The Tyler Perry Chronicles

"OVERHEARD" Part 14

Author: CBW1986

DISCLAIMER: Story material is not based on actual events and all content (with the exception of character names) is completely fictional, as a result of creative story telling for recreational purposes only. All story material is copyrighted and all rights are reserved to the original creator.

Tyler sped down the street in the rain, furious that he'd lost control like that. It was the first time he had put his hands on Gelila in over four months. That may not seem like a long time to most people, but he wasn't most people. For a man that would always have flashbacks of the horrible physical fights between his mother and father and watching his mother cower on the floor at the receiving end of his father's kicks, or at times, receiving those violent kicks himself, Tyler felt that four months without a physical confrontation, was progress.

He slowed his speed a bit as the rain picked up. Tyler drove aimless in the night trying to figure out what he was going to do next. He wasn't sure if it was the rain or the alcohol in his system that blurred his vision, but he just rubbed his eyes and continued to drive. Tyler thought about the two women in his life and wondered if all this drama was worth it. He loved both of them, he really did. The past year and a half had been amazing as far as his career, and Gelila had been such a great companion, but Briana had been so constant in his life, up until now, that he didn't know how to let go.

It was at that point, Tyler decided to called Briana, even though he knew she wouldn't pick up. He needed her like he's needed her in the past when he'd get drunk and felt as if he would do something dangerous. Briana always talked him down off the ledge or out of the bottom of the liquor bottle. She's never heard a verbal account of him ever putting his hands on Gelila, but Tyler assumed she figured, especially after the huge fight they got in a few years ago. He remembered losing his temper, throwing things around the room, and hitting Briana. The difference between Briana and Gelila, is that Briana fought back; Tyler remembered being slapped in the face and kicked as the altercation went on. Although the fight didn't last long, Briana left saying one thing that stayed with Tyler forever: she said that if he ever put his hands on her again, she would call the police. Tyler never wanted to get to that point ever again, and he felt himself getting there quickly with Gelila...that's why he left.

Tyler called Briana and got her voicemail of course. He just wanted a chance to talk to her. He kept calling back and leaving multiple messages for her, saying how much he needed to talk to her and wouldn't stop calling until she picked up. Tyler has pulled that on Briana many times before and either one of two things happens: she turns her phone off, or she eventually picks up; Tyler was praying for the latter. The rain continued to pour as he drove way past his studio and was headed on the highway out of Atlanta picking up speed. He had no clear destination and definitely did not like that feeling. Tyler also didn't like the pounding feeling of a headache he was getting. He squeezed his eyes shut and quickly opened them back to try to regain focus back on the wet highway.

He called Briana again, for the seventh time, and much to his pleasure, she picked up:

BRIANA : "Tyler, quit calling me!"
TYLER : "Briana, please! I just need to talk to you..."

Click! Briana hung up the phone. Tyler called her back:

BRIANA : "Tyler, oh my God! What?!"
TYLER : "Can we meet?"
BRIANA : "NO! I'm tired of "meeting" people."
TYLER : "I'm serious, Briana. Please? Can we meet?"
BRIANA : (hearing the slur in Tyler's words, made her realize that she wasn't dealing with the "regular Tyler", so she changed her approach a bit) "Tyler, I'm in New York...we can't meet."
TYLER : "I'll drive and meet you. I'm on my way now."
BRIANA : "Tyler, shut up. You're drunk."
TYLER : "I'm serious. I need you. I need to talk to you. I'll do whatever."
BRIANA : "You need to turn around go back home, before the cops pull you over."
TYLER : "I'm not drunk."
BRIANA : "Tyler..."
TYLER : "I'm not! And I can't go home. I don't wanna go home."
BRIANA : "Why?"
TYLER : "I'll hit her."
BRIANA : "What?"
TYLER : "I'll hit her."
BRIANA : (realizing that Tyler was talking about Gelila) "Oh my God, Tyler! Look. I'm getting off the phone. You're being ridiculous."
TYLER : "NO! Just go to the airport and come to Atlanta."
BRIANA : (sarcastically says) "So I can chill with you and your girlfriend? No, thanks."
TYLER : "No. We'll get a hotel..."

Click! Briana ended their call once again. She could not believe him! Tyler was trying to get her to come and stay with him in a hotel, while his girlfriend, Gelila, was at his house. The nerve of him! Briana knew Tyler was drunk, but there was no way he could be that crazy. She was used to dealing with him when he was intoxicated and talking some sense into him, but he was no longer her problem. Briana's cell phone kept lighting up due to Tyler's constant calling, but she ignored it and just tried to focus on having a safe flight. She was already on her way to the airport en route to her home in Florida, after she wrapped up her studio session, but Tyler didn't need to know she was leaving New York. He's been known to just show up places sometimes, and she did not want to see him or talk to him, especially since she wasn't alone.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Tyler's house was absolutely silent as Gelila sat alone in his study, looking around. She took this time to really think about her situation. Despite the few times Tyler had lost control and yelled at her or put his hands on her, he did take really good care of her. She knew he didn't mean to hurt her, he was just dealing with a lot and she was wrong to add to his stress. She was supposed to be his girlfriend, someone he could turn to at the end of a hard working day and talk to and be safe with, not fight with. Gelila started to feel bad and feel really foolish. She didn't want to loose Tyler, and if he was telling her the truth about Briana being nothing more than his friend, why couldn't she just trust him?

Gelila got up from the couch and paced with worry. Tyler had been gone almost an hour and she was afraid that he wouldn't come back. She didn't want to be the reason he made any bad decisions, so she decided to call him and tell him how sorry she was and if he could just come back home so she knew he was safe. Gelila had no idea where her cell phone was, so she retraced her steps. She went back to the front door and slowly walked back to Tyler's study. She stood once again in the middle of the room close to the fireplace. She didn't see her cell phone anywhere. Gelila rested her hand on top of the fireplace mantle as she put the other on her hip. She scanned the room slowly, and she finally spotted her cell phone underneath the couch. As she took her hand off the fireplace mantle, she brushed against something and knocked it to the floor. Gelila glanced down at a little black velvet box that had rolled to her feet. She felt like she was on a scavenger hunt with all the things she's found over Tyler's house lately. Gelila picked up the little black velvet box off the floor and took a deep breath, anxiously nervous to behold its contents. Once she opened it, there sparkled a beautiful, three stone, emerald cut, diamond ring set in a platinum band. Gelila's heart raced excitedly at the thought of an engagement to Tyler, as she quickly retrieved her cell phone to call him...

To Be Continued...