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  Rashad asked. Tyson actually wanted to bust out laughing because the shit was funny.

  Instead he chose to just eat, trying to ignore the fact it seemed that there were three sets of eyes on him. Jazzlyn put her hand on his thigh trying to comfort him as they made their way through the most miserable family dinner Jazzlyn had ever had. Tyson made a few attempts at small talk with Jazzlyns father but it was pretty strained. So much so Tyson helped clean up the kitchen just so they could hurry up and leave.

  Jazzlyn and Tyson said awkward goodbyes to everyone and headed to the car."

  Mommy I'll cal you tomorrow so we can talk." Jazzlyn said.

  " OK baby, I know dinner didn't go they way you wanted it to but if it's any consolation, I think he's very nice! So good looking too! The only thing I care about is him being good to you honey. Don't worry about your dad and brothers, they'll come around once they see he wont be bul ied. I love you baby." Jazzlyns mom said.

  " I love you too mommy."

  As they pulled out of the driveway Jazzlyn turned in her seat " You already knew that if my family knew about your upbringing they would treat you differently from the start Tyson so why would you not want them to know. Especially if it would have made it easier?" Jazzlyn asked.

  " Because baby at the end of the day,when it's all said an done I'm still a white man.

  Your family and friends if they have hang ups about race will have to like me because they like me. Period. I can't nor do I want to rely on getting a pass because of my family background. I have a beautiful family aint no shame in how I grew up. Hell I have white relatives I talk to, cousins around here. I'm sure you'l meet them. I just want to be liked or not liked based on me not anyone else. It's really not that big of a deal. To be honest a lot of the things I do, I learned from my dad, who is let me remind you a black man.

  My dad taught me family is everything but in this game of life use the race card when you need it and be careful about putting your business in the streets. It's a weird dynamic, I'l admit but I real y do feel I live in two worlds, but I grew up like this so it's normal to me. This that happened tonight, aint nothing new baby. As long as you care for me and want me in your life, we'll deal with your family. When your family is tight it works out because you want each other to be happy. So for right now just let it ride."

  Tyson said lacing his fingers with hers.

  " I aint gonna lie though...when your brother said that about the green bean casserole I wanted to fall out laughing! My white side does love that shit at holidays don't they? I ate it during college at one of my white classmates parents house. That shit was nasty as hel ! Oh and your mama cooking was .. .aight! It aint as good as my mamas though!

  Imma take you over this weekend." Tyson said kissing her hand.

  Anything For You

  "Darien I can't believe you just sat there the entire time watching me clean up the apartment!" Trevonne said packing up the last of her cleaning supplies she'd brought over to help clean up while Trendi was resting.

  " Tre you know damn well I've been doing a lot of ripping and running since this whole thing went down. With no one to lean on,hel you always telling me how much you love me and the first time I ask you for anything other than pussy you complaining? That's exactly why I don't fuck with your ass no more than I do Trevonne damn!" Darien said,mean mugging her and putting the last bite of his sandwich in his mouth...that was made with the three large bags of groceries Trevonne had also brought over.

  " Darien can I get a little bit of appreciation here? I didn't have to buy you groceries or come over here and clean... none of that you know! You're the only person I know who can talk so much shit on one hand and asking for something with the other. You real y need to check yourself sometimes." Trevonne said throwing her stuff in the bag. Darien laughed at her. " Trevonne if you would learn to accept me for me, you and I could have a good thing going here. You should just appreciate the man I am! Let me ask you a couple things...this a serious talk we're having here. Come here and sit next to me."

  Darien said waving Trevonne into a seat.

  Trevonne sat down cautiously," Don't look like I'm just going to just come out with something crazy. Hell I'm a college graduate just like you! " Darien said laughing. "

  Trevonne we've had this talk before but let me entertain you for a minute. Tre have I

  ever lied to you? Before you answer think about the entire time we've been doing what whatever this is we're doing. Have I lied to you ever about my intentions or my feeling any of that ?" Darien asked." If I'm honest with you Trevonne I don't even know if you really like me at al . Half the time I think you were just trying to take something from Jazzlyn, one up her on some shit." Darien said.

