It Is What It Is

by Nikki Carter

  Yeah, that backfired on her and so did a horrible Gia-makeover. But that was last year and I’ve totally forgiven Valerie. I’m cool with Kelani and Jewel, even though we aren’t BFFs (that’s not ever going to happen).

  Jewel asks, “Is Hope coming with you?”

  I roll my eyes and frown. Jewel already knows what it is. After Hope got bumped down from the A squad to the B squad for messing up a routine, she was not feeling the Hi-Steppers anymore. Especially after the foul way that Valerie bumped her. It was not pretty.

  Kelani answers for me. “I thought I told you! Hope is gonna be a rally girl.”

  “A what? Ewww!” Jewel scrunches her face so tightly that you can barely see her little blue eyes.

  “Come on, Jewel. If you were Hope, would you want to be a Hi-Stepper?” I ask.

  I didn’t notice Valerie walk up to our conversation, but she answers my question. “Why wouldn’t anyone want to be a Hi-Stepper?”

  Jewel and Kelani look at each other as if they’re deciding to let Valerie in on the rest of the conversation. They are so lame and still afraid of Valerie. I pity them.

  I look Valerie up and down. Nothing has changed in the looks department. Valerie is still hot to death. She’s got her hair pulled up into a ponytail and has on a tiny tank and some biker shorts. I wish I had even a fraction of those curves. As a matter of fact, I prayed all summer for those curves. Apparently the Lord did not hear my plea.

  I reply, “Hope wouldn’t want to be a Hi-Stepper, not even if you paid her.”

  “Oh, her!” exclaims Valerie with a laugh. “We wouldn’t pay her either! That chica can’t step to save her life.”

  I grin and shake my head. Valerie stays trying to integrate Spanish into her vocab. She knows good and well that even though she’s Latina she ain’t nowhere near bilingual.

  But she is right. Hope was barely functional as a Hi-Stepper. She only got on the squad by kissing lots of Hi-Stepper bootay. That got old really, really quick. Plus, it’s hard to kiss someone’s bootay when they’re totally dogging you out.

  Mrs. Vaughn interrupts our conversation by blowing her whistle. Then she gives the Hi-Stepper call. “Ooo-OOO!”

  “Ooo-OOO!” chirp all the Hi-Steppers in response.

  Mrs. Vaughn says, “This year we are going to rock some hot new routines! But first, I need to whip your butts into shape, because it looks like you’ve been chilling all summer long!”

  Everyone groans at once, because we know what this means.

  “Give me one hundred jumping jacks! And ONE!” shouts Mrs. Vaughn.

  After half killing us with one hundred jumping jacks, seventy-five squats, and three laps around the field, Mrs. Vaughn lets us have a two-minute water break. First of all, she’s tripping! It’s not like we have to play an entire game like the football players. We’re on the field for six minutes tops, and then we’re only doing cute dance moves. Second of all ... well, I don’t need a second of all! She’s tripping!

  After our two-minute break is up, Mrs. Vaughn tells us to line up in Hi-Stepper dance formation. Some of last year’s squad has graduated, so we just kind of fill in where people are missing. Valerie and I end up standing next to one another, front and center.

  “Now, let’s see what you all remember from last year,” says Mrs. Vaughn as she presses Play on her CD player.

  “Oh” by Ciara blasts from the speakers and I immediately get into the groove. Not only is this one of my favorite songs, but the step was super-duper fly. And I remember tutoring half of the Hi-Stepper squad until they got it right. Actually, this is the step that got Hope exiled from the Hi-Steppers.

  Of course, I’m doing the step flawlessly and even better than Valerie, who misses a turn and the cue for the hip-swivel rock. She’s not as bad as everyone else though, who totally turned into vegetables over the summer.

  Mrs. Vaughn cuts the music halfway through the song. “You all look pitiful. Everyone but Valerie and Gia, have a seat.”

  Valerie gives me some mean side eye and goes back to the starting position. I do the same. What’s going on? Is this some kind of dance-off?

  Bring it!

