Fast Life

by Cassandra Carter

  “Where have you been all day?”

  “Here.”

  “Why didn’t you come to the barbeque?”

  “What barbeque?”

  “Quentin’s family had a barbeque today. Q is going to be working for his dad now.”

  “Oh, I didn’t even know about it. Tell him congratulations for me?”

  “Justin didn’t tell you about it? Because if he didn’t, he was supposed to. If I had known you didn’t know, I would’ve told you.” Angel even sounded somewhat annoyed at saying Justin’s name.

  “It’s cool. He probably tried, but I’ve been havin’ phone problems lately, so he probably couldn’t get through. I just got it fixed today,” Kyra lied, covering up the reason for her lack of knowledge concerning the barbeque.

  “I brought you a plate.” Angel handed over the aluminum-covered plate of food.

  “Good. You saved me from cookin’ dinner.” She laughed.

  “So, what are you doing tomorrow?”

  “Oh, I gotta work. I think we got a new shipment comin’ in.”

  “That’s always exciting.”

  “Oh yes. Mmm, this is so good,” Kyra commented as she started to pick at her plate of leftovers. “How was it?” She leaned over the island in the center of the kitchen and shoved another forkful of food into her mouth.

  “It was really fun. It had its weird moments, though.”

  “Weird moments? Like what?”

  “Like Justin and Veronica disappearing into the house alone for about fifteen minutes.”

  “Are you serious?” Kyra was serious as she peered up from her plate.

  “Yeah.”

  “How alone were they?”

  “Too alone.”

  “What were they doin’?”

  “I have no idea. All I know is they went in together and came out holding hands. After that, they were around each other for the rest of the party. It was like they were joined at the hip.”

  “Well! There goes my appetite!” Kyra sounded disturbed by the information as she dropped her fork and pushed the plate away.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Kyra, where have you been? You’re an hour late!” Regina shouted at Kyra as soon as she set foot in Butterfly. Her stay at Angel’s had been a little too relaxing when she woke up late for work that morning.

  “I’m so sorry, Regina!” She hurried to the back room with a cup of coffee in one hand and her bag in the other.

  She returned from the back room after fixing herself in the mirror and making sure she looked presentable. She had to be on point. No one would listen to a salesgirl talk about clothes if she looked a wreck.

  Kyra worked hard that day, with Regina on her back more than usual—a punishment for being late, she was sure. She straightened shelves, helped customers, worked the fitting room area and even did a little inventory. She was grateful when her boss finally gave her a break and let her work the register. Or so she thought.

  The door to the store opened, ringing the chime that alerted employees of a new customer, and let a gust of wind blow inside. The cool air hit Kyra, who sat at the register station reading a Vogue magazine to pass the downtime. She glanced up, the breeze drawing her attention from her magazine for a moment to see the new customers. She looked back down at the magazine only to do a double take: Veronica had just strolled in, and Justin was at her side.

  Kyra put her head back down in her magazine, as if seeing them together didn’t bother her when in reality it did. She sat at the resister, glancing at her magazine and then up at Justin and Veronica as they walked through the store selecting items with their sick lovey-dovey attitudes and public displays of affection.

  She was sure she would gag when they approached the cash register, but both Justin and Veronica acted as though they didn’t even know her.

  “Your total is $1569.22.” She announced their total with an attitude.

  “I got it.” Justin reached for his wallet and pulled out a wad of cash.

  “Aww, baby that is so sweet.” Veronica cooed as she planted a peck on his face.

  “Here are your bags. Thanks for shopping at Butterfly.”

  Kyra handed over their things with the fakest smile she could manage on her face.

  She watched as Justin and Veronica walked out of the store hand in hand, Justin whispering in her ear and Veronica girlishly giggling. She couldn’t tear her eyes off them until she watched them drive off in his baby blue convertible.

  “Regina, can I have a break?”