  Trevonne sat there wiping her tears. Darien couldn't help but laugh" That's another thing, how you gonna be a bad girl sleeping with other people's boyfriends and you always crying? Do you realize you do that...a lot? " Darien asked." It's a sign of weakness! Don't no man want a crying ass woman...especial y when she has no reason to be crying.

  " I don't mean to! You're always so mean and negative towards me Darien, I do have feelings you know." Trevonne said.

  " I know you have feelings Tre and I know you don't see it, but I really do try to prevent you from catching feelings for me by being honest with you. Yeah I'm brutally honest, but I don't lie to you. Tre you mean to tell me all this time we've been fucking around you just been fucking me?" Darien asked looking at her sideways.

  " After about the first 2 months yes. I wont lie and say I make the best decisions, you being one of the worst but I'm not out there all like that!" Trevonne said.

  " Now see we was having a good talking until you went to lying! I know two dudes you fucked right off the top Trevonne! Look I'm basically even having this conversation with you to say this...be easy. Stop trying to make more of you and I than there is. I don't lie to you, I don't ever tell you I'm just seeing you none of that. So if you would deal with the reality of what we have going on here, it would actual y be cool. At the end of the day, I'm stil in love with Jazzlyn.

  Regardless of us not speaking to each other, her having another man all that. Right now, at this minute I see her as the one that got away, if I could do our entire relationship over and be the man I knew she deserved I would do it in a heartbeat.

  That's just me being real."Darien said."Trevonne, on the real, I do appreciate you doing al this . I know you didn't have to but I thank you for doing it."

  Darien walked Trevonne outside and helped her into her car." Thanks again for coming by and helping out Tre, It would have taken me forever to get it al done. What are you getting into for the weekend? Darien asked." Well no plans as of yet. I'm looking for something to get into though I haven't been out in a while." Trevonne said. Darien thought about maybe asking Trevonne out on a real date...then thought better of it. I just don't see Trevonne turning into more than what she already is to me. He thought to himself. " OK then take care, I'll see you soon."

  Trevonne drove the entire way home thinking about the odd conversation between Darien and herself. I guess it's really not odd? That's what happens when two people talk to one another instead of going straight to the sex.

  Double Dates

  "White man!,what's going on?" Jevon asked.

  " Hell not too much what have you been up to? Aww shit! Wait a minute some shit did go down" Tyson said laughing.

  " Damn what is it?" " Man why Jazzlyn take me to meet the family. That shit did not go well at all. I mean her mom did her best trying to smooth it all over but her dad looked like he wanted to fall out and her two brothers Rashad and Antonio? They wasn't feeling my white ass whatsoever!" Tyson said laughing. Jevon joined in the laugh as well, he knew al too well the routine Tyson had when it came to meeting his black girlfriends parents and when they were younger and the family was real y tripping on Tyson being white.

  Jevon had been his cover a few times."So what was Jazzlyn saying about all this ?

>   Are you going to need to quit her ass or was she up on shit?" Jevon asked.

  " Jazzlyn was cool man. Embarrassed because she didn't think they'd have anything negative to say but you never know until you're actually in that position. She was cool. I don’t think it's going to be that big of a problem,we'l see though. So what's going on?

  You stil been talking to Sherica?" Tyson asked.

  " I have, that's why I was cal ing. Do you want to do the whole double date thing?

  Take her and Jazzlyn out to dinner and the club or something, a little night out. I damn sure know you and Jazzlyn need to get out. Y'all asses one step from living together, you may as well move in together and save on the damn rent!" Jevon said laughing.

  " It sounds good to me, you would think we would have done some "dating" but we really haven't so I do need to make sure I'm taking her out. We'll be there, once she knows Sherica will be there I know she'll want to go." Tyson said " We'l set the time up later. Let me get back to work man."

  " OK I'l holla at you later" Jevon said.

  Jevon dialed Sherica's number " Hello Jevon" Sherica said " How you doing Ms.

