Happily Never After

by La Shay Johnson-Trevillion

The cars on the twenty-two’s, sugar coated with candy paint, had not always intrigued me, or the men with big bank flaunting an egotistical mind state. As an adolescent growing up my mother raised me to desire the finer things in life, to never to settle for less and most importantly, to never let anyone take advantage of me. As a result, I hunted for men that were financially more stable than I, so much, that it was damn near a profession. My intentions were nothing but genuine, heart filled efforts, to find a serious relationship. Heaven knew, I spent too many long nights crying and clinging to my pillow as if it were my lover. The pain within my heart was no longer discreet, and was beginning to break through the shelter of my skin. I repeatedly try to cling to my pride afraid of what I could no longer disguise. Love was inside and I refused to keep it confined. That love of mine yearned to be seen, taken and ignited by the touch of my king. I’d waited for a magical man to appear but he never arrived, and so, religiously I went out every Friday with my best friend Leah, in search of Mr. Perfect.

“You’ve reached the voice mail of Leah Davis, and unfortunately I cannot take your call, but please be kind enough to leave your name and number and I will return your call at my earliest convenience. Thank you, and have a blessed day.” Beep

“Hey girl, I was hitting you up because I haven’t spoken to you in a few days…I wonder why. I’m concerned because this isn’t like you at all. Okay maybe, just maybe, I’m being too worried as always when I don’t know what you’re doing every second of your life, anyways, I don’t know what you’re up to but don’t forget Friday is in a few days alright and just to let you know I hate when you do dumb shit like this. I’m gone just hit me back ASAP, I mean whenever it is you have the time.”

Leah and I had been inseparable since we were roommates at Spellman in 04’. After graduating we made a pack to never lose communication, yet lately she had been real distant. For the past three weekends she’d been late to the club and not even just that. She’d been occupied with some project from work I assume because she tried to cancel plans that were arranged for years. Now, I understood when she showed up late to our ritual at the club, but when she didn’t show up period at home for three days… we had a problem. I resorted to calling Prince.

Prince had been attending Morehouse while Leah and I were at Spellman. I knew what my focus was upon starting school while Leah on the other hand specifically wanted to major in happily ever after and she started with Manhunting101. The woman was out of control but at some point around second semester she managed to find someone she could commit to. Prince was that guy. Leah and I had been invited to a frat party earlier that week and so we were just leaving the nail shop early Friday when we saw him. We had spotted him at the same time.

He stood with diamonds in his Rolex that put my Tiffany earrings to shame. I could instantly tell his credit cards withheld no limits and he didn’t need to resort to talking because his money spoke for him. His honey glazed skin dripped sexiness and his masculinity overwhelmed both Leah and I as we said “Damn!?!?” in unison. I wasn’t sure it was possible for a man to be that fine walking the earth without a ring, but to my surprise I had been misinformed. His silk collar hung on to his skin absorbing every ounce of cologne he had been wearing. With a black leather belt snuggled on his waist his slacks held there place as he floated our way.

“Hello ladies,” he said as he smiled the biggest, brightest smile, I’d ever seen. Words couldn’t escape my lips as I stood mesmerized by his presence. Leah managed to remove the teenage girl in her and locate the woman in her before saying “Hello sir.” He continued walking as if he were a man of business and went into the Barbershop next door. That was that last time I had seen Prince until Leah came and boasted about finding him.

“Hey girl Guess what?!?!”

“What,” I said not even half way concerned. I knew it would be something regarding a new found love that she managed to find every week.

“Remember that fine, sexy thing we seen that day we came from the nail shop? Well…I sort of went on a date with him and now he’s coming over so I can introduce him to you!! Aren’t you excited? I am one-thousand percent sure he is the one for me.”

“Seriously? Leah I don’t mean to interrupt your dream but what if this guy is just like the other five guys you’ve met this week? I mean consider it. I wouldn’t want you to get all worked up over him and he turns out to be some pathetic loser.”

“I know you saw the way he smiled at me that day! How could you say that? This is definitely different Nell. Watch when you meet him.”

