by T. J. Hope
“Whatever, do y’all thang, but hurry up. I hate the smell of that shit.”
Monie and Shaquita burst out laughing in unison. Jamika didn’t understand what was so funny. Her cousins were using drugs. They were buzzed and laughed all the way to Felise’s house about the silliest little things.
When they reached Felise’s house, there were cars everywhere. Jamika immediately became alarmed. “What the hell is going on here? Something must have happened to my momma.” Jamika climbed swiftly from the car. “Hold up, Meek,” Monie said, spraying perfume on the three of them as they rushed toward the front door.
Jamika pushed on the door and it opened; it was unlocked. This was odd, and the house was dark. She wondered what was going on. Jamika’s heart was beating a mile a minute. Something bad always seemed to be waiting for her. Now, it had struck again, on her birthday.
“Surprise!” yelled a room filled with people as lights were flicked on. Felise had fixed the house up with all types of party decorations. The table was filled with chicken wings, ribs, potato salad, baked beans, potato chips, dip, fresh vegetables, fruit and juices.
The DJ was standing behind the turntables, with crates filled with albums and the lights were dimmed. Felise had rented a disco ball to give it a real, party-like atmosphere.
Jamika made her way through the crowd to see who had turned out to celebrate her birthday. She saw her cousin Peaches, Nalisha, the guy Shaquita met earlier at the mall and a lot of people from school and the neighborhood. Most of the other people she didn’t know, but some looked familiar. Some people had just heard the loud music and followed it there. She glanced over at Monie and Shaquita, who had known about this the entire time. They were still smiling and buzzing.
Guy after guy took their time dancing with the birthday girl. Jamika knew she looked good in her black mini and suede platforms. As much as she wanted to keep on dancing, her bladder had become too full.
He stood there against the wall. He had been checking her out from the time she had entered. She was finer than he remembered. Her legs reminded him of milk chocolate. The way that her mini-skirt was sculpted around her thighs and ass had him imagining that she tasted like milk chocolate too. He watched as she danced with seemingly every guy there. She looked so happy, confident, and sexy. He wanted to approach her, but didn’t quite know how. Now, she was walking towards him.
She walked right past him to the restroom. He felt a knot well up in his stomach as she passed. Was he trippin’? His stomach didn’t even do flips like that for his girlfriend. Jamika looked damn good. She still wasn’t the model type, and he still didn’t understand his fascination with her. He at least wanted to be her friend again.
He saw her coming back from the restroom. She looked like she’d freshened up her lipstick. He felt like he could taste her lips just by looking at them. As she began to pass, he jumped in front of her to block her way. She placed her hand on his chest, and tried to move around him without looking up.
“Excuse me,” she repeated.
“What’s been up, Meek?” he quickly said. He could see her eyes squint and her head tilt as she tried to figure out who he was. If he remembered correctly, only her close friends and family called her Meek. He knew that would slow her down. He couldn’t believe that she didn’t recognize him. It hadn’t been that long.
Finally, her hazel eyes widened with a knowing look. A genuine smile crossed her lips, as her hand went to her hip. She finally spoke, “Mark Rosier?”
“That’s what my old girl named me,” replied Mark.
Jamika could not believe that Mark was standing there. Over the last two and a half years, he had become nothing more than a memory. She never thought that she’d ever see him again. Friends never seemed to last in her life. Friends like Little Tray, friends like Quinton.
Mark had grown to be more handsome than she remembered. He was about six feet tall. He still had those almond eyes, and wavy hair. His features had grown more distinct. His forearms looked muscular and strong, protruding from beneath the sleeves of his shirt.
Jamika realized she was staring and struggled to find something to talk about. “So, how did you know that I was having a party?” she asked.
“The fliers were all over B.A.,” he replied.
“The fliers were all over Boyd Anderson High, really?”
“Yes. You know your mom don’t play. I don’t know how they kept it a secret from you. Look, there’s Antwon Jones over there…Solita Robinson…Lorraine Pearson… and—”
“Okay,” Jamika broke in, “I get the picture. I wasn’t down with any of them like that. I guess that’s why I didn’t recognize them.”
