16 Isn't Always Sweet

by Cassandra Carter

  “No practice today?” Jordan asked, clicking on her seat belt. Warren sped off right away and rolled up the passenger-side window to trap the air-conditioning. As the vent blew out a cool breeze, Jordan took a deep breath of relief.

  “Nope, not today. Whatchu got up?”

  “I don’t know. Nothing, really. I’ll probably just go home and chill, do my homework, eat, sleep…You know, the usual.”

  “A’ight, but how about you do something un- usual? I got something we can do that’s way better than what you’re talking about.”

  “What is it?”

  “There’s this carnival going on. The only thing is, it’s all the way on the other side of town. I rode by it the other day and I want to go see if it’s poppin’.”

  “Oh, that sounds fun! Let me see your phone for a second?” She held up a hand to catch the razor-thin phone and punched in her phone number. She bit her lip when she saw that her number was programmed into his phone under the catchy nickname “J-Baby.”

  She was giddy while listening to the ringing on the other end of the line. Her mom was sure to answer, and after having already allowed her to hang out with Warren after his basketball game, Jordan assumed she would say yes to this minor request.

  “Hello? Wright residence.”

  “Hey…um…Daddy. Is Mom there?” Jordan started stumbling over her words, and her eyes widened when she heard her father’s low voice. He had a voice big enough for a giant, and at his height, it was fitting.

  “No, she’s not. She had to take Tariq to the dentist and she’s still not back yet. What number are you calling me from? Shouldn’t you be on your way home?”

  “Yeah. I’m on Warren’s cell phone. I was calling to ask if me and him could go to this carnival across town. I don’t know the name of it exactly, but he said he passed it while driving and wanted to see what all they had.”

  “I know which one he’s probably talking about, but I don’t know about you going out there tonight. It’s a school night, so you have to get up early. I don’t want you giving your mom a hard time waking you up in the morning.”

  “Come on, Daddy. Please, please, Daddy? Please? I swear on everything I’ll get up on time for school tomorrow,” she begged.

  “Okay, as long as you’re in by eight-thirty. Do you have a lot of homework?”

  “No.” Jordan crossed her fingers when she lied to her father. She in fact had an English paper due the next morning, but for Warren she’d put it aside. It would just have to wait.

  “All right. Have fun.”

  “Oh, thank you, Daddy! Bye! I love you!” she squealed. She folded the cell phone and turned to Warren. “I have good news.” She grinned.

  “What’s that?” He only glanced at her for a split second before he refocused on the road ahead and continued to navigate their way to the carnival.

  “You have me to yourself for the next five whole hours!” She shot up in her seat with an excitement in her eyes she couldn’t hide, and gave his hand a loving squeeze.

  Time was flying by for Jordan and Warren, but they’d had a ton of fun. They had walked the dirt lot holding hands the entire time they were there, until Warren won Jordan a huge stuffed Tweety bird from one of the many games on either side of the main walkway.

  As dusk fell upon the city, the carnival came alive with bright, colorful lights and festive music. The various aromas coming from the food stands became stronger, but the smell of cotton candy seemed to dominate the air. They still had an hour and a half to spend together, but the crowd had swelled and was much larger than when they had arrived. With the lines to the rides becoming longer and longer, they decided to head back to Warren’s house. Not that either of them was disappointed. They’d had a chance to ride each attraction they wanted more than once.

  “Oh, no. Wait, wait, wait. We have to ride this.” Jordan yanked on Warren’s hand to stop him. She peered to the top of the Ferris wheel and allowed another handful of fluffy pink cotton candy to melt in her mouth.

  “Man, let’s go. We rode all the rides here a million times.”

  “But not this one. How could we have missed this? It’s the classic carnival ride.”

  “Who says?”

  “I don’t know…Me. Everybody.” She stopped for a moment. “Wait a minute. I know Warren Taylor’s not scared to get on some slow-ass Ferris wheel.”

