Chapter 20: 19

...

°Deanne's POV°

4:51 P.M.

I strip off my clothes and toss them into the wash basket before grabbing my towel.

It's minutes to five and the evening sun is beginning to set. Seeping through my bedroom window, it casts a warm glow over the room, highlighting the sheet on the bed, and I smile briefly, admiring how pretty it is.

Mi just love how mi room feel when mi change mi sheet and curtain dem.

Snapping out of my daze, I walk over to the accent chair, nestled in the corner of my room, and pick up the towel that's draped over the armrest.

As I wrap the towel around my nakedness, my mind recalls this evening, making me sigh. When mi tell yuh say di gyal dem ride mi case, them ride it eno. No sah!

Dem nuh rest mi ears wid the man name fi a second!

Every likkle thing, them find some way fi drop een sum'n 'bout the man.

Especially crawses Ali.

Bun mi fi har yussi.

A di worse thing mi coulda eva do and tell her mi business.

Stop it, because yuh know di gyal them business! Yuh too likkle and sometime-ish. And love keep secret.

That's true. But mi nuh business!

This is about them not me.

Germs dem be.

...like yuh never secretly did a enjoy every moment of it.

Whatever.

With an eye roll, I smile, shaking my head before heading towards the bathroom.

Under the cool spray of the shower, my thoughts drift to the football match. It probably soon start by now. Mi already know the whole scheme ago pack up the field, worse di bagga Parkland man dem...and mi cyaa tek the crowd eno.

Sigh.

A Parkland man dem yawh worry 'bout? Or, a certain someone?

I scoff, pushing the thought away. But even as I continue lathering my skin, my thoughts keep drifting back to the same subject.

Him.

The heat creeps into my cheeks.

And my nipples harden beneath the soapy rag.

I clear my throat, and the thoughts of him with it.

Mi not even know why mi so flustered. Mi see Driva nuff time before, so wah mek today feel different?

Maybe because yuh been a walk wide from the man?

And yawh fret how yuh body ago react when yuh finally see him in person again?

...wah mi body have fi do wid noth'n?

Steups. Mi a overthink this thing now.

A act like mi thirsty or sum'n. Cho! I hiss my teeth, turning and stooping to scrub my coochie.

By the time I step out of the shower, I've already decided--mi nah go noweh!

I dry off quickly and slip into my black leggings and a snug red tank top--no bra. My eyes drift to the dress I was planning on wearing, if mi did still a go, laid out on the bed. It's a short fitted white sweater dress.

Either that or the football jersey I have. But mi never really did a feel the vibes fi wear the jersey; it too big and mi want feel comfortable while looking sexy.

Watchya! Sexy fi who, miss?

...yuh too nuff!

Despite deciding I'm not going, I still fix my hair in a high puff, then dab on some lip gloss.

I'm just about done when I hear Alicia's voice echo from outside. Followed by a knock on my door.

A few more raps come when I ignore the first one and I roll my eyes.

"Apple, open di door nuh gyal!"

No! A whoffa door?

Mine or fi har own?

"Waah di reason yawh knock dung mi door so, woman?"

"Lil gyal, open this nuh!"

Scoffing below my breath, I place the lip gloss back on my dresser and stamp over to the door.

When I open it, her fisted palm freezes mid air. She was about to knock again.

I frown. "If yuh eva..."

Pushing past me, she snorts, then move to sit on my bed.

I turn and peer outside to see if Yanique is also out there, but she isn't. So, I turn and walk back into the room.

Ali's eyes follow me. Then she makes a face. "A that yawh wear?"

"Nope."

"So lady yuh really nuh done put on yuh clothes from time yuh come up yah?"

"So wah dem yah name?" I point at myself.

"Wah?"

"Awah?"

"Nuh you just say ano them deh yawh wear?"

"Exactly. Because mi nawh go noweh."

"Apple, stop ramp wid mi."

"After yuh nuh waa mi drag yuh by yuh puff come outta dis!" She adds then laugh.

