Crystal Clear

by Beverly Jenkins

  “Wow,” he uttered softly. “Things must’ve been awfully bad for you to walk away from all that.”

  “I told her she was crazy,” Kiki summed up.

  Crystal snarled. “I was going crazy. There are no clubs, nothing on the radio, they don’t even have a McDonald’s!”

  Bobby looked floored. “I can’t believe you left all that just because there was no Mickey Ds.”

  “It wasn’t just about the burgers. It was a lot of stuff.”

  “Like what?”

  “It’s hard to explain.”

  “Leaving all that is crazy, girl.”

  Kiki chimed in. “I tried to tell her.”

  “Will you shut the hell up.”

  “Watch your mouth. There’re babies back there, girl.”

  Crystal was sorry about that but not about the rise in her temper. “If you’d get off me, I wouldn’t have to.”

  “If you had some sense I wouldn’t be on you.”

  “Ladies! Chill. I didn’t come home to play referee.”

  “You’re not my mama, Kiki,” Crystal pointed out.

  “No. Your mama’s in Kansas. Probably with a broken heart. Ever think about that!”

  Bobby snapped. “Ki, leave her alone.”

  Kiki huffed back against her seat.

  Crystal stared mutinously out her window. No, her return to Dallas was not going well.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  When they returned to the apartment, vestiges of the tension between the two old friends remained but both seemed willing to look past it. Crystal offered to help with dinner and Kiki graciously accepted. During their years of friendship, Kiki had been the level headed one and Crys the one who hated being told what to do even when Kiki’s advice or assessment turned out to be correct. Crystal didn’t believe she was right this instance but saw no point in prolonging the argument.

  Kiki had always been a great cook, and although the meal was a simple meat loaf, baked potatoes and broccoli, it tasted great. While they ate, Kiki and Bobby caught each other up on their day. Crystal eyed Bobby. He’d grown up in foster care, too and his dark skin was reminiscent of the Julys. Although the former gang member wasn’t very tall he was muscular. Back home in Henry Adams his extensive tats would probably draw a lot of stares.

  He looked her way. “So, Crys. Where you going to look for a job?”

  She thought about the issues surrounding her hunt. “Restaurant maybe. I have some waitressing experience.”

  He chuckled. “Not only do you look different; you sound different too. That high-class life is rubbing off.”

  She rolled her eyes but didn’t take offense. She agreed with his take on her outward appearance but disagreed on her speech. “I think I sound the same.”

  Kiki paused while feeding the twins in their high chairs. “You don’t. Your voice is way more proper. Believe me.”

  After dinner, Crystal helped Kiki with the cleanup while Bobby took the kids for a walk in the stroller to tire them out before bed.

  “So, do you need something to wear to the club?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “I got some clothes I’ll probably never wear again, so you may as well borrow them.”

  In the bedroom, she opened the closet and after moving hangers around handed Crystal a pair of chocolate brown leather pants that went nicely with her boots. “I bought them right before I found out I was pregnant.”

  Crystal planned to pair the pants with one of the cute black tops, she had in her backpack. She and Kiki had always shared clothes, so she knew the pants would probably fit. “Thanks, Ki.”

  “You’re welcome. Just don’t get drunk and throw up all over my stuff. You never could hold your cognac.”

  “I’m gonna overlook that crack.”

  “Am I lying?”

  Laughing, they shared a hug. “Thank you,” Crystal whispered.

  “No problem. Have fun but when Ross gets here, you’ll have to meet him outside. He’s not allowed in the house.”

  “Why not?”

  “He and Bobby have been beefing ever since Ross tried to talk Bobby into swiping a key to the dealership so he could go in after the place closed and steal tools and stuff.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah. That’s who you’ll be rolling with tonight, so watch your back.”

  Crystal nodded.

  When Bobby returned with the kids, he checked out the way Crys was dressed. “Where you heading, Ms. Kansas.”

  “Some place called the Escort.”

  “With who?”

  She hesitated for a moment before confessing, “Ross.”

