“‘Fire and Ice’?”
“Yeah, I know how much it means to you and Mom, and I wanted it to be a surprise to Mom for opening night, but I couldn’t hold in. I’m so bad at that.” She was bouncing on tippy-toes in excitement at her gift.
“You are bad at that, but it was a great surprise. But why did you give up going out for a lead part because you wanted to do this for me and Mom?” I asked her suspiciously.
“Welllll,” she drew out, confirming my suspicion.
“Aww, A,” I moaned. “Don’t tell Mom that, whatever you do.” Now I felt bad. I knew she did it in part because of me and partly because of Mom.
“I wanted to do something for you both. You are always there for me, and I wanted to give a gift that came from the heart.”
“And you did. I just don’t want you to miss out on something by trying to give us something. Mick is right about one thing—you can be a lead.”
“Really?” she squealed, tackling me with a hug on my old bed.
“Umph.” I caught her elbow in my side on accident. “Ow!”
“Sorry, sorry, sorry!” she rushed, then smiled devilishly and added, “If you were in school for nursing, you would know if you had to worry or not if I damaged something.”
“Damage this!” I shot her my middle finger.
“Oh, I’m telling Mom,” she said, laughing.
“Whatever. What is she going to do, ground me?” I laughed back.
“But really, you think Uncle Mickey was right? ’Cause when he said it, it sounded all...” She screwed her face up in a scowl. “But when you say it, it sounds all...” and she made this happy angelic face.
“Thanks,” I shook my head sarcastically. “Are we going to run lines or not? It’s getting late,” I said, looking at my cellphone and seeing it was going on almost 8:45 p.m.
“Oh, I don’t need to run lines,” she said playfully.
“What?” I asked, stunned.
“Yeah, I just said that to get you to stay longer so you wouldn’t bail right after dinner, and so I could explain about the play. Clever, huh?” She wagged her eyebrows.
“Those classes are really paying off—I didn’t suspect a thing,” I said, flabbergasted.
“I know, right!” she yelped, and I had to cover my ears she was so loud. When she got this excited, there was no bringing her down. Soon she would...
“Dance party!” she proclaimed loudly as she turned on her iPod to a very loud pop song boasting about being a hipster and twenty-two. It was time for me to go.
“Aria!” I yelled over the music until she turned it down. “I’m leaving if I don’t have to help you.”
She pouted. “Boo. You are no fun, Dac. You could have dance-partied with me for a little bit. I did just give you, like, the best gift ever.”
“You did, didn’t you?” I considered, and then held up two fingers. “Okay, two minutes, then I’m going home.”
“Yes!” She fist-pumped the air and turned the music back up. Only she could get me to dance-party with her. Two minutes turned into forty-five, and us lip-syncing in the mirror like we used to do when we were younger. I have to admit, it was fun, and I didn’t even realize so much time had passed until my cellphone went off with a text message from Tina asking how the dinner went.
“Dammit, it’s nine thirty. I have to go, A. It’s late,” I breathed heavily from the workout-slash-dance party.
“Okay. Thanks for running lines with me.” She made air quotes around the words “running lines” and grinned.
“Anytime. Who knew it’d be such a workout? Love you.”
“You too, bye.”
I stopped to say good-bye to Mom and Mick on my way out.
“Why are you all sweaty?” Mom noticed.
“Dance party,” I said by way of explanation.
“Ohhh,” she said, smiling to herself. “You girls haven’t done that in a while. I thought I heard music. What happened to learning the play?”
“Turns out she has it in the bag already, Mom,” I answered, kissing her on the cheek. “Bye, Mick.”
“Dacey,” was all he said.
“Drive carefully, dear.” Mom hugged and kissed me back.
“I will. Love you.” And I walked out, happy that this turtle night with Mick was over.