I snort. Then laugh. A wah this, man.

"A thru yawh laugh mek mi a laugh eno. But mi serious as a judge. Mi not going."

Ali hisses her teeth and folds her arms below her breasts. It draws my attention to the blouse she's wearing; a thin pink and white crop top, which has her nipples printing out. "A who yuh a try fool? Hair sleek, lips gloss up and bare thingz..."

"Mi jus wah look decent inna mi yard," I say, plopping onto the bed beside her. "Awah? A crime?"

"Apple..."

"My name?" Not my number...

"Be fucking for real..."

I scoff. "Yuh nuh tan deh then."

"Gyal..."

I hum.

Ali stares me down, then her lips curl into a knowing smirk. "A Driva yuh a dodge, nuh true?"

My stomach clenches at the mention of his name. "Yuh nuh plan fi rest di man name, lady?"

She laughs, tilting her head. "True or false."

Very FALSE accusations.

"This nuh have noth'n fi do wid him, so nuh bother wid it."

She hums. "So why yuh change yuh mind all of a sudden then? After we done mek plans fi go from inna the car and yuh agree?"

I scoff, turning my head. "Mi just change mi mind. I'm tired."

"Tired mi backside!" She nudges me. "Mi know yuh, enuh, gyal. If yuh never did waa go, from di time mi ask yuh 'bout di match, yuh woulda start mek up lame excuses, especially from the moment yuh hear say such man ago deh deh. Yuh did sound chirpy inna di car just a while ago," she looks at her phone, "not even thirty minutes good, so how you one so tired all of a sudden? Plus, wah kinda "tired" gyal still have so much energy fi get dolled up?"

I roll my eyes. "Girl...mi tell yuh already, mi naah go."

Argument done.

Ali's smirk deepens. "A shame yuh shame?"

My heart skips a beat, but I keep my face straight. "Mi nuh have noth'n fi shame 'bout."

Except di fact say yuh tek up wah yuh couldn't manage and now fraid fi look inna di man face because him probably think yawh clown.

Otherwise, shame fi wah?

She tsks, walking over to my dresser and spritzing some perfume onto her clothes. "Suh wah, yuh a plan fi hide from him forever?"

"For as long as I feel like..." I admit.

Ali flops back onto the bed, swinging her legs. "Big and serious, Apple, yuh really ago move like one coward gyal, bredda?"

She knows how I get when I like someone. And I think I'm starting to like him, and, if nothing else, I'm definitely super attracted to him--if I'm to go based on the fact that he's been stuck in my head since that night in the car. But that's just me, once I feel like I'm out of your league, I tend to cower away. It's a kind of defence mechanism...that I don't know how to control.

Mi just find it easier fi avoid yuh and act like I'm uninterested.

Same thing I did with Chance when I was just getting to know him intimately. Well, before him fuck up.

Sigh.

I hiss my teeth. "Ali, mi nuh inna di mood, enuh."

She props up onto her elbows, eyes narrowed. "Yuh never inna the mood fi hear the truth yet. Mi and yuh know say if mi never tell yuh say Driva ago deh deh, yuh wudda run outta di house already."

I open my mouth to answer, but swallow my words. 'Cause deep down, I know she has a point.

How long yuh plan fi avoid di man fa, fi real?

Ali smirks. "Say a lie nuh!"

Why she nuh go perplex Shane and lowe mi? Cho!

Inhaling a deep breath, I shrug. "Mi jus nuh wah deal wid di bagga excitement tonight."

That's not a complete lie.

She studies me for a second, then sits up. "If yuh say so. But mi and yuh know this has nothing to do with excitement, and everything to do with Such Man. Awah? Yuh fraid him ago ignore yuh? Or yuh fraid you cyaa ignore him?"

All of the above, please.

"None of the above."

She hums. Then her lips draw into a thin line. "Big woman thing though, Apple, the man goodly not even 'memba 'bout that. Look how long that."

I highly doubt that. But OK.

I hum.