  “I shouldn’t give you one since you were late, but go ahead. It’s slow right now anyways.”

  Kyra ran to the employee bathroom and locked the door behind her. She leaned her body against the door as she began to cry. Seeing Justin with Veronica made her want him back that much more.

  Within seconds of arriving home from work Kyra was in her bedroom. Her luggage set was out on her bed, full of clothes and everything else she planned to take with her. It was Tuesday night. She was just in time to make Makai’s deadline. Kyra was able to steer clear of an argument, since her mother saw Kyra’s getaway as something she, too, could take advantage of.

  “What are you doin’ here?” She wiped her eyes to make it appear as though she were all right.

  “I came by to talk to you for a minute. The door was unlocked….” Justin studied her luggage resting on her bed. “Going somewhere?”

  “Does it look like I’m goin’ somewhere?” she snapped.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Home for a while.”

  “Are you going with him?”

  “It’s none of your business who I’m goin’ with.”

  “Who is he, anyway? Please do tell, because I don’t recall you mentioning nobody to me during our relationship.”

  “You got some nerve! There was a whole lot of shit you never mentioned to me durin’ our relationship!”

  “Whatever, Kyra.”

  “And since you’re so damn curious, he used to be my man.”

  “Oh, so you had me down here and him back up in Chicago?”

  “No, it’s not like that. Me and Makai are just…complicated. And I know you ain’t talkin’. Don’t even get me started on that.” He sat silent in one of her wicker chairs as she continued, “It just makes me think more and more that you two had somethin’ goin’ the whole time.”

  “I told you she kissed me that night! But yeah, now things between me and her are different.” His admission came without shame.

  “I could see that today when you brought the bitch to my job. You were sittin’ up there like you didn’t even know me. Like I was nobody!” Her voice rose when she turned to face him.

  “I didn’t bring her there on purpose. She likes to shop there, and I was taking her shopping, so we went there. That’s not a crime.” He lied. He’d known exactly what he was doing when he took Veronica into Butterfly that day.

  “Out of all the stores on that island, though, you had to come to mine? Be serious.”

  There was a slight pause before she started again. “You’re really with her now, aren’t you?” She posed the question in almost a whisper. She already knew the truth.

  Justin didn’t want to tell of his new relationship. It wasn’t like he truly wanted to be with Veronica, but after what Michael had told him he was determined to show Kyra that two could play that game.

  “Yeah, she’s my girl.”

  “That’s all I needed to know.”

  “We need to talk about some things, though. I mean, I know me and you aren’t straight right now, but even if we aren’t together anymore, we can still be friends, right?”

  “Friends?” She gave him a look as though he were insane.

  “Yeah, just like we were before. You know, friends?”

  Kyra just stood there and stared at Justin, biting her lip and holding in the impulse to shed a tear.

  “I tried calling you for the past few days….”

  “I know. I
was waitin’ for your call yesterday, but I guess you were too busy makin’ out with Veronica to call me, so it’s okay.”

  “We were not ‘making out.’ I mean, we…but…anyways…why were you waiting for my call?”

  “No reason now. The shit doesn’t matter anymore. It’s as done as we are.” Her tone was low and angry as she closed her suitcases and locked them.

  “So you’re really about to go with him, huh?” He gave her luggage another look.

  “I have no reason to stay,” she whispered, locking her eyes with his.

  “Am I interrupting something?” Makai said from where he leaned against the door, puffing on a sweet-smelling cigar. His gun was purposely on display where it hung on his waist.

  “No, baby, it’s nothin’,” Kyra cooed with her eyes still on Justin. Justin glanced at Makai and then back at Kyra, and his eyes grew angry.

  “You want me to get those bags for you, baby girl?” Makai offered his assistance as he walked over to her belongings.

  “Yes, please. That would be so sweet.” She mocked Veronica’s tone and movements from earlier that day in the boutique.

