Who You Wit'?

by Paula Chase

  Kelly’s head shook. “No. He lives across the bridge in Pirates Cove.”

  Greg’s eyebrows arched, then came down quickly.

  “Are you guys getting back together?”

  For a second, the image of her answering the door in a prom dress flitted through Kelly’s mind.

  “Why, no, Greg, we’re not getting back together. I’m just going to prom with him,” she saw herself saying.

  It was so absurd it made her want to giggle.

  “No, we’re not,” she said aloud.

  She walked over to the counter and stood in front of Greg, her emotions playing leapfrog—happy, embarrassed, excited.

  Where would she even start explaining had she answered the door in a prom dress?

  “Well, we broke up sort of abruptly,” she said, wanting to be honest without getting into the nitty-gritty. She didn’t want the boy running out of here screaming. “Friday was the first time we’d spoken in a long time. Guess you can say we had some unresolved issues.”

  Greg snorted. “Just a few.”

  “I wanted to let you know all that, but you know…the date sort of fizzled after that.” Kelly’s shoulders hiccupped. “Then you didn’t show the other day….”

  “Yeah, I shouldn’t have ditched our session.” He wiped his hands on his jeans, rubbing them back and forth, then stood up suddenly. “Well, I was on my way to Jake’s house, and I remembered you lived over here. That’s why I stopped. But I didn’t mean to get all stalker on you.”

  They stood only inches apart.

  Mmm…he must have changed his shirt before coming out, Kelly thought. She could smell the detergent in his clothes. The scent was so ordinary and normal it helped center her thoughts.

  “Are you mad at me?” she asked.

  “I was. But it was our first date; it’s not like we’re…you know, exclusive.” Greg’s Adam’s apple went up and down nervously. He stood still as a tree, not moving an inch. One step forward would take him right into Kelly. “That’s why I stopped, I guess. To let you know it was cool and that if you still wanted to tutor me, I wouldn’t flake on our next session.”

  The more nervous Greg became, the more confident Kelly grew. She giggled softly as she teased. “You could have just called me.”

  Greg grinned. “True. But you know…Jake lives just down the street. So…”

  Kelly knew it was a gamble Greg may not even understand her. But she bit the bullet and asked in Spanish, “Do you want to go out again?”

  His eyes rolled up and to the left as he worked to pull the meaning of her words from his brain. Finally, a smile spread across his face. “Si.” He shoved one hand in his pocket; the other he ran across his low cut hair. “What about tonight? A bunch of us are going bowling. I was going to be the fifth wheel. The lame without a date. So…”

  He looked expectantly at Kelly, his boyish face both nervous and hopeful.

  For the first time since Greg had walked in, Kelly got her own case of the nerves. A bolt of panic struck her in the chest. If she said no, Greg might think she was teasing or leading him on. Plus, he seemed so nervous Kelly thought a no might send him scrambling.

  She forced a smile on her face. “Hold on for a minute. I need to check with my grandmother.”

  She hurried away, taking the steps two at a time as she raced to her bedroom. Once there, she paced between the love seat in her sitting room and the door.

  Just say no. You can’t go. Angel’s on his way, she told herself.

  Exactly, he’s on his way. How can he be your ex if he’s on his way, her brain reminded her sarcastically. Try explaining that.

  She paused at the love seat, gripping it tightly to get her thoughts to slow down.

  “I can’t go. Just tell him Grand said no,” Kelly said to the empty room.

  More lies. She didn’t want to tell any more lies.

  No more.

  She raced to the bathroom, picked up her Sidekick, making her fingers fly so she wouldn’t change her mind. She pulled up Angel’s number and typed in a short, simple text: I cnt go 2nite

  She hit “Send” so hard she jammed her finger.

  Angel was going to blow up her Sidekick—that much she knew. And when he did, she’d tell him the truth—she couldn’t go out with him. They were over. She was wrong for saying yes in the first place.

  That was the truth.

  Her throat tightened.

  A fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into, Miss Kelly, she thought.

  A fine mess.