In her head, she has it as a simple kiss and feel-up, because I didn't go into the gory details, so she probably thinks I'm overreacting, but yussi thru I know best...

As I'm about to speak, Yanique pops up at my door. Her brows knit together when she sees us, her lips drawing into a frown. "Watchya! After mi a kill up miself fi ready, uno in yasso a warm bed? Uno see the time?"

"Nuh yuh cousin 'bout she change her mind."

"Change her mind say wah?"

"She nawh bother go."

Yanique hisses her teeth loudly, and I smile. "Dem waa brush?"

Ignoring my comment, she walks into the room, with one hand behind her left ear, while the other holds the knob earring in place. She stops in front of me. "Listen, fix this fimmi yawh..."

Sitting up, I open my palm for her to drop the back piece, for the earring she's struggling to fix, in my hand.

When she does, she stoops so I can reach her ear.

"Wah Apple mean she nawh bother go?"

How much meaning the phrase coulda possibly have?

Ali hisses her teeth, teasingly. "Yuh nuh see the likkle gyal tormented."

It's di fact say dem a talk ova me like mi nuh deh yasso for me...

Regardless, her comment makes me guffaw.

"So you ago stay here by yuhself?" Yanique directs her question to me now, standing and fiddling with her ear when I've finished fixing the earring.

"Yup."

"And do wah?"

I don't know. Maybe watch some TikTok until the evening get dust dung mi back mi clit.

A joke!

"I have plans, miss," I state pointedly, eyes drifting to my phone that's charging on the nightstand.

Yea, Miss Clitty ago run red tonight.

Waiii.

A joke yawh. Maybe just finish watch the series mi did a watch: Life of College Girls.

Ali follows my gaze, then grins.

"Awah sweet you ova desso?"

She watches me for a second, then suddenly rolls over and off the bed. The action takes me by surprise, and I stare at her with furrowed brows.

Before I get the chance to register what she's up to, to even react, she snatches my phone from the charger and bolts for the door.

Did she just..."Ali, nuh badda wid di foolishness, enuh!"

She cackles. "Yuh want yuh phone? Mi ago bring it guh give Driva mek him hold it fi yuh!"

My eyes widen, and I roll over, ignoring Yanique who cackles. "Yow! Stop di ramping and gimme mi phone nuh, bitch!"

"Bitch like under yuh!"

I run at her and she dashes down the hall, stopping when she reaches the bottom of the first flight of stairs.

My frown deepens. Shoulda drop and pop yuh neck.

"Come nuh, Ali!" I fold my arms and pout.

She peers over the railing, grinning mischievously. "Come tek it from mi, den."

Mi not even a laugh eno. All har mind tell har say mi a ramp wid har.

"Aye, di two a uno a sample eno," Yanique says, pushing past me to go down the stairs.

Hissing my teeth, I say, "Alright, keep e den!"

Pretending to turn, as if to go back to my room, I then make a dash down the stairs towards her.

She squeals and bolts down the stairs as well, with me hot on her heels.

"Mash up Aunty house!" Ali shrieks as I chase her a few times around the living room couch.

Look how this pissing-tail gyal have mi a sweat up miself and mi just bathe, God!

"So gimme mi t'ingz den nuh, gyal!"

"If yuh catch mi, yuh get it!" she teases, running through the door and onto the verandah.

Mi vex eno, but mi affi laugh.

Watch how mi ago fist har!

"Yuh know say yuh ramp too much fi big gyal!?"

Yuh woulda never think she ago be twenty-four inna March to how she can ramp like pickney. Mussi puppy.

I walk to the door, and the big head gyal quickly pulls the grill and goes outside.

Ugh!

A frustrated sigh leaves my lips before I push my feet into my crocs, walk to the opened grill and close it.

Alright, tan out deh crawses...

Much to my annoyance, Alicia grins, coming up to the grill. "Wah yuh say yawh do? Lock mi out ya?"

I hum, rolling my eyes.

And her grin spreads. "Open it and mi gi' yuh yuh phone."

Yuh love ramp?

