All That and a Bag of Chips (19 page)

Monique jumped up to stop her. “No! It's my fault. I was drinking when I wasn't supposed to and I went up to their room on my own.”

“I don't give a damn! They made you do something you didn't want to do!”

“Venice, it's my word against theirs. Leave it alone please. I'll know next time. I was stupid.”

Venice hugged her and said, “You weren't stupid, Monique. You were too trusting. I'm here for you. You let me know what you want to do and I'll stick by you. Okay? You make sure you point them out to me the next time you see them. You hear me?”

Monique agreed and laid her head on Venice's shoulder. Venice patted her back and was finally able to get her to sleep.

V
enice was still upset, but decided to try and find the suit Sidney wanted. She couldn't help but feel sick to her stomach over what happened to Monique. Her headache was coming back, but she felt like she should do something. Whoever did that to her should have to pay.

Monique woke up and Venice asked, “Hey, girl, are you okay?”

“I'll be fine.”

“I wonder if it's going to be cold at the parade?”

“Everyone I talked to said it's usually cold in the morning and gets hotter as the day goes on.”

Venice pulled out a beautiful black suit.

Monique asked, “Are you wearing that tomorrow?”

“No, Sidney wants to borrow it for an interview.”

Monique came over to inspect the suit. “That's a nice suit. Too bad we're not the same size.”

The two laughed and then the telephone rang.

Venice was glad to see Monique laughing but she knew she was still hurting inside. Monique answered it and realized it was Craig calling for Venice.

Venice told him she'd see him later and hung up the phone.

“Monique, I'm going over to Craig's. Are you going to be all right?”

“I'll be fine. You go ahead.”

“Are you sure, because I don't mind staying here with you.”

“Thanks, but I'll be fine. I need some time to think anyway.”

Venice went over and put her arm around Monique's shoulder. “If you need me or want to talk, you know where to find me. I don't care what time. Pick up the phone and call.”

“I will. Thanks, Venice.”

“You're welcome.”

“What did you do to that man? He can't stand for you to be out of his sight one minute. He must be addicted to the coochie.”

Venice giggled. “Monique, don't make me laugh. My head still hurts. You're so nasty. But for real, girl, are you sure you don't want me to stay?”

“I'm sure. But thanks for offering. So I guess this means you'll be going to the parade with your piece instead of me?”

“If you want me to go with you, I'll come back early in the morning. I can tell Craig to just meet me there.”

“No, don't do that. I'll find you guys. Okay?”

“Okay. Peace out!”

Venice went to take her shower so that she could meet Craig.

On the drive over to Craig's, Venice couldn't help but think about what happened to Monique. She'd heard about girls getting date raped, but never thought it would happen to anyone close to her. She found herself getting angry all over again. She wished Monique would do something about it. It would only be a matter of time before they did it to someone else.

When Venice pulled into Craig's driveway, she spotted an unfamiliar car parked in front of the house with D.C. license plates. Since Craig had given her a key to the house, she used it to enter the house through the open garage. When she walked in, she could hear voices coming from the den.

As she walked through the kitchen, she heard him say, “What do you mean, whose child have I been molesting? You're crazy and you need to mind your business and stop listening to all those chickenhead friends of yours.”

Venice knew her presence was not known, but was she right to ease drop? She didn't care. She was trying to find out who Craig was arguing with. Could it be? No! Maybe!

A voice then said, “I‘ve barely been gone six months and you've set up house with a baby. Where is she?”

Craig's voice was noticeably tense. “I told you that is none your business. What do you want, Miranda? Why are you here?”

Damn it! It was her!

The female voice said, “You know what I want. I thought
maybe I could stay here with you for old times' sake. I know Bernice goes out of town every year at this time, so what do you say?”

“Miranda, you must be out of your damn mind! Do you remember that you walked out on me? A person only does that to me one time. Now I've moved on. We weren't meant to be together anyway. We have nothing in common and I don't like your attitude. You're selfish and deceitful.”

