With Faith & Love

Jett finished fixing the props on the stage. He was the only one left there and was about to close up the Drama Theater for the winter break. He was about to turn off the lights when someone walked in.

“Excuse me,” the deep voiced stranger said. He stood a little over Jett and looked like a football player. “Could you be able to help me with something?”

“Yea, sure,” Jett said, jumping off the stage.

“I’m looking for Professor Morgan.”

“He already left for Christmas Break. A lot of teachers have. What’s your name?”

“Romulus Jenkins. I just transferred from Germany.”

“Jett Jackson. Welcome to North Carolina University.” They shook hand and Romulus took a look around. His name ran rapid in Jett’s head. The name sounded so familiar. Too familiar.

“You taking drama,” Jett asked, eyeing Romulus closely.

“Yea.” Romulus pulled a magazine out of his bag and handed it to Jett. “Could you sign this for me? I’m kind of a collector.”

“Sure.” Jett pulled out a pen and signed it. He looked at the picture of him and Janese and smiled.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing. Just happy that’s all. Lookin’ at my lady always brings a smile to my face.”

“I know what you mean. Honeydip always made me smile when we were together.”

“Honeydip?! Hey, what the fuck man,” Jett said, getting loud and angry.

“Yea honeydip! Janese ain’t tell you ‘bout me? I had that in high school. Too bad for me I had to move, but I’m back now.” Jett shoved the magazine in Romulus’s face.

“That was a sad sob story but she’s mine now. There ain’t gonna be reliving the past.”

“What eva. Just ask Janese what happened at my house before I left. May twentieth to be exact.” Romulus smiled and turned to leave. “Oh yea, one more thing.” He put two fingers up to his nose and sniffed. “I can still smell her pussy juice on my fingers!” Romulus left Jett with that little thought. Jett felt the anger and hurt boiling over.

“I knew she was fuckin’ lyin’!” He picked up the hammer and threw it through the window.”

~*~*~*

“What time is my son coming,” Vickie asked. Janese kept flipping through the channels on T.V. They had digital cable and there was still nothing to watch.

“About four thirty this afternoon.” She stopped at Lifetime to see what the movie was. “When should daddy and Justin get back?”

“Sometime tonight. You now how he is about Christmas shoppin. He has to get something for everybody.” Vickie looked out the window and saw Jett pull up in the driveway. “Janese, when did you say Jett was getting’ here?” Janese looked out the window and saw Jett get out the car and slam the door. She ran to the door and opened it.

“Hey baby. You’re here-“ Jett marched right past her and into the living room.

“Hey ma. I need to talk to Janese.” He didn’t even wait for Vickie to respond. “Get your coat and come out to the car.” He stomped back outside. Vickie and Janese looked at each other.

“What did you do,” Vickie asked.

“Ma, I have no clue! Let me get outside and see what this man wants.” Janese grabbed her coat and walked out to the car. She climbed in and Jett didn’t even acknowledge her presence. They sat in silence for the longest time. The phone rung and Jett didn’t pay it any attention, until it rang for a fourth time.

“What,” he barked in the phone. Who pissed you off, Janese thought to herself. “So what I’m busy!” He slammed the phone down and cut it off.

“Jett, you’re making me nervous. What’s wrong?” She reached over and put her hand on his shoulder. Jett moved Janese’s hand off him and gripped the steering wheel.

“I need to ask you something,” he finally saiHis His voice was deep and husky. “Remember at the hotel when you told me about that Romulus guy you use to date?”

“Yes.” Janese tried to hold his hand but he moved it away from her.

“Don’t, okay.”

“Jett what does he have to do with anything?”

“He told me to ask you what you two did at his house before he left for Germany. May twentieth.” Janese’s face dropped and she turned towards the window. “Janese I’m talking to you,” Jett said, raising his voice.

“Nothing serious happened,” she answered in a low voice. “When did you talk to him?”

“He just transferred tU anU and he’s in my drama class. What the hell happened?”

“I told you nothing!”

“That’s funny. It’s kind of hard for a guys fingers to smell like pussy juice if nothinppenppened.” Janese just sat there with a stuck look on her face. “That sure does sound like a whole lot of nothing!”

“Jett, all we did was touch,” she confessed.

“I thought you said you didn’t do anything?”

“Nothing as in having sex! You know what I meant.”

“Janese you just lied to me!” He took her face in his hand and stared her in her eyes. He wanted to say something more put just let her go and slumped down in his seat.

“Jett, I’m sorry.”

“Kayla didn’t even lie to me. God I miss her for that at least!”

“You miss her,” Janese yelled.

“Yea I miss her,” Jett yelled back.

“Well since you miss her so much and she’s dying to have bac back anyway, then go back to her!”

“Fine then, I will. Get out my car!” Janese did a double take and folded her arms. “Why are you still here? I told you to get out my car. Don’t make me do something I’ll regret later, Janese.”

“Like what,” Janese asked, getting in his face.

“Janese don’t test me. I would never put my hands on a woman and I don’t want to have to. So just do us both a favor and get out the car!”

“Fine. You can have your ring back!” Janese snatched the ring off her finger and threw it at him. It hit him in the forehead and fell on the floor. After she got out the car, Jett started the engine and backed out the driveway. Janese watched him drive down the street with tears in her eyes. She walked in the house and closed the door. The Jeep Grand Cherokee at the end of the block slowly pulled in front of the house.

“Janese what happened,” Vickie asked. She got off the couch and met Janese at the door. She threw her coat and shoes across the floor.

“Romulus is back, Jett just drove off to go see Kayla because she never lied to him, and the wedding is off,” Janese cried, holding up her left hand.

“Oh Janese!” Vickie held her daughter while she sobbed out loud. She looked out the window and saw the jeep sitting in front of the house. The driver saw her staring and sped down the street.

“Aw, poor Janese,” Romulus said once he got around the corner. “Did you lose your man ‘cause of me?”