“Hey, you read my mind. I was just thinking about that, Coco.”
11
It was about midday when Coco and Deedee strutted out of the apartment building. The beguiled doorman held the door for a longer time and eyed the pair. He smiled and hugged his chest like he was having a heart attack. Coco was chewing, trying to get comfortable in her new attire. The simple Armani black dress and pumps made her seemed like a fashion intern, but her long, shapely legs made the doorman sigh. Deedee, outfitted in D&G skin-tight, black jeans and hoodie, seemed like a pro. Her backfield in motion had the doorman’s eyes jumping to the rhythm of her steps. While walking down the block, the girls heard the whistles. Coco glanced at Deedee.
“I don’t know how you handle all this attention, yo. How do you walk in those tight-ass jeans, yo?” Coco joked.
“Pay it no mind, Coco. Ignore it, that’s how. Hey Coco, let’s take the subway,” Deedee smiled.
“The subway…? Dressed like this? Are you kidding me, yo? Let’s catch a cab.”
“Be daring and bold. Let’s take the subway,” Deedee laughed.
“I don’t like the trains. Too many pervs ride that shit, yo.”
“C’mon, Coco, don’t be scared. It’s a nice day and only one stop from here to the shopping district.”
“I gotcha—you just want me to walk around in this dress and shoes, yo. It ain’t that hard to figure your game out, yo.”
“I just don’t want to deal with parking,” Deedee lied.
“How far is the nearest subway station, yo,” Coco said, sounding annoyed.
“Only a couple blocks. I promise it’s not that far.”
“I’ll pay for the cab, yo.”
“C’mon Coco, you can pay for one later. After we’re through shopping…”
Against Coco’s wishes, they started out for the subway station. Each step Coco took was a learning experience, but before long she was mastering the art of walking in her new outfit. Beautiful and tall, both girls garnered enough attention. There were several times when Coco stop and glared at men lecherously staring at her.
On this sunny day in the city, they were a gorgeous pair. Eyes on the streets stared at Coco strutting in the windless sky, her Afro, a crown to the all-black Armani attire. Deedee’s casual appearance was enhanced by Gucci shades, and her long black tresses flowed with her steps. Finally they walked down the stairs to the entrance of the subway station. Coco was still getting used to her shoes and moved cautiously. Deedee continued boldly downward to the world of straphangers.
Underground performers greeted them. A Mexican trio outfitted in cowboy boots, jeans and sombreros were singing Spanish lullabies. There was a soulful quartet, blowing vocally like the Four Tops of the Motown era. Deedee gave them five dollars apiece. Deeper underground in the subway station a group of B-Boys and girls were set trying to draw a crowd. Jugglers and hustlers were stationed inside the train station. So were players.
“Hey ma, you and your friend models…?”
“Ooh you got it going on. Lemme give you my number…”
Ignoring the unwanted soliciting and comments, the girls went through the turnstile. They walked casually along the platform. Some guys walked by the girls.
“Nice assets,” one commented.
Coco glared at them while Deedee went poker-faced. She was used to the compliments whether they were genuine or fake. Coco was still trying not to smack anyone’s face. Deedee turned and faced her.
“It’s a daring and fun thing to do,” Deedee said.
“What shopping?”
“No, to ride the subway…”
“Get your daring on, yo. Here comes one now.”
The doors opened and the girls walked inside the car. It seemed all eyes were riveted on them. Coco tried to look away but only to be met by more inquiring eyes.
“It must be these heels, but it feels like everyone is staring my way, yo.”
“The heels are hardly high. Mine are higher, but I never noticed how tall and in shape you are, Coco. The dress and pumps really bring that out.”
“I tried on dresses with you before. Stop acting like a perv, yo.”
“And you’re very pretty—high cheekbones, and long shapely legs, hmm…”
“Okay, you’re beginning to get a little too personal, yo.”
“I think it’s the handbag that is most sexy about you,” Deedee said giving Coco a quick once over.
“You’re beginning to howl a lot like those wolves on the streets, yo.”
