Losing Romeo

by A. J. Byrd

  I fold my arms. “Okay. Now you’re just being overly dramatic.”

  “No. We’re being real. Did you even notice that we had your back at Shadiq’s party when Anjenai and your own sister jumped you? Do you even care? Or at this point do you just expect it?”

  “I…” A lump of emotion clogs my throat.

  “You know what?” Bianca says. “Forget it. Maybe it’s just time that we all do our own thing. That way you don’t have to be constantly glancing over your shoulder looking for whatever shine you think you have.”

  The Redbones break up? “What, I’m supposed to kiss your ass now?”

  “See. You’re clueless,” Raven says. “You do you and we’re going to do us, okay?” She grabs Bianca by the arm and then tugs her toward the gym.

  I’m stuck standing there looking like Boo Boo the Fool. First Romeo walks out on me, and now my girls. What the hell?

  seventeen

  Nicole—Why Weight?

  Seven pounds! I can’t believe it. I’m down seven pounds in a week! I step off the scale and dance around in my bra and panties like I’m one of Beyoncé’s booty-shaking backup dancers. If I can keep it going for seven more weeks, then I can hit my goal weight right before Christmas. Ooh. Wouldn’t that be a nice Christmas gift to myself, being able to slide into a pair of jeans in a single-digit size. Man, if I’m skinny by Christmas that still gives me plenty of time to find a boyfriend before the prom.

  “Wheeeeeee!”

  Thump!

  I quickly quiet down. The last thing I want to do is wake up my mom. The rare times that she’s up in the morning, she’s a pain in the ass. As fast and as quietly as I can, I wash my face and put on the few makeup items I own—some foundation, mascara, and lip gloss. After that, I pull the black scrunchie out of my hair and run the brush through my brown curls. Now, I know seven pounds isn’t much when one weighs nearly two hundred pounds, but I swear that I can almost see a difference.

  “Christmas,” I whisper to myself. I can’t help imagining strolling through school in a pair of tight, skinny jeans and winking at all the cute boys and then pretending to be hard to get. I can’t wait. I can’t wait. I can’t wait.

  I exit the hall bathroom at the same time that my mother’s bedroom door swings open. But instead of Cruella De Vil waltzing out, it’s my father. We both freeze and stare at each other in shock.

  Then, slowly, he starts working his mouth, but no words come out. This is an unusual situation for us. Sure, I know my parents hook up from time to time, but I have never known him to actually spend a whole night here. Does this mean that there is trouble in his marriage and once again he’s turned to the arms of his favorite mistress?

  “Humph! Good morning, Nikki.”

  I hate it when he calls me Nikki. “Morning,” I say, folding my arms.

  “You’re, uh, up early.”

  How does he know what time I get up? “Not really.”

  “Honey, you almost forgot your watch.” My mother slithers up beside him.

  I can’t help turning up my nose at this satin-and-lace number that she’s wearing. It leaves very little to the imagination.

  “Um, thanks, honey.” He smiles sheepishly and then tilts his head in my direction so she could see that they had company.

  My mom’s eyes slide lazily in my direction. “Oh, Nicole. You’re up.”

  This really is a bad performance. “I’m up because I have to take the bus to school,” I tell them and then take a jab. “Unlike my sister, who gets to drive. Maybe I should ask her to start picking me up in the mornings. You know, I think it’s time that we start hanging out more.” I roll my eyes and then march down to the kitchen.

  There, I grab a coffee cup, fill it with water and then heat it up in the microwave for a full minute. Since dear old Dad didn’t immediately race out of the house I just assume he’s giving my mother grief for letting him get caught with his hands in the cookie jar, so to speak. Why not? He likes blaming other people for his mistakes. I don’t see why this should be any different.

  The microwave beeps and I remove my hot water and grab my lemon and cayenne pepper. This crap tastes horrible, but as long as it’s doing the job then I’m going to stick with it. I take my first sip of this disgusting concoction and twist my face up at it. At the same time, I hear my father’s heavy footsteps make their way toward the kitchen. I back toward the microwave and grab the bottle of aspirins sitting in the basket on top of it.

