Who You Wit'?

by Paula Chase

  Lizzie rolled her eyes. “It’s stupid. He’s mad that I didn’t discuss the pact with him before taking it.”

  Michael scowled. He looked in the rearview mirror as he spoke. “Wait? You took a pact to not have sex, but you didn’t tell him you were taking it?”

  Mina felt her eyebrow inching to an arch and forced it back down. She agreed that was all kinds of wrong. But she was still in the hot seat, so she kept her comments, and her raised eyebrow, to herself.

  Lizzie sighed noisily. “Okay, okay. I get it. I should have told him first. But if I had, and he said he wasn’t down with it, then what?” She folded her arms, challenging Michael and Mina.

  Michael chuckled. “My bad. I’m not even in this.”

  “I guess I don’t need to ask whose side you’re on, Mina,” Lizzie said.

  Mina frowned. “What does that mean? Just because me and Brian had sex doesn’t mean I’m like the poster child for it.”

  Tears shimmered in her eyes. She turned to face the front, afraid Lizzie would see how hurt she was.

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” Lizzie huffed.

  “How did you mean it then?” Mina rolled her eyes, and a few tears spilled. She turned to the back and snapped, “That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you right away.”

  “Whatever, Mi,” Lizzie snapped back. “But I bet you told Cinny.”

  Mina’s silence was answer enough. It hung in the air the rest of the ride home.

  Game Over!

  “Not worth the aftermath, after that…

  try to get you back.”

  —Maroon 5, “Makes Me Wonder”

  When they arrived to JZ’s to drop off Brian’s truck, the game was over. Brian, Todd, and a few stragglers, including Stefan, the cutie, lounged on the bleachers talking smack about who had brought their A game.

  Michael dropped the keys in Brian’s hand. “Next week, I’m balling. One of y’all can take these crazy dudes to the mall or whatever.” He jabbed his thumb over at Mina and Lizzie, standing tight-faced and tight-lipped off to the side of the court.

  JZ walked over, stood between them, and put his arm around them. “What’s wrong with my girls?”

  Mina shrugged his arm off. “Brian, can I talk to you for a minute?”

  There was a chorus of oohs as the guys teased Brian about being in trouble.

  “Uh-oh,” JZ said. “And this is why the kid rides solo.”

  “Naw, you ride solo cause you keep getting caught dipping with two shorties at a time,” Stefan said.

  JZ brushed his shoulder off. “I know, right.”

  Brian doled out pounds and handshakes amid the laughter as he grabbed his bag. He sauntered over to Mina, his eyes peering through the darkening evening as if trying to gauge what was on her mind.

  Todd stood up, stretching his long, lean body before grabbing his bag. He put his hand out for another round of pounds. “I see y’all later, dude.” He and JZ exchanged a grip and pound to the back. “Deuces, Jay.” As he passed Mina, whose arms were tightly folded against her chest, Todd said a low-key hey, then said the same to Lizzie.

  For a second, Mina’s anger faltered. She instinctively went to protect Lizzie. “Todd, what’s…” But Brian pulled her by the hand, leading her away.

  “Come on. What you want talk about?”

  As she and Brian headed out, Mina heard JZ say, “Ouch. What the hell is going on with everybody? You need a ride home, Liz-O?”

  Mina took one last look back and saw Lizzie nod her head before she and Brian disappeared around the corner toward his house.

  Mina had never seen Todd act like that. Never. And she’d known Todd for six years. Her mind swirled, ping-ponging between thoughts of Todd and Lizzie and she and Brian. She resisted the light pull Brian had on her hand, forcing him to stop walking. They stood at the top of JZ’s driveway.

  “What’s up?” Brian asked. He cracked open a Gatorade and drank.

  Mina folded her arms again, almost by instinct, as she reprimanded him. “Why did you tell Todd about us?”

  Brian’s eyebrows scrunched. “About us? What about us?” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

  Mina pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows as if that were somehow the answer to the question. “That we had sex, Brian,” she whispered loudly.

  He scowled. “I didn’t tell Todd.”

  “Then how’d he find out?”

  Brian shrugged.

  “Did you tell anybody?” Mina asked.

  “Did you?” Brian snapped.

  “Cinny. But…”

  “Do you see me tripping over that?”