  Kyra turned her attention back to Justin once Makai had left her bedroom. She didn’t know what to say and was once again faced with a goodbye.

  “You’re right. It looks like you don’t have a reason to stay, but you got every reason in the world to go. Bye, baby girl.” Justin bitterly ended their conversation before walking out of the room and, as far as Kyra could tell, out of her life.

  CHAPTER 17

  The next day Kyra awoke to a bedroom full of bright sunshine. She rolledover expecting to feel Makai’s body next to hers, but he was gone.

  “Makai?” She called out his name as she glanced around the room. She rolled out of bed and tiptoed down the stairs to the bottom floor, calling out to Makai and getting nothing but silence for an answer.

  “Oh great, I’m stuck here alone,” she mumbled to herself, already unhappy with being stuck indoors. She’d had plans, and now they were on hold. How long they would be that way she didn’t know.

  Television was interesting but only for so long. The radio bored her even faster, and those seemed to be the only options. She grabbed the menu and decided to order room service, something she was more than grateful for, then made a discovery that nearly saved her sanity.

  Club floor nine: the answer to her prayers. Kyra studied the map of the atrium located on the ninth floor of the plaza, which connected the east and west towers with a skylit garden. It had so much to offer: an indoor basketball court, a fitness center, a putting green, a sauna, outdoor and indoor pools, a library, a cybercafe, a business center and conference area, a garden, a running track and a sundeck.

  She practically ran out the door to the club floor. It was perfect at the time, but even that eventually grew to be a bore.

  Four days had gone by, and Kyra hadn’t been out of the Grand Plaza or talked to anyone besides Makai. It was torture for her to watch Makai come and go as he pleased. Most of the time he only found his way home during the early-morning hours.

  “Kai, I need to get out of this house.”

  “Not yet. Roscoe’s funeral is tomorrow.”

  “So? Let me go with you then. I knew him, too.”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t need to explain it to you in specifics. Just know that when it’s safe I’ll let you know.”

  “And when will it be safe?” Her voice rose and she threw her fork down on her plate in a tantrum. He didn’t answer. “Exactly—never. I’m not stayin’ here anymore. I can do what I want and I’m tired of this….”

  Makai suddenly got up from his seat and was inches from her face. He grabbed her by her arm and yanked her from her chair.

  “Kyra, I swear, if you leave this apartment….” His tone was fierce, and he spoke with such intensity it frightened her.

  “Let go of my arm. You’re hurtin’ me,” she whimpered. She was no longer as bold as she had been only minutes ago.

  “I’ll be back later.” He let go of her arm, but his eyes still held their hard glare.

  “No, wait…” She touched his arm only to have him snatch it away. “Makai! Don’t go! Kai!” she cried out to him as she watched him slam the door on his way out.

  She slumped down in her chair and put her head in her hands. She was alone once again, left in the apartment while he was free to do whatever he wished. She threw one of the glasses against the window in frustration, sending crystal scattering across the floor. She stared at her reflection in the window and at the skyline beyond it. Tomorrow she was going out no matter what he said.

  Kyra slid on her pink sunglasses as she stepped out into the Chicago day and looked back at the Grand Plaza building. It was such a relief to finally be free of her prison.

  She wandered for blocks until she found a pay phone. She punched in a number, and by the fourth ring she was ready to hang up when all of a sudden she heard a familiar voice on the other end.

  “Hello?”

  “Tasha?”

  “Kyra?”

  “Yeah, girl, it’s me. Did I wake you?” She pressed the phone harder onto her ear to hear over the noisy traffic.

  “Yeah.”

  “Too bad. Get up.”

  “Man, I’m about to go…” Natasha sighed. Her only wish was to get back to sleep.

  “No! Tasha, wait. Come to the corner of East Chicago Ave and West Huron Street.”

  “Oh my God!” Natasha let out a gasp.

  “See you in a few.” Kyra chuckled as she put the phone on the hook.

