Legend 8

"I never saw anything like it."

"Right...who knew?  The kid had some balls!"
I wake up to Laurence walking into the apartment.  I walk down to see what he's chatting about only to be a little surprised by who he's talking to.  He's talking to Valentine.  It's rare to see them chatting it up.  I have no doubt they just came from one of their stupid little balls.  That's the only thing they seem to really have in common.

A part of me is kind of glad they are getting along though.

"What are you guys so excited about?" I ask walking into the living room where they were.

Valentine grabs me from behind pulling me in close and kissing me hard without talking. I have no doubt that he came home with Laurence to see me tonight.  I can feel it as he stands behind me that his heart is beating faster.  It must have been an interesting night.  Not only is Valentine acting funny Laurence is as well.  The fact that him and Valentine are getting along so well is blowing my mind.  Laurence has a smile stretched across his face.
"Your brother just tore the house down," Laurence tells me with a smile and then laughing as though remembering something interesting.
"Come again?" I ask.
I'm not just asking Laurence.  I'm asking both of them.
"Your brother walked tonight that's all," Valentine states.
The way Valentine excuses it makes it seem like something more happened that he isn't telling me.  I look over at Laurence sure that he's going to spill.

"Your brother walked against 20 other people.  Six of them were legends.  He took the prize..."

"You're fucking joking..." I say.
I don't know what the status of legend means but I know it's a big deal.  I've heard Justine talking about how only very few people in the ballroom scene obtained the title of legend and that they basically won every category.  When a legend came out there was no real point for anyone else to walk.  I look over my shoulder at Valentine, not understanding what Laurence told me.

"He did well," is Valentine's response with much less emphasis than I heard when the two were talking alone.

"Well? Well!  He slayed!  Ok. He Motherfucking slayed everyone.  He walked out there butt ass naked like a bitch...not only was he not wearing any makeup.  He was not wearing anything at all!  Natural---I tell you.  Oh, shit.  I never screamed so much in my life!"

"My brother did what?  Not my brother Israel," I say at that moment.

My mouth drops.  I'm confused.  I'm lost.  I'm...honestly a little horrified.  Those balls had tons of people there.

"Yeah your brother was butt naked, with his dick swinging, and ass bouncing.  He was the last one to hit the stage and no one took their eyes off of him after that.  He won $5000."

"Shut up," is all the words I can say.

"Dead ass Yo you need to call him.  You need to congratulate him," Laurence states.

I look at him.  My eyes pierce at Laurence slowly so he can understand my facial expression.  I want him to see what I see.  I want him to know how I felt.

"Now why the FUCK Would I Do that?"

I'm ready to argue with Laurence.  I still haven't forgiven him for inviting my brother to the bachelor's party in the first fucking place.  I'm looking at him and to be honest I fed up with it.

"Ok Baby, Time for bed," Valentine states.
Laurence stops me at that moment, "Wait...can we talk Just me and you."

I stare at Laurence for a moment, "Whatever you go to say to me you can say it front of Valentine."

Laurence seems to take that to heart.  He's used to me just going with him.  He's used to me just treating him special.  Honestly since the Bachelor's party Valentine has been acting a little weird.  A part of me wonders if Valentine is suspicious of Laurence and me.  Maybe he did see something and just decided not to say anything.

Regardless...Laurence was about to kiss me and I wasn't about to stop him in the elevator.

Laurence looks at me surprised I'm acting like that, "Since when is our relationship anyone else's business Morocco?

Laurence is looking at me hurt.  A part of me wants to give in but then I see Valentine. He's so out of it he's barely paying attention to the conversation.  He's thinking about something.  He's so...distant.  I can't have that.  I can't have Valentine drifting off and Laurence can't be the reason that he is.
"When I agreed to marry Valentine it became his business as well," I answer sharply.
It's sharper than I may have intended but it makes the point.  Laurence looks hurt but he's a big boy.  He'll get over it.  I need to start cutting the threads between us anyway.  I'm about to be Valentine's.
Laurence nods, "You know what man.  Never mind.  You two make a nice couple."