While I was driving home, I realized that I didn’t tell Mom or Aria about Aunt Opal and Mr. Davis, but it was just as well that I didn’t because I did not want to discuss Opal in front of Mick. It was one thing for him to think of me in a certain way, but I wouldn’t have him thinking that way about Opal too. When I got to the dorm, the hall was quiet. Most people were in bed at this time or in their respective rooms doing whatever. After showering, I decided to call Trevor to see if he was done with his mom date and to grill him about Mr. Davis. He picked up on the second ring.
“Hey, baby. I was starting to worry.” His voice was low.
“Things ran later at home than expected. There was a dance-party thing with A.” I shook my head and then realized he couldn’t see me and stopped.
“Do I even want to know what that means?”
“No. Did you have fun tonight?”
“Yes, it was nice. We just rented a movie, and she cooked dinner. I missed you, though.”
“I really missed you. One day you will meet that pretentious jerk and know what I mean.” I shuddered, remembering his nurse remark.
“Do you want me to come over and make you forget that pretentious jerk?” he suggested.
“Tempting, but no. It’s late baby, but you can tell me something.” I perked up at my oncoming question.
“Yes, I still love you even though you used the word pretentious,” he joked.
“I know you do. You love my brain. But that’s not it. Did Mr. Davis ever ask about my aunt Opal?”
“Mr. D, my boss?” he asked—and I could tell my question startled him.
“Yes.”
“Um, well, she called like a million times when Rufus was there checking on him and demanded to speak to the owner to make sure we were going to take care of him properly, so we gave her Mr. Davis’s office number, but we didn’t think he would actually call her back. Oh god, did he—did she say something to him about our service?” He was panicking, with good reason, as Mr. Davis was known by his employees to be an asshole. On a number of occasions, Trevor would come from work saying Mr. Davis had chewed him a new one over something minor.
“No, baby, calm down. It’s nothing like that. I went over to Opal’s this morning, and, well, I’m about 99 percent sure your boss is doing my aunt.”
Silence.
“Babe?”
“Shit,” he breathed.
“Funny, that’s the same thing Tina said.”
“You told Tina before you told me?” He sounded hurt.
Oh, shit. “All that I just said, and that’s what you want to focus on?”
“Well, yeah. He’s my boss, so you should have told me first.” Now he sounded like he was getting upset.
“Babe, really?” I sat up in bed, like that would help me better focus on the conversation. “You were at work. I wanted to call you, but I figured Mr. Davis was going in to work and I didn’t want to get you in trouble.”
“So you text me with 911. This was one I should have known first, not Tina.” Now he was yelling. Oh, boy.
“This was girlish gossip, not something that warranted a 911 text message.” I tried to reason with him.
“You always do that. Don’t decide for me if something is a 911—let me decide that. You don’t have to call someone two hours away if you need to talk. That’s what I’m here for,” he bellowed.
“Okay, okay,” I assured him, “you’re right, babe. I’m sorry!”
He was silent for a bit, and then he said he was tired and going to bed and hung up.
What just happened? That conversation did not go how I expected it to go at all, and it left me wondering what it really was about. I remembered my earlier text message
from Tina and decided to text her back to let her know that the dinner was over and I was fine.
Made it through dinner in 1 piece
Is Mick?
Sigh, yes
Crap, there is always next time
Yea
What’s wrong?
Crap, even by text message she could tell I had something on my mind.
Just tired
Liar, but ok you’ll tell me when u r ready
It’s nothing
Its something
I’m tired
Wally giving u shit?
No, goodnight
Did Mick the Dick?
Lol that’s a good 1. But no. night
Then it’s the lump
Night Tina
Ding ding we have a looser
If I ignored her, she might think I fell asleep and stop texting.
I’ll kill him if he hurts u
Don’t act like ur asleep
Fine but I meant it
No such luck. I texted her back, because she would keep this up all night, and told her with finality good-night and that I loved her.