“They were not howling like wolves. Some of these guys are genuinely from the heart.” Deedee smiled. Coco glared.
She was about to open her mouth, suddenly the serenading of a soulful, classic ballad drifted through the car.
“Many a tears have to fall…
Doo…doo…doo
But it’s all in the game…”
Both girls listened quietly while the quartet delivered the melody in superb Motown style. The train sped downtown and the next stop was theirs. Before the doors slid open, Deedee handed the quartet money. Coco and Deedee walked from the platform.
“I don’t believe you just gave those guys a yard, yo. A twenty would have done ’em real good.”
“I like that song,” Deedee said as they walked up the stairs.
“You liked it that much, buy it for thirteen ninety-five, yo,” Coco said when the girls hit Fifth Avenue and East 57th Street.
“Let’s go to the Gucci store,” Deedee laughed.
“Remember when you, I and Josephine came down here shopping for the first time?” Deedee asked.
“Yeah, I remember. It was on a day like today…” Coco said and her voice trailed.
“You were kinda rude to me, Coco,” Deedee said.
“Damn, that was only like a couple years ago. I wasn’t really feeling you too much back then. Why you gotta bring that up, yo?”
“Cause like you said, it was a day like today. And it just reminded me that’s all…” Deedee’s voice trailed, but she hadn’t forgotten the time.
Early blossoms were appearing all around on this late April afternoon. Here in midtown, a busy pre-season summer sale raged down Madison and Fifth. In the hours that followed, the girls covered every fancy store on Madison, expertly combing through designer outfits that caught their every fancy. Occasionally, Coco and Josephine made faces of disbelief when they glanced at some of the price tags, which were displayed. Being a bit more privileged, Deedee didn’t even bat an eye.
“Dior makes some nice evening joints but this shit is ridiculously expensive, yo,” Coco said after going through a couple of stores.
“I ain’t looking at price tags. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for something sexy from Donna Karan. Her boutique is close by,” Josephine said.
“What, for the prom?” Coco asked.
“Not really but that could be a secondary motive,” Josephine said, walking away and inspecting some dresses.
Coco lingered awhile and rubbed her cheek against the silky fabric of one particularly beautiful dress.
“Girls, there are no limits. Anything y’all see in here that y’all like?” Deedee asked.
“They a’ight,” Josephine answered.
“Dior’s style is the dopest, Coco,” Deedee said, huddling next to Coco. “I saw you had your eyes on that red outfit back there. That’s cool. It would match your skin tone really well,” Deedee continued.
Coco’s brown eyes squinted in disbelief. She looked at Deedee for sometime without answering. When she spoke, she immediately regretted it.
“Why ya gotta be trying to make selections for me. I mean the dress is really nice, but how you know I wasn’t just checking out the price”
“Coco—”
“I’m really not trying to get your opinion. The only reason I’m here playing your game is because Jo wanted to.”
“I respect that, Coco. I mean I can’t blame you for whatever you wanna hold against me.”
“Hold against you?
Do you remember that only a couple o’ days ago you were calling me a hood rat?”
“Coco, I never called you that. I never did,” Deedee said.
Coco stared at her with fierceness of a boxer facing his challenger. “I would never call you that,” Deedee reiterated.
It came in a harmless whisper uttered without retreat. Deedee was in Coco’s face. What is the plan if your opponent doesn’t back out of the fight? Coco stared at Deedee’s unshaken stare. All day long she had it in her mind to yell, ‘To hell with Deedee because she’s a phony bitch.’ Now it seemed it was all just a big misunderstanding. Coco’s mind was traveling at light speed. Was she deliberately trying to be mean to Deedee? There was no real need to be, Coco decided. Lost in her own thoughts, she could still hear Deedee’s apologetic voice.
“I mean if I knew that’s what you thought I would’ve called and really tried to apologize. I would not think that of you, Coco. You’re far better…”
“So you wouldn’t mind coming to visit me in da hood, then?”
“A visit is no problem. It’s just that in light of what was going on at the time, I knew my uncle wouldn’t let me go with you.”
