Prologue "We did it Essi we are out of that joint it felt like a four-year prison sentence." Kimani said jumping up and down on my bed like she was a 6-year-old. "Would you get the hell off my bed before you break it I got to take this bed to my new apartment at the end of the month." I said looking at her like I'm her mother instead of her best friend, smirking. "Girl relax this bed is supposed to be able to withstand a good pounding." Kimani said laughing. "Well, my bed is still a virgin and I don't want her first time to be with you jumping like a crazy person." I said laughing. "Well shit, you're a virgin so it looks like your bed will get some before you do." Kimani said laughing and dodging the pillow that I threw at her. "So, are you ready for Tampa, we leave in a few weeks?" Kimani asked sitting next to me on my bed. We were leaving at the end of June, so we can learn our way around Florida and get accustomed to the new env
Chapter 1Essence's POV: 3 weeks later "Are you going to help me move this stuff in the apartment or are you going to stare at all the guys who walk past?" I asked, glaring at Kimani. I have taken in six boxes compared to her two. "Yeah, yeah I'm coming geez, you so in a rush it's still early and we just got here can we take a breather?" Kimani reply grabbing a box and taking it inside the apartment. We left late last night so we could get to Florida early in the morning so we were running on fumes by now which meant we had little to no sleep. But I wanted to at least get most of the stuff in the apartment before we take a break. Because once Kimani stops it will be impossible to get her to finish moving everything in. "Let's just finish getting the bed and the couch in the apartment then we can go to the campus to look around and grab some food but that's after a shower and a nap." I said feeling tired myself. "Okay let's do that bec
Chapter 2Syncere POV: “Yo watch out! You walking like you about to go beat somebody ass for eating your last piece of cake.” I said, as a short dark brown skin girl ran into me as I was going to the pickup line to get me and Shawn's food. “Excuse me.” The girl said stepping to look up at me. At my six feet four inches height, she was maybe five feet and some inches in height. She was barely reaching my chest. “No problem you good.” I replied finally able to see who ran into me. She had a pretty face with slanted brown eyes that were so light it almost looked like you chould through them. For a big girl she was really pretty. “Hey, can I get by to pick up my food?” I asked, as she stared at me. Snapping out of her haze, she moved around me quickly. I smiled at how she blushed and seem embarrassed, that I caught her staring at me. “Oh yea, sorry I wasn't looking where I was going.” She responded, brushing past me like she was running from the cops. Just then my pho
Chapter 3 Syncere's POV: continued “Well since we're introducing ourselves, I'm Jasmine, but everyone calls me Jazz and Syn's girlfriend.” My girl Jasmine said Sarcastically, as her and her friends Leah walked to our table like they owned the place. I know how my baby attitude is, she can go from zero to a hundred real quick. I didn't want her and her dumb ass friend Leah attacking these girls for no reason. So I needed to put an end to this real quick. Getting up, my lunch forgotten at this point. “Hey bae, we had to share this table to eat, because this place is crowded as hell. Essence and Kimani were nice enough to share their table with us.” I said, quickly to defuse the situation. Jazz looked around, and sucked her teeth. “Seriously? I see three open booths, that they could have sat at.” Jazz said with an attitude, pointing at three empty booths, and damn if the crowd hadn't thinned out and they were tables available too. Here comes the bullshit, now Essence and
Chapter 4SYNCERE'S POV: "Yo! What the hell was that about? You had no reason to act the way you just did." I said sitting down in my chair to finish my lunch. "Because you never gave me a reason to." Jazz answered back. "Please tell me what I did? Because we were eating and laughing that's it." I said shaking my head. "Those chicks were clearly flirting and that's the problem; yall can't see when chicks be flirting with yall." Jazz's friend Leah chimed in. "You sound dumb, how the hell you know they were flirting? When you couldn't even hear what we were talking about." Shawn cut in. "Shut up Shawn you ain't nothing but a man whore, so you don't care that those girls were flirting. Knowing you're nasty ass I'm sure you got their number and will be hooking up with one of them before the week is out. You don't care if they're ugly, fat, and nasty looking, as long as they're easy. Which I'm sure they are, you could care less about looks or size." Jazz sai
Chapter 5Syncere's POV: Continued She gave me the kind of kiss that makes my dick jump every time and she knows it. "The movie starts at eight so come to my spot like six." She said with a devilish smile, getting into her car. "Alright bet.” I replied closing the door once she was in. "Come on let's go, before we’re late." Shawn said already crossing the street. I had to jog to catch up with him. "Damn, wait up." I said. "Shit you over there wasting time sucking up to your girl, trying not to get your ass beat for talking to those girls earlier. I'm not trying to run drills after practice." Shawn said, laughing. "Fuck you, nobody getting their ass whipped, but I will be tapping that ass later tonight, while you're lonely ass, is at home watching TV by yourself." I shot back. "Shit if I am it's by choice I don't have the money or the patience to deal with these girls. You see that shit you have to go through with your girl, we were supposed to BnD Jazz
