Mirrored Images

by Michelle Larks

  Valerie followed her sister’s gaze and checked out her sister’s prey. Their waitress, clad in a black and pink uniform took drink orders. The sisters ordered ginger ale. As Vanessa sipped the cool drink, she was unable to tear her eyes away from Nate.

  She took measure of the woman sitting beside him, then shrugged her shoulders, dismissing her as a serious rival. Her feet itched to walk over to Nate and claim him.

  Valerie scooted over to her sister’s side. “So, sis, what now? It looks like Mr. Adams is in the house.” Valerie snickered.

  Vanessa sipped more ginger ale and smiled as her sister. Her fingers tapped the tabletop impatiently after she set the glass down. “Yes, Nate is definitely in the house. Now I’ve got a figure out a way to get his attention.”

  “Hmm… The woman sitting next to him seems to have a lock on his attention for the moment I’d say.”

  Vanessa shook her head. “The operative words are ‘for the moment’. Trust me, Mr. Adams will be aware of my presence shortly.”

  The girls enjoyed their share of dances, as many would-be suitors invited the vivacious coeds to dance. The wheels began clicking in Vanessa’s mind. The hell with it, she thought. If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, then the mountain will go to him. She drained a glass of sloe fuzz gin after accepting a dance. She walked to the center of the room to the dance floor and maneuvered her body until she was standing directly behind Nate.

  * * *

  The object of Vanessa’s desire noticed the signals the woman had been sending his way all night. He suppressed a smile that wanted to make an appearance on his face. He unconsciously pulled his dance partner Jacqueline closer to him and turned her around after glancing suggestively at Vanessa once more.

  A second later, Nate’s eyes flew open. He felt a tap on his back. He was amused to see Vanessa standing before him like a vestal virgin.

  Vanessa smiled at Nate, her dance partner standing helplessly by her side. “Excuse me. May I have this dance, kind sir?” Her voice took on a southern drawl.

  Jacqueline frowned in annoyance and opened her mouth to probably reply, “Hell no”. Nate walked gallantly in front of Vanessa and held his hand out. “My mother told me it’s not polite to turn down a lovely lady. Sure. Jackie, I’ll be back.”

  Jacqueline was not happy with the turn of events. She turned on her heel and stalked back to her seat. The man Vanessa had been dancing with made a not so graceful exit, grumbling as he returned to the bar. Jacqueline glared ominously at Vanessa.

  Nate grasped Vanessa hand, then pulled her close to him as the tempo of the music slowed down. She breathed his essence, which pleased her. It was a tantalizing, woodsy musky odor. His hands encircled her waist like a leather belt. “Vanessa Ross is my name,” she murmured looking up wide-eyed at him.

  “Nathan Adams.” Nate tipped his head down. “Pleased to meet you, Vanessa,” he replied, as he spun her a couple of times.

  “I’ve heard a lot about you, Nate.” Vanessa smiled seductively. “And I’d like to get to know you better.”

  Nate smiled. “I’m flattered but I must warn you that I am taken. Jackie is my girl and we’ve been dating for a couple of years.”

  “Well, the way I look at it,” Vanessa confessed, licking her lips as she tightened her arms around Nate’s neck. “You aren’t married. So that makes you fair game.”

  The song, One Less Bell to Answer by the Fifth Dimension ended and The Closer I Get to You by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway began. Nate started to leave the dance floor when Vanessa grabbed his arm. “May I have one more dance please?”

  Nate and Vanessa walked to the center of the floor. He glimpsed Jackie sitting at their table; her eyes shot daggers at him and Vanessa. He shrugged helplessly.

  “See, that’s what I’m talking about. If you were so happy with Miss Mouse, then you wouldn’t be here dancing with me,” Vanessa teased him, batting her eyes.

  “So, what do you want from me, pretty lady?” Nate asked innocently, widening his eyes, but amused at the audacity his dance partner displayed.

  “You mean you don’t know?” Vanessa flirted as she tightened her arms around his shoulders. “I want you. What else?”

  Suddenly Jacqueline appeared before them. Her eyes threw daggers at Vanessa. “Nate, I’m ready to go.” She walked heavily away and toward the exit.