Venice felt weird so she went back out the door and decided to go around to the front door and ring the doorbell. Craig came to door and opened it. He must've been highly agitated because he turned to go back into the den without even saying hello. Venice walked inside and followed behind him. When she entered the room, she saw this preppie looking woman wearing a lavender linen pantsuit. Her nails and hair were professionally done and she had her nose in the air.

She stood up and walked toward Venice, putting her hand out to shake Venice's. “So you must be Craig's little friend. Now, don't you look sweet.”

“Have we met?”

Craig grumbled and said, “Venice, this is Miranda. Miranda, Venice.”

Venice, not wanting to show she didn't like the meeting, sat her bag down and extended her hand to Miranda's. “Nice to meet you.”

“Yes, me and Craig go a ways back. Don't we, baby?”

Miranda eyed Craig like he was her favorite dessert.

Craig said, “Miranda, I'm not your baby and it's time for you to leave.”

Venice was getting angry. “Are you visiting for homecoming, Miranda?”

“As a matter of fact, I am.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy your visit. Craig, I'm going to start dinner. Miranda, it was nice meeting you.”

Miranda reached for her Coach purse and walked toward the front door. “Likewise! Craig, baby, we'll talk later.”

Venice was in the kitchen, but she could still hear the conversation.

“Miranda, we don't have anything else to talk about. I wish
you'd go on with your life. I don't want any drama this weekend so don't start any shit! Do you hear me?”

Miranda smiled as she walked to her car. “You know I wouldn't do anything like that.”

Craig mumbled, “Like hell you wouldn't.”

Miranda got in her car and drove off. Thank goodness she was gone.

Venice was setting the table when Craig entered the kitchen. She didn't want to talk about what had just happened. She was still too sick to her stomach and upset about Monique to worry about it. She was silent and avoided eye contact with Craig. Craig probably assumed that she wanted to question him, but she wasn't up to it. She just wanted to lie down. Venice was content with the way Craig handled the situation, but nevertheless upset that Miranda had the nerve to come over there.

Venice finally said, “Craig, I still don't feel well. I'm going to lie down.”

“Are you all right?”

“Not really.” Venice paused and then blurted it out. “Look, Craig. Monique told me she was raped last night.”

“What? Where? By who?”

“She said she gave these two so-called friends a ride. They stopped to get something to eat and they invited her up to their room to eat. That's when it happened. They told her that if she didn't do what they wanted, they were going to run a train on her.”

“Did she report it?”

“No, I tried to get her to, but she said it'll be her word against theirs. Plus, she went to their room willingly. Craig, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have left her last night.”

“It's not your fault and it's not her fault either. I don't care! She still needs to report it! I'll talk to her tomorrow. I'm gonna make her show me who they are.”

“She's really upset. I offered to stay with her tonight, but she said she wanted to be alone.”

Craig shook his head and hissed under his breath. “I'll take care of their asses.”

Venice went into the room, changed, and crawled into bed.

Craig was beginning to feel even more serious about their relationship
and he didn't want anything to mess that up. He cleaned the kitchen and put away the food. As Venice lay in the other room, she still felt a little uneasy by Miranda's presence. By the time he came into his room, she was in bed. Craig came in and asked if she needed anything. Venice told him that she was fine, then apologized for being drunk the night before. Craig told her it was in the past and he hadn't given it another thought.

It was about nine o'clock and Venice was trying to study a little. Friday was the big pep rally day. Venice's last class ended at twelve o'clock and the pep rally was going to be at noon. Craig's classes were going to be lab, so he could basically set his own hours as long as he finished his projects.

Craig asked, “Are you going to the pep rally with your partners?”

“I don't know yet. I think Chanelle is meeting Spoonie. Why?”

“I just asked. If you want to, I can meet you.”

“I'll try to find you, if I can.”

