Twisted Thursday: Jaded, Part 9 (By Saria Monette)

Editor’s note: Due to technical difficulties, the 9th installment of Jaded had to be posted later in the day than usual. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope you enjoy it just the same.  

Exhausted from several painful, futile attempts to lift her body on her own, Jade pressed the red button at her bedside.
“How may I help you, Ms. Jones?” a slightly muffled female voice called back through the small speaker.

“I need help getting to the bathroom,” Jade said, agony and exhaustion in her voice, her bladder filled five times over.

“OK. Your nurse will be right down.” 

In less than a minute, a plump, copper-skinned, middle-aged nurse floated into Jade’s room like the morning sunshine on a cloud of cheer.

“I hear you need to visit the lil’ girls room, Ms. Jones,” the nurse said in her overly pleasant Southern drawl. “Let’s see if we can’t just ease you right on up outta this bed.”

Jade grimaced from the pain as the nurse scooped her arms under Jade’s back and sat her upright in one motion.

“Now, see if you can swing your legs out for me, baby, and put your feet on the floor,” the nurse said. Jade embraced the challenge, determined not to be overtaken by the pain. She rotated her body around slowly.

“There you go … that’s it,” the nurse encouraged, never removing her hand from Jade’s back. “Alright, easy now. Try to stand up for me.”

Jade straightened herself steadily.

“Alright, you not feelin’ dizzy, are ya?” the nurse asked.

Jade shook her head, in too much pain to speak. 

“OK. Let’s walk then,” the nurse told Jade, guiding her toward the bathroom. “Just put your arm ’round my neck for support, hun.”

Jade’s steps were short and calculated, making the 10-foot trek to the bathroom seem more like 10 miles. But the cheery nurse didn’t mind. She hummed some old spiritual, every step of the way, which Jade found thoroughly aggravating.

Jade made it to the bathroom, finally, and reassured the nurse she’d be fine alone inside. She scooted over to the toilet and eased herself down over the bowl. Thank God for relief, Jade sighed. She lifted herself back up and scooted to the sink. As she washed her hands she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. The sight frightened her: her face bruised, her eyes nearly swollen shut from all the crying. She tried to manipulate her hair into place with her fingers. That’s as good as it gets, I guess, Jade reasoned. Maybe I’ll call Elise later … see if she can brings some things from my house so I can pull myself together. Jade continued her mental conversation as she leaned to splash water on her face. I wish I could call Melvin but I’m sure he hates me. I may never be able to patch things up. Oh, God in heaven, how did I get myself into this crap!! 

Jade wiped her face with a stack of paper towels and let out a smothered sigh. She wanted to fall on the floor and sob but she couldn’t. Her body was in just too much pain and it seemed she’d used all of her tears the night before.

“You alright in there?” the nurse called from the other side of the door.

“I’m fine, thanks,” Jade lied. “I’ll be out in a sec.” 

After a short while, Jade pulled down on the door handle but realized she was too weak to push it open. The nurse propped the door open and the two began the slow journey back to Jade’s bed.

Just as the nurse got Jade situated in the bed, a soft knock came from the other side of the room door.

“That must be Elise,” Jade’s thought aloud.

“You up for company, miss lady?” the nurse asked.

“Yeah …” Jade answered, breathing heavily from trying to find the most comfortable — or the least painful — position in the bed. 

“Come on in,” the nurse yelled toward the door, then walked to the faded pastel curtains to let the bright noon sun pour in.

The nurse turned to see the startled expression on Jade’s face.

“Melvin …” Jade said in a partial whisper. For the first time the sight of him made her shudder in fear.

“Uhh … you gon’ be OK, sweetie? Should I leave you two alone?” The nurse asked Jade, as if to say: “I can stay and call for back up if you need me to, girl.”

“I think I’m OK. I am a little hungry though,” Jade told her, as if to say: “I don’t even want to see any food, really, but just come back in a few minutes to check on me.”

The nurse nodded in understanding and left the room.

“Jade …” Melvin said finally, after a few moments of silent stares. He was trying to fight back tears. 

