“If you spent a little more time in the library, you might know about them, too,” Sydney answered mockingly as she pulled a couple of peppermints out of her Bottega bag and offered Lauren one.
“Whatever,” Lauren said simply as she accepted the candy.
“So, what’s up?” Sydney asked, settling back in her chair.
“Okay, so obviously Keisha is not playing around.” Lauren started with the least debatable topic of conversation, popping the peppermint into her mouth.
“No kidding,” Sydney agreed bitterly. “That spa day shit? Like, whose mother hires a private investigator to spy on her kids?”
“I know, I know,” Lauren concurred with a shake of her head. “I feel like I’m in the middle of a damn Jason Bourne movie or some shit.”
“And what’s so bad is, she knew every damn thing. She knew about the photo album, me going to see Aunt Lorraine, you trying to keep in touch with Jermaine. Shoot, she even knew about my damn breakup with Marcus,” Sydney exclaimed.
“It’s crazy,” Lauren replied.
“And don’t you think it’s so bizarre how protective she is of Altimus? Like she didn’t even bother to try and figure out what all the snooping we’re doing is for.”
“It is…but maybe she’s just embarrassed that we know about her hooking up with Dice’s best friend,” Lauren offered with a shrug. “It is kinda sleazy…”
“True. But still…”
“I’ll tell you one thing. I’m scared to take a damn dump now without Keisha running a medical report on my intestines,” Lauren joked sarcastically.
“Shut up, Lauren,” Sydney laughed.
“What? What did I say?” Lauren feigned mock innocence as the twins shared their first laugh in a very long time.
“I swear, some days I don’t know whose egg you came from,” Sydney giggled.
“Um, excuse you, that would be my egg that you came from, thank you very much,” Lauren immediately countered with a grin.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…”
“But seriously, Syd,” Lauren said soberly. “There is one thing that Mom and Altimus don’t know about.”
Sensing the shift in tone, Sydney straightened up. “What are you talking about?”
“I probably should have told you this before but…” Lauren mumbled, pulling at a tiny ship anchor on her gold charm bracelet.
“Lauren Duke, if you don’t spill!”
“Okay, so remember about two weeks ago when I went to the spa with Mom?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, even though I went, I didn’t exactly stay at the spa,” Lauren explained.
“You’re losing me,” Sydney said. “You went but you didn’t stay?”
“Well, when Mom and I split up for our treatments, I kinda snuck out of the spa and went down to this fried-fish joint in the West End looking for Jermaine,” she finally spilled.
“You what?” Sydney asked incredulously. “Lauren, are you crazy?”
“Sydney, I had to,” Lauren whined. “Jermaine had been ignoring the IMs and the text messages I tried sending from the computer lab, I didn’t know what the hell was going on, I was scared! I had to find him and make sure that he was okay,” she insisted.
Crossing her arms, Sydney shook her head. “You’re incorrigible,” she stated.
“I know, I know,” Lauren continued. “And I’m not even going to tell you how when I got down there I almost got into a fight with one of those funky ghetto bitches he used to deal with. Or at least that’s what she was trying to make it seem like.”
“Lauren, were you really about to get into a fight, in the hood, over some dude?” Sydney questioned her twin sister incredulously. “Seriously?”
“That’s just how much I love him,” Lauren answered simply.
Sydney looked down at her black Chanel ballet slippers as she remembered the surge of pure anger she felt when she saw Marcus walking with Caroline and Trina in the parking lot. “I feel ya,” she replied quietly.
“So anyway, what I was about to say was that right as me and Boom-quisha were about to go to blows, Uncle Larry snatched my ass up,” she continued.
“Who’s Uncle Larry?”
“Mom’s brother,” Lauren paused dramatically.
“Wha—what,” Sydney stuttered.
“That’s exactly what I said,” Lauren said as one of the cell phones in her bag started buzzing. She pulled out the KRZR, read the I Luv U text, and put it back.
Sydney looked at her suspiciously. “Um, when the hell did you buy that old-school flip phone?”
Exhaling loudly, Lauren shook her head. “That, my dear, is a whole other story. Let me finish telling you about Uncle Larry first.”
