Chapter 16: Tell Me

“No! Let me go!” Celeste screamed loudly, but her screams were slowly disappearing. Now her throat was raw, almost hoarse.

“Pull her up!” Big Tony ordered. He didn’t want to bring Celeste back with bruises.

Slim tucked his hands underneath Celeste’s arms and pulled her into a standing position effortlessly.

Celeste met eyes with Bridget. “Oh my god Bridget.” She sobbed quietly.

Bridget stared at Celeste and confirmed her suspicions; the girl was definitely running from something else besides Justin.

“Hey girl I’ll let you go if you promise not to run.” Slim said tightening his grip around her waist just in case.

“Why should I believe you? You pig. I know he sent you to look for me.” Celeste seethed through clenched teeth.

“Look lady cut the crap and calm down we’re taking you back whether you like it or not.” Slim had no idea that it was going to be this difficult to contain a five foot two female. She was a firecracker.

“I won’t run.” Celeste finally gave up trying to escape. The man holding her was too strong for her to handle, but she wondered why Bridget was standing there. Did she know about Frank’s men, but how would she have known Justin too? It just didn’t make sense.

“Good. You know I wouldn’t have volunteered to look for you if I knew it was going to be this difficult.” Slim sat down on the bench keeping a loose grip on Celeste’s hand.

Celeste followed behind him trying to release herself until he had no choice, but to drag her body down harshly beside him.

“Let me go. I told you I won’t run.” She pleaded.

“You think I’m stupid enough to believe that bullshit. Girl you’re crazier than I thought. Just-” He was interrupted when Celeste managed to elbow him in the stomach. Slim howled in pain releasing his grip on her allowing her to run free. “Damn!”

“Damn it. We should’ve just dragged her ass back to the apartment. We've got a little under two minutes.” Big Tony walked briskly around the corner. She wouldn’t get very far as tired as she was.

“Celeste!” Big Tony shouted after her.

Celeste slowed her fast pace. How did he know my name? “Frank must’ve told him.”

“Celeste…Celeste Justin sent them.” Bridget breathed harshly. She had managed to catch up with Celeste. I need to work out more.

“Justin?” Why would he send them?

“Because he didn’t want you wandering the streets by yourself.” Bridget explained when she noticed Celeste’s look of concern.

Since when has Justin cared about anyone besides himself?

“How do I know that’s true?” Celeste looked at Bridget skeptically.

“Cause that’s Big Tony and Slim is the one you jabbed.”

“Girl I have to hand it to you. You really know how to create a ruckus.” Bridget cracked a little smile.

“Justin wants everybody to meet back at the house about now. I’m sure you’re little sister misses you very much by now.” Bridget tried to reason with her before she ran off again.

“I’m sorry for hurting you Slim.” Celeste stared down at her tangled fingers then smiled bashfully at him. She felt like such an idiot, here they were trying to take her back to Justin’s and she assaulted him.

“Whatever.” Slim muttered.

“She must be good in the sack for Justin to go through all this shit.” He held his palm to his aching side.

~*~*~*~

Justin paced back and forth across his living room, wondering where Big Tony, Slim, and more importantly Celeste were. “They should be back by now.”

“Calm down man it has only been three minutes since you told them to be here. If they’re not all here in the next seven minutes then we can panic. Joe and Ms. Lou not back either.” Nick suggested.

“I said meet me in two hours not two hours and ten minutes. Beside they’re old. They probably gave up the first thirty minutes.” Justin rolled his eyes as he plopped down on the couch, thoughts racing through his head.

If Big Tony and Slim returned without Celeste he didn’t know what his next alternative would be to locating her because she could be anywhere by now. He hoped she would change her mind about coming back for her little sister’s sake. And it was a good thing the toddler had gone off with Kyle because he would not be able to concentrate with her thousand and one questions.

When noises were heard from the hall, Justin quickly rose to his feet and sprinted to the door. There coming up the steps was Big Tony, Slim, and some female that was definitely not Celeste.

Justin frowned, “Where is she?”

All three of them ignored him as they brushed pass him especially Slim who just grumbled and entered the apartment. Bridget allowed her gaze to travel over Justin’s form. So he’s the man that has Celeste losing her mind. She chuckled silently and entered the apartment as well.

“Ya’ll have got the nerve to ignore me after being almost ten minutes late. Now where is she?”

“This ain’t her?” Big Tony asked.

“What?” Justin was confused. This woman did not look anything like Celeste, only for that fact that she was black as well. Where Celeste was short, this woman was tall. Where this woman was thin and lean, Celeste had a slight round curviness to her shape. Where this woman wore long hair that cascaded down to the middle of her back, Celeste wore soft curls that framed her face and rested on her shoulders in layers. Where this woman relied on the wonders of makeup to enhance her beauty, Celeste used her natural glowing complexion and perfect smile. In fact Justin hated woman like her.

“No that ain’t her. I thought you said you knew what she looked like.” Two hours wasted when Celeste was still out there wandering the streets alone.

“I was referring to her nice looking body.” Big Tony chuckled. He gave Nick a high-five in the air.