“Melvin,” Jade interrupted. “I’m so sorry for hurting you. There are no words to express just how sorry I am for the pain I’ve caused. I know that can never begin to take the pain away and I’ll understand if you never forgive me. Just know that I’m truly sorry, and I’ll be torturing myself for this for the rest of my life.”

“What was it, Jade? What did I do?”

“Nothing, Melvin. You’re perfect. I’m just the biggest idiot of life.”

“Perfect, huh? I wanna hate you … but I can’t stop loving you. You have any idea how that feels?” Melvin said as he crept closer to Jade’s bed, his tears flowing freely now. “I was up all night trying to figure out how I could kill you ’cause that’s the only way I can see myself without you.”

Jade’s fear escalated with Melvin’s every step. She didn’t think he was capable of causing harm, but she had never heard him speak of it either. “Melvin, please …” Jade begged. Could he really kill me? He just might kill me.

“Tell me something, Jade. How long were you gonna play this little game before you realized someone could get hurt, huh?” 

“Melvin, baby, just calm down and I’ll tell you everything, from beginning to end.”

“I’m calm, Jade, and I don’t need you to tell me how it went down,” Melvin seethed. He’d made it all the way to Jade’s bedside. “Your little boyfriend filled me in quite nicely when he brought his bright ass to my house last night.”

Jade had no response, but her eyes seemed to have replenished themselves and the tears poured down her face. 

” Are you hurtin’? Is it painful, Jade?” Melvin began to ramble as he hovered over his fiance. “You wanna know what pain really is, Jade?”

Melvin reached for the object in his pocket. Jade let out a harrowing scream.

Twisted Thursday: Jaded, Part 7 (By Saria Monette)

Disappointed and simultaneously relieved by the interruption of the approaching headlights, Elise pulled quickly away from Melvin as if nothing had happened between them. She prayed her husband hadn’t witnessed her lip lock with Melvin. But as the headlights got closer and brighter in the path up the driveway, she realized it wasn’t Richard.

The driver pulled close enough for Elise and Melvin to feel the heat from the head lamps.

Elise stood in awe. Melvin felt his pulse quicken and his blood pressure rise.

“Aw, hell. I know this beige bastard didn’t just pull up to my house,” Melvin mumbled. He braced for round two as Rico parked and stepped out of the car. 

Rico approached Elise and Melvin, his steps short and calculated.

“Rico, is it?” Melvin asked, with no care for an answer.

“Yep.”

“I’m gon’ have to ask you to leave.”

“Look, dude. I didn’t come here to finish kickin’ your ass. I just thought you might want some answers.” 

“Well, I hope you don’t get paid to think. Now, please dismiss yourself from my driveway.”

“What? You scared I’m gon’ tell you I’ve been bangin’ her brains out for over a year?” Rico picked. “Or that she’s in my bed when she tells you she’s working? Or how about …”

“Leave,” Melvin interrupted. He couldn’t bear to hear anymore. Bad enough he’d been disrespected by the love of his life. Now there stood Jade’s lover giving him the details of their torrid affair. Unbelievable.

Rico didn’t budge. Elise stepped back in anticipation of a hospital scene repeat. 

Melvin lunged once again for Rico, planting a fast, stinging jab just under Rico’s right eye. A brawl ensued. Melvin, though smaller in stature, had the upper hand this time around after Rico stumbled and never fully regained his footing. Completely enraged and unaware of the pain from Rico’s few returned blows, Melvin threw punch after punch. He intended to kill this man — the man who had managed to tear his world apart in just a matter of hours.

Elise kept screaming for the two to stop, shouting “oh my god” until she was out of breath, but she still steering clear of the melee. Neighbors began to emerge from their homes, but no one bothered to call the police to break up the action at the prosecutor’s usually quiet home. No gun shots, no need. 

More headlights approached Melvin’s house. It was Richard. 

Finally, Elise thought. Little did she know, things were about to go from bad to worse.

Richard parked haphazardly at the end of the driveway and scrambled out, forgetting to turn off the ignition. He ran straight into the middle of the brawl, attempting to use his medium frame as a wall between Melvin and Rico.

He pushed Rico away and grabbed Melvin in a bear hug. Melvin kept throwing jabs, unaware of his surroundings.

“Oh, you tryna be tough, too, man?” A dizzy Rico asked Richard.

