It's All Good

by Nikki Carter

  Yep, it’s my plan and I’m sticking to it.

  My mother says, “Today we’re talking about dating.”

  Everyone groans, because nobody wants to talk about this. Most of these girls want to talk about the dress they’re wearing to the cotillion, or maybe even their escort for the cotillion. Dating rules ... not so much.

  Aunt Elena holds her side from laughing so hard. Why is the lack of enthusiasm funny?

  She says, “Girls, I promise this is going to be fun. I have a question for you. What is your idea of a date?”

  Valerie’s hand immediately shoots up and Aunt Elena points to her. “I think a date involves food—paid for by the boy, a movie—also paid for by the boy, and maybe if it’s past date number three, a kiss.”

  Gwen raises an eyebrow, so Valerie continues. “A very chaste, good-girl kiss, Ms. Gwen. Nothing that would get me kicked out of PGP.”

  “So it’s not a date if the boy doesn’t pay?” Aunt Elena asks.

  “Not in my opinion,” Valerie says.

  Sascha raises her hand. “Well, I’ve been on a date and we each paid for our own stuff. But we were alone, so I think it was a date.”

  My mother asks, “So being alone makes it a date?”

  “I think so,” Sascha replies.

  “What about you, Gia?” Gwen asks. “What do you think constitutes a date?”

  Me no likee being put on the spot. My mother must’ve noticed my gradual slide off the church pew and onto the floor.

  I clear my throat and respond. “Um ... I think a date is whatever you say it is.”

  A slight smile teases the sides of Gwen’s lips. “I’m serious, Gia.”

  “Well, I think a date is like a one-on-one kind of thing with a boy. But you’ve both got to have a crush, because that’s important, too.”

  I had to clarify that, because I do all kinds of one-on-one stuff with Kevin, and we have not, and shall not ever be, anywhere close to having a date.

  Aunt Elena replies, “I like where Gia’s going with that. The whole dating ritual is about making that one-on-one connection. As adults it leads to the union of marriage.”

  “What do y’all think it leads to with teenagers?” my mother asks.

  Someone yells out, “Baby mamas.”

  Gwen laughs. “That’s what it led to with me! But what else? Hope?”

  Hope sighs. “I guess it leads to heartbreak, because high school boys don’t seem to last very long.”

  Aunt Elena replies, “Good answer. That’s something we’ll talk about later. Is there anything good about teen dating? I’m sure you all have begged your parents to go out on dates. What’s the good part?”

  “Going to the prom with an upperclassman!” Valerie blurts.

  Sascha says, “Holding hands, first kisses, and finding your soul mate.”

  I totally give Sascha the are-you-kidding-me side eye. I think she needs a teenage love intervention. Especially when her “soul mate” is somewhat suspect.

  Even Gwen is giving Sascha a blank stare. “Um, okay ... well yes, those are all good things. We had a point to asking you all of these questions.”

  “We wanted to demonstrate how different people’s opinions are about dating,” Aunt Elena says. “Not all parents think the same and not all teenagers think alike either.”

  Hope raises her hand. “Well, how do you convince your parents to let you date if they don’t want you to? I’m sure a lot of y’all have the same question, right?”

  Everyone except Valerie answers by nodding or saying yes. She’s probably the only one in our group who is actually allowed to date. The rest of us are operating in some kind of group date limbo, where we get to have a crush but only in a group setting. That kinda sucks when you’re about to turn seventeen.

  Sidebar. My birthday is rapidly approaching. I’ll be seventeen in two weeks and not one of my friends has even mentioned the blessed occasion. I missed out on having any kind of sweet sixteen because I was totally still on punishment for sneaking out on a date with Romeo. This year, there better be some kind of celebration, or a sista like me is gonna be heated.

  Now, back to your regularly scheduled drama fest.

  Aunt Elena tackles the question. “I don’t think it’s about convincing your parents of anything. Most parents have already made up their minds about what they’re going to do on the dating subject. What you can do is prove that you’re trustworthy, and perhaps that will make it easier on your parents when the time comes.”