"Gimmi mi phone first and then mi open it." It woulda neva open today!

She scoffs. "Think mi a idiot?"

And I laugh. Before narrowing my eyes at her.

I see her eyes settle on me, before she smirks. "Yuh see how yuh likkle pumpum clump up inna that?"

As she says so, she attempts to grab my crotch, through the grill, and I block her, shrieking. "Aye, Sodomite gyal, lowe mi nuh!"

Ali laughs.

And I join in. "Yuh know mi ago mek yuh man know 'bout yuh?" Say yuh love gyal...

"Stay deh worry 'bout Oshane. Such Man waa see yuh!"

Steeling my face to hide the blush, I hiss. "Weh yuh nuh go --"

"Go do wah?"

"Gweh, man..."

"Come we go uppa field."

"Mi nawh go noweh wid yuh!" I hiss, turning and walking back inside, slamming the door to drown out her obnoxious laughter.

Mommy waa deh yah fi pop mi rass 'bout her precious door.

"Apple!"

No call mi name, shit house!

▪️▫️▫️

6:20 P.M.

Mi nuh know which one a we fulla more adrenaline -- me or the man dem pon di field.

All I know is that I'm pumped.

Which is surprising for someone like me, who, before today, couldn't give a rat's ass about football.

And look how mi did insist say mi nawh come...

Admittedly, at first I wasn't feeling it, but as time progressed, once the game kicked off, and everything started happening, I quickly got excited. I guess I'm feeding off the energy around.

Sum'n 'bout watching men in their element --sweaty and...ugh.

"Yow, tha likkle yute deh waspy yuh fuck! Him a gi' di man dem a run fi dem money, try believe that," a older man behind me says, and I realize he's referring to Driva.

He's been dominating the field since I came and ask if gyal nawh dead wid pride inside.

Waiii. Feel proud a yuh man yaa goodie, mi nuh wrong yuh!

I blush at the thought, my eyes involuntarily searching for such man at the mention of him. I spot him easily, and my eyes linger on him for a while, much like I've been doing from the moment I spot him on the field, earlier.

"Parkland man dem just bomboclaat lazy a that!" another man replies, hissing his teeth. "A act like dem hungry, bredda..."

Or dem just meet dem match. Wah so hard fi believe?

I internally scoff.

Tuning out the chatter behind me, my eyes settle back on the sexy specimen out on the field, currently leading the ball towards the goal.

I watch him; his movements are fluid, fast, sharp. Ryan and Kawayne, from the Parkland side, run up on him, trying to block him, but he dribbles past Kawayne first, then kicks the ball through Ryan's feet, before rushing to control it. Smooth.

I bite back the squeal which threatens to escape.

Until Driva stops in the middle of the bigger box outline on the field and kicks, the ball slipping through the goalie's outstretched hands and slamming into the back of the net.

"Goal!" I spring to my feet, shouting, before I can stop myself.

The sound of horns go off all around.

Yanique cackles, looking up at me. "Then miss, yuh nuh see say a di wrong side yawh cheer fa!?"

I know but I don't care.

I laugh, plopping down back. "Oh, fi real?" I pretend to be oblivious. "See wid mi, mi nuh know noth'n 'bout ball eno!"

Nuh know noth'n 'bout gram...

Yanique guffaw at my tone, mimicking that of the popular TikTok sound, and Ali, who'd been busy typing away on her phone, hisses her teeth.

Waiii, mi clit.

"Yo, a who put Prento inna di bombobloodclaat goal? The man wukliss yuh fuck!" someone behind me says. I recognise the voice as the same man from before.

I roll my eyes at his comment. Why yuh never guh play sir? Deh back yasso wid yuh bagga noise like yawh coach. Steups.

Hate some style yussi...

"Yuh bad up that yute!" the first older man, of the same two behind me, shouts, drawing Driva's attention over to us.

Alright, see...ano mi a di only one weh a cheer fi the wrong side.

Driva's eyes sweep across the crowd, and I can tell the moment he sees me. His gaze locks on mine, before I turn my head to the side, pretending not to notice.

