Keep It Movin'

by L. Divine

  It seems unfair that people with more influence can get away with more shit. It’s also unfair that some people can get away with murder—whether literal or metaphorical—and the rest of us have to pay for it. Now I know what it means to be caught up in the matrix.

  “I’m so glad you could join us, Miss Jackson,” Mrs. Bennett says from her stance next to the vice principal’s desk. “This shouldn’t take long. We wouldn’t want you to waste any more of your precious time.” Why is she so snide with me all the time? You’d think she’d get tired of being a bitch and take a break for a day, but no such luck.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Bennett,” I reluctantly say. I nod what’s up to Mickey and Nigel and sit down in the seat closest to the door and across from them. No need for me to be front and center for this conference. This is all on my friends because I’m not confessing a damn thing. And without any real proof, I should be off the hook.

  “Ah, I see everyone’s here,” Assistant Principal Brown says, stepping into his office with a stack of papers in his hands, officially starting the meeting. I hope we get out of here before lunch. “Now, I’m sure you are all aware of the severity of the matter at hand,” he says, causing Mrs. Bennett to smile big and bright. This is what gets her going, I see.

  “Can I just say that I’m pregnant and have had to miss a lot of school in the past couple of months,” Mickey says, rubbing her stomach with her free hand. She’s been holding on tight to her man with the other one, for dear life.

  “Yes, we are aware of your situation,” Mr. Brown says, clearing his throat. He seems more embarrassed by Mickey’s pregnancy than anyone. “Which is why going to the continuation school is the best option for you. Now, back to the matter at hand.” Before Mr. Brown can continue, Nigel steps in.

  “Wait a minute. Mickey’s not going anywhere. We’re both finishing high school right here and we’ll raise our baby together.” Nigel’s extra sensitive now that his parents have introduced adoption as an option. And this is no way for him to find out about Mickey’s new school address.

  “Oh, I’m sure Mickey’s already informed you of her decision. No need to be so defensive,” Mrs. Bennett says, going in for the kill. I don’t know how she knows, but Mrs. Bennett’s hip to the fact that Mickey was keeping this important information from Nigel.

  “Mickey, what the hell is she talking about?” Nigel asks, momentarily forgetting why we’re really here.

  “Baby, I was going to tell you later.” Mickey rubs his hand gently, but Nigel can’t be soothed. He abruptly pulls his hand away from hers, returning his attention to the meeting.

  “Well, as I was saying. We have a serious accusation, but without one of you confessing, we have no proof. Mickey, your parents won’t return our calls or letters. Nigel, we’ve talked to your parents and they’ve assured the administration that the reins will be tightened around your neck, especially since we’re counting on you for a winning football season,” Mr. Brown says with a smirk on his face, but Nigel’s not returning his enthusiasm.

  If Nigel couldn’t run fast he’d be just another black boy to Mr. Brown. But because Nigel has skills on the football field, he’s got the power of the administration to back him up. His parents having money doesn’t hurt, either. Influence can be bought if you’re willing to pay the price. Speaking of selling out, Misty walks through the door, dropping off more paperwork on Mr. Brown’s desk, not missing her opportunity to gloat a little. If it weren’t for her and Nellie, we wouldn’t have gotten caught in the first place.

  “And Mickey, if you do decide to stay in regular school, one more absence will land you and your parents in hot water, legally. So we’re all glad you made the right choice.” Nigel looks at Mrs. Bennett and then at Mickey, who’s near-tears she wants to cuss someone out so bad. “But forgery cannot be overlooked and neither can poisoning a student,” Mrs. Bennett says, getting to why I’m present. I know she wishes she could prove that I’m the reason Laura lost her voice on the opening night of our production, but she can’t. It’s too bad I can’t take credit for the miracle because I’m quite proud of my work.

  “And Jayd, well there’s not much we can do without solid proof, as you know. But because of your history and the fact that an eye-witness has come forward stating that they saw you sign Mickey’s note, it can’t be ignored that you were in on it. But, again we can’t prove it. So, the investigation will continue until further notice.”

