"Babe," the voice on the other end of the line said. Kentrell looked at his phone, zoning out on the conversation. He raised an eyebrow as he skimmed through the website discussing Audre Lorde. New York City, Kentrell thought to himself. Nice.
"Babe!" Royal yelled on the phone, causing Kentrell to focus on the conversation. "Yeah?"
"Did you hear me?" Kentrell hesitated for a second, realizing he zoned out midway through the conversation. "Yeah," he replied, closing Safari and opening the FaceTime screen. Anyone could tell Royal looked frustrated, glaring at the screen.
"Then what did I just say?" Kentrell groaned as he glanced away from the phone, knowing she was going to ask that. "You were talking about how much you love me," Kentrell said as he smirked into the camera. Royal rolled her eyes into the camera. "That's not even close to what I said."
"What did you say, then?"
"Oh, so you weren't listening. I thought you said you heard me."
"Royal," Kentrell stated, hardly looking into the camera. "Don't start. I'm looking shit up right now, and it's hard to focus on two things at once." Royal sighed, mostly in frustration, as she paused her screen. Kentrell heard Royal mumbling, causing him to hum. Royal quickly dismissed it, claiming she said nothing.
"Nah, Royal. What's up?" Kentrell knew he was opening a can of worms, but he knew something was up. "It's nothing, Trell, damn. Focus on your research," Royal said, emphasizing research. Getting frustrated, Kentrell focused on the conversation and kept telling Royal to put her face in the camera.
Once Royal unpaused her screen, Kentrell asked her once more what was wrong. "Does it matter? You're so focused on everything but me anyways, especially that bitch." Kentrell bit his tongue as he held back a chuckle, finally understanding why she was upset. "Ah, that's what it is," he stated.
Royal sat in silence, eyeing Kentrell through the phone. "What bitch are you even talking about? You're always claiming I'm talking to some girl." Royal's eyebrows furrowed, mumbling to herself to remember her name. "Syria? Cereal? Whatever the fuck her name is," Royal responded, causing Kentrell to put his tongue in his cheek.
"Sirrah?" Kentrell questioned, causing Royal to immediately agree. "I told her to stay away from you, and she keeps talking about some 'I don't want him. He keeps talking to me. Rah rah rah,' like bitch, no one wants to talk to your poor ass–"
"Aye, cut that shit short," Kentrell interrupted. "Talking about someone's green is wack, dead ass."
"If she didn't want anyone talking about her, she should've put better clothes on. She had them busted-ass Timbs on. I'm surprised they didn't piss you off to look at," Royal said, causing Kentrell to calm himself down.
"Ro, you good," Kentrell mumbled, signaling her to stop. "All I know is she better stay the fuck away from you too–"
"And if she doesn't? Look, you bugging me right now with this shit. I'm drid with this, alright? Chill the fuck out, and leave her the fuck alone. She not doing shit to you," Kentrell said, rubbing his temples to try and calm down.
"She's messing with you after I told her not to, and I don't like disrespect."
"You've been disrespecting her since day one!" Kentrell yelled, causing him to take a deep breath. "At the pep rally, you didn't even know her, and you started trippin'. She ain't even messing with me, so cut that short."
"You're gonna get that broke bitch hurt tryna be funny."
"Why's that the first thing bird bitches wanna say?" "Bird?!" Royal interrupted, scoffing as he continued. "'Don't get that girl hurt.' Like, why you gotta hurt her?"
"Cause I warned her."
"Yeah nah, hold on." Kentrell thought for a moment, furrowing his eyebrows as he sat up. "Can you even fight?"
"I don't have to fight that bitch for her to get hurt." Kentrell made a confused expression as he started to feel defensive. "See, what you not doing is getting somebody to scrap for you, especially to hit her. I don't give a fuck who you are, girlfriend, sister, mama, whatever."
"Look at you, Trell!" Royal said, causing Kentrell to stop. "You're defending her, and you don't even know her! You're wondering why I don't like her."
"Does it matter if I know her? You're over here trying to jump a girl that doesn't wanna scrap, and you're worried about me defending her? Fuck outta here with that shit."
"Whatever, Kenny." A flip switched within Kentrell, causing him to look at the camera. "Trell."
"Hm?" Royal said in confusion. "It's Trell to you. Crazy and protective for no reason ain't cute."
"Okay? Shut up," Royal told Kentrell, causing him to chuckle. He shook his head before looking back into the camera. He quickly bit his tongue to keep himself from saying something he would regret. "Watch who you talking to."
"Or what?"
"Royal, I'm not pla–"
"Nah, hang up. I bet you're gonna go talk to that–"
And just like that, the line went short. Kentrell put his phone on Do Not Disturb before tossing it across his bed. He laid back with a deep sigh, closing his eyes. They opened as he heard someone else sigh, causing Kentrell to jump up to see his sister standing in the doorway.
"Hey, Ang," Kentrell said in a defeated tone. "Hey, Kenny. Don't ask 'cause I've been at the door for a minute," Angela responded, causing Kentrell to groan. Angela walked from the doorframe into Kentrell's bedroom, taking a seat at his desk.
"Don't groan at me," Angela said with a smile in her voice. Kentrell felt his phone buzzing, causing him to pick up his phone. Royal's contact name flashed on his screen. He clicked his power button twice before tossing it back across the bed. "Not my fault you haven't broken up with that broad yet." Kentrell fought back a laugh, looking at his older sister with a not-so-straight face. "Chill, Ang."
"You think I'm being funny, but I'm deadass. I swear you're the only one that likes that hoe." There was a small silence between the sibling as Angela spun in the chair. "I haven't broken up with her yet," Kentrell claimed, a slight edge in his voice.
"I know, and yet better hurry the fuck up," Angela said, causing Kentrell to release the laugh he was holding in. "I'm tired of her coming over here talking about, 'hi, Ang,' like we're cool or something." Kentrell continued to laugh, particularly at Angela's attempt at Royal's voice. "I don't know how you put up with her."
"I don't either," Kentrell admitted. "But I do."
"You don't have to, y'know. There's other niggas out there for her." Kentrell chuckled as he sat up, looking at his sister. "I know. I mean, we argue sometimes and it's alright. Today, though, she just took it there."
"In that case, dump her. Why are you still with that bird bitch anyways?"
Kentrell changed his expression as he looked at Angela, knowing that she already knew why. He laid back on the bed, looking at his ceiling fan with a sigh. "You know why, Ang."
"Who gives a damn about not wanting to hurt her feelings?" Kentrell sat back up as he heard Angela stand to her feet. "She always hurts your feelings. You're sparing hers while she doesn't give a damn about yours?"
