Full Circle (Urban Books)

by Skyy

  “Oh my God, you are a lifesaver.” Carmen took one of the cups out of the holder. The overpriced coffee woke her senses, helping her to fully gain consciousness.

  “Rule number one of summer school, never drink or touch that coffee. Mrs. Mildred makes it for herself, and she likes her coffee bitter and disgusting. Bring your own. Come.”

  Carmen followed Michael toward their classrooms.

  “So is summer school as bad as everyone makes it out to be?”

  “Nah, it’s actually worse.” Michael snickered. “Think about it like this. You have our school and the neighboring schools worst students here in an attempt to help these idiots pass to the next grade so they can get the hell up out of our classes. Most of them are the troublemakers, the ones that love to skip school or get suspended. You have a few who are honestly just dumb, and every now and then you get a smarty-pants who is using summer school to graduate early, but most of those somehow always end up in Mrs. Mildred’s class.”

  Carmen frowned. “That doesn’t seem very fair.”

  “She’s two hundred years old, Carmen. These other kids would kill her in an instant.” They both laughed.

  The noise coming from Carmen’s classroom hit them as soon as they reached their hall. Carmen rolled her eyes. Michael’s smile faded. He opened her door to find the class in hysterics. The desks had been moved into clusters, and various groups of friends were loudly discussing their weekend and their plans for the rest of the day. One group of guys was watching an arm wrestling competition between two guys, all of them yelling for the one they wanted to win.

  Carmen turned, determined to walk out of the school building, hoping never to return. Michael grabbed her arm. He put his finger up to his mouth. He walked in the room and slammed his briefcase on the desk.

  “This will not be going on in this classroom.” His baritone voice echoed throughout the room. The students instantly stopped everything. All eyes were on him. “Fix these desks the way they were, and settle down immediately.” The students did exactly what he said. Carmen was impressed. She walked in and placed her bag on her desk.

  “They’re all yours.” Michael winked as he walked out of the room.

  Carmen silently thanked him as he closed the door. She made a mental note to buy him lunch. She turned around to find thirty pairs of eyes on her, all staring at her like she was the enemy.

  “All right, so welcome to summer school. I am Ms.—”

  “Um, you the one who know Sahara, ain’t you?” A girl wearing the worst lace front Carmen had ever seen stood up.

  “Um, I do. Now, like I was saying—”

  “You gon’ get ha’ to come hur this summer too?” The girl smacked the gum in her mouth.

  Carmen instantly wished she’d never opened that door. The kids stared at her, all wanting to meet a celebrity, like her students had during the year. The difference was she actually liked some of those students.

  “Sorry, but that was a onetime thing.”

  “So we can’t meet ha’?”

  “Not by her coming to this school. Now, if you can take your seat, we can get started.”

  “This is some bullshit,” the girl huffed as she sat down, while her friends nodded.

  “Excuse me, but what did you just say?” Carmen rolled her neck.

  “I said that’s messed up. We wanted to meet ha’ too.”

  “Maybe you should have done what you needed to do during the school year and you could have. This is summer school, and for most of you, it’s your final chance to pass. This is not a gift. This is work. So if meeting celebrities is what you are here to do, there is the door. But if going to the next grade is what you are here to do, then I suggest you open up the book to page five so we can get started. After all, you have only four weeks to learn what you should have learned during a full year.”

  Embarrassed by Carmen, the girl stood up. “I don’t need this shit.” She grabbed her fake Louis Vuitton bag and walked out of the class.

  “Anyone wish to follow?” Carmen was now the one staring. She didn’t know what to expect. Half of the students looked like they were her age, while the others looked like they wouldn’t hesitate to kill her at any moment.

  No one moved.

  “Great. Well, let’s get started.”

  The kids all opened their books. She knew it was going to be the longest four weeks of her life.

  The one thing Carmen loved about summer school was that it wasn’t a full day. The four hours breezed by once the students took to her and her laid-back approach to teaching. She had a brief moment where she felt like she actually was teaching them something. Carmen packed her items into her bag. She looked up when there was a knock at her door.

