by La Jill Hunt
“Well, we have a lot to celebrate this weekend—a graduation and an engagement. We should have a party!” Magic began dancing around like she was on Soul Train. Sydni stood up and hugged her mother before she left the living room.
“Congratulations, Mama, Mister Joe,” she said quietly.
“What’s wrong, Sydni? Joe told me about your gift. I figured you’d be on cloud nine tonight,” her mother commented.
“I am, Mama. I’m just tired. You know I took my last final this morning and I been working all day, unlike some people.” She gestured toward Magic, who was still dancing in the middle of the floor.
“Whew, anyone taste any haterade up in here, up in here?” Magic stuck her tongue out at Sydni. The ringing of the cell phone on her hip caused her to stop her performance and excuse herself. Sydni took this as her cue to leave her mother and Mr. Joe too. She could hear Magic laughing and making plans for the night all the way down the hall.
In a way, she wished she would have opened up to other females and gained a group of friends like Magic had, but she knew better. She had been burnt more than one time by females who were supposedly her friends, and it wasn’t even worth the grief of trying to make any more. Her best friends still lived in Georgia and she talked to them on a regular basis. They did enough bonding on the phone to keep her happy, and she couldn’t see herself bonding with a female in New York anyway. She would party and hang out enough when she got back down South, if she ever did.
4
“Oh, Sydni, I am so proud of you,” her mother cried when Sydni made her way across the auditorium after the commencement. Her mother had already used one roll of film snapping pictures of Sydni in her cap and gown before they left the house. Now, she was still snapping, nearly blinding Sydni with the flash.
“Me too, Syd. You go, girl!” Magic hugged her and thrust a bunch of balloons in her hand.
“Thanks, Mag. You know you’re next.”
“Ha, I don’t think so. Walking across that stage once was hard enough.” Magic laughed.
Sydni was grateful that this day had finally come. All her hard work had paid off. Her mother, Magic, Mr. Joe and Byron had applauded loudly as she proudly received her Associates Degree in Business. There was only one person missing as she looked at them sitting in the audience: Aaron.
“How does it feel to be a graduate?” Byron asked as she hugged him.
“It feels good. I accomplished another goal on my list,” Sydni answered as she closed her eyes and tried not to think about her brother. She thought she was seeing things when she opened them and saw the tall figure carrying a bouquet of roses toward her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I came to watch you march.” Darrius shrugged and handed her the flowers. She reluctantly took them from him and mumbled a thank you.
“Darrius, thank you for coming.” Her mother hugged him for a long time. “You don’t know how much this means.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” he said, avoiding Sydni’s eyes. Magic nudged Sydni and winked at her as she took Darrius’ arm into hers.
“Are you coming back to the house with us, D? Mama hooked up a spread for Sydni and she even made your favorite: peach cobbler.”
Sydni squinted her eyes in anger, but Magic ignored her. She looked at Darrius and tried not to notice how good he looked in the cream linen pants and ivory shirt he wore. She reminded herself that if it weren’t for him, her brother would be standing there with them right now.
“I don’t know. I mean, I’m sure that’s gonna be a private family dinner. I don’t want to intrude on Sydni’s celebration.” He looked at Sydni for some sign that he was invited, but she looked away from him.
“What are you talking about, boy? You are family,” her mother interjected.
“Besides, its also gonna be an engagement dinner,” Mr. Joe added as he stepped beside her mother.
“What? Who’s engaged? I know Magic ain’t suckered nobody into marrying her yet.”
“No, silly. Joe and I are engaged.” She held out her hand so he could see the two-carat solitaire she had been wearing since Friday night. Darrius checked out the ring and whistled. He looked over at Sydni, who still had the look of disdain on her face, and he knew that she must not be happy about the situation.
“Wow, congratulations. I think I’m gonna have to pass,” he told them, not wanting to add fuel to Sydni’s already burning fire. He really didn’t want to be around her and her white boy anyway. The only reason he came to the ceremony and brought the flowers was because he knew it was something that Aaron would have wanted him to do for her. That trick didn’t even care. She barely said thank you. He congratulated Sydni once again and quickly said good-bye to everyone, promising to see them all soon.
