Deal With It

by Monica McKayhan

  “Great practice tonight, girls. You all are wonderful dancers, and I’m extremely proud that each of you is on this team. You each contribute to the team in a major way,” she said. “And I really mean that.”

  “Have you decided on a team captain yet?” Tymia asked.

  “As a matter of fact, I have….” Miss Martin smiled.

  We all looked around at each other. My eyes bounced from Tameka to Tymia to Asia and then landed on Jade. She was crouched on the floor, tying her shoe.

  “The young lady I’ve selected is someone who I think is best suited for the job. She has put in the work, her grades have improved tremendously and she has shown great character and a true spirit of teamwork.”

  She was right. I had put in some work. My grades were so much better than they’d been in my freshman year, and there was no doubt I had character. I was definitely a team player and had shown Miss Martin that just the other day, when I helped Keisha improve her routine. And even when she messed up, I was the one who encouraged her to keep trying until she finally got it.

  “I believe that Jade Morgan would make the best team captain, and she is the young lady that I have selected,” announced Miss Martin.

  Did she say Jade Morgan? Surely I’d heard her wrong, I thought as I looked around at the other girls. I was waiting for someone to repeat what Miss Martin had said, just so I could confirm what I’d heard.

  Jade stood up slowly. She was in disbelief, a shocked look on her face.

  “It was a very difficult decision to make, because in my opinion, you all are team-captain material, but there was only one spot available,” Miss Martin said, and then it was like she ran out of words. “So, I guess that’s all I have to say. I’ll see you all tomorrow. Same time, same place. We’re performing the new routine at the game on Friday night, so practice your parts. Have a great night,” she said. “Jade, I’d like for you to stick around for a few minutes, but the rest of you are dismissed.”

  My heart started pounding out of control. She really had said Jade Morgan was our new team captain. There had obviously been some mistake.

  “Congratulations, Jade,” Tymia said, and they gave each other high fives.

  “Yeah, congrats, girl,” said Tameka as the two of them embraced.

  Everyone congratulated Jade except for me. I was still trying to gather my pride and force back the tears. Jade stared at me for a moment. She wanted me to congratulate her, but I couldn’t. She had stolen my spot on the team. Miss Martin looked at me, too, as if she expected me to say something. She knew how tight we were, too.

  “Congrats, Jade girl.” Asia gave her a thumbs-up and then locked arms with me, pulled me toward the locker room. “Can I use your cell phone to call my mom?” she asked me.

  I pulled my cell phone out, handed it to Asia as we left the gym. I didn’t even look Marcus’s way as I passed by, even though I could feel him watching me. He was always watching me, judging me.

  With my feet on Marcus’s dash, I messed with his radio. Tuned it to 107.9 as Young Jeezy’s song rang through his speakers.

  “You wanna talk about it?” Marcus asked.

  “Nope,” I answered and looked out the window.

  “Indi, you should’ve at least congratulated Jade. That’s your girl—your best friend,” he said.

  “It’s unfair.”

  “It’s Miss Martin’s choice,” Marcus said, “and you have to be a true sportsman about it. Win or lose, you have to do the right thing.”

  “I said I didn’t want to talk about it.”

  “Fine, but it’s real childish to act that way,” Marcus said, and his words pierced my heart. Whose side was he on, anyway?

  “Are you calling me childish?” I asked.

  “I’m calling the way you’re acting childish, yes,” he explained. “Your best friend made captain of the dance team and you didn’t even congratulate her!”

  “Are you going out with Jade Morgan or something? Whose side are you on, anyway?”

  “I’m always on your side, but I have to let you know when you’re wrong, Indi. I’m sorry,” he said. “I love you.”

  Those three words melted my heart. Just as they had the first time he’d said them. I sat there for a moment, singing the words to the Young Jeezy song in my head. Then I pulled my cell phone out of my purse, flipped it open. Decided that Marcus was right. I should have at least congratulated Jade. It wasn’t her fault that Miss Martin had chosen the wrong person for team captain. I sent Jade a text message.

  CONGRATS. I typed it and felt a little better.

