Beneath

by Chanel Harry

  “Why you look so glum?” King asked with a sly grin.

  “Told you she was going to break your heart.” Jamir added.

  “It’s the other way around actually.” Tareeq replied. “I blew it; I treated her like crap.”

  “Well, there is plenty of fish in the sea if you catch my drift.” Gary chimed, nudging Tareeq in the ribs.

  “Not if you got the prettiest fish and only want that fish.” Tareeq said. King shot him an annoyed look. He couldn’t believe that his best friend was getting soft on him.

  “Come on, bro! You really shouldn’t act like this for Mia freaking Wayne! She is nothing but trouble.” King shouted.

  “No she isn’t.” Tareeq shot back. “Besides, I am going with her to The Winter Ball this Friday.”

  He headed toward his locker while the rest of the friends followed him.

  “You can’t be serious.” Jamir said.

  “Dead serious.” Tareeq replied with a grin. Suddenly, someone caught his eye; it was Mia. She was walking down the hallway unzipping her coat, unaware of Tareeq’s stares.

  Tareeq put his backpack into his locker, leaving his friends to watch the scene unfold as they shook their heads in disapproval. He didn’t care though, this was his opportunity to speak to the girl of his dreams.

  “Hi.” Tareeq said stepping in front of her. Mia gave him a confused look, then rolled her eyes.

  “Hey.” She said, flatly. “Now you can speak.”

  “Look, I’m sorry about what happened last time. I didn’t mean to do you like that.”

  Mia sighed and stopped at her locker, turning the knob.

  “I was acting like a jerk towards you.” Tareeq continued. “I bet you don’t even want to go to the dance with me anymore, but I don’t care; I’m still taking you, Mia.”

  “You can’t force me to go.” Mia giggled. His heart lit up when he heard her laugh.

  “I know, I just said that to make you smile again. You’re so beautiful when you smile. So, do you forgive me?”

  Mia looked up from her locker into Tareeq’s eyes. She bit her lip debating with herself whether she should forgive him or not. Finally, after the internal fighting for a minute, she made a decision.

  “What is it with you city boys and your charm?” She asked, with a grin.

  “What can I say? I am from Brooklyn.” He smiled back. “We can negotiate with an alien.”

  “I forgive you, silly.” She laughed. “Just please promise me that you won’t leave me hanging again. I was really worried about you and what happened back at the lake.”

  “I know. It was just really scary you know?”

  “I understand and of course I’ll go to the dance with you. Shoot, I bought my dress yesterday.”

  “Wow, you must’ve known I would’ve came crawling back, huh?”

  “Something like that.”

  Both Tareeq and Mia giggled and blushed as they looked in each other’s eyes. They were filled to the brim with joy that they made up. However, not everyone was happy for them; especially King who looked on with a worried stare. He knew that his friend was in danger and was devising a plan to save him.

  As the days leading up to the dance went on, Tareeq and Mia became even close. It was hard to keep them separated and at times they themselves would feel like they would go insane being apart from one another. Much to Derek’s chagrin of course, he felt as if his son was getting too enthralled with Mia.

  He became worried at the thought of his son getting in with the wrong crowd especially since Mia was the daughter of Wanda. A woman that he had known from his own sordid past. A past that he wasn’t quite ready for him to speak on with anyone. He didn’t say much to Tareeq about Mia though, figuring that Mia wasn’t like her mother in any way. In fact, he prayed that she wasn’t.

  Tareeq was in his room, taking out the tuxedo from the suit bag that it was in. He grinned at the tailored dark blue and black tailored suit that hung neatly onto the hanger. He was excited no doubt and couldn’t wait for Mia to see how nice he looked in it.

  He carefully put on the long dark blue pants, then his light colored blue buttoned shirt on, with black cuff links, adjusting his collar to put on his black bowtie. Soon after, he put on the jacket to go along with the whole ensemble. It was a dark blue jacket with black velvet lapels and a light colored blue handkerchief sitting in the front breast pocket. Tareeq put on his socks and black dress shoes, but he wasn’t done adding the finishing touches.

