His Queen

A Difference In The Air

Cleo woke up the next morning unsure if last night was a dream or a figment of her imagination. But the moment she heard a ping her heart raced. On her bedside table, plugged up was a brand new Iphone.  

Picking it up slowly, Cleo checked to see a good morning text from Tyrone. Feeling her body react in all kinds of ways, Cleo fell back in bed dazed from the night before.  

Tyrone had pulled up to her house and while Cleo was sure she should get out. She didn’t budge. A part of her feared she’d go to the door and be locked out again. While the neighborhood she stayed in wasn’t horrible, it didn’t mean it wasn’t creepy. And sleeping outside? It was asking for trouble she didn’t want.  

Looking at Tyrone, Cleo asked, “When will I need to...” Tyrone kissed the back of her hand, “There’s no deadline to this baby. I just want to know your answer when you’re ready.” Cleo met his eyes; they were so freaking cool and beautiful.  

 “Okay.” Cleo watched Tyrone maul over it, his eyes flashing to her lips. But Tyrone wouldn’t have kissed her. He didn’t want to rush or push something on her that she didn’t want. Cleo liked that, the thoughtfulness of a grown man. 

 One who wanted to take care of her? Help her? Has been nothing but sweet to her?  It was more than Cleo was accustomed to with the lame boys of her school.  

They thought an ass slap and bathroom wall compliments did the trick. But no, not Tyrone, just as he saw her special, she did the same. It made her lean forward and kiss him once, a small peck maybe.  

But when she went to retreat losing nerve, he gained his. Because Tyrone had wanted to kiss her all night. And now that he could see she didn’t mind kissing him, he was all steam ahead.  

Kissing her like he wanted to jump inside of her, Tyrone panted when she broke away. Her lips swollen and eyes half-mast. He wanted to see that look in his bed when she was peering up at him.  

“Sorry,” Tyrone whispered as they got their breathing under control. “I couldn’t help it.” Cleo didn’t mind it, instead, she kissed him one last time and admitted, “I didn’t mind. But I should go inside, I need to get ready for school.” Smiling, Tyrone reached in front of her and opened his glove box.  

“One last thing,” Passing her the phone box, he told her, “All you have to do is pop your SIM in and it’ll activate.” Shaking her head, Cleo muttered, “You didn’t have to get me this.” Tyrone disagreed feeling shitty about why, “Well considering how I so rudely broke your phone. I think I owe you this, besides, how else am I going to bug you throughout the day?”  

Smiling, Cleo climbed out of the car and was happy when the front door wasn’t dead-bolted. Turning, she waved goodbye to Tyrone, who winked at her in goodbye.  

Cleo honestly couldn’t fathom why this was happening to her. This was too Cinderella, too Disney for her liking. She needed the heavy boot of reality to drop hard before she went too far with this daydream.  

That way she could quit pretending Tyrone might be real. His words real and the future brighter than she could ever have hoped.  

It just didn’t seem possible until she got downstairs. Wearing jeans a shirt, Cleo was sliding on a hoodie when Hailey spoke. “Ugh, and to think he’s slumming it with you when he could have had me.”  

Cleo looked up at Hailey sitting at the kitchen island on one of the barstools. Eating fruit and oat meal, she wore a halter top and a too-tight skirt. With her wedges, Hailey was dressed hooked school in Cleo’s opinion.  

“Coming from someone who looks they are about to work the corner? Yeah, I’m not offended you don’t like my choice of clothes.” Cleo grumbled rolling her eyes. Hailey’s nose flared in anger as she sneered, “Oh what you think you’re special because he’s paying attention to you? Please, as soon as he gets done embarrassing himself, he’ll drop you like a hot potato.”  

Cleo immediately wanted to rub in how Tyrone wasn’t dropping her. In fact, he wanted to MARRY her. But rubbing it in would mean agreeing, and she was still nervous about that. If she agreed to marry him, that would be huge for her.  

Mostly because she wanted love and happily ever after. Those things were hard enough to obtain just by dating. How would it work out if it’s arranged?  

Instead of throwing Tyrone in Hailey’s face, Cleo pivoted.  

Rolling her eyes, Cleo tossed out blandly, “Yeah I think you’re referring to yourself and your clients.”  Hailey jumped up and yelled, “Oh f**k off, you fat b***h!” Cleo immediately dropped her apple, “What did you just call me?”  

Hailey swallowed her tongue. Because while she talked a lot of s**t, she couldn't back it up. Not without her mom or her squad of posers egging her on.  

Lucky for her, her mother was home. Unfortunately for her, Peyton was not in the right space of mind as of right now.  

In the peak of her withdrawal, she didn’t need the shouting and stupidity the two girls were doing. “What the f**k are you two bitches screeching about?” Hailey looked at her pale, gaunt mother who wasn’t even wearing makeup.  

Hair not combed, face bare, and still in pajamas, Peyton looked the wreck she was. And the whole addict thing, became hella more noticeable. “You’re in withdrawal,” Cleo said stating the obvious. Peyton breathed out uncomfortable, “Yeah no s**t, smartass.”  

Hailey didn’t know what to say to her mama being an addict. But she did know it changed everything for her to know. Made her feel different about a lot of things.  

Swallowing hard, she tried to keep it normal, “She called me a hooker mom!” Peyton looked at Cleo annoyed, “Why?” Cleo shrugged, “Not my fault she dresses like one.” Peyton breathed out, “Both of you just leave each other alone!”  

Hailey had never heard that one before. 

 Usually, her mother would have defended her or better. It was Peyton who had the ideas to do something awful at school to make Cleo miserable. But now her mean best friend always on her side, was now her mean, drug feigning mom.  

And she was on no one side but her own right now.  

“Do any of you have any cash?” Cleo c****d an eyebrow, “For you to get drugs?” Peyton winced as she turned and glared at Cleo now, “Don’t get all high and mighty on me b***h! I still work and have to provide for you and Hailey. I can’t do that in my condition.”  

Scoffing Cleo muttered, “Right because more poison is what you need. Not orange juice or some breakfast. Just more c***k, that seems like it’ll end well.” Peyton started to screech at Cleo, but then her phone pinged.  

The brand-new iPhone jumped to Peyton’s attention as well as Hailey’s.  The difference is, Peyton saw it and immediately knew where it came from. From her paling and looking away, she didn’t want to ask.  

But Hailey on the other hand still demanded to know, “Where did you get that?” But Cleo didn’t answer.  

Seeing another text from Tyrone, she grinned, “Yeah well I’m broke and my ride is here. So good luck with the whole need of drugs and need of a client situation.” Walking out as both hollered at her back, Cleo just laughed.  

Rushing out she saw Tyrone waiting and again, she wanted the heavy boot of reality to fall already. Because the moment he smiled at her, all feelings and fears, washed away forgotten.  

For now.