All the Wrong Moves

by Nikki Carter

  “What’s clear is that Mystique is only interested in one person on this bus. She couldn’t care less about what happens to the rest of our careers as long as Sunday is cool.”

  “Big D, tell her that’s not true,” I fuss.

  Big D crosses his arms over his chest and looks at the ceiling of the bus. “I’d like to say that it’s not true. But I can’t be one hundred percent sure. It does seem like she’s mostly concerned about you, Sunday.”

  “How can y’all say that when she keeps coming to Dreya’s rescue. First with the bloggers, then she had to fly to Charlotte to be in a concert because Dreya decided to stand by her man. She does more for Dreya than she does for me.”

  These words sound hollow even to me. But is that so wrong that Mystique is down for me? I’m not going to apologize to Dreya or anybody else about Mystique’s having my back. If they want what I got, they’ve got to do what I did. Find their own multi-platinum diva mentors.

  28

  We’re in Philly now. The second to last stop on the tour. After Philadelphia, it’s New York and then back home to Atlanta. The tour was supposed to be longer, but some of the venues didn’t get booked, the money ran short, and all kinds of other things occurred.

  To be truthful, I’m glad it’s almost over. I’m tired, and I’m ready to start shopping for my college furniture. My mom and I are gonna wreck shop in Ikea! I can’t wait to get some stacking shelves, beanbags, and a comfortable desk chair.

  Aunt Charlie annoyed the heck out of me in Baltimore, so she’s getting her own hotel room for the rest of the tour.

  Sam and I get on the elevator together to go up to our rooms. He just checked in, and I’d come back downstairs for a snack. He chuckles at my handful of goodies—a bottle of Pepsi, some cheese curls, and a Three Musketeers candy bar.

  “What’s funny?” I ask.

  “Why don’t you get some real food?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know where any real food is around here. What do you suggest?”

  “We’re in Philadelphia. How about a Philly cheesesteak?”

  My stomach grumbles. “That sounds great.”

  “You want to catch a movie too? I heard Eclipse is playing at Franklin Mills Mall.”

  I want to laugh out loud. There is no way Sam heard that the movie was playing at the mall. Who gossips about what movies are playing? He just wants to ask me out on a date and doesn’t know how. That’s kind of cute, I guess. But I’ma need him to man up.

  “Eclipse? You’re a Twilight fan?”

  “Not really, but don’t all girls love those movies?”

  This time I do laugh out loud. “Some girls like the Twilight movies. Not all of them.”

  “Well, forget I mentioned it. We can get a cheesesteak.”

  “Let me finish! I didn’t get a chance to say that I am one of those girls! Let’s go see it. Thank you for inviting me.”

  He wipes imaginary sweat off his brow. “Okay, good. I almost had a foot in mouth moment there.”

  “Yeah, you kinda did. But I didn’t plan on letting you suffer for too long.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  “Can I ask you a question?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  “Is this a date we’re going on? Or is this just two friends hanging out and going to the movies?”

  Sam gives me a tight-lipped stare. “What do you want it to be?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Sam sighs. “You’re never gonna be sure, are you?”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” I ask.

  “You know, Sunday! I’ve been trying to get at you for months, and you’re off and on. I know you’re a girl and you have the right to change your mind and all, but dang, can a brotha get something a little more solid than, ‘I’m not sure?’”

  A smile spreads across my face. “I will tell you what I am sure of. I’m sure that I like you. I’m sure that you smell really great right now, and I’m sure those glasses make you look like a forever nerd.”

  “But not sure that you want to go on a date with me?”

  “I am. Let’s go to the mall. Let’s have a date.”

  Sam gives me a lopsided grin. “All right, Sunday, don’t play with my emotions. I don’t know if I can take it.”

  “I didn’t say be my boyfriend! I said yes to a date.”

  “It’s a start.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  This mall is huge. It’s one of those malls you could get lost in if you get separated from your group. It’s one of those malls where you see mothers with those little leashes on their bad, need-a-time-out toddlers.

