Miss Independent

by Kiki Leach

  “That man would’ve lost his mind and sent her to a boarding school in Siberia, while trying to find the boy and run him down with his car. In a word, no. We don’t need to deal with any of that, so I told her mother that we’d be a lot stricter with her over here. She said she’d do the same.”

  “I’m glad you two can finally talk like normal people,” said Vanessa. She went over to the other counter and grabbed a few grapes from a tray before it too was taken off. “I never thought the three of you would ever get to a place of being civil.”

  “Things change when children are involved. Sometimes that woman could drive me up a wall with her demands, but I learned to keep my cool over the years and let Alexander handle things with her. It helps that Gina’s almost eighteen.”

  “Yep, and she has no problems reminding people of that.”

  “That she does not.” She tilted her head and smiled sheepishly. “So you’re here with Maurice?”

  “Don’t start.”

  She raised her hands and stepped back, leaning against the counter. “I’m not starting a thing, Vanessa. I’m only glad you didn’t falter and bring Nathaniel instead.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t think his future wife would’ve been too thrilled about that.” She stood over the various plates of cheeses and other snacks.

  Alexis crossed her arms. “Have you eaten today?”

  “Are you kidding? I waited all day to eat whatever we were having here. I didn’t want to feel bloated before good food and cake.”

  “That might be for the best. Your hips are looking a bit wide in that skirt.”

  “Mother--!”

  “Girl, don’t even get me started on your hair and that blouse. Walking through here looking like Thelma from ‘Good Times’.”

  As Alexis moved around the kitchen, Vanessa closed her eyes, annoyed, and threw a piece of cheese into her mouth.

  “I am definitely gonna need some wine with a few shots of vodka to get through this,” she mumbled to herself.

  Once the caterer returned with the rest of his help, they removed the remaining trays of food from the kitchen and placed them on various tables around the living room, den, and dining room where the actual party was going to take place. Vanessa looked at her watch again and noticed one of the waiters filling various glasses with red and white flavored wines. She went over and grabbed a glass of white while Alexis continued overseeing everything as it made its way out the door, making sure nothing was out of place for her guests. The cake was already a mess, the last thing she wanted or needed was for anything else to go wrong as well.

  While sitting alone in her room at the Palace, reading over the guest list for the reunion and drinking tea spiked with the tiny bottles of hotel rum, Sheila noticed a few names missing, those who had yet to RSVP and those who had turned down the invite to return altogether. When she came across Maurice’s name but not Nikki or Vanessa’s, she went over to her suitcase and pulled out her yearbook. She flipped through the pages, looking at pictures of the three of them from various cheerleading competitions, in which they won every single time, to pictures of them all dressed for junior prom, and posed as Charlie’s Angels in the class photo booth.

  When it came to senior prom, however, it was terrible for everyone. By that time, Vanessa had found out about Sheila and Nathan and decided not to attend to save herself the humiliation of seeing them together. Maurice and Nikki didn’t attend either. Instead, Nathan and Sheila attended together, as predicted, and were crowned honorary king and queen by the prom committee. Mo and Vanessa were the ones their class had originally voted for, while Sheila and Nathan were first runners up. Most people clapped for them as the crowns were placed upon their heads despite knowing the truth of their indiscretions, but it was a demeaning moment for Sheila, one she tried had tried so hard to forget over the years. She went out of her way all throughout high school to prove that she was more than a pretty face and fantastic body, more than someone who liked having sex with certain guys of a certain status from time to time. But after sleeping with Nathan and showing no remorse for it, she knew that that part of her, the part that everyone had deemed a lifelong slut would never be erased, and would in fact be amplified as time went on.

  As the bad memories grew in her mind, she slammed her yearbook shut and pushed it aside. She got up and went over to her makeup bag, pulling out a bottle of prescription pills. It was filled with anti-anxiety medication. She began taking them during her senior year of high school and could never seem to stop. She believed it calmed her nerves and controlled her paranoia and chronic mood swings. She was right to a certain extent, but the pills had also become somewhat of a crutch. Whenever she felt bad, she took them. Whenever she felt good, she took them. It was like giving a baby candy for the first time and expecting it to only like what little was given to them, and not beg for more.

  When she realized after a few years that her relationship with Nathan was falling faster than a shooting star, she had stopped taking the pills because she tried to get pregnant without his knowledge, hoping to surprise him. Only she learned not long after he proposed that it may never happen for them. It seemed that her eggs and his sperm didn’t agree that making a baby was the right thing to do. She increased her pill dosage during that time with the help of a pharmacist friend out West, and never looked back.

  She swallowed back two pills with her tea and went over to the mirror, staring at her features. Her hair was a complete mess. It hadn’t been combed or even washed in the last few days. She had dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep, her skin was starting to breakout from stress and she thought she was starting to look thinner than usual. As someone who weighed around 125lbs soaking wet, she knew that it was probably unhealthy to deprive herself of food more often than not, but as time went on, she felt like eating was becoming more of a chore rather than an enjoyable and healthy activity.