“Look, man, this ain’t my business, but you need to go own about yours ’cause I’m not the one,” Richard shot back after releasing his grip on Melvin, who seemed to finally snap back into reality. 

Melvin walked back toward his house, nursing his bleeding lip with the back of his left hand, as Richard and Rico continued their heated exchange.

“Oh, I think it is your business. I guess your wife didn’t tell you.” Rico said.

A confused Richard stared at Elise, who had reached out to comfort Melvin. Melvin snatched away.

“Don’t touch me,” Melvin barked at her. “You knew Jade was sleeping with him. You knew this was going on the whole time. Now you wanna try to touch me … please. Take your triflin’ self home, too.” He made his way back into the house and locked the door, no longer concerned with anything going on in his driveway.

Elise stood stunned from the rejection for a moment before she noticed Richard staring at her, wondering what secret his wife held that made this madness his concern.

“Go ‘head man, ask Elise why this is your business,” Rico continued to taunt. “Yo, Elise, come here for a sec. I think you should enlighten your man.”

Somehow, although she hadn’t heard Rico and Richard’s conversation, Elise knew she was exposed. She walked toward Richard.

“Baby, let’s go,” a nervous Elise said, grabbing Richard’s hand in an attempt to pull him toward their car.

“No, Elise. What’s up? What’s he talking about?”

“I don’t know, baby. Can’t you see he’s crazy? Let’s just go.”

“Nah. I think you’re crazy. Don’t tell me you forgot about all our good times,” Rico said.

Richard snatched his hand away from his wife.

“Elise, you better start talking. Did you sleep with him? Please, tell me you didn’t sleep with him,” said Richard, his eyes glazed with tears. 

“Sleep with me? Man, more like put it on me. Repesatedly,” Rico continued to spit his venom. “That’s a fiesty lil’ mama you got there. But I quit messin’ wit’ her though ’cause she got a little jealous, possessive streak.”

“And … jealous … what …?” Richard couldn’t get his thoughts together.

“Richard, baby, I can’t even believe you’re gonna stand here and entertain this fool,” Elise said, trying to sound sincerely clueless. 

Richard didn’t want to believe the things coming out of Rico’s mouth, but Elise’s nervousness cast a dark cloud of doubt over the situation. A part of him wanted to get to the bottom of Rico’s accusations, but the other part wanted to walk to his car and pretend. Pretend Rico didn’t exist. Pretend he hadn’t heard anything. Pretend his marriage was perfect. Pretend he had no doubts about his wife’s faithfulness. 

He chose to pretend. He grabbed Elise’s hand and started down the driveway, back toward his car.

Goodness. I just dogded a freakin’ bullet, Elise thought … too soon.

“Oh, Elise, I forgot to tell you, sweet tattoo,” Rico said with a laugh as the couple reached their car. 

That tattoo. Elise’s one and only tattoo. The one of the dripping strawberry and Richard’s initials at her panty line, between her thighs. The one for only her husband to see, to kiss, to enjoy.

The revelation made Richard’s heart sink into his stomach and there was no way Elise could lie her way out of it.

“So, that’s what you think of our marriage, huh?” Richard asked after taking several moments to gather his thoughts.

Elise wanted to defend herself, but she couldn’t. She wanted to rattle off a million reasons for her actions, in hopes of making her husband understand. She wanted to tell him the truth. The truth that for the past few years she had become overwhelmingly jealous of her friend. Everything Jade had, Elise wanted — including her men — and she set out to get them. She wanted to tell Richard that Rico used her for months then tossed her for Jade, which caused Elise to become blinded by her rage and thoughts of revenge. Elise wanted to make Richard see that she didn’t understand it all herself. She wanted to tell him she really didn’t want to be this person she’d become. 

Instead, Elise said nothing. She knew she’d hurt her husband beyond what any words could repair.

Richard got into the car and sped off, leaving a blank-faced Elise and satisfied Rico standing at the end of the driveway.

Twisted Thursday Presents: Jaded, Part 5 (By Saria Monette)

 

Jade opened her eyes to a blur of unfamiliar surroundings and bright fluorescent lights above her head. Her breathing was swift and heavy and she had a throbbing pain all over. She nearly panicked before Melvin, Elise and Richard came into focus at her bedside.

