by Ni-Ni Simone
“Why not?”
“We had a disagreement.”
He kept driving. He seemed lost in thought, probably trying to figure out a way to get the information out of me without prying. I knew I could trust Daddy with more information than I gave Mom, so I might as well spill the beans. This awkward silence was killing me. “Candace got mad at me because we’d gone out on a double date and the guy that she was with tried to force himself on her.”
“Wait a minute, that doesn’t make any sense, why would she be mad at you? You didn’t have anything to do with it. Did you?”
“Of course not, you know me better than that.”
He smiled. “I know I raised you better than that.”
“So how long has it been since you spoke to her last?”
“It’s been a few days.”
“I think you should apologize. Even though it wasn’t your fault you should be the bigger person.”
“I did apologize.”
“And she’s still not speaking to you?” He looked confused. So I decided that I would tell him a little bit more of the story so he could get a better idea, but I couldn’t tell him the whole story because God only knew what would happen to me if I’d told him that DeMarco was a hustler.
“Candace wants me to stop seeing the boy that I was with that night.”
“Why?”
“Well she thinks he’s bad news.”
Dad looked at me suspiciously and I said, “Before you make assumptions, Candace is basing this solely on his friend’s behavior. I mean she thinks DeMarco is a hoodlum just because of the way his friend Jimmy is.”
“So Candace isn’t being fair,” he said, then he looked at me. “Unless you’re not telling the whole story.”
“Well, DeMarco is from a pretty rough neighborhood.”
He smiled. “Well I’m from the hood and so is your mother. Can’t hold that against him.”
“Exactly.” I smiled. “See, Candace believes that if you didn’t come from a good home like hers, that you’re probably no good.”
“Really?” Dad said. “Well, that’s surprising. Her Mom and Dad are the most down to earth people I’ve ever met.”
“I know and that’s what’s surprising when she acts so uppity.”
“Well, I think you need to make up with her, you guys have been friends too long to let some boy come in between you two.”
We finally arrived at the mall. I led us to Abercrombie and Fitch and Forever21 before heading to Nordstrom’s, where I got some Uggs. After we finished shopping we went to the Cheesecake Factory and got some Dulce De Leche cheesecake and headed home.
When we got home, I gave Dad a big hug and kiss and walked in the house. Mom was sitting on the sofa watching the news. She looked up. “Was that your Dad that dropped you off?”
“Yeah, he called me yesterday to let me know that he was going to take me shopping.”
“That was nice of him.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I really needed some new things.”
“You know you got too many clothes as it is.”
“Mom, wasn’t it you who said that a girl could never have too many clothes?”
She laughed. “I did say that, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did!”
“So where did you get those jeans that you’re wearing?”
Dang, I had totally forgotten to take these jeans off. My plans were to take them off before Mom got home from work, but I had forgot all about taking them off when I saw Dad waiting to take me shopping. I couldn’t tell her that they were Candace’s because we weren’t speaking. Even if we were, she wouldn’t believe me anyway, because we aren’t the same size. I froze for a second with no explanation.
“Where did you get those jeans?”
“Abercrombie and Fitch.” I said, not quite giving her the answer she wanted. “Dad bought them and I wore them out of the store.”
“Why?”
“Because I always wanted a pair of distressed jeans.”
“That’s why you have a pair of jeans like that. Remember, I bought you some from the Gap last year.”
I had totally forgotten about those jeans. But I wasn’t caught in a lie just yet. “Yeah, but they are too small now.”
“That doesn’t explain why you left out of the store with these jeans on.”
“I just wanted to wear them out, Mom. No big deal.”
She took a deep breath and she looked like she was frustrated with something. Somebody. Me. “You’re right, it really wouldn’t be a big deal if it wasn’t a lie.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Talking about going in your room and finding the receipt for those distressed jeans, along with two pair of shoes, and some other things. All paid with cash. All purchased yesterday.”
The room closed in on me and I wanted to run, but I couldn’t. Mom’s face got angrier. She had caught me in two lies.
“Where did you get the money to buy this stuff?”
I sat on the recliner and looked Mom in the eye. I decided not to make the situation worse and decided to steer a little closer to the truth. “This boy from school named DeMarco.”
“Who is DeMarco and where did he get this kind of money? How old is this boy?”
“He’s seventeen.”
“Why is he buying you stuff? How can he afford this?”
“His mom died and she left him some money.” I actually didn’t feel too bad for telling that lie because it was partly true. His mom had died, she just didn’t leave him any money, but Mom didn’t have to know that part. I absolutely could not let her know that DeMarco was a hustler. No way.
Mom held the receipts up. “This boy spent almost eight hundred dollars on you. What high school kid does that?”
“Mom, he’s a nice guy.”
“Listen, I don’t care how nice he is. You’re giving him all this stuff back. I want you to gather all this stuff up and return it to him.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s not yours. You didn’t pay for it. You didn’t earn it, and you are not for sale, young lady.”
