by L. Divine
“Well, I do,” he says, seemingly flattered by my mother’s flirting. “And, I see where Jayd gets her good looks from,” he says, making my mother smile as she takes a seat next to him on the couch. I close the front door and walk over to the dining room to grab a seat for myself and watch my mom work her magic.
“So, where are you two lovebirds off to?” she asks, slightly embarrassing me.
“We’re just going to hang with some friends by the beach,” Jeremy says, referring to Matt’s house. They’re throwing a party for all of the homecoming nominees. I haven’t talked to Nellie since yesterday’s salty episode. But, I know she’s going to be there. “Speaking of which, Jayd,” he says. “Chance told me he convinced Nellie to go to the dance with him.” First Misty’s wishes come true, now Chance’s. The miracles just keep on coming, don’t they?
“Well, I guess there goes another backup date for me,” I say, making light of the fact that I still don’t have a date to the dance. I’m afraid to ask Nigel because of what Nellie may think. As stupid as she can act sometimes, she’s still my girl and I don’t want her to feel like I’m keeping her from getting to know Nigel.
“Why would you need a backup when you have all this man sitting right here to take you?” my mom says, putting us both on the spot. I forgot to mention Jeremy’s not taking me to homecoming or any other dance for that matter. I know she won’t get it at all. She was a queen, princess, or runner-up for every dance at Compton High back in her day. And, like most royalty, she considers it an honor to be an escort.
“She needs a date because unfortunately, I can’t take her,” Jeremy says, breaking the news to my mom, whose face expresses her full shock and disappointment. She loves the whole scene: getting dressed, taking pictures, all of it. I knew she would have a problem with me not having a date. For her, a girl going stag to a dance isn’t even a consideration.
“Oh, do you have to work or something?” my mom asks, totally confused. “What kind of boss won’t give you the day off for your homecoming?” she asks, looking from me to him in disbelief.
“The kind that gives birth to you,” he says, referring to his mother.
“You can’t take my daughter to homecoming because your mother won’t let you?” my mom says, getting up like she’s been personally insulted. “Does she have a problem with you going to the dance with Jayd because she’s Black?” my mom asks, taking our conversation to a whole other level.
“No, no. Not at all,” Jeremy says, getting up to both defend himself and reassure my mother, who’s not hearing a word of what he’s saying. “My mom loves Jayd.” Well, I don’t know about all that. But, judging by her sons’ preferences in women, I think she’s over the whole interracial dating thing.
“Mom, it’s not about me. It’s about his brother and a whole bunch of other stuff we can’t get into right now. But, it’s not about me being Black. I promise,” I say, calming her down. She looks like she’s about to get out her afro pick and whip Jeremy’s ass with it.
“OK, whatever,” my mom says, ready to settle in for the night and watch reruns of Charmed, one of our favorite shows. “I guess Jayd will fill me in later, although I still won’t understand why you, as my daughter’s boyfriend, can’t take her to the first dance of the year,” she says, looking at me like I’ve been holding out on her about Jeremy, which I have. “And, I’m sorry about jumping on you,” she says.
“It’s all good. Jayd’s like that sometimes too,” he says before giving my mother a hug and walking toward the door.
“Shut up, Jeremy,” I say, getting up from my seat and kissing my mother good night before following Jeremy out.
“It was nice meeting you, Ms. Jackson,” he says, assuming my mother and I have the same last name. But, she promptly went back to her maiden name after she and my father divorced and is always quick to correct the mistake.
“It’s James. But, you can call me Lynn,” she says. She hates when my friends call her Ms. James. She says it makes her feel like an old woman, which by anyone’s standards, my mom is definitely not.
“All right, Lynn. I’ll have your daughter home at a decent time,” he says, smiling. He seems pleasantly surprised with his first encounter with my mom.
“Have fun chillaxing,” I say. “And, don’t open the door without asking who it is first,” I add, only half joking. My mom’s had trouble with dudes before, but she’s a little more worried than usual about Ras Joe.
