The Realest Ever

Chapter TEN

LIAR LIAR

Donovan pulled into his driveway ten minutes later. He barely had time to change out of his church clothes and feed the dogs before Brianna rang the doorbell. Donovan answered wearing canvas shorts with a tee shirt. Brianna wore tight Capris with a little, pink tee shirt that showed her midriff. She didn’t have on any makeup, but her hair was flawless. And to Donovan’s surprise, she wasn’t crying. She looked angrier than a swarm of killer bees, but her eyes were dry and piercing. Overall, she looked very sexy.

Donovan stepped aside and Brianna sauntered into the living room. She had the air of a woman who finally had the confidence and ammunition she needed to accomplish her goals. She’d been thwarted multiple times in the past, but the cat was out of the bag now. Donovan lied to her, and she had him dead to rights.

The situation with Kyra had been a thorn in her side from the moment Donovan mentioned her wretched named. We’re best friends. She’s like my little sister. Yeah right! Brianna went along with that nonsense for nearly a month, although every day was like her personal torture chamber. Each time Donovan called and told her he was going to stop by Kyra’s house, Brianna bared her teeth. Her claws sprang to action. She almost slit the tires on her man’s car when Donovan told her he put Kyra’s hooptie in the shop and was footing the repair bill.

And when he tried to break up with her… that had to be the worst day of Brianna’s life. Donovan told her point blank that Kyra was going to be in the picture, and if Brianna didn’t like it, he would dump her – not Kyra. It was humiliating and it was ludicrous. Who did Donovan think he was? Didn’t he know that he belonged to Brianna? Nothing was over unless she said it was.

There were two things that kept Brianna sane during the days Kyra casted her dark cloud over their relationship. The first was that Brianna knew she was more awesome than Kyra in every way. She had the looks, the finances, her own home, and no rug rats! There was no way Donovan could be interested in a basic chick like Kyra. The second thing that kept Brianna from going completely bat shit was Donovan’s promise that he wasn’t attracted to Kyra and that he had never been. Brianna asked him specifically if he and Kyra ever kissed, and Donovan gave her an emphatic No.

But that was a lie. And even though it hurt like hell to find out she’d been deceived, Brianna wasn’t terribly upset with her boyfriend. She could actually thank him, because Donovan’s gigantic lie gave Brianna the power she needed to regain control of their relationship, like in the old days. She felt like Maury Povich with an envelope filled with DNA results. She felt like Johnny Cochran waving a bloody glove at the jury.

She took a seat on Donovan’s couch and stared into her boyfriend’s eyes. He warily sat next to her with the classic BUSTED! look stamped on his face. The only thing that kept Brianna from smiling was the fact that she was supposed to feel hurt and betrayed right now rather than haughty.

“Okay,” Donovan said with a sigh. “What did my mom tell you?”

“What do you think she told me?”

Donovan frowned. It was clear Brianna was getting a lot of satisfaction out of this.

“You came all the way over here to play a riddle game?” he asked.

“Yes, I like riddles,” she said. “Here’s another one: What starts with ‘You’ and ends with ‘Lied’?”

Donovan shook his head. That was a good one. If he wasn’t sure that one of them would be crying within the next five minutes, he might have laughed.

“Okay.” He nodded. “I did lie to you.”

“About what?”

“About Kyra. I told you my mom kicked her out because she didn’t trust us together. Obviously you now know that wasn’t the whole truth.”

“That wasn’t the truth at all.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“Say what you did.”

“You sure you don’t want to do it yourself? You seem to have a flair for dramatics.”

“Actually you’re the one who’s been giving the performance of a lifetime,” Brianna countered. She offered three very sarcastic hand claps. “Bravo.”

“I kissed Kyra,” Donovan said, growing tired of her antics.

“When?” Brianna asked. “Yesterday? Last week?”

“I kissed Kyra fifteen years ago,” Donovan stated, “when she was living with us. It was only one time. My mom caught us, and that’s why she made Kyra leave. That was the only time we ever kissed.”

His confession did little to slow Brianna’s roll.

