by Silva Hart
I walk her out, making sure she doesn’t get run over by the heedless crowd. Her gold BMW looks out of place on this street. She’s lucky it didn’t get boosted.
“Well that was fun,” she says, looking up at me.
It wasn’t all bad having her here. She still doesn’t know I live here though. Some of the things she said while she was here, her complete naivete, tells me she can’t ever know.
She pulls my head down and presses her warm lips to mine. What would she do if I invited her into the gym and showed her my “home”? She would get in her car, drive away, and never look back. Of course she would. The way I live goes against everything she’s come to know as reality in her perfect pampered world.
Saturday morning, I stand outside with a cup of hot coffee and my first cigarette of the day next to my frost-covered car. The talent show is tonight. There’s no way Dair won’t show up for it. I’m not sure when it starts or when Lexi wants me to pick her up, but she’ll probably let me know.
Back inside, I limber up with stretches before a thirty-minute jump rope session. Noon brings in a tide of regulars but still no Dair. Two o’clock comes and stretches into four, then six, and he’s still a no show.
What did he end up doing last night after the fight? Did he get into some kind of trouble? Going into my room, I check my messages. He and I have never exchanged numbers, so there won’t be anything from him but there might be something from Lexi.
She doesn’t disappoint.
Sexi Lexi: Hey, babe. Show starts at 7. Pick me up at 6:30.
Me: Sure.
I’m glad I checked when I did. After a shower and shave, I brush my teeth and get dressed. Pushing the Mustang above the speed limit, I make it to her house only two minutes late.
I cruise down Lexi’s driveway, marveling as always at the impossible length of it. I’m barely to the door, when she comes out in a coral dress that hugs her in all the right places and drapes softly to mid-delicious-thigh. She’s paired it with a set of strappy silver heels that adds several inches to her height.
“You look great,” I say.
She bites her lip as she brushes a strand of hair out of my eyes. “And you look absolutely edible as always,” she grins.
A throat clears in the doorway, and we both turn to find her stepmom standing with arms crossed.
“See you,” Lexi says, grabbing my hand and pulling me to the car.
As we’re driving to the school, she says, “I asked Vanessa Hall to keep Mia from slipping out early. She’s cool. She’s on the squad, so I know she’ll do it.”
The parking lot is school-day crowded. People are streaming to the entrance. I no sooner catch sight of the ticket booth when a woman tapes a “Sold Out” sign on the window.
This is something I never expected. At a loss, I turn to Lexi.
“It’s fine,” Lexi says. “They gave the cheerleaders tickets because we helped them set things up.”
“Do you have three?” I ask, though whether Dair will even show up is anyone’s guess. Would he really miss this?
“Of course,” she smiles.
Dair comes into the crowded lobby with his hands stuffed into his pockets. I can tell he’s concentrating on looking nonchalant. He’s more dressed up than I’ve ever seen him in black jeans and a black rayon shirt.
He sees me towering over everyone as soon as he enters and gives me a nod. I nod back, and he ambles over to us. I eye him, wondering if he’s still mad and, if so, what he plans to do.
Lexi gives one of her cover-model smiles and goes in for a hug. He looks at me, questioning. I shrug to indicate that’s just how she is.
He mouths, “She’s smoking.” I know he’s feeling her perfect breasts pressing into his chest and the green-eyed monster rears its ugly head. I’m not sure what my face does, but he ends the hug and steps back with his hands raised. At least he’s acting normal again.
“When was the last time you saw Mia?” Lexi asks.
“About a year ago now.”
“That must have been hard, but I bet you’re excited.”
“Yeah,” he presses his lips together and shifts his weight from foot to foot. “I just hope she remembers me.”
“Oh, she’ll remember you.”
“I know, but like, what we had, you know? I’m not sure how she feels anymore.”
“It’ll be fine.”
“Did you … uh … ask her about me or anything?”
“Nope, she has no clue you’re here. She’ll be totally surprised.”
“And she’s not … um … you know, with anyone right now?”
“Nope.”
He exhales with relief. I hadn’t realized how hard this was going to be for him. Maybe I should have, but I thought they’d see each other and pick back up where they left off. I hadn’t considered all the other possibilities. It seems Dair’s done that enough for both of us though.
“Well, we better get in there,” Dair says, rubbing his palms on his jeans.
We enter the auditorium that buzzes with conversation and a nervous energy. There are a lot of parents in the seats tonight. Parents who care deeply for their kids. I briefly wonder what that must feel like but push the thought away just as quickly. Thinking like that won’t change anything.
As we make our way to our seats, it seems as if everyone and their mother and their great uncle and their grandparents has to say “Hi” to Lexi. It’s like being with a celebrity. She handles it like a pro, smiling, greeting, and keeping everyone happy but still making steady progress toward our seats.
She got us good seats too. I don’t like being in the middle of everything with no way to get out quickly if I need to, and these are on the aisle and off to the side about halfway back. I sit between Lexi and Dair and slouch down with my knee propped against the seat in front of me.
I can’t believe I’m sitting in school on a Saturday night. If someone had bet me money that I’d be in school when I didn’t have to be, I’d have lost.