  Sherica? Look I know you're at work and al but I wanted to know if you'd like to go out with me on Saturday night? It's actually going to be a double date with Tyson and Jazzlyn. Is that OK with you?" Jevon asked.

  " It sounds like fun. I have a younger sister who babysits for me when I need her to so it shouldn't be a problem. So whose idea was this? Yours or Tyson’s?" Sherica asked.

  " It was mine thank you very much! I aint gonna lie I threw Tyson and Jazzlyn in there for good measure" Jevon said laughing." I wanted to make sure you didn't have a reason to say no, so I figured if your girl was going you'd be al in" Jevon admitted his voice growing low.

  Sherica laughed " That's sweet Jevon, but it could have been just you and I. I've been thinking about you. I'm glad you called. You've real y helped me in some areas more than you realize." Sherica said.

  " Oh really? How so?" " Let's just say I've been in bitch mode so long...far too long.

  You're the first man to check me on it. I'm glad you did though." Sherica said.

  It was Jevon's turn to laugh " You know what Sherica, you did the same for me. At the dinner party when you said something like me not being your type or some shit like that ,it got me to thinking about some things too. It came at the right time too. I mean I'm not twenty anymore you know what I mean?" Jevon said. " So it sounds like we met each other at just the right time.

  " I agree." Sherica said .

  " So does this mean we can't see each other until then?" Jevon asked." We'll talk later and see what happens. Since it's only Wednesday we'll see. Do you want to have lunch together tomorrow? We could do that if you'd like?"Jevon said.

  " Sounds good to me. Is noon OK for you?" Anytime you can meet me is good for me"

  Jevon said." OK I'll call you with a place we can meet early tomorrow,bye Jevon."

  "Deja, it's Trendi, I'm going to need you to spread my clients out to other stylists for me today and if I get any walk - ins let them know I'm out sick. I may be out the rest of the week as well" Trendi told her shop manager and best friend Deja' Molina.

  " Trendi I don't know what the hell has gotten into you but you need to tell me something! You haven't been into the shop in well over a week, I'm concerned, your clients are tripping and your mouth is shut! What in the hell is going on with you? This is not like you to blow off your business this way?" Deja' said.

  " I know, I know. I just have some personal things going on right now Deja' that I'm not comfortable talking about. You know I trust you with my life girl but I'm just not ready.

  When I am you'll be the first to know. Right now I just need you to handle this for me."

  Trendi said and hung up the phone. I just need to relax today and get my mind off al this shit!I'm down to my last six vicodin, Trendi thought to herself. I'm going to have to go back to the doctor and put on a show to get more of these. All I want to do is sleep so I don't have to think about that muthafucka Marcus. I have to call this detective about doing this line up, it's too much to deal with Trendi thought taking another vicodin and pulling the covers over her head. Trendi's cell phone rang and without looking at she answered it " Yes Deja'?"

  " Baby it's me Marcus! Look I know that was some foul shit that happened between us, but baby I need you to drop these charges. You know I wasn't myself when that happened." Marcus said doing his best to sound convincing.

  " I can't believe you'd have the nerve to call here you son of a bitch! I'm not dropping a damn thing. I want everyone to know just what a piece of shit you are including your poor wife." Trendi screamed into the phone.

  " Trendi why are you so mad just because things got a little rough with us? It just got a little rough baby."

  " Marcus you beat me up and raped me! YOU RAPED ME! We weren't even in the start,middle or end of sex for you to get the shit confused! You ripped my clothes of me and beat and raped me and you're going to pay for it in more ways than one. Don't you ever cal me or come near me again. The only place I want to see you is in court, you down low muthafucka!" Trendi said angrily and hanging up. I need to snap out of this and get this taken care of Trendi said. I need to make sure I have a restraining order and change my cel and home phone numbers,Trendi thought to herself and sitting up in bed.

  Family Matters

  " Mommy! We need to talk about dinner the other night. Do you have a problem with Tyson being white? Please be honest with me." Jazzlyn asked.