“That was nice of him,” Mr. Joe commented.
“It was,” Byron added.
“Darrius has always been a thoughtful young man. I always liked him. He was like the brother Aaron always wanted. He would have been so proud of you, Sydni,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“I know, Ma.” Sydni hugged her again. Magic could feel the emotions building up in her chest as she watched her mother and sister. She quickly diffused the situation.
“Yo, let’s go. We got folks waiting at the house, ready to eat.”
“She’s right. We’d better be going,” Mr. Joe reminded them. “Honey, take a picture of Sydni and me before we leave.”
“Okay. Go ahead, Sydni,” her mother said cheerfully. Sydni eased next to his chunky frame and tried not to cringe as he put his arm around her.
“Say cheese,” Byron said. Sydni looked over at Magic, who was distracted by a group of guys standing near them. Sydni managed a weak smile as her mother aimed the camera.
“Cheese.” Mr. Joe grinned. Sydni’s eyes got big when she felt his hand palm her ass as the camera flashed. She swiftly stepped away from him, totally surprised at his boldness.
“Now that’s gonna be a good one, Joe,” her mother said.
“Yes, it is,” he said, looking at Sydni, licking his lips. “I’ll bet it is.”
5
Sydni thought she was dreaming as the sound of moaning drifted into her room. She sat up in bed when she realized the sound was coming from the room next to hers. She looked at the clock on her nightstand and the numbers read nine twenty-two. She had overslept. She was supposed to have been at work forty-five minutes ago. She jumped up and opened her door, easing toward the noise. She stood outside Magic’s room, appalled. She could hear the bed creaking and her sister crying out in ecstasy and a male voice groaning. Sydni stood, listening, growing aroused as she heard them cry out in unison. She felt her heart beating and her breath becoming faster. She turned when she heard footsteps approaching the door and went back into her room.
“I’m takin’ a shower. You wanna join me?” Magic said. Sydni could tell she was right in front of her door.
“Hell, yeah. I’m all about savin’ water, boo!” the male voiced boomed out.
“What the hell are you doing?” Sydni scared the hell out of her sister as she opened the door. Magic had stepped naked into the hallway and almost fell the hell out from surprise.
“Wh-what are you doing home, Sydni? Why aren’t you at work?” Magic asked, backing toward her room. Her male companion stuck his head out of the room to see what was going on.
“Oh shit,” he said and quickly disappeared into the room.
“Who the fuck is that?” Sydni walked toward her sister who began to back up.
“He . . . I . . . Uh.”
“Shut up! I don’t even wanna know who he is. I want you dressed and him the fuck up outta here, now!” Sydni yelled and stormed back into her room. She could not believe Magic. Her sister ran, naked, back into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Sydni could hear the murmuring of their voices. She was so mad that she didn’t know what to do. She looked at the clock again and then picked up the phone and called the c
leaners, hoping that Miss Donna, the other woman who worked in the cleaners as a presser and steamer, would pick up the phone. She would often work for Sydni when she couldn’t make it.
“Good Morning, Davis Cleaners,” Miss Donna answered cheerfully. Sydni loved her Jamaican accent.
“Hi, Miss Donna. It’s Sydni.”
“Sydni, chile, you all right?” the woman asked. Sydni could hear the closing of the cash register in the background. She knew it was usually slow on Mondays, but sometimes you never could tell.
“Yes, Ma’am. I am so sorry. I overslept this morning.”
“Dat’s okay. It been really slow dis mornin’. Only ’bout two or three people been in here. Your friend came to bring you your coffee, though. I tink he was kinda disappointed dat it was me in ’ere and not you.” She laughed heartily into the phone. Sydni could feel pounding in her head and tension in her neck. She knew that she was not going to make it to work. She still had to deal with Magic and her visitor and she knew that meant spending most of the morning arguing with her sister.