  “You survived the first day.” Michael walked in.

  “I did. Had one bad apple, but so far not so bad.”

  “So you think you might sign up for next semester too?”

  The look on Carmen’s face answered his question. The two walked out of the classroom together.

  “Thank you again for earlier. I think it really made all the difference,” Carmen said.

  “No problem at all.”

  “How about a drink on me? We can go down to Side Street Grill.”

  “I would love that.” Their eyes met. Carmen felt a twinge on her right side.

  The popular cigar bar was already crowded with the after-work set. They grabbed a table, and Michael motioned for a waitress. Carmen pulled her hair down out of the tight ponytail she had. Her curly hair fell to her shoulders. Michael watched as she ran her fingers through her hair.

  “Can I ask you a question, Carmen, without you turning me in for sexual harassment?”

  Carmen smiled. “It depends on the question.” She winked.

  “Why are you gay? I mean, damn it, woman, you are gorgeous. Any man would love to be with you.”

  Carmen shook her head. It never ceased to amaze her how straight men could compliment and offend in the same sentence.

  “Michael, I’m not gay because I couldn’t get a man. I am gay because I just am. I love my fiancée. She is the most amazing person in the world.”

  “Have you never considered trying to be with a man?” he asked, completely baffled by Carmen’s response.

  “Why should I? I have what I want.”

  “But how can you know if you have never had the other option?”

  “I have never eaten shit, but I know I don’t want it.” Carmen took a sip of her lemon drop martini.

  “Touché.” Michael nodded his head. “I think you are an awesome chick, Carmen.”

  “And you are pretty cool yourself, for a guy.” Carmen laughed. She focused on Michael’s face. She had to admit he was a beautiful man. His dark skin was smooth, altered only by his manicured beard. He obviously worked out, since his shirts always fit snugly around his biceps. And his almond eyes could have a mesmerizing effect even on the gayest female. Carmen felt the twinge in her side again.

  “Michael, let me ask you a question now. Why are you single? I mean, I know for a fact Adrianne and Danielle both would give you children, not to mention the students who are determined to make you their man.”

  “Ha!” Michael laughed. “Let’s just say I have a tendency to want a challenge or, in my case right now, the one thing that I can’t have.” His eyes focused on Carmen’s face.

  Carmen could feel that twinge turn into a piercing sensation. “You are silly.” She took another sip of her drink, glancing down at the table. In that moment all she wanted was for him to take his eyes off of her.

  Michael could tell the effect he was having on Carmen. Even though she was gay, she was still a woman, and the signs of her being affected were all over her body. He didn’t know what it was, but he was taken by her. Since she started at the school, he’d known he had to have her. She was one of the more attractive teachers, but there was more. She was down to earth, something the teachers who threw themselves at him were severely lacking in. He was smitten, an
d Carmen’s lesbianism wasn’t enough to deter him.

  Two hours passed, and their one drink turned into three cocktails and three shots. They couldn’t stop giggling like the kids they taught. They swapped funny war stories about kids and coworkers.

  Carmen jumped when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out. It was Nic.

  “Hey, baby. I’m at Side Street, a little tipsy. With my coworker Michael. Okay, babe.”

  Michael hung on every word, trying to decipher what was being said.

  She hung the phone up. “Nic’s pulling up.”

  “I guess that’s my cue.”

  “Why?”

  “You think the girlfriend will be happy to see you with the likes of me?”

  “Boy, if you don’t sit down . . .” Carmen pulled Michael’s shirt.

  Michael felt nervous. It was one thing to be around Carmen, but the thought of sharing time with Nic didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t know if what bothered him was the guilt from knowing he wanted to take Nic’s girl from her or the fact that she was almost as masculine as he was.

  All eyes were on Nic as she walked into the bar, oblivious to the lustful stares of women and the angry eyes of men. Michael felt jealousy rearing its ugly head when Nic gave Carmen a peck on her lips. She held her hand out to him.