Justin was so angry he had just lost control. He jumped on Big Tony despite the fact he was like two times his weight and just start giving out punches like party favors.

“Oh my god!” Celeste had finally entered the apartment. Big Tony had convinced her to stand outside for five minutes so they could play a joke on Justin but apparently it had backfired. When she heard the commotion escalate she took the stairs two at a time as fast as she could.

No one paid any attention to her. Everyone was so focused on breaking up the fight. Well except Bridget she just looked at Celeste and shrugged.

Celeste grabbed the bat that was lying by the side of the door and pounded it ruthlessly against the hardwood floor until the sound reverberated off the walls and resulted in silent stares.

“Your lady’s here.” Big Tony whispered in Justin’s ear while he had him pinned faced down against the floor.

“Now…that I have everyone’s undivided attention, Justin I need to talk to you.” She dropped the bat back in its respectful place and left the room.

“Somethin’ ain’t she.” Slim said as took the seat Justin had vacated.

Big Tony stood up and helped Justin to his feet.

He slowly made his way to the door toward Celeste. She had a blank expression on her face, so he had no idea what to expect from this conversation. He felt like a dead man walking.

Celeste walked two doors down the hall and leaned against the wall. “Um…”

“Wait you wanna do this right here?” Justin didn’t want everyone eavesdropping on their conversation, not that it was going to be about anything worth eavesdropping on anyway.

Celeste shrugged her shoulders and caught Bridget’s gaze behind Justin. Bridget gave her two thumbs up and smiled.

Justin turned to see what caught her gaze, but there was nothing there. Maybe she was just ignoring him. She was the one who wanted to talk. He grabbed her arm and dragged her down the stairs.

When they were outside of the building Justin pulled her down beside him on the curb. Celeste lost her balance and fell into Justin a little, but he caught her before she could get them both injured.

“Careful now.” Justin steadied her.

“Ugh” Celeste scolded herself as she sat down beside Justin. She had practically landed right in his lap. And it was only because she was so nervous. Me and my damn nerves! Why did she let Bridget talk her into having this conversation with Justin anyway? She didn’t even know how to start it.

“You okay? Should we have this conversation later?” He wasn’t trying to get out of explaining himself again, but it didn’t appear as though she would be starting the conversation anytime soon.

“I’m fine. I just don’t know how to say this and you’re making me uncomfortable.” She said it as if he didn’t make her uncomfortable every time she was around him.

“I want to know if…” Celeste paused to stare down at her trembling fingers in her lap. Just do what Bridget said. She tried to coach herself.

“If what?” Justin was getting more impatient by the minute. He wished she would just spit it out already.

“…if you think I have a nice um…body.” There she had finally uttered the dreadful words. Celeste couldn’t believe she just actually said that and she covered her face to hide her embarrassment. Why did she listen to Bridget? Just go ahead and say it straight I’m sure Justin’s the type of person who likes to hear it straight. But the look on Justin’s face told her otherwise.

She peaked through her hands to look at Justin again; his face was still void of expression.

“Um you know what...forget I said that.” Celeste stood up quickly and started walking up the stairs back to the apartment chastising herself the entire way.

Justin turned his head to watch her walk away and then he started laughing causing Celeste to stop in her tracks.

She stopped at the building’s entrance. Was that a no? She wondered, cringing silently. Well you got your answer, what did you expect him to say?

“Oh my god…” She was about to cry again. She had never cried so much before she moved in with Justin. Soon her eyes wouldn’t be able to produce moisture anymore.

You had to put yourself through that when you knew he enjoyed pissing you off! Great now her conscience was making fun of her too. But she should at least work up the courage to ask why he had laughed or was still laughing.

“Why are you laughing?”  Celeste whispered. She wasn’t even sure Justin had actually heard her at all.

“Because…you.” He paused to get a few more laughs in. Now he was standing directly behind her. It hurt her more to hear him laugh in her face.

Then she felt his hands on her shoulders turning her to face him. He wasn’t laughing anymore in fact he had a serious expression on his face. One that confused her.

“Ask me that question again.”

“What why? So you can laugh at me again?” She would not put herself through humiliation again just because he needed a good laugh.

Justin led her back down the stairs with protest from her, until he was forced to lift her in his arms.

“Oh my god Justin put me down.” Justin ignored her and settled onto the porch with her on his lap. She would not be able to run from him this time.

“Justin people are looking at us.”

“So fuck em’ they can look if they want too. Now ask me that question again.” Damn she was so self-conscious it made him sick, she worried about everything under the sun. He had to even increase his grip on her to keep her from trying to get up.

“You keep squirming like that and you’re gonna be in for a surprise miss.” With that said she halted her jumpy movements and relaxed.

“Ok are you gonna ask me that question or what?”

Celeste sighed. If he wasn’t holding her hands behind her back she would’ve slapped him by now, but unbeknownst to her Justin had caught on to how she reacted when she was angry.

“Fine. How do I look?” She had rephrased her question.

“You look good, but that’s not what you asked me. Now is it? Come on Celeste stop beating around the bush.” He loosened the grip on her hands.