“Be careful with my baby. She’s got a lot of work to do,” my mom says, reminding me of my duties. Can a sistah get a break?
“I will,” Jeremy says, taking my hand as we step down the stairs and walk toward his Mustang parked at the end of the driveway. Seeing his clean, classic car still gives me goose bumps.
“Your mom seems more like your sister,” he says, opening the door for me. “She doesn’t look like she’s had any kids at all.” My mom works extra hard to keep her petite body in shape. She hits the gym every day after work and walks on the weekend.
“Haven’t you heard, baby?” I say as he gets in the driver’s seat, choosing tonight’s theme music. Depeche Mode. Now, that’s old-school alternative. Bryan and Tarek both play some of this on their shows. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be hip.
“Heard what?” he says, backing out and heading toward Redondo Beach. It’s a cool night and the air feels good on my face. Finally, winter is coming. Well, as much of a winter as we get in LA.
“Black don’t crack,” I say, making him chuckle a little. I’m glad he met my mom and they liked each other. Well, except when she thought his mother was the Grand Wizard of the KKK.
“Yeah, but apparently, it doesn’t get fat, either. If that’s how you’ll look after having a baby, sign me up to be the daddy,” he says, tickling my stomach. What’s gotten in to him tonight? He’s in an unusually playful mood.
“Watch the road, man. Watch the road,” I say, returning his hand to the steering wheel. I hope he’s still playful when I ask him where our relationship is headed. I need to know just how serious Jeremy is about me before I tell him about Raheem.
When we arrive at Matt’s house, the party’s in full effect with people hangin’ outside, in the entryway and generally all over the house. Everyone affiliated with the Drama Club is here and having a ball from the sound of it. That’s when I notice Tania and her rich girls’ clique hangin’ out on the front porch, looking hella faded. We can’t help but pass them as we enter through the front.
“Oh, look, isn’t it South Bay’s newest couple,” Tania says, slurring a little. I’ve never seen her at a social function. So, I don’t know how she really gets down. But, by the smell of it, I’d say straight tequila.
“What’s up, Tania,” Jeremy says, leading me past the sad scene and through the foyer to the kitchen. I saw Chance’s Nova parked in the driveway, so I assume Nellie’s here with him. I guess she got over her fear of being seen in an old car around her hood.
“Jeremy, what did you ever see in her?” I ask, not really caring about his answer. I just want him to know how lucky he is to be with me and that I know it.
“Sex,” he says, stepping through the back kitchen door and down the flight of stairs leading into the basement. As usual, the lights are very dim and the smoke, thick. When my eyes adjust to the light, I see familiar faces playing pool, drinking, and lounging around the shiny cars on display.
“For real?” I say, not knowing how to respond to his candor. He really caught me off guard with that one. Now, every time I see Tania’s face, I’ll think of them doing it, even if he’s just joking.
“Yes, for real. Sometimes it’s just physical, Jayd. You mean to tell me you’ve never had a solely physical relationship with a guy?” he asks, sitting down on the same plush couch we sat on last time we were here, minus Nellie and Chance. Where are they, I wonder?
“Jeremy, I haven’t had a physical relationship with anyone,” I say, sitting next to him on the couch and looking around for Nellie. Maybe she�
��s outside by the pool.
“OK, Lady J. You can play the innocent act all you want. But, I know you’ve had a sexual relationship with someone,” he says, not knowing anything at all about my sex life, or lack there of.
“Jeremy, I’m a virgin,” I say. For the first time I think I’ve fully shocked him. Although Raheem and I have tested the limits of what virginity actually is and, KJ to some extent also, I’ve never gone all the way.
“You mean to tell me you’ve never had sex, ever?” he says, the most interested I’ve seen him in me all night. Just as it’s getting good, Chance and Nellie come in from outside.
“What’s up with ya,” Chance says, reaching down to give Jeremy dap and me a hug. Nellie, right behind him, takes a seat in one of the two chairs across from us before saying her hellos.
