Like This And Like That

by Nia Stephens

  He didn’t respond. He was too far ahead to hear her. She stepped up her pace and caught up to him just as tiny raindrops began to fall.

  “It’s about to rain,” she said in a panic.

  “So?” He looked perplexed.

  “So?” Gemma repeated. “I just had my hair done yesterday.”

  “Yeah, so?” he asked again.

  She stared at him. “You don’t have any sisters, do you?”

  Confused, he shook his head, so Gemma spelled it out for him. “Black women do not get their hair wet.” She hurried over to the nearest tree for cover. “You can keep climbing if you want to but no way am I messing up this ‘do.” She pointed to the crown of her head.

  Drew watched her for a moment, a smile spreading across his face. “I got you covered,” he said, reaching into the knapsack he was carrying. He pulled out a tiny blue umbrella and joined her under the tree. He opened the umbrella and shielded her from the rain.

  They were so close. His face was just inches from hers. Gemma felt herself flush. The only other time she had been this close to him was at the party and that hadn’t turned out too well. This time was different.

  He gazed into her eyes. He didn’t seem at all concerned about the silence this time. “We may be here a little while,” he said softly. Gemma couldn’t find her voice, she just nodded.

  He placed a hand on her waist and, keeping the umbrella over her, gently guided her to a boulder under the tree. Once she settled onto the rock, Drew handed her the umbrella. “I’m not worried about my hair,” he teased.

  Moments later, the tiny trickles of rain stopped. Drew glanced up at the sky. “Just a little farther to go,” he said, standing.

  Gemma was almost sorry that the moment was broken, but then he took her hand, and it felt right, as if it belonged there. They hiked the rest of the way in silence, comfortable in each other’s company this time, enjoying the fresh scent of the woods after the rain shower.

  They reached the top of the hill, and Drew released Gemma’s hand. He stepped in front of her and held his arms out wide. “I’d like to introduce you to my favorite spot.”

  Gemma gasped. The sky was a brilliant blue and from their overlook she could see nearby hills, lush and green.

  “This way,” he said. He took her hand again, and led her to a clearing full of wildflowers. He lifted a tarp from off the ground and underneath was a small, checkered tablecloth with a straw picnic basket sitting on top of it.

  “You hiked all the way up here earlier to set this out for me?” She was completely dumbfounded, but at the same time her heart dropped. Here we go again, she thought. He was trying way too hard. Was there a bottle of champagne or something in there?

  Before she could say a word, Drew reached down into the basket and pulled out two Subway sandwiches and two bottles of Pepsi. “Sorry, don’t cook.”

  Gemma burst out laughing.

  “And don’t even think about saying I try too hard. I said in my profile that I like treating ladies like ladies. And you responded. You must have been into the idea.”

  “True,” Gemma said, settling onto the picnic blanket.

  “And,” he said, dropping down beside her, “I just wanted to do something I thought you’ve never done before.”

  Drew leaned in and kissed her softly on her lips, taking Gemma completely by surprise. Shivers tingled up and down her spine, and his hands felt sure and strong on her back. She knew it now: Drew was definitely boyfriend material.

  The End

  Think Gemma should run fast in the opposite direction? Then read on!

  Chapter 5

  To Text or Not to Text

  “So Drew is a no?” Maria asked Gemma on their way toto the cafeteria. “I don’t get it. He sounded okay.”

  Gemma looked at her friend incredulously. “Are you talking about before or after he showed up at my house looking like Snoop Dog?”

  “Okay, okay,” Maria said, laughing. “But he did admit that was a mistake.”

  Gemma shook her head. “It’s not just that. He was sweet in the texts, but talking to him face-to-face is like pulling teeth.”

  “Don’t you mean pulling grillz?” Maria said, grinning.

  Just then, Gemma’s Sidekick went off. She glanced down and saw another message from Drew.

  I wanted 2 say hi and c how your day was going.

  “Dang, dude does not play,” Maria commented as they walked into the lunchroom. “You dumped him and he’s still texting you?”

