Crossing the Barrier

by Martine Lewis

  “Oh, my God,” Tristan said. “They kick some serious ass!”

  “They’re Warriors,” David said, grinning.

  Malakai cheered with the rest of the crowd, liking every second of the presentation, and especially when Lily did her solo, which moved him to the core of his soul, as if she had played just for him. He clapped and cheered for her louder than all the people around him, and he saw her smile. He wondered if she had heard him.

  “Wow!” Tristan said. “She’s good.”

  “Yep,” Malakai said, a proud smile on his face.

  When the eight minutes were over, Malakai wished they would play all over again.

  “They’re…awesome,” Tristan said, clapping wildly once the music stopped.

  “We are Warriors!” David bellowed next to them.

  “Warriors!” Malakai and Tristan followed, shaking their fists in the air. “Warriors! Warriors!”

  The attention of the band was now on them, and Malakai saw a lot of them smiling.

  As the band began to clear the field, Malakai and his friends left the stands and made their way toward the exit and the awaiting buses.

  “So, going to the dance with Lily, I heard,” David said.

  “Yeah,” he answered with a grin. “I never really was into those dances and all, but with Lily, it’s different.”

  As he finished his sentence, someone bumped into him from the side stairway.

  “Sorry,” he apologized, looking up.

  Next to him stood a blond woman who was tall and pretty for her age, but she had an air about her that was anything but friendly.

  “You better be,” she said haughtily, then walked away.

  “That was Lily’s mother,” David said into his ear. “The woman is evil, man. Stay away from her. I’m surprised she’s here to begin with. She doesn’t care about Lily at all.”

  “Really?” Malakai asked, looking at the woman as she walked away.

  He knew very little about Lily’s home life, only what David had told him. Then he realized he hadn’t told Lily anything of his home life either.

  “You know, such a nice girl to have such an evil mother,” David said, shaking his head. “I’m glad I have my parents,” he added, waving toward the bleachers with a wide grin on his face.

  Malakai looked up; David’s parents were waving back at them.

  “Who’s the man who was with Lily’s mother? I think I saw him at the hospital before.”

  “That’s Lily’s Uncle Charlie. He’s a really nice guy. He’s the one who’s looking after her estate.”

  “Her estate? What about her father?”

  “Died in a car crash over a year ago.”

  A pain twisted Malakai’s heart. He knew what it meant to lose a parent as he still felt his own pain, even after all those years. And he knew his mother was alive. Thoughts of her reminded him of the vision he had had a few weeks prior, and he glanced through the crowd, just on the off chance that maybe, this time…

  To his immense surprise, especially since he had seen him two weeks prior, he saw his father. Malakai blinked a few times to make sure he was seeing right. His father’s eternal uniform was replaced by one of his football jerseys, proudly displaying the number fourteen on the back and front. Malakai’s heart all but swelled with pleasure at the sight. The sergeant saluted him, a smile on his face, and Malakai waved back. He was now looking forward to getting home, as he wouldn’t be alone tonight.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  LILY

  When Lily got on the bus to return to school after the game, she picked up her phone and saw Malakai had texted her that his father was in town, and he had to go home. She also saw her uncle had called three times in the last fifteen minutes.

  “That’s strange,” she said, showing her phone to Sandra.

  “Wait until we’re at school,” Sandra said, looking at the other band members who were taking their seats.

  Half an hour later, she was standing by her car and dialing her uncle. “Charlie, what’s wrong?” she asked when he picked up.

  “Come and spend the night at my place, Lily,” he said sadly.

  “Why? What happened?”

  Her uncle remained silent for a few moments.

  “Uncle Charlie?” she asked, worried.

  “Beatrice, she found out about Malakai.”

  Lily wasn’t sure she understood what he meant. Her dating Malakai wasn’t a secret, and she didn’t see why Beatrice finding out was a problem.

  “One of the mothers, I don’t know which one, talked to her after the Homecoming Court was introduced, and told her she must be proud you’re now dating the star wide receiver and captain of the team. Of course, she said she was, but once the woman was gone, she asked me who he was.

  “Lily, I…”

  “Well, her disapproving of my boyfriend isn’t a surprise, Uncle Charlie. I mean, we always knew she wanted me to end up with a rich guy and all.”

  “Lily, there’s more.”

  “What is it then?”

  “His father was there. She saw him.”

  “Okay…and?”

  “He’s black.”

  The silence that followed was deafening.

  “What do you mean?” she asked slowly.

  Lily felt like someone had just pushed her over the edge of a precipice. She knew her mother would find any reason to disapprove of Malakai but his mixed race?

  “Listen, I don’t want you to face her alone. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Wait for my text before going home. I’ll find a reason why I needed to come over. I don’t want her to do something irrational without you having someone there.”

  With a lump in her throat, Lily only nodded, even if her uncle couldn’t see her.

  “Listen, Lily, you may be almost eighteen, but you’re still my little girl.”

  “Okay,” she croaked.

  “It won’t be long.”

  Lily hung up and turned to Sandra. She tried to speak, once, twice, but couldn’t. She willed herself not to cry, not this time.