Chapter 6 Essence POV: August 4th My alarm clock blared angrily, groaning I rolled over and peaked at the clock to see if I can get a few more minutes of sleep, but it was six forty-five a.m. which means my clock said, “if you don't get your ass up you're going to be late for class, so it's above me now I have done my job.” Then my second alarm goes off and says, “get the hell up before you're late for the very first day of college.” Whining as I got up, looked for my robe, finding it on my love seat. I went into the kitchen, turned my oven on three hundred degrees, grabbed some biscuits out of the fridge, then grabbed a cookie sheet. I place a biscuit on the sheet and put it in the oven before walking out of the kitchen. Then I headed to the shower while my biscuits baked. My cell started to ring with the sound of DMX you're gonna make me lose my mind. I answered without looking because I already know who it was. "What the hell do you want Kiki?" I asked? "Rise and shine
Chapter 7 Three weeks later: “Where the hell is this dude?” I said to myself. This tutoring session was supposed to start at six thirty and it’s nine forty-five. I still had an assignment I needed to complete for my marketing class, that was due tomorrow at eight a.m. So I already know, I'm going to be up late to finish my own assignment. Last week the dean’s secretary text me with, the dates and times of my first tutoring session. “Hey, are you Essence Nelson?" A tall, sexy, light skin guy with curly hair asked me, as he walked up to my table. Lord let me tell you, this man is fine, fine. Realizing I was still sitting with my mouth gapped open and staring, I snapped out of the lust fog I was in. "Yeah that's me.” I said in response. "I'm Trenton, but most people call me Trent. Sorry I'm late, practice went over the usual time." He said putting his books on the table with a thud. I was trying to be understanding, but he still smelled like outside, because of practice, and
Chapter 166Let the games began: “ALRIGHT FOLKS, AS I SAID WE WILL BE PLAYING A GAME OF BASKETBALL. THE RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS, THE WOMEN ON EACH TEAM ARE GOING TO BE THE ONE TO GET THEIR TEAM THEIR POINTS! SHE WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SHOOT AS MANY SHOTS AS SHE CAN! EVERY SHOT IS WORTH ONE POINT FOR THE TEAM. IF SHE MAKES A SHOT FROM THE THREE POINT LINE, THEN THAT WILL BE THREE POINTS! NOW THE DEFENDERS WELL BE THE MEN FROM A RANDOM TEAM. WE HAVE ALL THE NAMES IN A BOX THAT MY ASSISTANT WILL DRAW FROM. NOW THE RULES FOR THE MEN, YOU WILL HAVE ON A BELT WITH THREE FLAGS ON THEM. YOUR JOB IS TO DEFEND YOUR BASKET, BY TRYING TO BLOCK THE WOMEN FROM MAKING SHOTS! BUT IT WILL NOT BE EASY! BECAUSE YOU WILL ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WOMAN'S TEAMMATE DOESN'T TAKE YOUR FLAGS! NOW YOU ARE SAFE AS LONG AS YOU STAY IN THE PAINT, BUT ONCE YOU STEP OUT OF THE PAINT, THAT WILL GIVE THE MAN FROM THE OTHER TEAM THE GREEN LIGHT TO HUNT AND TAKE YOUR FLAG. NOW FOR THE GUYS WHO
Chapter 165In the Gymnasium: Continued Thursday 5:30pm His wife eyes widen at the use of her maiden name, he only calls her that when he is truly pissed at her. The last time he did they slept in different rooms for almost a month and had to go to counseling. She was shocked at his audacity to speak to her in that manner in front of their child and his friend. Her anger was boiling now, but she knew better then to provoke him in front of everyone so she simply smiled and nodded. “Yes, I apologize my intentions weren’t to hurt you in anyway, you won't have to worry about me saying anything about it again, ok?” Sharon said, holding Jazz by her shoulders. “It's ok mother Jamison. It is hard to hear him say that we aren't together, but I understand why you're trying to speak up for me. I really appreciate you for trying, but I will be ok.” Jazz said wiping the tear that escaped her eyes. Sharon pulled her into a tight hug. “Don't you worry about anything, I will
Chapter 164Campus Gym: Thursday 5pmone hour before the competition “This brings back so many memories for us, we had so much to look forward too. Things were just as lively as it is now, but more fun, of course we had better clothes and didn't need to show our bodies the way these young girls do now.” Syncere's mom said as they walked into the Gym. The president had asked her and her husband to be the judges of one of the competitions that day. They couldn't judge the competition their son was in but the others they could be the judge of. They would sit in the crowd when it was their son's turn to compete. “Oh I do remember those days; I was a year behind you guys but when I came to this school it changed my life and it was where I met my wonderful husband. I wish he could be here to see Shawn compete today, we are used to seeing him play basketball but we have never seen him do any other sport, so this should be fun. His father should be here on Sunday for th
