Season 1 - Episode 8
Our episode resumes this week at the Jewel House, where the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha are gathered.
Jovan comes down the stairs and finds most of the frat brothers in the living room. DeVaughn and Brian are watching a movie. Nathaniel is on his laptop and Demetrius is reading a book.
Jovan: What's up frat.
DeVaughn and Brian give him a quick nod. Nathaniel says a muffled hello. Demetrius never looks up.
Jovan: Yo Demetrius, I said what's up man. That must be a good book if you ain't even hear me talkin'.
Demetrius: My bad, frat. What's up.
Jovan: What you reading?
Demetrius: Jewels.
Jovan: Jewels?
Demetrius: Yeah man, this frat named Darrius out in DC wrote this book called Jewels about the fraternity being founded. It's hot. All the prospective members need to read this.
Jovan: Oh word? Let me hold that when you're done.
Demetrius: Alright.
Jovan: Yo, I'm bout to ride out to the diner for the NPHC meeting.
Demetrius: Why is it at the diner?
Jovan: You know this aint' an official meeting. We have to make it seem like we're just a group of students out having dinner.
Demetrius: Gotcha. Alright man just be careful. You know we can't have no drama wit the house right now.
Jovan: Yeah man, I know.
Demetrius: Does Sydney know about this meeting?
Jovan: I don't know. Dashia is coming to the meeting for the sorors. I'm sure she does though.
Demetrius: You know we could get in huge trouble for this since we're assembly officers.
Jovan: I know, man. That's why I'm not expecting you to really do anything. Just finish that book so I can read it.
Demetrius laughing: Alright man. I'll catch you later.
Jovan: Later.
Jovan goes to leave and is surprised to find Joi outside when he opens the door.
Jovan: Hey baby! What's up! I didn't expect to see you.
Joi: I know! I wanted to surprise you.
Jovan: That you did. I got a surprise for you too.
Joi: Really? What?
Jovan: I'm on my way out the door.
Joi frowns: Really? Where you goin'?
Jovan: I have a meetin' off campus.
Joi: What kinda meetin'?
Jovan: Okay I'll tell you but it's between us, alright?
Joi: Okay.
Jovan: The greeks are gettin' together tonight to talk about Mona's new rules and to figure out a plan to deal with it.
Joi: Okay, baby. Be careful. I don't want you gettin' into any trouble.
Jovan: I won't. I mean if you wanna go with me, you can. You can't sit in on our meetin' but if you have some books or somethin', I'm sure it wouldn't be a big deal for you to be there in the diner.
Joi: I think I'd like that.
Jovan: Cool. Let me run back in the house to get somethin'. Brian wanted me to talk to Patrick about the Sigma's coachin' one of the step teams for the Diversity step challenge.
Joi: Oh Patrick is going to be there?
Jovan: Yeah. Why what's up? You know Patrick?
Joi: Oh, um....not really.
Jovan: Okay cool so let me just get up in here and get that pap....
Joi cutting Jovan off: Oh you know what honey? I don't think I'm goin' after all. I'm not feelin' too well.
Jovan: What? What's wrong?
Joi: Nothin', I just feel a little queasy all of a sudden.
Jovan: Yeah? And that's exactly why you are goin' cause you probably need to eat somethin'.
Joi; No, Jovan, really, I'm fine. I think I just need to lay down.
Jovan: Sorry, Joi. I'm not takin' no for an answer. You are goin' with me to the diner and that's that. Wait here. I'll be right back.
Jovan goes back into the house
Joi thinks: Oh no....Patrick is going to be there? I haven't seen him since........
Jovan interrupts Joi's thoughts
Jovan: Alright baby, I got what I needed. Let's go!
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Across campus, Taylor and KaShawn have just spent the afternoon together.
Kashawn: Thanks for cookin' dinner, Taylor. It was really good.
Taylor: I mean you say that like you are surprised I can cook or something!
Kashawn: Well.........
Taylor: Well what? Just cause I'm a white girl, you thought I didn't know how to get down in the kitchen?
Kashawn: See there you go again, Taylor. I didn't say nothin' about you being white. You said that!
Taylor: Okay you're right. I apologize. I guess I just been a little defensive lately.
Kashawn (jokingly): That's right girl. Apologize to your man! Got a brother feelin' all bad when he didn't even say nothin about you being white and not being able to cook. But now that you mention it..........(starts to laugh)
Taylor (laughs): Shawn! Stop it! That's not funny!
Kashawn: I'm just playin', girl. Come on over here.
Taylor: I have to finish cleaning up the kitchen!
Kashawn: Forget the kitchen! Come here, girl.
Taylor walks over and sits down into Kashawn's lap.
Kashawn: Okay on a serious tip......I really love you, Taylor. You make me so happy. I never thought I could find someone who would love me and accept me for who I am. I know I'm not always the easiest man in the word to deal with.
Taylor under her breath: you got that right.......
Kashawn: Ok anyway like I was saying! I know I'm not the easiest man in the world to deal with but you always stick by me and that means a lot, Taylor. I love you girl. I can see us gettin' married, havin' kids, buyin' a house........all of that stuff, girl.
Taylor: Oh Kashawn, do you mean it?
Kashawn: Yeah I do. I've never been this happy before, Taylor.
Taylor: Me either, Kashawn. I mean when I first got to Ahpla, I felt so out of place. And then that whole mess with DeVaughn just made it all worse. I feel like my sorors hate me most of the time. You're the only happiness I have.
Kashawn: That's right, baby. I'm here for you. I want you to know that. I got your back.
Taylor with tears in her eyes: Shawn you are making me so happy right now! Does that mean you're finally ready to let the world know that we're together?
Before Kashawn can answer,Taylor's cell phone rings. Taylor looks and sees that it is Natalie calling.
