Unexpected

4.

MICHELLE POV

Two months later...

Things between Tatum and I are good. I can't really complain. He's actually a nice guy. Whitney was right. He was always at my home. Which was always odd.

We were both on my bed. But I was sitting up trying to study for a test. Tatum was laying down but sitting up. That's when I felt his arms pull me on top of him "can't you take a break?".

"No! It's bad enough I didn't study last night cause someone was distracting me!" I said.

He smirked "what can I say... I can't keep my hands off of you".

"So how come we never chill at your place?" I asked.

He shrugged "no reason. Just that my grandparents are very old school. Like, we wouldn't be able to go to my room. If we sat on the couch we would be three feet apart".

"You live with your grandparents?" I asked.

He nodded "yeah".

"Oh, where are your parents? If I'm being too nosey just tell me" I joked.

He smiled "well from the stories I heard. My parents were users. At the time my mom couldn't take care of me. So she gave me to her mother. Signed her rights away. I haven't seen her since I was three".

Covering my mouth "damn.., that sucks".

"Yes and no. Since we are asking questions. I see you and your sister live here. But no parents" he said.

"Our mother lives in California. But her new husband was always creepy. Sometimes I would catch him staring at me. Thought I was crazy but one day my mom wasn't home and he attacked me" I said.

"Attack you how?" He asked.

"He was trying to rape me" I lowly said.

Tatum blinked at me a few times. But he didn't say anything. Feeling slightly uncomfortable I changed the topic.

"Anyway I'm here now in a new state. New city. New life. Couldn't be happier" I smiled.

He cleared his throat "not going to mention you meant me?".

Hitting him with a pillow "you know what I meant". He pulled me to him kissing me.

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Maybe I should've kept my thoughts to myself. Since I mentioned about the whole him being here all the time. Well he said I was welcomed to come see him.

Now I don't know about you guys. But I'm very hesitant to go over there. Plus, I know my mouth I would hate to tongue lash granny. He kept blowing up my phone with text.

"I'm outside" he texted.

Great. Slowly getting myself together I mooched our the door. He smiled from ear to ear when he saw me "Hey beautiful".

I smiled "hey wasn't expecting you to pick me up".

" Last minute decision. Knowing you, you would just not come" he said.

Damn...

When we pulled up. It was a small house. First floor like mine. You can tell old people live here. "It's small" I said.

He laughed "it is... my grandma isn't for big things. And she's a small woman so.."

We walked inside and Gus grandfather was sitting on his recliner half dead. Nudging Tatum "is he dead?". He laughed "nah just sleeping". I stared to see if he was breathing just in case. Once I saw the stomach go up was relieved.

He pulled me with him to the dining room where his grandma was sipping tea. She looked up and choked on her drink. Tatum ran over to help her.

"Oh thank you! Tatum who is this?" She asked.

Wow not a hello... nothing. This should be fun.

"This is my girlfriend Michelle" he said.

" Michelle? That's not her name. It was Brittany" she said. Shaking my head cause granny was trying to play me.

"Grandma remember Brittany and I broke up years ago. This is Michelle" he said.

She eyed me up and down like she wanted to square up... "oh". When she got up my eyes went straight to the confederate flag that was hanging up so bright in the glass cabinet.

Knew it.

Now my mood is ruined.

I don't know how Tatum can say he's not for racism when clearly he was raised that way.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Umm can we leave? Go somewhere else? Anywhere" I said.

"Yeah..." he walked me outside closing the door. In the car he glanced at me "Michelle what's wrong?".

"Well... your granny wasn't so welcoming and I could only imagine if grandpa was awake what fun that would've been. But then I saw the flag. So you know..." I said.

He didn't say anything. Nothing. Am I shocked? No!

Actually he never brought it up after that. Never went back to that house ever again. I'm not sure Tatum understands the movement. Or he's just pretending.

How would he feel if the tables were turned?

I should've really thought about taking on this relationship a little more before jumping into it.

After just driving around. We pulled up infront of my place. He looked at me "there's a lot I would love to explain but now it's not the time. But soon!".

"Excuse me? We have time now" I said.

He shook his head "I can't".

I nodded "well goodnight". Opening the door before he could I ran inside. Now he's keeping secrets.