“I’m not gonna make it, Miss Donna. I don’t feel well,” Sydni told her.
“Dat’s okay, chile. I can stay all day. You get some rest. I’ll let Joe know for ya.”
“Thanks, Miss Donna. I will,” Sydni said and hung up the phone. She walked back out into the hallway, listening to see if Magic’s company had heeded her words and gotten the hell out. There were no sounds coming from Magic’s room as she knocked on the door. She turned the knob and peeked in; the room was empty. The bed was rumpled, but there were no signs of Magic or anyone else. Where the hell did she go? Sydni wondered. She searched the rest of the house, but Magic was nowhere to be found. Sydni quickly got dressed and headed out of the house in search of her sister. She couldn’t have gone far.
Sydni walked up and down her block for about fifteen minutes, and then returned home. She was surprised that her mother was home when she got there. She entered her mother’s bedroom without knocking.
“Lord, Sydni, you scared me, girl. What are you doing home?” she asked. Sydni watched as her mother took things out of her dresser drawers and rearranged them.
“I had a headache so I didn’t go to work,” Sydni answered. “What are you doing?”
“Making room for Joe’s things,” her mother answered like it was no big deal. Sydni felt the pounding in her head get louder.
“What?” she said without thinking.
“Well, it makes no sense for him to renew his lease on his place another year since we’re getting ready to be married anyway. He’s just gonna move in here.” She continued to shift underwear and socks.
“When did all this happen and why didn’t you discuss it with me and Magic first?”
“I didn’t know I had to discuss it with you and your sister. Last time I checked it was my name on the mortgage. Is there a problem?” She turned and frowned at her daughter. She loved her daughter, although she was rather overprotective of her family at times, but now she was going too far.
“I’m just saying, Ma. Isn’t this kind of fast? I guess I figured that you all were gonna have a long engagement, that’s all.” Sydni sighed and left her mother before she could say another word. It seemed as if her life could not get any worse than it already was. She walked back outside and sat on the steps. She looked down the busy street filled with people with so much to do and no time for her and her problems. She became lost in her own thoughts. Soon, a car pulled in front of her.
“Sydni, what’s wrong? I went to the store and you weren’t there. Then I called you and got no answer.” Byron jumped out of his silver Audi and ran beside her.
“Nothing, Byron. I just didn’t feel like going in, that’s all.”
“Come on, Sydni. I know you better than that. What’s wrong? Tell me, sweetie.” He sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulder. She could not stop the tears from falling. She told him about Magic and the guy, then went on to tell him about Mr. Joe moving in.
“I can’t take this anymore. I just want to get the hell away from here. God, is that so much to ask?” She cried.
Byron watched as she poured out her heart. He was in love with this beautiful girl who seemed to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders, but she didn’t take him or his feelings seriously. Since he had known her, all she talked about was leaving New York and going back down South. As much as he didn’t want that to happen, he wanted her to be happy. His eyes stared into her soft face, frowning with hurt and anger, and traveled down her seductive body. Her full breasts went up and down as she breathed in anger. He would do anything to touch them, to feel her body against his. She was his angel.
“Sydni, come on. You need to take a ride,” he told her, pulling her up.
“I don’t want to take a ride. There’s nowhere for me to go,” she told him.
“Come on. Just get in the car,” he pleaded. She looked at him and decided the hell with it. Anywhere was better than sitting there. She got into his car and they drove down the street. Byron put on Maxwell and she sat back and relaxed.
They drove down to the Village and walked around, not really talking, just making comments every now and then. He knew she didn’t have a lot to say and respected that. She was glad he did. They paused in front of a building that used to hold one of Sydni’s favorite stores. It was now gone, replaced by scaffolds and work trucks, clearly being renovated for something else. The sounds of drilling and hammering echoed as she peered inside the empty building.
“I wonder what they’re putting here?” she said out loud.
“Yo, D, can you come here and help me install this sprinkler when you finish that one?” a gruff voice called from inside the building.