  Hey, girl!” Natasha happily greeted her friend as she pulled her green Altima up to curb, slowing just enough that Kyra could hop in.

  “Hey! What the hell took you so long?”

  “I had to get ready! I wasn’t about to come out looking all hit.”

  “You do any other day.”

  “Ha ha, real funny! So how long have you been here? Where’re you staying? You know you can save a whole lot of money if you just crash at my crib.”

  “I’ve been here for about a week now, and as far as my mom knows, I am stayin’ with you,” she told Natasha.

  “Well, she sure hasn’t called….and never mind that you’ve been here a week and you mean to tell me you’re just now getting around to seeing me?”

  “Kai’s been trippin’. He got me up in the house all the time talkin’ ’bout, ‘don’t go nowhere,’ blah, blah. I got tired of that shit. So here I am. Out and about.”

  “Makai? Don’t tell me y’all…”

  “Yeah, I know, I know.” Kyra didn’t want to hear a lecture. Her mother had given her enough to last a lifetime.

  “So you’re back with him now? What happened to Justin? I thought y’all were doing good?”

  “No…I dunno. But I’ll tell you all about it over…ice cream?”

  As the girls ate their Dairy Queen ice cream, they decided to take a walk in a nearby park.

  “Damn, that’s messed up fa real.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “Well, at least you’re back at home for the summer. Regardless of why, I can’t complain. I’m happy to see ya, girl.”

  “Same here.”

  “So, what do you wanna do now?” Natasha asked as she tossed her garbage into a nearby trash can.

  “We can just chill at your house. I don’t want anyone to see me out and it get back to Kai. Me bein’ here is bad enough.”

  The girls had just begun their walk back to the car when without warning, Kyra stopped dead in her tracks. There she was, only a few feet away. She looked slightly different, but Kyra knew it was her. She could see right through all that May-belline and Feria.

  Mercedes was standing in the park in yet another ill-fitting ensemble. Her hair, which had once been a light brown color and straight, was now red and curly, the spirals hanging around her face, which held too many cosmetic products.

  “Kyra, come on…” Natas
ha trailed off when she saw what had her friend frozen in place.

  A baby girl occupied with a bouncing orange ball sat on the grass next to Mercedes. It was obvious that she was her daughter by the way she called out “mama” and stretched her hands to the sky, begging to be picked up. Kyra watched as Mercedes picked up the small girl and held her in her arms, leaning her on her hip. The child’s resemblance to Reggie was striking.

  Kyra’s blood felt like it was on fire. She wanted to attack Mercedes right then, even though Mercedes had three other girls with her, some of whom Kyra recognized from her days at John Marshall. The way Kyra felt just now, she could take all of them, plus one.

  “Don’t do it, Kyra. I feel you, just not here.” Natasha calmed her friend as though she could read her mind.

  “Let’s go,” Kyra mumbled as she walked off in the other direction to avoid being seen by Mercedes or her crew. She didn’t need Mercedes running her mouth to Makai and creating problems.

  By the time the girls reached Natasha’s house, the mood had taken a complete one-eighty. The girls gossiped and laughed as they watched movie after movie. Kyra loved how Natasha could always change her mood. She reminded her of Angel in a way, and thinking of Angel led her to think of the island and, of course, Justin.

  Kyra stared at the television. The images of Love and Basketball ran across the screen, but she was watching a whole other movie in her mind. She had flashbacks of the good times with Justin.

  “Ay, Tasha.”

  “Yeah…” Natasha was engrossed in the movie.

  “You got somethin’?”

  “Something like what?” She shoved a handful of popcorn into her mouth. Her eyes were still watching the flick.

  “You know…somethin’…”

  “Oh! I got you! Hell yeah, I got something!” She was excited as she rummaged under her bed, coming up with a bottle of tequila and two blunts.

  “That’s what I’m talkin’ about.”

  “I almost forgot I even had this under there.”

  “See, where would you be without me?”