Page 44 of Beautiful Beginning

Mom didn’t have a chance to respond before Chaz’s long arms engulfed the both of us.

ChapterTwenty

Chaz

Meeting Journey’s mom on the way to getting her between the sheets wasn’t on my bingo card. Watching her overcome by emotion was harder than watching Journey go through it. There was something in her that seemed fragile. Like any little jostle would have her crumbling to pieces.

When I was young, and had a bad day, Mama would always offer food. In form of a snack, lunch, dinner. Ice cream after. Lunch felt like the best solution to resolve the feelings in the room. To keep them from plunging into the depths of the sea. Off to the bottom where it’d be hard to recover.

And from the questions she asked, I didn’t think sitting with the two of them a little longer would be too bad.

It wasn’t. At first. We laughed and talked about campus. Didn’t let her mom dwell too much on her time there. Those stories often led to tears as she remembered her relationship. The cycle was vicious—smiles, laughter, anger, tears. Then it repeated.

Instead of taking her through it, me and Journey took turns telling her about our four years on campus. Journey’s time much more intriguing, but I did offer the little tidbits I had. Let her in on my plans to keep to myself. She didn’t seem to find any fault in it. Nothing she outwardly judged anyway.

Then Journey stepped away to use the restroom, and Mrs. Thompson took her gloves off. Leaned into the table and stared deep into my soul. Had me pulling on the collar of my shirt it became so uncomfortable.

And when she asked, “So, Chaz, do you think you’ll marry my daughter?”

I panicked. We only met recently.Are we there yet? Asking deep, provocative questions like that? After a gulp, I stared at her. I tried to find the words to respond.

After we left the restaurant, I didn’t know if my answer was sufficient or not. Mrs. Thompson didn’t seem to treat me any different. She hugged me before Journey and I left her to take a nap. Promised we’d see each other again. And hopefully before graduation. I thought everything was good.

I guess I could say I was floating on a cloud for the night, the next day, and into that evening. The speech I had to deliver to the student body before break had me worried earlier in the week. But as I stood at the podium, I was fine. I held my shoulders back, stared over the crowd, and smiled.

My girlfriend’s mama caught us in a compromising position. She asked me difficult questions afterward, and I survived. I could conquer the damn world. That’s what I thought as I wet my lips and prepared to deliver my speech.

“Dear Students of Hillside University.” I didn’t like the intro, but Amya insisted on it. And being the political analyst she was, I trusted she had the data to support it would land effectively. “As we embark on the end of what I hope has been a successful semester for you, I want to take the opportunity to prepare you for what’s ahead.”

Working with the board, and my cabinet, I had a list of exciting things to announce. By exciting, I meant things that gave the freshman something to look forward to. Seniors like me could be a little salty that many of the efforts wouldn’t apply to them before graduation. Still, I proceeded, “The housing project will start next semester. For those of you who are freshman before you leave you’ll witness the state-of-the-art facility. For those who complained about late-night food options, the café has worked out an agreement. It will allow them to stay open until midnight four nights a week.” That landed a round of applause.

“We understand that there aren’t sufficient study areas for group projects…” It wasn’t something I felt necessary to note in my grand speech, but again, Amya felt it was. “Jackson Hall will now be open after class hours. With your student ID you’ll have access to the classrooms.” Like I expected there was little excitement about it. But the final announcement, I thought would excite everyone. “For those of you who tussle with financial aid each semester. Standing in long lines only to hear there is no answer to your question. The department will be dedicating more staff to help efficiently answer questions, resolve issues, and cut back on the time you wait both in line, and for your money.”

As expected, the crowd went wild.

“Wishing you a safe, and happy holiday season. See you here at Hillside next year.” As I stepped down from the stage with Amya close behind me, students approached me.

“Not too bad, Brown.” Marcus found his way to the front of the crowd. “More food, and money.” He hunched his shoulders, “Can’t complain about that at all.” He pointed. “Could have used those dorms when we were freshman though, right?” He hit my chest.

“Yeah, still have nightmares about those bathrooms.” I laughed as I scanned the crowd.

“I already know. You looking for your girl?” Marcus stood aside. “I saw her and her crew toward the back.”

“Good looking,” I said as I unbuttoned my jacked. I maneuvered around him and the other students trying to exit the auditorium.

Journey was in the back right where Marcus said he saw her. The cheer squad surrounding her. Hands were moving around, words flying, but all I could see was her. In a cute Hillside blue hoodie, and a pair of jogging pants, she looked more casual than she did on most days. Still, her beauty outshined everyone around her.

“President Brown,” one of the cheerleaders looked at me like she had a lot to say, “nice speech.” She winked at Journey. “You have a good one here. Past presidents didn’t excite me half as much.”

I couldn’t tell if it was a genuine compliment, or if I was reading too far into it. Either way I thanked her. But I didn’t expect the frown on Journey’s face in response. “You good?” I narrowed my eyes. The girls parted like the Red Sea then disappeared leaving us alone. “What’s that about?” I pointed to their backs as they stood feet away from us.

“Giving us space to talk.” I didn’t think anything we had to say in the auditorium required space. If it was up to me, we would scramble out of there and pick up where we left off the day before.

“Thought we could get out of here.” I grinned. “My place this time.” I wrapped my hand in hers, but the grip she had on me was loose at best. Hardly holding on. I stood and stared at her. Watching for the torment I expected to see in her face. Maybe the situation with her mom affected her more than she let on the day before. She warned that the emotions came at her in waves. “Are you upset about them selling the house? Your mom moving?”

“Yes. But that’s not it.” She pulled her hand from mine and wrapped her arms over her chest.

“Okay… so what is it?” I looked up to the stage. “Something I said up there?” I rehearsed the speech a few times. Amya bared witness to everything I prepared. Although it wasn’t her job to warn me if I’d piss off my girlfriend, I’d hope she’d give me a heads up.

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