  Sascha raises her hand. “But what if your parents are totally unreasonable? I’ve been in love with Chase for years, and my mom still doesn’t let me be alone on a date with him. I have to sneak, and I don’t like doing that. Wait a minute, you aren’t going to tell my mom I said that, right?”

  My mom chuckles. “We’re not going to tell anything that’s not necessary. We want you to trust us. But to answer your question, it may not seem unreasonable to your mother. Maybe the fact that you’re so in love with your boyfriend makes it easier for your mom to say no.”

  Did anyone notice that Gwen said she wasn’t going to tell anything that’s not necessary? Umm ... that is code for I’m going to most definitely have a talk with your mama, you little fast-tailed heifer. I am predicting a grounding for Ms. Sascha.

  But I can totally understand my mom being like that. She would put me on total lockdown if she thought I was even close to giving up the goodies. That’s why I keep her out of my bidness!

  Okay, you’re right. I don’t really have any bidness, but that’s beside the point. You know what I’m trying to say.

  Aunt Elena says, “If and when you start dating, one-on-one, we’ve compiled a list of helpful hints. We’ve put them on a wallet-sized card that you can carry with you at all times.”

  After Aunt Elena passes out the cards, I flip the little laminated card over in my hand. It looks like they got lost in the craft store making these, but I’m not mad. Their tips are the kinds of things everybody’s parents say, so I’m surprised to see most of the girls put the cards in their wallets.

  Aunt Elena dismisses us with a prayer, and we all go off to our prospective gossip groups. Everyone except Sascha. She pulls my mother away from everyone and tells her something. I’m too far away to hear what she’s saying, but it must be emotional, because my mom wraps her arms around Sascha and hugs her.

  “What do you think that’s about?” Hope asks, motioning to Sascha and my mom.

  “I don’t know.”

  And I really don’t know, but I’d bet a whole bunch of somebody’s money that it has something to do with Chase.

  10

  After our PGP meeting, I sit in the dining room at the computer desk and boot up. I haven’t logged into my Facebook page for weeks, because with Hi-Steppers and everything else, I haven’t really had any spare time.

  Just to prove it, my status still says: Gia is rocking new Tweety jewelry!

  I look down at the charm bracelet that I never, ever take off and think of Ricky. We haven’t talked in days. I mean we chat in the hallways and sometimes eat at the same lunch table, but we haven’t had a Ricky/Gia powwow since before the state football championship.

  I leave a note on his wall. Hey Ricky. Tweety says hi!

  Totally lame. I know it, but I can’t think of anything that I want to say to him that will be all out in the open to his other friends. I quickly scan the notes on his wall, and of course the majority of them are from girls. Some of them are random chicks who don’t even go to Longfellow High.

  My cell phone rings. “Talk to me,” I answer.

  “Hey, Gia.”

  “Oh, hey, Kevin.”

  “Dang, you could be just a little bit excited to hear from me.”

  I can’t even lie. I was hoping that it was Ricky. Hearing Kevin’s voice on the other end was a serious disappointment.

  “I’m sorry, Kev. What’s up?”

  “I was just confirming that I’m picking you up Saturday morning at e
ight forty-five.”

  “Kevin, the class starts at ten.”

  “I want to be on time,” Kevin replies.

  “Boo, Kevin. It’s at Christ the King High School, and it’s ten minutes away.”

  “We want a good parking spot, and a good seat in the class.”

  I can’t even ask Kevin if he’s serious, because I know he is. Kevin doesn’t like being late for anything. He’s never been late for school, for a class, band practice—nothing. His grandmother, Mother Witherspoon, even said he was born a day early.

  “Kevin, if you ring my doorbell at eight forty-five in the morning, I’m going to be heated.”

  Kevin laughs. “That’s good, because it’s cold outside.”

  “Jokes?” I ask.

  “Yep, and plenty more where that came from!”

  As much as I don’t want to, I crack up laughing at Kevin and his silly self. It’s hard to have a conversation with Kevin and not end up laughing. This time is no different.

  “So, Gia,” Kevin asks, “are you having a birthday party this year?”

  “I haven’t given it much thought. A party would be nice, I guess, but I’m more of a get-together kind of girl.”