  “It’s not about the speed.” The dread he felt came across in what he said as he looked up at the wheel rotating high into the sky.

  “Aw, you’re scared of heights?” Jordan cooed as she wrapped her arm around his.

  “Can’t even fuck with ’em.”

  “Come on, now. I’ve seen bigger. It’s doesn’t even look like its a hundred feet up!”

  “Well, you sure could’ve fooled me. And you tell me the difference. I don’t care if its one hundred feet or two hundred feet, no matter how you put it, it’s still too high!”

  “I’m going to ride this ride before we leave.”

  “A’ight, you go right ahead and do that. Me and Tweety will be waiting for you right here when you get off.” He used one of the stuffed wings to wave goodbye. “Bye!”

  “That’s not going to cut it and you know it,” Jordan said, folding her arms.

  “How’d I get stuck holding this big-ass thing anyway? I’m the one who won it for you.” He held the stuffed animal up in the air for inspection in an attempt to change the topic.

  “All right, here, give it to me.” She snatched her gift and put a pitiful pout on her face. “I’ll just ride the Ferris wheel with Tweety. He’s brave enough to ride it with me.”

  “You expect that to work?” He tried to resist the pleading look in her eyes but failed miserably. Before he knew it, she was leading him to the line. “Okay, man, damn! Let’s just get this over with.”

  They found a seat, and an attendant confiscated the large prize until after the ride was over. Warren looked nauseated as the small bench swung back and forth.

  “Oooh, scary!” Jordan mocked him with big eyes when they began to move. She couldn’t help laughing at the expression on his face.

  “Say bye to Tweety!” She waved to the yellow cartoon character growing smaller as they went higher. As she leaned forward, their seat started to rock, and Warren grabbed her arm.

  “Jordan, stop! That shit ain’t funny! Are you trying to kill us?” He pulled her back from over the bar positioned across their laps.

  “What’s wrong with you? You act like I’m going to just fall out,” Jordan joked, leaning over the side once again.

  “Oh my God.” Warren sighed nervously and used his hand like a visor to shield his eyes.

  “Okay, I’m going to stop messing with you.” She chuckled and sat back in her seat.

  “Right, while you’re up here being all mean, you’re missing out on a big opportunity.”

  “To do what?”

  “Hold me. ’Cause I’m scared.” Warren jokingly changed the pitch of his voice, and Jordan opened her arms to him. She laughed softly as she wrapped her arms around his body and he rested his head on her chest.

  “You are too much.”

  They sat in silence, enjoying their ride as their bench brought them back to the world they’d come from and away again. Jordan let out a gasp when the operator stopped the ride, with them at the very top.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Warren said, looking pale.

  “Uh-oh, look at us stuck at the top! This is the best part! Look at this view!”

  “Hell naw.” Warren seemed like he was going to lose it at any second. He kept his composure by keeping his head low and shielding his eyes with his hands. In her excitement, Jordan sent them swaying back and forth once again.

  “It’s so peaceful up here. Look at all them down there, and you can barely hear them.” She peered over the side of their seat and paused only for a moment before gazing up at the night sky.

  “Ooh! Look how close we are to the moon tonight! And look u
p at the stars…they’re so beautiful. It looks like you can almost reach out and touch one, doesn’t it? I wish I—”

  It took Jordan a minute to realize Warren’s lips were actually touching hers. Her eyes were still open at first, but once he began to gently suck on her lips, she let go of the anxiousness that had initially left her frozen. She allowed herself to shut her eyes as well, and relaxed enough to let Warren guide her in returning his kisses.

  Jordan couldn’t believe what was happening, and she prayed she was doing it right, whatever that really meant. She had never imagined when she woke up that today would be the day she would have her first kiss. Not that she had any objections.

  His lips were so soft she couldn’t think of anything to compare them to, and she didn’t want to stop kissing him until she could at least describe them better. The way he took his time kissing her and the way he made her feel when he did it left her mesmerized. Jordan might not have been able to touch the stars tonight, but she still felt as if she were on top of the world.