“The only time you’re admitting to now…”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If you lied to me all this time about that kiss, who’s to say you’re not still lying? Who’s to say you didn’t kiss her yesterday, or the last time you saw her?”

“You, um, I guess you have to trust me.”

“Ha!” She laughed in his face. “Trust you?”

Donovan felt like he was applying for a loan at the snobbiest bank in the country.

“Uh, yeah. You have to trust me.”

“I don’t get how you can say that with a straight face,” Brianna replied. “Trusting you is the last thing I can do right now, Donovan. Maybe never again.”

He didn’t have a response for that.

“And according to your mother, it wasn’t just a kiss,” Brianna continued. “Do you want to tell me what else happened that day?”

“You mean fifteen years ago?”

“Or yesterday, or the day before. Whatever. Who knows what you and your little girlfriend have been up to?”

Donovan shook his head. “Okay, Brianna. I know you’re having fun with this, but you need to get to the point. Yes, I lied to you. I kissed Kyra a long-ass time ago, and both of us have regretted it ever since. We’ve never touched each other again since that day, and we aren’t kissing or sleeping together right now. I lied because I knew you wouldn’t like the truth. But now you know. Fine. What’s the bottom line? Where are you going with this?”

Brianna’s blood boiled. How dare he rush her? But Donovan was right. This was all leading to a final solution, a real ultimatum this time: “Obviously I can’t trust you around Kyra anymore,” Brianna said. “I want you to stop seeing her.”

Donovan didn’t miss a beat. “I can’t do that.”

“What?” Brianna didn’t expect that at all.

“Listen,” Donovan said. He reached into her lap and held her hand. Brianna looked down, expecting him to slide an engagement ring onto her finger. That was about the only thing that could save him at this point.

“I did lie to you,” Donovan said. “But Kyra and I are just friends. I’m not lying about that. I promise you.”

“But I can’t trust you.”

“I know,” Donovan said. He rubbed her hand tenderly. “But the truth is you couldn’t trust me before Kyra moved back down here. That’s why I didn’t want to move in with you. You make me feel crowded, always on guard, like I did something when I know I didn’t. Things spiraled out of control with Kyra in the picture, and that’s when I saw how truly ugly the situation is. That’s when you lost the little bit of control you had over your emotions.”

What the hell? Brianna’s eyes narrowed. Was he trying to turn this shit around?

“The bottom line is this,” Donovan said. “You want to use Kyra as a scapegoat, but I know that your insecurities have nothing to do with her. Even if I stopped being Kyra’s friend, nothing would change. That’s why we have to break up. I care for you, Brianna. But we’re not good for each other. I’m sorry.”

Brianna stared into his eyes, her big, brown orbs widening by degrees. She couldn’t speak right away. She couldn’t breathe, either. Did he break up with her? This was not the solution she had in mind when she came here. This wasn’t even on the radar. Brianna felt her heart rattling in the back of her throat. Her eyes blurred, and she had a tick in the corner of her mouth. The tick grew bigger until it pulled her lips down into a scowl.

Donovan continued to hold her hand as Brianna’s pompous attitude dropped from 100% to negative 150. It hurt him to watch. It was like an abstract artist took her beautiful visage and turned it into something weird and melancholy. Brianna’s eyes began to squirt tears, but Donovan steeled his heart, knowing this would be the last time he ever caused her pain.

“No!” she wailed.

Donovan pulled her hand towards him, and gradually Brianna fell into his arms. She laid her head on his chest and sobbed loudly. Donovan put his arms around her. His hand moved to the back of her head and disappeared into her lovely mane. He rubbed her head tenderly.

“I’m sorry, baby.”

“Please, Donovan.” Brianna’s voice was muffled against his shirt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. You can still be friends with Kyra.”

Donovan held her tightly. “I’m sorry, Brianna. But there’s no going back this time. We’re not good for each other. We have to break up.”

“Why, so you can be with her?” she wailed.

“Brianna, I know you don’t believe me, but Kyra and I are just friends. We made a mistake when we were kids, and we’ve regretted it ever since. If we tried some mess like that now, it would ruin our friendship.”