“I don’t understand.”
Mom’s face became stern. “Anything that you need, me or your dad will get it for you. You’re taking this stuff back to him and I don’t want to hear nothing else about it.”
“That’s not fair!” I said, but I knew there was no point in arguing with her, I would take this stuff back to DeMarco tomorrow.
“How much are those jeans? I will write him a check for those jeans, since they’ve been worn.”
“You’re the one holding the receipts.”
“Don’t get smart with me.”
I headed to my room and put my things up that Dad bought me.
The next day at school, I handed DeMarco the bag with the things he bought me at the mall and a check for ninety dollars for the distressed jeans that I’d worn.
He said, “I don’t understand what’s going on, are you upset with what Lil Jimmy said?”
“Yes, but that’s not the reason I’m giving this stuff back.”
“Well, what’s the reason?” He sounded confused. He tried to hand it back to me but I wouldn’t take it back.
“Mom found out that you took me to the mall.”
“So what’s the problem?”
Wow. I couldn’t believe he was really confused. I guess in his world taking little hood rats shopping was common. I would have to explain to him why I couldn’t accept this stuff without hurting his feelings. Without him thinking that I was too uppity to take the things he bought me and I really didn’t want him to think that I didn’t appreciate it.
“Listen, Mom thinks you’re trying to buy me.”
He laughed out loud. “Nobody is trying to buy you, I was just simply being nice to the girl I like.”
I looked him directly in his face. He looked sincere. “At first I argued with her about it, but I have to admit that this is not right. I cannot accept these things, because I didn’t pay fo
r them.”
“I see, your mom sees something wrong with a guy buying a girl he likes gifts.”
I took a deep breath. I was actually tired of explaining to him why this was wrong on so many levels. “DeMarco we’re in high school. Not in college, we’re kids.”
“I see.”
“And she wanted to know how you got that kind of money to buy this stuff.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her your mother died and left you the money.”
He laughed again. “You were quick on your feet.”
“It was a lie, and I don’t want to be a liar.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll go put this stuff in my brother’s truck and I’ll take it back to the mall later.”
I gave him a hug and watched him walk away.
6
I was sitting in the cafeteria by myself, since Candace and I still weren’t speaking. This was the part that really sucked about falling out with your best friend. Not that I needed someone to eat with me, but I really missed her company. I wondered if she missed mine. After I had finished my food and was about to go put my tray up, Malaka came running to the table. “I need to show you something. Hurry up.”
I put my tray up in a hurry, wondering what it was that she wanted to show me and why it was so urgent. As soon as we walked outside she pointed and I knew exactly what the sense of urgency was all about. I saw DeMarco with his arms around Christian Byers. Christian was a very cute girl that I’ve known since I was six. We’d taken gymnastics together and we were on the same ninth grade cheerleading team. I wouldn’t call her a friend but we weren’t enemies.
I walked up to the two lovebirds.
“Hey, DeMarco.”
He looked stunned. He removed his arm from around her.
“Hey, Zori,” Christian said.
“Hi, how are you Christian?”
“Good.” She looked at DeMarco “What’s going on here?” she asked sensing the tension.
“That’s what I would like to know,” I asked.
Christian looked at me and then back at DeMarco. “Is Zori your girlfriend?”
“No, I don’t have a girlfriend,” he said.
“No, DeMarco is not my boyfriend but we’ve been seeing each other. Right, DeMarco?”
Christian made eye contact with me. “Hey, listen, Zori I don’t want any problems, I didn’t know y’all were seeing each other.” Her voice sounded sincere and Christian was not the kind of girl that would lie for no reason.
She said to DeMarco. “Goodbye, DeMarco, and lose my number, will you?”
When she was gone, I said, “I can’t believe you tried to play me like that.”
“Listen, shorty, I never said you and I were a couple.”
He was right and I knew that I had been talking to other guys. So really I didn’t have too much that I could say, but he did lead me on.
“And you’re going to that stupid ass dance with Jay. So what are you talking about?”
“You know I’m going with Jay beause you won’t take me. But for real, you said you loved me. Did you say that to hear yourself talk or were you serious?”
He looked away which led me to believe that he was just talking to hear himself talk. Then he said, “Every time I told you I loved you, you never said anything back. Not once, you never answered and now you’re letting your mom run your life, telling you that you cannot accept gifts from me.”
“Hey, I’m in high school, my mom is supposed to run my life.”
He looked away from me and made eye contact with Malaka who was standing beside me, popping gum. “So you’re the one that ratted on me.”
What? I couldn’t believe him. He had some nerve trying to blame Malaka for him getting caught.
“You leave her alone,” I said.
“Trust me. Looking the way she looks, she will be left alone.”
“Dude, you’re a loser,” Malaka said, then walked away.