  “So you are the infamous Michael. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  “Likewise.” Michael knew he couldn’t hate. The girl was nice, and he could tell she truly loved Carmen.

  The three continued their conversation until Carmen excused herself to go freshen up. Michael noticed two men staring at Nic. He suddenly felt protective. No matter what, Nic was still a woman, and his male instincts were kicking in. Nic put her hand on top of his.

  “Don’t worry about it,” she said.

  “So you see that too?”

  “It’s normal. We just ignore it.”

  Michael noticed the snickering of the two men. “I don’t know if I could do it.”

  “It’s life.” Nic finished off Carmen’s shot. “Hey, so I wanted to thank you for being so open to Carmen. I know some of the teachers have been a little bitchy, especially after that stunt with Denise and Sahara.”

  “Oh, those women are just crabs in a barrel. Carmen is one of a kind.”

  Nic noticed the starry look in Michael’s eyes. She knew he was smitten. Nic smiled.

  Michael sighed. “Man, I better get home before I don’t make it to work tomorrow. Can you tell Carmen I’ll see her tomorrow?”

  “Will do.” Nic gave Michael daps. Carmen returned to the table a few moments later. Nic grabbed her girlfriend. Carmen smiled as she stood between Nic’s legs.

  “You know he’s crazy about you, right?”

  “Shut up.” Carmen blushed. Nic pulled her head to hers, planting a long erotic kiss on her lips. The mouths of the men who were watching dropped. “What was that for?”

  “Just because.” Nic stood up. She placed two twenty-dollar bills on the table. There was no better compliment than knowing someone else wanted what she had. “Let’s go home.”

  Michael watched from his car as Nic and Carmen walked out of the bar, holding each other. He couldn’t help but feel envious. Although he liked Nic, he couldn’t shake the urges he had toward Carmen. He had to have her, and although Nic was cool, he knew Carmen was batting for the wrong team, and he had to at least try to get her on the right team.

  Chapter 14

  It had been weeks and no word from Denise. Unanswered questions clouded Lena’s mind. She busied herself with preparing Bria for her long trip. She didn’t know what she was going to do. Without Bria and with no romantic interest anymore, she would be so lonely.

  Lena realized she didn’t have enough friends. Misha was focusing on fixing her marriage, and Carmen was trying to keep Nic happy by staying in Memphis, instead of running to Atlanta every weekend. Lena didn’t have anyone to turn to.

  Her house was now haunted with the memory of Denise. Everywhere she turned, she could see Denise standing there. She wanted to move just to lose the brief but unforgettable memories they had created in just one night.

  Adele’s 21 CD became Lena’s best friend. The songs seemed to speak directly to her. She couldn’t listen to “Turning Tables” or “Don’t You Remember” without tearing up. Lena knew she needed to get over Denise before she was a wreck again.

  Lena heard Bria’s little feet running toward her. Bria looked at her with her big doe eyes and put her hand on Lena’s face. The softest touch melted Lena’s heart. She was regretting her decision to let Bria go with her parents. She knew without Bria, she would be forced to face her own skeletons, which were toppling out of her closet.

  Lena looked at her daughter. She knew she had to be strong for her. She couldn’t let one person break her down the way Denise did a few years back.

  To make matters worse, Farih was now a host on one of her favorite talk shows. Every afternoon she tortured herself by watching the other woman flash her amazing smile. Lena felt like Farih was throwing her happiness with Denise in her face. She hated having to hear about Denise and Farih’s amazing relationship on the show, but for some reason she couldn’t turn the station.

  Lena kept up with what was going on with Denise via Carmen and gossip blogs. Denise and Farih were hot topics again. Denise was going to be a guest star on Law & Order: SVU, another one of Lena’s favorite shows. Every time they showed Denise on TV, Lena watched like a little girl waiting to see her favorite celebrity come on.

  Lena knew she had to get out of the house. She forced herself to go to the mall for some retail therapy. Phipps Plaza was relatively empty, unlike on the weekends. It wasn’t a hangout spot like Lenox Square, due mainly to the quality of the stores it had. Lena walked out of Janie and Jack with some new clothes for Bria’s upcoming trip. She knew she was going to overpack, but she wanted to make sure Bria had clothes for every occasion. Bria twirled in her new pink skirt, which she just had to have while in the store.

