Fast Life

by Cassandra Carter

  “Sorry, Isaac, but I have already done that for you.”

  The class let out yet another sigh of disapproval.

  “Silence!” Mr. Cayman screamed, shushing the class instantly. He was old—ancient, even—but everyone knew that he was not one to play games. “Now, here are your partners, so listen carefully….” He began to read from the list. “Bridgette Brooks and Isaac Tate, Jonathan Young and Kyle Guild, Kyra Jones and Veronica Pierce…”

  Kyra’s jaw dropped when she heard her partner’s name. She looked back to see Veronica’s expression. Kyra quickly raised her hand in protest. Her teacher tried to overlook it, but she kept it there, forcing him to call on her.

  “Yes, Ms. Jones?” he finally called sounding slightly bothered by the interruption.

  “Can we change our partners?”

  “No. These selections are final. If I change it for you, then I will have to change it for everyone else.”

  He finished reading off the groups and led everyone to the newly built library, where they would work for the next week.

  Every day Kyra and Veronica avoided each other as much as possible, speaking only when necessary to exchange crucial information needed for their essay. Every movement was made with an attitude, and every word was spoken with more than a hint of hostility.

  “Look, get over it! Damn! I want to get a good grade on this project, okay?” Kyra exploded one day. She was fed up with the stressful situation.

  “Whatever.” Veronica rolled her eyes and hid behind her book.

  “I’m serious. You may be able to buy yourself a good grade, but I can’t. I’m workin’ class, remember?”

  “I don’t buy my grades.”

  “Whateva, I just want to get this over with.”

  “You don’t get it, do you?”

  “Get what, Veronica?” Kyra whispered firmly.

  “How much I loved Justin. Things got twisted between us and I was trying to fix them. But then here you come, Chicago attitude and all, and you snatch him right up. Right out from under me.” She snapped her fingers in emphasis.

  “No one stole him from you, if that’s what you’re sayin’. Y’all been over before I even got here. You need to get over it, because you have been tryin’ to break us up for as long as we’ve been together, and the shit still hasn’t worked. Cut it.”

  “I think anyone would try to break up a relationship that’s just a front.”

  “How is our relationship a front? You don’t know shit about what goes on between us.”

  “That’s the thing with you. You think you know it all when you don’t know shit! You’re so fucking blind while the answers are right in front of you!” she growled as she threw a book at Kyra. “Turn it to page one ninety-two and see how much you fucking know then!” She was fuming as she slammed her chair under the table and stormed out of the library.

  Kyra looked around at the curious eyes that stared at her, awaiting some kind of explanation for the scene that had just unfolded. Full of embarrassment, she set the book down in front of her and turned to page 192. She scanned the page about economy on the islands and stopped when she reached the section on hotel owners. Listed were those considered to be the big-timers: the ones who owned resort after resort and were worth millions of dollars. Some families were worth billions.

  She came to a section on the Pierces and was about to close the book when she caught sight of the name Hartwell. She read through the article about the Hartwell family. They owned fifteen resorts in the Caribbean, as well as an island: Prince Paul. The family was worth millions, and two sons were heirs to the fortune. There was additional information that Kyra skipped as soon as she spied the words For photos turn to page 199.

  She turned to the page and looked at the pictures. She inspected them carefully, trying to understand what she was seeing, not able to accept that it was real. But it was real—as real as life, and there it was right in front of her. The truth. The truth was delivered in a form as clear as the color photo from five years ago of Quentin, Justin and their parents in front of their mansion.

  There weren’t too many women who would be mad at the fact that their boyfriend was rich beyond belief. Kyra certainly wasn’t. What she was mad at though, was the fact that she had been lied to again. She felt foolish for not knowing, for not finding out sooner. A year had gone by, and she had been clueless.

  “Looks like someone is here to see you.” Kyra’s new coworker, Linda, nodded in the direction of the young man waiting outside the store as they finished closing up for the night.

  Kyra sighed as she grabbed her bag from behind the counter and walked out of the store, anticipating whatever Justin might have to discuss.

  “Good night, Linda!” she shouted as she let the door shut.

  “Kyra, can I talk to you for a minute?”

  Kyra ignored him and simply kept walking down the dimly lit street.

  “Baby, please.” He stepped out and blocked her path, begging her to acknowledge him.

  “What?” She stared off into the distance behind him.

  “Look at me….” He took her chin in his hand and directed her face toward his, but she turned it away. “What’s going on with you lately?”

  “Nothin’.”

  “Don’t give me that ‘nothing’ shit. You been avoiding me like I’m the damn plague.”

  “I’ve just been busy.”

  “Oh, so you’re too busy for me now?” Justin assumed. His mood was taking a turn for the worse.

  “I never said that…. Look, it’s late, Justin, and I need to get home. I don’t have time to argue with you.” She sighed as she shifted her weight.

  “Damn, you don’t even have time to talk to me when I’m dead in your face?”

  “No, it’s not even like that.”

  “Then what’s it like?”

  Kyra had the strongest urge to ask him the question she had been holding in for the past week.

  “Are you seeing someone else or something?” he quizzed.

