You Had Me at Hello Read online

  When I called Ziyon that night, I wasn’t expecting him to answer but was definitely surprised when he did and even more taken aback that he agreed to meet with me. In my mind, I had the entire meeting played out in my head. I would get him to see how much he truly hurt me, and seeing as how a crying woman was Ziyon’s weakness, I figured my tears would lure him back in. When I had started talking that night, the way I planned for everything went right out the window. It was as if the man I had grown to love and had the heart of gold ended up turning into a heartless piece of shit.

  I cried hard that night because I couldn’t believe after all of the time that Ziy and I had been together, that we were where we were. I never imagined it a day in my life. Shit happened though. When he held me as I cried, it felt natural being in his arms, and I didn’t want it to end. It felt like old times when Ziyon loved me and only me. Thinking back on it brought tears to my eyes again.

  I was sleeping deep when I felt his phone vibrating against my side. Ziy was a slightly hard sleeper, so it wasn’t hard for me to slide his phone out of his pocket. When I seen the picture of the girl on his screen, a pang of jealousy shot through me. She was absolutely beautiful, and I couldn’t lie and say she wasn’t. I toyed with the idea of answering the phone, but before I could decide if I wanted too or not, the ringing ended. Not for long. As I held the phone in my hand, it began vibrating again. I placed my thumb on the answer bar and slid it across the screen allowing the call to connect. I placed it to my ear but didn’t say anything.

  “Hello,” she called. I didn’t say anything. “Ziyon?”

  “He’s sleep right now, can I take a message?”

  I instantly kicked myself in the ass. I didn’t need her to start screaming and possibly waking him up out of his sleep.

  “Who the fuck is this?”

  I climbed out of the bed and went onto the balcony.

  “Hello,” she called again.

  “I told you he’s sleeping.”

  “I don’t give a fuck what you said. I’m asking who are you,” she snapped.

  “Miranda and you are?”

  I heard her suck her teeth.

  “You gotta be fucking kidding me.”

  That was the last thing she said before she hung up. I expected her to call again, but she didn’t. Ziyon never was one to keep a passcode on his phone, so I unlocked it and turned the vibration off. I contemplated going through his text messages. Just as I was about to tap on the messages icon, he stirred in bed. I rushed and placed the phone in the nightstand drawer and climbed in the bed. I laid my head back on his lap and smiled as I went to sleep.

  I don’t know why I had hope that we would get better after that. The icing on the cake was him having me meet him the next day at the damn park. I couldn’t believe he was choosing her over me, and it hurt. I wanted to break down and cry right there in front of him, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Instead, once I left, I packed my suitcase and cut my trip home short two days. It was a hard pill to swallow, but I had no choice but to leave him alone. It was evident that we were completely done, and there was nothing I could do to change it.

  When I returned to North Carolina, I emptied everything in my house that reminded me of Ziyon. Little did he know, I bought him an entirely new wardrobe for whenever he came. Everything was still brand new with tags on it, and the sneakers never even left the boxes. I cried as I removed every item, but it was a chapter in my life that I was closing forever. I could only wish him the best and move on with my life.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Without You” Mariah Carey

  Breionna

  It was finally here, and I wasn’t ready. Here it was three in the morning, and I was heading back to my parents’ to gather my luggage and head off to a new beginning in Florida. Ziyon tried comforting me the entire ride to my parents’, but it wasn’t working. Leaving behind everything was going to be harder than I ever could have imagined. I silently cried to myself. My parents were placing my suitcases into my dad’s truck as Ziyon pulled up. Brandon came out rubbing his eyes and jumped in the backseat.

  I sighed heavily and climbed out of the car. I went inside and grabbed the things that would ship with my car and filled up my car. Thirty minutes later, I was climbing back into the car with Ziyon and pulling off with my parents following behind heading to TF Green airport. The closer we got to the airport, the heavier my heart became. I had talked about this day for so long, and now that it was finally here, I wasn’t ready for it.

  “You okay, Ma?” Ziyon asked. I closed my eyes and shook my head no as tears rolled down my face. “Aw babe, it’s gonna be alright. You’ll be coming back home before you know it.”

  “Will you visit me?” I asked him.

  “Of course! I want you to focus though. If you need me, of course I will be here, and if you really need me, I’ll be on the next thing smoking to you.”

  “You promise?”

  “I promise.”

  I cracked a small smile as we pulled up to the departure section of the airport. I took a deep breath as Ziy put the car in park. We both climbed out as my parents parked behind. My father grabbed the two suitcases from the backseat, and Brandon climbed out as my mother came over to me with a tear-stained face and pulled me tightly into her embrace. That was all it took, the waterworks started with the both of us.

  “I’m so proud of you baby,” my mother told me as she wiped my face with her thumb. “I know you’ll do great out there.”

  “Thanks Mom.”

  I turned and hugged my father tightly.

  “I love you, baby girl.” My father said and kissed my forehead.

  I let go of him and hugged Brandon as well. We might have fought and argued, but he was still my only brother and something like my best friend.