He's walking backwards while maintaining his stare in my direction. My heart is beating loudly against my temples as I watch him watch me from the corner of my eye.

"Raaaay, mi cousin, yuh man see yuh...!" Ali whispers, leaning across Yanique who's sitting closest to me, between the two of us.

"Gweh nuh!" I murmur, but suck my bottom lip between my teeth to quell the urge to blush.

Not even did realize say she a tek notice. Fass ya! Cho.

"Wait, a him a Driva?" Yanique asks, smiling.

Yes, waa di problem?

...no bother get jealous now, di gyal just a ask.

Alicia nods.

"Oh. Him bad, man."

Of course. That's bae for a reason...

...yuh waa hear!

The whistle blows, signalling the restart of the game, bringing my attention back to the field.

"A who a lead, Ali?" I ask my cousin. Shi more knowledgeable 'bout waa keep than me.

After all, mi nuh too fool 'round football fi purpose. A one reason mek mi all deh yasso tonight.

...we know.

"Yuh man side sah. Dem deh three points now, while wukliss Parkland just deh one."

Jah Jah. And di game soo' done?

No sah, them wukliss fi real.

Make di man dem come a beat them inna dem home town?

Pack up, man!

I giggle at the thought.

No wonder di man backa mi a chew iron so.

"Oh, OK."

Just then, a flash of blue passes by my peripheral, and I turn my attention back to the field to see Kimani pass the ball to Driva who heads towards the goal.

But, before he can get anywhere far, out of nowhere comes Moses, a defender on our team, barrelling towards him.

"Watchya, a who this ya wild man yah?" Yanique exclaims, gripping onto my arm.

My heart skips a beat, because why him a behave so strong fi true?

Driva doesn't seem to realize he's heading his way, giving Moses the opportunity to tackle him.

It's not just a tackle--it's a full-blown attack. His legs get swept from under him, and he crashes onto the grass with a sickening thud.

A collective gasp ripples through the crowd, and my own heart leaps.

"Bloodclaat!" someone shouts, in the midst of it.

Then a stunned silence spreads over the field. My stomach drops.

Driva doesn't move.

"Jesus, him dead?"

"Goodly knocked the fuck out..."

I take a shaky breath, but it doesn't reach my lungs. My feet feel rooted to the ground, but my heart is going a mile a minute in my chest.

Somebody else shouts, "Hey bwoy Moses, a wah kinda fuckry move dat?!"

Right!?

I freeze, my breath lodged in my throat. It's all happening so fast, it's like I'm stuck in a daze.

"Di dawg up, man!" someone else shouts from behind me when Driva finally rolls over onto his back.

I breathe a sigh of relief.

He doesn't get up right away though. He stays down, his back arching slightly, as he grips his leg by the knee. I can tell from here that he's in pain.

My heart slams against my ribs.

Kimani and Perry, as I heard Driva call him last time, rush over. The whole game pauses, the entire stand filled with murmuring.

"No sah, the referee nawh call tha' foul deh?" Alicia asks from beside me, concern evident in her voice as well.

My eyes circle the field, but I don't see the referee anywhere.

A few other players swarm them, but they soon part to let a man, who I'm assuming is the medical aid, through.

"It dhat bad?" Yanique's voice breaks my focus, and I glance at her with a shrug.

Mi not even know...

My eyes find back Driva, who's still laying on the ground. Kimani says something to him as he crouches beside him, but he's too far away for me to hear.

I'm assuming it's to ask if he's alright, considering the circumstances.

Driva exhales sharply through his nose before propping himself up on his elbows, and nods. But his jaw is tight, his face set like stone.

"Him waa some porridge, man," Mr man from behind me, says, and I feel him hovering over me. "One likkle tackle and him fold up so already, as a big baller?"

"Yuh nuh see the man kick di man inna him pussyclaat knee?" the other man defends. "Wah di likkle yute look like him mek outta? Steel?" He hisses his teeth. "Stop chat fuckry, Frass, and have sense."