  “Well, isn’t this a surprise?”

  Lena looked up to see Danni, the cute girl from the club, standing in front of her. Danni removed her shades and walked closer. Bria took her mother’s hand, not taking her eyes off the stranger.

  “It is.” Lena smiled. She instantly noticed Danni’s suave appearance. Her locks were braided into a ponytail. She didn’t think she had seen locks so perfectly manicured before. Her jeans fit impeccably, Lena almost thought they were tailored. “Long way from New York, aren’t you?”

  Danni smiled. “Well, I figured I would scour the streets of Atlanta until I found Cinderella.”

  “You know Cinderella?” Bria’s eyes lit up, and she was immediately fascinated by Danni.

  Danni looked down, then looked back up at Lena. She realized that the girl had to be Lena’s daughter. Danni bent down to Bria’s height. “Actually I do. She’s very beautiful, just like you.” Bria smiled hard and giggled when Danni poked her stomach like it was the Pillsbury Doughboy’s.

  “Bria, say hello to Mommy’s friend Danni.”

  Bria shyly said hello.

  “So she remembers my name.” Danni winked at Lena. Lena felt her insides burning, a sensation she hadn’t felt in a while. “Well, hello, Ms. Bria. Have you been shopping?”

  “Yes, my mommy bought me this.” Bria turned in her new skirt.

  “Oh, it’s very pretty on you. But that couldn’t have been all she bought you. A beautiful girl like you needs a lot more bags.”

  “Mommy only has two hands,” Lena protested.

  “With my two, that makes four.” Danni took the two big bags from Lena’s hands. Lena was instantly impressed.

  “Danni, we don’t want to stop you from whatever you were doing.”

  Danni shook her head. “I was just walking around, wasting time until a meeting, about to spend some unnecessary money. Shopping for this beautiful princess seems a lot more productive.”

  Bria giggled.

  The
trio headed to Saks Fifth Avenue. Bria ran straight to the toy department. Then she begged to have her face made up in a little girls’ beauty salon in the store. Danni insisted and told the attendants to give Bria whatever she wanted. Lena protested, but Danni insisted again. Lena gave in, realizing it would give her some time to talk to Danni.

  “So if you think spoiling my daughter is going to win points with me, you are very wrong.” Lena smiled seductively as she smelled one of the many Paris Hilton fragrances. Even though it smelled great, she knew she would never be caught dead wearing a Paris Hilton fragrance.

  “Well, I have no problem spoiling the daughter or the mother, if she would let me.” Danni winked. Lena felt butterflies in her stomach. “So why don’t you tell me why you left me high and dry in the club?”

  “I’m so sorry about that. My friend had a mini meltdown when she saw someone she used to be involved with. I really didn’t mean to.”

  Danni leaned against the display counter. “You really hurt my feelings when you left like that.”

  “Yeah, right. I saw that group of girls you were talking to. I’m sure one of them took your mind off of me pretty quickly.” The collection of Bond No. 9 fragrances caught Lena’s eye.

  “No, actually, you are very wrong about that. I can’t tell you who those girls were or are. Maybe you can’t tell this about me yet, but I am very selective. It takes someone special to catch my eye.”

  Lena asked the sales associate for a bottle of Bryant Park. She knew the second she smelled the top, it was for her. “What makes you think I’m so special?”

  Danni squinted her eyes. “Well, for one, you were standing in the VIP and you weren’t attempting to hook up with any of the basketball players or celebrities that were in there.”

  “Oh.” Lena shrugged her shoulders. She hadn’t realized there were other celebrities in the building. She’d been focused on only one.

  “Also, I could tell you had real class. You just reeked of it.”

  “Well, thank you, I guess.” The associate rang up the two-hundred-thirty-dollar bottle of perfume. Lena opened her purse, but Danni put her hand over Lena’s hand.