Coincidently that night he never came to the house. Leah had tried calling him literally hundreds of times but not one time did he answer. They had agreed that he would arrive at seven but by ten she had lost hope. For weeks she had begun praying to her phone that he’d call. “Please let him call, please.” It didn’t make a difference the situation was destined to happen. Months later on graduation day Prince had apologized and she forgave him. He gave the “I was afraid of getting attached to you” line. Ever since they have been together and secretly I despised her. I wanted Prince from the moment I seen him simply because he took me out of my character with one word.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Hey Prince this is Chanelle, How are you?”

He spoke in a low tone and replied, “Hello there, I’ve been alright, is everything okay?” his voice was now intense with concern.

“Well sort of. I haven’t heard from Leah in three days and I was hoping you can tell me if you’ve heard from her. “I haven’t spoken to her in weeks. We agreed to take a break until we both did a little growing up.”

I couldn’t believe it. Leah had broken it off with Prince weeks ago didn’t tell me. I thanked Prince and told him if he needed anything I was there. My next move was to call Leah’s mother. It was out of strict up raising and unconditional love that Leah called her mother daily. Because her mother stayed all the way in New York, Leah had to resort to mobile communication.

“Hello Mrs. Davis its Chanelle.”

“Hello dear, I haven’t heard your voice in a long time.”

“I know, I’m sorry about that but I’ve been working for my father’s law firm here in San Francisco.”

“That’s wonderful, I wish Leah would do something good like that instead of relying on her looks to get her by. You know we spent thousands of dollars for her to attend the school of her choice, only so she could explore her options and graduate with a BA in psychology, knowing she doesn’t want to do that. If you ask me…I say she only did it to impress her father and me.” I knew about Leah graduating with a BA in psychology but never once stopped to realize that wasn’t her. She was into the movie idea, the celebrity spotlight and the cover girl beauty.

“I completely understand you. I wondered the same exact thing but, I was calling to ask you have you heard from Leah?”

“Yes, I spoken to her earlier and she was on her way to meet Prince.” I sat in silence. Why would Leah tell her mother a lie about something so minor? I needed to get off the phone soon and think.

“Okay, I was just wondering. I’ll give you a call back in a little.”

I couldn’t tell her mother about the issue because the last thing I wanted was for her mother to be worried.

As I waited for Leah’s phone call I took the time to think. I turned the heater on its highest temperature and lit some candles. The aroma of sweet vanilla had swept me off my feet as I glided to my bed and prepared for the ultimate form of relaxation. Sliding onto the red silk sheets my body was immediately stimulated. The warmth from the house was now taking effect as I removed my socks and my shirt. I stood with only a black, laced bra and black boy shorts, I snatched my robe, grabbed my novel (The Law of Attraction), turned on Sade and let my mind get taken away by her angelic whispers. I walked onto the balcony with my book and looked at the starlit sky. A man walking his dog was jogging past my balcony and he suddenly stopped. He whipped of his earphones and yanked his phone out his pocket.

“What?” he yelled. He waited and apparently got no response. “We’ll don’t call if your not going to talk!” he smashed the phone closed and before putting on his earphones said to his dog, “And lucky sweetie, that is why I don’t answer restricted numbers.” He then began jogging. Then it hit me. Leah and I had a big argument about having our house phone allow blocked numbers to call. She argued that Prince sometimes called blocked when he was mad at her, and she didn’t want risk missing his call. I told her of how people played on the house phone all the time when I stayed with my mother and I always said it would never happen to me because I would block them. As a resolution I agreed to what she wanted, considering I had stayed with my mother years ago. I ran inside and heard the beeping of my answering machine. Someone called? Maybe the music was too loud and I didn’t hear it ringing from outside. “Chanelle are you there? She whispered. Please answer the phone. It’s me…Leah. Please. I know you’re mad right now but it’s sort of an emergency. C’mon Nelly…I really need you now,” she cried in desperation.