Taylor: Hello?
Natalie: Sup Taylor.
Taylor: Oh hey soror! Ooo-oop!
Natalie: Yeah..........hey listen.......there's an NPHC gathering tonight at the diner and I was supposed to go but I'm not going to be able to make it. Do you think you can cover for me?
Taylor: Oh um sure, soror. What time does it start?
Natalie: In 30 minutes, so you're pretty much gonna have to drop whatever you are doin' and just go. Can you do it? Let me know if you can't and I can try to get Laci to go.
Taylor: Oh no, soror, it's no problem. I'll be there.
Natalie: Thanks, Taylor.
Taylor: Okay! Hey maybe we can get together tomorrow for lunch so I can fill you in on what happens.
Natalie: Oh yeah um.........I'm not really sure. I'll call you.
Taylor: Oh. Okay. I'll just talk to you later then.
Natalie: Yep. Thanks again. Bye.
Natalie hangs up before Taylor can respond.
Kashawn: What was that all about?
Taylor: Natalie wants me to go to that NPHC thingy at the diner. You're going, right?
Kashawn: Yep. Cool so I guess I'll just see you over there.
Taylor: Wait a minute. See me over there? We're not going to ride over there together?
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Across campus, Denitra and Kiaterria are sitting in Denitra's room having a conversation.
Kiaterria: Nitra....
Denitra: What's up girl?
Kiaterria: You alright? I been kinda worried about you since, you know........
Denitra: Since what? Since I found out that my boyfriend is a liar? Is he even my boyfriend anymore? Girl I don't even know what he is. Everything is just so messed up.
Kiaterria: Yeah girl, I hear you.
Denitra: I mean one minute everything was fine between us. It just seems like ever since he crossed, he's been changin'. I'm not surprised though. That's how most people do when they cross, anyway. They start actin' all brand new.
Kiaterria: Ummmmm?
Denitra: I'm sorry girl. You know I don't mean you. I would never say anything to hurt you. You been my best friend since middle school. I'm just so hurt.
Kiaterria: Yeah I know. I can't lie, girl, Joriah has been acting a lil crazy since he crossed. But I saw him this mornin' at breakfast and he told me again to tell you that he's sorry.
Denitra: Yeah I know. I got all 15 of his messages that he left for me today.
Kiaterria: Well........
Denitra: Well what, Tee?
Kiaterria: Well what if he really is sorry? Nobody is perfect, Nitra.
Denitra: Tee, you were not there. There I was looking like a fool in front of this girl and then to add insult to injury, she pulls his cell phone out of her purse. And this is after he told me he left it in Alvin's car! Now how did it magically get from Alvin's car to her purse? I felt so dumb.
Kiaterria: I'm not sayin' you don't have a right to be mad. What he did was wrong. What I'm sayin' is I think he knows what he did was wrong and honestly girl, I don't think he'll do it again. He said he wasn't messin' around with Dashia and I kinda believe him. You and Joriah been together for almost 6 years, girl. Don't you think that is at least worth givin' him a chance to explain himself?
Denitra (sighing): I guess.
Kiaterria: See........now you're talkin'. I'm not sayin' you have to forgive him. All I'm sayin' is give him a chance to talk.
Denitra: I guess I can do that.
Kiaterria: Oh you guess you can do that? Whatever girl. You know you miss that boy!
Denitra smiling: Yeah, I do.......
Kiaterria: Mmm Hmm. I knew you did. So why don't you walk over to his room real quick and give the brotha a chance?
Silence
Kiaterria: Well? Why are you still sittin' here?
Denitra jumps up and throws on her shoes. She gives Kiaterria a hug on her way out the door.
Denitra: Thanks girl! I'll call you later!
Kiaterria: Okay! Love ya girl!
Denitra runs down the stairs out of her building and begins walking over to Joriah's room.
Denitra thinks: Oh what am I doing? Joriah lied to me. I shouldn't even be givin' him the time of day. But Tee is right. I do love him and we have been together for awhile. I guess I could at least listen to whatever it is he has to say. And it has been a few days. I guess I made the brotha suffer long enough. And I do miss my baby.....
Denitra smiles and begins to pick up the pace in excitement to see Joriah. Just as Denitra is turning the corner to Joriah's building, she sees him exiting the building with.......Dashia. Hot tears begin to roll down her face and she turns and starts to walk away. As soon as she turns away, she hears Joriah's voice in the background.
"Nitra! Nitra! Is that you? Wait! Baby, where are you going? Let me talk to you for a minute."
Joriah runs over to catch up with Denitra.
Denitra crying: No Joriah! Turn around and go. You've made it clear what your choice is.
Joriah: No baby, it's not what it looks like! Dashia is pickin' me for somethin'.....
Denitra: And what something would that be?
Joriah: I......I can't say.
Denitra: You can't say?
Joriah: Baby, I'm sorry. You know I wouldn't ever keep a secret from you. But I can't tell anyone who's not.....
Denitra: Who's not what? Go ahead and say it Joriah. You can't tell someone who's not greek. Well I'm sorry Joriah but I'm not greek. And honestly, I don't have the desire to be. But I never thought that would matter with you.
Joriah: And it doesn't. I was being foolish before, Nitra. But I thought about it and......
Denitra: Yeah well I thought about it too, Joriah. I don't fit into your world anymore. All these step shows and greek events you have to go to now. I don't belong there.
Joriah: But Nitra.....
Joriah reaches out to touch Denitra's arm and Denitra jerks her arm away.
Denitra: No........Joriah. I can't do this right now. I need some time to think. Stop calling me, okay?
Joriah: Nitra!
Denitra: I mean it, Joriah. I have to go now.
Denitra turns and walks away in tears, leaving Joriah standing alone.