  “So, why don’t we have a get-together over at Hope’s house? It would be cool if Pastor Stokes let us use his recreation room.”

  Umm, yeah. A birthday party at my uncle/pastor’s house. Wonder how many of my school friends are gonna show up at that party bonanza? Not that I want to do anything off the chain, but I at least want people to show up.

  “I don’t know, Kev, maybe we could just ix nay the whole party idea.”

  “But ...”

  “Let’s not talk about it anymore, okay?”

  He must hear the finality in my tone, because he changes the subject. “Did you hear what Valerie did on Facebook?”

  Okay, why does Kevin know the scoop? Whoever said that boys don’t gossip is a liar. The boys I know keep up with the Longfellow drama, just like the girls. Sometimes even more than the girls, and they stay instigating.

  I click over onto Valerie’s page. “I saw the pictures earlier, but they’ve been removed.”

  “Yep. Susan Chiang’s mother tried to get Valerie to take them down and when she didn’t, she contacted Facebook and asked them to take them down.”

  “Well, that’s good, but I don’t think Valerie did it.”

  Kevin laughs. “Why not? She’s most definitely capable of evil.”

  “I know, but I saw her in the PGP meeting tonight and she wasn’t gloating one bit. Valerie always gloats over her victories against the lames.”

  “Okay, Gia, I’ll give you that. But if Valerie didn’t do it, then who did?”

  “Good question, Kev!”

  A notification pops up on my Facebook page. I click over to my wall and see this message from Ricky: Tell Tweety I miss hanging out with him.

  I swallow hard and ponder my next move. Is there something between the lines here? Is this a secret declaration of love? Or is he just talking about me, him, Kev, and Hope chilling at the rec center eating microwave popcorn and drinking cocoa.

  I decide not to post another note on his wall, because I’m not sure what’s up. I try to always know what’s going on in my circle. This not-having-a-clue mess is for the birds.

  Kevin asks, “Okay then, Gia, I’ve got pre-calc homework to finish. Did you do yours?”

  “Sure did.”

  “Well, you don’t have to be so snooty about it.”

  The giggle escapes before I have a chance to stop it. “What? Are you mad that I’m a better student than you, Kevy-kev?”

  “I don’t like you right now, Gia. Talk to you later.”

  I press End on my cell phone. I’m about to log off the computer and find a good book to read when another notification pops up on my Facebook page. I click over to my wall and Ricky has left me another note. Somebody’s about to be 17. Are we celebrating?

  This I can respond to. I type: Are you throwing your BFF a par-tay?

  I sit at the computer awaiting his response. Finally it pops up. Sure. I’ll ask my parents.

  Okay, this could end up being totally fresh. A birthday party for moi, thrown by Longfellow High’s number-one hot boy.

  I decide to tease Ricky a little bit. Why? Because it’s what I do—especially since he’s been acting crazy lately. He deserves it.

  I type: Do I need to bring a date?

  I can see him now, sitting at his computer with his eyebrows pulled in, looking like a caveman! He’s so expressive when he’s mad.

  This is what Ricky writes on my wall next:

  :-|

  I clutch my stomach and laugh out loud. Ricky gave me the tight-lipped smiley!

  Since he’s determined to steer our relationship away from girlfriend/boyfriend waters and back to the shallow end of the BFF pool, then I’m allowed to tease him incessantly. (Look it up! Ha!)

  Tired of tormenting Ricky, I log off Facebook and turn off the computer.

  “How was PGP?” Candy asks.

  Why did I not know she was behind me, reading over my shoulder? Nosy heifer. “Don’t sneak up on me.”

  “You doing something you shouldn’t be doing?” she asks.

  “No. It’s the principle of the matter. If we’re going to be sisters, then sneaking is not allowed.”

  Candy laughs. “But snitching is?”

  Candy went straight to the throwback of me snitching on her about her sticky fingers issue. Let’s hope it’s her former sticky fingers issue. I sure hope she’s cured of that mess. She can’t roll with me and my crew if she’s gonna be stealing. We don’t roll like that.

  “Sometimes snitching is for the greater good. Not the same as sneaking.”