  " Wel honey,speaking for myself I think I was just more caught off guard than me not liking him for being white. I've never so much as even heard you comment on how a white guy looks!" Jazzlyns mother said.

  " But mommy you already know I haven't had that many boyfriends anyways! I mean truthfully it came as a shock to me but at the end of the day the man is fine! He's fun to be around, has a good job...everything a woman wants in a man . Funny enough I really took notice of him the day I broke up with Darien.”

  " Baby I'm glad you got rid of Darien,I never liked his ass! As long as this Tyson is good to you, you two have me in your corner. He really enjoyed the meal last night though didn't he? White people are always the first people eating when we cook up something aint they? I know every time we have a potluck at work, they're the first ones in line!"

  Dionne said.

  " Mommy I know you hate to keep secrets from daddy but can I tel you something?"

  Jazzlyn said.

  " Of course baby you know you can tell me anything" " Well Tyson IS white mommy no doubt about that. But he's not "white-white"Jazzlyn said.

  " Baby what the hel do you mean is the boy white or not?" Dionne said " He is mommy but the thing is, his entire family is black. His mom, dad and two sisters. He's been raised in a black family since he was three. His dad passed away a few years ago but he's not some white guy that's never been around black people before or a white man that's just looking to have sex with black women. He's actually just dating who is natural for him to be around and love.

  Even though he's white, natural for him is loving a black woman." Jazzlyn said. " I'm asking you to keep this between us but he didn't even want me saying anything about his family. He wants people to like him for him...even if his birth mom hadn't died he'd want you to like him just for him. Nothing else. So as for the food mommy," Jazzlyn said laughing,"Tyson has grown up eating probably any type of soul food you can throw his way I'm sure."

  " Wel I'l be damned! No wonder he didn't seem too worried about your brothers cutting up! He's used to that type of thing I'm sure. Now don't judge me baby but I have to admit, this does make me feel better about him! I don't know why it just does." Dionne said.

  " I know it does, which is exactly why Tyson didn't want you to know!He wanted you to like and trust him with me because you liked him not because of how his family is. At first I didn't agree with him but not to be mean mommy, I see exactly what he was talking
about. Truthfully you know how I found out mommy?" Jazzlyn said " I saw him in the grocery store walking around laughing and joking with this real y pretty black woman mommy! I came and accused him of being a liar, a cheater, told him he was probably trying to screw every black woman he came across.

  He got on the phone and called that very woman over to his house! It was his older sister Brianna! I mean how was I supposed to know? I was so embarrassed!" Jazzlyn said " It's his life though and getting to know him as a person I know he has good reasons for the decisions he makes. Just as a man, mommy it's so different from al the time I wasted with Darien. I never really talked to you about it all because I didn't want to make him sound bad and I loved him,but Darien was unmotivated, didn't work, I paid for most everything,cheating and a whole lot of other mess I don't even want to think about too much." Jazzlyn said.

  "Well honey I'm glad you're opening up to me and tel ing me about Tyson and what you went through with Darien. At the end of the day I don't give a damn if that man is green as long as he's treating my baby good and treating her like the queen I raised her to be. Your daddy and brothers can deal with it too or deal with me...trust me mama don't take no mess! So I'm rooting for you two! This Tyson sounds interesting for sure. I look forward to getting to know him better. Jazzlyn baby...he has the prettiest green eyes I've ever seen!"

  Laughing Jazzlyn said " He does,doesn't he?"

  Confessions

  Trendi pul ed into the parking lot of her shop just as it was closing down for the night.

  After the phone cal from Marcus, Trendi spent the remainder of the afternoon handling business. Trendi changed her phone numbers, looked into getting a security system installed in her apartment and called the detective on her case. The detective told her that Marcus had sat in jail for 3 days before who appeared to be friends of his came through with bail money for him. Evidently he had refused to call his wife so that she would remain in the dark about who and what he was. Trendi told the detective about the phone call from Marcus and was advised to go downtown and file for a restraining order which she did. Trendi also did something she never thought she'd have to do.