  “One step out of line young lady and you will be back on probation, Miss Jackson,” Mrs. Bennett says, taking the last word. How the hell did I get back here? I hate it when she has something to hold over my head. It’s only a matter of time before she finds a way to nail me to the cross for one thing or another. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Mrs. Bennett win again. She’s already humiliated me once this year and Ms. Toni is still boiling from that encounter. Now she has me in her claws again over some shit that Mickey did. This isn’t right. I feel like I’m in a warped reality and I have no control over how it’s turning out.

  “Okay, I think we’re done here. Nigel, now don’t let this upset you, son. We’ve got an away game tonight and we’re winners, right?” Mr. Brown says, standing up to give Nigel a high five, which he’s left hanging on. Mr. Brown sits back down.

  “May I be excused now?” Nigel asks. He looks like he wants to punch a hole in the wall.

  “Yes, son, of course. You’re off the hook.” Nigel gets up from his seat and storms out of the office, leaving the door wide open behind him. Mickey looks at me and I shrug my shoulders. I don’t know what she expected. I told her hiding this from him wouldn’t go over well, just like all of her other lies. She’s gotten too big for her britches, as my grandfather would say, and she’s being humbled now. It’s about time, even if I think Mrs. Bennett’s being a bit harsh, as usual.

  “And Mickey, don’t forget to clean out your locker by the end of next week.” Mrs. Bennett feels so powerful when she gets her way, and today she looks like she’s on top of the world.

  “Girls, you’re free to go,” Mr. Brown says. Mickey and I gladly leave the office, ready to eat lunch and just get the hell out of here. It’s Friday, and I’m glad I get the weekend to recuperate from this week, today being the most eventful of them all. I’m still not sure which friend Mama was talking about becoming my worst enemy, but I’m sure that’ll reveal itself in time. Right now I’m feeling like Mickey and Nellie have both done a good job of getting me into plenty of trouble, and we still have another semester to go. I don’t know if I can take any more drama from my friends this year.

  “Jayd, what am I going to do about Nigel?” Mickey asks, not even clear of the main office yet. She could give a damn less about her educational future or anyone else’s. All that matters is her relationship with Nigel, and I’ve had it with this girl and her selfish behavior. We have two minutes before the bell for lunch rings and it’s more than enough time for me to tell her what I think.

  “What you’re going to do is let this blow over. He’s got a lot to process,” I say, stopping short of telling her about the adoption suggestion he’s also dealing with. “This is about more than just you, Mickey.”

  “But I can’t let him think I wasn’t going to tell him. I have to convince him I was right about this one,” Mickey says, pulling out her BlackBerry, ready to harass Nigel into submission if necessary.

  “Whatever, Mickey. I’m officially out of it,” I say, walking to my locker to switch out my books for the weekend. Rah’s meeting me here after school and following me to my mom’s house after we handle our business. I took the afternoon off from Netta’s to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to register my hoopty, and we’ll probably hang out afterwards. Kamal’s spending this weekend with their grandparents, so we’ll have the entire weekend to ourselves, Rahima included.

  “Out of it? You can’t be out of it. We’re all friends and I need you now more than ever to convince Nigel not to be too mad at me.”

  “Mickey,
are you listening to yourself? You just put Nigel in a very vulnerable position with the school, not to mention I’m on thin ice because of your shit. If we really are friends, now’s the time for you to back off and let your friends cool off. Enough, Mickey,” I say, slamming my locker door shut as the bell rings loudly through the empty hall. Nigel emerges from the boy’s restroom and Mickey runs to him. His face is stoic and I know this isn’t going to be good.

  “I’ll leave you two alone,” I say, passing them up to go outside. Today feels like a turkey-burger-and-fries kind of day for me and I want to be the first in line. I’m hungry and not in the mood for long lines.

  Fifteen minutes later we’re sitting outside on our lunch break, and Mickey and Nigel have been going at it since I left them behind in the main hall. They both have valid points, but neither one is listening to the other. With them both confessing—Nigel about his parents pushing for adoption, and Mickey about hiding the fact that she’s leaving the main campus next week—the heat between them is hotter than I’ve ever witnessed, and not in a good way.

