Treasure

by Rebekah Weatherspoon

  “Hey.”

  Kami stared some more. “Hey.”

  “Ah, sorry. Trisha, this is Kami. Kami, Trisha.” Things didn’t need to be more awkward. They greeted each other nicely, thank God, but Kami still had an expectant look on her face, like Alexis had more explaining to do. But she didn’t. Finally, Kami shook her head and smiled.

  “I—ah—yeah. I was going to text you. A bunch of us underclassmen on the team are going out tomorrow night. I wanted to see if you wanted to come. You both can come.” Kami blinked and looked at their hands again. Alexis prayed Trisha wouldn’t let go.

  “I have to work,” Trisha said politely.

  “Oh, well, Lex, you should come. It’ll be fun.”

  “Yeah, I’ll go, I guess. Just text me.”

  “Okay, cool. Well…” She looked at their hands again, like they were going to do some bizarre magic trick. “I’ll text you tomorrow when we figure out where we’re going.”

  Alexis said cool again and then finally Kami headed off to her next class. They kept walking toward their cars.

  “Should I know something, or…” Trisha asked.

  “That was the not-cool situation. The one I texted you about.”

  “Oh! Her? What happened?”

  “We used to be friends, kind of, and then some stuff happened last year, and she stopped talking to me.”

  “Oh.” Trisha made a face as she glanced over her shoulder at Kami’s back. “You’re gonna hang out with her?”

  “It’s not the way it sounds. I did something. She just didn’t know how to deal with it.”

  “Should I ask for more details? Or just let this one go?”

  “I’ll tell you some time, but not today. Let’s just… I want to hang today. We can talk about messy, depressing stuff later.”

  “Good deal. I have loads of my own crap to share with you. Some other day, we’ll deal with it.” Trisha pulled her closer, wrapping both her hands around Alexis’s palm. It was another hot day, but Alexis didn’t mind at all. She liked the spike in temperature between them.

  *

  The Chamberses’ house was fucking huge. A mansion compared to Trisha’s or her mom’s place, but that didn’t faze her. She had figured Alexis came from a little money from the looks of the bridal party that had shown up in the club that night and the nice car that Alexis drove, but it was more than the obvious flow of cash that put Trisha a little on edge. It was the family that freaked her out a bit. As Alexis showed her around, it became more and more obvious that to be a Chambers was to be an achiever. The shelves of the living room were lined with plaques and statuettes and trophies. Photos of Alexis and her sister, from soccer-playing toddlers to high school graduates, filled the walls. A quick peek in the office her parents shared showed various diplomas and more and more awards.

  Alexis’s bedroom was more of the same; clean and white like the rest of her house, though her room had accents of green. They passed guests rooms with hints of blue, and her sister’s room had bits of yellow. But yeah, Alexis had trophies and plaques. Her high school diploma was framed, too, right over her desk. Trisha thought of her own GED certificate. It was rolled up in a file folder in a lock box under her bed with the rest of her important papers. Trisha’s mom had finished school, and even when her dad died, her mother had done everything to give Trisha a future. She’d never wanted for anything, and her mother had never let her feel like she was missing anything, but being in the Chamberses’ house pointed out the obvious differences in their upbringing.

  She knew that people were people and money didn’t make up for character, but the Chambers family had a lot of money, and combined with their obvious accomplishments, all of the abundance was a little intimidating. She didn’t worry about what Alexis thought about her being a stripper, but something told her that Dr. and Mrs. Chambers might not be down with it. Though when Alexis started to move over toward her bed, Trisha figured she’d worry about keeping up with the rest of the Chambers crew some other time. That anxiety was immediately replaced with something else, a tingle low in her stomach that they would have to handle soon.

  Trisha didn’t want to spook Alexis, so she moved over to her bookshelf. There she saw the music stand parked in the corner, mounted with sheet music. She spun around and found Alexis sitting on her bed now, looking back at her.

  “You said something about a violin?”

  “Here. I’ll show you.” Alexis crossed the room and opened the double doors to her massive closet. Trisha followed her, slinking down to the floor as Alexis closed them in. The space was filled with clothes, of course, and shoe boxes and other things, but Alexis had made a perfect little space, complete with a thick area rug for them to sit on. She reached under a rack of clothes and pulled out her violin case.

