Nothing Can Come Between Us By Cherlina Works
***EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT***

eBooks July 1st

Based on lust and hate, Nothing Can Come Between Us is a page-turning drama laced with sex, drugs, money, and betrayal. After she suffers a broken heart, an evil persona emerges in the beautiful and sexy MeKeisha. Becoming unstable, MeKeisha develops an unhealthy obsession with her naïve best friend’s boyfriend. When a crisis occurs, MeKeisha uses the opportunity to commit the ultimate betrayal, going on a path of backstabbing, deceit, and stopping at nothing to get what she wants.   Seeing her childhood friends, Sha’Lena and Dominique, achieve their dreams of musical stardom, adds fuel to the fire and MeKeisha’s jealousy soon boils over.  One girl’s life will be tragically cut short. Will they find the courage to end this deadly friendship, or will MeKeisha get caught in her own web of deception?

Excerpt:

MeKeisha

The night we spent at Dominique’s house was restless. I was glad when morning came. I decided to get up early and make breakfast for everyone. After doing my morning routine, I made pancakes, eggs, and bacon. De’Andre was the first to arrive in the kitchen.

“Hey, MeKeisha. Good morning. Thanks for making breakfast.” De’Andre gave me a friendly hug. “I’m pretty sure Dominique won’t be in the mood to make it.”

I held on to De’Andre tightly, giving him plenty of opportunity to look at my cleavage. He backed away abruptly. I stepped up to him and began whispering.

“Don’t worry. Sha’Lena and Dominique are still asleep. I won’t tell either one of them.” He looked at me like I had crawled from under a rock.

“What’s the matter with you, MeKeisha? You know Sha’Lena’s my girl.”

“I know that Sha’Lena’s your girl. But that doesn’t mean we can’t snuggle up together. I’m still feeling anxious after listening to Jordon’s message over the answering machine.”

De’Andre returned my embrace. I slipped my hands under his pajamas and rubbed his chest. This felt better than being in LaMar’s arms.   We made eye contact.

“We better stop before Sha’Lena and Dominique wake up”.

“Stop what? We haven’t done anything. Yet. Let’s finish later on when we don’t have to worry about being interrupted.”

We heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Dominique was the first to arrive into the kitchen, followed by Sha’Lena and, Dominique and De’Andre’s mother, Katherine Stephens, preventing De’Andre from answering.

“Good morning, everybody. It was so nice of you to make breakfast for everyone, MeKeisha.”

Ms. Stephens tried to smile, but I could tell her heart wasn’t in it. Jordon’s harassment of Dominique was stressing her out too. My heart went out to her. I was actually surprised about that. Maybe the seriousness of the situation was beginning to sink in.

Except for saying grace, we all ate in silence. My mind went back to De’Andre. Wondering about later on………

“You all go ahead, finish getting ready for school. Don’t worry about the breakfast dishes. I’ll do that”, said Katherine Stephens. She had the same golden complexion Dominique had, and was just as lovely.

Then the phone rang.

“Just let the answering machine pick up, just in case it’s Jordon,” Katherine said.

It was Jordon. His voice was a deadly monotone when he asked about Dominique’s whereabouts.

“You only have four days left. I won’t let you have a life without me in it.”

“That’s it! I’m taking care of Jordon myself. We don’t need the police.” De’Andre grabbed his jacket and was about to storm out the door. Ms. Stephens grabbed him by the shoulders.

“No, De’Andre. Let the police take care of it. Will you promise me that?” He hesitated.

“O.K., for now. But I ain’t letting nothing happen to Dominique. They better hurry up and do something before I do.”

“Look, De’Andre. You’re going to college and you have a good chance of winning a scholarship. You have an opportunity that not many African-American males have. I’m not going to let you throw it away just to get revenge on Jordon.”

“I understand, Momma. But I can’t take this much longer.”

“I know how you feel, De’Andre. This is going to be over soon. Jordon isn’t crazy enough to violate that restraining order. Dominique, are you sure you’re up to going to school today?”

“Sure, Momma. I’m not going to let Jordon make me a prisoner in my own home. C’mon, let’s go before we miss the bus.” Dominique managed a half-hearted smile. Sha’Lena and Dominique embraced briefly.

“Oh, wait a minute. I forgot my calculus book. De’Andre, have you seen it?”

“Yeah, it’s upstairs in my room. I’ll go get it”.   Dominique followed De’Andre.

“Are you out of your mind?” De’Andre was startled by Dominique’s voice behind him.

“What are you talking about, Dominique?”

“You know what I’m talking about. I saw you and MeKeisha in the kitchen. What if

Sha’Lena had come into the kitchen and saw you two together?”

“It’s not what you think, Dominique. ‘Keisha just wanted me to comfort her. She’s worried about Jordon doing something to you. Just like I am.”

“You two are planning on getting together later on. I heard the whole thing. You better not break Sha’Lena’s heart. Let’s go on and catch the bus. We’ll talk about this later on.”

“Ain’t nothing to talk about. I ain’t planning on getting with MeKeisha.”

“You better not be. Let’s go and catch the bus.” Dominique and De’Andre walked down the stairs. Dominique looked at me as if she wanted to lecture me about something. Whatever. I’ve had it. I’m not putting up with that anymore. She better not say anything to me. We all said goodbye to Ms. Stephens and walked out the door.