“Okay, I believe you, Donovan. Let’s, don’t break up with me.”

“Brianna, are you, would you look at yourself?…”

He took hold of her shoulders and gently pushed her away. Brianna resisted. Being in Donovan’s arms was the best security blanket in the world. But he was stronger than her, and resistance was futile. Brianna kept her face down rather than meet his eyes.

“Brianna, do you not know how beautiful you are?” Donovan asked. “That’s why your behavior is so baffling to me. You got a great career. You’re an independent woman. You got it going on on so many levels.”

She looked up at him tentatively. She wiped her face, knowing she looked a mess.

“You should be with a baller,” Donovan said, “or some rich business owner. Your man should be picking you up in a Lamborghini. I know guys are lining up at your feet. Why are you getting so upset over me? I’m a school teacher. I don’t make a lot of money, and I drive a truck. That’s not your lifestyle. Maybe if I would’ve made it to the NFL, I’d be on your level. But I didn’t.”

“I don’t care about that stuff,” Brianna said. “I love you.”

“And I love you, too,” Donovan said. “But that doesn’t mean your life will stop if we’re not together. Brianna, you need to look deep inside yourself and try to figure out why you have such low self esteem. Why are you insecure? Maybe you should consider counseling.”

Brianna sighed. This is why she loved this man so much. Where she was wild and irrational, Donovan was calm and assertive. He always knew what was best for her.

She dried the last of her tears and offered him an embarrassed smile. “I guess there’s no chance of us staying together, if I go to counseling?”

Donovan returned her smile, but he shook his head. “No. We’ve already done irreparable damage to our relationship – me and you. But I’d like to still be your friend.”

Brianna chuckled at that. “Sorry. That’s not gonna work.”

Donovan expected as much. “I understand.”

“But I would like it if you held me again,” Brianna said. “For old times’ sake.”

Donovan’s heart melted. He quickly pulled her into his arms. She fit so comfortably. He nuzzled the top of her head and kissed it, too. Her hair smelled nice. But even as he fought off his own tears, Donovan knew he made the right decision.



≈≈≈≈≈≈≈



Brianna didn’t leave for another thirty minutes. After seeing her out, Donovan collapsed on his recliner. He was emotionally drained, and he felt physically spent, too. He almost didn’t answer his cellphone when he heard it ringing, but he thought it might be Kyra. Hearing from her always brightened his mood.

Donovan rolled his eyes when he saw his mother’s name on the caller ID, but he took the call. He was furious the last time he talked to her, and he wanted to take back some of the mean things he said.

“Hello, mother.”

“Baby, I know you said you’d call me when you were feeling better. I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am for telling your business to Brianna. I was one hundred percent out of line, and I understand if you’re mad at me for a long time. I don’t know what got into me. That was disrespectful and stupid, and, and I was only doing what I thought was best for you. That’s the only thing I ever worry about; what’s best for you. I would never–”

“Mama, it’s alright.”

“–ever do anything to interfere with your relationships – no matter who you want to be with. It’s not my business. Lord, I don’t know what came–”

“Mama, did you hear me?”

“No, baby. I’m sorry.”

“I said it’s alright. I forgive you.”

“Thank you, Jesus!” she exclaimed. “Thank you too, baby. I’m sorry for calling Brianna. Have you talked to her? Did you work it out? I want to apologize to her, too. I don’t know what possessed me to call that girl. It’s just, I was worried about you, baby.”

“I know, Mama. And I love you for that.”

“Did you talk to Brianna yet? Did y’all work everything out?”

“Yes,” Donovan said. “She came over here.”

“Oh, thank God!” Beverly sighed. “Baby, I thought I ruined everything for you. I been so worried.”

“We broke up, Mama.”

“Wha, why?”

“I told you me and Brianna had problems,” Donovan said. “It didn’t have anything to do with you. I tried to break up with her two times already, but she wouldn’t let me. This time I wouldn’t let her stop me.”

“But, but Donovan, she was so good for you! Let me call her and apologize. Maybe you two can still fix this. When I talked to her, she told me how much she loves you. I think–”

“Mama…” Donovan warned.