  She untied her robe and dumped it on the floor, then went to the bathroom and turned on the water for the shower. She wanted to see Vanessa later in the day to clear the air and maybe even discuss the awkwardness of what occurred earlier in the week at the restaurant. She wanted to make it certain that Vanessa knew that Nathan was hers, even if she wasn’t so sure herself anymore, but she also wanted to make amends and move past everything that happened back then. Since Vanessa had disowned her after senior year, she really had no one anymore. She couldn’t bring herself to make more than a few girlfriends in Los Angeles and Nathan hadn’t been around much for her to talk to like he was when they were in high school. She wanted back what she once had, even if she wasn’t sure it was something she fully deserved.

  Less than an hour later, Nathan had returned to the hotel room looking for her. He had gone out to the gym and was hoping to take a quick shower before the evening.

  He tossed his room key on the dresser and removed his black tank, tossing it in the hamper in the corner. “Sheil’s?” he called. He ran a hand up and down his smooth chest and pat his sweaty abs.

  “I’m in the shower!” she yelled back.

  He saw her robe on the floor and picked it up, placing it on the bed. As he walked into the bathroom, he saw her through the shower door washing her face and hair. There was a time when he would’ve been easily turned on by this, and joined her. There was a time when he was, and had. But over the last few years, and given their lack of intimacy within the last few months, it was becoming more and more difficult to want to have anything to do with her sexually.

  “I’ll wait until you come out.”

  “No.” She rinsed the soap from her face and wiped her eyes. She peeked her head out the door and smiled at him. “You don’t have to go. We’re getting married, you should get used to this anyway.” She smiled again before closing the door on him and returning to the shower. “Where did you go, anyhow? I saw the note on the pillow this morning, but you just said you’d be back.”

  “I went to the gym for a workout. And I needed to go take care of a few thing
s with my parents.”

  “Oh?”

  “They were disappointed we didn’t stay with them, but I said that we needed the space and time alone. After we had gotten that straightened out, they invited us over to dinner.”

  “When?”

  “Not for a while. They’re remodeling their kitchen, then taking their summer vacation next week to Jamaica and said they won’t be back until August.”

  “Ooh, sounds like fun. Maybe we should take our honeymoon there. Is that all?”

  “Sure, unless you want there to be something else.”

  “No, no. I just…” She washed the remaining soap from her hair and body and turned off the water. She tossed her hand over the top, reaching for a towel, which Nathan eventually handed to her, and stepped out of the shower after having wrapped it around her. She squeezed the water from her hair into the sink and began brushing it back. “I thought that maybe you went to see Vanessa.”

  “Why would I go and see her when she wants nothing to do with us?”

  “She wants nothing to do with me. She seemed to want to have everything to do with you at lunch the other day.”

  He grumbled and moved back into the den. “We’re going there again?”

  She dropped her brush near the sink and followed him out, leaning on the frame of the door and folding her arms. “I’m sorry. I can’t shake the feeling that she wants you back.”

  “She doesn’t want anything to do with me, alright?” He started digging through his suitcase for clean pants and underwear.

  “But you want something to do with her,” she said. “Do you still have feelings for her?”

  “I care about her, but I’m marrying you, remember?”

  “What if she decided to take you back?”

  “She’s not going to.”

  “But what if she did?”

  He exhaled and looked upward. “If she did, it wouldn’t matter. I made a promise to you, and I plan on keeping it.” He looked over at the table where her empty teacup sat and nodded toward the yearbook at the corner. “What were you doing with that?”

  “Just remembering the times from back then. I realized Vanessa still hadn’t RSVP’d and thought about going to see her later to ask about it.”

  He glowered. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea. Maybe call her about it.”

  “And risk her hanging up on me?”

  “Would it be worse than slamming the door in your face?”

  She shrugged. “I think we need to talk face to face. We didn’t get to have that chance last time, and if we’re going to be here until the reunion, I think we need to try to make amends. Or be nice to each other, at least.”

  “I could see it if we planned on staying longer, but--”

  “Please don’t start that shit again. You keep trying to convince me to move back here permanently, and I just can’t do it.”

  “You’re so determined to make up with Vanessa, but you don’t have plans to stay longer in spite of it?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “I want out of this city! I felt strangled by it the entire time we were together. If it weren’t for the reunion, I wouldn’t have even wanted to come back here. Don’t you remember how everyone looked at us everywhere we went? It was mortifying. My parents had to pay people to keep our pictures out of the papers and our names out of the press. I was branded a slut by nearly everyone in our school, and even by people who didn’t know me. California was the fresh start we needed. I don’t want to come back to what I tried so hard to get away from.”

  “That’s a shame,” he said snidely, “because I received a job offer a few days ago.”

  “A job offer? From who?”

  “My old teammate, Eddie Gallagher. The one I met after I left you at the restaurant.”

  “Eddie? Why would he offer you a job? What can you do at that law firm?”

  “Everything I couldn’t do in Los Angeles. Listen, if we stayed, we’d be closer to my parent’s, and yours.”

