The Come Up

Chapter 30 - Good Morning America

Trisha, Pookie and I sit in the backstage lounge of Good Morning America. It's crazy that I have wanted to be on these shows my whole life and then suddenly I am. It is unfortunate that both my closest friends are giving me the silent treatment. 

Pookie especially. 

He hasn't looked me in my face once and when he speaks I cannot tell if his speech is directed at me. 

I am dressed in a sleek black dress with a slit up to my thighs by D'tello and black Jordan sneakers, my hair is straight and the same make up crew works their magic on my face.  What seems to be Jazz plays in the back room and my legs are crossed as I sit quietly. 

We can see the show on the TV in front of us, there is an actor that I do not know being interviewed. The jokes are corny but he laughs anyway. I take note. I wouldn't want my attitude getting in the way of the interview. 

My publicist went over a couple things on the phone with me this morning. What to say and what not to say, how to get around questions politely. Blaco is speaking to friends in the crew, I guess he has been here before. 

"I'll be back, ima step outside." Pookie says to Trisha as his phone rings. 

Me and Trisha are alone for the first time since the other night. I feel her face on mines, I feel her stare burning through my skin and I know she is just waiting patiently for me to look at her so she can scold me. 

I take a deep breath and look into my lap. My phone stares back at me with missed calls and texts from Devin. I never called him back that night but I also haven't called or texted at all in the last few days. I felt fake speaking to him like nothing happened. 

"You not gon look at me, coward?" Trisha speaks. 

I remain quiet with nothing to stay. 

"I'm not mad that you fucked, Bizzy. Kudos to you." She says. I look up at her now. 

"I was drunk and hi-" 

"I am mad that you were stupid enough not to wear a condom." She whispers firmly. 

My heartbeat is in my throat and I turn my phone around and around in my hands. 

"I am mad that you tried to hide it from me and Pookie had to tell me." She continues. 

"And I am mad as fuck that I ain't get to fuck Bizzy." She mumbles low enough for me to hear but I still think it was meant for her own ears. I don't laugh though I feel the urge. 

"What were you thinking? You know these rappers be sleeping  with 10,000 bitches in one night." She looks at me like I am impossible to deal with. Like my mother would if she knew. 

"I know." I lean back in my chair and stare at the ceiling. "It was stupid." 

"It was VERY stupid." Trisha raises her voice and I look around to see if anyone is listening. 

"We need to get you tested." She sighs and rubs her head. 

"I'm not going to bring up Trev and tell you how you've betrayed him because you will deal with that guilt and all the other guilt you're building up on your own time. But you cannot do dumb shit like that, Chanel." She runs her fingers through her hair that she had dyed blonde in the last few days. 

Her blonde hair against her milk brown skin actually worked. She wore a white dress that brought out her curves and a few pieces of gold jewelry and her make up looked flawless. I was pleased to call her my best friend, even when she was very mad at me.