“Sure thing. Let me grab my other bag out of the truck.”
Sydni searched for the source of the sound coming closer and closer to her from the doorway. Darrius was looking down, focusing on some mechanical gadget in his hand. He didn’t even see her standing there. He was dressed in some grungy jeans and a ripped T-shirt, his thick arms covered in dust. She looked at his strong face as he concentrated on what he was doing. She could not help but stare at him. Before she knew it, he had passed her, just like that. In the five years she had known him, he had never just walked by her without acknowledging her presence. She stood, watching him reach into the white work van and pull out a tool bag, continuing to work.
As she watched Darrius, Byron watched her. He noticed the look of desire in her eyes as she stared at the man she had always claimed to despise. He had never wondered about their relationship until now. He didn’t like what he was seeing. It made him uncomfortable.
“Sydni, come on!” he called out to her.
Darrius looked up at the sound of Sydni’s name and saw her standing in front of the work site. He hadn’t even noticed she was there, but damn, he saw her now. She was looking as fine as ever in her jean shorts and tank top. As usual, she was with the white boy. He smirked as he glanced over at the punk who followed her around like a puppy. That’s just the kind of man she needs, because I know she can’t handle a real man like me.
“What’s up, Sydni?” he spoke.
“Hi, Darrius,” was her only response. As she stared at him, she forgot that she hated him and it actually came out sounding like a sincere hello.
“I didn’t even see you out here. My bad,” he continued.
“I know. You were too busy working, I see.”
“Yeah, we’re trying to be finished by the end of the week and we ’bout two guys short.” He took a few steps closer so he could see her pretty eyes.
“Oh,” she said, not looking up at him. She was too afraid he might see the heat she held for him. Oh, God. There’s no way Magic was right.
“Hey, Darrius.” Byron stepped up and interrupted their conversation. He wanted to stop this before it got any further.
“Hey there, Byron. You guys just hanging out?”
“Yeah, just hanging out. You ready, Syd?” He rea
ched and took Sydni’s hand in his. She didn’t resist; she was too confused by what was going on in her head.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m ready.” She nodded. Her eyes never left Darrius’ hands.
“Yo, D? Where you at, man?” the gruff voice from inside called out once again.
“Here I come, man!” he yelled back. “Well, I gotta go. Yo, tell your moms and Magic I said what’s up.”
He closed the van door and walked past them and back into the building. Sydni slowly looked up and took a deep breath. Byron knew something was on her mind and it had something to do with Darrius. He decided to remind her of why she didn’t like him.
“Have the authorities said anything else about Aaron’s killer?”
The sound of Aaron’s name caused a shadow to come across her face and she quickly remembered her disfavor for her brother’s friend. She looked back into the doorway of the building, her heart heavy once again.
“No, they still haven’t said. They’re still investigating. Come on, I need to get back home and talk to my sister,” she said.
Magic finally returned home after midnight. Usually, Sydni would be knocked out in her room, but not tonight. As Magic crept into her bedroom and flicked on the light, Sydni was sitting in the middle of her bed, eyes wide open. Magic screamed.
“Shut up before Ma wakes up!” Sydni hushed her.
“What the hell are you doing in my room?”
“Waiting to cuss your ass out. What, you thought I was gonna just let that shit go? Think again.”
“Look, Syd. I am so sorry about that. I thought you and Mama were gone. Usually no one is home that time of day.”
“I don’t care what time of day it is. You don’t have no business fucking in this house, period,” Sydni hissed.
“Oh please, Sydni. In case you didn’t notice, I am grown. I don’t know why you’re on this holier than thou tip, but you’d better get off it and make it quick. No business fucking in this house? Girl, please. Do you know how much pussy Aaron got in his room? And that nigga was in high school. You’re crazy.” Magic shook her head at Sydni and her self-appointed authority. “At least I respected this house enough to do it when no one was here. The only reason you found out was because you happened to stay home from work. Now, can you get out so I can go to bed?”