  Ziyon stood off to the side. I turned to look at him and my lip instantly began quivering. He held his arms out for me to walk directly into. The moment he hugged me, I lost it. I cried harder than I ever have before.

  “Shh, don’t cry Bre. You’ll be back, Ma. Go out there and enjoy yourself and do what you have to so you can come back to me.”

  He rubbed my back, but it still hurt my heart that I was leaving my entire life behind to start anew in an entirely different state.

  “The day you return, I’ll be right here waiting for you with open arms. Go knock ‘em dead baby. I know you’ll do great.”

  I sniffled and planted a kiss on his lips.

  “I love you,” I said just above a whisper.

  “I love you more. Call me the moment that you land.”

  I nodded my head and stepped back.

  “Breionna.”

  I snapped my head in the direction I heard my name being called from and was surprised to see Azariah and Brittanie jumping out of Brittanie’s car and running my way.

  “Zari! Oh my God!”

  I hugged my best friend tightly as we rocked back and forth.

  “I wouldn’t have missed this for nothing! I don’t want you to think about being down there by yourself. One semester left, and I’ll be down there for the fall.”

  I smiled and nodded as I blinked away the tears that were threatening to fall from my eyes. I turned and hugged my sister tight.

  “Alright Bre, go ahead so you don’t miss your flight,” my mother said.

  I walked over and kissed Ziyon one more time before grabbing my suitcases and walking into the airport. Each step I took hurt more and more, but I knew I was doing what had to be done.

  ***

  Ziyon

  I never felt this much pain in my life. I didn’t even hurt like this when Miranda left. I don’t know what it was about Breionna, but that girl had a hold on my heart. The moment I pulled away from the airport, I fired up the pre-rolled blunt I had and headed over to iHop. This would be the longest four months of my life. I may be making the trip to see her sooner than she thinks. Four months without my shortie isn’t gonna cut it.

  Just as I finished m
y blunt, I pulled into the iHop parking lot. I was glad that nobody was there because I wanted to be by myself. I walked inside and was greeted by a waiter who happened to be a little cutie. Any other day, I might have flirted with her a little bit, but right now, I just wanted to eat and go home.

  “Just one?” She asked.

  “Yeah.”

  She grabbed a menu and began walking away. I could tell she was adding a little extra sway in her hips to catch my attention. I chuckled and shook my head. Sometimes females could do the most, and that’s exactly what she was doing right now, the absolute most.

  “Here you go,” she said as she placed the menu on the table. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Just a water for now.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right back.”

  I nodded my head, and my phone rang from my pocket. I smiled when I recognized Breionna’s name on the screen. I accepted the FaceTime call and waited for it to connect.

  “Wassup, Ma?”

  “Hey. Where are you?”

  “iHop grabbing something to eat.”

  She smiled at me, and I instantly began missing her even more.

  “You alright?”

  I noticed the tears welling up in her eyes.

  “I don’t think I can do this, Ziy. It hurts too bad, and I haven’t even gotten on the plane yet.”

  “Ma, it’s gonna be alright.”

  “I don’t want to go anymore.”

  “Breionna,” I cut her off before she could continue. “You’ve told me yourself that you’ve been wanting to go to school out of state since you were a teenager. Now is your chance.” The waiter placed my water on the table and asked if I was ready to order. “Hold on Ma.” I quickly placed my order and dismissed her. “My bad. As I was saying, don’t worry about what’s going on here. When you come back, nothing will be different about this place. Live out your dream, baby.”

  “I just wish you were coming with me.”

  “How about this. When you get situated and get your schedule straight, let me know, and I’ll make my first trip when you’re free. Sound good to you?”

  I watched as her face lit up and she nodded.

  “They just called my flight. I’ll call you the moment we land.”

  “Make sure you do.”

  “I will. I love you, Ziy.”

  “I love you too, Bre.”

  We ended the FaceTime chat just as the waiter walked by again. I browsed random shit in my phone, hoping she would get the hint that I didn’t want to be bothered with her ass.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute?” She asked.

  “I have a lady, and I’m not interested,” I told her off rip.

  With Bre being gone, right now my first and only thought was continuing to stack money and start washing it clean. I wanted to be completely legit and clean within the next year. Ky and Day planned on staying in, but I was done. I knew when to call it quits. If they didn’t want to, then I wouldn’t force them. I knew what it was that I wanted to do, and going legit was number one.

  “I figured that with the conversation, but damn, I was just going to give you small talk. You look like you could use somebody to talk to,” she offered.

  “No offense shortie, I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t know you from a whole in the wall. Tell me what makes you think I would have a private conversation with somebody I don’t even know?”

  “I didn’t say it had to be a private talk. We could talk about whatever you want to talk about. Here,” she pulled a pen from her apron pocket as well as a napkin and scribbled her name and number down. “Whenever you feel like you might need a listening ear, don’t hesitate to call. My name is Janisha.” She slid the napkin across the table and stood to leave. “I’ll be right back with your food.”

  I didn’t say anything. I stared at the napkin containing her number. I didn’t know if I wanted to take it or not.