  Gemma stuck the Sidekick back into her purse and zipped it up. “Well, not exactly,” she admitted.

  Maria’s eyes widened. “You didn’t tell him yet?”

  “I didn’t have the chance. But I will as soon as possible.”

  “You’re not going to at least write back?” Maria asked. She put a hand on her hip. “Well, I guess that’s one way of letting a brother know he’s been fired.”

  Gemma shrugged. At that point she didn’t know how she was going to handle Drew.

  In English class, while Mr. Martin was droning on about Othello, Gemma thought she might as well just get it over with. She pulled out her cell and began texting.

  Hi Drew,

  I think it may be better if we were just friends.

  TTYL

  Gemma

  She stared at the message. Well, that sounded stupid. She hit the delete button and started over again.

  Drew,

  Had a great time at the party but don’t think we work well together.

  That sounded even worse. What were they, coworkers? She hit the delete button and tried again.

  Drew,

  You are a nice guy but I don’t think we have that much in common. Thanks for the good time at the party and I’ll talk to you sometime.

  Gemma

  Gemma studied the message. That was perfect. The point was made but not in an insulting way. She hit send. There, it was done. No more Drew.

  Last period, Gemma met up with Maria by their lockers. “I did it!” she exclaimed.

  “Did what?” Maria asked, fiddling with her combination.

  “Broke up with Drew.”

  Maria turned and looked at her quizzically. “When did you talk to him?”

  “I sent him a text in English class,” Gemma admitted.

  “You didn’t!” Maria yelled. A few of the students nearby stared. “Did you write ‘P.S. I hate your guts so this is why I’m texting you a callous breakup note’ at the end of the message?”

  At the time, Gemma didn’t think it was that bad. In fact she thought she was doing Drew a favor by saving him from further embarrassment. She just wanted to get it over with. But Maria’s response prompted second thoughts.

  “So what should I have done?” Gemma asked.

  “Sorry, can’t help you with that. But I do know what you shouldn’t have done.” Maria looked down accusingly at Gemma’s cell.

  “Do you think I should text him again?” Gemma’s forehead crinkled with worry. When she sent the text she never once thought it was inhumane. But on the other hand, most cruel people don’t actually think they’re cruel. She wasn’t one of those people, was she?

  “Why bother?” Maria asked. “The deed’s been done. You got what you wanted—and that is to be free and clear of Drew.”

  Somehow that did very little to make Gemma feel better about the situation. When Maria saw the concern on her friend’s face, she draped her arm over Gemma’s shoulders. “It’s really not that bad,” Maria assured her, giving her a squeeze. “Breaking up via text message happens all the time.”

  “Would you do that to somebody?” Gemma asked.

  “Well, no, but it happens.”

  “To who?”

  “I don’t know ... but I’m sure it happens.”

  “Gee, thanks for all the comfort and support,” Gemma said.

  “ ‘That’s what friends are for,’ ” Maria sang, although she hardly sounded like Dionne Warwick. “Besides, at this point, it’s
hardly you that needs the comforting and support. Poor Drew.” Maria shook her head.

  Gemma nudged Maria’s shoulder as the guilt hit her stomach like a stone. “Knock it off please. I feel bad enough.”

  Gemma knew only one way to get rid of the antsy feeling sending nervous energy through her whole body. Hard time on the court. Basketball practice. She needed offense so she dragged Maria down to the YMCA with her.

  “Tell me again why I’m here?” Maria asked, standing in the middle of the court.

  “Put your arms up and at least act like you’re trying to block me,” Gemma commanded.

  Maria lazily raised her arms over her head as she yawned. Gemma shot down the court and pushed Maria aside with her shoulder.

  “Foul!” Maria cried. “That was a blatant foul.”

  Gemma rolled her eyes. “You have to be playing in order for it to be considered a foul.”

  “Whatever.” Maria plopped down, cross-legged, right in the center of the floor. “So what do you want to do now? This basketball thing is tiring me out.”