“Do you think…I have a nice body?” Celeste managed to cover her hands over her face, but not for long because Justin had removed her hands and cradled them in his own tightly just in case she wanted to do it again.

“Let me see it.” Justin said nonchalantly.

“What?” Celeste stared at him confused. See what?

“Stand up and let me see it.” If he hadn’t took it upon himself to feel her up he would have never known she had a nice body wrapped in a short, but tight little package, hiding under those baggy pants and large t-shirts.

Celeste stood up slowly. Why was he putting her on the spot like this? 

“Now twirl around for me.” He made hand motions, directing her.

Celeste did a quick turn, which left her very dizzy.

“No that was too fast I didn’t get to see. This time go slow…slower.” Justin added some persistence to his voice as she attempted to do it again.

 “…mmm hmm very nice.” Justin straightened his posture on the porch, his eyes taking in the sight of her form. Celeste was slender, but there were curves where curves mattered. Her shoulders were soft and rounded; her hips were shapely extending into a curved derriere and her breasts were small but full.

After viewing Celeste from all different angles and directing her when to pause or slow down, especially for his viewing pleasure, Justin was now satisfied. “Okay I’m done.”

Celeste had finally reopened her eyes. She had dared herself to follow his gaze while his eyes traveled up and down her body, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do so.

“Well…” She cleared her throat of any nervousness preparing herself for the worst.

“Come back over here and sit down.” Justin patted his jean-clad thigh.

Celeste did as he demanded even if she was trembling as she did it. However, she settled herself on the porch next to him instead of in his lap again. “I guess you wanna hold my hands again too.” She said trying to feign nonchalance.

Justin chuckled gathering only one of her hands in his. “If I should say so myself you are packin’.” He allowed his palm to linger on her knee.

Celeste stared at him confused. “Is that good or bad?”

Justin cocked his head to the side, “Why do you always expect the worst?” He was right. Celeste was expecting him to say that she didn’t have a nice body, she was just waiting for him to say it.

“Huh Celeste?”

Celeste did not answer him right away, but since he was waiting for her to answer she had to give something. “I don’t know. I guess I’m used to the worst.”

“Well...what I meant was that you do have a nice figure.” He smirked at her shocked expression.

“But, before you said that I didn’t. Are you trying to make me feel better?” She asked looking down at her hands.

“Yes I’m trying to make you feel better, but…” He continued when he saw the frown on her face. “…you ran out before you actually knew what I was saying. I didn’t say that you didn’t have a nice body I said that Kyle does not think so. But he actually does and he’s not the only one. Feel better now?”

A small smile formed on Celeste’s face. If she didn’t find her own body attractive at least he did.

“So that’s why you were um…”

“Feeling you up? Yes.” Justin said it as if her feelings about it wouldn’t matter at all.

“Oh.” She didn’t know what to think about him admitting to feeling her up this morning.

“I…was kinda curious so-” He paused in his explanation when he spotted Kyle coming down the street with Tatiyana on his back.

“Cee Cee!” Tatiyana screamed in delight, waving her hand vigorously.

“Hi Tati.” Celeste rose from the porch and crouched down to the ground with wide open arms.

The toddler struggled to get off Kyle’s back. When she reached the ground she ran to her older sister. “I miss you a lot Cee. Justin tell me that you come back, why you gone so long?”

“I had gotten lost and I was mad.” Celeste smoothed back her sister’s curly locks.

“Who make you mad? Justin?” She pouted looking at Justin. “We gonna leave Justin too like we leave Frank? I don’ see Mommy no more too.”

Justin sat up intrigued. Finally he was getting some information about the mysterious Celeste.

“No…no baby Justin didn’t make me mad. He’s a good person.”

“He is?” Tatiyana asked wiping away the tear that had escape.

“Yeah. He let us stay with him in his place…” She really couldn’t call his residence a home. “If Justin didn’t let us stay with him. Where would we be? And I know you miss Mommy I miss her too.” Celeste embraced Tatiyana.

Justin smiled to himself. It was about time she acknowledged what a good person he was. And here he was thinking she took his hospitality for granted. But when he saw a silent tear cascade down Celeste’s cheek as she embraced her sister his thoughts went back to the toddler’s words…we gonna leave Justin too like we leave Frank? I don’ see mommy no more too. He couldn’t help but wonder what Celeste had actually left behind on that dark night.

Justin reached over and grabbed her hand, giving it a light squeeze. He didn’t know why he did it, but when he realized what he was doing he dropped her hand quickly. There goes that damn sensitive side again that he had locked away years ago.

Justin had looked up to catch the smirk on Kyle’s face. “Man shut the fuck up.”

“Justin!” Celeste smacked his arm.

“God you have no manners! Thank you Kyle for taking care of her.” She pecked him on the cheek.

“Aww you’re welcome…sweet thang…” He added watching her walk away.

Justin glared at him. “Keep your fucking eyes off that.” And he meant it too.

“I’m only a man J. Only a man.” Kyle chuckled following behind Celeste shortly. Who was Justin trying to fool? He was jonesing for some Celeste.