We all walked in silence. De’Andre was holding Sha’Lena’s hand. I watched silently. He may have been holding Sha’Lena’s hand, but I’m pretty sure he was thinking about our embrace.

When we arrived at school, I saw LaMar pull into the school’s parking lot in a burgundy Monte Carlo with gold rims. A classic “dopemoble”. He wasn’t alone. Brianna was with him. So, Mr. Hampton gives his ex-girlfriend a ride and makes me catch the bus. Well, that was the last straw.

“Are you O.K., MeKeisha?” asked Sha’Lena, noticing that LaMar was walking with Brianna.

“Sure, I’m O.K.” I’ll be better than O.K. when I’m in bed with De’Andre. “I’ll be seeing you guys at lunch time.” Everyone went their separate ways. I decided to go into the school’s library to avoid running into LaMar. But my plan didn’t work. As I was about to enter the school’s library, I heard LaMar’s voice from behind.

“I want that stuff back, MeKeisha.”

“What stuff?”

“That stuff I gave you when you were over my house. I need it back. I’m in trouble. I never meant to give you that. I only meant for you to have the weed.”

“You’re in trouble alright. Why do you keep dissing me for Brianna?

“Brianna is my girlfriend. I’m not with you anymore.” LaMar’s voice was as cold as ice. It was as though he’d slapped me.

“You’re gonna dump me for that plain-ass Brianna?”

“Don’t hate on my girlfriend. I don’t know why you’re so surprised. You wouldn’t give me any, so I went to someone who would. And I want that stuff back.”

“I don’t have it, LaMar.”

“What you mean, you don’t have it?” Suddenly the coldness was gone from his voice. “Please, MeKeisha. The drug dealers want either their money or the drugs back.”

“Well, I don’t have it, so get out of my face.” I started walking away. He grabbed me by the shoulders and spun me around violently.

“I ain’t playin’ with you, MeKeisha. I want that stuff back now.” I had backed myself into a corner. There was no way I could tell LaMar that his drugs were in police custody. Now, I wish I had listened to Dominique.

“I’m sorry, LaMar. But I never looked to see what it was. Then I forgot and put those jeans in my dirty clothes hamper and they ended up getting washed. I didn’t know. I just didn’t know.” I knew it was a lame lie, but my head was spinning. I didn’t have much time to think.

“How could you be so stupid?”

“You’re the one that’s stupid. Why didn’t you just keep it yourself?”

LaMar stormed away, then came right back. Despite the heated content of our conversation,

we managed to keep our voices low. LaMar believed in being discreet.

“’Keisha, like I said, I’m in trouble. I need for you to help me, please. Those drugs were worth $1000. Is there any way you can come up with $500? Please? I gave you five hundred. At least give me that back.”

He must think I’m a total idiot. There’s no way I’m going to give him a penny back. I was smart not to have had sex with him after all. He’s a fool to let me go. Brianna doesn’t look half as good as I do.

“LaMar, even though you’re not my boyfriend anymore, you’re still a friend. I’ll help you. Just tell me when and where.” My voice was strangling with anger, but I managed to control it.

“Bring the money to my house tomorrow at six. And thanks. I appreciate it.”

“No problem.” Whatever. LaMar went inside the library. I walked away before Barbara or Brianna showed up. I was definitely done with that drama. Or was I? I knew that once I saw Brianna, she was going to rub it in my face about LaMar dumping me. Well, I was going to end it once and for all. Something told me to go to LaMar’s locker. As I opened his locker door, Dominique’s words, ‘He’s going to try to get you to do all kinds of stuff’ ran through my mind. A small photo album caught my attention. I looked inside and was shocked. Nude photographs of several teenaged girls!   I didn’t recognize any of them. None of these girls went to Madison High. Except the one on the last page. Brianna! LaMar had gotten her to pose nude and was probably planning on getting me to pose nude as well. I had let him talk me into smoking a little marijuana, but that was it. There was no way I’d go any further. I snatched the photo of Brianna out of the photo album and put it in my notebook. I couldn’t believe Brianna was stupid enough to let LaMar photograph her in the nude. Why would LaMar bring that to school anyway? It didn’t matter why. I couldn’t wait to put this picture on the Internet and humiliate Brianna.

She’d think that LaMar had done it. I looked both ways, making sure no one saw me.

I went to Mr. Coleton’s algebra class. Damn, I still hadn’t studied with Sha’Lena and Dominique. But I guess that doesn’t matter anymore.

Another boring chapter in exponents. Thank goodness it was the last one. I’m not even going to pretend to concentrate. I didn’t have to. Mr. Coleton only called on the brainiacs.

Finally, class was over. As everyone was leaving, Mr. Coleton said, “O.K, don’t forget to study for tomorrow’s test. Final exams are right around the corner.” He made eye contact with me.

“MeKeisha, can I see you for a minute, please?” He closed the door after everyone left.

“Have you given any thought to my offer, MeKeisha?”

“Yes.”

“What have you decided?”

“I’ll go to bed with you.”   Mr. Coleton’s face lit up. “I knew you’d change your mind.”

Mr. Coleton can have what LaMar missed out on.
Find the author:
www.Twitter.com/cherlinaworks1
https://www.facebook.com/cherlinaworks.works

Find the book:
www.amazon.com on July 1st