“What’s going on?” Jade asked through tears. “Where am I?”

“Baby, you’re in the hospital,” Melvin answered, wishing he could cradle Jade in his arms and gently rock her pain away. “You were in a car accident. We got here as soon as we could.”

“But you were just holding me. We were just at the house crying together on the floor. You were just telling me everything would be okay.” Jade’s panic returned in full force, infused with confusion.

“You were heavily sedated and must have been having a bad dream. You’ve been kicking, fighting and crying in your sleep for the past 20 minutes,” Elise said, brushing Jade’s hair back with her hand.

“How bad was it? The accident?” Jade questioned.

“You’ll be fine … you just fractured a rib and broke your left arm,” Melvin answered.

“The car, on the other hand, is probably on it’s way to Audi heaven,” Elise said, hoping a little humor would ease Jade’s pain even slightly.

“Oh, my God, what did I do? Anybody else hurt?”

“No, they said it looked like maybe a hit and run. But Jade, the paramedics said you kept screaming something about a rape and someone coming after you. Did somebody hurt you, baby? Please, tell me if someone hurt you,” Melvin urged as he rubbed Jade’s shoulder.

Things slowly began to come to Jade’s memory. I was trying to get to Melvin. Rico hurt me and I was trying to get to Melvin. I never made it to Melvin.

Jade broke into a loud sob that crescendoed into a frantic scream and caused Melvin, Elise and Richard to jump. The three quickly regained their composure, but stood confused — all except Elise. She was the only one who knew where Jade had been, and had an idea of what may have happened to her. I told her to leave him alone. Now look what he’s done, Elise thought. The pain she felt for her friend was slowly morphing into rage.

Melvin tried to calm Jade — alternating between kissing her forehead, rubbing her shoulders, rubbing her head, squeezing her hand. What in the world could have happened that was so traumatic? The mystery was frustrating him.

After Jade’s screams faded into a silent cry, Melvin quizzed again, “Baby girl, you’ve gotta tell me what happened. Were you raped?”

“Yes … I …” Jade began, still crying uncontrollably. “Baby, it hurts so much … I’m so sorry …”

“Sorry for what? It’s not your fault,” a tearful Melvin said, the anger building with each passing second. “Do you know the person who did this to you, Jade?”

Jade wept louder. She didn’t know what was hurting her more – her bruised and broken body, Rico’s betrayal, or seeing the pain on her fiance’s face. It was all too much to handle. How can I tell him I was raped by someone I know; someone I thought loved me?

Elise paced back and forth across the room – from the door to the window. She’d made Richard sit down; his futile attempts at comforting her just made her that much more frustrated and uncomfortable. You’ve gotta tell him. Just tell him, Jade, Elise thought, attempting to mentally persuade her friend.

“Jade, please tell me. Just tell me who did this to you! Tell me! Was it Rico?” Melvin pushed, unaware he was now yelling.

A passing nurse heard the commotion and barged into Jade’s room.

“What seems to be the problem here?” the nurse asked, walking over to Jade’s side.

No one answered. Elise continued to pace and bite her bottom lip. Melvin wiped his tears with the palms of both hands before standing eerily still at the foot of the bed and staring at Jade.

“She is under lots of stress as it is right now,” the pale, petite nurse continued as she straightened Jade’s bed covers. “She doesn’t need the yelling. It must stop or I will have to ask you all to leave.”

“Has she had a rape kit done?” a calmer Melvin asked the nurse.

“Not that I’m aware of, sir. She has to give her consent before an exam can be performed.”

“Tell her you want them to perform a rape exam, Jade,” Melvin said, his voice deep and cold.

“No, Melvin, I don’t want to go through that.” Jade’s voice cracked as she tried to force herself to stop crying.

“So, you know who did this and you’re protecting him? Please, tell me that is not what you’re doing, Jade. Tell me you just …”

Elise couldn’t take the charade anymore and before she knew it she was yelling, too. “Just tell him, Jade. Tell him the bastard is crazy. Tell him it was Rico who hurt you! Tell him it was Rico who was after you! Can’t you see how much he’s hurting, Jade? Just tell him …”

The nurse tried to talk over Elise to allay the situation. Unsuccessful, she gave up and dismissed herself from the room.