  “Damn,” Nate mumbled as he walked away. “I’ve got to go.”

  Vanessa kept pace with him and thrust a matchbook into his hand. “Here’s my number, Nate. Use it.” She pecked him gently on the cheek. Her red lipstick seemed to leave a brand on his face. Nate looked at Vanessa as she strode back to her table, thinking, this one is a real piece of work, I’d better catch up with Jackie. He knew there would be hell to pay later. I guess I won’t be getting any tonight.

  He paused and stared curiously at Vanessa again before he walked out the door and his lips curved into a smile. Vanessa raised her hand triumphantly and waved.

  * * *

  Valerie, witnessing the exchange, chortled in delight as she watched her sister work her magic. Damn she’s good, she thought. I need to take pointers from her.

  Vanessa returned to her seat. Valerie leaned over and said over the loud music, “ Van, there ain’t no shame in your game is it? I have to give you your props. Nate looked like he didn’t know what hit him. Sister, you whipped it on him, like a runaway train. By the time the dances were over, Nate looked like someone could have knocked him over with a feather.”

  Vanessa raised her glass at Val and the two clinked and sipped the cool liquor. Vanessa chewed tiny pieces of ice trying to quell the warmth that scorched her body. She fanned her shiny face. “Girl, you know I don’t play around when I want something and I’m going to have Nathaniel Adams come hell or high water.” She made her vow, smiling to herself. The evening had gone as she’d planned.

  Chapter Six

  Melissa turned over lazily in the single bed and snuggled under the sheet that enfolded her supple body. Melissa’s eyes flew to the clock on the tiny nightstand next to the bed. Another school day was officially in progress. She half-heartedly made a motion to rise from the bed. Her eyes fluttered open and then closed, realizing it was Tuesday and she didn’t have classes until after noon but then remembered her teacher had scheduled a history test tomorrow, and that studying at the library this morning headed her to-do list.

  Grumbling as she got out of the bed twenty minutes later, Melissa hurriedly bathed her body, pulled on a pair of stonewashed jeans and a red and white, striped teeshirt. She pulled on white socks and red tennis shoes. She quickly pulled her hair into a ponytail.

  After consuming a light breakfast, Melissa sat in the library pouring over a textbook on European History.

  An hour later, she later removed her reading glasses and rolled her neck from side to side trying to work out a crick. Melissa’s gaze swept the library and stopped on a table a few feet away. A young man, the top of his head was waved in tiny curls, with the sides cropped closely to his head smiled at Melissa. The young woman became so flustered that a blush covered her face, as she quickly dipped her head. Melissa’s hands shook nervously, and the pencil dropped to the table. Her eyes flew back to the book she was reading. Glancing from side to side, she retrieved the pencil, and resumed taking notes.

  A short time later, Melissa glanced at the watch on her wrist, noting it was almost time for her English Lit class. As she began stuffing her notes into her backpack, she felt movement behind her, and looked up. The young man who’d smiled at her earlier was at her side. Melissa became so tense she dropped the brown backpack on her foot and winched in pain.

  The young man graciously scooped up the backpack. “Let me,” he said in a southern accent.

  “Thank you,” Melissa said, eyes downcast, tugging at the ends of her hair. When she looked up, standing before her was a tall man, over six feet in height. His build was muscular, the physique of an athlete. The young man’s complexion was honey-
colored. Dark eyes, and a cute little pug nose, made him an appealing specimen of a man. The male standing before her could be in anywhere from his late teens or early twenties. Melissa liked what her eyes beheld.

  “My name is Jeremiah Jeffries,” the young man said, smiling politely as he handed the backpack to Melissa. His large hand brushed hers lightly and his smile was so bright, it could light up a Christmas tree.

  Melissa shivered slightly as his hand seemed to leave waves of heat in their wake. “My name is Melissa Adams,” she stammered. Darn it, I should have worn something a little dressier, she thought as she pulled her bag pack onto her left shoulder. “Thanks. I’ve got to go, I’m on my way to class.” She stepped away from him and turned to leave.

  “Hey, wait up,” he said as he increased his stride and fell into step next to her. “You must be a freshman?” Jeremiah inquired, smiling down at Melissa.