Mark started to chuckle and replied, “Shit, you barely recognized me.”
Jamika felt she needed to defend herself. “Well, it has been a few years. You look different; you are so tall. We used to be the same height, and your voice all deep and manly now.”
Mark was trying to hide the fact that he was blushing. “Well, well, well. What can I say?” Mark said, rubbing his chin imitating J.J. from the Good Times television sitcom. “The same Mark, I see.”
“I’ll always be.”
The beginning of Shirley Murdock’s song “Stay” could be heard cranking up. People were coupled up heading for the dance floor, and others that did not have dancing partners, were finding seats or going for good. “Would you like to dance?” Mark asked, Jamika.
“Sure.”
They went to the dance floor and started to dance slowly together as the song rolled on. Don’t wanna be a selfish girl. But tonight you are my world. I will never make it through without you. Jamika closed her eyes and reveled in how secure she felt against Mark. She hadn’t felt this safe with anyone since Quinton’s death.
The music was shut off suddenly. Jamika lifted her head to see Felise standing near the DJ’s stand with the microphone, looking like she’d had too many of whatever kind of alcoholic beverage she was drinking that night.
“I just wanna say-ee,” she slurred. “Happy Birthday to my babay, she turned seventeen today-ee. Damn! I’m getting older than a motherfucker. Shit!” Someone could be heard shouting something from the crowd. “Listen here, this is my house. I can get drunk as I want to, whoever don’t like it can haul ass. You dig? I thought so, shit. This is my shit!”
People were giggling. Most of Jamika’s friends always thought Felise to be fun and always told her that they’d wished their mothers were as down to earth. “Anyway, that Shirley Murdock just reminded me of something. Are y’all ready for some live entertainment?” asked Felise.
“Yeah, uh-huh, and come on with it,” escaped amongst the crowd.
“Come on up here, Meek. Blow something for us babay.”
Jamika gave Felise an “I do not believe you” look and headed toward the DJ’s stand. She really did not want to sing at that time, but part of being a performer would be singing when she didn’t feel like it. She decided to look at this as additional practice. As she reached for the microphone, Felise grabbed it back and started to talk again.
“One more thi-ing god-dammit!” Felise’s language always got foul when she was tipsy. “I know my baby cute and she can sang like a motherfucker. There’s a lot of little niggaz in here, and some of y’all are as fucked up as I am. I’m letting you know right now; don’t try no crazy shit. Believe me, I ain’t too fucked up to put a cap in ya ass!”
The crowd burst out into laughter again, “Okay, sang babay,” Felise slurred, handing Jamika the microphone and stepping to the side. Jamika took a deep breath and looked over at Mark. She remembered the song she’d sang to his image, behind her closed eyelids the first day of school at Dillard High, over two and a half years earlier.
Now, he was there in person. She brought the microphone to her lips and the song began to envelop her. She forgot about everyone that was listening, except for Mark. Her voice was well controlled and strong; she sang every word careful and articulate the way she’d been taught in h
er vocal classes.
“Before you left me. I had it all
You were with me, and that was enough
Then he came along, and I forgot all about you
I was a fool, but I’m wiser now
Because you left, my world came to an end
Then you came back, again, now I know
There is no way, I can go on without you”
Jamika continued until she finished with what seemed like all the power in her. When she finished, everyone applauded and screamed.
Felise returned to the microphone. “That’s my babay, god-dammit! Let’s keep this party goin’. The DJ started the music again and Jamika headed toward the juice bowl. Mark caught her by the arm. “Damn, it seems like you were singing right to me,” he said.
“You have quite an ego, don’t you think?” Jamika asked jokingly.
“Well, well, well. What can I say?” he said, mocking J.J. again.
“And,” started Jamika, “you make a terrible J.J., so stop watching them re-runs.”
“You’re right. I am too fine to play J.J.”