  And it’s big enough to disappear in. Sometimes I just feel like disappearing!

  Not that I’m getting recognized all that much. Dreya and Truth are starting to get a lot more of that than I am. Mostly because they’re on Internet blogs regularly.

  “Ooh, there’s the Philly cheesesteak place.” Sam exclaims.

  I laugh out loud. “You sound greedy being all pumped about a sandwich.”

  “I feel greedy right about now. All we’ve been eating is Applebee’s, pizza, and room service. I need some real grease lining the inside of my stomach.”

  “Ew.”

  “Right. But it’s gonna taste soooo delicious sliding down into my belly.” This comment wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t standing there rubbing his stomach and licking his lips.

  “Tell me now. Are you going to look like the Nutty Professor some day? If so, let me out now.”

  “Hahahaha. You’re a really funny girl!”

  My phone buzzes on my hip. I take it out and read the text message that I just received.

  Sunday, meet me over by the food court bathrooms.—Carlos

  I look up and around me to see if I can see where Carlos is hiding. What is he doing in Philadelphia? How does he know I’m here?

  “Um … I’ve got to go to the bathroom. Order a sandwich for me.”

  Sam lifts an eyebrow. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I don’t know. You read a text message, and then next thing you know, you’re running off. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were going to meet some dude.”

  I roll my eyes and smile. “That was from Ms. Layla. She wants me to call her later about my outfit tonight.”

  Wow. I’ve never lied to Sam before, and that just slid off my tongue. It was way too easy.

  But I can’t let him know that Carlos is here. Nobody is supposed to know where he is or that he’s even alive. Not that I think Sam would do anything to put him in danger, but I can’t play my mom out like that.

  I make a zigzag path in the direction of the RESTROOM sign. I look back over my shoulder, and Sam is staring after me. He looks worried—as worried as I feel.

  When I get to the women’s restroom door, I glance around looking for Carlos. I don’t see him, so he must be hiding somewhere. My hip buzzes again.

  I’m in the women’s bathroom. Handicapped stall.

  This must be serious if he’s hiding in a women’s restroom stall. I push the heavy door open and look underneath each one for shoes. There’s a lady and her two little girls at one end, and I see a pair of sneakers in the handicapped stall.

  I knock on the door. “Say something, so I know it’s you. If you don’t, I’m running.”

  “It’s me, Sunday.”

  I breathe a sigh of relief. It is Carlos.

  He opens the stall door and pulls me in. “What’s up with the espionage?” I ask.

  “I’ve got to tell you something quickly, before they realize I’m gone from New York City.”

  His skin is pale, and his eyes bloodshot. His hair has grown longer, and it’s again slicked back into a ponytail. He’s lost weight too, a lot of weight.

  “Dude, you ain’t on that stuff, are you? You are looking really slim.”

  Carlos smiles. “The life I’m living now kind of does that to you. I’ll be fine. How is Shawn?”

  “She’s c
ool. Your baby mama is still harassing her. LaKeisha and Charlie got into a fight right before we went on tour.”

  “I know. My cousins have been keeping tabs on her and the tour.”

  “They have?”

  “They’re mad how the whole marijuana thing went down. They had Dilly and Truth mixed up. They thought Truth was LaKeisha and Bryce’s brother.”

  “They hid the stash on our bus?”

  Carlos nods. “Yeah, and they called the police.”

  “But what do they want with Dilly?”

  “That’s what I came to tell you about. Now what I’m about to say is top secret. If you tell anyone what I tell you someone will get hurt.”

  “Okay, so what is it?”

  “My cousin’s gang is going to kidnap Dilly when y’all get to New York City.”

  “What? Oh, my God! Kidnap him?”

  Carlos puts his hand over my mouth. “Shhh! Keep your voice down.”

  Slowly he lets his hand go from in front of my mouth. I whisper, “Why would they want to kidnap him?”