  “Classical or contemporary?” Alexis asked as she tucked the instrument under her chin.

  Trisha thought for a moment. “Surprise me.”

  “Okay. You might know this one. Feel free to drop the beat.” Alexis finally smiled, and Trisha could only think about how beautiful she was. In response, Trisha giggled a bit but nodded. Then Alexis started to play. Trisha knew the song right away, a ballad from Beyonce’s most recent album.

  It had been a long time since she’d heard live violin music. The last time she’d been walking down Sunset with the K’s, and a man had been playing for tourist dollars on the corner. There had been so much other noise; cars, people talking and shouting to each other, bus engines, and fake superheroes offering their pictures for ten bucks a pop. Hearing Alexis play was so different. In that tight space, the sound trapped by the fabric hanging around their heads and shoulders, Trisha felt like she was forced to absorb every note. She liked the way it felt. She didn’t have Alexis’s skill, but she had a voice. She picked up the verse in the right spot, and before she knew it, her eyes were closed, and she was singing along; not too loud, but in harmony with the notes Alexis was swishing off her bow. They worked well together.

  Trisha didn’t sing the whole song, but Alexis kept playing. She finished the song and then went right into another one. Trisha didn’t interrupt her, not even to ask her the name of the third song she bled into. Instead she curled up on her side and laid her head on the loose sweatshirt she found on the closet floor. She watched Alexis as her fingers guided the bow across the instrument. A million things crossed through her mind. She knew parts of Alexis, parts she loved, like her shy demeanor that came with a really soft touch, but she wanted to know everything. She wanted to know when she’d first picked up that violin. She wanted to know what else Alexis really loved. She wanted to know what else brought the calm happiness she saw on her face now. And she wanted to kiss her again. She waited though. She knew not to interrupt a master at work.

  Eventually, the last song came to an end. Alexis set her violin back in its case, and then she leaned back against the door, turning all her attention to Trisha.

  “So that’s what I do in my closet.”

  Instead of asking what else she did in that closet of hers, Trisha kissed Alexis. Careful not to bump the violin or its case, she climbed up on her knees, placing her hands on Alexis’s knees. She felt Alexis’s weight shift, ready to support them both, just as their lips touched. Trisha didn’t know what she was doing. The last few years of her life had been so weird, so full of necessary struggles and bizarre interactions with customers in the club. She knew she could handle most anything herself and she had. Still that didn’t ever stop her feeling like she was walking on uneven, muddy ground, in six-inch platforms. Things with Alexis felt strangely level. When she was with Alexis, things felt good.

  When Alexis’s hands slid up to her waist, Trisha moved closer, working her way to straddling Alexis’s lap. They held each other, kissing and kissing like they had that afternoon in the Laundromat. Trisha’s whole body responded the same way it had that afternoon. Her pussy started to hurt. Her tits ached. But they were alone now, and they could do more. Apparently, she wasn’t the
only one who felt that way.

  Alexis pulled back and looked her in the eye. They both tried to catch their breath. “When we kiss like that?”

  “Yeah?”

  “It makes me want to have sex with you,” Alexis said bluntly. “Like I can’t really think about anything but touching you. Or you touching me.”

  “Until I come?”

  Alexis nodded and let out a little breath as her chest quickly rose and fell. “Yeah.”

  “Me, too.”

  Trisha had always thought her first time would be in the club. In her head, she’d thought that one day someone would come in, someone she really clicked with. She’d be all hyped up, just coming down from the pole, and then things would go a little too far during a lap dance, but there would be no consequences, no aftermath. Her fantasy always ended before her imagination would conjure up the details of what fucking a patron would really involve. She’d never imagined she’d meet someone like Alexis. She’d never thought she could meet someone bashful and reserved and like them this much, but she did. So much that she actually sighed when Alexis shifted their position so they ended up lying on the closet floor.