  He grabbed his blue aviator sun glasses from his dresser and put them on his face. He looked into the mirror as he brushed his low cut fade so much that waves started to form in his hair. Pleased with the way he looked, Tareeq took the blue orchid corsage that sat in the clear box that he got for Mia, off his computer desk. He headed out of his room door to the living room where his father was waiting for him with his phone in his hand.

  “Wow, you’re looking sharp, son!” Derek marveled. “You look like me back in ninety-six.”

  “They didn’t have suits like this back in the day, pops! Stop fronting.” Tareeq laughed.

  “Yeah, they did!” Derek chuckled. “Come and stand by the fireplace, let me get a good picture of you next to your mom.”

  Tareeq moved over to the fireplace where the pictures sat on the mantel piece. He struck a pose while his father snapped a picture. After what seemed like minutes of Derek taking as many photos as possible of his son, he smiled and placed the phone back into his pocket.

  “Make sure that you take some good pictures with Mia so I can have those as well.” Derek replied.

  “You already know, dad. Hey, can I—’’

  “I know what you’re about to ask me.” Derek took the car keys from his pocket it and tossed it to his son.

  “I know you already got your permit, but I have been waiting for a day like this where I can finally let you drive Proud Mary.” Derek replied. Proud Mary was the name that he gave his car.

  “Thanks, Dad!” Tareeq beamed. He was happy to be picking up Mia in style.

  “This is the only time though. Remember I told you when you got your permit that once you get a part time job, I would help you buy your own car. If you want to impress your lady, you better get that job.”

  “Don’t worry, I started looking for openings at Elli’s. Right now, I’m just happy that I get to drive!”

  “Mhmm. Well, don’t scratch her up, no drinking and driving, no texting and driving! Be responsible, hear me?”

  “Yes, yes, yes! Heard you, Derek!” Tareeq joked. “I’ll be the responsible man that you taught me to be.”

  “Alright, that’s what I wanna hear!” Derek paused for a second taking another doting look at his son. “If your mama could see you now…”

  “She already is.”

  “Felicia is proud of you, boy. I am as well.” Derek said. “Enough with the sentiments; you have a good time.”

  “Thanks, dad.”

  “Text me when you get there and please be safe.”

  Tareeq nodded his head, grabbed his pea coat, and made his way out of the door and to the driveway. It was starting to snow, but not heavily. He thanked God that the weather wasn’t too bad either. He unlocked the car and got in. He placed the corsage onto the passenger’s side of the seat for Mia. As he waited for the car to warm up, he texted her letting her know that he would be there in five minutes. Since the dance was being held in Springbrook’s premier banquet hall called The Water’s Edge, he put the address into the GPS system that was on the car’s dashboard.

  When the car was finally ready, Tareeq buckled his seatbelt, shifted the car’s gear and started backing out of the drive way. Once he was out, he made his way down the street doing thirty all the way to Mia’s house. In no time flat, he arrived at her street. He parked the car into her driveway and got out, leaving the car on. He figured that he wasn’t going to be long inside her house.

  With the corsage in his hand, he rang her doorbell twice. He waited for twenty seconds
before a little boy answered the door. He looked to be about six or seven years old. He grinned at Tareeq, looking him up and down.

  “Are you my sister’s boyfriend?” He asked in a tiny yet excited voice.

  “Um… yeah. Is she in?” Tareeq asked.

  “Yep, but you have to give me the magic password to come in.” He replied.

  “Chris, can you please move from the door, you little turd?” Mia blurted out from inside. Chris giggled and ran leaving the front door ajar.

  Mia came to the door rolling her eyes at her little brother.

  “Sorry about that, come in.” She said. Tareeq obliged and walked into her house. Mia closed the door behind him and walked behind him until they were in the living room. Mia’s mother Wanda and her father, who was a big burly man with light colored brown skin, a bald head and a goatee that looked like he hadn’t shaved it in years, all stood by the couch smiling at Tareeq.

  This is so weird. Tareeq thought to himself.

  “Nice to meet you again, Tareeq.” Wanda said stretching out her hand.