“Oh, okay, baby. You right. If you don’t wanna be with her no more, that’s your decision. I won’t interfere.”

“Why thank you,” Donovan said with a grin.

“Are you sure it didn’t have nothing to do with me?” Beverly asked. “I don’t think I could live with myself if I broke you two up.”

“I assure you it didn’t,” Donovan said. “This has been a long time coming.”

“Alright,” Beverly said. “I mean, if that’s what you want. I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” Donovan said, but that wasn’t true. He was quite gloomy and stressed-out about the whole ordeal.

“So, I guess this means you and Kyra can be together now.”

Donovan chuckled. “Mama, me and Kyra are just friends. I know you find that hard to believe, but it’s true. I didn’t break up with Brianna for Kyra, and I’m not going to get in a relationship with Kyra now that I’m single. She’s my best friend. The one time we kissed turned out horribly, and we’ll never do that again.”

Beverly finally accepted what her son had been telling her all along. And it was painful. “Oh my God, Donovan. I’m sorry. I was so wrong about y’all.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, Donovan. I don’t think it is. I feel bad about what I did. I feel like I should do something to make up for it.”

“Do you really want to make it up to me?”

“Yes, baby. I’ll do whatever you want. Tell me.”

“Stop hating on Kyra,” Donovan said. “That’s what you can do for me. She’s had a rough time, pretty much her whole life. She has always respected and looked up to you. When you let her live with us, that was the best time of her life. She loved you like her own mother. She loved the time you spent with her, taking her to get her hair done and stuff like that. The only thing she ever did wrong was kiss me one time. And if you want to know the truth about that, I was the one who kissed her, Mama. My life would be so much better if you stopped hating on Kyra.”

After a pause, Beverly cleared her throat and said, “Alright, baby. I’m sorry I was mean to her. I won’t do it again.”

Donovan noticed a change in the quality of her voice. If he didn’t know any better, he’d swear she was crying.

“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”

“I love you too, baby. And, could you tell Kyra I said I’m sorry.”

Donovan smiled. His whole body was warmed by her comment. “Sure will. She’ll be glad to hear it.”



≈≈≈≈≈≈≈



Donovan didn’t talk to Kyra until later that night. He knew she was upset from the moment she said, “Hey, what you doing?”

“Nothing,” he said. “What’s wrong?”

“My damn aunt,” Kyra said and blew out a sigh.

Donovan was grading papers. He pushed them aside and reclined in his computer chair. “What’d she do?”

“Just bitching about everything,” Kyra complained. “She said I wasn’t keeping my room clean, but I do clean it. I clean it every day. It’s just that we got three people in one room, so obviously it’s gonna look junky, especially with Q’s school papers and stuff.

“I asked her again if I could clean out that spare bedroom so we could get some breathing room, but she won’t let me. And she won’t do it herself! She don’t like nobody going in there. Why would she keep a room full of junk when it’s three people squeezed in one little bedroom?”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Donovan agreed. “Did she tell you she only had one room available before you moved down here?”

“No! She said she had a three bedroom house, and she had plenty of room for us.”

“Where are you?” Donovan asked, noticing Kyra wasn’t trying to keep her voice down.

“Down the street,” she said. “Just walking.”

“Just walking?” It wasn’t completely dark yet, but the street lights were on. Donovan immediately feared for her safety.

“I can see the house from here,” Kyra said. “I just walked to the corner. I’m on my way back. Just had to get out of there for a second, get some fresh air.”

“Oh, alright.”

“I can’t wait to move out of here,” Kyra grumbled.

“I know you can’t,” Donovan said. “Have you heard back from any of the schools you applied for?”

“No.”

“Did you apply for the office clerk job at J.T. Elder?”

“Yeah.”

“I know the vice principal there. I’ll call him and put in a good word for you.”

“Thanks,” Kyra said.

“As far as your aunt, I think she’s just a hater,” Donovan said. “She doesn’t have anything good going for herself, and she don’t like to see other people trying to make something of themselves. I saw it in her eyes when we brought groceries that time. She didn’t look like she appreciated it at all. It was like she wanted to have something to complain about.”

