Cool Like That

by Nikki Carter

  “Are we ready to go?” I ask when I get back to the table.

  “Why you in a rush, shorty?” Dan’s friend asks.

  I roll my eyes. “I’ve got some stuff to do before the party tonight.”

  “What kind of stuff?” Sienna asks, looking quite irritated.

  “Girl stuff. Shopping.”

  Sienna smiles. “Oooh, I like shopping, and I could use some new stilettos for tonight. Baby, you’re picking up the tab, right?”

  Dan nods. “I’ll send a car for y’all tonight, okay?”

  “Thank you, baby!” Sienna kisses Dan on the cheek as the three of us get up from the table.

  When we get outside, I say, “Come on, y’all. I’ve gotta get back to campus.”

  “What?” Melody asks. “I want to go shopping.”

  “Yeah, Gia, you said you had to go shopping.”

  “No, I’ve got to go and speak with Ricky. I don’t like us fighting.”

  “So you made me leave my boo so you could run back to make up with your little crush?” Sienna asks.

  “Yes.”

  “You couldn’t just call him?” Sienna asks.

  “I could’ve, but then I would’ve had to keep looking at Dan’s boys. Plus, I need to see Ricky’s facial expression when I check him.”

  Melody clears her throat. “That was an extremely selfish thing to do, Gia. We were already there with Dan and his crew. We could’ve at least finished breakfast.”

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t get back on my own. Will y’all please come with me?”

  “Yeah, this time,” Sienna says, “but next time you’re having drama with one of your many boyfriends, you need to stay at the dorm.”

  “Thank you.”

  Sienna and Melody drop me off at the dorm, but they decide to go shopping anyway. I have no idea where Ricky could be on this campus, so I call his cell.

  Ricky answers on the first ring. “Hey, Gia.”

  “Ricky, where are you? I can hardly hear you. What’s all that noise?”

  “Xavier, Sushil, and I are at the ESPN Zone.”

  I hear a female voice in the background say, “Come on, Ricky! It’s your turn.”

  “Who is that?” I ask. “Is it Sushil or Xavier?”

  “Umm…that’s Tracy. We met her and her friends here. We’re having an air-hockey tournament.”

  I can’t believe I rushed all the way back here to fix things with Ricky, and he’s off having fun. He’s so broken up about our argument—right! “Whatever, Ricky. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Wait, Gia. Did you want something important?”

  “Nope. I’ll holla.”

  I storm into Lerner Hall looking for food. When I get irritated, I need snacks. Preferably something salty. Potato chips are calling my name.

  “Where are you going, Princess? You look like you’re about to hit somebody.”

  “Rashad, hey. I’m looking for a snack.”

  “I thought y’all were going to have breakfast at Sylvia’s.”

  “Why are you all in my business?” I snap. “Do you know my whole itinerary? What am I doing in an hour?”

  Rashad laughs. “Calm down, Gia. What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing!” I growl as a bag of chips falls from the snack machine.

  “Well, do you want to go for a walk with me? It’s probably a better way to work off your stress.”

  I let out a huge sigh. “I guess you’re right. Where are we going?”

  “Morningside Park. It’s right down the street.”

  “Cool.”

  We walk in silence for a few minutes, and it’s just fine. I guess I need a few moments to think about what’s up.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Rashad asks as we walk into the park.

  “Nah, not really. Let’s talk about something else.”

  Rashad laughs. “Okay, what do you want to do with your life after college?”

  “Seriously, Rashad? I don’t know. I can’t even figure out high school, much less adult life.”

  “You want to be some kind of writer though?”

  I nod. “I do, but I don’t know exactly what I want to write yet. Novels, I think, but the genre is still kind of hazy.”

  “You seem like a sci-fi kind of girl to me.”

  I shake my head. “I do love sci-fi, don’t get me wrong. But I don’t see myself writing it. What made you say that about me?”

  “Because you’re really laid back, pretty—but not a diva—and you have a boy for a best friend. Sci-fi is written all over you.”

  “Pretty observant. I’m impressed.”