  “Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Wayne.” He replied shaking her hand.

  “Please call me Wanda.” She beamed. “This is my husband, Paul”

  “Hello there, son.” Paul said shaking his hand. “So, you’re the one taking my little girl out, tonight?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “You look like a nice guy, but please make sure to have my baby girl back after the dance is over. The police just implemented a curfew because of that Hamlin boy.”

  “You can count on me, sir.”

  “Tareeq, you didn’t even look at my dress.” Mia whined behind him. Surprised that he forgot to take a look at what Mia was wearing, he turned around and his mouth almost dropped. Mia wore a satin long sleeved, royal blue mermaid styled dress. The bottom of the dress was gathered together in ruffled tulle that touched the floor. Her hair was straightened with a side part which fell between the blades of her shoulders and Tareeq noted that the blue streaks in her hair shown, matching her dress.

  The sleeves on the dress were made of beautiful patterned lace. Her make up consisted of smokey dark blue eye shadow with a nude brown lip color that complimented her dark brown skin tone. In her ears, she wore sapphire droplet earrings. Tareeq suddenly felt like he was the luckiest young man on earth!

  Wow, this girl is beautiful! He thought to himself. Everyone is gonna be hating on us!

  “You look—you look so beautiful…” Tareeq said to her. Mia giggled and rubbed his arm.

  “You look pretty spiffy, too.” She complimented.

  “No she doesn’t!” Her little brother Chris joked.

  “Oh my god, can you stop?” Mia chided. “Mom, tell him to stop!”

  “Chris, don’t make fun of your sister.” Wanda snapped. She then pulled out her phone from a place that Tareeq couldn’t see. “Come on you two, strike a pose!”

  Mia and Tareeq held each other, posing for pictures. After she was done, that’s when Tareeq remembered about the corsage that he was holding onto.

  “This is for you, babe.” He said, placing the orchid corsage onto her hand.

  “Aw, thank you!” She said kissing him on the cheek.

  “Okay you two, time to go.” Wanda said ushering them out of the house. Mia put on her jacket and carefully walked down the porch steps in her heels to the driveway.

  “My car is the white one.” Tareeq said, walking after her. He hurriedly opened the passenger door for her and got in the driver’s side after.

  Backing out of the drive-way, he honked his horn at Mia’s parents who were standing on the porch waving at them.

  “You think she’ll have a good time, goddess?” Paul asked in a monotonous voice.

  “Of course she will.”

  “She is becoming more and more like you every day. I think she is finally ready to rule.”

  “In time, in time. First, she must prove herself with this one.”

  “I sense that he is different, though.” Paul added.

  “I sense it too but it’s up to her whether he will be her sovereign or…dinner.” Wanda whispered. She let out a low, malevolent laugh and returned inside the house with Paul in tow.

  Tareeq and Mia pulled up to The Water’s Edge to the sounds of the loud music blaring from inside the banquet hall. From the outside, the building was a large building with an intricate exterior design. It was white in color with four long marble pillars holding up the triangular large awning. In that awning was recessed lighting that light up the front of the building. Four long windows accentuated the front of the building as well. On the front of the building, in white scripted letters, read: The Water’s Edge.

  Tareeq could see limousine’s driving up to the front of the building along with other cars with his peers coming out of them. Everyone was dressed to the nines in gowns and suits.

  “Told you that The Winter Ball was a big deal.” Mia chuckled getting out of the car. Tareeq turned off the music and the car and got out as well. He made sure to send his father a text that he and Proud Mary made it safely to the dance.

  Mia took Tareeq’s arm and headed to the front of the banquet hall. Once inside, there was a table with two students sitting there with a clipboard and pens. Tareeq noticed that Lisa Fuller and Omar Pryce were the two students signing everyone in. When the couple stopped at their table, Lisa immediately rolled her eyes at them.

  “Tickets?” Omar asked them. Tareeq reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out the tickets for the ball. Omar received them and gave them both white ribbons with a small paper snowflake dangling on it.

  “Enjoy your time, folks.” He said.

  “Thanks, bro.” Tareeq replied.