  “Tiring you out?” Gemma threw the ball. It bounced off the rim and into the bleachers. “You barely moved a muscle. How could you be tired?”

  “Hey, I played defense,” Maria said, now sprawling on the floor.

  “The only thing you played was no-fense.” Gemma threw another brick. “What if I made a mistake?” she said, suddenly turning to face Maria. “What if he was the guy for me and I just totally blew it. Think about it, blowing off a guy because he screwed up trying to impress you.”

  “Who?”

  “Drew. Who else?”

  Maria stared at her friend in disbelief. “How did we get back onto that subject?”

  Gemma whirled around and took one last shot. “I just feel so bad about how this all went down. The guilt has been eating me up all afternoon. Do you think I should call him and apologize?”

  “No,” Maria said. “Let it go.”

  “What if I text him again?” Gemma asked.

  “I wouldn’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I just wouldn’t. It’s better if you leave it alone.”

  Gemma plopped down next to Maria. “I guess you’re right.”

  “And if I remember, letting Drew go was what you wanted,” Maria reminded her.

  Gemma nodded. Maria was right. What was done was done. There was nothing she could do to change it. Gemma jumped up and resumed her practice. She had a game next week and had been slacking off the past few days. She threw one more shot but this one bounced off the backboard. She knew the signs—she was only going to get more frustrated. “This isn’t helping,” she declared.

  Maria lifted herself off the floor. “Thank goodness,” she huffed. “Let’s go to the movies.”

  “If I make this shot,” Gemma said quickly, “it’s your treat.”

  “You’re on.”

  Gemma set up for the shot and swished the ball in.

  Maria rolled her eyes. “Oh, all night you’ve been missing shots and now you swish one in. Basketball shark.”

  Gemma grinned. “Quit complaining. I got the popcorn.”

  By the time they came home from the gym, showered and changed, they were late for the show and had to sit at the very back of the theater.

  “The popcorn cost almost as much as the movie,” Gemma complained. “Especially with your greedy self getting the extra large when you know you can’t eat that much.”

  “Yup,” Maria smiled, shoveling in a handful. “I guess you got the short end of the stick after all.”

  “Ha-ha.”

  “Hey, you’re never going to believe this ...” Maria said, trailing off.

  Gemma looked at her friend cautiously. “What?”

  “Uh ... isn’t that Drew?” Maria asked, nudging Gemma’s shoulder.

  Gemma craned her neck, peering past a woman with huge hair and a guy with a neck like a linebacker. Off to the side, near the front, Drew sat alone eating popcorn. Her heart started palpitating and her palms started to sweat.

  “Did you know he was going to be here?” Maria asked.

  “How would I know that?”

  Maria looked at Gemma sideways and raised an eyebrow. “You were just talking about him.”

  “I swear I didn’t know,” Gemma said. Running into him was the last thing she wanted. It was all just too embarrassing. “What if he looks back and sees me? Should I say something first?” Gemma was seriously starting to get nervous now.

  “It’s your call,” Maria said.

  Gemma hesitated. What was she going to say? What could she say?

  “If you’re going to do it, do it now,” Maria told her. “The movie is about to start.”

  Slowly Gemma got up from her seat and made her way to the aisle. After almost knocking down a girl carrying two large sodas, Gemma plodded toward the front of the theater, each step heavier than the last. She was less than two feet from him before deciding it was a mistake. She turned quickly and headed back up the aisle.

  “What happened?” Maria asked when Gemma plopped back down into her seat.

  “Couldn’t do it.”

  As the lights dimmed and a few more people filtered in, Gemma slouched in her seat.

  “Hey, there’s your girl, Christine Ihlenger,” Maria said. “Weren’t you two bio partners before you and Seth?”

  Gemma and Maria watched Christine head down the aisle. Both girls’ mouths dropped open as Drew stood up to allow Christine to sit down next to him.

  “You’re kidding me,” Gemma mumbled under her breath. Drew and Christine?