“Why were you being mean to her?”
“Because I know she was the one that told you that I was out here with Christian. I saw her walk by and then all of a sudden she’s out here with you.”
“What difference does it make?” I asked. Knowing he was trying to divert the attention away from him.
“It makes no difference at all. Like I said before, you’re going to the dance with Jay, so how can you talk about me.”
“The difference between me and you was that you knew I was talking to Jay. I didn’t know you were talking to Christian.”
“You never asked me whether I was talking to other girls.”
Now I know this dude wasn’t serious. He thinks I’m some air headed bimbo, but rather than argue with him, I said, “You’re right,” and I walked away before I let my emotions get the most of me.
7
Time flew quickly after that. Before I knew it, it was time for the Christmas dance, and my mom was more excited about it than I was. I definitely liked my dress; it was a mint green color with a high waist and a tight fit that celebrated my lean body. Mom held the camera smiling. She’d always lived vicariously through me. My mom had lived a rough life in the country. She’d been raised by her father. Her mom had died early of cancer. They were very poor. Her dad worked hard but he was an alcoholic. So she didn’t get to go to dances. She never went to the prom. Her first boyfriend came when she was twenty-two. Mom took pictures of me in the kitchen where the lighting was good. She set the timer on the camera and we took several together.
An hour later a yellow stretch Hummer pulled up in front of the house. A chauffeur opened the door and Jay appeared. Me and Mom looked at him through the window. I had to admit he looked handsome, very handsome. Mom opened the door and greeted Jay with a hug. “Hello, Jay.”
“Hey, Ms. Neal.”
Jay’s eyes met mine and they traveled my body. When they got to my waist they lingered for a while. I smiled. He smiled. He looked at me like I was a delicious steak and I liked that feeling. “Come, come to the kitchen,” Mom said.
We went into the kitchen. Mom took more pictures. Jay held my waist tight and I have to admit I liked the way it felt. Magical, for the first time I felt in sync with Jay.
After about twenty pictures, I said, “Mom we gotta be going.”
“Oh, yeah right.” She said as she walked us out to the Hummer.
The back of the Hummer was huge and very luxurious with a bar. There was champagne, I grabbed a bottle and looked at the label. It was the good stuff.
Jay said, “Open it, let’s take a drink.”
“You’re a drinker?”
“No, are you?”
“No, but it’s a big night.”
I looked up at the driver. He wasn’t looking in the mirror, I didn’t think he could see us at all. I knew that the limo company and driver knew we were underage. Why did they have the alcohol so accessible? I had never drunk champagne before, but I felt tempted to take a sip.
Jay grabbed the bottle, got the cork-screw, popped the champagne bottle, and poured me a glass. I sipped it slow. Jay found mini liquor bottles. He opened a bottle of Absolut and tried to drink it straight up before spitting it out.
I laughed at him.
“This stuff is strong.”
“Try the champagne.”
He poured himself a glass.
We sipped the champagne together. He scooted over next to me and placed his arm around me. I’d never really looked at Jay, but tonight I realized he had really nice arms. They were so big and strong I felt so protected, so secure. His phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts.
He looked down at this phone. “It’s my boy Kevin, wanting to know where we’re at.”
His boy texted him. I wanted somebody to text. I wanted to text Candace, but she was still mad at me and I really missed her. We would still be speaking if I’d been talking to Jay instead of DeMarco.
Two glasses later, we were at the hotel where the dance was. I was a little buzzed but I felt amazing.
With a big smile, she said, “You look great.”
She looked great as well wearing a gold dress that flowed freely at the bottom.
I nodded at Kevin, and he gave me a hug. When we were done with our hellos, Adrianna pulled my arm. “We’re going to the little girls room,” she announced to the boys.
Once inside the bathroom, she asked, “What y’all got planned after the dance?”
I was having fun so far, but I wasn’t sure about hanging out with Jay after the dance. I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. So I said, “I’m going home.”
She opened her white clutch and showed me two mini bottles of liquor. My mind went back to the back of the limo, and wondered if I was on a slippery slope with the liquor.
“You drink?” I asked, surprised. This girl struck me as a nerd, but then again so did Jay, and he’d taken a drink tonight.
“Sometimes. Do you?”
“I did tonight.” I smiled
She went into one of the stalls and popped open a bottle of Tanqueray and drank it all.
She handed me a mini bottle of Scotch, I was already buzzing from the champagne but I drank it all.
“Y’all should come with us tonight.”
“Where to?”
She smiled, her breath reeking of the liquor. I’m sure mine was too at this time. Eww, I needed to catch up with a breath mint.
“Kevin got a room at the Marriott near South Park Mall.”
“A room?” I think I was about to get more information than I needed.
“A suite!” she said, her eyes bulging. She reached in the clutch again and pulled out a pack of Altoid chewing gum and passed me several pieces.
