Crossroads

by Skyy

  8

  Cooley couldn’t get comfortable. The thought of her enjoying the place that Sonic called her own was unsettling to her. She didn’t sleep in the master bedroom; she opted for the guest room she slept in each time she visited Sonic. Her bad sleep caught up with her, causing her to oversleep. Sahara’s loud knock on her door woke her up when her alarm clock failed to.

  Cooley smiled as she sat across from Sahara at Cheesecake Factory. She wouldn’t go out to a club like Sahara wanted, but she couldn’t resist the chance to eat Cheesecake Factory. The large menu didn’t matter to Cooley; she was addicted to their Buffalo Blast. The chicken bites had just enough kick to them for her. Almost as good as her favorite wing spot back in Memphis. She made a mental note to find the best wings in Atlanta. She couldn’t live without hot wings.

  Sahara’s hot body added even more spice to Cooley’s taste buds. She was amazed by Sahara’s transformation. Curiosity was getting the better of her. She wanted to know what Sahara was doing at Jam Zone, and did she have to fuck for her position, like many women in the company?

  The idea of Sahara working in the strip club she found her in the year before didn’t sit well with Cooley, and the idea of some exec having his way with her really made Cooley’s blood boil. Sahara was sexy beyond words. She could have any woman or man that she wanted.

  Cooley noticed the twinkle in Sahara’s eyes every time they looked at each other. She wondered why Sahara hadn’t brought up the scar across her face again since the other day in the car. Cooley never caught her staring at it; Sahara looked at her like she always had. She had to notice it. After all Cooley could see it in a mirror a mile away.

  Dinner went over with success. Cooley pressed for the secret job of Sahara’s, but she wouldn’t budge. She also never mentioned Cooley’s scar, how she got it, or the woman who came in between them. Cooley’s eyes wandered to Sahara’s plump breasts. She was by far more attractive than Misha, yet she couldn’t see it when she was still devoted to Misha. Love was a son of a bitch.

  Cooley woke up bright and early for her first day at work. She didn’t feel like the anxious intern, but this was more pressure. Overnight she had gone from student to executive, and she didn’t want to make any mistakes.

  Cooley had her first day outfit laid out and ironed to perfection. She started her normal routine of showering and primping to create her perfect look. Cooley didn’t get the same joy out of getting ready like she used to. No matter how perfect her look was, she knew it wasn’t.

  She stared at her imperfection. She rubbed her ointment on her scar. The prickly feeling disgusted her.

  She took the tip of her finger, pressing her finger nail against the scab. A twinge of pain shot through her, but she continued until a piece of the scab lifted. Cooley sighed, she slowly pulled a piece of the crusty scab off of her face. Most of it didn’t hurt, it peeled off easily. She stared at the light-colored spot scar on her face. It wasn’t as bad as before, but still was unsightly and didn’t belong on her face.

  Cooley sighed. She was able to deal with it better than before, but she knew plastic surgery was in her near future.

  Cooley hated the weather in the South. The humid air was filled with moisture. She could smell the rain that was supposed to fall by afternoon. Cooley stared at the Jam Zone logo and took a deep breath. Her new life had officially started. She exhaled and opened the door.

  “Good Morning, Ms. Wade,” the cute, young receptionist greeted her.

  “Hey, Tina. You can call me Cooley or Cool or whatever you like.” Cooley smiled. A lot had changed. Last time she was in the office she was treated like any other intern. Now she was called by her last name. Suddenly Cooley didn’t sound as good as it used to. She wondered, was it time for a new nickname, or even worse, time to start using her government name? “Tina, do you think I should go by another name?”

  “Well, Big Ron calls you Cool, so why don’t you just go by that?”

  “Hmm, good point.”

  Tina smiled. “Thank you, Ms. W—I mean Cool. Are you excited to be here?”

  “Can you see it on my face?” Cooley looked at Tina.

  Tina blushed. “No, you are fine. You look very ... cool. Would you like to know where you are supposed to be?”

  “Oh shit, yes, I do.” Cooley felt her body tense up from her nervousness. “Man, I’m trippin’.”