The other guy --Frass-- goes silent.

Frigga yuh! Chat too much, man.

Driva grips his knee, flexing it once before standing, his expression still tight. Goodly vex yuh fret. But who wouldn't be?

Relief floods my chest, but it's short-lived.

The idiot who fouled him stands a few feet away, arms wide and a challenging smirk twisting his tough face. "A ball wi a play, boss man! If yuh cyaa tek the heat, liff up offa di bomboclaat field!" His voice is loud, cocky.

Hear ya!

The audacity.

Something flares inside me. Tha' likkle stinking mouth drancro yah coulda seriously injured di man eno, and him not even look sorry!

A chat 'bout liff up offa field!

Kimani moves in his direction, but Driva holds him back, shaking his head, although you can clearly see he's ticked off.

Hmm? A shoulda me!

Kimani hisses his teeth, gripping his friend by the arm to help him keep his balance. "Yow, weh the bomboclaat ref deh?"

"See him deh ova desso a come!" a girl seated on the bench in front of us says.

Indeed the referee, a black, big belly man is headed towards the center of the field.

So weh him did deh all along? Mussi did gone cut a shit, because...

He walks over to the piece of shit, Moses, and hands him a yellow piece of paper.

Which he does not take kindly to.

Yes, man! That yuh fi get, germs!

I exhale shakily, realizing I'd been holding my breath. My hands are balled into fists at my sides.

Kimani helps lead Driva onto the bench below the bleachers, and he sits.

I step forward without thinking.

Until I'm forcibly pulled back by my arm.

I turn to glare at Yanique.

"Weh yawh go?"

"Mi a go look if him alright and come."

Before she can respond, I pull out of her grip and jog towards the field.

"Apple!" I hear Alicia calling me, but I don't look back.

Mi just ago look if him alright, girl, waa di problem?

Now that the referee is back, the crowd which had gathered on the field, disperses, swallowing me up.

In the midst of them rushing back to their respective seats, someone bumps into me, almost knocking me over. Except, I'm caught by strong arms, wrapping around my waist.

"A weh di bombo-- cho!" I hiss feeling annoyed.

Look how the people dem almost buss out mi rass slippaz!

When I'm steady on my feet again, I look up to meet the pair of eyes already staring down at me.

"Sorry fi almost push yuh dung, princess," the owner of the eyes says, his voice deep.

He's tall and brown, and kinda good looking. He isn't familiar though, so I don't think he's from here.

Not that I care.

I hum. "That's fine."

He lips hold a faint smirk, as he glances over me. Then clears his throat. "Better yuh come offa di field before them trample yuh stillz."

"I'm fine, I'm going to--" I stop and turn to see if Driva is still there. But he isn't.

My heart sinks.

Weh him disappear go so fast?

"Yeah, better yuh lowe that. The game ago start back now."

The whistle blows confirming his statement.

"Why do you feel you have the right to tell me what to do?" I sass, as I turn and walk back up the steps anyway.

I hear him chuckle behind me, and I roll my eyes.

Sir, right now, mi not even inna di mood.

Oh.

. . .

7:07 P.M.

It's like the likkle incident trigger sum'n inna Hill Foot man dem, because them come back wid a vengeance.

The game is almost over, but inna the likkle time, since the game start back, them score about four goals.

They got the penalty kick.

And from that them nuh stop score.

They're at seven points now while Moses and him likkle badmind side only deh three.

Serves them right.

"Aye, dirty Moses dem meet them match eno," Ali says with a grin.

"I know right," I agree.

My eyes continue to follow the game, but I'm no longer really interested. Driva isn't on the field anymore. Matter of fact, I don't even know where he is. Haven't seen him since he got tackled and was substituted.

I sigh. "Uno soo' ready?"

"Yuh ready already?"

Yes.

I'm bored.

"If uno ready..."

"Alright, mi soon come. The game soon done. 'Bout two more minutes."

Sigh.

"OK."

"Uno nawh bother go the after jam?" Yanique interjects.

