Kea
I went over to Jaquon who was raking the stack of money over to himself smiling because he had won big. When he saw me, he looked at the girl sitting next to him, and then back at me. She looked at him, and then at me, and the smile dissipated from her face.
Walking up to him, I crossed my arms and asked, “Who's your friend, Jaquon?”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, stacking the twenties he had just won.
“Oh, so you going to sit here and act like I don't see this female all close and personal with you? Who the hell is she?” I asked pointing at her.
“This somebody I met here at the cookout.”
I looked at her and saw her twist awkwardly in her seat.
“Who invited her, because Derrick doesn't remember inviting her or Zacariah?” I asked, pointing at the house where Zacariah was now walking out, beaming.
“Maybe somebody else invited her, but it wasn't me.”
Essence stood up to leave, but I stopped her saying, “Please don't go.”
She paused, looking in Zacariah's direction.
“If you don't mind me asking, who invited you?” I asked the woman.
She didn't answer. All she did was look around at the individuals who were now concentrating on us. Jaquon didn't give her a chance to answer, standing and holding up his hands, saying, “You need to chill out, Kea.”
“And you need to sit down so she can answer.”
“You're making a scene.”
“I feel like you're stalling. Are you attempting to take up for her now?”
“No. I'm trying to stop an altercation.”
“Why would there be an altercation, Jaquon? Do I have a reason to start one?” I asked angrily.
“You came over here starting problems. We were playing cards. That's it.”
“I don't believe you. I think you invited her.”
“Think what you want to think, Kea. I know what I've done. And since you want to start problems, maybe I should be asking you where the hell you been. You've been missing for a hot minute.”
I paused.
“Cat got your tongue? You can't answer me now?” he said confidently like he had scored a winning point.
“I went to get some more beer.”
“Where is it? I didn't see it in your hands when you came in,” he countered.
“It's in the car. I was coming to get you to help me bring it in until I found you all snuggled up with
her
.”
Jaquon looked around, knowing if he went to that car and saw I had beer in it, he would look like an idiot. Most of the people here could care less about his embarrassment because I had some free beer for them to drink up.
One guy said, “You drive the gray car, right? I'll go get it,” and left to retrieve it without me saying a word.
“Let me take you home,” Jaquon said, picking up the money on the table. A few guys made remarks not wanting him to leave because they wanted a chance to win back some, if not all, of their money.
“I'm not leaving until you fess up and admit you have been sleeping with her,” I stated, pointing at the frozen woman watching.
Jaquon looked at Essence, and then me.
“Okay, then,” he said, “if that's the way you want this to go down. I'll tell you what you want to know. I have been sleeping with Essence.”
My reaction was to smack the hell out of him. His head whipped around as ooooohhhhhhhhs from the crowd rang out.
Jaquon grabbed his cheek, rubbing it and asking, “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“How could you do this to me again, Jaquon? You told me you changed.”
“I have. When I told you I was devoted to you, Kea, it was after we had our fling. I haven't slept with Essence since I told you I wanted us to work on our relationship. You can ask her for yourself.”
I looked at Essence, and she nodded saying, “Kea, I'm sorry about all this. I was invited to come, and I did, knowing Jaquon was going to be here. My curiosity got the best of me because I wanted to see the woman who had his heart. Jaquon did let me know tonight that we could no longer see one another. He said he was cleaning up his act and wanted to be strictly with you.”
I looked at Jaquon who looked like a kid who finally tried to do the right thing but was scolded anyway because all I saw was all the wrong he did. I didn't know what do and how to act at this point. I could see both were genuine in what they were saying, but was this another trick to make me stay with him?
“Baby, I told you I love you. I want you,” he said walking up to me wrapping his arms around me.
“It looked like the two of you wereâ”
“I know, Kea, but, baby, that was not the case this time.”
“I'm so sorry,” I said.
“Hold up! Wait a minute!” a voice screeched. “I know you are not going to believe this bull,” Zacariah said.
“I do believe him,” I replied, looking her up and down.
“I'm not talking to you, trick. I'm talking to Jaquon.”
“What you talking about, Zacariah?” he asked.
“You believe she went for a beer run?”
That's when the guy who went to get the beer out of my car entered the backyard with his hands full of cases of beer. Jaquon and I looked at her, then Jaquon said, “Now what?”
“That's just an alibi for Kea to cover her behind because she and Derrick were creeping,” she smirked.