  “No. But maybe you would if Cinny went off and told someone you weren’t ready to tell.” Mina’s voice rose.

  Brian shook his head. “Okay. I can tell you’re ready to start popping some stuff that’s either gonna be nonsense or some old bullshit only you and your girls would understand.” His right eyebrow arched. “So just say what you’re pissed about. I’m ready take a shower and chill.”

  Mina faltered. Brian’s straightforward way always kept her slightly off balance. It took her a few seconds to figure out her own point, but she found her voice. “I’m just saying it’s not cool that you’re bragging about it. What? Did you and Todd have some kind of bet or something, and you won?”

  “You watch too many of those corny ass TV shows, Mina.” Brian snorted. “Nobody had a bet.”

  She looked him in the eye. “Then how did Todd find out?”

  Brian sucked his teeth. “I told him. Alright?” His voice carried in the quiet cul-de-sac, making Mina wince. She wondered if JZ and the rest were still out back and if they could hear. Brian walked toward his house, taking long strides, forcing Mina to speedwalk to keep up. “And it wasn’t all dramatic like you making it. Nobody was sitting around dogging y’all out.” He cut his eyes at her as if he knew that’s exactly what she was thinking. “Me, Todd, and JZ were kicking it. Todd was joking, saying how Lizzie wasn’t really down with sexing and that he was putting down his best game trying to change her mind. JZ said something crazy about how you and her are best friends, so if one of y’all did it, the other one would, too. So they kept tripping, asking had we done it. After a while, Todd was seriously asking, wanting to know, and I told him. So that’s how he knows.”

  “JZ knows, too?” Mina groaned.

  “Is it really a big deal?” Brian asked, annoyed. “It’s not like they’re not your peoples and don’t already know everything else about you.”

  Mina couldn’t argue that. Still, she’d wanted to tell her friends in her own time and way. No doubt, if she voiced that, Brian would only say she was being dramatic.

  They stood in front of Brian’s driveway under a street light, silent. Stefan blew his horn as he drove past, and a few minutes later, JZ stopped his mom’s Volvo convertible right next to them. He had the top down. Lizzie sat up front. It looked like she’d been crying. Michael sat in the back.

  “You want a ride, Mi?” JZ asked.

  Mina was about to say no.

  “Yeah, she does,” Brian said. He gave JZ a pound, then Michael and headed up the driveway. “See y’all tomorrow.”

  Mina’s mouth fell open. She stared at the empty space that had been Brian seconds ago before climbing in the back with Michael.

  Hours later, her homework done, Mina sat at her desk, phone on vibrate in case Brian called to apologize, PC on but Away message blazing, “I’m away B*tches,” until someone she felt like talking to logged on.

  Michael’s satin blue masterpiece, hanging from the closet door, caught Mina’s eyes every few seconds. She smiled at it, willing herself to think good thoughts about prom instead of the fact that both Lizzie and Brian were now mad at her.

  Check that, Lizzie wasn’t just mad—she was righteously pissed. But at least she had a good reason to be mad. Brian was just being pissy.

  Eyeing the computer monitor, double-checking for Lizzie’s entrance online, Mina shook Brian out of h
er head. She was not going to think about him right now. She had to make things right with Lizzie, let her know that she hadn’t meant to let the secret linger. She would have definitely told her by…well, this Friday. She was sure of it.

  Definitely by Friday, she told herself, eyeing the phone. She tapped the digits for Brian’s phone number on the keypad.

  Why hadn’t he called or texted her?

  She hated when he got pissy. If he’d just told her he’d told Todd, she would have had to come clean with Lizzie sooner, pact pressure or not. How in the world was he the one mad?

  Just then, Todd’s screen name bolded on her screen.

  Lizzie was MIA tonight, but this was the next best thing. Maybe she could help fix things.

  BubbliMi: Hey T. Wassup?

  BasketballT: Nuttin.

  BubbliMi: heard a vicious rumor today.

  BasketballT: uh-oh. It wasn’t me

  BubbliMi: LOL see I knew it had to be all lies tht ur mad@ my girl Liz

  Five minutes went by before Todd finally responded.

  BasketballT: u tryna trap me into flaming her? Wht is she there w/u?

  BubbliMi: T it’s not like that. 4real! Y r u mad @ her?