Nope.

"Mi nuh know. Wah yuh think, Apple?"

"Mi nuh --" I start to say before I'm cut off my a strong smelling cologne followed by the presence of someone beside me.

My head snaps to face the person, my frown deepening.

"Can siddung yasso beside yuh, Princess?"

Before I can say yes or no, he sits.

Seriously?

"It's somebody's seat." My voice comes out more pointedly than intended.

But this doesn't faze Mr Man. He chuckles. "Eeeh? Never see nobody deh."

What away yuh did a look fi see...

"Because them just get up." I roll my eyes. "Them soo' come back though. So...yeah."

Get up.

Just when I think he's about to move, he shrugs. "Ah. When dem fawud, mi get up."

I hear Yanique giggle lowly from beside me, and I hiss.

A weh da man ya come from, man?

Since I'm not in the mood, I scoot over, but tense when the man scoots over as well.

"Wah yuh do? Scorn mi?"

"I don't know you, sir."

"Well, that's why I'm here. To get to know you."

But a wah this man!

"Wah yuh name?"

"Yuh nawh answer?" He adds when I don't respond.

"Why is my name important?" I look at him, my eyes narrowed into slits.

"Just being polite. Noth'n nuh hard inna that." He chuckles. "I'm Delano."

That's a nice name.

"Good for you. I'm..." I pause as if I'm about to tell him my name. Then say, "Not interested."

Yanique slaps my thighs and I bite back the urge to laugh.

Why is it that when yawh try fi get men to leave you alone, it's like them mind tell them di opposite? Because why this man feel audacious enough, fi drape his arm around the back of my seat and lean over?

Like...sir!

My heart skips a beat at how close his face is to mine. Like, if I turn, our lips would literally meet.

"Um--"

"Alright. Bet say mi find out yuh name before the night done?" he says, cockily, cutting me off. His hot breath fans the side of my face.

And I internally shudder.

Suppose him mouth did t'ink?

Mi and him pussyclaat woulda roll out ya. 'Cause why is he breathing on my face like that?

"Can you ease up?" I ease him off, feeling like I'm being watched, and he chuckles.

"My bad."

I hum.

Pulling my phone from the cross-body bag draped over my lap, I open it and click on Ali's message which pops up onto the screen.

Stink Mouth 💕: Gyal! Six o'clock. Don't look too fast mek it obvious.

Wah?

"Mi nuh say nuh look so fast?" shi dig off mi face when I turn to look regardless.

"Awah?" I make a face. Wah she a talk 'bout?

"Oh," I say when I see what she's referring to.

Jesus Christ!

My eyes fix on Driva as he comes up the side of the slope. His yellow jersey is draped over his head, leaving him in only his white marina and blue jersey shorts. The hem of his marina, though, is tucked between his teeth, showcasing a portion of his oily abs.

Yum.

...hello. Calm dung.

I notice he's still limping a bit. His head is buried in his phone as he makes his way up the steps.

"Big up yuhself eno, bad balla! Yuh did good!" Old man behind me hails him when he's almost at the top of the steps.

Uncle a him biggest supporter eno.

Wonder if him know him?

Driva smiles and it warms my heart. His smile is still as beautiful as I remember it to be. "Up eno, mi fada!"

I smile too, lifting my hand to give him a small wave.

But it's slowly wiped from my face when his gaze shifts to me and his jaws harden.

His eyes skim over me, holding my stare, for a split second-- and my heart skips a beat, secretly hoping he'll at least wave back to me-- before he shifts them from me and look ahead.

He walks past, keeping his head straight.

Mrrrr to pussyclaat.

Shame yuh frig.

Craning my neck, I look behind me, at his retreating back.

He didn't even spare a second glance.

▪️▪️▫️

7:35 P.M.

"A which part dem say the party a keep?" Yanique asks, hugging onto Ali's arm.

That's all deh pon her mind since evening: frigging party.

I sulk, trudging behind them.

The game is over and everyone is leaving the ball grung.

