Chapter 2

**Tyler

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. I reach out and help Nyree up with one hand and pull my phone out with the other.

"House call!" She plays extremely too much. She already knows it is my girlfriend, Tanisha, trying to keep me on her tight, little leash, but I'm not down for all that. I need AIR and she's not letting me breathe. Two more days like this and we are about to be over! I am only with her for her sloppy top honestly. And she bend over backwards sometimes just to see me happy. Sad I know, but who really about to say no to a free meal here and there, or free car rides whenever I ask. The only reason I’m driving tonight is because I wanted to see is Nyree wanted to come first. If not, best believe I would be passenger side in Tanisha’s ride right now. That girl love her some me.

"Hello."

"Tyler, where are you?" Wow, I couldn't even get a hello in return.

"I'm at Nyree's house."

"Why are you over there? I know you not picking her up before me. Best friend or not, I am your girlfriend--" This is such a tired speech. Everyone knows Nyree holds a special place in my heart. And yea, we call each other best friends, but Nyree is who I see myself spending the rest of my life with. I just need to get all this other action out my system first. Because when I get with Nyree I plan to make it last. "I'm your girlfriend Tyler, if anything you should be picking ME up first!"

"Tanisha, calm down! We are on the way now. Chill out! I was already in the neighborhood, so I decided to give my best friend a visit and see if she wanted to come. Now we are about to be on the way so get off the phone and be ready." Before she can answer back, I hang up the phone. She is so annoying. Honestly, she is making the head not even worth it. I walk into the bathroom where Nyree is and I see her tying her shoes.

"I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to put up with her, man."

"Didn't you two just get together like a week ago?"

"Yea, and she's driving me crazy. She always has to know where I am, what I'm doing, and who I'm with. Then when I honestly tell her she gets mad if it's not something for her or with someone she doesn't like. Too much stress." I'm not supposed to have this much stress on me at seventeen. She acts like we are married. When we were just hanging she never acted this annoying.

"Is she riding with us to the party?" I nod my head yes.

"That is what she was mostly mad about. That I am here picking you up first and not her." I feel my headache start to come back as I think about the conversation again.

"Well won't this be a fun ride." I can hear the sarcasm in her voice. I laugh as I watch her continue to fix herself up in the mirror. She is so beautiful. I could watch her all day. "You love giving that girl reasons to hate me." I laugh as I follow Nyree out of the bathroom and down the steps.

"Ree, she hates you solely because you are a female in my life. There is nothing I could do or say that could make her hate you more than she already does." Tanisha really hates my relationship with Nyree. Funny thing is Nyree is the last female she needs to be worried about. Ree, would never cross that line with me as long as I am in a relationship. No matter how much I push, pull, or pry.

"Yea, you're right."

"I know." I slap her butt. "Now lets go!" I reach around her to open the door and I feel her lightly punch me in the stomach before walking through. I make sure the door is locked before I close it, then I follow her down the porch. Before she can step off the last step I wrap my arms around her from behind and lift her off the ground. She starts kicking and screaming for me to put her down, and I start laughing as I set here back down gently.

"You have problems. Don't scare me like that! I thought you were going to drop me." I could never drop her.

"Girl, don't you know that I could NEVER drop you? You'll always be safe in my arms." She smiles at me and I have to push her towards the car and pretend like I don't want to be late in order to avoid from kissing her. Her smile always gets me, but I love to see her do it. I always have to fight my urges whenever I see her bright smile.

Once we are in the car, we drive to Tanisha's house. As soon as we pull up in front Nyree starts climbing to the back. What is she doing?

"What are you doing?" She turns around and gives me that "you know" look.

"I'm getting in the back so you can sit by your girlfriend." I roll my eyes at the mention of Tanisha.

"Please. She can plop her ass in the back, she will be okay. The passenger seat can forever be claimed by you." She pauses and kisses me on the cheek before climbing all the way into the back. I fell my body tingle a little from the touch of her lips, but I work to ignore the feeling.

"Hun, that's sweet and all, but I actually want to go through this night without one of your hos mad at me." She leans back and I can't help but laugh at her. I can't think of another way to convince her to stay in the front so I just leave the conversation alone. "Jason says he needs a ride." Why didn't Jason just text me?

"Why didn't he just ask me on my phone then?"

"He said you weren't answering." Before I can respond the door opens and Tanisha sits down beside me in the car and closes the door.

"Hey Nyree. Hey you." She gives me the coldest stare. Oh man, I wonder what I've done now.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She gags at me and turns her head towards the window. I hear Nyree giggle in the back, and I glare at her through the rear view mirror. The entire ride Tanisha talks to Nyree like I am not even in the car. I don't even get mad. I am glad her attention is off of me for the moment. I head over to Jason's house while Tanisha is talking to Nyree about some party the cheerleaders are throwing. Nyree keeps saying she will try to make it, but in all honesty her and I both know she can't stand half of the cheer leading squad. They all love her though.

I pull up to Jason's house and at first I think no one is home until Jason runs out of the house with a chair flying at his head. What did this man do now? His mom is always mad at him and his brothers about something.

"Ma, why are you throwing shit at me?!" Jason is standing in front of the porch while his mom stands outside in a bathrobe, some rollers, and her slippers with tube socks on.

"Didn't I tell you and your knuckle-headed brothers to stop leaving that damn toilet seat up? If I fall in one more time there will be more than a chair coming for you!" She is pointing at him and her rollers start to fall out of her hair.

"It was Tootie that left the seat up this time, not me!"

"Aw well, TOOOOOTIE!" As his mom is walking back in, Jason runs to the car.

"Drive Ty, my ma didn't take her medicine today. I need an escape from that house tonight. See my daddy think he slick talking about he was going to the store for a couple of things when he is really at the bar with his homies." His household is crazy. Especially when his mom runs out of her meds. I forgot what he explained she needs them for. "Damn Nyree, if I knew you were gonna be looking this good I would have stepped my game up."

"Lol thanks Jason." I peep in the rear view mirror and he has stretched his arm across the backseat and turned his whole body to face her. I'm not very good at hiding my curiosity when it comes to Nyree and other guys. She can actually play it off though when the roles are reversed.

Tanisha then tries to compete with Nyree and says, "So how do I look Tyler?" I roll my eyes and shake my head. I don't look over to see what she is wearing and keep my eyes on the road.

"Oh, so now you are talking to me again?" She twists her mouth at me and turns to look back out the window without answering. That's what I thought. I can hear Jason talking to Nyree in the back, so I spy through the mirror again. She is laughing extra hard at something he is saying. Her laugh is even more beautiful than her smile. I wonder what's so funny though.