All Signs Point to You Part Two by Navaura Campbell (uplifting books for women .TXT) 📖

much about America before I came here."

"Do you like it?"

Sebrea shrugged. "It's ok. Not as beautiful as France."

He nodded his head understanding. “Well, I'm sorry about that."

She laughed. "You're so sweet. Don't be sorry. Every one has their preferences."

Jordan smiled. "That's the truth."

Just then, the gym doors opened and giggles were heard as two girls entered. Jordan turned immediately to the source. Denise and some girl had their arms intertwined and were laughing as they entered the gym. He turned back to Sebrea, "Well, it's nice meeting you Sebrea, but I have to go now."

Sebrea nodded, "You too. I'm sorry to take up your time."

"No, it's fine. I just need to get those two girls out of here, because they're not supposed to be here still."

Sebrea brown eyes widened. "Really. I'll see you another time then?"

He smiled, "The next game is at Brown. If you come, scope me out."

Sebrea sighed. "Alright. Well, I'll see you later."

"Alright." When Sebrea left, Jordan focused his attention on the two girls.

"Girl, you are going to have so much fun, you're not going to know what to do with all of it." Yari stated as they walked away from the bleachers with their things.

"I can't believe you convinced the guy to have them ready within two hours."

"How late can you stay out?"

Denise shrugged, "Eleven."

Yari glanced at her watch. "It's eight thirty now, we..."

"You girls aren't supposed to be in here, the game's over."

Both girls stopped chatting and looked over at the source. Denise rolled her eyes. "We were just getting our things, we're leaving."

Jordan came up to them; his face hard. "Why didn't you leave when everyone else did?"

Yari raised a brow. "Who are you to be telling us when we have to leave anyway?"

Jordan looked Yari up and down. He hated big mouth girls, and this one definitely spelled trouble.

"I have to make sure everyone is gone from the building at a decent hour."

"Who told you that?"

"No one." Jordan narrowed his eyes at the girl. "But seeing how the game was over at seven thirty, you should've had plenty of time to grab your things and leave."

Yari put a hand on her hip, "Why are you concerned with us leaving? You can't lock up and you're a student yourself."

Jordan looked over at Denise again, who stood there quiet, just absorbing it all. "It would be better for you girls to get home safely, rather than be the last to leave."

" You aren't our daddies, so why the hell do we need to listen to you?” Yari fueled. We'll leave when we get ready."

He didn't say anything just stood there, his arms crossed.

Denise, who felt uncomfortable chose this moment to speak up. "Ok, Yari, let's just go."

Yari stood there, staring him down. Denise Grabbed a hold of the girl, she said, "Let's go, ok."

Yari smirked. "Stupid white boy."

Denise paused. "Don't say that Yari."

Yari looked at Denise, taking in the defensive tone."Why? He came over here meddling in our business.”

" Denise shrugged, becoming irritated. “Let's just go. He's just looking out for our safety.”

Yari glanced at Denise and then back at the white guy and then she rembered who he was. Putting a hand up to her mouth, she said, “Ahh, I see. So you came over here to see her out. Right?”

Jordan's ears and cheeks flushed red.

“Don't be embarrassed that you care. I think it's kind of sweet. Maybe a little stalkerish, but non the less, sweet.”

Denise felt dread coming on. Grabbing Yari's hand, she attempted to pull the girl along.

"Come on Yari, I thought you wanted to go to the club"

Jordan snickered at this. He couldn't picture Denise in a club; Never.

Denise shot him a dirty look. He shrugged, his hands up in the air as if to say, what?

"Alright, let's go." Yari looked up at Jordan with a smile on her face, shaking her head. “You got it bad.”

He pressed his lips together tightly. Not saying anything.

 

Chapter Twenty Eight:

 

Denise slipped into the house. She was an hour past curfew. She didn't want to wake anyone up, knowing that the result would be trouble. Sighing, she went into her room, undressed, got ready for bed and then went to her pajama drawer. Grabbing a night gown, she slid it over her head and then got into bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out.

Jordan awoke the following morning to the smell of bacon, eggs, coffee, grits and biscuits. Quickly, he got dressed, brushed his teeth, washed his face and then went down stairs for breakfast. He kissed his mother on the cheek and sat down at the table. "Hey ma.”

"Sleep well?" Mrs. Williams asked as she set out a plate of food for him.

"Yeah, I slept pretty well," He fibbed. He'd been up on and off during the night, thinking of Denise. He had screamed into his pillow out of frustration plenty of times before falling to sleep and then waking up to the smell of delicious aromas from the kitchen.

Sighing, he grabbed his fork and dug into the food, which temporarily distracted him from his dilemma.

"You know, today is youth day at church. You want to go?" His mother inquired.

Jordan's response was nonchalant. "No thanks."

"It'll be a good way to get out of the house." Mrs. Williams supplied.

"I don't know if I want to go anywhere today." He stabbed at the eggs on his plate. With a forkful, he brought them to his mouth, and chewed.

"It's a good way to get Denise off your mind." Anita stated. She knew that he'd taken his break up with her pretty serious.

Jordan glanced at her. "How thoughtful mom."

"There are cute girls everywhere."

Jordan laughed softly. "Look at you using the Lord's house as a meeting place for singles."

Mrs. Williams brought her own coffee cup up to her lips. "You don't even have to go out with any of them, Jordan. You don't need to be cooped up being tormented all day, every day."