  “Here you go.” She placed the bacon omelet in front of me. “You need anything else?”

  “Nah, I’m good.”

  “Enjoy.”

  I didn’t say anything else as I picked up the fork and dug into my food.

  An hour later, I was kicking my shoes off at my front door and pulling Janisha’s number out of my pants pocket. I stared at it more and tossed it on the coffee table. I stripped as I walked into my room. I threw myself on the bed and tried to force myself to go to sleep. Sleeping alone would take some adjusting too.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Missin’ You” Trey Songz

  Breionna

  Stepping off the plane in Jacksonville, Florida, you could never tell it was smack dead in the middle of winter. My winter coat that served me right in Rhode Island had me on the verge of having a heat stroke. As I walked through the airport to baggage claim, I called Ziyon. I listened as the phone rang and rolled over to voicemail. I dialed him again and got the same response. I shrugged and called my mother instead.

  “You land?” She asked as she answered.

  “Yes ma’am. I’m going over to baggage claim then going to get the rental.”

  “Alright. Get settled and give me a call later. I love you.”

  “Love you too mom.”

  Just as we hung up, I made it to the baggage claim selected for the flight I was on. Luckily the belt started quickly, and my bags were two of the first to come off. I grabbed them and walked in the direction that led to the rental car garage. This Florida heat was a killer. This would be one of my biggest adjustments. Thirty minutes later, I was pulling out of the garage with the AC blasting. I punched the address to the off campus condo I had come and selected two months ago with Ziyon. I was excited because this would be the first time I lived by myself, but I was saddened because I expected my first place to be with Ziyon. I sighed as I pulled up to the home and admired it from outside. I stepped back out into the heat and walked up the few stairs to the front door. The place had been furnished while I was gone, and Ziyon was sending the monthly payments down.

  After walking around the house for twenty minutes, I went back out and grabbed my bags to bring them inside. I decided to hold off on unpacking until I came back from the school. Hopefully it wouldn’t take too long because I was starting to feel jet lagged.

  Three and a half hours later, I was walking back in the house with arms full of groceries. Ziyon still hadn’t called me back, and his phone was still running over to voicemail. I was beginning to get nervous. I called both Kyshawn and Daymeon too, but neither of them answered either. I tried to call him again, and this time it rang. I thought I was hearing things when I heard music playing faintly. It just so happened to be the same song that Ziyon had set as my ringtone when I called him. He didn’t answer, so I hung up and dialed again. I heard the music playing again. I walked closer to the front door and heard it again.

  Looking through the peephole, I thought I was seeing things. My hands shook as I grabbed the doorknob and twisted it. I wasn’t seeing things. There on the other side of my door stood my love. Tears of joy raced down my face as we locked eyes.

  “What are you doing here?” I cried as I fell into his arms.

  “It didn’t take me long to realize that I couldn’t last that long without you. After I talked to you, I ate, went home and tried to fall asleep, and it was at that moment that I realized I would rather be here starting over with you than being back there missing you like crazy.”

  He pushed me slightly back and closed the door behind him.

  “I can’t believe you really came.”

  I couldn’t stop the tears from falling from my eyes. I had only prayed for Ziyon to come with me, but he always said he would later.

  “Believe it. Plus, I’m gonna apply for the community college out here.”

  My eyes bucked, and my hand flew over my mouth.

  “Are you serious?” I asked, surprised.

  He nodded.

  “I can’t do this street shit forever. I’m still young and have plenty of time to d
o what it is that I want with my life. Plus, it’s what Dolla would have wanted.”

  I twisted my face at the random name he had just thrown out.

  “Who’s Dolla?”

  Ziyon looked away from me and locked his eyes on a blank spot on the floor. I could tell whoever this Dolla person was, had a huge impact on Ziyon’s life.

  “Dolla was like my father. Dolla is the reason I can hand dope so well. Dolla is the reason why I’m damn near a millionaire at the tender age of twenty-one.”

  Did he just say he’s damn near a millionaire; I thought to myself.

  “Okay, let’s back up here, and you tell me everything from the beginning.”

  For the next hour, Ziyon explained how he got started and who Dolla was.

  “I wish you could have met him, Ma. He would be proud because he wanted me to get rid of Miranda even more than my mother did.” He chuckled, and I faintly smiled. “Dolla was killed months before my nineteenth birthday. All he had was his daughter and myself. He had taken life insurance on himself totaling up to twenty million. Eighteen goes to his daughter, Pheonix. She’ll start getting checks when she turns eighteen, and the other two to me. They deposit it into an account that I don’t touch. I’ve been living off of my street shit.”

  “So I’m confused as to why you continued in the streets?”

  “I had to make sure Kyshawn and Daymeon could fully run the streets whenever I decided that I wanted to step down. I didn’t want them to half ass anything because Dolla worked hard to get his business where it was. He molded me himself, but as the time went on, I showed Kyshawn and Daymeon everything. When Dolla was killed, they helped me run it. They both are my eyes and ears on the streets. Dolla was big on education, and there’s no better way to repay him then to go on and get a degree.”