  “Yes, I am,” Melissa, said breathlessly as they exited the library together. “Look, Jeremiah, I really have to go. My class starts in five minutes. Perhaps we could talk another time.”

  “Sure,” Jeremiah said in a reluctant tone. “What’s your telephone number?” he yelled to Melissa’s retreating back.

  “It’s in the directory,” she yelled back, turning to smile at him before continuing to class.

  “Do you go to school here or at Spelman?” Jeremiah shouted as he stood in the middle of the quad.

  “Here … I go to Clark,” Melissa said, switching her backpack from one shoulder to the other. “Gotta go.”

  “I’ll call you,” Jeremiah said grinning, holding his fist next to his ear, as if talking into a telephone receiver.

  Melissa raised her hand and waved goodbye and with her lips curved into a smile hurried to her class.

  * * *

  Later that evening Bobo dropped by. He sat in her desk chair and she on the bed. They were talking about their day when the telephone rang. Bobo snatched it up. “You want to speak to who?”

  Bobo covered the receiver and said to Melissa, “You’ve been holding out on me. There’s man on the telephone and he wants to speak to you.” His eyebrows rose questioningly.

  “Hmm…” Melissa grinned mischievously trying to playfully snatch the telephone away from her cousin’s hand. “Well, give it here then.”

  Bobo watched her as she spoke softly to the person on the other end. His eyes narrowed as he saw her smiling. Can Mel be holding out on me? What’s up with that? He watched his cousin chat animatedly, for a moment, then went to the cafeteria to purchase snacks.

  Half an hour later, Melissa was done with the call. She sighed contently and then gazed at Bobo, who watched television as he eavesdropped on her conversation. “That was Jeremiah Jeffries, I met him in the library today.”

  “Hmmm … looks like he caught your attention. Does he go to school here?”

  “No, he’s a sophomore at Morehouse.” Melissa smiled, and then her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, my God, Moniqa is on the prowl for a Morehouse man and then I meet one. This is totally unreal.”

  “Humph, don’t tell your sister.” Bobo snorted and popped a chip in his mouth.

  “Bobo, don’t be that way,” Melissa chided him. “I’m sure Moniqa wants my happiness, the same as I want for her. She’ll be thrilled to hear I met a man. Hey! Give me some of those chips.”

  Just at that moment, the door opened and Moniqa strolled into the room clad in a lemon-colored shorts set. “Don’t tell me what?” she asked glaring at Bobo. She tossed her coach bag on the floor and perched on the edge of Connie’s bed. Her shorts rose up her legs.

  “Didn’t your mama teach you any manners? Don’t you know you’re supposed to knock before entering a close door?” Bobo groused as he wiped his hands on his khaki shorts. He threw the potato chip bag into the garbage. “I’m out of here. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Mel. Remember what I said,” he warned as he closed the door behind him.

  “Don’t try to change the subject. Don’t tell me what?” Moniqa asked, pulling a tube of lipstick out of her purse, making herself more comfortable on the bed. She glanced about the room, turning up her nose. “Gurl, I don’t see how you can stay here. The décor is so depressing. You should have gone to Spelman with me. At least the rooms are better.” She quickly and expertly lined her lips with orange lipstick then dropped the tube back into her purse and ran her fingers through her hair

  “What’s with this gurl stuff?” Melissa teased her.

  “Please.” Moniqa rolled her eyes. ”You know the saying when in Rome… Anyway don’t try to change the subject, missy.”

  “Nothing really,” Melissa replied evasively, crossing her fingers behind her back, hoping a blush wouldn’t suffuse her face. She wasn’t a good liar. “You know Bobo. He was just trying to start something. What brings you to the slums as you call it?”

  “I wanted to know if you like to go to a dance with me next Friday night? It’s going to be held at Spelman. I know you probably don’t really want to go. I promised Grandnan I would try to get you to go out more.”

  “You’re right,” Melissa said dismissively. “I have no interest in attending a party. I have a test the following Monday. I plan to stay in the weekend.”

  “Oh, well. I tried,” Moniqa said, holding her wrist out. “I went to the mall with my friend Pauline last week and bought this bracelet. Do you like it?” Her slim wrist was engulfed by a glittering tennis bracelet.