“I see you still conceited as all outdoors, too,” Jamika said.
“Hey, some things never change,” he said, winking his eye.
Mark made Jamika tingle all over. It wasn’t just his handsomeness; it was a light that shone inside of him like a moon on a starless night. That light still blinded Jamika, as it had in middle school. Jamika had always thought of it as a middle school crush, but that night she knew that it was much more.
She also knew that she still wasn’t Mark’s type, and that he most likely had a girlfriend. It couldn’t hurt to be his friend. She needed some type of male companionship; Shaquita had definitely been right about that.
“What are you thinking about, Meek?” Mark said, interrupting her thoughts.
“Nothing,” replied Jamika.
“Come on now, girl. This is me. I can look into your eyes, into your soul, and tell when something is heavy on your mind,” Mark said seriously.
“Yeah, whatever Mark.”
Mark looked down at his watch. “Damn, I hate to leave, but I gotta get my brother back his ride. Your momma is likely to have this party going all night.”
“Yeah, that’s my momma.”
“Do you feel like walking me outside?”
“Yeah, come on.”
Jamika and Mark walked outside; Jamika hated to see him go. They had just begun to get reacquainted. She wanted so badly for them to be friends again, but she definitely wasn’t going to be the one to initiate it. Mark was one of those types, wherein if you acted too interested, then he wasn’t. Mark reached into his pocket.
“Meek…uh…here’s my number. Call me sometimes. We can hang out or something.”
“Dag, you walk around with your number written down?”
“No. I actually wrote it down before I came. I was sure I would run into someone special; I just wasn’t sure how much time I’d get with her,” he said, with a flirtatious smile. Then he got into his brother’s car and backed out. Before he sped off, he called out to Jamika, “Holla at me tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay,” she said, with a wave and a smile.
The rest of the night was mostly a blur. Jamika remembered dancing, and drinking Felise’s specially mixed, blue, spiked punch until she felt dizzy. Her permanent smile that night was from thoughts of Mark. The alcohol just made everything more vivid. The invitation had read 9:00 pm – until. The party did not subside until after 3:00 am.
Chapter Ten
Jamika thought of how close she and Mark had grown. Although they attended different high schools, they found time on weeknights and weekends to be together. They spent a vast amount of time together going to the movies, playing games at the Grand Prix, or just chilling and talking. Jamika could be herself around Mark; the time that they spent together was effortless. But, Jamika knew in the back of her mind that she would never be his type, and as good as it was to be friends, she really wanted to escalate their relationship to the next level.
It was Christmas Eve, and Jamika was spending it with Monie at Millie’s. Millie had gone to Georgia for a few days to visit her sister. She’d taken all the younger cousins with her. Monie had invited Jamika and Mark over to be with her and Jesse to bring Christmas in.
Jamika looked down at the playing cards she held in her hand as she waited for Jesse and Monie to decide what their Spades bid would be. She’d already counted six spades, two aces and one king, which was her only diamond. That gave her at least eight books she could make on her own. She winked at Mark to let him know that she had a great hand. “Damn, we going board!” exclaimed Monie, looking at her cards, disgusted.
“Y’all better! Give us ten!” Mark exclaimed. Monie scribbled on the pad she was using to keep score.
They all laughed as the hand was played. Jamika kept standing up to slap her cards on the table for dramatic effect. Mark was busy teasing Monie and Jesse on how poor they were playing. After a few hands of the same, Monie ended the game as she was tired of losing and wanted to go on to something else.
She refilled everyone’s drink, and then turned to Jesse. “Okay, it’s eleven thirty, I’ve waited long enough. I want my gift now.”
“Is that so?” Jesse asked Monie teasingly.
“Yes, that’s so! Where is it?” she asked.
“Hmmm…” Jesse said, enjoying Monie’s anticipation. Monie pounced on Jesse and started to fiddle through his pockets. They both laughed loudly as they wrestled and played together. “Okay!” Jessie said in between deep breaths. He fished a box out of his pocket and handed it to Monie. Monie opened the box quickly. The box held a stunning spinning ring, encrusted with diamonds and rubies, with two levels that swept past each other with the words, “I Love You”.