  Mrs. Vaughn restarts the song and we start the step again. This time, Valerie’s memory is better and she’s just as flawless as I am. But she can’t handle this, because not only do I have the step down perfectly, I’ve got the ad-libs. I bust a sweet crossover turn and go right back into the choreography. All the Hi-Steppers cheer, except Valerie of course. Even Mrs. Vaughn claps her hands.

  This time when Mrs. Vaughn turns off the music, she tells everyone else to stand up. Then she says, “It looks like this year, we’re going to have co-captains.”

  Was that what that was all about? Were we dancing off to decide captains? Wow!

  Valerie folds her arms and frowns. “I’ve worked hard for this, Mrs. Vaughn. I deserve to be captain all by myself! And I’m a senior.”

  “You’re right, Valerie. You have worked hard. That’s why I’m not letting Gia be the sole captain. But I think that last year she showed her choreography skill and a lot of character.”

  By character, I’m sure Mrs. Vaughn means that whole Romeo scenario. I guess it did take some guts to even come back to school after Romeo left me stranded at the lake and then tried to make everybody think I was loose. I actually surprised myself.

  Valerie takes my hand in her own and shakes it—hard. “Congratulations, Gia. I’m glad we’re going to be co-captains.”

  I lift my eyebrows in shock. Valerie actually sounds sincere. Maybe she should try to get her mama to take her to Hollywood on some auditions, ’cause I’m ninety-nine point nine percent sure she’s acting. Maybe she could be a Latina Hannah Montana or something.

  I reply, “I’m happy too, Valerie. This is going to be a fun year.”

  Mrs. Vaughn dismisses the practice, and everyone comes up to congratulate me. Valerie hangs back, watching from a distance, with an evil expression on her face. I knew she wasn’t feeling this co-captain stuff.

  “You get to help pick out the newbies!” gushes Jewel. “My cousin is a freshman and she’s trying out. She really wants to be a Hi-Stepper.”

  A queasy feeling takes over the pit of my stomach. I don’t want to help pick out the new Hi-Steppers, especially not if Candy is going to try out.

  Valerie finally breaks up the little congratulations party. “All right, everybody needs to get on home. We’ve got practice tomorrow morning, so get your rest.”

  I start to walk home with Jewel and Kelani, but Valerie grabs my arm. “Why don’t you let me give you a ride, co-captain?”

  “Um ... okay.”

  Before I open the door to Valerie’s car I check for booby traps. You think I’m playing, but I’m dead serious. Valerie is acting like she’s got a case of the body snatchers going on. I cannot and will not be a statistic.

  “Get in the car, chica!” exclaims Valerie. “What’s your problem?”

  “You first.”

  Valerie tosses her head back and lets out a loud cackle that I guess is supposed to be a laugh. Whatever.

  When I’m finally sure it’s safe, I get in and close the door. Valerie is still laughing at me as she starts the car.

  “So what did you do all summer besides practice Hi-Stepper routines?” she asks.

  “I didn’t need to practice.”

  Valerie sucks her teeth and rolls her eyes. “Don’t start getting cocky. You got out on me this once, but it’ll never happen again.”

  “I wasn’t trying to get out on you.”

  “Whatever. What’s Rick been up to?”

  Now I’m laughing. “Why do you care?”

  “You know why.”

  “No, I really don’t.”

  “Rick is starting QB this year. He has earned another opportunity to be my boyfriend.”

  My laughs have changed to snorts. And I’m almost choking. This girl is completely and totally unreal.

  Valerie looks irritated. “Are you done?�
�

  I take a deep breath, then another. I open up my mouth to answer her, but another flurry of laughter escapes.

  “Okay,” I reply, “now I’m done.”

  “What is so funny?”

  I think back to how badly she played Ricky last year. She was kicking it with some college dude and Brad, who was a senior last year. Ricky was extra salty when he found out.

  “Valerie, you had your chance with Ricky and you blew that. You had him open last year, but he’s so over you.”

  “Is he dating someone new?” she asks.

  “If he was, I wouldn’t tell you.”

  “Why not?” she asks with attitude. “Hi-Steppers stick together!”

  Oh no. She’s not gonna pull that Hi-Steppers stick together mess on me. She forgot all about that last year when she helped Romeo play me like a dummy.

  “Quit playing, Valerie. I mean, seriously.”