  “What? No, I’m not cheatin’ on you, if that’s what you’re thinkin’!” Kyra was beginning to grow angry that he would think she was being unfaithful.

  “Whatever, man, I’m tired of your little mood swings.”

  “I’m tired of you lyin’,” she mumbled under her breath.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothin’…damn.”

  “Look, I’m about to go. Do you want a ride home?”

  “No, I’ll walk.” Kyra looked at the baby blue Lexus and realized that it wasn’t Michael’s but his. How could she have not recognized the signs that were right in front of her all this time?

  “Baby, come here,” he whispered as he pulled her to him and embraced her. “Whatever is going on, you know I got you, right?”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “And you know I love you, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So why you acting like this towards me lately?”

  “I told you. I’ve been busy.”

  “Do you not want to go to prom anymore or something? ’Cause if you don’t, we don’t have to go.”

  “No, I want to go.”

  “A’ight then, let me get you home.”

  Justin drove Kyra home with the radio providing the only conversation between them. As he pulled into her driveway, he noticed that the house was unoccupied and unlit.

  “Your mom’s working tonight?”

  “Yeah, she had some stuff to take care of before prom came. She wants to make sure she’s here for it. Isn’t that a surprise?”

  “Want me to come in?” He had high hopes that her answer would be yes.

  “No, I’m okay. Thanks for the ride. Bye.” She got out of the car without so mch as a kiss or an “I love you.”

  CHAPTER 15

  Kyra fidgeted as she checked herself out in the mirror. She had to make sure everything was just right—from her hair in its upswept do with the curled tendrils hanging down, to her fresh and light makeu
p, all the way down to her sparkling gold dress, it all had to be flawless. Tonight was prom night, and everyone was invited.

  Angel and Kyra rolled down the tree-lined lane in their rented Lincoln Navigator. The trees were decorated with white lights. Prom was being held outside the school under the starlit sky, with torches and lights that were strung through the trees to illuminate the event. There were tables all around, covered in crisp white tablecloths and set with china and silverware under a huge white tent. Dinner was to be served that night for anyone who chose to eat. Some of the finest chefs from the nearby hotels were catering the celebration.

  The DJ had impressive skills and was spinning nothing but hits as Kyra scanned the crowd for any sign of Justin. The crowd of gowns and tuxedos seemed to be one mass of people all grinding against each other. The fact that everyone was dressed to impress didn’t change the style of dance in any way.

  She continued to search the crowd until she noticed Justin. Judging by the way his facial expression changed, he had noticed her, as well. Quentin and Angel were already all over each other on the dance floor by the time J made his way over to her.

  “Hey, baby.” He greeted his girlfriend with a peck on the lips and a once-over from head to toe. “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you. You look handsome yourself.” She looked over his tuxedo and freshly tapered hair. With how he looked, she wanted to hug him, hold him, kiss him and just let go and have a good time, but her stubborn side prevailed. “So…how’s it been so far?”

  “Good. But it’s a lot better now.”

  Kyra didn’t take well to the compliment but managed a weak smile in response anyway.

  “Do you want to dance?”

  “No, I’m actually kinda hungry. I think I’m gonna go eat.” She declined his offer and clutched her handbag in front of her stomach.

  “Oh. Okay. Well, when you’re done come and join me on the floor? There’s our table right there.” He directed her toward a round table under the tent with a few jackets resting on the chairs.

  After she ate, Kyra sat on the sidelines for most of the evening. She even noticed Justin dancing with a few of her classmates, but it didn’t bother her. She sipped glass after glass of punch and refused every offer to dance that came her way. That was until someone made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Now was the time. This was it. This was the moment of truth.

  As Justin and Kyra swayed to the slow beat of the music, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She was hoping he would tell the truth and terrified that he would lie.

  “Why aren’t you out here dancing?” he whispered in her ear as he rocked her softly from side to side.

  “I got a lot on my mind.”

  “Like what? It’s prom. You’re supposed to let go of all that stuff tonight.”

  “Justin…we need to talk,” she choked out. His heart began to race.

  “Go ahead.”

  “Have you ever lied to me?”

  “No,” he lied.

  “Would you ever?” She gazed into his eyes.

  “No…why?” Justin lied right to her face while looking directly into her eyes. She turned away from him, knowing he was lying already.

  “Because I need to ask you about somethin’ and I need you to be honest with me.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Did you lie to me about your family?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “How they are? You know…how you live?”

  “I don’t get what you’re getting at.” He acted as though he was confused, trying to avoid the question he could now sense coming his way full speed.

  “Justin, do you come from money?”

  “No, I came from my mom,” he joked.

  “I’m not jokin’. I’m serious.”

  “Sorry, but no, I already told you about that. My dad is a fisherman and my mom is a housewife. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know too many rich fishermen,” Justin said. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. “Who told you I came from money?”

  “If it’s not true, then it doesn’t matter,” Kyra replied as the song ended and she pushed her way off the dance floor, leaving Justin alone.

  That’s why she’s been acting so funny lately, he thought. It was no secret to the student body who was rich and who was not. It could have been anyone, but when he felt a soft hand creep up behind him and wrap itself around his stomach, he knew just who was low enough to carry out such an act.