  “And closer to the people who still hate me for allegedly stealing you from the city’s ‘golden child’. I don’t want to move back here Nathan, I’m sorry. It’s great that Eddie offered you a job, but that doesn’t mean you have to take it. Where would we live, anyhow? Did you even think of that?”

  “We could stay in the hotel until I got things together. Or with my parents.”

  “I’m not staying with your parents. Your mother hates me even if she doesn’t want to admit it.”

  “That isn’t true.”

  “Yes, it is. The only reason your dad likes me is because he thinks I make you happy.”

  They looked away from each other as Nathan arched his brows.

  “If they offer me enough money, I’m taking the position, Sheila.”

  “And what position would that be? A step up from cleaning floors?”

  “Whatever it is would lead me to a lifelong career, I’m convinced of that. Maybe you should think about investing in one once this reunion is over.”

  “After the reunion, we still have a wedding to plan.”

  “I’d be just as fine with getting married in city hall.”

  “I wouldn’t. You bought me this ring as a symbol of your affection and I want to show it off to as many people as I can. We’re getting married in a church surrounded by all of our friends and family.”

  “All of our friends and family live here in New York. The wedding is still taking place in Cali.”

  She dropped her hands in aggravation. “Nathan.”

  “It’s true, Sheil’s. Everyone we love and care about lives right here.”

  “You mean, everyone you love and care about lives right here. Especially Vanessa, right?”

  He gulped, refusing to answer.

  “Right.” She went back into the bathroom and slammed the door, locking it.

  He fell to the edge of the bed, realizing more than ever that convincing her to stay would be a lot more difficult than he had originally believed.

  Part Twelve

  “Now, how did I get stuck with such a beautiful young man at the age of… thirty-five? Hey!”

  Alexis began a two-step in the middle of the den as all of her guests hollered and clapped their hands. Vanessa, who was standing in the front with Gina, laughed a little and began clapping as well.

  “In all seriousness,” she said, stopping to catch her breath, “I want to thank everyone for attending today. God knows there were times I wasn’t sure I would see past the age of twenty-six! But with the help of friends I’ve known for years, I managed to do it with a little bit more ease. And with the help of my daughter, I’m able to sleep well at night knowing that my magazine will continue to be in the right hands another thirty-five years from now. I don’t wake up from as many cold sweats as I once did, Vanessa.”

  “Ha. Ha,” she responded as those around her chuckled.

  “I’m grateful,” Alexis continued. “I’m grateful for this day and for being able to share it with those I love. Especially this man here.” She reached up for Alexander’s face. He turned to kiss her, wrapping his arms around her waist and dipping her back. A little tongue was exchanged and Gina and Vanessa turned to one another and gagged.

  “Not in front of the children, please!” Vanessa hollered, trying to cover Gina’s face with her hand. “This isn’t BET After Dark.”

  Everyone clapped for them as Alexis stood up, wiping the edge of her lips. Alexander grinned and did the same.

  “On that note,” she said with a laugh, “let’s shake a tail feather and get down on it!”

  She pointed at the DJ who pointed back at her with a large smile and began playing one of his records. As Kool and The Gang’s, “Get Down On It” boomed throughout the room, Alexander and Alexis made their way to the middle of the floor and began dancing with one another. Everyone else followed suit, pulling their significant others and friends along with them. When an older man around her dad’s age came over to Gina and off
ered her his hand, she made a face of disgust, then smiled and politely declined, quickly moving across the room toward the spiked-free punch bowl. She was initially pissed that none of her friends were allowed to the party, but when she realized that everyone there, save for Maurice and Vanessa, would be the same age as her dad and stepmother, she was happy to save herself the embarrassment.

  Vanessa had traveled into the living room to check out the remaining trays of food. Maurice followed after with a small plate in his hand. He bumped her back with his elbow and lifted the plate up a little to show her what he’d found.

  “Lobster bites!” she said excitedly, taking a few from his plate and throwing them one by one into her mouth. “I didn’t think she was serving them this year, especially after I had asked her to.”

  “There’s a full tray in the den. You didn’t see it?”

  “No. But with all of that Old Spice and White Diamonds taking up the air in there, I had to get out before my eyes fell out of my head. They were already turning red.”

  “I thought your mom would’ve invited more celebrities and people in the know this year. All I see are normal people. And Donatella.”

  “There’s a few executives in there, but for the most part, she wanted to keep it low key this time. The less people, the less pictures would end up online. She freaks out anytime she sees pictures of the house on random sites and blogs, telling the public what’s inside and how much this or that costs.”

  He nodded and turned back to everyone in the den, dancing and laughing together. Then he looked at Vanessa as she continued stuffing her face.

  “We should go dance,” he suggested.

  She arched her brows, her mouth full of lobster. “I don’t think so.”

  “Come on, V, you heard the song. ‘How you gonna do it if you really don’t wanna dance, by standing on the wall? Get your back up off the wall!’” He sat the plate on a table and started bouncing his shoulders.

  She laughed so hard she nearly snorted. “You can be such a nerd sometimes.”