Free Always Upbeat / All That by Stephanie Perry Moore Page A

supposed laugh that way only with the ladies they were committed too. Not other ones.
    I stopped the car right in the middle of the street, jumped out, and said, “What in the world is going on here? Get your hands off my man right now! Blake, what is this? I’ve been calling you and calling you. Obviously, nothing’s wrong with your phone because you called your cousin.”
    â€œMan,” Blake said to Brenton while he ignored me. “You were with Charli? You told her where I was and stuff? Man, what’s up, cuz?”
    â€œDon’t even get mad at him. This is between us,” I said, moving Blake’s face to mine.
    â€œWell, since he hasn’t taken your calls,” Jackie said, looking like the tramp she always dressed as, “that means he’s through. He’s not interested. He doesn’t want to be around you.”
    My eyes started to well up, but I had to stay calm. “Blake, can I talk to you, please? This is between you and me.”
    â€œGo ahead and talk to her,” Jackie said as Blake looked at her like he needed permission or something.
    â€œMan, you don’t even need to do the girl like this,” Brenton said to Blake.
    â€œYou need to stay outta my business and give somebody a warning next time. Dang,” Blake said, shoving Brenton out of the way.
    Brenton stepped up to Blake as if he was defending my honor, and I pushed Brenton out the way. “Please, Brenton, let me talk to Blake. I have to fix this, please.”
    Brenton threw up his hands. I knew he was hurt. He walked into the party and did not look back.
    It took Blake no time to tell me, “Oh, now you wanna come around and act like we’re a couple and stuff? I’ve been tryna get with you for a couple of weeks. Things have been hard for my family, and I had no Charli to lean on. All you had time for was cheerleading.”
    Defending myself, with a cracking voice I said, “Yeah, it’s not like I was with another guy or something.”
    â€œOh no? You come strolling up in here with my cousin, and you’re supposed to make me think that it’s nothing?”
    â€œNo, there’s nothing going on. You know that. Brenton would never, nor would I ever. What are you talking about? Don’t turn this around,” I said.
    â€œYou know what? There’s no need to explain. We’re through. I’m with Jackie now. She’s someone who always has time for me.”
    When he walked away from me, he went into a Jackie’s arms. She looked back and gave me a sly smile as they strolled away. My heart was racing.
    I lost my friends, possibly my dad, and surely my man. I’d gone from the mountaintop to the valley. Where was Charli Black? If I didn’t know it before, I knew it now. My life was horrible. What a reality check.

CHAPTER 5
Payback Hurts
    I t surely did not feel good seeing Blake leave me. The fact that we were through was bad enough, but to see him with another girl just felt ten times worse. We had to fix this.
    I jogged over to him and said, “Please, Blake, please don’t let this be over. You love me. Come on.”
    Surprisingly, Jackie said, “Talk to her.” Even she must have known we had something deeply special. I actually thought she would completely leave the scene, but she just stood there with her arms folded. I had to take what I could. I had another opportunity to get Blake to see we were meant to be together. It was our time. It was supposed to be me and him, no one else. Whatever he was mad at me about, I could fix it.
    â€œCharli, this isn’t you. Don’t beg. Don’t follow me. Don’t try to change my mind.”
    â€œBut you don’t know what you’re doing. You really want us. I know you do,” I continued, making my case as if I was a lawyer.
    â€œDoesn’t feel good, does it?” he asked coldly while Jackie gave me a hard glare.
    â€œNo, this doesn’t feel