Mono. Poly.

“I don’t understand why you have to choose if you love them both!” Imani laughed as if it were that simple.

“Because boys don’t share! And who said anything about LOVE? I’m just exploring my options!” I laughed at my twin sister with amusement. “Besides, you’re gonna get your heart broken if you think you can have more than one boyfriend.”

“I seriously don’t see what the problem is as long as you’re honest with both of them but if you feel the need to stress yourself out, by all means, go right ahead!” Imani giggled as she exited my bedroom while I pondered the option of going to the Fall Fling Dance with Grant Gilbert or Randy Boorman. The obvious choice was Grant since he didn’t already have a girlfriend like Randy did.

RING!! RING!!

Lunging for the phone before it rang a third time and disturbed my mother, I answered the call breathlessly.

“Hello!” My face lit up as I read the caller ID.

“Hey Peach. Is it safe for me to come over?” Randy asked in a hushed tone.

Knowing that Randy had a girlfriend, my mother made it clear that cheaters and fornicators were not welcome in our home which meant that TECHNICALLY I was forbidden from bringing Randy home. However, I was free to see anyone I wanted outside of Jamila Powers’ house.

“Have you broken up with…”

“RAVEN! Don’t start with me!” Randy snapped unexpectedly. “You know I can’t just break up with her! It’s her Junior year of high school and everyone is jealous because she’s dating a Freshman in college!”

“Am I supposed to give a fuck about her?! You’re supposed to break up with her so you can be MY man!” I pouted. I hated how Randy kept my mind so mixed up!

“And I will, Peach. Right after the New Year.”

CLICK.

I couldn’t listen anymore. How dare he put her before me? What’s she got that I don’t?!

She’s giving it up and you’re not.

Before I could fully process Randy’s words, the phone rang again. Not allowing my irritation to subside, I answered without looking at the caller ID.

“Look, dammit, if you’re gonna stay with that bitch, leave me the fuck alone!”

After a moment of silence, the caller spoke. “I’m sorry but I think I might have the wrong number. I’m trying to reach Raven Powers.”

Immediately recognizing his voice, I apologized. “Oh Grant! I’m so sorry!! I thought you were someone else!”

“Clearly… And apparently I’m not the only one trying to take you out,” Grant said, sounding deflated. “Look, Raven. I don’t have time for games. You never said you had other boyfriends so I assumed you and I were exclusive. Call me when you figure out who you want to be with.”

“DAMMIT!!” I exploded after Grant hung up on me.

“RAVEN! LANGUAGE!!” Mother exclaimed as she exited her bedroom on her way to the kitchen.

Shamefaced, I apologized. “Sorry, Mother.”

“Want to talk about it?” My mother offered her open arms. Accepting the invitation, I hugged her.

“No, but I’ll be OK, Mother,” I said, more to assure myself than my mother.

How could I tell Mother that I’m upset over a boy… And he already has a girlfriend!

Shaking my head, I said, “You wouldn’t want to hear the details but just know that I’ll be OK. OK?”

Kissing the top of my head, Mother said, “Well, if you can’t talk to me, tell your sister. I don’t want you fighting any battles alone, you hear me?!”

Smiling at my mother, I replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

Thinking that he would hang up on me or not bother answering the phone once he saw my number on his caller ID, I decided to speak to Grant in person with Imani as backup.

“So you’ve decided to go for the good guy?” Imani asked as we walked the three blocks between our house and the Gilbert residence.

“I need to at least explain myself to Jack and you’re my character witness. You know how long I’ve been crushing on Randy! I never thought he would ever talk to me after he hooked up with Sharise but he gave me his number and he asked me to give him my number so he could call me!” I explained. As we reached the street corner, Imani knelt down to secure her shoelaces before we continued walking. “I’ve never called him and when he called me today, I was about to ask him if he had broken up with Sharise but he said that he’ll do it after the New Year.”

Turning right at the corner and stopping in front of the Gilbert residence, Imani bursted into laughter. “Oh come on, Twin! You’re crazy but not stupid! That boy isn’t going to break-up with her so either accept that you’re gonna share him with Sharise or let him go! He’s always been with her and whoever else but THAT girl has his heart! You can see it all over her face at school, Ray! Share or let go. CHOOSE!”

“Raven?!”

My sister and I looked up at the house to see Grant Gilbert on his front porch standing with…

Randy Boorman?! What the fuck is HE doing HERE?!

“Hey, Grant!” I smiled at my potential boyfriend instead of the fool who would rather have coal than the diamond that I am. “I wanted to explain myself. I thought you were someone else! A wrong caller had dialed just before you and he was RUDE and OBNOXIOUS and I didn’t calm myself down before I picked up the phone for your call.” Randy’s expression was hurt but smug. Grant looked from Randy to Imani to me.

“That was my cousin calling you. He said he wanted to call his side piece before we hit the park. I used his phone to call you to see if you wanted to go with us,” Grant said as he walked toward my sister and me with Randy trailing behind him. “So you’re fucking my cousin but you won’t even give me a kiss? What the fuck Raven?!”

Shocked to discover that not only were Grant and Randy cousins but they were both trying to date me, I stammered, “N-n-n-no!! I’ve never… We’ve never been past…”

“But he’s done more than hold your hand, right?!” Grant exploded, lurching toward me causing Imani and Randy to become human body shields.

Feeling guilty because I had let Randy go so far as to finger me on his Mama’s living room couch, I began to confess. “Grant, you’re so sweet and nice and…”

“And you’re a fucking BITCH, Raven Powers!!” Grant spat before pulling his hand back.

SLAP!!

Clutching my right cheek, I looked in astonishment as Randy snatched Grant by his collar before body slamming him to the lawn. As my sister and I helplessly stared at Randy pummeling his cousin, an older woman came rushing out of the house.

“Randolph! Grant! Stop fighting!!!” screamed the woman as she pulled Randy away from Grant. “Why are you two fighting?!”

“Randy stole my girlfriend!” Grant snapped as he pointed at me.

Girlfriend?! Stole?! What the fuck?!

“Auntie Sophia, Grant called my friend a bitch,” Randy stated in his, and my, defense.

“Ladies, could you please excuse us? I need to talk to these BOYS!” the woman apologized before tugging Randy and Grant into the house.

“Now see, Twin? If you had just been honest from the jump…” Imani began as we turned to walk back home.

“My honesty doesn’t mean that they would be honest with me! Grant just moved to the neighborhood a month ago. Randy never said anything about Grant and Grant never said a word about Randy! And for Randy to let his cousin use his phone knowing that his cousin was calling my number, the last call that he had just dialed!”

“Not to play devil’s advocate but it’s possible Randy didn’t know you knew Grant. Did you see the look on their faces when we walked up? They looked like they saw a ghost!” Imani pointed out.

Grant looked shocked. Randy looked…

Pleased.

“He may not have expected to see me but Randy got just what he wanted,” I stated with a smirk.

For him to fight for my honor, how could I NOT choose Randy?!

Part 2 of 3