After listening to Leah’s message, I immediately hopped up. I scanned the room for some hope, I ran down the darkened hallways and barged through her door. I flicked on the light and began searching for any evidence of where she could be. Usually there was a note on her bed or dresser if it’s wasn’t on her door first. The note is not here! “Leah where the Fuck have you gone? Why didn’t you ask me to come with you?” I yelled out loud in the room. My heart was pounding and I didn’t know what to do. I continued searching around the room. Her bed was out of its dedicated position and I’ had distorted her sheets. I fell to my knees and scratched at my scalp. “C’mon this cannot be happening!” After seconds of sitting on my knees I crawled over to her nightstand positioned by her bed. I yanked out the top drawer and frantically shuffled and threw random items everywhere. I stopped upon realizing I’d broken her drawer and I noticed a secret slot. I gently rubbed my hand under the rugged wood and what my hand revealed I couldn’t believe.

For the Lovely Lady Chanelle,

I am writing you this letter as an invitation… An invitation to where do you wonder? An invitation to my heart. I know you hardly know me, but I believe you felt the spark as I did the day we met. This might seem out of the ordinary but my mother always reminded me to stay true to my heart because she was unhappily married to my father for twenty years. I’ve always been a strict believer of being with someone who makes you happy the first day you meet them and that can keep you happy until the last day you say goodbye. What I’m trying to say is I simply refuse to live unhappily and so I will do whatever necessary to get you because I believe you and only you can truly make me happy. I know Leah is a big issue and I know currently, you and I aren’t together but, I’m telling you right now, I’m with her but my soul is calling your name. Think about it. I’ll be waiting. Yours truly,

Prince

What was this all about? I got dressed, grabbed my keys to and headed to Prince’s house. We definitely needed to talk. When had he written the letter? Had Leah read it? But she hadn’t confronted me. There were a lot of questions that needed answers.

I knock on his door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Chanelle Prince, I need to talk to you.” He slowly opened the door and a look of surprise attacked his face.

“Hey, what brings you by?” He said as he peeked outside the door for spectators.

“Can I come in? It’s serious.” He stepped aside. I entered and noticed a decorated fire and heard the mild voice of Maxwell, “Lifetime” was the song playing.

“Expecting company?”

“Umm… nobody but you.” I turned to face him and got so close I could hear his heart about to jump out of his skin.

“Oh is that right?” I said in my most seductive tone. He took a couple steps back.

“Chanelle I don’t believe this is a good time.”

“What? I seen the letter you wrote me and I thought if I came over we could you know… see what would’ve happened if we got together.”

I removed my jacket and headed into the kitchen to get some wine, that’s when I seen a ring on the counter. It had been the ring I’d given Leah on graduation day. Not ever had I seen it off her finger. I remembered when she first received it she said, “I’m putting it on my wedding ring finger and I’ll never take it off until someone replaces it with the real thing.” I then heard footsteps as someone had begun talking.

“Prince sweetie, I think we should hurry up. It’s almost time to call her. You know how she gets, I don’t want her freaking out,” Leah said heading downstairs.

She stopped when she seen me, and then smiled trying to mask her confusion.

“Honey, what’s going on? Did you call her already? Of course you did. Did you tell her yet?” Prince stood thinking of a response.

“No Baby, I haven’t told her yet. I wanted to wait for you.”

“What? I don’t know anything. Wait, Leah where have you been? I’ve been calling you. Why did you say you were in trouble? Why didn’t you say you were here? How long have you actually been here?”

“Whoa, calm down,” she said walking closer to me cheerfully. “I knew that message was the only way I would get you to come looking for me. I know you like to stay in the house and get ready on Friday’s but, I thought you should come over here so Prince and I could tell you the good news together.” I stood anxiously.

“Chanelle, Prince and I got engaged!”

The room suddenly got smaller and I could barely stand up without assistance.

“No, this can’t be possible. When? Why did you lie Prince when I called? Why did you tell me you hadn’t spoken to her?”

“I didn’t want to ruin the surprise,” he said.