Jade was stunned by Elise’s outburst. How could she?

“Will somebody please tell me who Rico is? Please!” Melvin yelled. “Just tell me who he is and why would he hurt …” Melvin, suddenly overcome by his emotions, couldn’t finish his sentence. He flopped down onto the end of the bed and let the tears flow freely down his cheeks. Silence fell upon the room, interrupted only by the occasional sniffle.

***

 

The receptionist looked up from the book she was reading behind the desk in the emergency room lobby. A tall man who appeared homeless stood before her. He looked like he’d been walking for miles. His clothes were tattered and soaked with sweat.

“Can I help you?” the receptionist asked, seemingly disgusted and slightly annoyed.

“I’m looking for a patient. She was brought in a few hours ago. She was in a car accident.”

“We don’t usually do visitation at this hour. You family?”

“Yes … she’s my sister,” the man replied after a short pause.

“What’s your sister’s name, sir?”
“Jade … Jade Marie Jones.”

 

The receptionist keyed the name into her computer.

“Says she’s still in emergency. They haven’t put her into a permanent room yet. Let me call and find out exactly where she is,” the receptionist told the man.

She picked up the phone and dialed three digits. The man was growing anxious. Before long the receptionist had the information she needed. She jotted the room number down on a sticky note and handed it to the man.

“Just go down the hall to the left and follow the signs to …” The man didn’t wait for her to finish giving him directions.

***

 

Elise sat in the uncomfortable hospital chair, staring out the room window. Richard had fallen asleep in the chair in the far corner. Jade still lay in shock, and Melvin had finally calmed himself enough to speak again.

“Ok, I’m gonna ask one more time, and somebody better tell me, who the hell is Rico?”

Before the words could roll completely off his tongue the door to Jade’s room swung open.

Melvin sprang into a stand. Elise froze with her mouth gaping, and Jade shuddered in fear, wishing the bed would swallow her.

The man standing in the doorway spoke.

“I am … I’m Rico.”

Twisted Thursday: Jaded, Part 3 (By Saria Monette)

“Hello … Baby, who’s Rico?” Melvin asked again, waving his hand in front of Jade’s blank stare.

“He’s …” Jade began, but stopped herself. It couldn’t end like this. She couldn’t give in this easily. Time to flip the script. “Wait … were you listening against the door?”

“I just … uh …” Melvin managed to utter before Jade interrupted.

“You just what? Couldn’t wait for me to get back to the dining room?”

“Look, baby. I just heard you yell, so I got up to see if everything was alright.”

Okay, so far so good. Jade thought to herself. Just breathe and hold it together.

“But the whole double-oh-seven, super spy thing was totally uncalled for. That’s what people do when they don’t trust each other.”

“I trust you, Jade. But …”

“No, buts … either you trust me or you don’t, Melvin. Right?”

“Baby, if I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t be marrying you in a few weeks. But you have been acting a bit out of character lately.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“You were late today. You’re never late, and certainly not over an hour late. Not to mention how frazzled and distant you’ve been.”

“It’s just work stress. I’ve told you that.”

“Well, maybe I’m overanalyzing things.”

“Maybe.”

“Okay,” Melvin yielded.

“Okay. Now, can we go back in there with Elise and Richard before they think something’s wrong.”

“You still haven’t told me who Rico is, and what he did to make you mad enough to wake the neighborhood.”

“Melvin, baby, we’ll discuss it later.”

“Later?”

“Later. As in, later tonight at your place.”

Jade took Melvin’s hand and led him back toward the dining room. She could feel the tension between them.

“What is taking so long? Y’all better not be freakin’ in my bathroom!” Elise quipped just before Melvin and Jade emerged from the hallway.

“Girl, shut up. Nobody’s sexing it up in your bathroom. We’ve been on our best behavior,” Jade replied with a laugh as she took her seat. Melvin stood behind her.

“Uhm hmm. At least one of you has,” Elise mumbled, rolling her eyes at her best friend.

Jade didn’t like the undertone.