  “That’s what I do. I observe people.”

  “Sweet. Are you going to Dan’s album-release party tonight?”

  “I might roll through for a while, but those parties can get kind of wild.”

  “Wild how?”

  “Dan’s crew likes to smoke weed and drink. Someone usually gets into a fight. Not really my scene.”

  “Not really mine either,” I say.

  “Then don’t go. We can chill, get some pizza, and watch a movie in the lounge.”

  I smile up at Rashad’s cute face. “Sounds nice.”

  My phone buzzes. Text message from Ricky:

  Gia, I’m back on campus. Meet me at Lerner Hall in five minutes.

  “It’s Ricky,” I say. “He wants to meet me.”

  “Okay. I’ll walk you back.”

  Rashad keeps on walking to the dorm when I stop at Lerner Hall. I go inside and find Ricky sitting in the game room looking perplexed.

  “Gia, you sounded strange when I talked to you, so we came back. You know those girls were strangers, right? I wasn’t trying to holla at them.”

  I sigh and sit down next to Ricky. “I think you were right about suspending the whole crush thing, Ricky. I mean, look how we’re acting.”

  “I know. We’re gonna end up not enjoying the summer if we keep this up.”

  “And that would be crazy. Why don’t you hang out with me and Rashad? We’re watching movies tonight while everybody goes to the party.”

  “You’re watching movies with Rashad? I thought you were going to the party with your girls.”

  “I met some of Dan’s friends this morning at breakfast. They’re…interesting.”

  Ricky nods. “Gotcha. I don’t know if I want to hang out with a dude that’s digging you, Gia. That’s just weird.”

  “Rashad and I are just friends. Trust me, you’ll like him.”

  “Okay, Gia. I’ll try. Sorry I’ve been acting like a jerk.”

  “I forgi—”

  Ricky kisses me softly on the cheek before I can even get my sentence out. There’s a moist spot on my face when he pulls away. I’m utterly speechless.

  Ricky gets up and leaves me sitting in Lerner Hall, stunned. Every time I think I have the upper hand, Ricky catches me off guard.

  When I get back to the dorm, Melody and Sienna are in our room. They have outfits laid out over both beds. None of them look like anything I would wear—way too much sparkling going on.

  “We’re picking out our party outfits, Gia,” Melody says. “What do you think?”

  “Umm…yeah. Plenty of bling.”

  “And that’s a good thing?” Sienna asks.

  “It is if you like bling.”

  “My boo likes a lot of bling!” Sienna exclaims.

  “Well, then, he should really dig your outfit. Would y’all mind if I flake out and don’t go to this party?”

  Melody frowns. “What? Why aren’t you coming?”

  “I’m watching movies in the lounge with Rashad and Ricky.”

  Sienna and Melody both look at each other with wide eyes.

  “Gia, I bow at your feet,” Sienna says. “You are the epitome of a female mack, with your skinny self.”

  “It’s not like that! We’re just all gonna try to be friends.”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “Oh, whatever!”

  Is that what this i
s? Am I, Gia Stokes, a female mack?

  Sweet!

  6

  Snacks? Check. Movies? Check. Two hot boys who are perfect crushes but have now moved to the friend category? Yeah, almost check—Rashad is here, and Ricky is on his way.

  “What are we watching, Princess?”

  “Mission Impossible II. Tom Cruise, Thandie Newton.”

  Rashad smiles. “Score. That’s a great movie.”

  “I wanted to watch Love & Basketball or Brown Sugar, but those are both about two BFFs who have crushes, and, well, I thought it wouldn’t be appropriate.”

  Rashad plops down on the couch and eats a mouthful of popcorn. “You’re right. I’m glad you picked something else. Action movies are safe.”

  “Yep. I agree.”

  I go to set the volume on the television and feel a light tap on my head and then another. What in the world?

  “Rashad, are you throwing popcorn at my head?” I ask as I pick up three kernels from the floor.

  Rashad laughs. “Yes, I am. What are you gonna do about it?”

  I narrow my eyes. “Dude, you don’t want it with me.”