As expected, Hill Foot side won the game, by a landslide, and they are planning on celebrating up by the community center.

"Uppa Center, miss. How much time mi ago repeat the same thing?" Ali answers her, her tone teasing, making them both laugh.

My mood, on the other hand, has been sour since my encounter with stinking mouth Driva earlier.

Yeah man, him mouth stink now eeh?

I scoff at the thought. Yes. And mi nawh stop call him 'Driva' either.

The Center is located about 5 minutes from here, so they've decided to walk.

Wrapping my arms around my body, I follow behind them, pouting. Mi a get cold. And waa go a mi blasted yard.

My nipples are hard, and the sensation from them rubbing against the material of my blouse, is helping to send shivers up my spine. A because a crawses Alicia why mi leff mi sweater eno. Just because a di rush fi come up ya.

And mi fi go party so?

Although, chances are I'll get warmer once I start drinking.

Regardless, I frown.

"Apple, a why you one silent so?"

I bite back my annoyance. "Mi waa peepee."

"So restroom nuh deh yah? Why yawh wul it and complain?"

I sigh. "Alright, mi ago peepee and come back then. Nuh go weh leff mi!"

"Yuh waa we follow yuh?"

It's getting really late, so it's dark out. But the field is filled with bright lights so only some parts are still dark. Not where we are though.

"No, mi nuh waa yuh come peep pon mi pumpum, batty gyal!" I tease, laughing.

She have a dirty habit.

Alicia cackles. Then says. "Alright, miss. We deh yasso den."

"Aii."

Spinning on my heels, I walk briskly towards the back building which houses the restrooms; male on one side, and female on the other.

Just as I bend the corner, the long line I buck up in makes my stomach coil.

Then a who fi stand up inna this ya long line ya?

By time mi fi reach the top, mi woulda must piss up.

As if sensing I'm near a toilet, my pee starts coming down. I wiggle a bit, looking around.

Mi ago peepee up miself eno, man!

"Yuh know wah..." On second thought, I decide to go behind one of the old water tanks, which are used to keep the field irrigated, instead.

Nawh piss up miself fi please a soul.

Once nobody nawh watch mi, mi good.

It's a bit darker over this side, since the tanks are blocking the light, but I don't care. As long as no frog nuh jump pon mi.

I stoop as I reach behind the concrete structure and relieve my bladder.

When I'm done, I reach for the wipes in my bag and do the necessaries before standing and pulling my tights up.

Yuh know say mi front really clump up inna this fi real?

Waiii. Too bad such man nawh go see it.

Like him vex and gone from when.

Him lucky.

Smiling to myself, I move from behind the tanks and start walking back to the front.

I squint to see where I'm going. Then after yasso never dark so likkle while, a wah gwaan?

...di piss mussi did a gi' yuh 20:20 vision.

Taking my time, I try not to fall. Worse one gully deh right yasso--the source of water for the tanks. 'Cause mi woulda surely pop mi rass neck and dead.

Just as I near the high wall, the one that separates the tanks from the rest of the compound, so kids won't climb over and possibly drop into them, I see a slight shadowy movement in the darkness.

My heart leaps and the hairs on the entire body rise.

Gripping my chest, I try to steady my breathing. A probably not even nobody. Mind a play tricks pon mi thru mi fraid.

But my body freezes when the movement gets more pronounced.

In the dark, it's hard to make out who it is. But I can tell it's a person. A man.

Mi did pass nobody yasso?

I swallow a ball of spit, willing my nerves to calm.

But my heart goes into overdrive when the shadow lifts his hand and strikes a lighter to light the spliff in his mouth.

I can't see his face clearly, but I make out some features due to the flame.

Jesus, a wonder if a one rapist or sum'n?

...mi nawh stay fi find out eno!

Just as I'm about to take my feet into my hands and run, the shadowy figure pushes off of the wall and turns to me.

Bomboclaat!

"A yasso yuh deh?" he says, his voice low and deep. "Never think mi woulda bloodclaat catch yuh now, don't?"