Jordan smiled at his mother. "You're such a sweet mom. How did I get so lucky?"

Mrs. Williams laughed. "Thanks for the flattery."

"It's true, I'm very lucky to have you as a mother."

"I'm lucky to have a son like you too."

Jordan smile widened. "I think I'll take you up on that offer after all."

~ ~

Denise sat in front of the mirror. Taking her hand, she ran it through the strands, following the curl pattern. Her hair was thick, curly, and sponge like when pulled out and spiraling back into its natural pattern. Looking up into the mirror, she began a conversation.

"Who are you?" Her reflection stared back at her, duplicating her mannerisms. She sighed and leaned forward.

"What do you like?" Her eyes were almond shaped, long thin lashes. The dark pupils stared back speechless.

"What is your best feature?" Immediately, her gaze went to her lips. They were full with a heart shaped out lining. She traced them, but quickly stopped. This reminded her of the pressure of Jordan's mouth against hers. She inhaled, and then exhaled.

"What makes you so special...Unique?" She paused a minute, contemplating this thought. She was reminded of her organizational skills. She was great at keeping things orderly and compacted; in a little box. Her heart screamed.

"I hate being like that." She stated, putting a hand up to her face, resting her chin in its palm. Then change it! She closed her eyes, and then opened them. This seemed to help her relax. But how? She sat there, staring at that mirror, with no particular answer to that question.

Around ten o'clock that morning, the phone rang. Vicki was the first to answer it. She and Denise had been in the living room playing monopoly. Vicki picked the phone up from it's cradle and spoke. "Hello?"

After a minute, she gave the phone to Denise. Denise took it. "Hello?"

"Hey, De." A cheery medium pitched voice spoke.

"What's up Quinn?" Denise greeted into the phone.

" What do you think of community service?"

Denise paused. She didn't have a thought about it. That was something that never crossed her mind.

"Community Service?"

"Yes. There's this program I'm head of called: Young Adult American Leaders."

Denise listened. "I'm listening."

"It's a leadership program that teaches the value of life through the community."

"Ok." Denise began to twine the cord around her fingers. She had never heard of this program before.

"It's a program that works with children, teaching them how to read."

"Like tutoring?" Denise inquired.

"Yes, except these children are further behind in their studies than most children."

"Oh."

"The children come in to the center, are given breakfast and lunch while they are there, and then go through a series of reading groups; depending on their level. I have to be there by one, would you like to come along?"

Denise didn't know what to think, nor say. "I've never worked with children before."

"That's fine, you don't have to decide today whether you want to work with this program, you can just be an observer."

"Oh."

"Then, should you like it, you can join." He finished.

Denise nodded. Why not? She didn't have anything to do that day anyway.

"Sure. I have to talk to mom about it."

"Alright, I'll call when I'm on my way."

"Ok." With that, the phone clicked on the other end and Denise hung up hers. She walked into the den where her mother was forever working on some project. Going down the stairs, she called her name as she entered.

"Yes, Denise?" Mrs. Richards was standing over her desk with blue prints spread out over the entire desk.

"Can I go with out with Quinn today? He wants me to help participate in a program."

"What kind of program?" Mrs. Richards hair had grown out some, falling a little below her neck now. There was a clip holding it back.

"The Young Adult American Leadership Program. They teach children who are behind in language arts how to read."

Mrs. Richards stopped what she was doing and turned to face Denise. "You weren't with him when you came in at twelve last night, were you?"

Denise licked her lips anxiously. "You heard me come in?"

"You walked right past me sitting on the couch Denise."

"Oh."

"I figure since you didn't smell like alcohol or look disheveled like you'd been out on a date, then it wasn't a big deal, but I don't want you thinking you can do it all the time. Next time, come in on time."

Denise nodded. "Yes ma'am."

She turned back to her work.

"Can I go with Quinn?"

"My, my, we're anxious to go start reading to the kiddies, aren't we?"

Denise sighed. "It beats sitting around here all day."

Mrs. Richard let out a yawn. "I suppose, since you are doing it for charity reasons."

"Thank you," Denise went to her mother and gave her a peck on the cheek. "Bye, mom. See you later." Immediately, she went to the phone, called Quinn and told him the news.

Jordan parked his mother's Nissan in one of many vacant spaces at the church. He couldn't believe after four years of not being here, he was coming at the request of his mother. He cut the engine. Looking over at her as she opened the door, he smiled. He loved his mother so much; he'd do anything she asked.

Opening his own door, he closed it and went around to hers and helped her out. He grabbed her bible. She smiled at him. "Thanks, Jordy."

Jordan grinned embarrassed, but didn't say anything.

"Hi, Mrs. Williams," A voice greeted them from a few feet from where he'd parked. He looked up and saw that it was the girl from last night. He couldn't remember her name, Saber, something close to that nature.

"I didn't know you had a son Mrs. Williams." She smiled at the older woman. Coming up to the woman, she gave her a hug. Mrs. Williams smiled, "Isn't he handsome?" She boasted. Jordan blushed, looking away.

"Yes, he's quite handsome." Sebrea stated truthfully.

"Jordan, this is Sebrea Alexi, Sebrea, this is my son, Jordan." She introduced the two.

Jordan held out a hand to her. She shook it. Her