  “Whatev, Gia. Come in my room. I have something to tell you.”

  We have to go behind closed doors for her to tell me her news? Hmmm ... sounds like some drama is afoot.

  Once we’re safely behind a locked door, she asks, “How was the meeting? What did I miss?”

  “You missed out on Gwen and Aunt Elena’s dating rules.”

  Candy’s eyes light up. “Does that mean we get to go out on dates?”

  “They made sure to say that the decision to allow dating is up to each parent. So, naw, they haven’t said anything about allowing us to date.”

  “Bummer. Because I just got asked out.”

  “Dish! Who is it? Is it that freshman football player you’ve been drooling over?”

  “Julian Rogers? Um, no. He’s stuck up, just because his father is the coach. I can’t stand him anymore.”

  Okay, let me translate. She tried to throw some holla in Julian’s direction and got rejected. That equals him being stuck up.

  “Then who asked you out?” I ask.

  “Chase.”

  My mouth drops open. “Chase and Sascha are together. I mean like, really together. Like one step away from getting married the day after graduation.”

  “That’s not what he said. He said that Sascha is starting to be a drag, and he’s going to tell her he wants to start seeing other people.”

  “A drag how?”

  “She’s super clingy and always talking about being in love and all that noise. Chase isn’t on that right now.”

  I bite my lip and put my thinking face on. “Chase doesn’t seem like your type. He’s kind of grungy.”

  “Girl, he is hot to death. And he and his boys are starting a band in Chase’s garage. He might want me to sing with them.”

  Who is this girl?

  “Does Valerie approve of him?”

  Candy laughs. “Who cares what Valerie thinks? She’s about to graduate in June. I was just cool with her while we were on Hi-Steppers. She’s not really someone I want to keep hanging with.”

  “What about Sascha, though? You’re cool with her, and she’s in PGP. She’ll tell my mom about you stealing her boyfriend.”

  “And what will Mama Gwen do about that?”

  Do I ha
ve to school her on everything? Dang! “Mama Gwen will most certainly not want you dating Chase. She’ll take one look at him and you’ll be on lockdown to infinity.”

  “I guess you’re right. I’ll just see Chase in secret then. Forget I told you about the whole thing. I’m going to bed.”

  What in the world? How can I just un-hear something like this? I’m not wired that way. Once something gets in my head, it totally cannot get back out again.

  “Listen, I’m tired of always having Gwen and LeRon in my mix because you’re up to shadiness. Why can’t you just be a model teen like me?”

  “Because you’re boring, Gia. I’m in high school now! I need to make some memories. Just think how memorable it will be if I get my first kiss from Chase!”

  What would be memorable is the girl-fight that would most probably ensue. And since I don’t promote teen violence, I cannot support this cause.

  “Candy, if you start sneaking and seeing Chase, I’m telling Sascha.”

  Candy rolls her eyes and turns toward the wall. “Bye, hater.”

  My mind goes back to Chase’s borderline abusive behavior at the state championship. Just because I didn’t say anything when I saw it happen to Sascha, doesn’t mean I’ll keep quiet if it’s my sister.

  “Trust me on this one, Candy. Chase isn’t as nice as he seems.”

  “That’s your hateriffic opinion.”

  I shake my head. “Well, do what you want. Just don’t tell me about it. Because if I know, I’m blabbing. I’ve told you up front, so don’t get all twisted when I follow through.”

  Candy turns to face me. “Ugh! I see now why Ricky won’t kick it with you! You don’t know how to have fun.”

  Puh-lease! I put the capital F in fun. Shoot, I put the U and the N in too. She can bounce with that foolishness.

  “Hurting someone else is not fun to me. Sorry, I don’t know where you found your definition of fun. It sounds like you got it out of the Valerie Mean Girl’s dictionary.”

  Candy’s eyes light up as if she’s just remembered something. “Speaking of Valerie, she’s got to have a meeting tomorrow at school with her parents, Susan, and Susan’s parents.”

  “How do you know about all this?” I ask.

  “Valerie called me, asking if I knew who hacked her Facebook page. She swears she didn’t post those pictures.”