  “To teach Bryce and LaKeisha a lesson. They’re not going to hurt him. They’re just going to snatch him and demand a ransom. Let them squirm a little bit and then set him free.”

  “I’m down with teaching Bryce and LaKeisha a lesson, but don’t they have some kind of scared straight program or something? Dilly is my friend.”

  Carlos says, “Trust me when I tell you they won’t hurt him. It’s just that they can’t let Bryce get away with what he did to me. If I hadn’t survived the shooting, he and LaKeisha would already be dead.”

  My head is swimming. This is way too gangsta for me. I thought this craziness only happened in movies. Never, ever would I have thought I’d be in the center of a scene like this. I’m tripping the heck out.

  “Why are you telling me this? Why couldn’t y’all just snatch him?”

  “I didn’t want you to worry. He might go missing before your show in New York City. I don’t want you to mess up your opportunity worrying about your friend.”

  “What if I tell the police? What if I tell Dilly?” I ask. These are very logical questions to me. I don’t play by gang rules, and I don’t see what’s stopping me from walking out of this mall and doing just that.

  Carlos shakes his head. “If you tell someone, and alert LaKeisha and Bryce, your mother will be in danger. You don’t think they’d try to snatch Shawn or Manny if they knew Dilly was about to be taken?”

  My face, I’m sure, goes white with fear. My mother is in Atlanta with those two thugs.

  “And do you think they’d make a promise not to hurt my Shawn? Or Manny?” Carlos asks. “Just don’t say anything. Don’t get in the way when they start searching, don’t answer any questions. Just know that he’s gonna be all right.”

  “Okay. I won’t say anything.”

  Carlos kisses my forehead. “Go check out there and make sure the restroom is empty. Then say all clear before you leave.”

  I do what Carlos says. The lady and her kids are gone, and there’s no one else in here, so I give the all clear sign and go out of the restroom. I don’t look back to see if Carlos made it out. I just put a smile on my face and try to figure out how I’m gonna fool Sam.

  He waves me down as I reenter the food court. He’s got our food and a table. I sit down in front of him and feel my stomach turn at the sight of the greasy, messy food. I’ve never been less hungry.

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Is everything okay?”

  I nod. “I was just thinking about this Philadelphia audience. I heard they were a tough crowd.”

  Sam smiles. “Yeah, they are tough, but no tougher than Atlanta. Atlanta is one of the worst cities. Don’t worry about it, you’ll be cool.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yeah, now eat up.”

  I swallow hard and take a bite into the sandwich. The seasoned meat flavor bursts onto my taste buds! It’s delicious. My hunger is back with a vengeance.

  I eat about half of the sandwich in four bites and wash it down with lemonade. I couldn’t finish it if I wanted to. It’s big enough for two grown men to split.

  “You done?” Sam asks. “Ready for the movie?”

  I’m really not in the mood for a movie anymore. Now that I’m full, I really just want to take a nap and say a prayer for my mother.

  But I don’t want to ruin our date. The date that Sam has been pressing me to have for months. So to the movies I go.

  “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Sam says.

  He must have noticed something was up.

  I shake my head. “I want to go! We didn’t come all the way here just for a sandwich. Let’s do this.”

  I hear my voice, and it sounds so phony. I can’t even pretend that the shrilly sound coming out of my mouth is normal. It’s not. I sound nervous and tense, like something bad is going to happen at any second and I’m just waiting to duck.

  “Come on. Let’s walk around for a minute. You don’t want your stomach to poke out tomorrow night in your stage bathing suit that Ms. Layla has you wearing.”

  This makes me laugh. “Stage bathing suit? That’s Dreya’s stuff. Mine looks like regular clothes.”

  “Sometimes. She’s put you in bodysuits and half shirts, though. You can’t have a cheesesteak belly in a half shirt.”

  “I know, right. Let’s walk around and then go to the movie theater.”

  How can Carlos let this go down? He’s supposed to be one of the good guys. Is he so blinded by the need to get revenge on Bryce he doesn’t see that this kidnapping plot is crazy? I wish he hadn’t filled me in.