I'm not sure if Laurence really means it.  The more I sit there and think about it I feel like he's being sarcastic as fuck.  Does he think I'm not good enough for Valentine or something?

Valentine grabs my hand and pulls me away.

He lays in my room with me quietly that night.  Now my heart is the one racing.  I don't get it.  I embarrassed Israel.  How the fuck is it possible that he won such a big ball against people who had been doing it for so long?   How the fuck was that possible?

"Valentine..."

"Yeah babe..."

I assumed he was sleeping.  He's wrapped me up in his powerful arms.  He has no shirt on.   He smells like soft soap from the shower he'd taken 20 minutes earlier.  The television is running in the background because I hate sleeping in the dark.  When I turn, his green eyes are reflecting back the light from the television.  His dyed red locks fall on the pillow below me.  He looks like he's been in deep thought this entire time.

I wonder what he's been thinking about.  Even after all the time we've been together he's still such a mystery man.  The man of my dreams and he's staring at me for a moment with blank eyes.

"I got a question," I respond.

"What's up?"

"What do you see in me?" I ask.
I know I may sound like a little bitch but I have to ask him anyway.
He snorts a little bit, "Boy go to sleep."

"No seriously, Why me?  You can get any man in the world.  Why me?"

"You're beautiful to me."

I just sit there for a moment, "That would mean a lot.  It would be enough if I was the only boy in the world with my face.  I'm not though.  Why me...you know?  Why me?"

I keep repeating it hoping that it would make me clearer but it seems like Valentine gets more and more confused each time I ask him.
He buries his head in the pillow, "We have...you know?  History."

"You're with me because of history?"

"Dammit, man what you want me to say?  You're strong.  You're a force to be reckoned with.  You're powerful," he explains, "That's why I fuck with you.  C`mon.  What is this, twenty questions, where is all this coming from?"

"I don't know."

"Go to sleep..."

"Israel."

"What?"

"You asked me where this is coming from.  It's coming from Israel," I explain honestly sitting up at that moment, "I can't get over the past.  Seeing Jonathan Chambers brought back all these feelings, and all this resentment that I had."

"You want me to kick Lucky out of the house?  I'll talk to Father Cavalli.  I'll ----"

"Lucky isn't the problem.  The way he stares at Israel is the problem," I say, "Why do men want someone that's not combative.  Why do they want a yes man like Israel?  What about me?  You know?"

"You're beautiful.  You're sexy."

"Show me."

"What?"

"Show me!"

I hop on top of him.  I take off my shirt at that moment.  I look down at Valentine.  I want to feel beautiful.  I want to feel sexy as fuck.  I'm grinding on top of him in a matter of minutes.  Valentine looks up at me with wonder in his eyes.

"Morocco you're tripping.  It's the middle of the night."

"So what?"

"Look you got to work in the morning," Valentine explains, "What is all this anyway?  You spent your life being so comfortable and secure in who you are.  What are you and Israel trading places?  Are you the insecure brother all of a sudden?"

Shit.  Maybe I was.

"Just fuck me.  Fuck me the way Jonathan wants to fuck Israel."

"I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT," Valentine says a little disgusted before tossing me to the side "Go to bed Morocco.  Shit."

"Valentine..."

It's the first time he has turned me down for sex.  It's the first time I feel rejected.  All of a sudden all these feelings of inadequacy start bubbling up in my head.  Why Israel?  Why did Jonathan Chambers pull him aside at the party and ignore the fuck out of me?  Was it because I was engaged or was it something more?

"I think Valentine's cheating."

"Boy shut the fuck up," Justine tells me at that moment rolling her eyes.
"I'm serious."

Justine's eyes widen.  She looks at me in the shop.  Its clear there is drama all of a sudden when she crosses her arms "No, Not Valentine."

"I'm dead serious."

"When did you start suspecting?"

I sit there for a moment, "Two weeks ago he refused to have sex with me.  We haven't had sex since then.  We haven't even touched since then."

Justine's rolls her eyes, "Two weeks.  I mean...I'd wait years for dick like Valentine."

"I'm serious.  Valentine is sexual.  He's a freak.  He eats it out, he digs it out, he does all that.  He usually can't keep his hands off of me.  Lately he's just been I don't know, distant.  It's like he's having second thoughts about the wedding."