The mood was still out of sync. Miranda's presence definitely had an effect on Venice's attitude. This was the first time since Venice met Craig that she'd felt jealous. After what she did with Jarvis, she knew she didn't have a right to be upset, but she was. Her feelings for him had grown stronger over the past weeks. She was also still worried about Monique.

Craig still could tell the air was thick so he asked Venice if she felt well enough to ride to the store with him. He hoped this would be an opportunity for them to talk.

Venice said, “I'll do anything to keep from looking at this book.”

They pulled out onto the street headed to the area supermarket. When they finally reached the store, Venice told him that she'd wait in the truck. He was only in the store for a few minutes. As he got in the truck, he handed her the sack. He told her to go ahead and look in the sack. Venice reluctantly peeked in the sack and was elated that he'd bought her favorite: peach cobbler pie and ice cream. She realized that it was some type of peace offering.

She looked at him as he pulled out of the parking lot and said, “Thanks.”

There was more silence on the ride home. Craig finally said,
“Venice, I'm sorry about today. I don't like what's going on between us.”

“Me either, Craig. I thought I could handle coming face to face with her, but I was wrong.”

“Venice, I don't want Miranda.”

“You did once, so why not again?”

Craig slightly chuckled. “Because I'm with the woman I want.”

Venice blushed. “Thanks, baby. I'm sorry. I'm still sick and I'm worried about Monique.”

He smiled and said, “I know.”

As Craig pulled into the driveway and activated the garage door, he told Venice that he wouldn't string her along for the hell of it. “Momma taught me to respect women. I wouldn't dog you out so will you please cheer up?”

They sat in the truck as the door lowered. She turned to him and said, “I'll try.”

He smiled and said, “Cool. Do you want to try and eat some ice cream?”

“I'll pass, thanks.”

They made their way back to the bedroom. Craig said he was going to study a while. About an hour later, he crawled back into bed next to her with his pie and ice cream. Venice was staring at him as he ate it. He looked at her and said, “You want a taste?”

“Maybe a little.”

He scooped up some ice cream and pie and she took a bite, seductively. Craig almost dropped the spoon and said, “Don't do that.”

“Don't do what?”

He laughed. “You know what you're doing.”

He got up to return his bowl to the kitchen and when he came back, Venice was sitting up in the bed smiling.

He said, “You're silly.”

He got into bed and she scooted over close to him. He started scanning the channels with the remote while she decided to let her hands wander a little. He looked down at her and closed his eyes to enjoy the massage. Venice looked up at him, then crawled on top of his body and kissed his neck and chest. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. He sat up and pulled her
nightie over her head. He smiled, then kissed her greedily. She opened a foil package and prepared him for her, then eased himself inside her warm body. Craig was taken with her forwardness and laid back to allow Venice to have her way with him. She kissed him provocatively as he held her body tightly against his.

She continued to pleasure him and he moaned as Venice whispered, “Oh, Craig.”

This enflamed his body and he kissed her harder on the mouth, tasting her.

“Damn, Taylor!”

Venice began to move her body over his with deep affection and, within minutes, she collapsed on his chest. He smiled up at her and held her securely in his arms as she laid on his chest breathing heavily. A few minutes later, her pager went off. After picking it up, she saw it was Jarvis. Without saying a word, she laid it back on the nightstand. Venice didn't want to move and Craig wasn't about to let her. He didn't need to confirm it for himself. He knew it could only be Jarvis paging her that time of night. Craig didn't let it bother him though, because at that moment, she was in his bed, making love to him. She held onto him the rest of the night. As expected, it flashed through her mind that Jarvis was going to be pissed off when she talked to him. She decided to worry about that tomorrow.

I
t was Friday and the weekend, baby! Venice was extremely excited to have her first college homecoming. She received a call from Joshua when he got in. He'd told Venice that he would page her when he got up on the campus. Venice couldn't wait to see her best friend and finally introduce him to Craig. Galen was supposed to pick Joshua up, so there no telling where they were. Venice figured she would wait a while before she paged them. In the mean time, she was going to hang out with her girls.