“No, I do not want to go out with you.” My hands on my hips. “But thanks for asking.”
I took off down the hall and into the girls’ locker room to change out of my performance clothes, and into my jeans. Left Quincy behind with his ego on the floor. His smile changed to a frown as his boys talked junk to him. I didn’t care. I didn’t have any time to waste on Quincy Rawlins. Needed to get changed and back into the gym for the second half of the basketball game.
In the locker room, I pulled my clothes on quickly. Rushed back to the gym, and found my favorite seat on the bleachers behind the team. Marcus was at the free throw line, the ball in his hands as he prepared to shoot. He leaned over, bounced the ball a couple of times and then shot it into the basket. With a swishing noise, it went in. All net. The crowd went crazy. I screamed as he put it in the basket a second time, and the crowd went crazy again. He trotted down court, dressed in his white jersey and shorts. He searched the stands for me and when his eyes finally met mine, I blew him the biggest kiss that I could possibly manage.
After the game I waited for Marcus to get changed. Our team lost to another school, but Marcus was always in good spirits. Even after a game that we lost. He didn’t care about losing, because he wasn’t really into sports all that much. He just went out for basketball because he wanted to spend more time with me after school. Dance team practice and basketball practice took place at the same time, and afterwards we hung out. Just about every day.
His gym bag across his shoulder, he headed my way. Planted a kiss on my forehead.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’m cool. It was just a game,” he said. “You know sports is not really my thing. I’m just out there for the exercise. And to spend time with you. You know, I still have my Master Plan.”
“And just how do I fit into that Master Plan?” I asked.
“I haven’t figured that part out yet.” He smiled. “But you can rest assured, you do fit somewhere.”
“Well, when you figure it out, you let me know.”
“I’ll do that,” he said, and then wrapped his arms around me as we braced for the cold night air.
He held the door for me, as I waved goodbye to Tameka. We didn’t hang out as much since Marcus and I started dating. There wasn’t much room for her. Besides, she was seeing some boy at another school since she broke up with Jeff. I didn’t really know all the details about the breakup, but it had something to do with another girl being pregnant.
I didn’t hear much from Jade either. She had found a new best friend at her school in New Jersey, and after awhile, our lives seemed to drift apart. It didn’t mean we weren’t friends anymore, but it meant that we were changing, growing. Life goes on, even when we don’t want it to.
“Come on. I’ll race you to the car,” Marcus said.
We took off running toward Marcus’s Jeep and I left him in the dust. Ended up at the car long before him.
“Why you so slow tonight?” I asked, touching the passenger’s door.
“Sore, girl. I been playing basketball all night.” He smiled. “Besides, I let you beat me.”
“Right. You let me beat you, and the sky is really purple.”
His strong arms wrapped around me as I leaned up against his Jeep. His lips touched mine and I shut my eyes and kissed him with passion. Thanked God for Marcus. What I felt for him was hard to put into words. He was more than just a boyfriend. He had become my best friend.
As we drove down I-20 toward the Fulton Industrial Airport, I looked over at Marcus. Smiled. He smiled back.
“You know it’s too cold to be out in somebody’s field watching planes land and take off,” I said.
“It’s Friday night. You know that’s what we do on Friday night.”
“I know,” I said. “But it’s also the middle of January.”
“I’ll keep you warm, Indi.” He smiled and looked at me with those soft eyes.
“You taking me to Mickey D’s afterward?”
“Buying you a Happy Meal,” he teased.
“I want a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, dude.”
“What you need is a salad with a light dressing on the side,” he said.
“You must have me mixed up with Charmaine Jackson.” I looked at him cross-eyed, and adjusted his radio station. Tuned it to V-103.
“Oh, yeah, my bad.” He laughed. “That was Charmaine who needs a salad.”
“You are really silly, Marcus,” I said. “I told Nana that boys are stupid.”
“Not all boys are stupid. Just some.” He smiled that beautiful smile of his as we talked junk to each other.
At that moment, I knew that I loved me some Marcus Carter.
INDIGO SUMMER
ISBN: 978-1-5525-4909-4
© 2007 by Monica McKayhan
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Indigo Summer Page 16