“I think you right,” Kyra said. “That’s why she doesn’t like you.”

“Me?”

“I know, right. How could she not like you? You’re the most likeable person I know.”

“Aww, gee, thanks. But for real, she doesn’t like me?”

“She hasn’t came right out and said it. But you can tell by the way she acts every time I bring up your name.”

“Like when?”

“Like when you’re coming over or when I was telling her about my new car. I have to thank you again for helping me with that, Donovan.”

“I didn’t do much. I found out about that charity through our counselor at school.”

“You’re so modest. You won’t take praise for anything.”

Donovan grinned. “Okay, you’re welcome. I’m glad you like the car. But you’re probably the only person I know who would refer to a ’99 Escort as ‘new.’”

“It’s new to me.”

“Yes it is. You know, if your aunt doesn’t like me, and the only thing I’ve ever done is try to help you, maybe she doesn’t want you to get too independent. She wants to hold you down, which is worse than a regular hater.”

“For real,” Kyra agreed. “I think she wants me to stay here so she can keep getting food stamps and whatever else she’s trying to scheme on. Yesterday she asked if she could put my kids on her tax return next year. I haven’t even been here two months, and she’s already thinking about tax returns!”

“Damn,” Donovan breathed. “Yeah, you got problems.”

“What else is new?” Kyra said. “Anyway, I don’t mean to be calling you with this mess all the time.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“What about you?” Kyra said. “How was your day?”

“It was fine. I’m good.”

“How’s your girlfriend? Is she feeling any better about, you know, me?”

Donovan considered his response. He wanted to tell Kyra what happened, but there was a chance Kyra might do the unthinkable and say she had more-than-friendly feelings for him. Donovan would have to come clean about his feelings for her, and then they’d prove everyone right by jumping into a (most likely doomed) relationship.

It was silly, but Donovan needed to prove to himself and his mom and even to Brianna that he didn’t break up with her so he could be with Kyra. The best way to do that was to keep Kyra in the dark about the breakup, for now at least.

“Brianna’s fine,” he said. “I haven’t had any problems with her.”

“That’s good,” Kyra said. “Did you take your mom to church today?”

“I did,” Donovan said. “It was nice.”

“I want to go to church sometimes.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Why you say it like that? Don’t you think I should go?”

“Of course,” Donovan said. “I didn’t mean to sound surprised. I’m happy to hear that.”

“I would go with you,” Kyra said, “but me and your mama should probably never be in the same building at the same time.”

Donovan chuckled. “You can come to church with us if you want.”

“Please!” Kyra said with a smack of her lips. “I know Miss Beverly don’t like me.”

“As a matter of fact, I talked to my mom about you today. She told me to tell you she’s sorry.”

Kyra’s mouth fell open. “Sorry for what?”

“I don’t know,” Donovan said. “Kicking you out, treating you bad when we were kids.”

“She apologized?” Kyra never expected that, not in a million years. “Why?”

“Because I told her she was wrong for hating on you. I told her you were my friend, and you weren’t going anywhere. And you never did anything wrong in the first place. I got sick of her talking noise about you.”

Kyra made it back to her aunt’s house. She sat on the front porch with a huge smile on her face. “You’re such a good friend, Donovan. You’re too good to me.”

“I just want you to get yourself situated, so you can be happy.”

“Me, too,” Kyra said. She stared at the purplish sunset disappearing behind her neighbor’s house. “I can’t wait ’til I have a normal life like you. I wanna sit on the porch at my own house, have a good job so I don’t have to struggle anymore. I want to start going to church. Maybe I’ll meet a man…” Like you! A man just like you! Kyra giggled at her subconscious. That was silly talk. There was no chance of her meeting a man just like Donovan. He was as unique as the stars that were starting to appear in the sky above her.

“You’ll have all those things,” Donovan assured her. Deep down it hurt to think of Kyra in the arms of another man. But Donovan would never interfere with the desires of her heart. “Everything will work out for you,” he promised.