Family Matters

Feeling like a first-class skank, I hop out of bed, covering myself with the sheet. Deena scolds, "Why are you here and in Jude's bed?"

"I-I'm so sorry. I.."

Out of nowhere, Jude appears behind Deena, shouting, "Get out of here!"

The entire room rattles from him slamming the door. Deena is yelling, but they must've gone downstairs because her screaming is now in the distance. Straight away, I get dressed and then make up his bed.

Soon, I had a migraine from wishing Aaron hadn't cheated on me. I'd be with him at his aunt's studying for my finals. Oh wow, my finals. While sitting, I checked my emails, and three professors have denied me an extension. My accounting professor will probably do the same.

There's a calm, so I open the bedroom door. No longer hearing arguing, I tip-toed down the stairs. Once I reach the bottom, Deena and Jude are standing there. Eyes red from crying, Deena rolls them hard away from me. Glaring through me, Jude asks, "What?"

Eyes shut tight, I lift my palm towards him, then tell Deena, "I apologize for the misunderstanding. I'm in a crisis, and Jude has been helpful. My boyfriend and I just broke up, so I'm not here to be a home wrecker..."

Jude scoffs, "What are you talking about?"

"You're so rude. I'm trying to let your girlfriend know..."

"She's not my girlfriend..."

Deena murmurs, "Wow."

"Deena, don't start. In fact, both of you stop talking. Ajay, go to bed, and Deena, go home!"

"Jude, you got me fucked up. I'm not going anywhere! If anyone is leaving, it's her!" Deena yells.

"Fine," I mumble, then sprint upstairs.

While dragging my suitcase out of the bedroom, Jude stops me, saying, "Ajay, go to bed."

"You're worse than Aaron. ... I'm a graduating senior. I need to get out of here! Micah said he could get me home. I need to leave here now!"

"It's three in the morning, so you can't go anywhere until at least nine. Go to bed. We can figure things out in the morning."

"Why would you bring me here with your girl?"

"She's not my girl..."

"Well, why is she so upset? I've left Aaron and am trapped with strangers all because he cheated, and you're no better!"

"You're annoying as fuck. I'm telling you she's not my girl, yet you insist she is. Unbelievable. Trust me, I want you gone more than you want to be gone, so please go to bed, and we'll figure this out in the morning. Damn!"

After staying up all night, I shower and head to the kitchen. Jude's standing by the counter eating. I greet, "Good morning."

"You're stuck here for two weeks, sorry. There's a professor who lives here. Maybe she can assist you so you won't flunk out."

Numb, I sit speechless and defeated. Sighing, he continues, "You can't live here for free. My mama owns a villa. You can help there. It's a positive environment. It'll make you feel better."

From shock, I stare his way. Since when does he care how I feel? After placing his glass into the sink, he says, "Get dressed so I can get you out of here."

We enter his garage, and he has three expensive cars. All are black with dark-tinted windows. The Maybach doors unlock, and we get inside.

The ride to his mom's is scenic and breathtaking. However, their villa is in a rural, almost desolate town. There's no ocean view, and everything is boarded up except her villa, which is grand and vibrant.

Jude gets out, and a young boy, no older than eight, dressed in baseball gear, runs out and hugs him around his waist. Is this his son? Grinning, Jude lifts him, asking, "You had a game today?"

"Yes. We won."

"Hi, five!" Jude laughs.

Jude's teeth and smile are magnetizing. He's been frowning for the past two days, so I had no idea he had such a pretty smile. Placing the boy on the ground, he asks, "Where's Mama?"

The boy grabs his hand and starts pulling him inside. There are lots of people here, but I see familiar faces. Andrew and Micah's smiling face appears. Deena is dressed in a uniform and does a double take seeing me enter. Scowling, she goes over to another familiar face, and it's the woman Aaron cheated with. Seeing me, she drops her head and then exits the room. Deena follows.

The young boy leads us to the back of the villa to a gorgeous older woman. Her hair is flowing down her back and stops right above her hips. Her eyes light up once she sees Jude.

Arms extended, she walks toward Jude, grinning. While they're embracing, she sees me. Pulling away to greet me with a hug, she asks, "Son, who is this?"

"That's Ajay. Her ferry's been delayed, so I figured she could help around here."

Side-eyeing Jude, she returns her focus to me, asking, "Is that so?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Please call me Mama, and welcome. Melanie, please show Ajay to her room."

Jude interrupts, "Mama, she's staying with me."

"Nonsense. She's safer, I mean safe here with us. Don't you agree?"

He doesn't answer but walks away. Startled by someone saying hello, I look up, and it's Aaron's slut. She continues, "Hi. I'm Melanie."

Because Jude's mother is present, I keep my composure and answer in a firm tone, "Hello, my name is Ajay."

"Charmed," says Melanie as she rolls her eyes at Jude.

Peeved, I cut my eyes at him, and his mama says, "Melanie is my baby girl."

Turning, I face Jude, saying, "This is your baby sister. Wow."

As soon as we get to the back of the villa, Melanie says, "I have to finish with my guests, but Deena does the training. She'll be with you soon."

Before I could respond, Melanie hurried away, and Micah entered. Cheesing from ear to ear, he says, "You made it."

"Apparently. Sorry I didn't leave with you yesterday. I'm a stranger in a foreign land, so I felt powerless. Please forgive me."

"No need to apologize. How's that wound?"

"Bothering me more today than yesterday, unfortunately."

"My rooms down the hall, follow me."

We get down the hall, and Micah whispers, "My room is at the end of this corridor. Stay here, and I promise I'll be right back."

This hall is dark and musty. The door to its entrance is metal with a huge bolt and lock on it. Feeling uncomfortable, I say, "Uh, I'll go with you if that's okay."

Nervously looking the opposite way, he whispers, "Ajay, you have to trust me."

"Micah, what's going on? I'm not feeling this. Excuse me, I need to get back to Jude."

Suddenly, I hear Jude's voice. He's arguing with someone. Micah's now fidgeting and chewing his thumbnail.

"Are you alright?" I ask.

Before I finish speaking, Micah shoves me behind the door and bolts me in. Now I'm yelling and pounding on this steel door. After a few minutes, I'm panicking. The walls seem to close in on me, making me feel claustrophobic.

It has to be ninety degrees in here. I'm crying and sweating, but before I start hyperventilating, I calm myself. Soon, I hear pounding. This door looks to be buckling. It's only been five minutes or so, but I'm so traumatized already that I might be hallucinating.

Another loud thump hits the door, and I cringe. Suddenly, the door unhinges and slams to the floor. It's Jude. He lifts me, and his body is on fire. Holding my hand, he leads me out.

Once we passed the door, I noticed a massive dent on the front side. Breathless, I ask, "Did you knock down this door with your bare hands?"

Ignoring me, he drags me past his mama, Micah, and a host of onlookers. Looking distressed, Micah mouths, "I'm so sorry."

Clutching Jude's arm tighter, I look away from Micah and straight ahead until we exit.