  “Nikki,” he starts, sounding way too jubilant.

  I hope his ass doesn’t think I’m about to cook him some breakfast or something. This isn’t the Happy Hooker Inn, where you get a complimentary breakfast after cheating on your wife.

  “I was just talking to your mother, um, a few minutes ago about your situation.”

  What situation? I just look at him.

  “Well, I think you raised a good point about Phoenix having a car and you being forced to take the school bus every day.”

  Okay. Now he has my undivided attention.

  “So what do you say that this weekend I take you out to a dealer friend of mine and see about getting you your own set of wheels? You think that you’d like that?”

  “Really?” I ask, unable to stop the smile and volcanic emotions erupting inside of me. “This weekend?”

  His own smile stretches across his face, causing his blue eyes to start twinkling. “You got it, sweetheart.”

  I set my hot water down and rush to throw my arms around him. This is something I haven’t done since I’ve been old enough to comprehend that I’m just his bastard child and not his golden princess, Phoenix.

  “Uh, I guess that means that you like the idea,” he says, awkwardly.

  I blush and step back. “Yeah. It would really be great!”

  “Good. It’s settled.” He coughs and clears his throat. “I guess I’ll see you this weekend.”

  I bob my head and can’t wait for him to leave so I can jump up and down. He’s halfway to the door when he stops and pretends like he just remembered something.

  “There’s just one thing,” he says, snapping his fingers.

  “What’s that?” I ask.

  “Um, what happened here this morning,” he starts. “You know, between your mother and me. I can trust you to just keep that between the three of us, right? I mean there’s no need for Phoenix or her mother to find out that I, um, occasionally spend time with you and your mother, right?”

  Since when has he spent time with me? “Right,” I assure him. “It’s just between us.”

  His smile returns, and he even adds a wink. “Great. I knew I could count on you. I’ll pick you up this weekend.” He turns and rushes out of the house.

  The minute the door slams behind him, the smile slides off my face. I’ve just been bribed. I try to decide how I feel about that. Maybe it’ll depend on the type of car I actually get. If it’s a small economy car, pretty shitty. If it’s a Range Rover, pretty good.

  “Impressive,” my mother says from behind me.

  I don’t even have to turn around to know that she’s smiling like the Cheshire cat.

  “I’m starting to think that you have a little of me in you after all.”

  Oh, God, I hope not.

  BFF Rule #10

  Never bad-mouth a friend to others.

  eighteen

  Kierra—Burning the Candle at Both Ends

  I’ve dodged a bullet. I’m not pregnant. From the moment I read the results on that pregnancy test until now, I really feel like I’ve been given a second chance to straighten up and fly right, like Anjenai’s granny likes to say. I feel so good about my situation that the few times I’ve passed Chris in the hallway or in the lunchroom, I can’t help smiling at his childish butt. My sudden shift in mood causes him to stretch his brows curiously at me. But for the most part I just dust my collar off and keep it moving.

  As for my promises to the man upstairs, I’ve been studying, cleaning the apartment and cheering my a
ss off on the field. The first two weeks were a breeze, but this current week is sort of kicking my butt. There’s only so many hours in the day, and it seems as if I’m getting less and less sleep or, rather, it seems like the moment I lay my head down it’s time to get up.

  “Oh, my God! This is your whip?” I exclaim when Nicole pops up Monday morning at Oak Hill. Anjenai, Tyler and I are standing in front of our apartments with our mouths literally hanging open.

  Nicole beams as she steps out of her fresh, red Range Rover. “Isn’t it beautiful?” she gushes. “My father bought it for me this weekend.”

  “Obviously,” I gasp, running my hands over its sleek lines. “Looks like things are getting better between you two, huh?”

  Nicole cocks her head. “Please. This is a bribe.”

  “A bribe?” the three of us ask in unison.

  “Yeah. I caught him spending the night with my mom last week, so he doesn’t want his delusional wife and Princess Barbie to know that he’s still on the creep over at our house.”