“So, how’s your night going so far?” Nellie says, making small talk. I can tell she’s still a little irritated with me from yesterday. But, she needs to get over herself.
“Just fine,” I answer, wishing she’d stop being so catty. “I hear you and Chance are going to the dance together,” I say, a tad bitter. She could have told me herself instead of letting me hear it through the grapevine.
“Yeah, I think it’s a good idea to show up with a member of my sponsoring group,” she says, sounding all official about it. But, Chance couldn’t care less. He looks like he’s on cloud nine.
“Yeah, but you know what they say. Your date for homecoming will be your date for the prom,” Chance says, remaining ever hopeful and setting up our topic of discussion for this evening. But, before we can get started, Matt comes over and offers us all drinks.
“Well if it isn’t the debating thespians,” he says, mocking our tendency to have serious conversations.
“Some people enjoy a healthy debate,” I say, ready for who ever wants a piece of me tonight. I’ve had it with dudes and their wants and desires. Sometimes it has to be about what girls need too.
“And some people want to relax and enjoy the view,” Jeremy says, ready for round one. “That’s what’s wrong with society. We put too much pressure on every situation, making it more than it’s meant to be,” he says, accepting one of the Guinnesses Matt offers us.
“I agree,” Nellie adds. “Take, for example, this dance. It doesn’t matter who you end up going with. It doesn’t have to predict who you’ll end up with by the end of the year,” she says, glancing in Chance’s direction. I hope he’s smart enough to understand she’s just using him.
“Yeah, but it’s still a very important social event,” Matt says, leaning up against Nellie’s chair. “Who you go with says a lot about what you want people to think of your relationship with the other person,” he says, pleading my case to Jeremy without me saying a word. I can feel Jeremy tense up next to me, dreading where this conversation’s headed. Right on cue, Misty, KJ, Shae, and Tony walk in, drawing our attention away from the topic at hand. What the hell are they doing here?
“What’s up, KJ?” Matt says in KJ’s direction as he leads his entourage straight for us. Matt’s a huge basketball fan. I’m sure he’d never thought he’d see the day KJ was at his house. “What are you drinking?” Matt says, pointing to the full bar with a bar attendant ready to serve.
“Nothing right now, man. But thanks,” KJ says, smiling at me.
“Hey, Jayd. Now I can see why you sold out to be around these White folks. They got it going on out here,” Shae says, giving her crew a chuckle at my expense.
“Whatever. What are y’all doing here?” I ask impatiently.
“We came to support South Bay High’s first Black princess nominee,” Misty says, sounding patriotic. When did she become a cheerleader for Nellie? And, more importantly, when did KJ start hanging out with Misty at night? What the hell?
“What’s up with y’all?” Nellie asks, basically inviting them to sit with us. Has she lost her damned mind? Has she forgotten these are my enemies? And, most of all that Jeremy and KJ tried to kill each other the last time they were together? She’s really on a trip with this whole princess shit and it’s getting on my nerves.
“Uhmm, Jayd, we need to get some air,” Chance says, sensing the vibe tensing up. Jeremy gets up with him and I decide to go too.
“Don’t leave on my account,” KJ says to me as I follow Jeremy outside.
“Oh, don’t worry. I am,” I say, giving him the evil eye before shooting a look at Nellie, who just looks like she was waiting for me to go. I hope she doesn’t think she’s about to take over my Drama friends because she’s one of their nominees. I’m trying to tell her these White folks up here are cool, but they ain’t that cool. But, it looks like she’s just going to have to fall on her own.
After leaving Chance at the bong house, Jeremy and I decide to leave and continue our evening at our favorite spot: the beach, which is the perfect place for us to talk more seriously about our relationship. Finally working up the guts, I decide to ask Jeremy the question that’s been on my mind all night.
“Do you think we match?” I ask as we walk barefoot on the cold sand. I’m a little afraid of his answer. I think we make a cute couple and the attraction is definitely there. But, it seems we’re just too different on a basic level.
“Why would you ask me that?” Jeremy replies.