  He sighed and shook his head. “Kiki tell you he and I are beefing.”

  She nodded.

  “Watch yourself. If you need a ride back, give me a call.”

  “I will.”

  He took the kids out of the stroller and carried them into the bedroom. He didn’t return.

  At ten o’ clock, Crystal called Ross, and he told her where to meet him. She gave Kiki a hug and set out. It was a chilly night, and she was glad for the borrowed leather pants and her LA jacket. Kiki had also loaned her a small, black, over the shoulder bag that was just large enough to hold her phone, wallet and a fake ID she hoped no one at the door would scrutinize too closely.

  Ross’s car was parked outside so she pulled open the rear door and slid in. The interior was thick with the smell of pot. “Hey Ross. Hey Unique.”

  “Hey Crystal. You ready to party?”

  “I am.”

  Unique’s stony face was framed by a honey blonde Beyoncé’ weave that looked to weigh a good ten pounds. “Don’t think we’ll be taking you everywhere we go,” she said haughtily and then gave Crystal a critical once over. “Where’d you get that coat and those boots.”

  “Sears,” she lied. No way did Unique need to know the provenance of the jacket or the boots.

  “I’ve never seen anything like that in a Sears here. Which Sears?”

  Ross groused, “God, ‘Nique. Stop sweating her. This ain’t Project Runway.”

  Unique huffed back around in her seat.

  Ross headed the car away from the complex and asked Crystal, “You want to hit the blunt?’

  “Uh, no. I’m good.” Crystal hadn’t been around pot since leaving Dallas and although she’d enjoyed taking a hit or two back then, something made her decline. The Kansas part of herself knew the answer: marijuana was an illegal drug and she had no business messing with it, but again, she pushed that logical voice to the side and sat silent while Unique took in a deep draw and exhaled.

  Ross asked, “You sure?”

  “Yep.”

  Unique blew out more smoke. “Ross said you were in Kansas City. What’s it like there.”

  “Nice actually.”

  “When did you start talking like a white girl?”

  “When the hell did you start caring what I sound like?” she shot back. Kansas or not, she wasn’t putting up with any crap from a Beyoncé wanna be.

  Ross shot Crystal a grin in the rear-view mirror but Unique had nothing else to say for the rest of the ride, and Crystal was okay with that.

  The small parking lot was full. The former dry cleaner nestled between a Chinese takeout place and an empty building that once housed the neighborhood Kmart, had a large sign over the door that read “The Escort.” Crystal couldn’t believe all the people streaming in. Framed by car headlights were girls tipping on stilettos in butt high skirts. Others wore equally short skirts and fur tipped boots that seemed more appropriate for Alaska. She stared like a country girl on her first visit to the city at feathers hanging from waist long weaves of every color imaginable. Ross finally found a place to park.

  “Is there a cover charge?’ she asked.

  Unique rolled her eyes. “Of course. Twenty. And Ross and I aren’t paying your way so you better have it.”

  Snarling silently, Crystal asked Ross to turn on the dome light. When he did, she took her wallet out of her bo
rrowed purse and peeled a twenty off the roll. She glanced up to see Ross and Unique eyeing her wallet with great interest. “Is there a problem?” she asked.

  Ross shook his head. “Nope. No problem at all.”

  But the look he shared with the smugly smiling Unique set off alarm bells. She’d been so focused on going out for a good time, she’d forgotten how much money she was carrying. The Crystal of old would never have left Kiki’s with so much cash on her person. Once again, life in Kansas had made her forget how to deal, but as they left the car, Crystal made a note to keep an eye on her purse at all times.

  To her relief, the guy on the door barely looked at her fake ID. After taking her twenty and stamping the back of her hand, he waved her on. The moment she stepped into the main room she felt the energy. The darkness, the flashing strobes, the heat of too many bodies, the bone rattling thump of the bass all put a huge smile on her face. For the first in four years she felt like her old self. Finally! Happy, she followed Ross and Unique through the tightly packed crowd. She ignored the curious stares from some of the girls she passed. In Henry Adams everyone spoke to everyone else, even strangers. Doing that there would make people wonder what was up with her, so she kept her features closed and unreadable.