  “Hey Lisa, pick your face off the floor. Don’t be mad that Mia looks better than you.” Omar chuckled as they were out of Tareeq and Mia’s earshot. Lisa sucked her teeth and folded her arms, compared to her own burgundy halter dress, she had to agree that Mia’s own was the better one.

  “Shut up, Omar!” Lisa quipped.

  When Tareeq and Mia walked into the banquet hall, he became stunned at the beautiful décor of the dance. There were blue lanterns hanging from the ceiling with paper snowflakes accompanying them. The tables were decked out in blue and white table clothes with blue crystal like plates and glasses with blue napkins on the table. The center pieces were white snowflake lamps that gave a soft glow to the room.

  It was jam packed with students and faculty. Some were dancing on the large blue dance floor underneath the strobe lights. The DJ played a mix of old school and new school rap music.

  Tareeq and Mia found an empty table and sat down.

  “This is really nice!” Tareeq said to Mia.

  “Isn’t it?” She replied bobbing her head to the music. She turned around scanning the room for her friends. She seen all three of them standing by the punch bowl. Like puppets, each one of them turned around and waved at her. She waved back at them.

  “Hey, I’m going to get some punch and talk to my girls for a little bit. You want some?”

  “Yeah! I’ll be here.” Tareeq replied, kissing her on the cheek. Mia got up and walked over to the Blue Crew, who Tareeq noticed were all wearing some form of blue dresses.

  They really live by their name. He thought to himself. As the DJ transitioned to the next song, Tareeq bobbed his head and started to reply to his father’s text.

  “Bro!” King shouted, interrupting his thoughts. King walked over with Jamir and Gary to the table.

  “What’s up?” Tareeq greeted, standing and dapping his friends up.

  “So you wasn’t lying when you said you were coming with Mia, huh?” Gary said, sitting down.

  “Nope. Have you guys seen her though?” Tareeq boasted. “She looks like a snack!”

  “Yeah we saw her. Tammy wasn’t looking too bad either.” King admitted.

  “Woah!” Jamir shouted. “You’re having a change of heart all of a sudden?”

  King shook h
is head and pulled out the necklace he was wearing.

  “What are you talking about, dude? Nothing has changed.” King stated.

  “You okay, bro?” Tareeq asked him. He could see that King was sweating profusely from the mere mention of Tammy’s name.

  “I’m good…ready to party!” He shouted, dancing to the music. He swaggered to the dance floor dancing to the music that blared through the speakers.

  “What’s eating him?” Gary asked.

  “Man, I don’t know.” Jamir replied. “Have a good time, Tareeq. My date is waiting for me.” Jamir gave him a pound and walked off while Gary followed him.

  “My date is with his date too.” Gary added.

  “Have fun.” Tareeq chuckled. He watched Mia come back with two cups of punch in her hand.

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” Tareeq said, taking the cup from her.

  “You’re welcome.” She smiled back.

  Tareeq took a gulp of the fruit punch and wiped his mouth with the napkin.

  “You wanna dance?” He asked her. Mia’s face lit up with joy when he asked her that.

  “I thought you’d never ask!” She replied with a grin. Tareeq stood up and outstretched his hand to her. She took it and got up. They headed to the crowded dance floor. Tareeq could feel the stares on his back from his peers, but he didn’t care. This moment with Mia was too special for him to worry about what others thought about them.

  From the corner of his eye, he could see Jamir dancing with a very pretty girl; that girl was Crystal. Tareeq’s eyes almost came out of his eyes from what he was seeing. Even Gary danced with Brittany! He smiled to himself thinking that his friends were playing him the whole time.

  I knew they liked these girls. He thought.

  The biggest shock to him was seeing King dance with Tammy. King was still sweating like he was in church praising God from the way he danced. Tammy had a wide grin on her face as she held onto King like baby.

  “Alright, Wittington! The next song is a slow song.” The DJ announced. “This is for all you young lovers out there.” The song transitioned into a slow song from the 90s. Blushing, Tareeq pulled Mia in closer to him and started to slow dance. He could’ve sworn that he felt Mia’s heart beating fast.