' 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗘 𝗦𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗡 ' › D. SWING

02.

Months had passed and Donald still wasn't doing too great in school. However, his social life was seeming to pick up. He had met a group that went by the name UNITY that was also singing gospel and eventually started dating one of them. Her name was Mary Jane. His father liked her only because she was heavily involved in church. To me, she was cool but only when Donald was around. Other than that, she would always give me sour looks and whisper stuff to her friends as if I wasn't aware that she was talking about me. But throughout all of her shady behavior, I remained civil only because I respected Donald and didn't want to jeopardize our friendship by making him feel as if he had to choose between the two of us.

One day, I overheard Mary Jane and her sister Sue telling Donald and Dalvin about two brothers their age that were part of a gospel group called Little Cedric and the Hailey Brothers, suggesting that they meet up with them to work on some music together. Of course they were up for it because they had been looking for people to do music with and since the opportunity was there, they were going to take advantage of it.

Donald and Dalvin came into the kitchen where I was helping their mother prepare dinner and told her they were headed to meet the singers.

"Don't you want to go, Rhonda?", she asked as she picked the stems from the greens and placed them into the large bowl while throwing the stems in the trashcan near the cabinet. I glanced up from the chicken I had been seasoning, my hands covered in salt, pepper, and parsley—a bit hesitant about saying yes since I wasn't invited.

I shook my head and grinned softly, "No. I don't mind staying to help."

She shot me a look that only I would understand. She wanted me to go and keep an eye on the boys. I hated being a personal spy but if it kept them out of trouble then sure. I sighed lowly, "I mean, if it's cool with you guys..." I trailed off as I looked at them. They exchanged glances and shrugged.

"We don't care. Just come on", Dalvin said with his nose scrunched slightly, the corner of his mouth lifted as a way to showcase how annoyed he was.

I nodded and followed them to the front door, grabbing the closest  jacket I could that was hanging on the hook and putting it on. I zipped it up and pulled my ponytail from beneath the hood, walking outside and waiting on the porch with everyone else as Donald fiddled with his key to lock the door. I could hear Mary Jane and Sue mumbling something to each other, turning my head to look at them–unsurprised that they were looking back at me. Finally, she spoke as she stepped closer to me. "Why are you wearing his jacket?"

I furrowed my eyebrows, glancing down at the jacket I had grabbed. Sure enough, it was his. I took a deep breath before responding to keep myself calm, "I didn't realize. I just grab—"

"Yeah, whatever. Take it off", she spat, cutting me off. This was the first time she had openly spoke that way to me in front of him. Dalvin's jaw was slightly dropped as he looked at me then at Mary Jane, a smile forming along his face as he tried to hold in his laugh.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Why you trippin'? It's just a jacket. The temperature dropped and she ain't bring one with her", Donald said with a look of confusion.

Mary Jane rolled her eyes and Sue's arms folded over her flat chest.

"She's not your girlfriend, D. You need to put her in her place", she demanded. Her eyes were somewhat squinted as she waited from him to respond.

He exhaled a large amount of air in frustration and stared at her for a moment, soon opening his mouth to say something but I stopped him before he said anything he would regret. "It's not that big of a deal. I'll take it off", I announced while I unzipped the jacket and shrugged out of it, pulling the sleeves down my arms and handing it over to Mary Jane. "Here." She smirked and snatched it away from me but I just kept my face expressionless and decided I should just start walking. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner me and her can go our separate ways. Donald remained quiet as he walked beside Mary Jane and Dalvin beside Sue with his arm draped over her shoulder while they kissed each other.