  She grabbed her purse, dropped the Sidekick into it, and went back downstairs.

  “Can you go?” Greg asked, his face bright with anticipation.

  As long as I let myself, I can, Kelly thought. She smiled. “Yup.”

  Scenes from a Prom:

  Act One, Scene Three

  “If you didn’t know, you’re the only thing that’s on my mind.”

  —Usher, “Love in This Club”

  As much fun as taking pictures had been, Mina found herself anxious to get on with the night. She had flash fatigue five minutes into picture taking and was distracted by how good Brian looked in his tux, to boot. His sapphire blue vest matched her dress to a tee, bringing the phrase perfect couple to mind.

  They made their way to the huge Hummer limo six separate times before being called back for another picture. Once by Brian’s mother, twice by Mina’s, once by her dad, once by Michael, and the last by Lizzie. Mina sent her a silent “Not you, too?” look.

  Lizzie smiled sheepishly. Then Todd muttered a joke about how they really should take after photos when everyone was looking a hot mess from dancing and other extracurricular prom activities. That got Mina laughing, and the last photo had captured that.

  The limo ride was surreal. For some inexplicable reason, Stefan had brought a pair of dice. Brian, JZ, Stefan, and Wade immediately squared off on the floor of the limo, shooting craps, hollering and fussing about shots being messed up by the carpet. Mina and the guys’ dates grumbled about it a little, but then quickly fell into conversation about how nice everyone looked, who had gotten their hair done where, and plans for afterparties. By the time Wade pulled out the tiny bottle of Hennessy, which he proceeded to mix with a Coke, the limo noise was at its peak. Mina and JZ’s date passed on sipping Wade’s concoction, but everyone else took a sip.

  Secretly, Mina was surprised that Brian took a hit from the can. Not that she’d never seen him drink, but it was rare enough that each time jolted her a little. She was pleased when Brian passed once Wade produced yet another miniature and grabbed a second can of Coke from the limo’s well-stocked soda bar.

  Instead, he came over, sat beside her, his arm around her shoulder. “What’s up, toughie? You good?”

  “I’m good,” she said, angling her mouth toward his ear so she wouldn’t have to yell over everyone else’s talking.

  He rubbed a small piece of her dress between his fingers. “Silky. You look nice tonight.” His hands flirted with her thighs. “So, what do you have on underneath that?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Mina teased.

  He nuzzled her ear with his mouth. “Absolutely.”

  Mina grew warm with him so near. She sank into the seat closer to him.

  “When do I get my surprise?”

  Brian squinted, then shrugged, pretending he didn’t know what she was talking about. Mina shoved his leg. “Don’t play.”

  He grinned as he moved his face in and kissed her. Mina kissed back shyly, not used to being so open in public. Just then the limo stopped, delivering them to their destination, a waterfront hotel overlooking the Del Rio Bay.

  The hotel was the premier spot for proms. Every year, there was mad schedule juggling so that Sam-Well and DRB High had their proms on different weekends. That way, both schools would get the opportunity to use the venue. This year, the scheduling hadn’t worked. Both schools scheduled prom the same weekend, and DRB High had swooped in and reserved the date first.
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  The four couples filed out of the limo, joining a large stream of promgoers doing the same. Seeing everyone so formal and coupled up made Mina feel very adult. She expected, at any moment, for someone to start talking about their stocks or work stress. They all resembled very young-looking adults.

  Brian held her hand, and she followed obediently behind him. Even though all the guys looked identical in their black tuxes, people were somehow still able to recognize one another. With his free hand, Brain dapped up, gave pounds, and shook hands with a dozen guys as they made their way inside.

  Mina managed a few of her own hello as she floated along with him.

  Her breath caught in her throat when they finally walked into the main room. The prom’s theme was “Big Things Poppin’.” In honor of that, hundreds of silver stars hung from fishing line in the ceiling. In large glow-penned letters were the names of each senior and where they were headed after graduation. Some had the names of a college, others boasted simply a city, and others listed an occupation, like music producer or model. The committee had really worked hard to ensure that each senior answered the questionnaire so there would be at least one star for everyone in attendance. Mina’s neck craned upward as she read the stars.