  “Don’t I?” Rashad throws a handful of popcorn at my head, and every piece connects.

  “Boy!”

  I leap across the room like a cheetah and snatch the bowl of popcorn away from Rashad. I smash some of it in his face and then toss a handful down his tank top.

  He yelps and flips me over onto the couch. Then he takes a huge handful of popcorn and rains it all over my head. I can’t catch my breath from laughing so hard, and Rashad is holding his stomach with tears rolling down his face.

  “I’m not cleaning this up,” I say.

  Ricky walks into the room. “Hey, Gia, Rashad.”

  Ricky’s disapproving glare makes me feel like Rashad and I have done something wrong, even though we haven’t. Ricky’s nostrils flare as he looks at the popcorn mess all over the room.

  “Seems like we’re the only people staying in tonight,” Ricky says. “Everyone’s going somewhere.”

  “You don’t have to stay in on our account,” Rashad teases.

  “Ha-ha. Funny,” I say. “Ricky, I did bring popcorn, but someone thought it would be better to have a food fight with it.”

  This causes another involuntary round of giggles from me and Rashad. He tosses a popcorn kernel at me for good measure, and I swat it away.

  Ricky eases down into a chair on one side of the room; Rashad moves over to the other chair. I guess that leaves the whole couch for me. Really cozy movie night.

  “Before we watch this movie, I want y’all both to know that we can be friends and have a great time this summer.”

  Rashad laughs. “Absolutely. Ricky, man, I’m sorry if I’m getting in your way. I didn’t mean to. I saw a pretty girl and, well…you know.”

  “Gia and I are tight, Rashad. I’m not threatened by some guy she’s known only two days, for real.”

  This is not going the way I planned.

  “I never thought you were threatened,” Rashad says.

  “Let’s watch the movie!” I say.

  “No, let’s talk this out right now, Gia,” Ricky says. “You obviously brought us together so we can hash it out. Bottom line, I don’t do sloppy seconds. I’ve already put work into this friendship, and I am not about to sit up here and compete with a stranger.”

  “But, Ricky—”

  “I guess you think this is cute,” Ricky continues. “But I’m not going to get dissed so you can blow your own head up.”

  Okay, now he’s got me mad. I see he came down here to set me straight in front of Rashad. No, sir. I do not think so.

  “I am not trying to blow my own head up, Ricky. You’re doing a good job of it, so why do I need to join in?”

  Ricky’s mouth drops like I just hit him. Okay, maybe that was a bit much. It just flew out of my mouth before I had time to stop it.

  Ricky takes a long pause, and I can see his chest rise and fall in a deep breath. I don’t think I’ve seen him this mad in a long time.

  “Gia, you might think this is one of those Disney sitcoms, but this is real life, where people have real feelings.”

  “Ricky, I—”

  “Don’t, Gia. Watch your movie with your new friend. I’m out.”

  I watch Ricky rise from his seat, and I try to think of something to say to get him to stay, but I can’t. I didn’t mean to hurt him, I honestly didn’t.

  But I’ll just have to try to fix this another day when Rashad isn’t in the mix. Ricky and I have survived worse, so I’m sure that once we have a chance to talk one-on-one, we can absolutely fix this.

  Right?

  “Do you want to go after him?” Rashad asks. “I would understand if you did. We can watch a movie another time.”

  Do I want to go after Ricky? I’m not sure it would even matter right now, as angry as he is with me. I think I should just let him cool off first and then talk it out. Anything I say now will probably just make it worse.

  “I’ll talk to him later,” I say. “We can still watch the movie.”

  Rashad brushes the popcorn off the couch and plops down next to me. “Are you okay with sharing the couch? Or do you want me in the chair?”

  “This is cool.”

  Rashad wraps his arms around me and gives me an awkward hug. “I’m not that great at comforting people, but I think you and Ricky will be okay.”

  I’m glad somebody thinks so.

  7

  I’m kind of nervous about seeing Rashad again after our movie night. But I know I have to get up and go to class. Academic enrichment is the main reason I’m here. The drama is secondary.