  “Mickey, how could you not tell me that they want you to leave school because you’re pregnant with my baby? What type of shit is that?” The two of them are really drawing a crowd this afternoon and the spectators are loving the show, Misty and haters included. I’m surprised Misty’s not busy posting up more flyers for the Valentine’s Day dance next month, since I found out that she’s volunteering in ASB after all.

  “Baby, I didn’t want you to be upset and off your game. Besides, you didn’t tell me that your mama and daddy want us to give our baby away. What type of shit is that?” Mickey says, antagonizing my boy right back. Damn, this isn’t good, and Chance is off who knows where with Nellie, and Jeremy isn’t anywhere to be found, either.

  I have no choice but to let them go at it, especially since—technically—I helped keep both their secrets. And this week I’ve been playing incognegro, trying to help them out of this mess and keep me from getting hurt in the midst of it. I don’t know how good a job I’m doing but from the looks of it, someone’s going home with some bruises and it isn’t going to be me. That was the point of my recent cleansing and I’m glad to see it’s working.

  “Upset? Off my game? Well, lying to me doesn’t help in either situation, Mickey. When were you planning on telling me? When I didn’t see you at lunch one day?” Mickey looks like she wants to cry but sucks it up to save face. If it were just the two of them she’d be bawling her eyes out by now.

  “Nigel, I was just trying to help. Please don’t be mad at me.” Mickey holds on to her man for dear life, but he’s too vexed to be held right now.

  “I have to get some air,” Nigel says. He gets up to leave, then, doubles back for one final word. “It’s my baby too, Mickey, which means I have a say in how we live, you feel me?” I’ve never seen Nigel so hurt before. Mickey doesn’t know him like I do and to get him this hot takes a lot. Mickey’s gone too far this time.

  “Jayd, what am I going to do?” Mickey asks when Nigel’s gone, looking to me for the answer I don’t have. Just then, Chance and Nellie walk into the yard, hand in hand. Mickey follows my eyes across the grass and catches Nellie’s eye, and Nellie offers a sinister smile in return. What Nellie doesn’t know is that Mrs. Bennett pissed Mickey off at this morning’s conference and now Mickey has nothing to lose by kicking her ass. “I’ll be right back.” Mickey charges across the yard toward her former best friend, ready to mow the lawn with her face.

  “Mickey, don’t do it!” I run after my girl but it’s no use. I know she’s going in for the kill. After this morning’s meeting and her argument with Nigel, my girl’s feeling completely powerless and needs to take it out on someone. And who better than the person she blames for it all? I wish I could end this day and start it all over again. But this isn’t a movie and we have to play the scene out, however it unfolds.

  “Nellie, I can’t believe you would sell me out like that,” Mickey says, close to reaching her destination. Misty looks on, loving the drama and the fact that my crew is falling apart. How did this happen? I feel like I’m in a twisted reality and Misty’s the architect. Choosing the path of a coward, Nellie turns around and Mickey stops in her tracks, winded from the long trek. I guess that belly weight’s starting to slow her down. I hope it stops her from ruining all of our lives, sooner rather than later.

  After my eventful day, the last thing I want to do is go to the DMV, but business is business and I have to handle mine no matter what. Luckily I made an appointment so at least I won’t have to wait in line. I filled out all of the paperwork online and printed it out to give to them. Hopefully, this will be over quickly.

  Rah pulls up to the front of the school, bumping Eazy E loudly from his speakers.

  “Hey, baby,” he says, getting out of his seat to help me with my bags. Kamal must already be at his grandparents’ house.

  “Hey, you. How was your day?”

  “Better than yours, or so I heard.” I know Nigel already filled him in on the day’s events.

  “Yeah, I bet it was. Where’s Rahima?” I know he’s supposed to have her this weekend and I can’t wait to see her.

  “Sandy’s dropping her off later.”

  “Oh.” The last thing I want is to run into her.

  “You can leave your car here and we’ll pick it up on the way back. Your appointment’s at four, in Torrance, right?”