I was about to fall asleep when I remembered what Riley had offered yesterday to Aria. Even though she said she didn’t need help, I still wanted her to get a good shot so she could get a part in the play. I looked at the time. 10:45. She would still be up, so I texted her to let her know. When she asked me what was wrong, I was stunned. How could everyone tell by my text there was something the matter with me? Geez! I texted her back to let her know I was just tired and would talk to her tomorrow.
Did my argument with Trevor affect me that much? It’s not like we never fought. I guess it has never been over something so trivial before. I don’t see the big deal. It was big news and Opal news, and I usually always call Tina with my Opal news, or Mom, or Aria. Trevor wasn’t really part of my crazy life. Sure, he was in it being my boyfriend, but he was apart from it, detached. I liked him and realized I kept him that way because I didn’t want him mixed up in my craziness. He was the one thing that I could count on for normal, young-adult stuff. I didn’t want to mix the two. I would have to make him see that he was special in my life in his own right. Special in a different aspect. I would call him first thing in the morning and apologize again and try to explain. If I called him tonight, he wouldn’t pick up, as he was too wound up. I settled back in the bed with a firm resolve to keep the two separate, and before long, I was fast asleep.
Chapter 5
I awoke from a deep, full sleep to find that I had overslept and was running fifteen minutes later than normal. I rushed through my normal morning routine and threw on my clothes and was out the door in fifteen minutes. I was already headed to Opal’s house before I realized I’d left my cellphone, and I needed to call Trevor.
“Shitshitshit,” I cursed under my breath, turning back around. As I pulled up and threw my car in park, hopping out, I was so focused on running in and grabbing my phone that I didn’t even notice Trevor coming out the dorm door and ran smack into his chest.
“Umph.” He caught me before I went down.
“Whoa, babe, careful!” He steadied me.
“Thanks. What are you doing here?” I said as I realized what time it was. If I was late, then he was really late because he should have been at work already.
“I...I’m going in late this morning.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from fidgeting. “I was going to leave you a note, for when you got back. But then I thought that would be lame so I was going to go to Opal’s to find you.” He looked me in the eyes.
“Leave me a note for what?” I asked guardedly.
“To apologize, babe. I’m sorry. I was a jerk last night,” he hurried. “I was being a jealous asshole, and I really don’t want to know that my boss is doing your aunt Opal.” He shuddered playfully. “I just want you to talk to me more and remember that I’m here for you as well.”
I hugged him, and he squeezed me to him with a strong, warm grip.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t think you want to hear all the girly stuff I talk about with Tina and my sister and the crazy stuff that goes on with Opal. That part of my life is always so crazy, and you’re the part that’s totally sane. You’re my island of sanity in a sea of crazy!” I looked up at him, pleading with my eyes for him to understand me.
“Wow, that was kind of poetic,” he breathed. “I like being your island, babe.” He leaned down and kissed me. This kiss had the potential of being the kind of kiss that would have put me in a puddle on the floor. As he wound his hand up the nape of my neck and began massaging there, I let out a soft sigh.
“Isn’t that what your room is for?” asked a voice as we were shoved out of the way with the door.
We broke apart, and I recognized the girl from my floor, Kelly, who had snuck Trevor in the other day, looking at us with a grin.
“Sorry,” I blushed.
“Kidding. I totally don’t care if you have sex on the steps.” She laughed. “Later, pizza boy,” she called as she bounced down the stairs and went to a blue Neon and sped off.
“New friend?” Trevor raised an eyebrow at me.
“I could ask you the same thing, ‘pizza boy,’” I said, raising my eyebrows back.
He laughed and kissed my forehead.
“She’s right—that’s what rooms are for. I told work I was going to be two hours late.” He gave me a suggestive look.
“I have to check on Opal, Trevor.” I gave him a pained look as he followed me back inside to my room to grab my cellphone. Once inside, he grabbed me and twisted me around to face him.
“I used to be a swimmer. I know how to be fast,” he said, holding me to him with a knowing smirk.