  Ross apparently had some juice because the approaching hostesses gave him a smile – which made Unique glare – and escorted them to one of the few tables in the place. After they took their seats, Ross ordered three shots of Hennessey. “You down with that, Crystal?” he yelled over the music.

  “Oh hell, yeah,” she replied without hesitation. She was on her own, getting to do what she wanted and Hennessey with some cola was right up her alley.

  The placement of the table had them seated right on the edge of the tiny dance floor and she was loving the music. While the hostess crossed the sea of people to take care of their order, Crystal checked out the dancers. It seemed like an eternity since she’d been on the floor and she couldn’t wait to get out there, but she’d never seen the dance everyone was doing.

  Ross leaned over and shouted again. “Y’all do the Red Nose in Kansas City?”

  Her confusion must’ve have shown on her face.

  “Red Nose! Goes with the Red Nose song.”

  “Oh, yeah. Yeah,” she lied, adding, “I had trouble hearing what you were asking over the music.”

  Unique looked skeptical but Crystal ignored her and watched the dancers. The women were bent at the waist and popping their hips in time with the music while the guys churned against their behinds. The Kansas in her thought it resembled sex but she pushed the thought aside.

  As the music morphed into another song, Unique grabbed Ross’s hand. “C’mon Ross. Let’s dance. Crystal, pay for the drinks.”

  Before Crys could protest, they joined the people on the floor. At first, she was upset, but she let it go. They’d been nice enough to let her tag along, the least she could do was pay for the first round.

  The Red Nose appeared to be the dance of choice. Some of the guys were grinding against the women so tough they were visibly aroused. She chose to look elsewhere to keep from staring bug eyed.

  “Well, hello little mama. Never seen you here before.”

  Crys turned and looked up into the smiling face of a well - dressed man old enough to be the grandfather of everyone in the place. Gold front teeth flashed in the strobes. “Hi,” she said dismissively and resumed viewing the dancers.

  “What’s your name?” His accent was foreign. African maybe? She wasn’t sure.

  “Chantelle,” she lied.

  “Pretty name for a pretty girl. I’m Bricks. I own the club.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “You live around here?’

  “No.”

  “Don’t let my age fool you. I can rock your world, little mama. Got plenty of cash, too. Saw you come in with Ross.”

  She gave him a distracted nod all the while hoping he’d beat it. The last thing she needed was being hit on by somebody from an old folks’ home. The return of the waitress with the drinks was a welcome interruption.

  “That’ll be thirty-six,” the girl announced, setting the glasses down.

  “Dollars?” Crystal croaked. When had Hennessy become so pricey?

  “Yeah,” she replied, giving Crystal a look.

  Bricks, told the hostess. “It’s on the house.”

  Crystal was already pulling out two twenties, however. “Thanks, but not necessary. I got it. Keep the change.”

  The waitress took the bills and disappeared.

  “I like a woman who can pay her way.”

  Crystal sipped her drink and prayed he’d leave.

  “Look,” he said to her, “I have some business to take care of, but I’m having a private set after the place closes. Consider yourself invited.”

  “Okay, thanks,” she said non – committal like.

  He flashed a gold toothed grin and departed.

  “Thank you,” she gushed aloud, and took a sip from her drink. The liquor instantly warmed her insides, and as it flowed into her blood, she smiled. This is what life was supposed to be about - freedom to do things her way and on her own terms. Feeling good, she raised her glass in a mock toast and declared, “To Henry Adams. Been nice knowing you.”

  For the rest of the night, she Red Nosed with various guys (even though the grinding made her terribly uncomfortable), drank cognac and generally had the best time in years. On a trip to the ladies room with Unique, the subject of her boots came up again. “Those suede boots are sick. What size do you wear? Let me try them on.”

