Betrayal of Eralavict: Episode 4: Kharver Dip Read online

I woke to Neimala's face, her hair was for some reason in a high bun. Not her usual, but pretty nevertheless. I drag my covers with me down the lit hall, entering the living room, filled with the girls. I plop next to Samita, she slides over a snack for me, Raishana throws me a bottle of water, the joins the rest of us on the floor.

  “I can't believe y'all invited them fools on this retreat!” Meishan remarks.

  “Girl,” Rai responds, playing with a band on her finger, “ain't nobody invite shit. This the only way we can get them to stop naggin' about that book from T.F. Small price to pay for a book full of magic.”

  “Still.” Meishanre said. “At least they cute though.”

  “Who?” Samita questions, turning up her nose. “Which one?”

  Neimala chimes, “They all have some virtues.”

  “Uh uh.” Meishan jumps in. “We ain't talkin' virtues Nei. We talking fine.” She looks at the girl across from her, shaking her head. “'Mita, don't front like Ant ain't a sexy thing.”

  Samita smacks her lips, I smile in response of her clearly being uncomfortable at the topic. Samita replies, “He okay. Nothing to flutter about.”

  Rai looks up, speaking, “Flutter Samita? Shit, I'm full on flight for his sexy ass.” We laugh, taking turns giving dap to Rai. “Naw foreal, llama boy my speed. Not quite as beautiful as Ant, but he seem like the type that'll stay on instant buzz if you whisper in his ear just right.”

  I point at Rai wit' a grin, the four of us chuckling.

  Neimala breaks into our laughter. “Lavar's got a really nice spirit. His energy is calm.”

  “Well, Lavar think you got a nice spirit too Nei,” I say. “That's why he get shifty or,” all the girls say it with me, “talky.” We laugh, Neimala shakes her head. I finish, “Whenever that fool is around you. But no dating girls. No matter how cute, sexy, nice—calm spirit they is. Our association is complicated enough. We don't need that extra.”

  “That's real interesting Khez.”

  I look to her. “What's that Meishan?”

  Samita answers for her. “You already breached. Dating that boy.”

  I frown. Something in her tone reminding me of my mother. “Dyondrei is his name Samita.” I look at the girls, asking, “Is this general sentiment?”

  “Pretty much,” Meishan said.

  I shrug. “I didn't know he was with them when we first met. Hell that's when the connection was made. Nothing can bring a boy and girl closer than smelling the foul breath of a Tegubout together.”

  All the girls laugh to snorting, except Samita. She was not amused.

  Raishana comments, “You ain't never act like this before. No guy thus far has beat down those walls.”

  My eyes widen. “What?! We ain't did nothing...yet.”

  Rai looks to her sister, she to her and out comes the ugliest laugh from them both. “I ain't talkin' about that! You must be right and ready for some action—if yo' mind went straight there.”

  I cover my mouth, looking away in embarrassment. “Oops.”

  Rai pushes her thick hair off her neck. “I was talking about your defenses. Or cautions. Not those walls, nasty girl.”

  She points at me, I slap her finger down, then grab her wrist and we both laugh.

  “Oh my god.” I place my hand on my forehead. “Anyway, I ain't never felt like this before. That's how he got pass the caution.” I gush, “He's wild like me. And y'all know I only ever attracted well behaved boys—the ones that do whatever they parents tell 'em. Never act on plain impulse—or do and try to cut on me for doin' it. Hell to the naw I ain't hidin' a thing and neither is he. So, it's all good.”

  “Okay,” Samita cuts in, “we getting off topic. What are we doing tomorrow with the guys?”

  “You know,” I said, looking at her, “handlin' the basics—figure out how all this gonna go down. Nei,” I reach to her hand, “we might—I might need ya parents to come through to my house. I need them to tell my folks about the retreat. I need they total trust.”

  She nods. “Oh, it's all good. My parents coming to pick all y'all up. So there that is.”