I'm sitting there stressing the fuck out about this.  Justine is rarely serious about stuff like this but there is no one else I can really talk to about it.  Usually I'd go to Laurence about relationship issues but truthfully, Laurence and I haven't been getting along since the whole Israel situation.

"Cheating is pretty serious though," Justine, responds, "Maybe it's boxing.  I heard boxers don't like to do it before a fight...or something like that..."

"I know about that.  That's not it," I say.

"Do you know who it could be?" she asks.

"Have you seen the entire house of Cavalli?" I ask rolling my eyes, "All those men are built like gods.  He's around them all the time."

"He looks at them as family.  I'm sure."

I shrug, "Please don't sit here and tell me people in gay houses don't fuck around with one another.  I'm not that dumb.  The only family is the one you are born with period."

"Speaking of which---"Justine states probably trying to change the subject because it's a little too heavy for her, "Your brother is slaying the ballroom scene hunny."

"What?"

"He's won 3 trophies in the last two weeks," Justine responds, "He's been just storming the scene lately.  It's crazy."

She is so serious when she's talking.  I'm standing there thinking about it.  The last person I want to talk about is my brother.  Then again...maybe the person who I need to talk to is my brother.  Israel wasn't the best person in the world but at the same time, Israel listened.  He listened.  Israel was mature.  He'd be easy to talk to about my issues with Valentine.

Maybe that's why I pick up a phone at that moment.  I look in my phone and I text Israel: Hey come by later.  I kind of miss you.  Kind of want to talk.

The night arrives quickly.  I meet Israel at the house but we don't stay there long.  For a while, we are sitting in silence.  I know he is being the same old Israel again scared to spark up the interest.  I'm more quiet because I'm thinking about Valentine.  Israel's awkwardness is so annoying to me.  He is the definition of meek.  At the same time I'm wondering how people are talking about him winning these competitions where confidence is key.   Israel definitely lacked that.

"What are we doing here?" Israel asked.
"I didn't want to come here alone.  I didn't know who else to bring with me."

"Where is here?"

"The Cavalli house meeting," I respond.

"Cavalli HOUSE MEETING!"  Israel states, "I'm a Balmain.  I can't just show up at the house meeting of the house that hates us.  Do you know Body Cavalli has been threatening Naomi?"

"Relax.  They won't hurt you.  You're with me," I state, "And you're just here for moral support anyway.  Relax."

"Who am I supporting?" He asks and when I give him a stupid glare in response, he shakes his head, "I thought you weren't into the ballroom scene.  Why the hell are you here Morocco?"

My brother gives me a suspicious look.  I'm rather annoyed by it.  The reason I brought him in the first place was because Laurence hated being around the Cavalli's since they were his biggest competition in the ballroom scene.  Justine was too much of a whore to bring around because god knows she would overreact being around so many sexy men.

Therefore, I had to bring my brother and I expected him to just be the silent support.

"Listen.  I think Valentine is cheating on me," I admit.

"What?"

"We haven't had sex," I explain and before he can go ahead and counter with his normal logic I adjust what I'm saying, "It's more than that.  He just seems distant ever since the night of the Bachelor's party honestly.  Maybe him seeing Jonathan again kind of made him weary.  Exes do that.  But I just got a feeling he's into someone else."

My brother gives me a curious stare, "You...do?"

"Yeah.  Swear to god.  Just something in my skin man.  I know my man.  Moreover, I also know these Cavalli's are sexy. So I'll entertain them and go to their little house meeting.  Body wants me to join so badly.  What they don't know is I'm really here to figure out who Valentine has been chasing..."

My brother is quiet and awkward.  Finally, he's back to his normal self.
He stands silently in my shadow as we pull up to Body's house.  Only it's more like a mansion in North Philly.   Word around Philly was that Body Cavalli got all of this money or what not from this guy who was his sugar daddy but I didn't like to spread rumors or nothing.  By the time we get to the door Israel looks like he's ready to run.
I shoot him a stare letting him know that I need his support.  Regardless of the issues we've been going through, he's my brother and right now, I needed him more than anything especially with me suspecting someone else had Valentine's attention.