  BasketballT: it’s b/w me n Lizzie

  Mina’s face warmed, but she pressed on.

  BubbliMi: I know. Not tryna b up in ur mix. But she’s straight bummed

  BasketballT: me n’ her both. She played me

  BubbliMi: Todd, no harm but u know Lizzie is not like tht. Honestly, I thnk she’s jus not rdy is all

  BasketballT: and she couldn’t jus tell me tht? She had 2 take a pact?

  Mina felt the same way. But she didn’t want to agree with Todd. She was saved when Cinny appeared online. Scrambling to ditch her away message, she was rewarded by a message immediately.

  CinnyBon: I missed all the fun huh??

  BubbliMi: wht fun?

  CinnyBon: don’t play it off. I’m on da phone w/Jay now

  BubbliMi: Ok it’s official—JZ likes u. anytime he on the phone gossiping something gotta b up!

  CinnyBon: ROFL he tol me 2 tell u stop tripping!

  Mina laughed, embarrassed that Jacinta had shared what she said with JZ.

  BubbliMi: Dayum Cinny. I didn’t know u was gon’ drop dime on me like that!

  She switched back to Todd.

  BubbliMi: u know how Lizzie is. Very organized. A pact is very her ?

  BasketballT: she “organized” me right outta the whole decision. WACK but w/e

  BubbliMi: she really likes u T. jus talk 2 her. Plse!!

  BasketballT: Oh like she talked to me abt the pact?

  BubbliMi: 2 wrongs don’t make a right

  BasketballT: umm…did u just go ttly parental on me? LOL

  BubbliMi: yes. LOL seriously tho, jus talk. Please. Maybe it’s not

  2 late 2 meet in the middle

  BasketballT: wht’s the middle of no sex and having sex?

  BubbliMi: a BJ? J/K. Totally J/K!!!

  BasketballT: LOL I like the way u think

  BubbliMi: T, I was j/k!!! if u tell Lizzie I said that I will so deny it ?

  BasketballT: I promise I’m not printing this as we speak.

  BubbliMi: better not be. I jus want u guys 2 b cool again

  BasketballT: yeah, I know. Gtg c u

  BubbliMi: c u

  Mina shook her head, smiling. It was hard to put this Todd together with the sweaty, stony-faced person he’d been this afternoon. She realized Todd hadn’t made any promises about making up with Lizzie, but he also didn’t sound mad anymore. She’d settle for that.

  A trail of messages from Jacinta littered her screen. Apparently, JZ had given Jacinta the entire scoop from earlier, and Jacinta wasn’t above teasing Mina for getting herself bombed out by Lizzie.

  CinnyBon: now look @ u breaking ur own rules—lying 2 ur girls and whatnot. Bad Princess, Bad.

  Mina read it and Cinny’s other messages, laughing. Jacinta had a weird way of making Mina feel like her problems were small and silly. And compared to the pregnancy scare hanging over Jacinta’s head, the squabble with Lizzie and Brian’s tude were silly.

  Mina picked up the phone. She couldn’t take both her boyfriend and her best friend being mad. Having neither of them call or online was like extreme isolation. Like they’d both gotten together and decided to cyber ice her.

  Paranoid much, Mina thought, snorting nervously.

  Still, the silence was deafening. She had to squash one of the beefs.

  Her heart pattered against her chest.

  How come admitting you’re wrong is so nerve-wracking, she thought as she dialed.

  She took a deep breath and braced herself for a scolding.

  Sprung

  “Got me doing things I’ll never do.”

  —T-Pain, “I’m Sprung”

  The next evening, Brian’s backyard was a virtual carnival of activity. People splashed in the pool, crammed into the Jacuzzi, ran ball on his basketball court, hung out at the Jacuzzi’s tiki bar, and filled any and every seat or empty spot surrounding the pool.

  What had been intended as a clique get-together had turned into a full-blown party with a slew of varsity athletes and various other senior glitterati once word-of-mouth of the event hit the halls of DRB High.

  Mrs. James had flipped once the tenth caravan of jam-packed cars showed up. She lectured Brian about “misrepresenting” the gathering. The lecture, given discretely within the confines of the house away from the partiers, was sharp but short. Rather than clear the area, she settled for cutting off any more from entering. She and Brian’s dad stationed themselves on the front porch, ensuring no one else snuck by.