“Okay, maybe I was too quick to jump to conclusions. I’m sorry, Dee. How’re your uncle and Sophia doing by the way?” Coco asked. She could be so cool, Deedee thought as she answered.
“They both good, I guess. Sophia went to work earlier and my uncle, he was in the studio all night doing his thing.”
“That’s good. I been home working on some rhymes too. Say whassup to them for me, a’ight?”
“A’ight, Coco. So, do you want to get that dress?”
“I really don’t know. I’ll take a look in some other stores, then I’ll make a decision, okay?”
“That’s all good, Coco.”
“But Dee, how’re you gonna pay for these outfits, yo?”
“I’ve got a card from my uncle,” Deedee said with a shrug of her shoulder. “And I’ve never used it. It just seemed like a fun thing to do right now. Shopping with my girls,” Deedee said as Josephine rejoined them.
“You got that right,” Josephine said. “I’ve seen enough. Ladies, let’s bounce up outta this piece.”
“Oh, because you’re through, we should?” Deedee said with a laugh.
“No! But I can’t wait for Donna Karan,” Josephine said, beaming, which left Coco and Deedee rolling their eyes.
They left the store and continued investigating all the sales. Crisscrossing from east to west, they left nothing but the pavement unturned. Their expedition went on, and the girls strolled down blocks and blocks of designer stores until they all had their complete outfit. Josephine claimed a black Donna Karan gown, which really complemented her now sexy physique and Deedee sparkled with a new Versace silver dress. Coco settled for the elegant red dress by Dior that Deedee had liked. It was an expensive but pleasurable time.
That was then but this was now. Life without the rest of the Crew for Coco. Despite missing her girls, Coco had to make the best of time. It would be her and Deedee. After a couple hours, they were through shopping. Coco hailed a cab and the girls climbed in. The cab driver put the many shopping bags inside the trunk. After Deedee gave the address, the driver smiled.
“Are you are fashion models or actresses?” the driver inquired, getting in the car.
“Are we…?” Deedee asked aloud.
“Did a lot of shopping today, huh?” he continued, while driving away.
“Did we…?”
“We did, yo.”
12
Inside her uncle’s apartment, Deedee sat on a sofa and checked her messages. Coco was rummaging through the bags trying to find something else to wear. She soon found a skirt that fit her looser. Checking the sarong skirt, Coco shimmied out of her dress. She stood in bra and panty looking for the matching scarf.
“You do have nicely toned legs Coco,” Deedee said and continued to check her messages on her cell phone.
Coco slipped into the skirt and used the scarf to wrap her Afro. She glanced at herself in the hall mirror.
“That’s why you’re trying to get me to stock up on dresses and skirts, so you can see my legs, yo?”
“No silly. Summer’s coming and it’s gonna be hot. Plus you might have an interview or two lined up. Acting as your fashion consultant, I wanted you to change up the look and feel of each interview.”
“You sure that’s your motive, yo?”
“Yes, for now maybe I’ll be your manager or business partner in the future, but we’ll take things one step at a time. But always know that I got your back, Coco.”
Coco stared at her for a beat and thought of all the reasons she had tried to hate Deedee. But she couldn’t ignore the growing connection between them. Coco clad in her bra and skirt, felt her heartbeat raced when she hugged Deedee. She tried to ignore it, but realized it was Deedee’s heartbeat she felt.
The moment was intimate for both girls. Coco had let down her defense in more ways than one. Their bodies touched and Deedee’s lips gently grazed Coco’s. Coco didn’t respond but felt the ignition in her brain and the spark in her lips.
“You’re trying to kiss me, yo?” Coco laughed.
“I mean to kiss you on the cheek,” Deedee smiled.
Coco felt Deedee heart thumping in her chest when her lips touched her cheek. They continued to hug and buried their heads on each other’s shoulder. Sighing in relief, tears rolled down each other’s cheeks. For the next few moments, nothing was heard except heavy breathing and two hearts beating as one. Deedee broke the sensually charged silence when she spoke. Coco nodded at her and they could see the tears rolling each other’s cheek.