A maid opens the door, "They are in the dining room."

She smiles and walks us in taking our coats as she does.  I look over at Israel and we make eye contact.

We walk into the dining room to see a room full of Adonis, thoroughbred men.  I mean all of them are 10s in my book.  I honesty can't stand it.  Body is at the head of the table.  They've already started eating and talking amongst themselves about this ball and that ball.

Valentine recognizes who I am almost immediately, probably because Israel is lurking in the shadows of the room like he always does while I walk straight up to the table confidently.  Hell maybe Valentine's been around us enough now to know the difference between us physically.

"Morocco what are you doing here?" he asks in a drastic tone.
It almost makes me feel like he has something to hide when he says it like that.  The way he sounds is almost like he's scared...no, like he's terrified.  I knew it.  I knew this was a good idea to come here.  I look around the room at the Cavalli's.  They are all staring between my brother and me.  No doubt, they are trying to figure which is which.

I am trying to figure which one is sleeping with my fucking man.

"He was invited," Body Cavalli calls out to Valentine.
"Hmph.  What's for dinner?"  I say crossing the room to the only open seats that I see and signaling strongly for my super shy brother to hurry up and bring his ass right next to me, "You all know my brother Israel I presume.  He's into the whole ballroom shit you guys are."

The room stares at Israel something mean.  I can kind of see why.  I mean he was responsible for beating up Valentine and these guys were supposedly like Valentine's family.

"What the hell is the Balmain doing here?" one of the boys asks.
I give him a look.  He's handsome.  He's probably in his mid-20s.  He's dark, almost one of the most beautiful dark skin complexions I'd ever seen actually.  His complexion is like a mocha bronze color.  He must be African.  I can tell by his strong facial features but nonetheless he's beautiful and exotic looking.  When he talks, there is a small gap between his teeth.  And of course...like all the others, he has body.  His muscles are defined poking out of his sleeveless shirt.

"Haiti, calm down, it's not his fault what happened at the ball," Valentine defends Israel, "Plus... we all talked about it."

Interesting.  Why was this Haiti guy so interested in protecting Valentine?  Why was he also so quick to turn his frown upside down when Valentine stopped him from talking?  I lean over investigating the others in the room.  This boy Haiti was definitely the most striking one even though all the other men were handsome.  The way that he seems so defensive of Valentine is really catching my attention.
"Not that we are complaining...but why are you here?" Body asks, "I don't want Naomi to get any funny ideas about me stealing her prodigy."

Israel looks over at me clearly unsure how to answer...as usual.  So I open my mouth and cross my arms, "Listen I figured it'd be a chance to mend things between the Cavallis and the Balmains."

"After they beat up Valentine?" Haiti asks.

A couple of the other Cavalli's jump in.  They start backing up with what Haiti says. . There is a small sense of discord amongst the house members.  They seem united which I honestly think is kind of cute.  What I don't think is cute is that Haiti keeps jumping to Valentine's defense.

Valentine looks uncomfortable too.  He keeps moving around his chair.  He isn't giving anyone any type of eye contact.  He's just staring at his place.  It looks like he is miserable and every moment he has to be here just keeps making him feel worse.
I wonder what it is that's making Valentine so uncomfortable...

"Maybe he likes one of us," a voice says, "It's in our chant isn't it.  They can't help but to stare at the Cavallis..."
The boy is pompous and I should know the voice almost immediately.  It's Jonathan.  He's sitting at the end of the table. Only he goes by Lucky now.  He ignores me as usual and stares directly at Israel as if Israel is the most desirable thing he's ever met in his life.  You would think I wasn't even the one who gave him a whole fucking year of my life.
Israel is so fucking awkward.  He has no social mood at all.  He looks over at Valentine and says almost slightly above a whisper, "Please pass the steak."
"I think it's been the opposite lately," one of the Cavallis at the table says.
Another Cavalli looks over at Israel and adds almost immediately, "Right.  We can't help but to look at you.  We all saw your last two balls.  You were..."