  Mina and Lizzie sat poolside, Mina’s late-night apology soothing the tension that had blistered between them. Lizzie’s hair, pulled in a side pony, made her look like a little girl. Her pink polka dot bikini top added to the effect. Typical of Lizzie, she wore shorts, hiding the bottoms. In contrast, Mina sat comfortably in only her green and yellow-striped two-piece, the tiny transparent sarong around her waist for fashion and not much more.

  Mina kicked lazily at the bathtub warm water and JZ, who tugged at her feet. Michael lowered himself in and nabbed a floating chaise before it escaped. He flipped himself into it and anchored himself by the girls by holding on to the ledge.

  “It’s so good to see you two girls playing nice,” Michael said with singsongy sarcasm.

  Lizzie laid her legs over the arm of his chaise, pulling the chair to them. Her eyes scanned the area for Todd.

  “He’s over on the basketball court,” Mina said with a smile.

  “That’s pathetic that I’m so obvious.” Lizzie’s feet kicked absently, making the chaise bump lightly against the pool’s wall.

  “I can’t lie—it’s funny to see you open like that, Liz-O.” JZ smirked. “Mina? We all know she rummin’ cause Brian got her sprung. But you’re usually the smart one.”

  Mina cupped her hand into the pool, scooped up some water, and aimed toward JZ’s face. “That’s wrong, Jay. I’m not sprung.”

  He laughed as the water fell short. “Man, please.”

  Michael nodded. “You can’t even deny that one, Mi.”

  “How mad is he?” Lizzie asked, ignoring Michael and JZ. She twisted a strand of hair around her finger. Her eyes brimmed with anxiety. “Tell me what he said again, last night.”

  Mina patiently relayed her and Todd’s IM chat from the night before for the fifth time. She left nothing out, even the BJ comment, which made Lizzie wince.

  “Liz, you know why he’s mad, right?” Michael said.

  “Yeah, ’cause you doomed the dude to an indefinite sentence of dating his hand,” JZ cracked. He dipped underwater to avoid another handful of flying water. He resurfaced, grinning. “Liz, I’m joking. But on the real, Todd’s a good guy. Shoot, he too sweet in my opinion.” JZ shrugged. “But I bet you could have just told him you wasn’t with sexin’, and he would have been cool.”
<
br />   “For how long?” Lizzie asked, eyebrow raised in a challenge.

  JZ shrugged again. “I can’t answer all that. But he likes you, so who knows. Maybe as long as you needed him to.”

  Mina touched Lizzie’s arm. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think JZ’s right.” She turned her head as JZ splashed at her as a thank you. “You know Todd. He’s the most easygoing person we know.”

  “I know he is. But I hate that you guys are saying I needed his blessing to take the pact.” Lizzie made eye contact with each of her friends before shaking her head in frustration. “It was my decision. Even if I went about it wrong, it was still my decision to make. Not me and Todd’s, mine.”

  Her face reddened as people nearby stared. “I’m just saying,” she went on, lowering her voice. “I know I need to apologize, and if he stops avoiding me, I will. But I’m not apologizing for taking the pact. Just for…” Her eyebrows knitted as she thought about it for a second before deciding on, “For not telling him first.”

  JZ’s eyebrows arched. “Alright, Liz, you boss. But…” He looked off toward the basketball court, barely visible because of the number of people surrounding the pool.

  “But what?” Mina and Lizzie asked together.

  “Look, y’all know T’s last girlfriend was a straight bitch,” JZ said. “She played him, and he’s not down for getting played again. Todd’s cool, but he not gon’ play nobody’s punk.” He shrugged. “Man, look, that’s y’all business. Just do you, Lizzie O’Reilly.” He stuck out his fist for a pound. Once Lizzie tapped his with hers, he swam off.

  “Liz, is it worth you guys breaking up?” Mina asked softly.

  She and Michael stared intently in Lizzie’s face as her eyebrows furrowed, straightened, then creased again.

  Lizzie snapped lightly, “I’m not going to have sex with him just so we won’t break up, Mi.”

  “I didn’t mean you should,” Mina said patiently. “I guess I’m asking…are you sure that…if Todd can’t get with the pact and wants to break up, will you be alright with that?”