After a few minutes, the lights dim and Douchebag walks onto the stage to make some too-long, boring-ass speech about this event and every other upcoming event until I zone out. Everyone around me claps politely. I feel like giving him a loud “boo” for the hell of it but refrain for Lexi’s sake.
The curtain rises and some kid comes out dressed in a martial arts gi. She does a series of impressive katas with a bokken. I have to join in the applause when she’s done. It was an outstanding display.
The second guy tries to sing opera. As far as I know, it could be good, but I hate that shit and don’t clap afterward. The third is a brother and sister team that juggles. They’re good too. It must be nice having a close sibling you get along that well with.
The acts stretch on with no Mia. Intermission comes, and the lights go up.
Chapter 29
“They’re selling cookies and stuff like that in the lobby. You want anything?” Lexi asks.
“Nah, I’m going outside for a smoke.”
“Me too,” Dair says.
“Okay, see you in a few,” Lexi says and reaches up to kiss me. She kisses me right there in front of the packed audience.
Dair follows me out the doors, and we go to my car and light up.
“Damn, Jett,” Dair says. “If she isn’t your girlfriend, you need to snatch her up. That girl is a straight-up fox, bro.”
“She’s nice.”
“Nice tits, nice ass, you mean.”
My jaw clenches. I normally don’t mind talk like that but, for some reason, I do this time.
He glances at my face then changes the subject. “I wish Mia would hurry up and get her turn.” He’s twitchy and making small talk out of nervousness. “Do you think I should have at least brought her some flowers? I should probably have brought her some flowers.”
“Nah, you surprising her will be good enough.”
“I don’t know, man. I keep feeling like I need something to give her when I see her.”
“Yo, Dixon.
”
Shit.
Carlton, Grant, and some other guys with their dates herd past us. “I see you finally got a boyfriend.” I can’t tell which of them says it. It wasn’t Carlton or Grant, I know that. The group erupts into laughter and catcalls.
“And you’re a bunch of Kardashian candy-ass chicken-shits,” Dair yells back.
They laugh and jeer, “Your boyfriend has your back, Dixon.”
“Let it go,” I tell him.
He turns to me, his face livid. “Is that Grant? That asshole that hit you with the rock?”
“He’s one of them.”
“And you’re just going to stand there and put up with that shit?”
“I’ve beat their asses more than once. They’re in a group right now is all. Trying to impress each other. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“It does to me.”
“Come on. Let’s go in.”
“Everything okay?” Lexi asks as soon as she sees Dair’s face.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” I say.
“Did something happen?” Lexi asks.
“Yeah, some punk-asses harassed Jett,” Dair says.
“Harassed him how?” Lexi asks, studying me for signs of a fight.
“It was nothing,” I say. I can tell some nearby ears are listening in, and Dair is making way more of a big deal out of it than it ever needed to be.
“You call that nothing?” Dair sputters.
“Dair, chill,” I snap, giving him a look that could crack ice.
He throws himself into his seat. I appreciate the loyalty. I do. But a scene is not what I want right now.
Luckily, the lights dim. Even more luckily, a slim slip of a girl walks onto the stage clutching a flute in her hands. She has a straight, brown pixie cut that suits her delicate features. This must be Mia. I look over at Dair who confirms my hunch. His eyes are wide, his mouth open, his hands clasped in an air of reverence before an angel.
Lexi gives me a nudge and a wink as she squeezes my hand.
Mia lifts the instrument to her lips, closes her eyes, and starts. I don’t know if I’ve never heard flute music before or maybe I did and just didn’t pay attention to it since this is unlike anything I’ve ever heard.
In her hands, the reed of metal wafts tones that are light and bright then mellow and soft. The music is rich and graceful, rising from a brilliant, penetrating whistle to a low, silvery, wind-like whisper. Her slim body sways hypnotically as she plays. I’m utterly entranced. When clapping crashes around me, I have to give my head a shake to clear it from the spell.
“Damn, Dair, your girl can play,” I tell him above the prolonged applause.
His grin is pure pride.
The show continues with some decent and some barely watchable acts. Mia was clearly the star of the night.
The applause for the final act is still ringing in the air when Dair jumps to his feet. “Come on. Let’s go.”
I pull him back into his seat. He stays, but his knee bounces impatiently.
When everyone stands to leave, Lexi grips my hand and smiles up at me. She looks more eager than Dair who’s starting to look as if he just rode a roller coaster too many times.
I lead us to the stage. We’re going against traffic, but people step aside when they see me coming. I climb the handful of steps that lead to the stage and slip behind the heavy burgundy curtain.
Kids are standing in groups talking or putting instruments and equipment away. I look for the small flute player, but Lexi must see her first because she heads toward the far wall. Dair rubs his palms on his jeans next to me as we walk and mutters, “Oh man. Oh man.”
Mia is sitting on the floor by an open case, taking the instrument apart and wiping each piece with a cloth. Another girl is standing over her talking. Mia’s eyes flick to us as we approach. She does a double-take, her mouth dropping open, before leaping to her feet, sending everything in her lap rolling across the floor.