  “It’s fine.” Tina pressed a combination of numbers on her phone. She stood up and walked around her glass desk. Tina pulled her gray blazer down and adjusted her twisted skirt. “Follow me.”

  Cooley greeted other associates and artists as they walked down the long corridor. She felt herself calming down. She glanced at the large platinum plaque on the wall. Supa Sonic’s first album cover dominated the majority of the plaque. Cooley’s happiness was bittersweet. She made a mental note to try to get in touch with Sonic.

  “So here we are. Welcome to your new office, Cooley.” Tina opened the door.

  Cooley’s face lit up with pride as she walked into the nice size office. It was bare, no gold or platinum plaques on the walls like the other A&R reps. The chocolate carpet was only joined by a large dark chestnut desk, a chair for her, and two extra chairs for company. Her bookshelf was empty, and there was no stereo or awards.

  “Man, this is ... this is ...”

  “Bare,” Tina joked.

  “No, amazing.” Cooley looked at Tina, who was unimpressed by the office. “It might not be anything in here, but it has the most important thing of all.” Cooley walked over to her desk. She picked up the small nameplate. She looked at the CARLA “COOLEY” WADE written on the plate. “This is really all I need for now.”

  Tina smiled. “Well, enjoy your nameplate and empty office. I need to get back to the front. Welcome, Cooley. Oh, and you have a meeting in an hour with Ron.”

  Cooley sat down in her plush black chair. “Thanks, T.” Tina closed the door as she walked away. Cooley couldn’t resist the urge. She put her hands on the desk and pushed herself, causing the chair to spin around real fast. “Hell yeah!” Cooley laughed.

  A knock at the door ended her childish antics. Cooley grabbed the desk so her chair wouldn’t move. She sat up straight. “Ummm ... come in.”

  A petite, young woman walked into the office. Her locks, oversized jeans, Jordan’s and black button-down gave away her sexual orientation immediately.

  “Greetings, Ms. Wade. I’m Teyanna, but most people call me Tee.”

  “How are you, Tee?”

  “I’m, well, I’ll be better when you decide to make me your assistant.” Tee held her head high, her thin locks hitting her on her shoulders.

  Cooley leaned forward and put her arms on her desk. “Wow, that’s straight to the point.”

  Tee walked forward. She put a manila folder on the desk. “If you take a moment to view my resume, you will see that I have extensive experience in the field. As of recently I was the assistant for Supa Sonic and Danger Dane.”

  “Sonic? You were with Sonic?” Cooley’s eyes widened.

  “Yes, I was with her for the last few months until ... well ,until recent events. I am a hard worker and I promise—”

  “Hey, do you know where Sonic is?”

  Tee’s lower lip quivered. “Umm, well ...”

  “Come on, Tee, I’m just trying to locate her. She’s my friend, and I’m worried about her. Hey have a seat ok.” Cooley motioned toward the chair.

  Tee hesitated but sat down. She pulled the chair closer to Cooley’s desk and leaned in. “I’m not supposed to say anything, because ... well ... she’s sorta banned from around here.”

  “OK, just let me know. I promise I won’t tell a soul.”

  “Right now she’s in New York. She’s kicking it at an old girlfriend’s house until the spot isn’t so hot.”

  “Really? Wait, why does she feel the need to hide? I mean, all I heard was that she was fired.”

  Tee’s lip curled. “Yeah, right! Ms. Wade—”
r />   “Call me Cool.”

  “Oh, OK. Well, Cool, it’s a whole lot more than that. I know ’cause I was practically staying there for the last two months. Sonic went off the deep end for real. She got into heavier drugs. I was on O.D. watch.”

  “Damn, are you serious?” Cooley’s mouth dropped. She thought about the piles of cocaine and weed that was always present wherever she and Sonic would go. “So what was it? Pills? What?”

  “Worse. Crack.”

  “Hell naw! I don’t believe that. Tell me you are bullshittin’.” Cooley’s mouth dropped further.

  Tee shook her head. “I wish I could say it, but I can’t. Man, I saw the pipes myself. I tried to get her to get some help, but I’m just the assistant. She wouldn’t listen to me.”