  Valerie sighs. “Listen, Gia, I know that we had some issues last year.”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  “But I’ve been doing some personal reflection over the summer and I’m trying to be a better person.”

  Personal reflection? Wow. That’s like a tiger deciding to be a vegetarian. Yeah, I don’t believe her. Would you, if you were me?

  “I’m serious, Gia! I don’t like the way things ended with me and Rick. I’m so sorry for how I did him.” No, she is not coming with the crocodile tears.

  Against my own better judgment I say, “Have you told him that?”

  “That’s where I need your help, Gia. He won’t talk to me.”

  “Ya think?”

  “Seriously, I want to apologize to him.”

  Okay, maybe Valerie is a better actress than I give her credit for, because I actually kind of believe her. She really looks sad.

  “I believe you, but it’s not really about what I think. That’s up to Ricky.”

  “I know, Gia! I’m not asking you to hook us up or anything like that. If you could just get him to talk to me ...”

  “Then what?”

  She smiles. “Then I’ll handle the rest.”

  I pause for a moment of my own personal reflection. If I talk to Ricky for Valerie, I might have an easier time this year with the Hi-Steppers. I do not want Valerie for an enemy—that is just way too much unnecessary drama.

  “Okay, Valerie, I’ll see what I can do. But I’m not making any promises.”

  5

  It’s the night before the first day of school and Hope has insisted on spending the night at our house. It’s funny—before Gwen and I moved in with LeRon and Candy, Hope never wanted to sleep over. I can’t blame her, though. Our old crib was not exactly four-star accommodations.

  “Hope, I do not need you to pick out my outfit. I already know what I’m wearing.”

  Hope narrows her eyes doubtfully. “That’s like letting Mother Brown decorate your house.”

  “Mother Brown is blind.”

  Hope laughs. “Exactly!”

  “I didn’t know the pastor’s daughter was allowed to clown the Mother’s board.”

  Gwen pops her head into the bedroom. “Who on the Mother’s board are you two talking about?”

  “Nobody, Auntie Gwen.”

  Gwen clearly does not believe us. “Mmm-hmm. You two better be nice, because Jesus can hear you.”

  “We know, Mom!”

  “Don’t get smart with me, Gia! And where is Candy?”

  I give Gwen a blank stare. “I didn’t know I was supposed to be watching her.”

  “You’re not supposed to be watching her. You should be trying to get to know your new sister.”

  Hope sighs and rolls her eyes. I feel the same way, but I have to live with Gwen. If I start rolling my eyes I might end up like Mother Brown. Ya feel me?

  “Auntie Gwen, Candy is a freshman and we are juniors.”

  “And? I don’t want you two leaving her out,” Gwen replies. She’s wearing her all-business face, which means it is not up for discussion.

  “Candy!” Gwen calls. “Come on in here, girl.”

  Candy appears, holding a plate of leftovers from the dinner we just ate two hours ago and a glass of grape Kool-Aid.

  “Yes, Gwen?”

  Gwen strokes the back of Candy’s head. “I just wanted you to be in on all the fun.”

  “They don’t have to hang out with me if they don’t want to,” replies Candy with a juvenile pout.

  “Yes, they do. Gia is your sister and Hope is now your cousin.”

  Candy continues in her fake, they’re-being-mean-tome voice. “It’s okay. I don’t want to be a burden. I’ll just go and read some encyclopedias.”

  More blank stares at Gwen. She can’t possibly be falling for this mess. She’s not even D-list good. She’s like Solange in that made-for-television sequel to Bring It On (I love me some Sol-angel, but you know what I mean).

  “Ma, I got this. Why don’t you go tend to your new husband.”

  Gwen lifts her eyebrows. “You betta watch yourself.”

  Gwen sashays out of our bedroom like she just invented world peace. Once she closes the door behind her, Candy starts giggling.

  “Your mom is so easy, Gia. We are going to get along great!”

  “Auntie Gwen don’t play, Candy.”

  Candy dismisses Hope by waving her hand in the air. She narrows her eyes and checks out my outfit that I’ve laid out on the bed. It’s a pair of black skinny jeans, a gray baby tee, and a black vest. I bought a pile of Dollar Store beads that I’ll be wearing around my neck too. With my funky afro and hoop earrings, that’s going to be straight hotness indeed.