Chapter 163 The Dormitory parking lot in Syncere's Truck: Syncere and Jazz: “Thanks for the ride, Syn, I really appreciate it. I know you didn't want to hang out with me today, but it was fun it was kinda like a walk down memory lane.” Jazz said, as Syn pulled his truck into the parking lot of the dorm. “Jazz, I already told you I have nothing against you. I treated you like a friend, so there is no thanks needed for me dropping you off.” “Ok, so friend, are you seeing anyone now?” Jazz asked trying to smile, but Syn knew the last thing she wanted to here was that I was seeing someone. Especially if that someone was Essence, she would blow a gasket. “We may be friends but our friendship isn't on a level that I can tell you who I was dating, which I am not.” Syncere said, shaking his head. Jazz frown like she didn't believe him. If he was telling the truth, then it confuses her on why he broke up with her in the first place. She was lost in thought when she
Chapter 162Homecoming WeekThursday: 1pmBriana and Shawn: “I swear this place is so amazing and lively. It’s way more exciting being here then looking a pictures and the videos online.” Briana said as they made their way back to the Pitt for lunch. Shawn was grateful that Syn was with him because he knew that if they were alone, Briana would want to talk about them and their future, and he really didn't want to get into that right now. He frown at her mention of looking online at the school. “What made you look up the school?” Shawn asked curiously. “Oh, I am planning on going to college since the military will be paying for it, and when your mother told me where you were going to school, I decided I would look into it. While I was stranded and then held hostage, I had a lot of time to reflect on my decision, and I regretted leaving you like I did. We should have both picked a college together and started out lives. But I choose to follow in my mother’s footste
Chapter 161 The Pitt continued: Syncere and Shawn's table continued: Sharon's eyes widen at the idea, especially because she wasn't the one who came up with it. There is no way that Syncere could blame her for this. “That's sounds like fun, I have missed almost three years. It would be great to pick your brain on about who Shawn is now.” Briana said to Syncere “I don't think it's a good idea, I wouldn't want to intrude of your time with Shawn.” Syncere said, and Shawn's eyes widen at Syncere throwing him under the bus. It would be better for them to hang out as a group, so he wouldn't have to be alone with Briana. He had to admit that he was happy that she wasn't dead, he never wanted her to join the military, but she wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps. So she joined the marines and shortly after she was deployed overseas and then her plane was shot down. We were told there was no survivors, they even presented her parents with her dog tags wh
Chapter 160The Pitt: Syncere and Shawn's table:“Hey mother Jamison, I am so sorry I'm late my criminal justice class ran over today I hope you guys haven't ordered yet.” Jazz said smiling, not noticing the tension at the table. Syncere looked up at a smiling Jazz then turned to the left of him finally noticing the empty seat, then turned to his guilty looking mother. He glanced over at the table Essence and Kymoni was sitting hoping that they had left, but as soon as he looked over her way their eyes locked on each other. “Fuck!” he said to himself. “No sweetie we haven't ordered yet, you're just in time, there is an empty seat over there right next to Syncere.” Sharon said, with a smile. She had invited Jazz hoping that they would all be able to talk to find a way to fix this mess her son had made. She didn't know what Thomas's problem was, he had never talked to her in that way. He knew how important becoming Mayor was for her, she had put her career on hold at first
Chapter 159The Pitt: Continued: “Son, what are you doing, we found a table for all of us over there. Why are you disturbing these people’s breakfast, don't be rude.” Syncere's mother said shattering the moment. Syncere rolled his eyes, in anger. He already didn't want to do this breakfast and now his mom is making it worse. “I was speaking to my…my friends, yall can go ahead to the table and I will be over in a few.” Syncere said getting comfortable in the booth moving closer to Essence. “What's up Kymoni?” Shawn said, looking like he was sick, from wanting to be with Kymoni. Kymoni had her head down so low, Essence was sure she could count the grains in her grits. “I'm good, just trying to have breakfast and get to my next class.” Kymoni responded not even looking up. “Oh, I wanted to talk to you about something, after my eleven o’clock class.” “Shawn you can't meet anyone after class, you promised Briana that you would show her around campus. I'm sure that
Chapter 158Thursday Morning: 8 am Syncere and Shawn's apartment: “Mother why are you at my house so earlier, we just got back from our five-a.m. practice, we are just trying to get some sleep before our first class at eleven.” Syncere groaned answering the phone, to his mother telling him that everyone was at their apartment waiting for them to come down so they could all go to breakfast. “Oh please son when we were your age, we could work a full day party until dawn and take a two-hour nap and repeat it all again the next day. Now you and Shawn hurry so we can get the rest of our day started, we have a lot of things we have to get done for Sunday’s Luncheon for Briana and Shawn.” His mother said before hanging up. Syncere groaned and rolled his eyes, he looked at his phone to check the time and groan when he saw that it was eight o’clock. Shawn knocked on his door and stuck his head in. “I take it your mother called you to, I swear I am regretting even answeri