  “No, no, no! I can’t believe you are telling me this shit.” Cooley leaned back in her chair.

  “I’m sorry.” Tee sank down in her chair.

  “Damn!” Cooley ran her fingers through her curly hair. She sat back up. “Fuck that, I need to get in touch with her. I gotta help her out. You got a way to get in touch with her?”

  “Yeah, I’ll get it to you.” Tee stood up. “So, um, I know you might not want to talk about it, but I was wondering about the position.”

  Cooley laughed at Tee’s awkward look. “Sure, I’ll give you a try out. I think you might just be a good fit for me.”

  Tee smiled, showing almost all of her teeth. “Great!” She pulled out an iPhone. “In that case, Cool, you have to be in Big Ron’s office in one hour and then you have your first artist planning meeting directly after.”

  “Oh, so you just knew I was going to hire you, huh?”

  Tee smiled. “Let’s just say I wanted to be prepared. Now, is there anything I can get you?”

  “Yeah, well, I need some stuff for this empty-ass office. Can you work on getting me things that go in an office? You know, kinda take the cue from the other people.”

  “Done. You will have something by the end of your meetings today.” Tee turned around and walked toward the door. She turned back toward Cooley. “Oh, by the way, thank you for the opportunity. I won’t let you down.”

  “Dig that.”

  Cooley sat back in her chair. She wanted to enjoy the moment, but she couldn’t get Sonic off her mind.

  She thought about her new life. Denise popped into her mind. “Oh shit,” Cooley said to herself. She hadn’t checked in with her bestfriend and she was way overdue.

  Cooley picked up her phone. It went straight to Denise’s voice mail.

  “Wuz up, bruh. I’m sitting here in my phat-ass office in ATL and I realized I hadn’t talked to you yet. Bet you off becoming a supastar. Well, get at me. I might hit New York soon. One.”

  Cooley hung the phone up. She looked down at her watch. Her meeting with Big Ron was quickly approaching. She sighed. It was time to work.

  9

  The bright sun felt like it was burning through Denise’s brain. She quickly closed her eyes. She sat up in the bed. The ache hit her like a sledgehammer to the head. She closed her eyes as tight as she could, but it wasn’t keeping the bright light out.

  She stumbled to the bathroom, felt her way to the sink without turning the light on, opened her eyes and splashed water on her face. What the fuck was I thinking? Denise said, staring in the darkness.

  Denise turned the hot water on. She slowly pulled her clothes off, letting them fall to the floor. She cautiously stepped into the dark shower. The hot water hit her body with full force. She let the water run down her back.

  Denise pulled the ponytail holder off of her hair. She let her thick hair absorb the water. She made a mental note never to drink again.

  Thirty minutes later, Denise decided to venture back into her bright hotel room. The sunlight hurt, but not as bad as it did originally.

  Denise fell back to her bed. She stared at the white stucco ceiling. Thoughts rushed through her mind. What should her next move be? Everyone in her life was off doing amazing things and she was back at square one.

  Denise sat up. She looked around, until she eyed her duffle bag. She walked over and picked the bag up. She threw it on her bed and plopped back down. She searched through the pockets, trying to remember where she put her cell phone. Her hands roamed through the bag until coming across the thin iPhone Cooley insisted she get. The screen was black. She turned the phone on, only to be hit with the low battery logo. She grabbed the charger before the phone cut back off. Her fingers hit the screen, dialing her voice mail.

  “Hey, boo, just calling to see if you made it to New York. Give me a call. Nic and I are looking for a place. God! How did I let her talk me into staying in Memphis? Anywho call me.”

  Carmen’s voice made her smile. At least if she was going to end up back in Memphis she had somewhere she could crash.

  “Bruh! Why the fuck is Misha on my damn plane? This is some bullshit. Call me.”

  Denise pressed delete at Cooley’s drama.

  “Denise, I just wanted to call and check on you.”

  Denise recognized Mariah’s sweet, but strong voice.

  “I’m actually working on something for you right now. It’s not basketball, but honestly it might be better. I’ll call you in the morning with more.”

  Denise was puzzled. She couldn’t believe there was anything being better than basketball.

  “Denise, this is Lena.”