  “I just saw your girl. She looked really upset. What on earth did you do to her?” Veronica said sarcastically.

  “We need to talk,” he grumbled as he tugged at her hand, leading her over to the deserted pond and under a brightly lit gazebo. “What do you want from me, Veronica?”

  “I don’t want anything from you…. I just want…you.”

  “You just don’t give up, do you? I don’t know what I have to do to show you that I don’t want you. I mean, you still blow up my phone, you mess with my girl and now you went running your mouth off about some shit you had no business in.”

  “She had a right to know.”

  “Yeah, and I was going to tell her.”

  “Well, it just happened sooner rather than later.” Her remark was nonchalant and uncaring.

  “You don’t even know why I did this shit in the first place, do you?”

  “Enlighten me, please.”

  “You! You are the reason why I did this! When we were together, you were out fucking other people. Hell, the only reason you probably fucked with me was because I had status around here. I wanted to make sure Kyra was different, and she is. I needed to know that she would hold it down for me regardless.”

  “You always hint at money or so-called status as the reason for me being with you, but I have a name for myself, too. I have money. I didn’t need your money then and I don’t need it now. And for the last time, I wasn’t out fucking no other guys!”

  “So Darren, Trent, Jason and Terry were all lying, then, right?” Justin was sardonic as he listed the names of other heirs to multimillion-dollar fortunes around the island, all of whom she had been rumored to have shared a bed with. She didn’t utter a word as her gaze fell to the tranquil pond. The guilt of her past infidelities was hitting her. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  “I love you, Justin, and I’m sorry for what I did. Trust me when I say I am,” Veronica cooed as she rested her hand gracefully on his cheek.

  “I don’t know what to tell you, Veronica. I really don’t,” he said, swiftly pulling away.

  “Do you love her?” she asked painfully.

  “Yes.” His answer was given without any uncertainty.

  Veronica leaned in and kissed Justin in desperation. She reached his lips so fast he didn’t even have time to realize what was going on before it was too late. It was too late for him to move, but not too late for Kyra to see what appeared to be him kissing Veronica in the lit gazebo.

  Kyra was ablaze inside as she rushed back to the party. A part of her wished she had never moved from her seat at the table in search of some time alone. For what she saw broke her heart. But another part of her was glad. Now she had another reason to free herself from the relationship.

  “Veronica!” Justin yelled as he pushed her off him.

  “What does she have that I don’t, Justin?” Veronica cried as she caught herself on a post of the gazebo.

  “My heart.” He walked out of the gazebo and into the night. He rejoined the festive party and left his ex-girlfriend.

  Kyra parked the truck in her driveway as her eyes became clouded with tears. She broke down as she sat in the quiet car reflecting on what she had just witnessed. Not only was Justin lying to her about his family, but all this time he’d been with Veronica, too? The similarities between Makai and Justin were more than scary.

  After a few moments of bawling her eyes out, Kyra got herself together and wiped her face. Her makeup was smudged and made her look like a raccoon
. She tried to straighten out her appearance as much as she could before she entered the house. She didn’t want or need to be interrogated by her mother tonight.

  She stepped out of the car, her bare feet feeling the cool soil between her toes as she held her heels in her hands and trudged up the stairs to her house. When she snuck inside, she felt relieved to see her mother asleep on the couch with several papers scattered in front of her on the center table. She shook her head at her mother’s strong work ethic as she slowly crept over to the couch.

  “Mom…Mom…wake up.” Her voice was mellow as she shook her mother awake.

  “Hey, sweetie. Early night?

  “Yeah. I’m really tired.”

  “Did you have fun?”

  “It was great, can’t wait until next year,” she lied with a tone full of sarcasm to cover up the truth about the disastrous ball.

  “I’m glad you had a good time, sweetie. Tell me all about it in the morning?” Geneva Jones said as she yawned and stretched her body.

  “Sure. Good night.”

  “Night.”

  When Kyra heard the door to her mother’s bedroom shut, she flopped down on the couch and let her body sink into the cushions. She undid her hair and let it fall down past her shoulders, tossing her hairpiece onto the center table. She watched the piece disappear among her mother’s papers and grew curious about their contents.

  She sat forward, still slightly sniffling from her crying spell in the car as she lifted a stack of them. They were too long to read individually, but the content became unmistakable when she read the big, bold font: Name Change Kit.

  Kyra dropped the papers to the floor. She was perplexed. Her mother was going to change her name. She would no longer be Mrs. Geneva Jones but would return to her maiden name, Geneva Smith. Or maybe she would become Mrs. Geneva Daniels? With her dating her boss, who knew the outcome?

  Any other night, Kyra would have been losing it—cursing, crying and breaking things, having a fit. But tonight was different. While she should have been out having a good time and partying the night away, she was at home doing the complete opposite. Kyra felt numb when she thought of her finding in the living room. She didn’t feel happy, mad or sad about any of it. But when she thought of Justin, she found herself unprepared for the overwhelming wave of emotion that hit her as she stood shivering under the cold water beating down from the showerhead.