  Things moved so fast, but in a natural way. One second they were kissing, still kissing, and then Alexis’s hips were snuggled between Trisha’s legs. She started moving, feeding off the pressure and friction of her jeans and her underwear rubbing up against her clit. It felt awesome, but it wasn’t enough. Trish reached between them and went for the button on Alexis’s jeans. Alexis caught on. She sat back and then quickly stood up and yanked off her pants. Trisha did the same, pulling down her tight jeans. Alexis assisted the rest of the way, pulling the snug fabric off her feet.

  Alexis was on top of her again, and they were kissing. Trisha thought she’d be good at this, but now she couldn’t even think. Everything was happening so fast. Their lips mashed together, both of their hands groping wildly. It was all so sloppy and clumsy. Trisha knew it, but she didn’t care. She just wanted her body near Alexis’s, like this, for as long as possible. Her hand slid between their stomachs just as Alexis grabbed at her tit. She was still wearing her shirt and her bra, but it felt so good.

  Trisha started to sit up and Alexis followed, their bodies still fused together at the mouths. Trisha reached for her own shirt, hoping Alexis would do the same, but she just sat back long enough for Trisha to strip down to nothing but her boy shorts. Alexis didn’t say anything as she stared back at her chest.

  “No fair,” Trisha said, flashing Alexis a little smile. “You’ve seen me naked before.”

  “Oh.” Alexis looked down, like she didn’t realize that she still had any clothes on. “Do you want me to…?”

  “Here. Let me help you.” Trisha moved onto her knees and shuffled a little bit closer. She grasped the bottom of Alexis’s shirt, smiling a bit more to herself when Alexis raised her arms above her head like a little kid. She had a thick sports bra on underneath. That came off, too. Alexis’s nipples were dark, and the tips were hard. Just looking at them made Trisha wet all over again. She almost pounced on Alexis, kissing her like she was trying to kiss her face off.

  They ended up back on the floor, groping at each other again while they lay on their sides. This time it felt so much better, touching Alexis like that, skin to skin. Trisha moved so she was on top a little. Shifting so she could lick at Alexis’s nipples, she shoved her hand in Alexis’s underwear. Trisha might have made a noise. Something in her shivered or vibrated or cracked or something. Alexis was so wet, so slick between the soft hairs over her pussy. Trisha wasn’t going to stop touching her until she came. The movements of her hand weren’t delicate or smooth. Alexis seemed to like it that way. She made a little sound. Something between a sigh and a cry of pain, but Trisha knew it meant More. Keep going.

  When Alexis’s legs opened wider, Trish said fuck it and climbed all the way on top of her, releasing her nipple and returning to her lips. The position was awkward, but it worked. Trisha’s hand was still between them, still rubbing desperately against Alexis’s clit and all over her pussy. Trisha’s own clit was crushed against Alexis’s leg. They kept kissing.

  Trisha knew she was going to come, but she wanted Alexis to come with her. She pulled back a bit, just to enough to look at Alexis’s face. “I’m gonna come,” Trisha said, almost gasping for air.

  Alexis nodded, her hair musing itself even more on the carpet. “Me, too.”

  She reached down and pressed Trisha’s hand harder against her clit. That made Trisha come. She buried her face against Alexis’s shoulder as she cursed and groaned. She was still coming, grinding her pelvis harder and harder against Alexis’s thigh when she felt Alexis shudder against her.

  Trisha had heard jokes and rumors about how women don’t need breaks like men do. She hadn’t realized how true it was until she felt she was done coming. Or not done coming at all. She was panting. So was Alexis. They were still wrapped around each other. Trisha brushed her mouth along Alexis’s cheek then kissed her again. And then Alexis’s hands were on the backs of her thighs, pulling her on top, spreading her legs apart. Some time before she came again she wondered how long they’d been in the closet and what time Alexis’s mom would be home.

  The answer was more than two hours. It got hot and stuffy in there, and it smelled like pussy but in that really good way. Still, they cracked the door to let some air in. After, they lay there on the little area rug on the floor. Trisha couldn’t stop looking at Alexis. She didn’t want to go to work. She just wanted to be there with her. She hoped Alexis felt the same way.

  “You have to date me now,” Trish said. “I have to be your girlfriend. I don’t give it up for non-girlfriends.” She was joking, except not at all. Her heart paused as Alexis stared back at her. Trisha let out a nervous laugh. “Too soon?”