  Waited a few minutes. I knew that she was in the backseat of her daddy’s SUV—I’d seen her hop inside just minutes before Marcus and I had pulled out of the parking lot. She’d left the gym, yapping with Tymia, Asia and Tameka, probably telling them how she was so shocked that Miss Martin had picked her. I was shocked, too.

  It’s 2 late. Her text bounced into my in-box a few minutes later.

  What do U mean, 2 late?

  Keep UR congrats. It’s 2 late.

  “Who does she think she is?” I asked, not realizing that I’d said it aloud.

  Marcus looked at me funny. “Who?”

  “Jade.” I frowned. “I told her congratulations, and she had the nerve to tell me it’s too late. I only did it because you said I should. ‘You’re being childish, Indi. You need to congratulate her, Indi. She’s your best friend, Indi.’ Well, guess what, Marcus? I don’t have a best friend anymore.”

  He just shook his head, watched the road and kept driving.

  I pulled my coat tighter and crossed my arms across my chest, stared out the window and listened to the music. I was serious. I was through with Jade Morgan.

  fourteen

  Tameka

  I was glad that practice had ended earlier than usual, and that I would be able to catch 106 & Park from the beginning. After bumming a ride home with Indigo’s father, Mr. Summer, I rushed into the house, took my shoes off and dropped my backpack at the front door. The smell of peach pie filled the house, and I knew that mom had finally popped that Mrs. Smith’s pie into the oven. She wasn’t much of a Betty Crocker herself, but she knew how to pick a good pie from the frozen-food section at Publix grocery store.

  I went into the kitchen, opened the oven just to make sure that it really was peach pie that I smelled. The pie was almost golden brown, and my mouth began to water. I opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of Coke. Heard music playing upstairs and followed it.

  “Mommy!” I called.

  I knew she was there, because her car was parked in the driveway.

  “In here, sweetie,” she said.

  She sat on the edge of her bed, an open suitcase right next to her. Tears filled her eyes. My worst nightmare was beginning to unfold right before my eyes. Mommy was leaving Daddy for real. He’d really done it this time, spending too much time at the studio, never coming home. Mommy was fed up.

  “What’s wrong? Are we leaving Daddy?” I asked.

  “What?” She looked confused. “No, baby. Why would you think that?”

  “Well, you’re sitting here crying your eyes out, and you’re packing a suitcase. And you just said on Saturday that you were tired of Daddy’s long hours.”

  “Tameka, your grandpa Drew had a heart attack.”

  Of all four of my grandparents, Grandpa Drew was my favorite. With his sense of humor, he kept everyone laughing nonstop. With a stomach that looked as if he’d swallowed a watermelon, he’d dressed up like Santa Claus and bounced me on his knee when I was little. My father had his eyes and smile, and I often imagined that when Grandpa Drew was much younger, he probably looked just like Daddy. He always told me funny stories about when Daddy was a little boy. I loved Grandpa Drew.

  “Is he gonna be okay?” I asked.

  “I don’t know yet,” Mommy said, “but Daddy’s on his way home, and we’re heading out soon. I need for you to go pack a bag.”

  “How long will we be gone? It’s t
he middle of the week, and I have school tomorrow, not to mention dance-team practice and a game on Friday.”

  “Well, baby, you might have to miss school and dance-team practice for a few days.” Mommy dabbed her eyes dry with a Kleenex. “This is an emergency.”

  “I know, Mom. And I’m sorry about Grandpa Drew, but couldn’t you just go without me and let me fly up on Saturday or something?” I pleaded. “I have a game on Friday night, and I really don’t want to miss it.”

  “I don’t know about that, Tameka. You’ll have to ask your father about that one.”

  “Ask her father about what?” Daddy walked into the room, dropped his car keys on the nightstand.

  “She wants to stay here while we go to Charlotte,” Mommy said.

  “Hmm.” Daddy looked at me. “You don’t wanna go with us to check on Grandpa Drew?”

  “I do, but I have a big game on Friday night. It’s, like, the best game of the season,” I said. “Maybe I could just fly up on Saturday morning or something.”

  “And how would you get to the airport on Saturday morning or something?” Daddy asked sarcastically, mocking me. “You want us to leave you the keys to the car, too?”