“Well, it just seems this entire homecoming dance has put a strain on our relationship and I just want to know if you think I’m still a good match for you. Look, things have been real tense with us this evening and we haven’t really had a chance to vibe,” I say, hoping to ease at least a little of the tension between us. “Do you realize you haven’t given me a kiss all night?”
“Jayd, I think you are the perfect match for me,” he says, stopping our slow stride and pulling me into him. He kisses my forehead, my nose and then sucks on my neck like a gentle vampire. It feels so good I forget all about whatever issues we may have. I just want to stay in his arms for as long as I can.
When we get back to the car after what seems like hours of making out, he whips out a package from the backseat.
“Just because you won’t have a date doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be the best-dressed girl there.” The box has the logo of the store in the Marina with my red dream dress.
“Oh, Jeremy,” I say, opening the box to reveal the silky gown. “I don’t know what to say.”
“How about you forgive me,” he says, tilting my head toward his, kissing me. “I’m really sorry things are off to a bad start with this whole dance and all. But, that’s just how my family is. I hope you understand and don’t get scared off,” he says, kissing me between each word.
“OK. But, only if you forgive me too,” I say, opening the small visor mirror to catch the reflection of the bright fabric against my skin. Who am I to judge someone’s family? Wait until he finds out about mine. Admiring my reflection, I notice several small marks on my neck. Oh, hell no he didn’t.
“Jeremy, look what you did,” I say, forgetting all about the dress as visions of Mama’s hand across my face play in my head. She’s going to kill me when she sees these marks all over my neck. She already thinks I’m too distracted by the boys in my life. Now there’s physical proof that I’ve been spending too much time with Jeremy, or at least I know that’s how she’ll see it.
“Damn, baby. You bruise easily,” he says, sounding as surprised as me by the hickeys on my neck. “Well, at least you can hide them with a scarf or something,” he says, smiling like he’s just marked his territory. I know that look. The first time I got a hickey was from Raheem and it wasn’t on my neck. We were smart enough not to leave evidence where parents could see, like on my thighs or his chest, while still letting others know this person was taken.
“Jeremy, you can’t go marking me up like a cat pissing on a couch,” I say, flattered and vexed all at once.
“I’m sorry. I really didn’t think I’d mark you up,” he says, placing my dress back in the backseat before starting the car. “But, a little makeup sh
ould work.” I hope he’s right. Maybe my mom will have some sympathy on me and help me blend together some foundation to hide them from Mama before I get home tomorrow night.
12
Whose House
“Can ya can ya can ya bounce wit me, bounce wit me.”
—JAY-Z
When I get home from work this afternoon, my mom helps me hide my hickeys with some bomb foundation from Clinique. I can’t see a thing and hopefully neither will anyone else. I also do my hair before we leave. Since she isn’t in a rush for a date or anything, I get to stay a little later than usual, which is always a relief.
“Don’t forget to pack your foundation, Jayd,” my mom says from her bedroom. “It’s sitting in here on my dresser.” I rise from my spot on the couch to go to her room and retrieve the makeup.
I would give anything for my own room, especially if I could decorate it. My mom has good taste. Her room is spacious enough to fit her queen-size bed and oak frame, two nightstands, and a dresser drawer with a vanity attached comfortably. She has mirrors on the back of her closet doors, saving her some space.
“Thanks for helping me with this,” I say as I pick up the small bottle of brown liquid. We had to blend a few different shades to get it to look right.
“Not a problem, girl. Just be careful with those boys, Jayd. If I learned anything from the little bit of history in Mama’s spirit book I did read, it’s that men can get you into a whole lot of bull. Our stories aren’t the fairy tales you see in the movies, but they’re just as fascinating and filled with lessons like any you see in the video store. I always preferred reading about Mama’s sheroes, as she calls them, than reading my lessons or the prayers,” my mom says, sitting up on the edge of her bed and slipping on her sandals.
“I know. I have to finish reading Maman’s story when I get home. And, I won’t be getting anymore hickeys, I promise.”