  “Wow,” Anjenai says. “That’s pretty deep.”

  “Not really.” Nicole shrugs. “My dad loves keeping secrets and manipulating people. I basically just added my name to the list.”

  “Don’t feel so bad,” Tyler pipes up. “He probably could have bought me over with a ten-speed bike.”

  We laugh.

  “Well, c’mon and hop into your new morning ride,” she declares. “If I’m riding in style, then so are my best friends.”

  Please believe that she didn’t have to say that twice. We all reach for the nearest door and pile inside. I take a good whiff of that new-car smell and melt into the leather interior. “I’m officially jealous.”

  “Make that two of us,” Anjenai says from behind me. “I want to pinch myself, and it’s not my car.”

  “Yeah, well. We’d better roll up out of here before someone decides to jack us. This isn’t the suburbs, you know.”

  I roll my eyes. “Puh-lease. Who on earth gets jacked at seven in the morning? You know all those boosters ain’t up this early in the morning.”

  Tyler bobs her head. “True that.”

  Nicole starts the vehicle, and it’s so damn smooth that I can hardly tell that the damn thing is even on. We roll out and can’t resist throwing up our middle fingers at the group of losers standing in front of the property waiting for the school bus.

  “SO LONG, LOSERS!” we shout and then start laughing at everyone’s stunned expressions. During the ride to school, we turn the radio to V-103 and start bumping along with their jamming morning show.

  “Damn. I know I could get used to this,” I say.

  “I hear that,” Tyler co-signs.

  “Well, you’re going to get used to it, because this is going to be y’all’s ride from now on.”

  “Except on the days we have practice after school,” I tell her.

  “I don’t know. Maybe we can work something out,” she says.

  “For real? I can’t believe my ears.”

  Nicole shrugs. “That’s what best friends do for each other, right?”

  We all smile back at her. I don’t know about my girls, but I certainly appreciate her offer. I’m running around so much lately that shaving off waiting-for-a-bus time will help tremendously.

  “Well, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m dropping off the basketball team,” Tyler announces.

  “WHAT?” Nicole and I thunder. “WHY?”

  Tyler shrugs. “It’s just not my thing.”

  “Are you kidding?” Nicole says. “You’re great. You and Anjenai both. You guys are naturals and Jackson High’s key for the freshman team to make it to the championships.”

  Tyler shakes her head, and I recognize from the look on her face that nothing we’re going to say can change her mind.

  My gaze swings over to Anjenai and she looks like she’s positively seething. I want to ask if there is something going on with them again, but decide against it. Whatever it is, I’m sure I’m going to find out eventually.

  When we pull into the school’s parking lot, all heads turn. No lie. We all feel like major rock stars when we open the doors and stroll up to the school. Everybody is going to be buzzing about us, and it won’t have anything to do with jumping on any damn body. That’ll be a nice change.

  “Ayo, Tyler!”

  We all turn our heads to see Michelle Todd and her Siamese twin, Trisha, waving Tyler over.

  “I’ll catch up with y’all later,” Tyler tells us and then takes off.

  I frown. “Is it just me, or did we just get dissed for Billie Grant’s old crew?”

  Anjenai shakes her head. “It’s not just you.” She looks at me. “Did you know that Tyler got nabbed for shoplifting a couple of weeks ago?”

  “WHAT?” Nicole and I yell.

  Everyone in the hallway swivels their heads in our direction, and then I ask in a lower voice, “Are you kidding me?”

  “Does it look like I’m kidding?” She glances off in the direction Tyler went. “She and her two new pals skipped class and went over to that strip mall and got busted.”

  “So what happened?” Nicole whispers.

  “She has a court date coming up. I don’t see how she won’t get juvie time.”

  “For shoplifting?” I ask. “I thought you got something like community service or something for a first-time offense?”

  Anjenai and Nicole stare at me.

  “What? I had a cousin get busted. You remember my cousin Melanie?”

  Anjenai nods. “Yeah, but this wasn’t just a couple of items. From what Granny told me it sounds like they were straight looting the place.”