  “Yeah, that’s right. I hope it doesn’t take too long. It’s been a long day and I’m ready to chill.” I throw my backpack in his backseat and get in, glad to let him drive.

  “Sounds like someone needs to take a hit,” Rah says. He knows I don’t smoke so he must be high himself.

  “A hit of what? I know you’re not talking about passing me the blunt.”

  “Why not, girl? You can’t stay a virgin forever, you know.”

  “Uhm, I plan on staying a virgin for a very, very long time and in more ways than one.” Rah smiles at me, laughs a little, and then turns the music up. I guess he has no comment. Rah knows better than anyone not to push that subject with me.

  After handling my car business and returning to school so I could pick up my hoopty, Rah asked me to spend the evening with him and wait for Sandy to bring Rahima for the weekend. We order a pizza and settle into the melodic groove of his latest studio creation. No matter what’s going on around him, Rah never gets too far out of his flow.

  “That’s nice,” I say, biting into my Hawaiian barbeque slice while he cues up The Last Dragon on the DVD player. This is one of the few movies I never get tired of watching. Rah’s outdone himself today. First he surprised me with flowers when I finished filing my car registration, then he filled my tank with gas and gave me money for my cell bill this month. If he keeps it up I’m going to end up asking him to get back with me, instead of the other way around. He’s improved a lot lately and I’m taking notice.

  “I wanted to talk to you about court next week. Are you still going to be able to come?”

  “Of course I’ll be there. Anything you need,” I say, taking a sip of my cream soda before taking another bite of my slice.

  “Well, I’m glad to hear that because my lawyer says I’d have a better chance if I present myself as a responsible young man. But since I’m a minor and I can’t get married yet, a steady girlfriend is the next best thing. So, what do you say? Will you be that girl for me?”

  “Why can’t you just tell him the truth, that we’ve been friends since junior high and I’m not going anywhere again?” I can see Rah has thought about this and I’m not going to be able to convince him otherwise.

  “Jayd, it has to be steady, so I need you to say that we’ve been together since junior high and that Sandy was just a mistake, but you forgave me.”

  “Sandy was a mistake and I did forgive you, but I’m not lying to a judge about anything.”

  “But Jayd, you have to. Otherwise my case against Sandy will be weak.”

  “So th
at’s what this day was all about? You just want me to be your surrogate wifey? Oh hell no,” I say, getting up from our impromptu picnic and leaving him alone.

  “Jayd, come on. What’s the big deal? Trish would do it in a heartbeat.”

  “Well then go ask her,” I say, pissed that he even brought her up.

  “That wouldn’t be such a good idea. Besides, you’re a much better candidate.”

  “Candidate? I wasn’t aware I was in a race.” I get up, collect my shit and grab my keys from the coffee table. It’s times like this I’m glad I can leave when I’m ready. “I’m sick of you using me, Rah. When will you grow the hell up?”

  “Jayd, wait. Where are you going? Rahima will be here in a minute.”

  “I’m going home where I know where I stand, no other candidates necessary. And you can tell the judge you’re single, because I’m definitely out of the picture.”

  “Are you calling it that?” Rah asks, watching my tears fall. Do I really want to call it—whatever this is that we have—quits right now? I don’t feel like I do, but my head is telling me something different. I can’t let his drama keep affecting my life.

  “I don’t know. Is that what you want?” I ask, not sure if I want to write him off completely.

  “Hell, no. Why would I want to burn a bridge that I might want to walk on—or across—one day?” Rah is such the ghetto philosopher and I love him for it. But he’s got to come with more than that to convince me otherwise.

  “Rah, just leave me alone, please.”

  “No.” Damn, it’s like that? “I’m going to always be here, whether you like it or not.” I look at him and can feel his regret, but I’m still too hurt to hear him right now. First Mickey, now Rah. What’s wrong with my friends? As usual, Mama was on point with her reading.

  On my way home, I’m so pissed I can’t see straight. Normally I’d call one of my girls but that’s not an option tonight. But Mama can help, and is always available for her favorite granddaughter.