“Okay,” Sydney said, completely flabbergasted by all the intel her sister had managed to withhold for so long.
“So anyway, apparently he’s Mom’s only brother,” she started again. “His name is Laurence and I’m actually named after him,” she continued proudly.
“But why would we not know him?”
“I can’t call it,” Lauren admitted. “According to him, they were all really tight back in the day—him, her, Dice, and Altimus. Hence, the whole naming me Lauren thing. But from what I can guess, when Dice got sent away, some shit happened. And Mom just stopped dealing with him and anybody else she didn’t like completely.”
“Or maybe he just wasn’t feeling the whole ‘hooking up with your baby’s father’s best friend’ thing,” Sydney surmised sourly. Lauren shrugged her shoulders in response. “But even still,” she continued, “how did you know to look for him?”
“I didn’t,” Lauren answered truthfully. “Like I said, I was in the West End, in this little fried-fish spot called Pride, when me and homegirl were about to get into it. At the last second, he snatched my ass up outta there.”
“Whoa,” Sydney said.
“Did I mention that everybody up in there but me seemed to already know he was related to us?”
“Kinda like everyone but us also knew that Altimus was shady,” Sydney muttered sarcastically.
“But wait, it gets worse,” Lauren responded as she flipped her hair over her left shoulder. “So after he drags me out the joint—and I finally stop thinking that I’m being kidnapped—he says something real crazy about how I should stay out the hood and let Altimus and Keisha clean up the mess they made.”
“Huh? Mess?”
“Yeah, it was real weird. That and how neither me nor Jermaine is safe. Which I totally thought was some over-exaggeration scare topic until I finally talked to Jermaine face-to-face the other day at the house—”
“Speaking of which.” Sydney seized the opportunity to interrupt. “I wasn’t going to say anything until you brought it up, but all that Romeo and Juliet, star-crossed lovers business in the house? I hear you on the love thing and all, but ain’t no love in the world saving you from becoming Atlanta’s next senseless tragedy if Mom or Altimus ever, ever, ever found out Jermaine was up in the house. Let alone, in your room. I don’t want to get my butt kicked trying to save your life, either. So let’s not repeat that stunt again, okay?”
“Oh, trust, not even if I wanted to,” Lauren said with a sly grin. “Jermaine swears he was going to piss in his pants before I realized that it was just you.”
Sydney shook her head and cringed as the image of her sister straddling Jermaine flashed through her mind. “Tell him the feeling is mutual,” she replied.
“But like I was saying, Jermaine made it so clear that his life would be in danger until he or the cops figure out who the hell killed his brother!”
“Holy shit,” Sydney whispered. “This just keeps getting worse and worse. Like for real, for real, I don’t know what the hell we’re in the middle of. Last week Tuesday, I snuck over to Aunt Lorraine’s house.”
“Wait, I thought you met with the planner last Tuesday.”
“Guess you aren’t the only one with a few tricks up her sleeve.” Sydney laughed bitterly at Lauren�
��s look of surprise. “Anyway, so Aunt Lorraine texted me—thank God Keisha doesn’t have the common sense to read the incoming text message numbers on the bill—to let me know Dad sent a letter.”
Mimicking her sister, Lauren crossed her arms and shook her head. “And you talk about me?” she asked.
“Whatever. And as I’m picking it up, she tells me that Dad is easily looking at fifteen more years if he’s convicted.”
“What?” Lauren gasped, genuinely horrified.
“I know,” Sydney responded sadly.
“But– but–” Lauren stuttered. “Syd, I know I’ve been super skeptical this whole time, but after talking to Uncle Larry and now Jermaine…I just don’t think he did it.”
Sydney shrugged her shoulders helplessly. “Welcome to the club,” she said. “But it’s like, our intuition against their word. We’d look crazy trying to go to the police to report our parents.” Lauren inhaled deeply as tears formed in the corner of her eyes.
Sydney reached out to rub her sister’s back. “Don’t cry, Lauren, okay?”
“I’m just so frustrated and confused,” she sniffled as she put her head down into her hands. “This is not how my life is supposed to be turning out!”