  I’m completely stunned. What’s going on with that girl?

  “Morning, Anje.”

  I glance up to see Kwan tossing my girl Anjenai a flirtatious wink before keeping it moving. The three of us watch as he struts by, my gaze checking out the cute tush on him. “Sooo, what’s with that?” I ask her.

  “Hmm? What?”

  Nicole and I share a look.

  “Now I know you ain’t going to stand here and say that you didn’t know that fine brother is giving you the I-want-you eye?”

  “What? Nothing.”

  I stare her down.

  “Really,” she insists.

  “I can’t tell if you’re lying to me or to yourself. Either one I find disturbing.”

  Nicole chimes in. “All I know is, if you want him, you better make a move before Bianca scoops him up.” She nods her head down the hall and we both look to see Bianca trying to glue herself to the boy’s hip with all that giggling and cheesing that she’s doing.

  “Now, that’s embarrassing,” I say. “Why don’t she just hand him her panties and call it a day?”

  “Hoes don’t wear panties,” Nicole snips.

  We look at each other and burst out laughing.

  For the next week, I get a kick out of, as well as I believe most kids in this school, watching Romeo watch Anjenai. It’s so clear to anyone with eyes that he’s not over Anjenai. That day at my locker, I thought he was just giving me lip service, but I don’t think that anymore. Still, despite the big puppy-dog eyes, I don’t know if I can bring myself to root for him. Anjenai seems to be moving on, and I’m happy to see it.

  Tyler is another story entirely. I don’t think she knows what’s going on with herself. When Anjenai told me about the shoplifting, I was surprised, but, after thinking about it for a while, not so surprised. I mean, I love Tyler, but she seems to be all over the place. And now with her court date coming up, I agree with Anjenai—I don’t see how she’s going to get out serving a little time in juvie. She picked the wrong store and the wrong mall for that nonsense.

  Unlike Anjenai, I’ve elected not to say anything to her about it. The last thing I’m in the mood for is Tyler picking a fight with me about something that she did. Life is too short for that BS. I’m just going to support her and hope that eventually she’ll come around.

>   Nicole is styling and profiling since her father bought her Range Rover despite the fact that she just has a learner’s permit. Plus, I think she’s losing weight. Her jeans are loose and she’s looking pretty good.

  “Ms. Combs, very good,” Mrs. Ruckers, my art teacher, exclaims from over my shoulder.

  I’m pulled out of my reverie to glance down at my abstract drawing. “Thank you.”

  She leans closer. “You’re really talented, Kierra. Have you thought about a career in art?”

  I perk up and tell her proudly, “Actually, I want to be a fashion designer.”

  “Oh. I would love to see some of your designs.”

  “Really?” I’m stunned. No one has ever taken an interest in my drawings other than Anjenai and Tyler, and I have to say that it’s quite an ego boost.

  “Sure, bring them into class tomorrow,” she says, smiling. “You might also want to consider doing a piece for the art festival this spring. I think that you’d do well.”

  Inside I’m lighting up like a Christmas tree. “I’ll look into it.”

  Mrs. Ruckers winks and then moves on to the next student. I sort of faze out and start daydreaming about entering the art festival. Of course that means I’ll have to create something, and just when am I going to find time to do that? I’m already burning the candle at both ends.

  I’ll figure something out.

  Hopefully.

  nineteen

  Anjenai—Say Yes

  I think I like Kwan, despite my vow to stay away from boys for a little while. I’m also pretty sure that he likes me, too, because every time I turn around he’s right there smiling and trying to talk to me. This fact never ceases to amaze me because I don’t doubt that he could have any girl he wants. Bianca comes to mind. The girl is pulling out all the stops, but I can’t gauge how he feels about her. The last thing I want to do is to get caught up in another love triangle. One time is more than enough for me.

  Still, some of the same insecurities I felt with Romeo are starting to crop back up. Things like Kwan and I being from two different worlds. His of privilege and mine not so much. I’d tried to merge those worlds before, and I ended up with egg on my face.