  It was apparent the committee was well-organized. The stars were clustered for easy identification. She recognized the batch of stars above her immediately. They were for the basketball team.

  Mina squealed. “Ooh, look, there’s yours.” She tugged Brian’s hand and pointed out several stars. One had his name and Duke University, another said his name and Durham, NC, and another had Duke Starter on it.

  “Remind me to snatch ’em down before we go,” Brian said.

  Mina nodded and let herself be pulled away.

  In no time, they’d found their table, a prime spot near a window with a view of the Bay. But the spectacular scenery didn’t keep them still long. First, they headed to the section for pictures, wanting to get them done early before Mina’s hair sweated out. Then she and Brian were on the dance floor any time the DJ spun a hip-hop track. Every time they headed back to the table, Wade and Stefan were a little more drunk, their dates equally as tipsy. JZ and his date had gotten themselves lost in the crowd and only came back to the table to eat the unexciting entrée of chicken and rice pilaf.

  It didn’t take long for Mina’s feet to begin howling. The heel sandals were only an inch high, but walking out in them was not for the timid. When the DJ went from T. I. to a Foo Fighters song, she practically raced back to the table to sit down.

  Their table was blessedly empty. Last she’d seen them, Stefan and Wade were close to pissy drunk. Mina had grown tired of their antics an hour ago. It was a wonder an administrator hadn’t caught up with them and sent them home. She pulled up the chair closest to the window and stretched her legs into the chair beside it. Brian lifted her legs, sat down in the chair, and dropped them gently back into his lap. He massaged her calves, his eyes teasing.

  “Can’t hang, huh?”

  “I sure can’t,” Mina said, still trying to catch her breath from the four-song set they’d danced to. She moaned softly. “That feels so good.” She lectured him affectionately. “Shoot, you try grooving with heels on.”

  Brian plucked her tiny sandal off and held it up. “This little thing? How does this thing hurt your feet?”

  Mina’s eyes rolled. “Okay, little. Keep rubbing, please.”

  Brian’s hands kneaded her calves. “I’m not touching your cheesy toes, though.”

  Mina lifted her leg as far as she dared in a dress, toward his face. “Boy, I just got my toes done. These toes are clean enough to eat off.”

  He pushed her leg down and scowled. “Man, whatever.”

  Their laughter was lost in the crashing of the Foo Fighters. The song blended into a Justin Timberlake track, and the roar of approval from the crowd thundered.

  “That’s your boy, ain’t it?” Brian said.

  “Um-huh. But I gotta pass this time.”

  “Good. How I look dancing to some Justin Timberlake?” Brian’s eyes rolled.

  Mina’s head shook as she scolded him. “Oh, my God, you are so lucky my feet hurt. I’d make you dance just for saying that.”

  “You ready?” Brian asked.

  “To go?” Mina asked, surprised. She opened her hand bag and looked at her cell phone. It was only ten. Prom still had another hour and a half. And her parents had said she could stay out until one. She was going to soak up every second.

  Brian slipped Mina’s shoe back on. “Yeah. Come on. I told you I had a surprise for you.” He held his hand out and helped her up. “Besides, if we leave now, we get the limo to ourselves. Unless you want to share a ride with Stefan and Wade.”

  That put pep in Mina’s step. “Un-ah. Let’s dip. But how’s everybody getting home?”

  “I already told them I was rolling out early. The limo’s just gonna come back for them after it drops us off.”

  Mina followed Brian as they zigzagged their way between tables and then through gyrating bodies on the dance floor. When they got to the door, she pulled away. “Hold up. Your stars.” Brian followed her back to the section where she’d seen his name. The stars were dangling above a dangerously crowded segment of the dance floor. “Can you reach them?”

  As if the bodies weren’t there at all, Brian reached up and yanked the stars. With some effort, they finally came down.

  Mina tittered. “What if you’re not supposed to take them?”

  “This is just three less stars they need to take down when they clean up.”