“For the last two days I’ve been celebrating with him Chanelle. I didn’t come home because I didn’t want to lie to your face about where I’d been and I couldn’t tell you over the phone. The last three Fridays we’ve been spending a lot of quality time together and then he popped the question last week!” Leah said proudly.

“Prince is this true?” I asked with pain leaking out every word. He nodded. So you haven’t told her? Leah looked at him suspiciously.
“Told me what?” Leah asked

“I came over here because Prince wrote me a letter I found in your drawer, which I never received. I came to see if his feelings are still here.” I waited for Leah to go crazy.

“We’ve discussed the letter. I checked the mail about two weeks ago and seen it. I kept it to make sure he actually wrote it to you. He admitted to writing it but I can move past it now because he doesn’t feel that way anymore,” she said in her most bitchy tone.

“Really Prince?” I knew now Prince had to speak. He was busted.

“It’s true Chanelle. I was having problems with Leah at the time and I was confused about what I really wanted. I know what I want now and I’m sorry to say, it’s not you. Leah and I will soon be happily married now.”

The situation was real, alright. Anger filled my heart and I laughed as I thought about how silly I was to believe Prince. He honestly thinks he could play me for a fool? No, if I not getting what I wanted even after being humiliated then nobody is leaving happy.

“Leah I’m very excited for the two of you and all but since we’re putting it on the table… Did he tell you about the nights we spent in Atlanta? Do you remember when you went away for break to visit your family and I stayed. I stayed to be with Prince.”

Prince stood in front of Leah.

“She’s lying. Don’t believe her. She’s just jealous!”

“He came over every night and I must say…he has that magical touch I was looking for.”

Leah Slapped Prince before he could try and plead again.

“Admit it Prince! How could you keep that from me? We said no more secrets!” She shouted as tears leaked out her eyes.

“Baby listen to me please, Stop! She is lying to you. I don’t what she’s talking about.”

“Quit now! I’m done Prince!” She walked to the closet to grab her things as I waited.

“Leah! Don’t do this, we just got married. I love you! Think about what you’re doing!”

“Oh, that’s real cute. I interrupted. I remember when I said the same exact words to you after you proposed to me? Think about what you’re doing I said to you. You looked me dead into my eyes, grabbed my hands tight in yours, and softly said, “I’ve thought long enough and now I’m certain.” Leah’s skin burned with hatred and she rushed to the door. He tugged on her arm in an effort to stop her. As she turned around she greeted him with her thirty eight her father had given her.

“Bang, bang, bang.” The first shot pierced his heart deep, just as his betrayal pierced hers. The other two shots didn’t need to hit him, the job was done. Prince fell back instantly and laid there. She stood over his body and whispered, “You know I loved you. But you had to get with Chanelle. I knew deep down inside something was still there. Whenever I spoke of her you tried to hide your emotions. But Prince, I could see right through you.” She placed a kiss on his cheek and we fled to my car, after I grabbed my things.

In the car I drove as Leah sat deadly. “Look Leah, I never meant for things to get out of hand. To tell you the truth, I wanted you and Prince to be happy.”

“Was it true?”

“What?”

“Him proposing? I don’t even want to know, don’t answer it.” I continued to drive. Could I honestly tell Leah that it was all a lie? Everything I said was more of a fantasy but not reality. Thoughts like these corrupted my mind up until we arrived home. I got in the shower directly after getting in the house. Leah went to her room and had emotionally recouped. Next thing I knew she was knocking on the bathroom door.

“Chanelle, you trying to go to the club tonight?” I struggled to understand her as the water deafened me.

“Huh?” Was she serious?

“It’s Friday girl! We always go out on Friday no exceptions,” she yelled. It was still early Friday night and we usually didn’t go to the club until ten. I still needed to gather my thoughts. I mean I had just seen a man get shot right in front of me!

“Yea, I’m almost done.”

An hour later we were arriving to the club. Everyone greeted us as we entered and the place was crowded like always. We managed to find a seat at the bar and before either of us could order our drinks a gentleman approached us.

“What brings two fine ladies like you out tonight to a place like this?

Leah and I shared a grin and both replied, “We’re looking for our new Prince.