  Lena’s voice hit her harder than an SUV.

  “I’m, well ... I have a surprise for you. I will talk to you soon.”

  Suddenly the previous nights events flooded to her memory. Lena wasn’t a dream, she was there last night. Oh my God, what have I done? Denise thought to herself, remembering the things she said. She could see Lena’s face as though she was still there, standing in front of her. She saw the tears rolling down Lena’s face.

  Denise disconnected from her voice mail. Her body felt numb. Not the drunk numb she experienced the night before, but an emotional numbness. Lena came for her, and she’d sent her away.

  Denise sank down in her bed. She didn’t see how things could get any worse.

  The hotel phone blared, causing her head to pound. “Hello?”

  Mariah’s stilettos click-clacked on the marble floor of her office building. “Denise, I have been calling you all day. What is going on with your phone?”

  “I didn’t have it on. I needed some time to—”

  “I’m sorry to cut you off, but I’m on my way into a meeting. I need you to be up and dressed and in the hotel bar at noon. Can you do that for me? ”

  “Ummm ... sure. Why? What’s going on?”

  “I’ll explain when I get there. I think something amazing is headed your way. Just be in that bar. I have to run.” Mariah hung the phone up and walked into the meeting room.

  Denise stared at her phone. She scrolled down to Cooley’s number and pressed SEND.

  “You would call when I only have about five minutes to talk to yo ass,” Cooley said as she picked her curly fro.

  “Fuck! I got something really, really important to tell you.”

  Cooley looked up at herself in the mirror. “What’s up?”

  “I can tell you later. It might take long—”

  “Just spill it.”

  Denise’s voice trembled. “I’m not playing basketball.” The words coming out of her mouth sounded surreal. She fought back tears.

  Cooley’s mouth dropped. “What do you mean? Dee, what the hell?”

  “My injury from ... Rhonda and the bad press ... the team changed their minds.” Denise struggled to get the words out. Saying them still seemed surreal.

  “That’s some bullshit! How can they do that? Bruh, are you OK? What do you need me to do?” Cooley sat down in one of the chairs in front of her desk.

  “I don’t know anything right now. Mariah called me this morning, said she got something she think might work for me. I’m meeting her at one.”

  “I’m so sorry, bruh. Have you told C
?”

  “No, I don’t know how to tell her. I know she is gonna worry. I don’t know what I am going to do. I have no career, no place to stay, nothing.”

  “Dee, please, you always got somewhere to stay. If this gig with Mariah doesn’t work out, get yo ass on a plane and come to ATL and chill out here. You know I got you.”

  Tears streamed down Denise’s face. “You know that’s not my style. I can’t be living off you.”

  “Man, if you don’t shut that shit up! You are my family and I would love to have you here with me. Fuck basketball! Everything is in my industry. I can get you a job and we can be the two rich bros.”

  Denise laughed. “I love you man.”

  “Love you too, no homo.”

  They both laughed. Denise felt a bit of ease. Cooley headed out of her office. “So, guess who picked me up from the airport?”

  “Who?”

  “Sahara.” I swear she showed up just in time. Misha and that damn Patrick were stalking me. But I had the last laugh in the end. Misha’s face dropped when she saw Sahara’s fine ass.

  “Cool.”

  “Yeah?”

  Denise looked down. “Lena showed up here.”

  Cooley paused in her tracks. “What do you mean, Lena showed up?”

  “She showed up. She told me she wanted to be with me and everything.”

  “And you hit me with the bad news first. That’s great. Where is she now?”

  “Cool, that isn’t good news. I was drunk and I said some fucked up things. I told her to go back to her man.”

  “You were drunk!” Cooley yelled.

  Everyone looked around at her with puzzled expressions.

  “You don’t drink, Dee.”

  “I know. Blue Top too.”

  “Ah, hell naw.”

  “I feel horrible. I don’t know what to do. Do I call her and tell her I want her ...”

  “Dee, look, I really hate to cut this short, but I gotta go meet with boss man. But I want to say this. Let it be. Dee you need to really focus on you right now. I love you, but the last thing you need is the drama of a pregnant, married woman.”