  “Well, that’s an option,” I said. “I do have my driver’s license, Dad. And I’m a good driver. I’m responsible.”

  “She is pretty responsible, Paul,” Mom interjected, vouching for me. “I trust her to stay here alone, and she does pretty good with the car.”

  “It’s a huge responsibility, baby,” Daddy said. “You’d have to get yourself up in the mornings for school, get yourself to school and home from dance-team practice. You’ll be here alone at night. You’d be responsible for making sure the house is secure when you’re not here and when you are here. Then the whole airport thing. Parking the car, loading the luggage.”

  Was he trying to make me nervous, discourage me?

  “I know all that, Dad.” I hadn’t really thought about it like that. I knew I’d be at home alone, but I didn’t think about the reality of it—having to secure the house and such. That made me nervous. And the whole airport thing had me shaking in my boots. What if I missed the flight? There were so many small details to consider when traveling; I would be so scared that I’d miss something. But I still stood my ground. “I can handle it.”

  “Well, I guess I don’t have a problem with it,” Daddy said.

  “Me, either,” Mommy added. “And now that I think about it, there won’t really be a need for her to fly up on Saturday if our plan is to return on Sunday night. Provided Grandpa Drew is out of the woods by then, we should be returning home pretty quickly.”

  “I agree,” Dad said.

  “We’ll just play it by ear,” Mommy stated. “See how things go. Maybe Grandpa Drew will recover, and we can come home sooner. But I think she’ll be fine in the meantime.”

  “Under no circumstances are you to have anyone over here.” Daddy laid down the rules. “You go to school, and you come home, Tameka. That’s it. And you call us every day and let us know what’s going on.”

  “I will. I promise you won’t regret this,” I replied.

  “Let’s hope not,” Dad said, ending the conversation. “Please don’t disappoint us.”

  “I won’t, Daddy.” I hugged his neck, kissed his cheek. I kissed Mommy.

  She asked, “Can you get that pie out of the oven for me, Tameka? I need to finish packing.”

  I rushed down the stairs. Excited. I couldn’t believe that they were actually going to trust me to stay at home alone. But then, I didn’t know why I was surprised. After all, I was almost an adult—I was sixteen and a half, for crying out loud. Not to mention I was very mature for my age. Lots of people thought I was much older than I was. I could’ve easily passed for eighteen years old any day of the week. I pulled the peach pie out of the oven, set it on the stove. It smelled so good, and I quickly grabbed a plate from the shelf and cut myself a small piece. I let it cool, because it was piping hot. I sat at the kitchen table and smiled to myself. It felt good to be trusted, and I couldn’t wait to have the house to myself.

  As I finally ushered my parents out of the house, their luggage in tow, Mommy gave me last-minute instructions. Daddy literally had to pull her out the door. She was so worried about me that she called me before they even left the subdivision, and then again before they boarded their flight at Hartsfield-Jackson airport. After making sure that the house was secured, I sat curled on the sofa in the family room, a bowl of popcorn in between my legs, a tall glass of Coke on the coffee table. I flipped through the television channels. Decided to watch Real Housewives of Atlanta, just to see what those rich divas were up to. There was always some drama on that show.

  When my phone buzzed, I knew it was Vance.

  He sent a text message. Hey U.

  I sent a text back. Hi.

  WUP? Did UR homework yet? he asked.

  Yes. Long ago.

  Good.

  Da parents went out of twn for da wknd.

  Really?

  Got da house 2 myself.

  Cool. Then I can come ova?

  Not 2nite.

  Maybe 2morrow.

  Maybe. After I texted him back, my father’s voice was in my head. Under no circumstances are you to have anyone over here.

  I sent Vance a yawn, just to end the conversation.:-O

  G-Nite. CU L8TR.

  G-Nite.