  “What is it?” Sandra asked. Sandra walked around the car and hugged her.

  “Why can’t I have a mom like yours?” she asked, her heart constricting painfully. “Beatrice found out about Malakai. She’s pissed because he’s not white-white, never mind he looks whiter than her, never mind his hair is light brown and his eyes are green.

  “Sandra, I thought it didn’t matter what he is. Malakai is just so nice and everything. Why should she care?”

  “Lily, your mother would find anything to disapprove of. If Malakai had blue eyes and blond hair and looked like a movie star, or be one, she would still disapprove.”

  Lily knew Sandra was right.

  “Lily, think about moving to your uncle’s, at least until the court makes its decision,” Sandra said gently.

  “I wouldn’t see you as much.”

  “I’ll get a car and promise to spy on your house to see if your lights are on for me to come over,” Sandra said with a grin.

  Pulling away, Lily chuckled. “Sandra, I don’t know what I would do without you,” she said, meaning every word. “I don’t think I would have stayed sane.”

  “I’m here,” Sandra said, hugging her again. “And if you move to Charlie’s, I’ll still be here.”

  Lily nodded and pulled away again. As she did, her phone binged. She read the text message and sighed. “It’s time to go. Charlie’s at my house.”

  Ten minutes later, they pulled into the driveway. Lily’s apprehension grew as she got closer to her house. She didn’t want the confrontation that was coming, but it would happen whether she wanted it or not.

  “You’re sure you don’t want me to come in with you?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure,” she answered, wanting to at least spare her friend.

  Lily grabbed her bag and clarinet from the backseat, closed her car door, and made her way to the house. She hadn’t reached the door yet, and already she heard the argument inside. She braced he
rself and opened the door.

  The hostility coming from Beatrice was sickening and so strong Lily wanted to throw up. She barely perceived the exasperation coming from her uncle.

  As soon as the door closed, Beatrice turned on her.

  “What were you thinking?” she shrieked. “You’re dating a…a black boy!”

  “Who cares?” Lily said, dropping her bag and doubting Beatrice would hear anything she said.

  “You’re a disgrace to this family!”

  “No, she’s not, and you know it,” Charlie intervened. “You know Marcus would have approved.”

  “Well, Marcus didn’t have the decency to stay alive long enough to see this happen, now did he?” Beatrice shot back.

  Lily was appalled by the hatred in Beatrice’s heart.

  “You didn’t love him,” she said, too stunned to remain quiet.

  Both her uncle and mother turned to her.

  “You didn’t love my dad. You loved the idea of being popular. You loved the idea of being the queen of the crowd.”

  “Now you see, Beatrice, even Lily has figured that one out,” Charlie said.

  “Of course I loved Marcus,” Beatrice said, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “You’re lying.”

  “Can you blame me?” Beatrice asked, changing tactics. “The moment you came along, I was nothing to your father. It was always all about you. He even left you the house, and he left me nothing. And here you go, doing something stupid like dating a…a n…”

  “Don’t you dare say it,” Charlie bellowed. “Don’t you dare!”

  “I’m forbidding you from going to homecoming with him,” Beatrice said, pointing a finger at Lily. “I’m forbidding you from seeing him again.”

  “And I’m allowing it,” Charlie said. “Don’t you dare try to prevent it, Beatrice. You would not like the consequence.”

  Lily was intrigued by what her uncle had just said and by the way Beatrice felt when he said it. He had something on her, something she didn’t want him to reveal, something that would definitely hurt her reputation badly.

  “She’s going to ruin everything I’ve accomplished in this community by her stupidity.”

  “By dating a boy who is not only popular but loves her? Really? If that’s the case, why would one of your friends come and ask if you were proud of her?”

  “It was only one, and she’s not that important in my circle anyway.”

  “You self-centered bitch. You sound like you’re in high school. Grow up, Beatrice. You’re not seventeen anymore, you’re forty-five.”

  “Don’t you dare remind me!”

  “Oh, but you need reminding. A lot. What do you expect to accomplish? You think people will fall over themselves to help you? Well, one very well-dropped word on my part and you become nothing. Don’t ever forget that.”

  Lily had heard enough. She took her bag and made her way to the stairway.

  “I’m not done with you,” Beatrice screeched as Lily took the first step.

  “I’m done with you, Mother,” she said quietly.

  She resumed her climb, ignoring her mother’s screams of protest and her uncle’s response.

  Once in her room, she locked the door behind her. Hostility was still flying through the house, and Lily hoped she would be able to sleep. She took her phone and flipped it open.

  Are you asleep? she texted Malakai.

  No. Thinking of you. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

  Me too, she answered.

  Lily looked up, tears coming to her eyes. She wanted to be with him, but his father was in town, and Lily knew how important that was. Had she known her father would die at the end of her sophomore year, she would never have taken him for granted, and she would have spent all the time she could with him.

  I really enjoyed watching you play. You’re so, so good. I wish I could be with you right now and tell you how wonderful you are.

  And kiss me? she texted.

  Oh, YES! A thousand times!

  :)

  :)

  Good night, Malakai.