“I think we’re gonna head out. Thanks for having us, you two,” Melvin said.

First he’s eavesdropping. Now he’s speaking for me, Jade thought. What in the hell?

“No. You go ahead, sweets. I think I’m gonna stay and chat with Elise for a while and help her clean up this mess. I’ll meet you in a few.”

“Okay. Goodnight, people.”

***

“Jade, you’re trippin’, ” Elise said finally as the two cleared the dishes from the table.

“I know, I know. Melvin loves me so much and I came very close to ruining my life.”

“So, he didn’t hear much of your conversation with Rico?”

“I think he just heard me say Rico’s name.”

“You mean, he heard you yell Rico’s name. So, who did you tell him Rico is?”

“I didn’t. That’s why I stayed here so I can get my head together and figure a way out of this one.”

“Well, I can’t help you. Ain’t that much creativity in the world.”

“All I know is, I’ve gotta break it off with Rico. That’s clear.”

“Oh … and when did you make this decision?”

“Tonight, and as a matter of fact, I’m going over there right now.”

“But you’re supposed to be meeting, Melvin.”

“I’ll figure something out. See you later, girl.”

Jade placed the last plates into the sink before grabbing her things and rushing out to her car.

***

Rico put the bottle down on the coffee table and stumbled toward the door. Jade had popped up unannounced.

“We need to talk,” Jade said before Rico could get the door all the way open.

“I knew you’d see things my way, baby. Have you made a choice?” Rico said, his speech slightly slurred.

Jade made her way to the couch to sit down. Bottles of Hennessy and Heineken littered the floor and coffee table. Rico stood across the room in front of her, waiting for Jade to speak. She knew what she had to do but she didn’t know where to begin.

“Did you have a party or somethin’?” Jade was concerned. She’d never known Rico to drink more than a couple glasses of wine or a few beers in one night.

“Nah,” Rico answered. His tone was deep and dark, unlike anything Jade had ever heard from him. His stare made her terribly uncomfortable.

“So, you’re drunk? Look, this can wait until you’re sobered up.”

Jade stood to leave.

“You came all the way over here, so say what’s on your mind. I ain’t that drunk.”

“Yes, you are. I said it could wait, Rico. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Jade brushed past him to exit but he grabbed her arm and yanked her back toward him. The gentle Rico was gone. Jade stared at him, at first confused, then frightened. He seemed to be in some far off place.

“Rico, are you crazy? Let me go.”

“Not till you tell me what your ass came to say. You leavin’ me, Jade? Is that it? You just gonna walk out on me?” Rico’s grip on Jade’s arm grew tighter. She was now terrified.

“Rico, let me go!” Jade screamed. “I’m not leaving you — just let me go.”

Without loosening his grip on Jade’s arm, Rico grabbed a fist full of her hair with is other hand.

“You’re a liar,” he growled before slamming Jade to the hardwood floor like a lifeless Barbie doll.

Jade was too shocked to even scream. All she could manage was a silent sob as he ripped off her clothes. I thought he loved me.

Finally, Jade’s shock gave way to rage and she managed to scream, but Rico muffled it with his large hand. Jade clawed and kicked and clawed and kicked — willing to take Rico’s life to save her own. Her attempts were futile, and she was easily overpowered. Jade gave up the fight and faced the inevitable fate — Rico was just too strong and he was determined to violate her.

The tears flowed like crystal streams down Jade’s cocoa face as she tried to pretend this wasn’t happening, like she wasn’t there.

Jade became more numb with each heavy thrust that ripped into her. She slipped in and out of consciousness. This is all my fault.

After about twenty minutes that seemed more like eternity, Rico let out a reverberating animal-like sound then dropped to the floor beside Jade. He’d passed out.

Jade lay still in the fetal position for a few moments before struggling to pull herself into the standing position. Her naked body burned inside and out. Feeling filthy and ashamed, she pieced together her tattered clothes the best she could, hoping Rico would stay out long enough for her to escape. 

Twisted Thurday: Jaded, Part 2 (By Zanetta Rivers-Randolph)

“Where were you?” questioned Melvin as he placed a light kiss against Jade’s lips.

Jade avoided his gaze and let the comment ride on the wind for a brief moment.