  I push my meeting with Carlos to the back of my mind, at least for now. I can’t think about Dilly being kidnapped, and not tell anyone. But since I can’t tell anyone without my mother being in danger, I’m going to try to forget I even know anything about it.

  It’s the best I can do for now.

  29

  Chad, the BET guy (that’s what we’ve been calling him), has set up a makeshift confessional in his hotel room. It’s nothing more than a chair and a blue piece of material hanging from the wall. It kinda reminds me of where you have to sit to take a driver’s license picture or a passport photo.

  I’ve been sneaking out of having my confessionals, so I know he’s got some irritating questions to ask me.

  “The arrest, Sunday. What were your thoughts?”

  Knowing what I know now about Carlos’s cousins changes how I feel about that. I did think that Truth was trying to live out his rap lyrics in real life. Now I know he was set up.

  “I believe that Truth was innocent. He’s not the kind of guy to sell drugs.”

  Chad laughs. “Are you serious? The guy’s a real thug.”

  “He’s actually a pretty cool guy. Did you know he can cook?”

  Chad laughs out loud. “Okay, Sunday, give me something I can work with here. What were you thinking when the police officer stepped on your bus?”

  “I was thinking we were all going to jail or something crazy. I was thinking that the admissions officer at Spelman might not appreciate my having an arrest on my record. I don’t know. I was thinking a whole lot of stuff.”

  “But Mystique and Zillionaire saved the day. They came to Charlotte?”

  “Yes. They came and performed, and it was hot, and everyone liked it. The concert promoter was cool with it.”

  “Are you and Sam dating now?”

  “Whoa. Skipping subjects. Sam and I went out on a date. Yes.”

  “But are you dating?”

  “He’s a great guy….”

  “Dating?”

  “Huh?”

  “Sunday! Dating?”

  “I don’t really want to discuss my personal life, you know? He’s my friend. That’s all y’all need to know.”

  Chad shakes his head. “You’re the toughest one to interview. Everyone else is so open.”

  “Sorry for being tight-lipped. I’m a private person.�
�

  “All right. I got ya. One more question, though.”

  “Okay. Go ahead.”

  “Will you go on tour with Drama and Truth again?”

  I lean my head back and have a hearty laugh. “I will never go on tour with them again!”

  * * *

  Dilly is helping me get my microphone on for tonight’s concert, and he looks tired like the rest of us. I always thought touring would be a blast, and that we’d go from city to city having fun. This has been the most mentally draining time of my life.

  Carlos’s visit, of course, has something to do with that.

  “Dilly, can you do me a favor when we get to New York City?” I ask.

  “Sure. What do you need me to do, hottie?”

  I chuckle. “First, you can stop calling me hottie. That is so unnecessary.”

  “It is. I’m sorry. What do you need me to do for you?”

  “I want you to stay near Big D or Benji for the entire time.”

  Dilly looks at me with a strange expression. “What’s wrong, Sunday?”

  “Nothing. You’re just too young to be all over New York by yourself. I don’t want you to get lost from the group.”

  He laughs. “Sunday, I’ve been going to New York with my brother since I was a little kid. I probably know the subways better than people who live there. You don’t have to worry about me getting lost.”

  “You said you would do me the favor. So will you?”

  Dilly cocks his head to one side as if he’s trying to read my mind. I’m pretty closed up right now, so even if he did have telepathic powers, he’d be up against a brick wall.

  “You sure there’s nothing wrong?” he asks.

  “Yeah. I just had a feeling, that’s all.”

  That’s as far as I can go without spilling my guts and telling him the whole thing. He’d have no choice but to tell his brother, and then it would be just like Carlos said. My mother could be hurt.

  What’s really bothering me now is that I feel like my mother is in danger whether I say something or not. Like what’s gonna happen when they do snatch Dilly? Are LaKeisha and Bryce gonna try to do something to her then?