“I remember the first time I went back to school after the whole rape situation. And, man was I having the worst day of my life? I mean I wanted to just cry and then I bumped into you accidently and you saved the day.”
“Word yo…?”
“Word up, yo. I really felt nothing but love for you since then. Because when I first met you, I thought you were just a cold person who needed to be loved. But that day I saw it in you, Coco.”
“What you saw, yo?”
“I saw love in you. Real love…”
“What day was that yo?”
“Oh how could you forget? We were at school. I was walking outside Miss Martinez office and I was soo frustrated, I was about to light up a cigarette right there. And you were there in the hallway, by yourself. It was in the afternoon…?”
“Okay, I remember that, yo. I remember,” Coco smiled.
Deedee slammed the door, heading toward the exit. This day had to end, she thought, reaching for her cigarettes.
The world is such a fucking wicked place, she almost said aloud as the tears sprung, filling her eyes with water and making her vision blurry. As she took out a cigarette, she bumped into Coco. Deedee’s head rose. She wiped her eyes and turned to apologize.
“I’m sorry, I…”
“Need a light, yo?” Coco eyed the cigarette Deedee was trying to hide.
“No smoking in da hall, so we gotta take it to da toilet or da streets, yo.”
“Cool. I was heading to the streets,” Deedee said.
She was noticeably shaken. Coco saw the uneasiness immediately. Maybe this is the way all victims react, Coco thought as they walked to the exit together. As the two girls left the building, they paused. Coco gave Deedee a light. The smoke rushed to her lungs and Deedee immediately started to cough. Her eyes filled with tears.
“Let’s get something to drink, yo.” Coco said, patting Deedee’s shoulder.
“Yeah, sounds good.”
The girls walked to the corner store. Deedee chose apple juice and Coco bought soda. They moved to a bench in front of the school. Deedee felt better after a few sips. Coco lit a cigarette.
“How you feeling, yo…?”
“Oh, I’m better. All the initial tests were negative. That juice really hit the spot. Thanks Coco,” Deedee said.
Coco watched Deedee inhaling easily now. Damn, did she forget already? Coco thought. The rape was only last week. Watching Deedee from the corner of her eye, Coco smoked freely but was confused as to how an experience like that could be so quickly forgotten.
“Yeah, true. Da soda is on time. But I’m saying how are you really feeling, you know?”
Coco gestured with her cigarette. She knew she was prying, but she felt suddenly that she was also a victim in the carjack. Deedee smiled. She had actually misunderstood Coco’s question. It made her cheerful, even if she had to recall a bad ordeal. Coco marveled at Deedee’s smile.
“You’re funny,” Deedee said through a chuckle. “I didn’t mean to laugh, but I’m doing better, thanks. It’s the first day back to school after about a week. It’s kind a rough, you know. You know?” Deedee surprised herself with this burst of energy.
Coco nodded. They smoked and sipped and gazed lazily at passing pedestrians. Then they spotted Danielle and Josephine hurrying their way.
“Figured we’d find you here,” Josephine said. Danielle and Deedee exchanged greetings.
“Hi, what’s up? How you feeling…?” Danielle asked.
She passed Coco to kiss Deedee’s cheek. Coco stood aside as Josephine did the same. Being with these girls again renewed the feeling of innocent camaraderie for her and brought a flood of emotions. Deedee cried as the girls hugged her. She motioned to Coco, who joined the group hug. Josephine and Danielle sniffled. Coco’s eyes seemed damp. They huddled for a few more minutes then released one another.
Coco reached for a cigarette. Danielle and Josephine sat on the bench. Coco handed the lit cigarette to Deedee. She puffed smoothly and passed it back to Coco, who took a drag and passed it to Josephine. Josephine inhaled, and passed the cigarette to Danielle, who in turn puffed and passed it to Deedee. The cycle continued until the cigarette was finished. They all stood when the Black Range Rover pulled to a stop across the street. Eric waved.
“Oh, that’s my uncle,” Deedee said, motioning across the street. “Y’all wanna meet him? Maybe get a ride to somewhere?”
“We’re gonna rehearse in da school auditorium, yo,” Coco said.
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