“I hear ya…” Sydney agreed as her cell phone started buzzing. She pulled it out quickly. “Hello? Gimme five minutes and I’m on my way,” she responded before hanging up. “That was Carmen. She’s been waiting for me upstairs.”
“Oh, okay,” Lauren said, wiping her eyes. “I guess I should probably get going, too,” she replied, grabbing her compact out of her bag and powdering her face.
“Wait,” Sydney said as she stood up. “Now, what’s the deal with that phone?”
“Jermaine gave it to me,” she admitted with a small smile. “He knew I couldn’t talk to him on the one Altimus pays for, so he got me another one on his new line.”
“That was really smart,” Sydney said as she pushed in her chair and waited for Lauren to finish reapplying her lip gloss.
Lauren looked at Sydney for confirmation on her makeup. Sydney gave her a nod. “He’s really a great guy…” she mused, fluffing her hair. She stopped suddenly. “Speaking of which, what’s the deal with you and Jason Danden? I over-heard Dara whispering something smart about you two when I walked in to the cafeteria the other day.”
Sydney blushed and looked down at her favorite David Yurman ring. “Oh, yeah…we’ve kinda been hanging out,” she hedged.
“Aw, shucks!” Lauren exclaimed loudly. “My prissy sister landed her the superjock of the year? Woo-hoo! You better work!”
Laughing at Lauren’s little cheer, Sydney bashfully tried to downplay the situation. “I don’t know about all that. But we did go to the movies Saturday night.”
“After Keisha threatened you within an inch of your life for breaking up with Marcus, you still found the time to sneak out and hook up with another boy?” Lauren asked in awe. “Damn, maybe we really are related after all!”
“Whatever, I was not ‘hooking up’ with anybody,” Sydney corrected. “We went to the movies and that’s all.”
“Mmm-hmm, sure you did,” Lauren teased. “Fine ass Jason? I’ll let you tell it, Syd.”
“But you know, we did run into your girl Dara up in there…uh, looking a little puffy I might add,” Sydney said as she moved toward the door.
“Eww, what the hell was she doing there?” Lauren demanded, making a screwface.
“Seeing a movie, I assume. But let’s just say she wasn’t alone,” Sydney said, giving her a look as she opened the door and allowed Lauren to walk through.
“Humph, and that’s why I cursed her fat ass out after the pep rally the other day,” Lauren mumbled. “She needs to spend more time on a treadmill and less in the movies.”
“Well, whatever, I’m not studying either of the two of them anymore,” Sydney said diplomatically. “I don’t need the additional negative energy in my life.”
“I know that’s right,” Lauren whispered as they started to slowly walk back to the front of the library. “So I assume you’re inviting Jason to the party, then.”
Sydney nodded her head. “Yeah, I’m thinking if everything keeps going well between us, that’ll be our coming-out moment.”
“Must be nice to be able to come out,” Lauren replied wistfully.
Sydney stopped and put her hand on her twin’s shoulder. “If you want to invite Jermaine, go ahead. I’m totally fine with it,” she suggested. “In fact, I’ll lobby extra hard with Altimus to let us have a parent-free party. I’m pretty sure he’ll do it if I ask…as hard as he’s trying to get our father-daughter relationship back the way it used to be.”
Lauren’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Really? You’d do that for me?”
“No prob,” Sydney replied as Lauren spontaneously gave her a hug and kiss.
“You’re the best, Syd,” Lauren whispered excitedly as she whipped out the new phone and immediately sent Jermaine a text. Sydney smiled as she wiped the face of her phone with the bottom of her sweater. “Okay, let’s go,” Lauren said as she finished. “You know I have to totally rethink my outfit now that he’s going to be there.”
“Just don’t forget our theme—red and gold only! I did not waste hours with the crazy drunk planner for you to go left on us!” Sydney threatened playfully.
“Okay, okay,” Lauren cringed slightly. “PS, my bad about bailing on all the planning. I know, I was really being a lot…” she offered meekly.
Sydney rolled her eyes and smiled. “Don’t even worry about it. You and I got bigger things to worry about. Besides, what do they say, you can’t pick your family?”
