Chapter 4 Don't trust him

Chapter 3

Present

Aniyah's pov

I was so confused all day at school. What did Echo mean by he let his jealousy get the best of him? I tried finding him to ask him, but he was nowhere. Andre said he went home sick and that just didn't sound right. Echo wasn't the type to just go home because he felt off. Something more was going on I just had no idea what. I couldn't wait for the family dinner tonight so that maybe I could talk to him about it.

I don't know what to do about Jayden he is very clingy and is telling everyone I am his girl and we aren't even together. I never agreed to be his girl hell he has never even asked me out. Yes, I held his hand and let him kiss me once, but I just wasn't ready for anything more than that. I didn't like how pushy he was being. I had a lot of thinking to do but thankfully it was Friday, so I had the weekend away from him to figure everything out.

First, I needed to talk to Echo and see what he meant. I needed to know if he felt the same way about me. If there was a chance with Echo, then I wanted to take it. He was the guy I loved. I needed him to know that Jayden meant nothing to me. I needed to see Echo so badly. I was done hiding how I felt about him. It was time we had a much-needed talk.

I was glad when school was over. Jayden wanted to take me home, but I told him I can drive myself home and he seemed mad. This was the first day I met him, and he was already so possessive. He was kind of scaring me. I wasn't used to all of this. I was the girl that never got any attention and now here I have Jayden acting like I was his property. Was this normal?

When I got home, I ran into my room so I could find something to wear. I wanted to look my best tonight when I finally talked to Echo. I didn't want to look like I was going out of my way to look good, so our family didn't think something was up. This was going to be harder than I thought. Maybe hashing out my feelings tonight when everyone would be here wasn't the best idea after all.

I finally decided on a cute summer dress got my hair done perfectly and was just putting on my make-up when I heard the door slam shut meaning someone was here. I wondered if it was Echo. I hurried to finish so I could go downstairs and see him. I had just gotten done and was about to get up and leave my room when my brother and Junior came crashing through my bedroom door.

"What are you all dressed up for?" Junior asked.

"I am dressed up for family dinner unlike you two I prefer not to look like a slob. Where is the third musketeer at?"

"He's home sick resting up since we have a big game on Sunday. One he can't miss." Andre said.

"He seemed just fine to me hope it's not contagious don't need to get sick."

"Why are you always so damn mean to him like for real you act like you hate him and he ain't ever done shit to you sis."

"Whatever get out of my room."

They both just rolled their eyes at me and left. Echo never missed a family dinner so now I knew something was wrong. I was really worried about him. Was he sick or was there more to this? I decided to send him a text just to see if he would respond. I just wanted to know that he was ok, but of course I got no response. Was he ignoring me? I did nothing wrong to him he is the one that messed up calling me what he did.

I guess I will see him Sunday at the game. Maybe I could get him away from everyone and talk to him then. I hoped since it was only a Junior Varsity game that Jayden wouldn't be there. He has been blowing up my phone so much that I finally just shut it off and went down to be with my family.

"There's my little princess how was your first day at school?"

"Hey dad it was different but good. I am just glad we started on a Friday so now I have the weekend to go over where my classes are and be better prepared."

"You are so much like your mother."

"I take that as a compliment."

"As you should princess. I better get on the grill before your uncles take over and burn everything."

I just laughed as I walked into the kitchen to see if my mom and aunties needed any help. I loved these family dinners even though we all acted like they were such a burden. The best memories of my life are when we all get together like this. All my life I have been surrounded by nothing but love from my parents and my extended family as well. You could never be lonely in a family like mine.

"Hey ladies do you need any help getting everything ready?"

"Well don't you look beautiful. Is that a new dress?" Serenity asked.

"Hey Auntie Seren, yes it's new and thank you. I heard Echo is sick is he ok?"

"Yea just had one of those headaches he gets so the nurse sent him home to rest up."

"Oh, ok so do you know who they play against on Sunday?"

"I think the Junior Varsity is playing the Varsity team something to raise school spirit. It's just a fun game to hype everyone up." Serenity said.

Great that meant there would be no way to avoid Jayden, and all my family would be there since the three musketeers were all on the team. This was going to be bad. There was no way I was going to get the chance to talk to Echo with him around. I didn't want my family knowing anything about him because to me there was nothing to tell but the way he saw it seemed to be different. He thought I was his girl.

"Here Princess you can take out the plates and stuff like that. We will start carrying everything else out. Go enjoy yourself you don't need to be cooped up with all of us."

"But I much prefer being in here then out there with all the guys. Do you forget I am the only girl?"

"No, we have not forgotten Princess, but we have everything done and this is our time to gab about grown folk stuff so kindly go and find something to do."

"OK mom I get it you all have fun complaining about the men and I will be out there telling them you are in here telling secrets."

I walked off laughing as my mom and aunties yelled at me that I better not say a word. I decided to go out and see what Andre and Junior were up too. I do love being around all my family but at times I feel like I am the odd one out. Andre, Junior and Echo are normally off doing their thing. My mom and Auntie's are off talking about the men, and they are off drinking a beer talking about the women. I am just here standing off by myself all alone.

I would go up to my room, but I know just as soon as I do, I'll be called back down to eat. I left my phone off in my room because Jayden wouldn't stop calling me or texting me, but I also wondered if Echo had responded to my text yet. I hurried up to my room to grab my phone and turned it on. It was vibrating non-stop with all the messages coming in. I looked and I had 15 missed calls and over thirty texts all from Jayden not a one of them from Echo. This was way to obsessive. I felt like maybe I should talk to someone about this, but I didn't even know who.

