I not only attended the meetings, but I also engaged and served on several committees. Allura and I were both on the step show committee for the show that would be next month.

"So things with you and Diallo are good?" And yes, it was still weird having her date my ex. Nothing I could do about that, and I had moved on to someone better.

Allura smiled at me. "Why didn't you tell me he was a virgin?"

I...I had no words to tell her. It was his business, and not mine to tell while we dated.

Allura leaned closer to me and giggled. "He's not anymore."

I do not need to hear that. Now ever! Ugh! Now I wanted to erase the last five minutes from my brain. Allura and Diallo had sex? I did not want to know this, but it could not be undone now. Why was she telling me this? Did she think I would care? Yes, he was my first boyfriend, but it did not last long enough to matter.

I was over Diallo, completely.

"Uh...okay," I said to her and moved away. "Good for you guys...I mean, if that's what you two wanted."

I looked over at Diallo, talking with a group of ABC members. Did he know she was telling all their business to me?

I did not want to picture the two of them being intimate. I did not want to picture anyone doing that.

Except maybe with King.

I shook that from my head. King and I never even discussed it, and I am sure it was something that would come up soon if I did not bring it up. I wanted to know where he stood on that. And I wanted to let him know where I stood.

Later that night while we were hanging out in my room, I went for it.

"What do you think about sex?"

I asked that while we sat at my desk doing homework. King was on his laptop, I was handwriting notes for class. King looked away from the computer screen and turned to me.

"What do you mean?"

"Uh...I mean, you want to have sex?"

"No," he simply said, and I waited for him to say more but nothing else came.

Why did I take offense to that? Like, did he not find me desirable and want me that way? Didn't guys think about it all the time and want it more than girls did?

"Okay," was all I could say back.

"Why are you asking? You want to have sex with me?"

I shrugged, looking away from him, embarrassed I brought it up. "I don't know."

"And see, that's why I said no. You're not ready." He reached over and pulled me closer to him. "Fresh, I care for you a lot, we will know when the time is right."

"I've never-"

"I know." He kissed my forehead. "Doesn't take a genius to figure that out, fresh."

I nudged him with my elbow and snuggled against his chest. "It's just a big deal to me. I know sex is nothing to some, just so free with it, but I want it to mean something when I am ready. I want to know if it means something to the person I'm with. And I don't want to just keep sleeping around and hope that is enough to make a relationship work."

"I respect that."

I did not know if I wanted to hear what his answer would be, but I had to ask anyway. "How many girls have you had sex with?"

"One."

Color me shocked.

"I guess I feel like you, I don't want to sleep around. When I was with my ex, I thought she was going to be my one. When it didn't work out, I told myself not to turn into a guy like my father. Random girls, use them and leave them. I don't know the man, but that's how my mother said he was."

"My parents had me at fifteen, so that scares me."

"Babe, you don't have to worry about that." He kissed my forehead. "When we both are ready, trust we will be protected. No pressure and I don't even want you worrying your pretty little head about it. We're good, we don't have to rush and do anything because others are."

It felt weird discussing this, but it was very much needed. To think, if I would have chosen King in the first place, where would our relationship have been by now? He was my first date. He should have been my first kiss, my first everything. I got to know King first as a friend before I jumped into a relationship.

I will not call him perfect, because, you know, I gave that to someone that did not deserve it, but King was definitely what I needed. He always spoke his mind and did not hold anything back. He was there for me, always, when I needed him. He gave me space and was never overbearing. No jealousy issues, even though I was friends with Perez who I went on a date. He did not mind at all.

We could talk about anything, even now talking about sex seemed like we were talking about the stars in the sky. Just a regular conversation.

My father liked him as well, even asking about him when he called to check in. I'm pretty sure they bonded over exchanged phone numbers and kept in touch with each other.

Angel had yet to meet him, but I knew she would like him as well. I even wanted my sister to meet him and like him.

A/N: Now why would you think Allura would tell Rayvn she has had sex with Diallo? Good thing Rayvn isn't stressed over it. She is doing much better at handling things coming her way. Growth!