“What?” Jaquon said.
“Don't act like you surprised. I told you the other week I caught them two in bed together.”
More Ooooohhhhhhhhs rang out. I almost expected to look around and see everybody eating popcorn as they gleefully watched the drama unfold.
I looked at Jaquon, Essence, Zacariah, and then Derrick whose facial expressions were all different. I saw the “what the hell” look. I saw the “not here” look. And I saw the “let's handle this” look.
I turned to Jaquon and asked, “She told you?”
“Yes, butâ”
“And you didn't confront me on it. Is that why you've been acting all lovey-dovey with me because you knew?”
“When she told me, Kea, I was going to go over and stomp a hole in Derrick,” he replied, pointing at him.
“You were going to
try,
” Derrick shot back.
“Shut up, Derrick.”
“No, you shut up, Jaquon. You're standing here acting innocent when everybody knows you ain't nothing but a dog.”
“That's true, but that still didn't give you the right to sleep with my woman. I confessed everything to her so we could start things with a clean slate. How could I be angry with her for sleeping with you when she was paying me back for all I did to her? I sat and thought about all of that and came to the conclusion I wanted my baby back. If giving up the streets is what it's going to take to make us work, then that's what I'm willing to do. Now you, on the other hand, that's a different story because you were my best friend. How could you betray our friendship?” Jaquon asked.
Derrick clapped his hands as everybody watched intently. “Bravo, Jaquon. That was good. I'm glad you âconfessed,' as you say. But did you tell Kea about you and Zacariah sleeping together?”
Derrick
Jaquon's eyes closed, and Kea turned to look at him. I immediately wished I hadn't said it when it escaped my lips. Kea gasped, putting her hand up to her mouth looking at all of us. I shouldn't have said it. I could have waited to handle Jaquon once we got alone, but I didn't. This news was hurting Kea, and that was not my intention. I could see the surprise and hurt written all over her face. I knew how she felt because I felt her pain too.
“You slept with Zacariah?” Kea asked Jaquon.
“Yes, but it was a long time ago.”
She turned to look at me. “And you knew?” she asked me bitterly. “When did you find out, Derrick?”
“Zacariah told me the night she caught us together.”
“And you couldn't tell me?”
“I didn't want to hurt you like that, Kea.”
“And you think dropping this bomb right now in front of all these damn people isn't hurting me?” she said coldly.
“If you cared for her like you think you do, you would have told her,” Zacariah smirked. She was gloating at the situation. I wanted to strangle her, but I continued to restrain myself.
“Derrick and I have always been Jaquon's alibi when he was sleeping around,” Zacariah said to Kea. “He was never with Derrick all those times he called you up and said he was over our house. Those were just the lies he told you. And if he did come over, it was so early in the morning that he might as well stayed where he was because the sun was coming up. I think Derrick even considered giving him a key because he got tired of getting out of our warm bed to open the door for him.”
Kea looked confused, turning around looking at everyone listening to Zacariah's ranting.
“Baby, everything is over with now. I want to be with you,” Jaquon pleaded.
“But she doesn't want you. She needs me now,” I said walking closer to Kea who was weeping silently. The tears meeting at her chin were an indication of her grief.
“I can't believe I have been surrounded by individuals who do nothing but lie to me.”
“Come on, Ms. Perfect Kea,” Zacariah said sarcastically, “I didn't see you confessing your affair with Derrick to me or Jaquon. So don't stand here and act like you innocent in this whole thing. I mean, think about it. You were with Derrick tonight, and you standing here pretending like nothing happened when I know it did. The nerve of you to come out here and go off on us like you so righteous! You can't be mad at us when you've been doing the same thing,” she said.
“Shut up, Zacariah! Haven't you and Essence done enough?”
“Hold up, Derrick. I haven't done anything,” Essence retorted.
“You came knowing Jaquon and Kea were going to be here,” I said.
“No, Kea was here with you,” she countered, pointing at me. “And like I explained to Kea, I was curious. By the looks of everything, I'm the only honest one among the bunch.”
“Derrick, it was time for all this to come out in the open,” Zacariah said, coming to the rescue of her friend.
“But it could have been handled better than this,” I said waving my arms.
“Who says? No matter where this would have went down, somebody's feelings would have gotten hurt. Look at me. I caught the two of you twisted up together,” Zacariah declared.