  “That’s all no-name stuff,” Candy says.

  “Wearing a brand name across your chest is so 2004. I like it, Gia,” says Hope.

  Candy goes to her drawer and pulls out a T-shirt. “This is what I’m wearing tomorrow.”

  My jaw is hanging open like a broken screen door. It’s the Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt from the department store. Number one, I know Candy did not buy that when we went shopping, and number two, she didn’t have the money even if she wanted it.

  “Where’d you get that?” asked Hope. “Did you buy that when we went school shopping?”

  “Yeah. I got it when we went to the mall.”

  Oh, she thinks somebody is stupid. “You got it when we were at the mall. With what money? That shirt was sixty dollars.”

  Candy holds her finger up to her mouth. “Will you be quiet?”

  “Why I gotta be quiet?” I say ... louder.

  “Because I don’t want your mom coming in here.”

  Hope asks, “Did you steal that T-shirt?”

  “Steal is such an ugly word,” says Candy.

  What in the world? Candy’s got sticky fingers. That’s kind of ironic, because when you eat candy you get sticky fingers ... Get it? Whatever! Don’t you womp, womp me.

  But seriously, Candy stole something while she was shopping with me. That is so not cool. And LeRon thinks I’ll be a bad influence on her? Anyway!

  “Isn’t your dad gonna wonder how you came home with a designer T-shirt?” I ask. I need to hear if she’s thought this thing all the way through, because I’m not trying to get in trouble with her.

  “He doesn’t know the difference between designer clothes and stuff you get at Target. My dad’s clueless when it comes to this stuff.”

  “Well, Gwen isn’t clueless,” I respond. “So what do you plan to do about her if she asks?”

  “I’ll say I borrowed it from my rich friend Hope,” says Candy with a wink.

  As much as I hate to admit it, that would totally work on Gwen. She’d probably go into a rant on how spoiled Hope is and how she hopes her tithe and offering isn’t being spent on the pastor’s wife. Yeah, even though Pastor Stokes is her brother, she would totally go there.

  Hope gets serious and says, “Candy, you know you don’t have to steal designer stuff to be cool. Actually, stealing is the opposite of cool.
”

  Candy looks like she’s about to concur for a second, but then she bursts into laughter. “You are so funny! Do I look like an after-school special?”

  “I’m telling my mom,” I say angrily. Someone has to bring this child back to reality.

  “Listen. Chill! I won’t do it again. I just wanted something fresh to rock on the first day of school. I’ll go up to the altar on Sunday and repent of my evils.”

  Hope looks satisfied, but I don’t know if I believe Candy. I hope she pulls herself together, because a sista like me is not above snitching. I see you giving me the side eye, but if you had Ninja Gwen for a mother you’d snitch faster than a dope boy facing twenty years.

  “So, Gia, can I ask you to do me a big, big favor?” asks Hope. I guess the subject has been officially changed.

  “That depends on what it is.”

  Hope smiles and sits down on my bed. “Have I told you how much I’m glad to have you for a cousin and best friend?”

  “What, Hope? What do you want?” I ask suspiciously.

  “Well ... do you know if Ricky has a girlfriend?”

  I close my eyes and shake my head. I don’t believe this. I honestly never thought that Hope would take it there, but here she is, and here it comes ...

  “And if he doesn’t, do you think you could hook me up?” she asks with this ridiculously angelic smile on her face.

  “You like Ricky?” asks Candy.

  “He has a ridiculous amount of hotness going on,” gushes Hope. “Plus he’s so sweet.”

  I’m still speechless. I should’ve seen this coming though. All of the hints she’s been dropping to Ricky makes her beyond obvious. But Ricky? We’ve known him since we were babies.

  Finally, I reply. “I think it’s a conflict of interest for me to hook you up with Ricky. You’re both my best friends.”

  “That should make it easier, right?” asks Candy.

  “Wrong! What if they get together and then they break up?” I explain. “That would be all bad. That would completely mess up my friendship triangle.”

  Hope rolls her eyes. “Why would we break up? It’s not like Ricky would play me, and I definitely won’t be playing him.”