  He grabbed the last one, took her hand, and led her out.

  As if by some Jedi mind trick, the limo was there waiting for them at the hotel’s entrance. They climbed in, and it slowly pulled off.

  The Hummer limo with just the two of them in it felt ridiculously empty. Mina plopped down in a middle seat, and Brian sat beside her.

  She looked around at the luxe black leather interior. A television set was built into the bar, and as if he was reading her mind, Brian leaned up, plucked the remote from the bar, and turned it on. They were greeted with static.

  “Guess we didn’t pay for the deluxe cable package,” Brian joked. He turned it back off.

  “Are you going to give me a hint about this surprise?” Mina asked.

  Brian’s head shook vehemently. He switched the subject as if she hadn’t spoken. “So, you all set to leave for O.C. tomorrow morning, right?

  “Yeah. My bag is packed and everything.”

  Mina’s parents were letting her go reluctantly. But once Mr. and Mrs. James had stopped over and assured them the foursome would either be on the beach or on the boardwalk—translation, no alone time for the young lovers—her parents had relented. Not without a major lecture about trust, of course.

  Mina had to actually remind herself that she hadn’t been the one to sneak to O.C. last year. It had been Cinny, Lizzie, and Kelly. She hadn’t even known they were coming. But the sins of her friends had left an impression on her parents. Under the circumstances with them letting her go, Mina didn’t think it wise to point out that she’d personally not broken any rules or trust, a fact that hadn’t stopped them from punishing her last year for harboring the secret that the girls had come down to O.C.

  “Are we riding with your parents or are you driving, too?” Mina asked. She sat cross-legged on the large, plush bench.

  “We’re riding with them.”

  “Do they have an itinerary to make sure we don’t spend a second alone together?” Mina’s eyebrows steepled. “I know my mother would.”

  Brian laughed. “I don’t think so. But then again, it wouldn’t be nothing for my mom to whip out a schedule full of minigolf, parasailing and water aerobics.”

  “Water aerobics?” Mina scowled.

  “Okay, not saying I’ve ever taken water aerobics.” Brian’s eyes stretched mischievously, making it clear he absolutely had.

  Mina teased him until he
wrestled her onto his lap.

  “Okay, that’s enough of that.” He kissed her, preventing any further ribbing. They remained tangled, lips locked until the limo door opened, ushering in a whirl of fresh, cool air.

  The air had the proper effect, bringing them both back to the present.

  “Alright, ready?” Brian backed out of the limo. He took her hand. “Keep your eyes closed until you get out.”

  Mina did as she was told, stumbling as she made her way out of the limo. She heard the limo door shut and Brian instruct the driver about heading back to the hotel for the others. The sensation of movement overtook her as the limo pulled off. Brian steadied her when she wobbled.

  He took her hand in his and said, “Open your eyes.”

  Mina eagerly popped her eyes open. The light in her eyes dimmed. They were standing in front of Brian’s darkened house.

  Scenes from a Prom:

  Act One, Scene Four

  “Almost heard ya sayin’ you were finally free.”

  —Brandy, “Almost Doesn’t Count”

  A good night can go bad easily.

  Jacinta had been the unfortunate victim of such a phenomenon more than she cared to remember.

  But a bad night getting worse—that was a new one.

  Having Aunt Jacqi in on her secret had eased Jacinta’s mind a little. No longer carrying the burden alone had made it easier to smile through the pictures. She was even feeling a little guilty about yesterday’s dish session with JZ.

  Raheem looked handsome in his tux, and everyone was so excited for them, from his mom to her little brothers, that thoughts of breaking up with him slowly faded. She’d stick with her original plan, let him go off to school, and let things happen as they may.

  But it wasn’t in the stars for things to work out, at least not for the night. She knew it the second Angel muttered, “Man, what’s wrong with this chick?”

  He cursed in Spanish.

  Jacinta looked up from the complicated console of the totally pimped out, silver Benz E-Class, a rental, forgetting for a minute that she was trying to decipher how to turn down the radio.