“Dair! Oh my God!” She flings herself at him so hard he stumbles backward. They wrap their arms around each other and stay like that for a while.
Lexi squeezes my hand, her face flushed with emotion, tears misting her eyes.
Mia pulls away. Tears are streaming down her cheeks. I marvel at the quantity of water dripping off her chin. I was five the last time I cried, and it was because Tony put a cigarette out on my hand for spilling cereal all over the floor. “What the hell’s your crying doing, huh?” he’d asked. “Is the damn kitchen any cleaner?” I realized then that it wasn’t, my hand was still bleeding and hurting like hell, and absolutely nothing was changing. So I stopped crying and got angry instead. Anger is what made the kitchen cleaner and my hand stop hurting. Anger gets a lot of things done.
“What are you doing here?” Mia asks. “Did you know I was here?”
Dair looks as if he’s struggling to hold it together. He clears his throat. “Yeah, I snuck back to the house and talked to Letasha. She said she overheard you were here. This guy,” he jerks his thumb at me, “confirmed it.”
She looks at me with confusion. I’ve never noticed her before, and it’s clear she doesn’t recognize me either.
“It was actually her,” I say, pointing to Lexi.
Mia gives Lexi a warm smile.
“You look amazing,” Dair says, gazing at her in complete rapture.
“And you,” she squeezes his arm and sweeps her gaze across his chest, “have been working out.”
“Yeah, I started boxing.”
“Boxing, huh?” She lightly punches his chest with her fists. “That’s good though. I bet it’s a good outlet.”
“I’m just training right now, but Jett here is teaching me everything he knows. Soon I’ll be as badass as him.”
Mia eyes me. The top of her head reaches just below my pecs. I can tell by her expression she has no idea what to make of me. She turns back to Dair. “How’s your new home?”
He shrugs. “It’s whatever. They’re okay. I’m the only kid they have, so it’s quiet. How’s yours?”
“It’s nice. They try. I miss our old place though.”
“Yeah, that place was the best.”
“Sounds like you two have a lot of catching up to do,” Lexi says. “You guys going out somewhere?”
She’s smooth, I’ll give her that. Dair looks as if this had never occurred to him. “Yeah, hey, you want to maybe go to a diner and get something to eat? We could go to Hijo’s like we used to.”
“Definitely,” Mia says. Her smile couldn’t get any broader. “Packing this up will only take a minute.”
“You coming?” Dair asks us.
I look at Lexi.
“Nah,” she says. “You two have fun.”
I thought for sure she’d want to go, but maybe she wants to give them privacy to talk about whatever they want or need to.
“I’ll see you around,” I say to Dair. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Is there such a thing?”
Lexi and I slip out the back door and walk to the Mustang. “That was nice,” she says.
“Yeah.”
In the car, I ask, “Where to?”
She turns sorrowful, puppy-dog eyes on me. “I’m sorry, Jett. I wish we could go somewhere, but I have to get home tonight. Daddy’s having a business breakfast at our house, and Mom needs everything to be perfect. I have to be home by ten because I have to get up super early to help.”
It’s ten-fifteen, but she doesn’t seem to be in a hurry.
After I drop her off with one more long kiss, I catch myself looking in my rearview mirror for a last glimpse of her and give my head a shake. Knock it off. Don’t get too attached.
I’m dead asleep when I hear a banging on the gym doors, urgent palms slapping alternate with fists pounding the glass. What time is it? Stumbling out of the pitch-black room, I go to the front doors and find Dair silhouetted by the streetlights. What the hell?
Groggily, I unlock the doors. He nearly falls against me in
his haste to get inside. He’s panting like a Kentucky Derby thoroughbred that just crossed the finished line. Suddenly alert, I lock the door.
“The cops are after me. I have to hide, man,” he gasps.
I take him into my room and blind myself with the ghastly fluorescent bulb that hums to life overhead. He leans against the wall, still sucking air.
“Jesus, what happened?” Adrenaline roars through me as I see the blood on Dair’s hands and dark wet areas shining against his black rayon shirt and black jeans. “You okay?”
He slides to the floor, his face ashen, and cradles his head in his blood-covered hands. “I went looking for Grant. I wanted to hurt him, make him pay for hitting you with that rock and giving you a hard time at school. But …” He breaks off and gasps for air, his body heaving.
Goosebumps prickle my skin as my blood chills. “What happened? Where is he?”
“Oh God.”
“Where’s Grant, Dair?”
“H-He’s at the hospital. I think. I don’t know.”
The hospital is better than the morgue. I need a cigarette but don’t want to leave Dair like this. Plus, he can’t go outside covered in blood. I go to the lockers and get soap, a towel, a white t-shirt, and a pair of gray sweatpants.
“Stand up.”
He looks up at me, his face now smeared in blood from his hands. No one can see him like this.
“Come on,” I order. “Get up.”
He stands, looking dazed.
“Follow me.”
I lead him to the shower room, set the sweats and t-shirt on a bench by the door, and turn on the spray. “Take off your clothes.”
He looks down, brushing his hands over the glistening stains as if seeing them for the first time. He holds his red hands out, looking stunned. “Oh my God.”
