Forbidden (Completed) EDITING - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Demarcus
"Damn Nigga, every time I come in the gym you in the gym." My cousin Jamal said to me as he walked in the gym.
We often fight over who has the better body. It's me of course. We always competed with each other especially when it's girl's involved.
"Can't have you one upping me!" I laughed.
"Yeah, whatever." He brushed me off.
Me and Jamal been roommates since we graduated high school. Jamal and I were raised like brothers. I lived with my grandma and my mother. Jamal would get dropped off in the morning before my uncle and aunt went to work.
He's been trying to be like me ever since.
"You got class today?" He asked as he picked up a weight.
"Yeah, just two though." I looked down at my Apple watch and saw I had to hurry up and go upstairs to shower. "Oh, Shit!"
"We going to the court around 6, you coming?"
"Yeah, depending how I feel after class."
"Bet, just hit me!" His chest heaved as he sat the weight back down only after 10. Rookie.
"Will do." I dapped him up.
I grabbed my towel and water bottle and made my way to the elevator.
"Excuse me, young man." An elderly woman tapped me on my shoulder. I took my other air pod out so I could hear her clearly.
"Yes Ma'am?"
"Do you mind helping me takes these bags up to my apartment? I thought I could carry them up there myself. It's a little too much on my back."
I huffed as I glanced at my watch and saw the time. Damn, I don't wanna be rude but I gotta get ready for class.
"Yeah, sure."
As I was about to decline. I heard my grandmother's voice enter my head. Aight I hear you, Grandma. I replied in my head.
The elevator finally opened the doors. We pay all this money to live in this shit and the elevators slow as hell. I grabbed the bags she needed me to carry for her. I kept pressing the close door button as many times as I could.
Thank God, she only lives on the third floor. Me and Mal live on the 8th. We reached her apartment soon as we got off the elevator, it was to the right.
I waited for her to unlock the door. I ran in and placed the bags on the counter.
"Thank you so much. You are such a nice young man!"
"No problem, you have a nice day." I smiled.
I didn't have time to wait on the slow ass elevator. So I hiked it up the stairs. I mean what's five flights to a nigga like me? I wish Mal was with me though I would've bet on it.
I was in and out of the shower in like ten minutes.
I put on my go to clothes for class. Grey nike sweatpants and a t-shirt and my Gucci flip flops. I don't feel the need to put on my drip just to go to class. That's for the niggas who lack in personality gotta do to get chicks.
Not me.
My alarm starts going off letting me know I have thirty minutes until class starts.
Let me get out of here.
••••••
I booked it up the steps to my seat in class. Luckily, our teacher Mr. Wilson wasn't at his desk. If he saw I was 5 minutes late he would've embarrassed me in front of the class.
"Damn Demarcus, you good?" One of my classmates Dashaun asked me.
"Yeah, I'm good." I was breathless. "I just had to get in here before, Mr. Wilson caught me."
"We been sitting here for almost ten minutes."'
"For Real?"
"Yeah, I don't know what's going on," He shrugged.
It's highly unlikely for any of my teachers to take time off. They're always at work.
"Attention, Attention Everyone." Mrs. Lane one of our advisor's said to stop us from talking .
Standing to the left of her, my right. Stood the most beautiful brown goddess I had ever seen. Her skin was umber brown and she had this glow about her, not to compare her to food but she reminded me of these candies my grandmother used to give me when I was little...a Werther's Original.
Her smile was blinding a nigga.
"Mr. Wilson had to unfortunately resign. He had a major family emergency that he needed to travel to another state to attend to. He was unsure about his return." Mrs. Lane informed us.
Thank God, I mumbled under my breath. This is the best news I've gotten all year.
"Anyway, this is your new teacher Mrs. Carter. I hope you give her a little more respect than would you guys gave Mr. Wilson." She cut her eyes at all us.
I'm pretty sure everyone has complained about that nigga.
We all nodded.
"Good! Erica, the floor is yours." Mrs. Lane exited.
It was so quiet you could hear a pen drop. I think we were all stunned at this woman's beauty even the chicks.