  They were standing at the mirror. The room was crowded with so many women wearing so many different styles and colors it was like being in the bird house at the zoo. Pretending not to hear Unique’s question Crystal gave her hair and face a quick check and.

  “So, what? You ignoring me?”

  “No,” Crystal replied and made her way to the exit. On the walk back to the table, she realized her legs were a bit wobbly. She assured herself that she was only buzzed, not drunk. She never remembered getting this way so quickly back in the day, but she hadn’t consumed any alcohol since being in Henry Adams, and so chalked it up to that. She made a note to slow her roll on the drinks though. She was going to be in Dallas for good, which meant she had plenty of time to work on rebuilding her alcohol tolerance.

  Back at the table, she found Ross sitting with Bricks. Crystal fought to keep her reaction to the older man from showing. Unique had no such qualms though; she was angry and didn’t care who knew it.

  Ross looked between them and asked above the music. What’s up?”

  “Nothing.” Crystal took her seat.

  “Bitch dissed me,” Unique railed.

  Crystal shook her head and turned her eyes to the dance floor.

  Apparently, Ross wasn’t in the mood for drama because he turned away from Unique and said to Crystal, “Bricks is having an after set. You down with going?”

  No, she wasn’t and so feigned an elaborate yawn. “I’ll have to pass. It’s my first day back and between my flight and everything, I need to head back to Kiki’s. Can you drop me off first?”

  “I was counting on your company,” he replied sounding disappointed.

  “I’m sorry. Maybe next time.”

  “Kiki’s is out the way,” Ross replied. “How about we hang at the after set for a minute and I’ll drop you off after?”

  She thought about Bobby’s offer to give her a ride back if she needed one, but in checking her watch she guessed he was probably in bed. She didn’t have the heart to make him get up, get dressed and drive, so she reluctantly agreed. “Okay, but just for a minute.”

  Unique scowled. “How about she walk home?”

  Ross countered. “How about you cut this middle school shit.”

  “Why’re you taking her side over your woman’s?”

  “Because my woman wouldn’t be acting like she’s twelve.”

  From within her Hennessy in
duced haze, Crystal smiled smugly.

  A short while later, the club began closing down. The crowd was filing out, and the DJ was packing up his equipment. After all the drinks she’d had, Crystal was what the courts would call impaired, but she didn’t care. She felt good.

  Before Bricks departed to do whatever duties were involved with locking up, he turned to Crystal. “I’m looking forward to hanging with you later.”

  She gave him a fake smile.

  “Let’s roll,” Ross announced. Unique made a point of linking her arm with his as they left the table and Crystal made a point of putting one foot in front of the other to keep from swaying like a palm tree on a beach in Maui. Despite her focus, she tripped and would have gone down in a heap had Ross not quickly reached out and caught her. Laughing drunkenly at herself she pulled herself together.

  “You okay?” he asked his smile making her as woozy as the liquor.

  “Yeah. Think I’m a little buzzed.”

  “I think so too.”

  Had she been in right mind, she would’ve kept her mouth shut, but as they stepped out into the starry night, the Hennessy made her say, “You know, you are so fine, I could just eat you up.”

  Unique went ballistic and Ross had to put her in a bear hug to keep her from attacking. “Calm down!”

  She screamed, “You’re pushing up on my man right in front of my face? You think I’m blind! I will kill you!”

  “Whoa. Whoa. Whoa, baby calm down.” Ross said while grinning Crystal’s way the entire time.

  “Let her go,” Crystal said easily. “She probably can’t fight any better than she did in the fifth grade. Remember that day on the playground, Unique.”

  “I’ll kick your ass!”

  Crystal blew out a breath. “Yeah right.”

  Unique was all flailing arms and legs.

  Ross snapped. “Unique, go to the car.”

  “I’m going to kill that bitch!”

  “Go to the car!”

  “No! Let me go. Who does she think she is?”

  “She’s drunk, ‘Nique. She probably won’t even remember this the next time we see her. Give her a break. She’s celebrating.

  “That don’t include my man!”

  “Go. To. The. Car. I’m not going to tell you again.”