Page 30 of My Brother's Keeper
My eyes scanned the crowd as we made our way to Blue Reign and the band. When they reached the area, the girls were doing what they did best. They were swinging their arms, showing the crowd who the divas really were. Alyse’s tight face screamedGet me out of here, but she needed to know she was that girl. I thought about not even getting her attention so she would loosen up, but Morgan killed that thought.
She waved her hands in the air, “Get that shit, Alyse!” she screamed as soon as there was a mere piece of silence.
All eyes landed on us, and I shrank.Goddamnit Morgan.I snatched her shoulder, “Girl, chill. You’re drawing attention.”
Morgan smacked her lips. “Flex, please, I’m going to support my best friend the way I see fit. Fuck these people.”
Instead of finding a seat, we stood at the bottom of the bleachers and watched the girls. They each had done a solo number, and it was now Alyse’s turn. She slowly stood as the band guided her. She stood there not moving. I could see her looking at someone, so I looked, and it was a boy. He nodded, and so did she. I smiled. Alyse had a little boyfriend.
I focused back on her as I began walking up the steps, yelling so she knew what time it was. “You got it. Let me see what you’re working with!” I shouted as that was one of the Blue Reigns’ chants.
I clapped along with the band. “I said you got it. Let me see what you're working with!”
Alyse’s leg sprang in the air as she held that muhfucka up and smiled. That’s when her body leaned to one side and spread wide. She brought her leg down slowly as she swung herhead, letting that ponytail flow. Her arms went out and swung seductively until she squatted low and pumped her body.
“You better!” I shouted now on her row in the middle of the steps.
I knew all eyes were on me for screaming and hyping her up, but I didn’t care. She had that shit in her, and I was going to bring it out. Alyse’s body rolled before she shook her hips. She hit every beat with perfection, her beautiful face showing confidence. I felt like a proud mama. The crowd became hype as they watched her. I turned to glance at the boy she was staring at, and he was in awe. Alyse was truly a gem, and she needed to know that.
When the other girls stood, they came in on cue and began to move along with her. Now, she was turned up. Alyse was showing out as she danced with her team. A wide smile was plastered on my face because she was coming out of her shell. Morgan had made her way up the steps as she clapped, shaking her ass to the band. “That’s my girl! Go, Alyse—”
She paused, then cleared her throat. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Maverick,” she mumbled.
I turned to see Alyse’s parents. “Your daughter is a great dancer,” I said to them.
“Alyse is, but our money isn’t paying fordance.” Her father said to me. “It’s paying for an education,” he snarled.
Right then, I understood her. I knew her telling them about that audition wasn’t a good option, and after the game, I needed to tell her. In the meantime, I wanted to lay low before Morgan’s loud ass got us kicked out.
MALI
Symphony blowing me off triggered me. Shit, we were going on a week, and today was the first day I saw her, only to have her act funny toward me. I stood in front of my bike as I watched Symphony move around the store through the window. How was I able to get her in my arms yet let her slip through my fingers so suddenly? I knew if I stood in front of her store a minute longer, I was going to be on some dark shit.
I stuck my hand in my jacket pocket to grab my gloves when a folded-up paper touched my fingertips. I pulled it out, only to find the pamphlet that Diamond had given me. The mental battle started because this had to be a sign from God. I stuffed the pamphlet back into my pocket, hopped on my bike and took off.
My life began playing in my head as I sped through the city. From the first time my lips kissed the bottle, to not giving my mother CPR that night, to neglecting my brothers, allowing my issue to affect Jalen’s future, to the night I showed up at Symphony’s house, and having her necklace sitting in my drawer because I was too much of a coward to give it to her. My friends barely fucked with me, and Chevy was on the verge of kicking me out of the Zoo. I had nothing or no one in my corner, noteven my brothers, but somehow, I was supposed to find sobriety. Anger filled me as everything was hitting me at once.
The way my throat tingled for a drink made me feel like I was dehydrated, the way the shakes were taking over made me feel like an addict, and the way my mind was playing tricks on me only confirmed that a nigga was in denial and depressed. I wanted the help I did, but I didn’t want to walk into this war alone. I reached my destination in no time. I let out sharp breaths as I slid my helmet off after getting off my bike. I eased my way to the door, opening it as slowly as possible.
As I entered the room, those who were in there stopped and stared. I felt out of place, like the awkward nigga, just as I was in high school. “Welcome. The power is in your hands,” a male said to me.
I didn’t want to be approached; I wanted to stand here and watch. My eyes bounced on every person in the room. I wasn’t like any of these people; I was different, wasn’t I? This place was for those who had problems and couldn’t go a minute without the bottle. My heart started to race, and I began to feel sick. I wasn’t supposed to be here. The man went to say something, but I couldn’t. My head shook as I backed out of the room. “No, fuck no. I-I made a mistake,” I mumbled.
“The first step is taking accountability!” the man yelled as I ran out of the building.
As soon as I was outside, I sucked in a deep breath.Fuck!This shit was supposed to be easy. Everyone made help sound easy, but it wasn’t. I didn’t need strangers to get me off the bottle; this was something I was determined to figure out on my own.
ALYSE
I came from the locker room after the game. Regan and some of the girls on the team grilled me as I walked by. “Alyse!” Regan called out.
I turned to look at her as she smiled. “You ate that shit up, girl. Keep it up.”
I smiled hard, not because she said something that was supposed to make me feel good, but because I showed my ass enough for them to know they couldn’t fuck with me. I knew winter was approaching because the fall’s light breeze was cooler than usual. I hiked my bag over my shoulder as I walked out to see my parents and the trio standing there. “Alyse!” Alice and Brice screamed at the same time.
They ran up to me, hugging me tightly. Brennon took his time, but when he reached me, he smiled.You were good out there.
You saw your big sister dancing?