"Hello Everybody, my name is Erica Carter. I've been teaching for 16 years now. This happened to be one of my favorite subjects when I was in college. Now that I've gotten the boring stuff out of the way.....," she laughed and so did everyone else. I love it when teachers have some sense of humor. "I'm not like other teachers who limit your fun. I was in college myself and I wish I had me as a teacher. So, Just be yourselves and as long as you respect me and do your work, you won't have a problem with me! Let's have a great rest of the year."
We all clapped.
She smiled and turned around to start writing on the board.
"Gah Damn, look the ass on Mrs. Carter." Dashaun said.
"Hell yeah, she thick!" Terrell one of our other classmates chimed in.
"Y'all tripping." I laughed.
"Nigga, we know you see that." Dashaun nudged me.
I def saw it. I'm not gonna tell them that though. I'm stuck on her beauty and her smile.
"She's probably the same age as my mom but she damn sure don't look like my mom!" Dashaun bit his finger.
"I am going to pick up where Mr. Wilson left off. I see you guys are in the Civil Rights movement, yes?"
As a collective we said yes.
"Who can tell me what took place on the day of what we refer to as "Bloody Sunday?" She asked, peering over her glasses at all of us.
Nobody raised their hand.
"Don't all speak at once." She placed her hands on her hips.
Fuck it, I'll do it. I raised my hand.
She looked down at the seating chart placed on her desk.
"Demarcus."
"Umm, it was when Martin Luther King Jr and several other southerners were stopped as they tried to march to Selma, Alabama's city hall."
"Very Good!" She smiled at me. I feel like a fifteen year boy again after I saw my first sports illustrated magazine.
"Hi, Can I get Venti Caramel Macchiato please." Mrs. Carter said to the barista.
"Let me get a Grande Strawberries and Creme Frappuccino and it's on me." I placed my card down on the counter.
It's crazy I ran into her at my daily stop at Starbucks before I go home.
"Demarcus, you didn't have to do that." She turned to me.
"You right, I didn't but I wanted to do it." I grinned. "Mrs. Carter on the behalf of the rest of my classmates: Welcome to our school."
"Thank you, Demarcus. Please call me Erica, it's after school and besides I don't need to feel anymore old as I already do."
"My bad, Erica." I corrected myself.
By any means did I want to offend her in the least bit.
We walked over to a table. I pulled her chair out for her.
"So, is this a thing you do with all your teachers?" She asked,
"I pick & choose. I never did nothing like this for Mr. Wilson, I'll tell you that." I snickered.
She laughed too. "Was he really that bad?"
"Yeah, I was so stressed on a daily."
"Well you don't have to worry about that with me." She gave a gentle smile.
"Good, I think God must've heard our cries to get rid of him." I shrugged. "So, Erica you from Georgia?"
"No, I'm a northerner I'm from New York originally by way of DC, that's where I went to college and started my adult life and lived my life up until now."
"What school?"
"Howard."
"HU!" I said huskily.
"You know!" She replied.
I went to Howard a few times for their homecoming. Shit was fun as hell.
"That's dope."
"So, Demarcus what are you majoring in?"
"I switched so many times. This is my second go round at college." I sipped my drink, feeling a little shame coming on. "I was here before on a football scholarship but I tore my ACL. Dropped out and I returned the start of this school year. I'm here for business."
"I'm sorry to hear that. It's never too late to finish and don't let anyone tell you different."
"Believe me I won't. I use to feel out of place since I'm here with these kids basically."
"College students are all ages. Don't let that take you off your mission!" She assured me.
Talking to her I feel so comfortable. She should be an advisor or counselor or something in that field. I've never felt so chill around a teacher before. It's usually awkward when I have ran into teachers in the past.
"I promise I won't." I placed my hand over my chest.
"I'm glad. Listen, I have to get going. I have one more evening class." She stood up. "See you in class."
"See you in class."
I watched her sashay away. I couldn't help but watch her walk away. So much class and grace. Can't believe my teacher got me feeling like this. I'm really tripping.