“Aquarian Skeene! What is your problem, man?” Sean scolded.
“Yo Sean, what is your problem? Last time I checked, you were not my mama! What the hell you doing, screaming at me, and calling me by my government name?”
“Someone needs to get some sense into your head, man. We been boys for what, 90% of our lives? I’ve called you much worse.”
“True but…”
“Listen to me,” he broke in. “I’ve known Tierra just as long as you, and we both know she is a good woman. But you know damn well she’s never let any man get close enough to be more than a business associate. Shoot, there are only, what, five to maybe, maybe seven people she even considers friends. If you aren’t going to tell her how you feel, then you’ve got to get over this already. This is crazy. You’re driving me crazy, and she is driving Shireece crazy.”
Sean stood in front of his longtime friend, trying to find the right words to say.
Qu had invited him over to play the newest edition of Madden on his Xbox360… Sean rarely played anymore, so it was the perfect opportunity. Though Shireece wanted to spend some quality time with Sean, he made up an excuse about how Qu, really needed to talk to him to get out of it quality time. ‘Shireece wouldn’t understand, I love her, but between Madden, or her, its Madden all the time.’ He rationalized, as he drove to Qu’s condo. When he arrived, Qu was an emotional wreck. The whole time they played the game, Qu went on and on about his feelings for Tierra. Eventually Sean had enough! He shut the game off, 4th quarter, 2 minute warning. Qu had the ball and was up by one touchdown.
“I know, I know Sean, but I feel like, we’ve been friends for so long… Wait? What do you mean she’s driving Shireece crazy? Is she talking about me?” his eyes lit up as he turned to Sean for answers.
“No, about, that Malcolm cat,” the light in Qu’s eyes disappeared. “I swear I know him from somewhere, man, and I can’t place my finger on where. You know, stuff like that drives me crazy. Maybe its TV, he is an ex-baller.”
“Whatever! I don’t think she sees me as more than her pain in the butt brother. ‘The twin her mother never had’, as she calls me. Besides her and what’s his name, Malcolm, has been steady for like two months now. How can I get in between that? That’s not my style, Sean.”
“I don’t know, but I know she is not happy with Malcolm. Shireece told me. But, she doesn’t want to get her heart broken, or fail so she is hanging on. You know that girl never could admit defeat. She’s gonna make it work no matter what.”
Qu paced around his condo scratching his head. He finally stopped and walked into his kitchen. After pouring himself a glass of OJ, he sat down at the kitchen table, and slumped in the chair. Then he sat up, took a sip of his juice, and let his head fall to the table. His head made a thud sound as it met the glass surface.
“Qu!” Sean yelled from the other side of the glass table. “Man, you’re seriously bugging.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do? Just call her up like, ‘Hey Ti, I know you’ve got a man and we’ve been friends forever, but I realize that I love you. I have for a long time, and I want to be your man.’? What type of nonsense is that?”
“YES! What is this mess that you’re doing now? Is this working out better for you? What are you a man or a mouse?” Sean asked loudly.
Qu lifted his head and searched deep inside himself for an answer to Sean’s seemingly obvious question, before reluctantly he admitted his status…
“A mouse dude, yup I’m a mouse dude.”
“I’m calling your Parents. You done lost your mind,” he teased.
Qu ignored him and allowed his head to meet the table again.
Clarifying a few things