  CHAPTER 16

  Not even half an hour later, Jordan had gone from feeling on top of the world to having Warren on top of her. They jetted for his place as soon as the ride came to a stop, and ever since, they had lain kissing passionately for what felt like hours.

  They tumbled around on his couch, kissing and touching each other throughout their make-out session. Jordan loved the feeling of Warren’s hands all over her body and beneath her shirt. She closed her eyes when she felt him kiss her neck. She was in another state. As he traveled between her lips and her neck, his fingers worked to undo her jeans, and she didn’t resist.

  Her moans created a vibrating sensation against his lips as he pushed his fingers deeper into her lace-trimmed panties. Having never been touched below the waist, Jordan’s body was extremely sensitive, and she was swept away in the new feelings he was causing.

  Warren pulled away from Jordan and looked her in the eyes for the few seconds she was able to keep them open. Her heavy breathing now filled the room, and a combination of her squirming, moaning and wetness was driving Warren crazy. Jordan strictly caressed his back, chest and stomach in an effort to avoid coming into contact with the big bulge in his pants, but he interpreted this as mere teasing and led her hand to the rock-hard mass.

  Jordan snatched her hand away and shot up to refasten the buttons on her pants.

  “You should take me home now.”

  “What’s wrong?” Warren asked, still breathing hard and aroused. He couldn’t understand why she’d suddenly put an end to things.

  “I’m sorry,” she breathed, “but there’s something I should probably tell you before we go any further…You probably won’t even want to go to Spring Fling with me after I tell you this.” She put her head in her hands.

  “How about you let me decide for myself? What is it? You better not sit up here and tell me you got another nigga.”

  “No! Of course not! It’s nothing like that.” She made sure to look him in the eye.

  “Then what is it? What could possibly be so important that—”

  “I’m a virgin, Warren.”

  There was a slight pause in conversation before Warren spoke. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that. Why would you say that like that? Why are you acting like that’s such a bad thing?”

  “You’re not mad?” Jordan wasn’t expecting such a calm reaction.

  “Hell no. If anything, I’m happy. That’s a good thing.”

  “I guess I just figured you’d rather go with another girl who would…I know you’re not a virgin, and—”

  “Oh, do you, now?” He raised an eyebrow.

  “Are you?”

  “Naw, but go ahead. I’m listening. Go on.”

  “Warren, I really care about you and everything, don’t get me wrong, but a lot of this that has happened tonight is new to me, and I know what lies at the end of this road. It’s tempting to give in, believe me, but I’m trying not to regret it when I finally do have sex. I just don’t want you getting bored with me later down the line because I won’t give you what you’re used to.”

  “Yeah, but that’s the thing. You’re nothing like I’m used to. That’s why I’m diggin’ you so much. Opposites really do attract, I guess.”

  “But I can’t say when it will happen, if it does at all.” Jordan sighed. “Would you listen to what I’m saying! We don’t even go out yet!”

  “A’ight, listen, I know that means a lot to you. It does to every girl. And if I was the one to be your first, I wouldn’t want you to regret it, either. We can take it slow. I don’t have a problem with that. And I can assure you, you have nothing to worry about. I ain’t checkin’ for any other shawty but you.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered in relief and cuddled close to him.

  “Don’t thank me. You’re worth waiting for, baby.”

  Warren sincerely meant what he said that night, but when the night of Spring Fling finally came around, Jordan was putting his word to the test. He was standing in her living room, ready to go. He glanced down at his rhinestone “iced-out” watch one more time. She was holding up their plans by twenty minutes and counting.

  “Jordan! You know it’s not right to have this boy waiting on you down here like this!” Olivia yelled up the stairs to Jordan. She also didn’t understand what was holding Jordan up. It wasn’t like they were on their way to prom or a formal event. It was only the Spring Fling. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what is taking her so long. Jordan!” she yelled again, much louder this time.