  Melody is still in bed, fully dressed in her clothes from last night and snoring hard. She and Sienna made it in just before curfew, but they stayed up half the night going on and on about how great the party was. I pretended I was asleep because I didn’t want to bore them with the details of my night of macking gone wrong.

  Sounds like I need to go with them next time.

  I force myself out of bed and go over to Melody’s computer to log on to Facebook. I would go into Lerner Hall to use the Internet, but that would require me to hurry and get ready, and I’m trying to wait until the last minute to get dressed.

  I change my status update:

  Got the blues right about now—hurt someone, and now I wish I could take it back.

  Ricky never logs on to Facebook, so I know he won’t see my status. But almost immediately after I click the button to post, my phone starts buzzing.

  “Hello?”

  “Is this Gia?” Hope asks.

  “Girl, who did you call?”

  “You usually say something foolish when you answer the phone, so I was surprised to hear a normal greeting.”

  I give a soft laugh. “Whatever.”

  “Ew…have you brushed your teeth this morning? You sound like your breath stinks.”

  “Hope! How can someone’s breath sound like it stinks?”

  “I don’t know, but yours does.”

  “If you called merely to insult me this morning, I will have to bid you adieu. I have a class.”

  “Adieu! Gia, what are you on? I called because of that tripped-out message you posted on Facebook.”

  “What was tripped out about it?”

  “Who did you hurt? One of your new friends? Your roommate?”

  “Ricky.”

  “Ricky? Gia, please tell me you two are not off again.”

  “It’s not completely my fault. Ricky is sending mixed signals. He said, ‘Let’s put the crushes on hold,’ but then he’s flirting with people and then acting jealous when I flirt. He gets on my nerves. Ugh!”

  “I don’t even want you to rewind that foolishness, Gia.”

  “I’ve got class in a little bit. I’ll text you later.”

  “Don’t text me. Call me.”

  I roll my eyes even though she can’t see. “Okay, Hope. Holla.”

  I qu
ickly get dressed for class. Even after I get out of the shower, brush my teeth, and put on all my clothes, Melody still has not gotten up.

  “Melody—girl, you better wake up before you get in trouble. Going to class is mandatory around here.”

  “You’re too loud!” Melody says with a groan.

  “That’s what you get for sipping on grown-people beverages. Wake up!”

  There’s a knock on our door. When I open it, Sienna flies into the room in a burst of energy.

  “Mel, wake up! Class starts in a few minutes. You can’t be late for our science lab. We’re not going to become doctors by sleeping in!”

  Melody sits up in the bed. Her hair looks like a bird’s nest on one side, and she’s got a trail of spit going from her mouth to her ear.

  “How is it you’re wide awake?” Melody asks. “You got as little sleep as I did.”

  Sienna winks. “My secret. But come on, get in the shower, and I’ll get your clothes out. It will be okay if we’re a little late.”

  I look at them both and try to figure out what’s going on. I suspect some tomfoolery or chicanery (you like that, don’t you). But I’m gonna let them handle that.

  “See y’all later,” I say.

  As I’m walking across campus to the lecture hall, I see Ricky walking and talking animatedly with Xavier. Sushil is following behind, but he’s not joining in the conversation. I want to run and catch up, but I decide against it.

  I thought I was running late, but when I get to the lecture hall, I’m one of the first ones to arrive. I take a seat in the front of the class and doodle in my notebook while everyone else trickles in.

  Rashad comes in with a small but noisy group. He’s in the middle of a conversation as he brushes by me. He doesn’t even say hello.

  Wow.

  “Hi, I’m Mrs. Bryant, and I’m going to be your tour guide this summer!”

  Our tour guide? Oh, no. I feel some teacher “creative” moment coming on. I should’ve known when I peeped out her tie-dyed T-shirt and Birkenstocks that she was going to be extra.

  “Most of you aren’t from New York City,” Mrs. Bryant continues. “So I’m sure you’re going to do lots of sightseeing.”

  Okay, so maybe this could be fun! She’s talking about being a real tour guide.