Temptation

Staring death in the eye

Andre pov

    I was waiting for Shaquille to pick me up for a Friday tutoring session but he seemed to be running late. I decided to turn on forensic files to occupy my time.
     It was my favorite show, probably because that's all my father and mother use to watch when they were home and it was the only quality time I had with them. The show brought some kind of nostalgic comfort.
     I heard knocks at the door and gathered my thing expecting it to be Shaquille. "Cheyenne." My voice nor my expression seemed too welcoming.
"Andre." He said in a mocking tone as he entered my house. "Where were you going?"
I was still standing at the door, Cheyenne un-welcomed entry still not registering. "I had to go tutor someone. What are you doing here?" I asked finally closing the door.
"I need a place to crash tonight." He said making himself comfortable on my couch and turning the station. I grew irritated but I hid it well. I sat on the couch with him watching different shows he turned to silently waiting for Shaquille to come.
After turning the station I watched as Cheyenne ignored the tv and occupied himself with his phone. Just the kind of things that irritated me about him. He cared nothing of other people and only himself. Instead of checking him on why he changed the station that I was watching only to be in his phone I went to my room to relax.
Just as I stood up I got a message from Shaquille saying he was outside. "Don't make a mess please." Cheyenne waved me off as I made my exit.
The loud music from Shaquille's car started buzzing in my ear before I could even make it in the car. "Hey."
"Wassup." He nodded, as he sped through my parking garage. "I got to make a stop before I go to my place." He said more as a statement not really giving me an option in the matter.
"I can wait here if you want."
"Nah I'm already in this area it would be a waste of time besides it'll only take a minute." He said turning the music down. He looked over at me a few times before asking. "Yo, Why you always seem so uptight?"
"Huh?" I said looking back at him.
"I mean you never speak your mind. Hell you never seem like you have a mind of your own. You just seem like you accept anything." He said causing me to place my head down and shrug.
"I mean I guess."
"You guess what?" He quizzed. "It was a question."
      I fell quiet and Shaquille ended up dropping it because we pulled up to a location that seemed to be his destination. "I'll be back yo. Wait in the car."
      I stared on as I watched Shaquille walk up to a few guys. There seemed to be some kind of transaction going on but it was none of my business as I stared down at my phone.
"It's a set up!" Shaquille yelled before hitting on of the guys in the jaw, dropping him to the floor the other guy hopped on top of Shaquille.
    Without thinking I hopped out and started screaming. "STOOOPPP! STOOPPP!" I went running to his rescue. I distracted them enough for Shaquille to regain his composure and drop the guy who was just hanging over him.
      "Get in the fucking car, nigga!" Shaquille yelled. I was frozen in place from shock from actually being in this predicament. It wasn't until I saw Shaquille charging my way that my feet finally caught up with urge to get away.
     I ran for the passenger door as Shaquille hopped in the driver seat speeding off. "What the fuck was that?!" Shaquille pushed me in the side of my head. "Nigga I told you to stay in the car."
      The shock still causing a delayed reaction. "Take me home." My mouth spoke before the thought even cAme to mind.
        Shaquille adrenaline still pumping didn't even hear me as he continued. "You could have gotten us killed back there. You stupid fuck!" He shouted.
         "Take me home." My words were spoken almost like it was programmed to say it. "Take me home!" I became louder as my mind began to catch on to what I was saying. "TAKE ME THE FUCK HOME!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
       "Nigga who the fuck you yell-"
       SLAP. The slap across Shaquille's face put him in the same shock as I was in.
       "Nigga I said take me the fuck home." I screamed ever ounce of fear exited my body. I could've died tonight and here he is yelling at me as if it was my fault for being in that situation. "You have the audacity to yell at me when you put me in a situation that could have possibly ended my life!? HhUuh?" Before I knew it I slapped him again.
       "Nigga slap me aga-"
       SLAP
       "Don't make me say it again!"
        Shaquille glare proved 7 demons were floating through his mind right now but I could careless, my outrage wouldn't let me pardon his intimidating glare. I stared back anticipating an ass whooping but Shaquille's glare became flawed when he looked away and headed in the direction of my house.
      The car ride was silent as a mouse. My anger slowly subsided as we approached my condo. "Dre I understand you're angry but next time you put your hands on me-"
       "There won't be a next time. I'm not volunteering at the center anymore. I made up my mind, if your sister needs any help tell her to call me on FaceTime and I'll do what I can but make sure you stay the fuck away from me." I didn't wait for him to park as I opened the door causing him to stop. I hopped out the car and proceeded to my condo.
       When I opened the door I saw Cheyenne with his sneakers on my couch knocked out sleep. "Get the fuck up and get out!"
      Cheyenne looked startled. "What the fuck man!"
      I slapped his feet off my sofa and started throwing his stuff out the door. "Get the fuck out of my house now!"
       Cheyenne looked shocked snatching the rest of his things up and headed towards the door. "I don't know what happened man but I'm here for you." I seemed concerned. "I've never seen you like this so if you want to talk...." I slammed the door in his face and went to bed.
        I spent my whole life trying to live by pardoning everyone else's ego. It took me seeing my life flashing before my eyes to see I don't have a life. Well a new Andre is in town.