  Night.

  Lily put her phone on her night table and went to take a shower. When she walked out of the bathroom, her uncle was gone, and Lily felt Beatrice roaming the house, still furious. On her bedside table, her phone was flashing, and she picked it up.

  Please, consider moving in with me again, Charlie had sent.

  I will. Good night, Charlie. Thank you for coming.

  She put the phone away. Maybe she should take her uncle up on his offer after all.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  MALAKAI

  The homecoming dance had been everything Malakai hoped for. Lily had been the prettiest girl in the place with her dark blue dress, which didn’t reveal too much. Malakai would never have admitted it, but he was secretly glad Lily’s dress had left something to the imagination. He wouldn’t have liked other guys seeing too much of her. As for himself, he could fill in the blanks with the time he’d seen her in a bikini at David’s.

  Lily had felt just right, her soft body fitting perfectly against his, as they danced all the slow songs together. One or two guys had made their way toward them, undoubtedly to ask Lily to dance, but the glare Malakai threw them made them change their minds. Lily was his, and he wasn’t about to share her with anyone.

  And she had smelled so good. The green tea had made his mouth water all night, and more than once, he imagined kissing her neck. He wondered if her skin would taste of green tea. But he couldn’t kiss her at a school dance where every adult in the place was on the lookout for “improper public display of affection.” Malakai was lucky he could hold her as close as he had, his cheek against her hair, her ear against his heart, his hands on her back, her arms holding him around the waist tightly.

  It felt good to have her in his arms. It felt right. He could have stayed like that all night.

  But the dance was over way too soon.

  Malakai didn’t want the night to be over just yet. He wanted to spend more time with Lily.

  “Do you have to go home?” she asked, holding on to his arm with both hands as they made their way toward the exit.

  “No. You?”

  “No. Do you want to come to Sandra’s with me? She’s having a bunch of us over for s’mores.”

  “Will I get to spend more time with you?”

  “Yes, you will,” she said with a wide smile.

  “Then let’s do it.”

  “Okay. But we need to go change first.”

  Half an hour later, they were at Sandra’s, changed and ready to spend the evening with friends. Sandra’s party was a small affair with a few friends from the band. Malakai was surprised to see David had invited Tristan and Luis and their dates also. He waved to the three players who were sitting at a table, drinking from red plastic cups.

  Beer?

  “I kept you guys a chair next to the fire,” Sandra said with a grin, appearing in front of them. “You guys want something to drink?”

  Lily answered something, but Malakai wasn’t listening anymore. He was looking at his petite girlfriend, making her way to the lounge chair a few yards away and spreading the blanket she had brought from her house. She was so pretty with her long brown hair in a ponytail and her too-big clothes in the school’s yellow and black.

  “Dude, I wanted to invite you myself, but Lily wanted to do it,” David said, appearing next to him and shoving a red plastic cup in his hand.

  Malakai tore his eyes from Lily and glanced at his drink. It was too dark to be beer.

  “Gatorade,” David said with a chuckle. “It’s not spiked. My parents would have a fit if we were to bring booze home.”

  Malakai grinned and took a sip. It was his favorite, the blue kind, the one that tasted of what passed as raspberry flavor. Then he looked up, and Lily smiled at him. He had the impression his heart had expanded to twice its size and would have jumped right out of his chest to run to her.

  He…

>   He…

  He loved that girl!

  He loved her so much he couldn’t breathe.

  She was everything he had ever wanted in a girl.

  She was everything and so much more.

  He never once felt lonely when he was with her. Not even for a second.

  The spark he had been looking for was so strong it could provide power to an entire city for a week.

  “Go,” David said with another chuckle. “She’s waiting.”

  Malakai didn’t even answer. He just made his way to Lily, mesmerized, his eyes fixed on this face that rivaled an angel’s.

  Wow! How did he get so lucky?

  Malakai put the red cup on the table next to the chair and sat down. Lily sat between his legs, her back pressed against his chest, and he pulled the blanket over her. Her lower back was putting an exquisite pressure on him, and he fought the moan that was threatening to escape his lips. He tried to shift a little to get more comfortable and hide some of the effects she had on him but stopped moving when she chuckled.

  “I don’t mind,” she said quietly.

  Malakai’s blood rushed to his face.

  “I think it’s flattering really,” she said, shifting a little to look up at him.

  As she did, she removed the pressure, and Malakai wanted to cry at the loss of it and sigh in relief at the same time.

  “You do?” he murmured.

  “Can I try something?”

  “Okay.”

  Lily put her hands on each side of his face and closed her eyes. Suddenly, Malakai got an image of a bedroom he had never seen before, all pale green and cream. He saw himself, bare chest, lying over her, his eyes clouded with desire as he stared at her. Then, slowly, he kissed her.

  Malakai felt how out of breath she was. He felt how much she wanted this. He felt the delicious discomfort between her legs. He felt how much she loved him. She didn’t say it, but he felt it.

  And he was blown away by the strength of her feelings for him.

  As suddenly as they had appeared, the images and feelings stopped.

  Lily pulled her hands away and sagged against him.