“You deserved what you got.”
“That may be true, but look at the mess the two of you have weaved also,” she retaliated.
“Us? Us?” Kea said irately. “Derrick and I didn't start this! It was you and Jaquon! Both of you have been screwing around from the beginning! Not only did you sleep with each other, you slept with others too. Did either of you stop to think about how you were risking our lives?” Kea said turning to Jaquon. “I could have a disease because of you,” she said jabbing her finger into his chest. “I stay in the doctor's office because I'm afraid you're going to bring me something I won't be able to get rid of.”
“So you were willing to risk Derrick's life?” Zacariah laughed. “See? There goes that selfishness. And this coming from the most stupid girl I have ever met.”
“Stupid?” Kea asked.
“Yeah, stupid. You chose to stay with Jaquon. So you don't have anyone else to blame but yourself. You could have dumped him a long time ago. All the evidence was dropping right there in your lap letting you know he wasn't faithful, but you stayed anyway. Pat yourself on the back for that one because none of us standing here had a damn thing to do with your decision.”
“You know what? We've had enough of the drama, and it's time for everybody to leave,” I said to the remaining people, hoping I could get this situation under control. I could tell by the looks on each of the ladies' faces this was not going to turn out well. Everybody started moving toward the door until Zacariah spoke out again.
“Don't anybody go anywhere. This party's just getting started.”
Zacariah
Derrick held himself up with an empty chair as he leaned into it, clenching it in frustration. I couldn't let him kick me out yet. Not until I handled some unfinished business. I reached into my purse and pulled out the picture I stole from Mr. Hanks. I held it out for Derrick to take, but he stared at me without budging.
“Take it, Derrick.”
“What is this, Zacariah? My patience is wearing thin with you.”
“Just take the picture and tell me who that is.”
Derrick took the picture and looked at it for a minute.
“Well? Who is it?”
“It's me, when I was in high school. Where did you get it from?”
“I got it from your father's place,” I said smugly.
“My father?” Derrick said frowning.
“Yep. He and I had a nice little visit. I actually went over to talk to him about Kea,” I beamed, turning to look at her.
“Me? Why are you talking about me? You can't find anything better to do?”
“Oh, I found something to do. I even took it upon myself to go visit your mother.”
Kea looked stunned and didn't say anything. It was like I smacked her in the face without using my hand to do it.
“I knew that would get your attention. I found out that your mother hates you. She hates you because you are the product of her getting raped as a child by your dirty old father.”
“Stop this, Zacariah! You shouldn't be doing this here,” Jaquon said.
“There's no better time like the present.”
I walked closer to Kea so she could see the glee in my face.
“Your mother told me who your real daddy is. Did she bother to tell you?”
Kea didn't say anything. She stood motionless, unable to move.
“She told me your father's name is Otis Hanks.”
Kea's face dropped. She looked back at Jaquon who seemed to be shocked also.
“Mr. Hanks is my father?” she said not asking anyone in particular.
“Yep.”
“That man is just our neighbor who lives downstairs,” Jaquon replied.
“Your mother gave me his name, and I found him living in the same building you do. How ironic is that,” I sneered, feeling like I was a trial lawyer revealing the facts in a case.
“I told him I was a good friend of yours, and he welcomed me in with open arms. I was a little leery at first because he is a rapist, of course, but I had to do what I had to do for your own good,” I said pacing and laughing.
“He talked with me about his philandering back in the day and all the children he had. But how shocked was I when I looked at his wall of shame with pictures of children he had collected over the years and came across the one Derrick is holding now.”
Derrick and Kea looked at me, and then each other. The blood seemed to drain from their faces, and I was eating this up.
“Enough, Zacariah!” Jaquon said walking up to me, grabbing me by the arm to pull me out of the backyard. I snatched my arm from him.
“You better not put your hands on me again or so help me, I'm going to have you arrested for assault,” I blurted.
“I think you need to stop before this goes too far,” Essence warned.
“I got this, girl. Let me do me. I've been waiting for this moment for so long. So don't spoil it for me, okay?” I told Essence.
“I mean, look at their faces. I know they should have figured out what I'm trying to tell them by now.” I turned in Kea's direction, and then in Derrick's so I could look back and forth at their stunned expressions and not miss anything.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news ...”
“Don't do this here,” Essence pleaded, but I ignored her.
“... but the two of you are brother and sister.”