“Oh, that is so sweet,” said Jamika sarcastically.
Jamika hadn’t wanted the gift portion of the evening to come. She had purchased Mark a cap and jersey, with his favorite basketball team logo. He hadn’t mentioned buying her anything, and seeing Monie’s beautiful ring, made her envious.
Jesse, who was tall and dark with a baldhead and well-built body, seemed too handsome for Monie, if you did not know them. Jesse loved the ground Monie walked on. She could get away with murder with him. Jesse looked at Monie expectantly, and then said, “Okay, Shawty, where’s mine?”
“Right here,” Monie said, looking down at herself. Jesse’s face expressed a huge smile like a child about to receive his favorite flavor of ice cream.
He said, “Excuse us; we have a meeting in the back room.”
They were gone within seconds. Jamika and Mark both knew what was about to go on in the back room. “Well Meek, I guess that leaves us. Do you want another drink?” “Yes,” she replied.
Mark walked over to pour Jamika another glass of premixed, alcoholic eggnog. She watched him as he walked over and handed her the glass. He took a sip of his own, and when he lowered his glass, a thin line of eggnog lined his upper lip. Jamika thought that Mark looked exceptionally handsome, even with the milk mustache. She struggled in her mind to understand why this guy had such a tremendous effect on her.
“What are you thinking about?” asked Mark.
“Why?” asked Jamika.
“Well, you were looking at me in this certain way, and your eyes were sparkling.” “That’s because the light is reflecting in them. I was just looking at your milk mustache.”
“You got so much game girl; more was on your mind than that.”
“Hey, are you going to open your gift?” Jamika slipped up, trying to stop Mark from probing into her thoughts.
“Yeah. What did you get me?”
“See for yourself,” she said, handing him the gift.
Mark tore the paper off like a little five-year-old child would do. “This is what’s up! They’ve got the official NBA seal and everything! You must have paid a fortune for these. I got the perfect jeans to rock with these. You got good taste too. What am
I going to do with you?” he asked, not really expecting an answer.
Jamika wanted to respond, “Make me yours,” but decided against it.
“Damn, I’m sorry, Meek. I didn’t get a chance to get you anything, but I—”
“That’s all right,” Jamika cut him off, disappointed. She guessed he must have spent his money on his girlfriend, whoever she was. Mark saw the disappointment in Jamika’s eyes and took her hand. As he removed his hand, Jamika realized that he’d left something in her hand.
She looked down at her hand and Mark said, “For you, Meek. Merry Christmas.”
Jamika lifted her hand to get a closer look at the 14K gold charm and chain. The charm read, “#1 Champion Lover”. Jamika immediately knew that he must have felt guilty and gave it to her, because she couldn’t be his number one lover; they had never been intimate. This time, she couldn’t keep her thoughts to herself. “Uh…Mark?”
“Yeah. Do you like it?” he asked.
“How could I be your champion lover, we ain’t never got down like that? Are you sure this is for me?”
“I got it just for you, because I know that you are going to be the best.”
“Going to be the best? What are you talking about?” Jamika said, getting more confused by the minute.
Mark then kissed Jamika deeply. She felt her heart skip a beat, and could not stop kissing him. He licked his tongue across her lips, then down to her neck. He snapped open her shirt, to reveal her full breasts. He took his time, kissing and sucking each nipple. She opened her legs slightly to allow him to lie comfortably on top of her on the narrow couch. She felt him unzipping her jeans, and pulling them down as his tongue did circles in her belly button.
She felt her center thumping and removed his shirt. She was surprised at the moans that were escaping from the excitement of his enticement. He removed her panties in what seemed like one motion. He began to enter her. “Wait!” cried Jamika.
“What’s wrong?” Mark asked, with his face contorted like he was in pain because she stopped him.
“Do you have a condom?” she asked.