  “I just—I honestly never thought someone would like me.”

  “But I told you I liked you the other day.” Trisha leaned over and kissed her again. How could she not get it yet?

  “I know. I just don’t believe it. I never thought someone would want me for a girlfriend.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. I just didn’t.”

  “I hope you want to be with me like that.”

  “I do.” Alexis paused for a second and looked down toward Trisha’s stomach before she looked her in the eye again. “I wish you didn’t have to work tonight. Or at all this weekend.”

  “Is it a problem?”

  “No, no, not like that. Just wanna hang out with you more. That’s all. I don’t mind, really. I don’t. I think it’s cool, actually. You’re such a good dancer.”

  Trisha believed her. She had just been guessing when she’d told her mom that Alexis didn’t seem like the jealous type, but the more time they spent together, the more convinced she became that Alexis genuinely seemed to see that Trisha had drawn a clear line between where Treasure stopped and where she began.

  “Me, too. You can bring Kami and her track friends by the club tomorrow if you want.”

  Alexis twisted up her nose, and Trisha had to laugh. “What, you don’t want other people to know I strip?”

  “No. It’s like… Kami’s not cool enough for you.” That made Trisha laugh even harder. “I mean it. I guess I’ll go out with them tomorrow, but I don’t feel like you should have to put up with them just for me. I’m not even one hundred percent sure I want to kick up my friendship with Kami again.”

  “You can come by and see me anytime you want. I can’t give you free dances, but you can come through.”

  “I will some time. Just not tomorrow night. I’ll come alone. I don’t think Kami and the track team need to see me coming in my pants while I watch you work.”

  Trish climbed on top of Alexis and gave her most seductive straddle, Treasure style. “Did you come in your pants the last time you saw me working the pole?”

  “Almost, yeah. You’re sexy.”

  “So are you.”

  Trisha wa
nted to stay, but even without looking at her phone she knew it was time to go. They got dressed, then Alexis walked her out to her car. They agreed to text each other throughout the weekend. Alexis said she’d stay up late if Trisha wanted to talk to her when she got off work. Trisha said she didn’t have to even though she did want to talk to Alexis as soon as she left The Luxor. They compromised. Trisha would text Alexis when she got home, just to say good night. And then Trisha got to kiss her new girlfriend before she headed to work.

  She was still smiling when her mom called her cell. Trisha checked the screen then hit accept. “Hey.”

  “Hey, girl. Where are you?”

  “Just leaving Alexis’s house, my friend I told you about. I’m gonna grab a bite so I don’t pass out then head to work. You off?”

  “Yeah. I looked up your Alexis Chambers on Facebook.”

  “Why, Mom? Oh, my God.” Trisha wasn’t mad, just horrified. She hadn’t even looked Alexis up on Facebook yet. She hardly even checked her own page.

  “I told you the girls at the hospital made me get an account.”

  “Yeah, so you could connect with your friends from high school and find old guys to date.”

  “Thanks, baby. That’s nice. But no, she’s cute. I know her parents.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t actually know them, but I know of her father, and I’ve seen her mother before. Her father is some big time surgeon. Her mother’s a do-gooder, all-about-town type. They seem like nice people.”

  “But?”

  “There’s no but. Just be careful.”

  “Be careful how? She’s not gonna knock me up, and she’s not pushing molly.”

  “You know what I mean, Trisha. I’m proud of you, okay? You know I am. I also love you more than anything, and I just know that all black folks aren’t here for all other black folks. Her parents might be okay with her being with a girl, but they most likely are not looking for their daughter to be matched up with someone from our side of things.”

  Trisha sighed. It was one thing to deal with her own doubt, it just sucked when other people, especially her own mom, lumped onto the pile. Yes, the Chambers family had money and status, but who gave a shit? Okay, maybe she did, but she didn’t want that to get in the way of how things were going between her and Alexis. The buzz she’d felt from having Alexis between her legs—the high that was surging through her that came directly from the fact that she finally had a girlfriend, she finally had something nice with someone she really liked—was completely squashed by the tone of her mother’s voice.