“Fast isn’t always better,” I joked, breathlessly.
“Trust me, you won’t complain.”
“I never do, but I really can’t today,” I said, stopping his exploring hands from going farther under my shirt.
“Pre-pre-show?” He looked hopeful.
I laughed. “How about a double feature later?”
“I can manage that.” He let me go, and we walked back out. I had to really rush now. I was almost an hour behind schedule.
He kissed me good-bye and apologized again for being an ass before getting in his truck and heading to work, while I headed to Opal’s at breakneck speed. She hadn’t called, but that could be a good or a bad thing, in Opal’s case.
When I got to Opal’s, I was about to use my key and go in when I saw a sign on the door that stated, “PEOPLE WITH KEYS OUGHT TO KNOCK.”
Clearly, this note was meant for me. Shaking my head, I knocked. And knocked. And knocked.
I was about to use my key when on the fourth knock I heard the latch click and she opened the door, shielding her eyes as if she had just woken up.
“Chile?” she mumbled. “Whassa’ all that bangin’ for?” She opened the door wider so I could come in.
“Well, you told me to knock, so I did. What took you so long? Why are you still in bed?” I fired.
“What happen to your belly?”
“What are you talking about, Auntie? My stomach is fine!” I said, looking down and touching my stomach.
“It ain’t. It was big as a house yesterday. Where’s that baby at?” She looked at me, eyes wide.
“Auntie,” I spoke slowly, “I wasn’t pregnant yesterday.”
“Oh, pshh, Susan. What game you playin’, chile? ’Course you was.” She clicked her tongue.
Then it clicked. Opal thought I was my mom.
I shook my head slowly. “I’m Dacey, Aunt Opal, Susan’s daughter. Remember?” I pleaded to her with my eyes.
“Oh, chile.” She laughed, going to the refrigerator. “You need some juice? You feelin’ all righ’?” She eyed me.
“Do I?” I went to her and looked her in the face. “Auntie, it’s me,” I stressed.
She stared at me as if I was the one who was losing her mind, then all of a sudden her face changed, an
d she said, “Dacey, when did you get her’? And didn’t I tell you to knock befo’ you come bargin’ into someone house like that?”
“You let me in, Auntie. Don’t you...?” I sighed, giving up. She was not going to remember. “You’re right. I just forgot.”
“You’ll do well to remember, I done got me a special friend now,” she stated boastfully and walked into the living room, leaving me shell-shocked. For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, I found myself wondering what just happened.
I had to talk to Tina, to see if she talked to her dad about those doctors yet. This was getting worrisome. Shaking off my concern, I followed Opal into the living room to talk about her “special friend,” even though I knew all about him.
“What special friend?”
“Now neva you mind. Just know that you don’t have to check on me so often,” she proclaimed.
“Auntie,” I said calmly, “I don’t mind checking on you.” Frankly, I had been doing it so long it was part of my routine. It would feel weird not to.
“Well, Euge—” she stopped suddenly. “My special friend says he’ll check on me.” She tried to hide her smile.
“Well, since I don’t know your special friend yet, I’m going to still come over.” I held up my hand as she started to protest. “At least until I know that you’re okay for me to stop,” I rephrased.
“That’s fine. I’ll ask him ova for dinner, and you can cook it.”
“Uh, sure.”
“Tonight.”
“Oh, Aunt Opal, I don’t know. I had plans tonight.” I was thinking already of my own special friend and our double feature.
“Nope, it’s gotta be tonight. If it’s not tonight, then neva you mind, chile.”
“Okay, okay. It’s tonight, Auntie. Can I bring Aria?” I was thinking this night would go by faster if I didn’t have to endure it alone.
“’Course, chile. It’s betta if he met both my girls anyhow. Get it outta the way now.” She winked at me.
“Okay. I guess we will get here after school since we have to cook too. Do you want anything in particular for dinner?” I was mentally going over the five things I knew how to cook well in my head.
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