  Just past midnight, and after I’d fallen asleep on the sofa, a noise shook me out of my sleep. I sat straight up for a moment, waiting to hear it again. Nothing. Probably just the house settling, I thought. I pulled myself up from the sofa, went upstairs to my room, slipped into my pajamas and collapsed onto my bed. I turned on the radio just to break the silence in the house, tuned it to the Quiet Storm on 103 and let it rock me back to sleep.

  fifteen

  Vance

  I sat on the bench while my teammates made magic happen on the basketball court. Marcus had fourteen points by the second quarter, and I couldn’t help wishing I was out there, lending him a hand. I felt like an idiot riding the bench. This was not how things were supposed to be going. When Coach called a time-out, the team rushed over and gathered in a huddle. As he gave my teammates instructions for the next play, my eyes wandered into the stands. Darla Union was seated in the stands, right behind our team. She smiled and gave a little wave. I gave her a little wave back. Just to be safe, I let my eyes wander across the gym toward the dance team. I wanted to see where Tameka was and if she was paying attention to me. I spotted her in the corner of the gym, running her mouth with Indigo, Jade and some other girls. She wasn’t paying me any attention.

  After the team rushed back out on court, I took my seat on the bench again and continued to watch the game. When my phone vibrated, I pulled it out of my pocket, looked at the screen.

  WUD after da game? Darla asked what my postgame plans were.

  Mickey D’s. I responded.

  It was where we all gathered after every game. My friends, including my girlfriend, would be there.

  Can I come?

  Suit URself. I’ll be with my girl.

  Wanna do something else? she asked.

  Like what?

  It’s a secret.

  It was no secret that Darla Union liked to play games. I was treading on thin ice with this girl, but she had me intrigued. I looked back at her in the stands. Gave her a smile and then turned to finish watching the game. Tried to clear away my thoughts of her, which were now cluttering my mind like cobwebs. She had my hormones raging.

  After the game, Tameka and I found each other in the midst of the crowd. She hugged me around the waist, and I struggled to hold on to her and my crutches at the same time.

  “We going to Mickey D’s?” she asked.

  “Yeah,” I said, watching as Darla motioned that she wanted to talk. She headed toward the restrooms. “You go ahead to the car, and I’ll just meet you in the parking lot.”

  “You sure?” Ta
meka asked.

  “Yeah, I need to go to the restroom,” I lied. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  I watched as Tameka buttoned her coat all the way up and exited through the gymnasium doors. I hopped toward the restrooms on crutches. Darla stood innocently with her back against the men’s room door. She wore tight jeans and a shirt that hugged her breasts in just the right way. She grinned as I approached.

  Everything inside me knew that I should’ve followed Tameka to the car, headed to McDonald’s and steered clear of all temptation.

  “So what’s up?” Darla asked.

  “What’s up with you?” I asked her.

  “You goin’ to Mickey D’s or what?” she asked.

  “What are my options?”

  “Like I told you before, my mom works nights, so I have the place all to myself. We can go there and watch videos, or not,” she said.

  “You driving?” I asked.

  “My car’s right outside in the parking lot,” she said. “You get rid of your girl, and we can be on our way to my place in a matter of minutes.”

  “Let me go handle my business,” I said. The words just came out of my mouth before I could catch them. My mind was no longer in control, and my hormones were running this program. And hormones didn’t seem to care if you had a girlfriend, or that her feelings would be hurt if she knew what you were up to. “I’ll meet you in the parking lot in about fifteen minutes.”

  “Don’t keep me waiting long.” Darla’s lip gloss was shining on her lips, and her sexy brown eyes made me want her more.

  With that thought in mind, I headed for the school’s parking lot. I had to do what I had to do.

  sixteen

  Tameka

  Tears burned my cheeks as I stood with my back against the wall just outside the gym, listening as my boyfriend, the love of my life, the boy of my dreams, Vance Armstrong, made plans to be with another girl. It had just so happened that I needed to use the restroom, too, and I’d ended up coming back into the gym before I even got halfway to the car. As I’d approached the restrooms, I’d heard familiar voices and decided to eavesdrop. Something told me not to snap out right away, but to play it cool and to just listen for a few minutes. When you sat still and listened, you found out more than you ever wanted to learn sometimes. I was paralyzed as I waited for the best opportunity to make my presence known to both of them, and before I knew it, I was in tears. I wasn’t supposed to be crying; I was supposed to be confronting. But I wasn’t mad. I was hurt.