I was so out of my league and didn't know how to act or respond to all of this. I turned my phone back off and figured I would just deal with all of this later. Therefore, I wish I had a sister or a female best friend so I could talk to them about this. I couldn't talk to Andre about this because I know he would flip. He treated me like his little sister instead of his older twin sister. Junior was also very over protective of me as well. I loved that they cared but at times it was annoying. I just really felt alone and so confused right now.

Everyone was sitting around the table laughing talking and eating but I was quiet and all up in my head. I just didn't feel like being around everyone right now. I couldn't stop thinking about Echo and what he had said to me. Was he jealous of the attention that Jayden was giving me? For him to be jealous he must feel something for me, right? I asked my parents if I could be excused telling them I was exhausted that I couldn't sleep very well since I was excited about the first day of school.

I got up to my room shut my door and locked it. I needed to be alone and I didn't want anyone just barging in. I just needed to try and figure out what to do next. Could Echo and I even be together? Would anyone approve of us. I just laid on my bed and started to cry. I was sick of worrying so damn much over every little thing. I needed answers and only Echo had them. He was going to talk to me one way or another.

Echo's pov

I have avoided Aniyah at all costs. I hung out with Junior and Andre last night and we met up with some girls. Aniyah kept blowing up my phone, but I just ignored her. I invited Verity she was a cheerleader and sexy as hell. Just what I needed to forget all about Aniyah and Jayden. She got along with Andre and Junior and both told me she was super-hot.

Today was a different story I was all focus. I knew for some this was just a fun game between the two football teams at school, but not for me. This was a chance to knock Jayden down a peg or two. I bet Aniyah will be here today cheering on her little boyfriend but that's ok because my girlfriend will also be here cheering for me. Today Aniyah was going to see me with someone else. I was done with her and it was time she saw that.

"Hey man is your girl here yet?" Junior asked me.

"I am sure she is since she will be cheering for our team."

"Has your parents or anyone else met her yet?" Andre asked.

"Nah man it ain't even like that yet. Is your sister here?"

"Yea you know she is here with everyone else to cheer us on."

"I'm sure she's here to cheer on someone other than us."

"What do you mean by that? Is there something you know that I don't?"

"Nah man I was just joking that she would never cheer for us."

Damn I needed to watch what I said because I don't need Andre freaking out. If he knew she was with Jayden, he would flip out and he could end up getting hurt. We all needed to get our head in the game. Once we were done talking to the coach, I went over to the bleachers to say hi to my parents. I saw Aniyah there looking beautiful and it killed me. She looked happy to see me and sad. I didn't like that I made her feel that way.

I was about to say something to Aniyah when I felt someone come up and put their hands around my waste. I turned around to see Verity looking up at me with the biggest smile. She was so beautiful, but she wasn't the girl I truly wanted. I bent down and kissed her on the cheek. Aniyah stood up like she was ready to kill someone.

"Hey guys I see some friends I will be back before the game starts, I want to go say hello."

She took off so fast that she almost fell. If I didn't know any better, I could have sworn she was about to cry, but why would she do that. She has Jayden and doesn't care about me. I was done with her games. I introduced Verity to my parents, and we talked for a bit before she had to go get ready and so did I.

Aniyah walked past me, and she looked really upset. I guess her and Jayden must be having issues. I didn't even say hi to her, but she told me good luck. I walked to catch up with my team and just focus on the game. That's what I loved about playing football I could just get lost in the game. It took all my focus. Some days it was the only thing that brought me any happiness. It helped me get through a lot in my life.

Jayden kept looking at me with a smirk on his face. I wanted to knock the smirk right off. I could already tell this wasn't going to just be a friendly game between two teams. Jayden wanted to make this personal and that was fine by me. He may be older but before this day was over, I would make him eat dirt. I don't even get what the hell his problem is with me. Did Aniyah say something to him about me?

The buzzard sounded meaning the start of the game. Right away Jayden came after me. Him and his buddies were seriously trying to take me out and hurt me. This wasn't just a game anymore it felt like he was trying to end me. What the hell was his problem. They were going to end up ending my football career before it even really began.

It was the end of the game and we were all tied up. We had the ball and I knew just what play to run. They have tried to break me, but I just keep coming back stronger than ever. I knew no matter what I did and no matter which way I went that Jayden would have people coming for me. I decided to play that to my strength and do a move he would never see coming. I was going to put myself in harm's way to cause a distraction to teach that jerk a lesson and win this game.

It was a play as old as time, but Jayden is so focused on crushing me that it has become his focus. We took our last time out so I could tell my team the plan. They told me they had my back. I had the ball in my hands and saw the look of determination on Jayden's face knowing he was coming for me. I quickly handed the ball off to him. Three guys plus Jayden all started to come at me at once. I knew if they all hit me, I was going down and wouldn't be getting back up. I had to be smart about this. I seriously don't get what Aniyah sees in him.

Jayden's buddy hit me first and was the smallest one so I let him take me down knowing if I did the others would have to stop. I went down and held my knee to bring help my way because I didn't trust Jayden. I looked over and heard my team cheering. We won the game. Jayden looked over at me with a look I couldn't quite describe. He was angry that was for sure, but it was something more than that. I got off the field and went into the locker room to celebrate with my team. This was our first win and I wasn't going to let Jayden or Aniyah take that from me.