“Kiss my butt, Sydney Duke,” Lauren said, relieved to be off the hook.
“I’ll let Jermaine handle that, my dear,” Sydney teased as they stopped beside a large concrete pillar.
“You shut up,” Lauren retorted a little too loudly for the likes of the unhappy-looking librarian sitting at the nearby front desk. “Anyhoo,” she continued loudly just to be difficult, “I am totally psyched about our little soiree now…”
“Yeah, crazy how we can even get excited about this with all the drama going on, right?” Sydney whispered extra low trying to make up for Lauren. “Although I have to admit, if Renaldo pulls off all the crazy stunts he keeps dreaming up, it’s going to fabulous.”
“Humph, and you know I believes in a dream—” Lauren started.
“Me, too,” Marcus said suddenly, appearing from the other side of the pillar and staring directly at Sydney. Both girls froze in place.
Recovering faster than her sister, Lauren sneered, “Er, um, I don’t remember anyone inviting you or your patchouli stink into our conversation, Rasta Boy!”
“Whatever, Lauren,” Marcus continued dismissively. “I’d like to speak with Syd.”
“She’s not interested in anything you have to say,” Lauren snapped, but this time Sydney put a restraining hand on her arm.
“It’s cool, sis, I got this,” she said gently.
“Okay, if you say so,” Lauren said uncertainly. “But I wouldn’t get too close. I heard hair ticks just jump from head to head if you’re not careful,” she said, looking disgustedly at Marcus’s hair before she turned on her Marc Jacobs boot heel and bounced.
Acutely aware of all the prying eyes surrounding them, Sydney turned and whispered, “Marcus, this isn’t the time or place.”
“I know, I know,” he pleaded. “But things are getting ridiculous. Now, you’re at the movies with that bighead jock—”
“Let us not forget that you were there your damn self with fat ass Dara,” Sydney hissed as she turned and started walking up the steps to the upper level.
“Fine, you’re right. I was,” Marcus whispered as he followed behind her. “So we’re both with the wrong people. Now what?”
“The problem is, Marcus, I don’t think Jason is the one that’s the wrong person for me,” Sydney said as she reached the top of the landing
and looked around for Carmen.
Marcus grabbed Sydney’s arm. “Fine. You’ve moved on. I’ll accept that. But can we at least figure out how we can save our friendship?” he asked softly. “Please?”
Sydney looked at his hand. She remembered the sound in Lauren’s voice when she spoke about Jermaine. Even during the very worst days of their relationship, Marcus had always been a supportive friend. She felt her resolve weaken. “I guess…” she started.
Marcus released a loud sigh of relief. “Listen, I agree, this isn’t the place to talk. This week is absolutely crazed with the achievement awards ceremony that I’m planning at the Youth Center. May I take you out for coffee on Saturday evening or something?”
“I’ve already got plans,” Sydney hedged, purposely omitting the name of who she was going to be with on Saturday.
“Fine,” Marcus replied, refusing to be deterred. “I’ve got tutoring on Monday, but what about next Tuesday?”
Throwing caution to the wind, Sydney nodded her head and whispered, “You’ve got a date.”
12
LAUREN
Lauren pulled up to the back door of the Better Day Women’s Shelter, popped her trunk, and hopped out of the car, her eyes darting every which way. She had to admit that she was getting used to the fact that not every neighborhood in Hotlanta was as spectacularly pristine as Buckhead, but pulling her Saab, Baby, into a grimy back alley in Decatur, only to be greeted by a woman with more attitude than teeth, was just a little too much for her nerves, considering what they, Sydney and Lauren, were up to.
“You gonna have to pull that car up some—I’m spectin’ a delivery, and it’ll be here directly,” hissed the woman, wiping her wet hands on a stained apron tied around her well-worn, tight, cotton floral dress.
“I-I was just about to drop—” Lauren stuttered.
“Out of the goodness of her heart, my sister was just dropping off some of her most prized possessions for the shelter,” Sydney interrupted, walking up behind the kitchen lady and rubbing her shoulders. “How you doing, Ms. Jansen?” she asked.
If Only You Knew Page 11