  Warren shifted nervously under her father’s unbroken stare. Her father hadn’t said more than two words to him since he’d showed up to take Jordan to the dance, and he hadn’t taken his eyes off him for one second.

  “I’m coming, Mom!”

  Jordan’s spiral curls bounced with each step she took. She hurried to the top of the stairs, then slowed to make her entrance. As she descended the staircase, she was gratified to see Warren’s eyes travel down her frame. She could tell he was trying hard not to gape at her.

  Her gray eyes were particularly striking, she knew, thanks to the smoky eye shadow dusting her lids. A turquoise top left her stomach partially exposed and dove deep between her breasts. A pair of fitted white shorts rested low on her hips, and a pair of strappy wedge sandals showcased the definition in her long legs.

  “Hey.” Jordan was impressed with how Warren had put himself together for the evening. His uptowns were brand-new, and his Rocawear outfit was neatly pressed. As he leaned in for a hug, she detected the smell of cologne on his neck.

  “It’s about time. I know Warren probably never wants to take you out again, as long as you had him sitting here,” Olivia commented.

  “Are you ready to go?” Warren asked.

  “Yeah. Come on. Bye, Mommy. Bye, Daddy. I love you.” Jordan quickly hugged her parents and blew a kiss in their direction before turning the doorknob.

  “Hey! Not so fast,” her father said, causing the two teens to freeze where they stood. Before Jordan left with her date, her father made sure Warren was well aware of the fact that he owned a gun and knew how to use it—just in case Warren thought about trying anything that fit the loose category of “funny” with his precious little girl.

  Jordan was to go directly to the dance and home, and nowhere before, in between or after, unless she called to get permission. Her parents had already exercised generosity in granting her another extension on her curfew. She was to be in at midnight, and they wouldn’t be pressed any further about the matter. “Oh, and have a nice time,” her father said with a tight smile before turning to leave the room.

  Jordan was sad to see the night coming to an end. She and Warren had enjoyed a fabulous evening, but the DJ had just announced he would be playing a slow jam and that it would be the final song for the night. “Until the End of Time” by Justin Timberlake had everyone searching for a dance partner, while Jordan simply turned and pressed her bare back against Warren
’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her stomach while they continued to rock back and forth. She closed her eyes as his lips grazed her shoulder blades, and the melody only helped put her at ease.

  “Did I ever tell you that I love this song?”

  “Why? You feel like you can relate?”

  Jordan tilted her head up to him to look him in the eye but didn’t say a word.

  “Would you stop acting so damn shy all the time? Don’t act like you don’t know what this is all about when you already know what it is. You’re mine now, ain’t you?”

  The light notes of his voice gave way to a serious tone that made Jordan hide her impulse to smile. Warren looked over the crowd, and Jordan turned to face him, nestling her head on his shoulder before whispering in his ear.

  “What? You mean I’m your girlfriend?” she asked skeptically.

  “Yeah…I mean you’re my girlfriend,” he said.

  “And you’re my boyfriend?”

  “Yeah, Jordan, that’s generally what that means when people go out together,” he said, holding his teasing tone.

  “I was just making sure! I couldn’t say I was yours if you weren’t going to be mine…and that does mean all mine.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “I mean it, Warren, don’t play me. I got trust issues, you know. All ships sink—friendships, relationships…”

  “You can say no. I won’t be mad. I just gotta let you know that I’m different from these other niggas out here. I’m in this with you for as long as it takes, but I’ll have you know, someday you’ll say yes to me.”

  “It’s not like you have to tell me you’re different. It’s just that maybe we should take our time getting to know each other a little better first? I think we were kind of rushing things the other night, don’t you?”

  “I understand why you’re scared, but just give me a chance. I wish you could come out with me after this. I’ll tell you anything and everything you want to know. My nigga Anthony and his sister Alicia are throwing a party at their house when this is over, and I want to go, but I definitely don’t want to go by myself. It won’t be any fun without you there.”