"Amazing," Lucky finishes for the Cavallis.
Lucky stares across the table at Israel.  Israel can barely keep his head up.  He just nods and hums something that I think is a thank you but honestly I am not sure.
I roll my eyes, "I thought I was the one who was here to be recruited."

Body Cavalli laughs at my bluntness, "Yes.  Yes you are.  I mean if that's what you'd like.  The house of Cavalli always has a place for you."

Valentine shoots me a glare, "You don't even want to be in a house.  Be real with yourself on why you're doing this..."

I can tell Valentine wants to say more.  If we were in private, he would probably say more.  I can tell he puts his little gay family on a pedestal, or...whatever.  I could care less honestly.  I look around the table and just shrug my shoulders.  I'm trying hard not to be petty.  I'm trying hard not to get in my emotions like I normally do.

"I'd think it'd be nice to belong to something.  Belong to a family," I state, "To be closer to the person I care about."

Lucky laughs.

"Erm...sorry," he responds.

I look across the table at him and give him a cold stare, "Something funny?"

"Nothing.  Just wondering Israel might as well come join the house too for that reason.  Be around someone that he cares about."

This boy was annoying me every minute.
"Baby...you really want to fuck my brother that bad huh?  After all these years?" I ask.
It's more annoying than ever.  I didn't mean to call him baby in the way that I did.  I meant it sarcastically.  Valentine looks angry all the same.  I cross my arms and shoot darts at Lucky.  He's looking at my brother like he's something to eat.  It makes me sick really.  I have to admit it's a little bit of jealousy.  Maybe its' the fact that he is clearly making Israel more and more uncomfortable each moment.

"Wake up, Morocco," Lucky responds with a snare of antagonism in his voice, "You aren't the sexy twin anymore.  I'm not the only one who wants to fuck him either..."

I'm not sure what Lucky is getting at and I don't give a fuck.  He disgusts me.  He always has and everything that he says make me sick.  Clearly, from the sick noise Israel is making at that moment I'm not the only one.

"I don't feel too well," Israel immediately responds, "Excuse me everyone."

He gets up from the table and runs out back into the hallway probably to ask the maid where the nearest bathroom is.
"Great you made him sick," I respond looking at Lucky.
"Good riddance," Haiti Cavalli responds smiling over at Father Cavalli as though carrying on a little inside joke between the two of them.

"You really want to defend Valentine don't you?" I ask this Haiti Cavalli.

"Excuse me?" the Haiti person asks.

Valentine shoots me a stare, "You going to check on your brother or are you going to go around the table trying to shove your weight around on everyone?"

"He's fine," I respond.

Valentine sighs violently before getting up from the table and running out of the room towards where Israel went.  I'm happy that he left.  Now I can really get into this Haiti Cavalli guy.  I'm shooting him death stares and he's staring back at me.

Haiti smiles, "Is there something you want to say, Morocco?"

I remember him now from the Bachelor's party.  The way he says my name makes me remember him.  Valentine hadn't even introduced me to him.  Body introduced me to him.  Valentine was out of it the entire night staring away at one thing or another.  I wonder if the reason he was out of it was because Haiti Cavalli was in his presence.
That would make all the sense in the world.

"Maybe he's considering joining the house," Father Cavalli states clearly on his one-track mind.
I interrupt them at that moment and cross my arms, "Maybe, Maybe not.  Just depends."

"On what?"

"I want to know who at this table has been fucking my boyfriend..."

The table gets quiet, really quiet.  Everyone looks at one another.  My eyes set on Haiti.  Haiti looks at me raising an eyebrow.  And then I see it.  I see the look in his eyes.
He's...clueless

There is laughter that rings out of nowhere though.  Within the next couple minutes I turn to the end of the table and see Lucky there laughing.

"You're joking aren't you?" Lucky asks.

"About?"

"The person who's been fucking your boyfriend isn't at this table..."

I look at Lucky, "Jonathan.  What do you know?  Seriously."

Lucky turns around and there is a sinister smile that takes over his face full of intention of malice and a desire to hurt,  "The person whose been fucking Valentine...just so happens to be the same person that Valentine just chased behind."

My heart drops.

No.

Not Valentine and Israel.

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