She reached for him seductively, “what’s wrong Mr. Richardson, did you miss your little snuggle bunny?”

Melvin melted, “come on now Jade, why are you so late?”

Jade moved her fuchsia painted pointer finger to his mouth, “shhhh” she whispered.

Melvin released a deep-throated chuckle before responding “you always do that when I’m trying to be serious.”

He brightened and allowed himself to be enraptured in Jade’s constant chatting as she moved from her friend Elise to Richard, Elise’s husband, with hugs and kisses for them both. The couples sat down to eat a feast of fried catfish, grits and biscuits with Karo syrup. The quiet night air was constantly interrupted by fits of laughter as memories of the “good ol’ days” caught them reminiscing about botched attempts to escape their own open windows after midnight, or sweet kisses next to the Ferris wheel when the fair came to town.

“I would like to propose a toast” said Melvin as he swirled his White Zifandel in the crystal flute. He gazed into Jade’s eyes.

“This is to us, baby; to a lifetime of happiness. Here is to knowing that there is no one else in the world for me, and I’m sure you feel the same.” Elise coughed as she tried to swallow the cold liquid that attempted to spill from her ample lips.

“I’m sorry” she replied “go ahead Melvin, I’m just … all choked up” she turned to Richard, “no pun intended.”

Melvin cocked his head to the side, cleared his throat and continued. “Every morning, I thank God that he has given me at least one more day with you. He has granted me yet another wish … another day gazing into those beautiful eyes, so transparent I can see straight through to your beautiful soul.”

Jade smiled one of her most grateful smiles, before lifting her glass with the others in unison. She rose to wrap her arms around him, “you are the sweetest man I know.”

Elise allowed her eyes to roll in a sistah-girl fashion before standing with her glass. “ok, ok, enough of you two. Now for my toast.” She grabbed Richard’s hand, “to my baby. Thank you for loving me wholeheartedly, honestly, and with the utmost loyalty. I feel safe with you and I have enjoyed this life we have created. Here is to many more years of you and I doing what it is we do. Loving like loving was going out of style.” Richard laughed heartily and wrapped Elise in strong arms. Jade moved out of Melvin’s embrace as Rico’s ring sang melodiously into the crowd’s ears.

“Sorry guys, I’ve gotta take this one. It’s business, you know how that goes.” Jade grabbed the phone and excused herself to the bathroom.

“Rico, why are you calling me right now?” whispered Jade with slight irritation.

“I want you tonight Jade. I can’t do this baby. I need you tonight.”

“You know I can’t just come to you whenever I want Rico. It’s not fair to him, he loves me.”

“Apparently a lot more than you love him. Or else you wouldn’t be there with him now, thinking about me.”

“Rico, I can’t talk about this now. I love you both, and I can’t make a choice right now.” Jade’s voice went up several decibels as the frustration rose to a feverish pitch. “Now good night.”

“Make a choice Jade, or I’ll choose for you.”

“I can’t.”

“Make a choice.”

“No Rico.”

“Now! Jade.”

“No” she screamed before slamming down the cellular phone. Jade ran her fingers through her hair before turning on the faucet to wet her face. The tension was getting to be too much, but she wasn’t willing to say good bye to either one of the men in her life. Jade took a deep breath, a vain attempt at trying to compose herself. She dried her face on the salmon colored towel and then opened the door prepared to face the love of her life and friends. She was greeted by Melvin leaning haphazardly against the door frame. Their eyes met.

“Who is Rico?”

Twisted Thursdays Presents: Jaded, Part 1 (By Saria Monette)

Editors note: This is the first installment of a 10-part urban tale. We call it a “twisted” novella because the writers take turns writing each chapter and no one knows exactly how the story is going to end — not even the authors. It was co-written by Saria Monette and Zanetta Rivers-Randolph. Tune in each Thursday for a new installment. Hope you enjoy!

Jade snuggled in closer to Rico until she could feel the warmth of his breath on the nape of her neck. She firmly pressed her backside into his flaccid manhood. No matter how close she got to him, she longed to be closer. Jade felt so safe here, lying in this bed, wrapped tightly in his strong-yet-gentle arms. The intimacy they shared was incomparable.