  As soon as the movie began, Christine and Drew started making out.

  Maria leaned over and whispered, “Well, I guess you don’t have to feel sorry for him anymore.”

  Chapter 6

  Boys Will Be Boys

  All through bio class the next day, Gemma could not stop thinking about Drew. It didn’t help that she heard Christine bragging to her lab partner about the wonderful date she had last night. Everything was, Drew was so sweet and Drew this and Drew that. The final kicker was when she said that Drew was a total gentleman.

  Yeah, was that before or after making out in the movies like a prison conjugal visit, Gemma thought. She realized she was just being petty, but the truth was she really regretted both how she had dumped him, and that she had dumped him at all. All last night she kept hearing Maria’s nagging voice in her head. See, chica, you never know what you have ’til it’s gone.

  “What’s up with you today?” Gemma’s lab partner, Seth Cole, asked. “You act like you just found out Kobe was being traded.”

  “I wish,” Gemma said, not being a big Kobe Bryant fan. She studied Seth’s face for a moment. “Hey, you’re a guy, right?”

  “I like to think so.”

  “So how can guys get dumped one minute and the next minute be making out with some random girl?”

  Seth thought a moment. “If you’re already dating said random girl before getting dumped by the first girl, it’s easy. You just switch your focus onto the random girl and shift her into first position.”

  Nice.

  Gemma glanced at Christine, who was sitting in front. She hardly thought it was Drew’s style to date several girls at once. If he was a player, he’d have much smoother moves. Then again, she didn’t think he was the type to show PDA—and so much of it—in a public place.

  “Or,” Seth continued, “guys have been known to hook up with a random girl right after being dumped. It softens the blow.”

  Gemma cocked her head, considering. “Does that mean he really likes that random girl he made out with?”

  Seth leaned in a little closer. “Let me clue you in on something and you are not to repeat it. I’d have my guy membership revoked for this.” He hesitated a second and then said, “Making out with a girl doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”

  Gemma frowned, wondering when he was going to clue her in to something she didn’t know.

  Se
th straightened back up. “Random girl may have just been there at the right time.” He narrowed his eyes, looking at her. “I assume you’re girl number one and not the random girl.”

  Gemma nodded.

  “And now you’re bothered about dumping him because you saw him with random girl.”

  Gemma nodded again.

  Seth shrugged. “Go for it. Tell the dude you’re sorry for giving him the boot. I bet he’ll forgive you.”

  “What makes you say that?” Gemma asked.

  Seth looked her up and down. “Hello? Have you seen a mirror lately? You’re hot.”

  Gemma felt her cheeks flush. Why was Seth always so sweet?

  “I know I’d take you back even if you broke up with me via full page ad in the L.A. Times. Hot always overrides a dis.”

  “Spoken like a true guy,” Gemma said. She gave him a quick hug. “Thanks, though.” She was grateful that he let her in on the unwritten but the very much spoken Guys’ Code of No Ethics When It Comes to Chicks.

  Her decision was made. She was going to contact Drew.

  “Thanks for meeting me here,” Gemma told Drew. She thought it might be a good idea to go to the park and take their dogs for a walk. It gave them something to do, rather than sitting in a restaurant face-to-face at a tiny table. Just in case this didn’t go well.

  “Drew, I’m sorry,” she blurted when LeBron came to a stop to sniff a tree. Drew’s dachshund, Stanley, joined him.

  “Are you sorry for breaking up with me or the cold way you did it?”

  His words made her cringe. So he was upset. She couldn’t blame him though. “I’m sorry for both,” she admitted.

  The dogs tugged at their leashes, indicating they were ready to explore new territory. Drew and Gemma resumed walking.

  “I made a huge mistake. I guess I wasn’t sure how to handle it, so I took the easy way out. And I’m sorry.”

  Drew stood silently watching the dogs. Gemma’s stomach twisted. She really wanted him to forgive her for sending that text. And she really hoped that he was still interested in dating her.