Jezebel

"I need your help, Jezebel. I'm looking for a book."

This can't be happening.

I immediately began looking for the nearest exit. To my knowledge, we were alone, and the hairs that rose on the back of my neck and the goosebumps that littered my arms warned me I was in danger. Tucker was my worst nightmare in front of others. I couldn't imagine what he'd do to me out of the public eye.

"Are you okay?" Tucker asked, waving his hand in my face. His face slackened when I flinched so hard that I almost fell out of my swivel chair. "What the fuck is wrong with you? I'm not going to hurt you."

Did he get hit a little too hard on the football field during P.E.?

I never got the "I'm not going to hurt you" vibes from Tucker. It was always "I'm going to hurt you really bad" vibes.

Please, God. If you're listening to me. A fire drill will be great right about now.

Five seconds passed, and I was met by complete silence instead of the manic shrill of the fire alarm.

It's okay, God. Maybe next time.

"W-what book are you looking for?" I quietly whispered as I avoided direct eye contact with him. I pulled up the virtual library search engine on the computer and patiently waited.

"I have to do a book report on a book of my choosing, but I'm stumped. I don't want to do anything predictable and overdone like The Lord of the Flies or To Kill a Mockingbird. Can you do me a solid and help me find a book?"

No.

Is what I wanted to say, but Tucker could tattle on me if I didn't help him. It was in my job description to assist students with book-related questions, and the last thing I wanted was to be relieved of my duties.

"As wonderful as it is to stare at you all day, I got shit to do. Get a move on," Tucker demanded.

I couldn't help it when my eyebrows knitted together, and my head lolled to the side.

I'm so confused.

"Stop looking at me like that. You remind me of my Beagle puppy."

"I-I-I'm sorry," I stuttered as I shakily rose to my feet.

"Don't be. Beagles are cute. Her name is Pippi; like Pippi Longstockings because of her ears."

I don't remember asking.

"That's...nice," I said, offering him a forced cordial smile.

"Do you want to see a picture?" Tucker offered as he dug in the back pocket of his shorts for his cell phone.

"Um, that's not necess–"

"She's adorable," Tucker said, almost giddily, as he shoved his cell phone in my face.

I have to admit...she was pretty cute with her floppy ears.

"Do you have a pet?" Tucker inquired as I rounded the circulation desk.

"I do not. My father won't allow animals in the house."

"That's a bummer," Tucker sympathized. I nodded my head as I slowly perused the aisles. "If you could have any pet, what would it be?"

I get what's going on. Tucker and his friends are playing a cruel joke on me. They had to be because no way is Tucker Harrison actively attempting to engage me in meaningless conversation.

"What would you get? Dog? Cat? Ferret?"

"A kitten...a little black one."

"Why? Is it because you're Black?"

I kissed my teeth so loudly that the sound echoed throughout the silent library.

"No, Tucker. It's not because I'm Black. It's because they're least likely to be taken in because of superstitious beliefs."

"I can see that," Tucker agreed as he closely followed.

A little too close if you ask me...

My feet continued to carry me until we reached the African American Literature section. I would make sure Tucker read something completely out of his comfort zone. He rambled while I searched. Truthfully, I didn't know what he was saying because I was tuning him out, but he seemed to enjoy the conversation he was having with himself.

I abruptly stopped in front of the book selection and collided into the bookcase when Tucker failed to stop.

"Jesus, Jezebel. Stop being so clumsy," Tucker chastised as he steadied me with his hands on my waist.

"P-please remove your hands and stop taking the Lord's name in vain," I stammered, feeling his warm breath on my neck.

"My bad," Tucker offered as he surrendered his hands. He slowly backed up until he was a respectable distance away.

"It's fine," I mumbled, selecting a crisp copy of The Color Purple. "Here, this should work for you," I said, handing him the book.

"Yeah? Have you read it before?" he questioned as he skimmed the pages.

"Three times, and I've seen the movie several times."

"It must be really good then," Tucker expressed as he flipped the book to read the blurb on the back.

"It's a classic."

"What's your favorite part?" Tucker inquired. I loved everything about The Color Purple and wasn't sure I had a favorite part. I thought long and hard about my response, so hard that I hadn't noticed when Tucker intruded my space again.

"Wow. I never thought I'd find you in a place like this," the husky voice I wished to forget said. It was safe to say that I was in immediate danger at that point. I was stuck between two boys who did not have my best interest at heart. Pathetically, I shook as Erik stalked toward us.

"I hope you're not trying to insult my intelligence," Tucker darkly said.

"Of course not. You'd have to have a shred of intelligence for me to insult," Erik replied with a wry smile that made my stomach somersault. I might've laughed if I wasn't so scared.

"You're a mouthy motherfucker who just won't stop," Tucker accused.

"Is that all you've got? I've been called worse. Do better, Tuck. Jezebel, you look a little peckish." My treacherous stomach decided to growl at that moment. "Hmmmm. I wonder why your stomach's growling," he sarcastically drawled. "Oh! I figured it out!" Erik exclaimed, snapping his fingers. "This no talented, shit for brains caveman knocked your lunch on the floor!"

The mention of my tossed lunch intensified my hunger cravings.

I can really go for a BLT right now.

"Can you stop being a dick and leave?" Tucker growled as he crowded Erik's space. I clutched my cross and prayed they didn't fight in front of me.

Jezebel, are you crazy? They are distracted, and this is the perfect time to escape.

I slowly backed away from the hostile boys until Erik called out to me.

"I didn't give you permission to leave, Jezebel."

I was ashamed to admit it, but I stopped dead in my tracks as if we were playing a friendly yet competitive game of Red Light, Green Light.

"Don't talk to her like that," Tucker warned as he took one more step toward Erik. At that point, they were almost nose to nose.

"Why do you care how I talk to her? Why is the guy who tried to put gum in her hair, teased her, tripped her, and threw her lunch on the floor suddenly playing superhero?" Erik challenged. Erik was met by silence.

Erik is asking all the right questions I don't have the courage to ask. Answer the question, Tucker.

"Jezebel, go back to your desk. Daddy needs to have a nice long conversation with Tucker."

I didn't even question Erik's very concerning choice of words. I wanted to get out of there. 

"Oh? And Jezebel?"

"Y-yes?" I nervously asked.

"I loved the dinner scene when Celie cursed Albert. What did she say again? Until you do right by me, everything you even think about is going to fail."

09/30/2022

Author's Corner

Tucker gonna be real slumped in the next chapter when Erik reads him for filth and warns him about keeping his distance from Jezebel.

Also, Erik is a Ms. Celie stan?

High-key, Jezebel's father reminds me of Albert...