Read Blackness Takes Over & Blackness Awaits for Free Online Page B

for me.” He shrugs at me and I study his face. Is he hitting on me right now? After a minute or so I shrug too. He’s not hitting on me; I’m like his comfort blanket.
    “Sully, what’s your beef with the nickname?” I smile at him and he gleams back at me.
    “It’s my pop’s nickname. Don’t get me wrong, I love him, but I’m not him.” He glances at me, wondering if that’s enough information to satisfy me. It’s not.
    “Who’s your dad, Sully?” He hunches forward in his chair.
    “He’s the Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Organized Crime.” He looks up at me sheepishly. That doesn’t mean shit to me. I don’t care who his father is, but apparently other people do, or have. I know the pressure of having a well-known father, but only from a little girl’s perspective. I can imagine the pressure that Sully feels is well beyond anything I ever experienced. Shitty.
    “Okay,” I breathe out and shrug, “so we’re one big fucked up happy family, huh boys?” I ask, again, trying to break the tension. This time it works, and we all chuckle.
    “I think I should get my stuff together and get outta your hair. I’ll go back to the dorm if one of you guys can give me a lift?” I’ve been here for ten days and I’m sure they have better things to do than babysit me. I like it here though. No singing neighbors! The boys went to my place and grabbed stuff for me the first few days I was here, but I’m in need of clothes and some body wash that doesn’t smell manly. I need some conditioner for my poor head too. Once I got the staples out I “washed” my hair, but it’s in serious need of some proper hair care.
    I stand up from the table and stretch, waiting for a response from someone. Then I realize they’re probably too busy to drive me back to the dorms. I’ll just cab it.
    “It’s okay boys. You’ve done so much for me already. I’ll grab a cab.” I turn to walk away when Kavy grabs my wrist. I look back at him puzzled, he looks worried.
    “What’s up Kavy?” I ask, taking a step closer, trying to figure out that look on his face.
    “We don’t want you to go, Kid.” It’s almost a whisper.
    “Huh?” I look at the other guys who have the same looks on their faces.
    “We don’t want you to go. Stay here with us. We feel—” I cut him off.
    “I’m fine guys. I won’t go anywhere without my gun anymore and the dorms are pretty safe. I won’t roam South Chicago at night on my own, I promise.” I wink at Kavy and pat his shoulder with my free hand as he’s still gripping my wrist.
    “No Kid. We want you here. We talked about it a few days ago. We want you to move in here with us. Not because you can’t take care of yourself, but because we like havin’ you here. All of us are better when you’re around. It’s selfish of us really. Don’t go.” Kavy is pulling me into his side. I feel like this is a breakup.
    “Guys come on. This is silly. You’re three grown ass men in college. You don’t need me around crampin’ your style. Your girlfriends will not be happy with some chick you met a week and a half ago movin’ into your place. You’ll be fine without me here. We’ll see each other in class all the time and maybe I’ll come to another party, as long as you have a more selective guest list.” I try to make a joke, but it falls flat. Sarcasm and jokes are my defense mechanism. They aren’t responding and this is getting weird. I pull back from Kavy and he lets go of my wrist. I give him a weak smile, turn toward the stairs and feel a little bit more lost with each step I take.

Once I’m in the spare room I grab my duffle bag and start loading it up. I don’t have much so it doesn’t take long. I walk into the guest bath, grab my toothbrush and stroll back into the spare room. It’s now full of the guys. I smirk at them. They’re all so big that this room now feels like a closet. Cally grabs my bag off the bed and sits in its place with it in his lap. I walk