Intimacy. Not sex – that was hit or miss. In fact, the two rarely had sex. But Jade wasn’t complaining. They would often cuddle up for hours in his suburban Atlanta townhouse, watching TV or talking or saying nothing at all. And this early summer evening was no different. The two had been lying in silence just listening to the rhythm of each other’s hearts for nearly an hour. Well, at least Rico was still listening. Jade’s tranquility was suddenly interrupted when her mind began to do somersaults. She started to squirm as the reality set in.

“You gotta make a choice,” Rico said finally, the bass in his voice slicing through the silence like a locomotive. He knew what Jade’s squirming was all about.

“What if I don’t want to?” Jade asked rhetorically. “You make it seem like this should be easy for me.”

“Jay, baby, you have to.”

Jade knew he was right. No matter how safe or how good she felt in his arms, she couldn’t go on like this — lying to herself, to Rico, and certainly not to Melvin, the man she was to marry in a little less than a month.

Why does life have to be SO complicated, she thought. Jade loved Melvin. He had been her on-again, off-again boyfriend since high school. And she knew Melvin loved her. He had never hesitated to tell her or show her just how much he did. But there was something about Rico, who she met as her personal trainer a few years back. They dated briefly, when she and Melvin were in an off period. She knew Rico loved her, too, but she wasn’t sure what to make of her feelings for him. He was like her forbidden fruit. And her lust was the serpent driving her back to his garden. Back to that verboten tree.

Rico and Melvin were as different as night and day. Rico was tall with the physique of a football player and skin the color of honey. Despite his pretty-boy look he was still rough around the edges. His usual attire consisted of a T-shirt and jeans. Melvin was of average height and weight — in shape and slightly cut, but not overly muscular. He had coffee brown skin and kept his head bald by choice; he hadn’t yet suffered the receding hairline demise of many men. He looked like he’d fit right in as a model in the men’s apparel section of the JC Penney catalog. But their differences went beyond the physical. Rico was a motorcycle-riding adventurer who lived for a challenge. He was bold, daring and protective. Melvin was laid-back, gentle and lived to please Jade. He was brilliant – almost nerdy – which Jade found to be quite sexy. He was a prosecutor and a borderline workaholic, but he had always managed to make up for the lost time with Jade.

Jade was simply torn — between two worlds, two men. If there were a way to fuse Melvin and Rico together, Jade would do it. But sadly, she knew that was impossible.

“Jay.” Rico shook Jade’s shoulder to get her attention. “You gonna get your phone?”

Jade’s mind had wandered so far away she’d almost forgotten where she was and hadn’t heard her cell phone ring. She picked it up two seconds too late. Two missed calls. Six text messages. All from Melvin and Elise, Jade’s best friend.

“Oh shoot,” Jade said. “I’m supposed be meeting Mel and Elise and her husband at six.”

It was 6:30. Jade’s cell rang again. “Hey, Lissy pooh,” Jade sang into the phone.

“Don’t ‘Lissy pooh’ me, girl! Do you know what time it is?”

“Yeah. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” Jade lied, knowing it would take her at least thirty to get Elise’s house. ”Got caught up with a client.”

“Do I look like BooBoo the Fool to you? You ain’t with nobody’s client.”

Jade never could get anything past Elise. She knew everything before Jade could tell her. That may be how they came to be best friends. That was a poor lie anyway, considering Jade had already told Elise she’d just finished a redecorating project for a law office and she’d have no other interior design projects or client meetings until the middle of next week.

“Tell Rico you’ll spoon with him later and bring your butt on. We are all hungry and waiting on you. Plus, I’m all out of lies to tell Melvin.”

“Okay, okay. I said I’m on my way, hussy.” Jade rushed to throw on her skirt and pumps; she could put her blouse on over her cami, and straighten her hair in car. I can call Mel on the way, she thought. Rico got up to walk — or run — Jade to the door.

“Sorry to rush off like this, Rico,” Jade said, planting a quick kiss on his cheek.

“When are you gonna do what you have to do?” he asked as she yanked her car door open.

The question unnerved her. She didn’t like to be reminded of her complex reality. “I’ll call you later,” she called out, purposely avoiding his query. Then she sped off.