  Melissa walked over to get a better look. “It’s pretty. How did you pay for it?”

  “With the credit card Mommy gave me for emergencies. Knowing you, Mel, I bet you haven’t even used yours,” Moniqa said as she walked to the door. “I also bought these gold sandals.“ She held a foot out. “Don’t you think they’re cute? I had to have them. They match one of my outfits.”

  “You’re right again.” Melissa sighed. “I haven’t used the credit card.” That’s because Mommy didn’t give me one. Her face drooped sadly.

  “Ciao.” Moniqa waved in parting. “I’ll talk to you later this week.” She closed the door behind her.

  It would have been nice if Mommy had given me a credit card for emergencies, Melissa thought, standing at the window watching her sister walk to the bus stop.

  Melissa sighed, then turned, and sat back on her bed after pushing her books against the wall. Her face brightened. Maybe Mommy didn’t think I needed one, because I’m the responsible twin. Still, it would have been nice had she offered.

  Her roommate Connie burst into the room. “Hey, girl, what’s up with you?”

  “Nothing much. Bobo and Moni just left. I was just sitting here thinking.”

  Connie wiped her perspiring brow. “It is so hot today. What brings the queen bee to this side of town?” She tossed her backpack on her bed ungracefully.

  “She came over to invite me to a dance at Spelman,” Melissa replied glumly, poking a zit on her face.

  “And what’s wrong with that?” asked Connie. “Isn’t part of the college experience meeting men?” She sat at her desk, pulled her tennis shoes off and massaged her foot.

  “Um … I guess,” Melissa answered wryly, wrinkling her nose. “I told her I’d think about it, so we’ll see.”

  “So what else is new?” Connie asked sniffing her armpits. “I need a shower.”

  “Well, I met a guy,” Melissa confessed, clasping her hands together looking away from Connie.

  “Come on now, girl, spill the beans? What are his vitals? Name, rank and serial number? Does he go here? Most of all does he have a brother?”

  “His name is Jeremiah Jeffries and he’s goes to Morehouse. I met him in the library this morning and he’s cute. He really seems nice. He called me this afternoon.”

  “Girl, you’d better watch out for those Morehouse boys… Wait a minute.” Connie snapped her fingers. “Hmm … Jeremiah Jeffries, I’ve heard that name before. I think he’s a big time athlete. It seems like I read something about him a while ago. Melissa you may have hit
the jackpot.”

  “Don’t get carried away.” Melissa shook her head. “We’ve only had two conversations. But I have to admit he interesting and I kind of like him.”

  “Well go for it then.” Connie smiled and walked to the closet to pull out a towel and soap. “I’m going to take a shower. Let’s finish this conversation at dinner.”

  After Connie left, Melissa pondered her roommate’s comments. There hadn’t been a guy who’d caught her interest in a long time. Come to think of it, every guy she’d had a crush on, seemed to end up with Moniqa. Her heart thudded rapidly. No, we’re beyond all of that. Moniqa wouldn’t. Or would she?

  Jeremiah stirred a flicker of flame within her frail heart. She knew it was much too soon and wasn’t the overly optimistic type. Still, Melissa couldn’t help but hope maybe something special was brewing between her and Jeremiah.

  Chapter Seven

  Moniqa stood over her bed looking critically at a couple of outfits. Clothing was strewn everywhere. She’d created a mess as if a typhoon had blown into her room. Her dilemma was finding the right outfit to wear to the dance. The Spelman ladies were playing hostess to the Morehouse men.

  So far she’d rejected everything she’d pulled out of her closet. A pout marred her pretty face as she looked at the clothing on the floor, the bed and on the floor of the closet.

  A knock sounded at her door. She stepped over a mound of clothing, in her haste to answer it.

  Rhonda Smith, a sophomore who worked in the school’s mail distribution center, was smiling in the doorway. She thrust a package at Moniqa. “This package came in about half an hour ago and I thought I’d bring it to you.”

  Moniqa walked to her dresser and pulled twenty dollars out of a drawer. Standing in long lines was an inconvenience as far as she was concerned. There were more important things to fill her time. After a conversation with Rhonda disclosed that she worked at the mail distribution center, Moniqa paid her to deliver her packages.