Chasing Romeo

by A. J. Byrd

  Once I heard about the fight between Anje and Tyler in the girls’ locker room, I felt guilty for being the cause of a rift between them. One thing I am grateful for is that she appears to have forgiven me. It’s just another reason in a growing list of why I’m truly feeling this girl. She’s calm, cool and collected. We’ve only been together for a few days, but I have a good feeling about all of this. A real good feeling.

  No more drama.

  Pulled from the fourth quarter, I’m left to watch the last few minutes of the game from the sidelines. All the while I feel another set of eyes blazing a hole into the side of my head. I don’t have to look to know that it’s Phoenix watching my every move.

  No doubt she knows the deal—or at least part of it. Some are confused to which girl I’m truly dating—Tyler or Anjenai. Either way, I know Phoenix is straight losing it right now. But what’s there to say? It’s over. It’s been over. It’s time to move on.

  I told my boys about my seeing Anjenai. When they finished laughing it up, they saw I was serious. They can’t see what we have in common. I’ve tried to explain to them that I’m just feeling her. The way she laughs, the way she sees things and her quiet toughness. One thing Chris and Shadiq do like about my new girl is her undeniable skills on the basketball court. Sure I’ve taught her a couple of plays—how to zig and zag—but the girl is a natural. She’s gonna be a star.

  To combat Phoenix’s evil stare, I turn to the cheering crowd again and see Anjenai waving at me. I wave back and surprise more than a few.

  The visiting team, Wheeler High’s Wildcats, scores another touchdown on us and suddenly the game is close. Time runs out and the Jackson Eagles win our first game of the football season 21-14.

  The crowd goes crazy. And I’m the first to race toward the Gatorade to dump all over our coach.

  In the locker room, everyone is buzzing about Shadiq’s party. I can’t wait to get there with Anjenai on my arm. This is new ground, and I hope she likes my friends. Hell, I hope they like her. At least Chris has chilled out popping off about Oak Hill girls since he’s started feeling Anjenai’s girl, Kierra.

  “You two are making my life hell,” Shadiq complains while we scrub up in the shower. “Raven has been bitchin’ about how you played her girl Phoenix. Dawg, she wanted me to tell you not to come to my party.”

  I just roll my eyes at him. “Are you that damn whipped?”

  “Nah. I’m just saying that everything was cool when it was the three of us with the Red Bones. Now I got unnecessary drama.”

  I laugh. “What did you tell her?”

  “I recited the golden rule—bros before hos.”

  Chris and I crack up. “Damn right,” I tell him. “Damn right. Besides, Phoenix played herself,” I say and then duck my head under the shower’s steady spray.

  “Yeah, maybe. But it’s all I hear. You slumming it with the Oak Hill hood rats.”

  “Watch yourself,” I warn.

  “I’m just repeating what she’s saying,” Shadiq says. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

  “What I do is none of Raven or Phoenix’s damn business anymore.”

  “For sure. For sure,” Chris readily agrees. “Plus, that girl has all the potential of being Jackson High’s first major female star.”

  “Too much drama is exactly why I left Phoenix’s ass alone,” I tell him. “Anjenai is calm, cool and uncomplicated. It’s just the way I like it.”

  “Whatever, man. Whatever.”

  Shadiq’s crib is one of the largest houses in Fulton County. His father, a big-time music producer, currently has eight acts in the top ten on the Billboard chart. Shadiq actually stays in the estate’s cottage a few yards from the main house. By the time me and Anjenai arrive, there’s a line of cars already parked on the estate.

  “Wow. This is Shadiq’s house?” she asks from the passenger seat.

  “Yeah, pretty cool, huh?” I park the car. I glance over at her wearing my green-and-white football jacket. She looks cute. It’s the first time I’ve seen her wear a little bit of makeup, and I have to admit her purplish lip gloss has me wanting to kiss her every five minutes. When I help her out of the car, she still looks as if we’ve just arrived to one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

  “This place is huge. I bet everyone has their own room here.”

  I frown. What an odd statement.

  “Yo, Romeo. Nice game!” someone calls out.

  I wave not really placing the face to a name. This actually happens quite often.

  Anjenai looks nervous.

  “Are you all right?” I ask, leading her toward the cottage.

  “Oh, yeah,” she says. “It’s just a lot to take in.”

  I smile. “You’ll blend in just fine. You’re with me.”

  The music is bumping, and everyone is gettin’ their groove on. To her credit, Anjenai tries to loosen up, but I can tell she’s nervous and out of her element. To make her feel comfortable, I drape my arm around her shoulder and pull her close. The way she fits against me, I’m content to hold her just like this.

  To say that we are the center of attention and no doubt the subject of every conversation is an understatement. Far as I’m concerned, everybody better just get used to us.

  Twenty minutes later, it looks like Shadiq has invited everyone from Jackson High. The party spills out all the way to the pool area, and some idiots are jumping in—clothes and all.

  Everyone, it seems, stops to congratulate me on the game and proceeds to make predictions that I’m going to be a star athlete like my father. It takes me a minute to realize that Anjenai is a little uncomfortable with everyone crowding our space.

  “Better get you used to it,” I tell her. “You’ll be getting the star treatment when basketball season starts.”

  “Yeah, right.” She shakes her head.

  “Hey, you want to dance?” I ask.

  She hesitates.

  “What? Don’t tell me you need lessons on how to dance, too.”

  She eases from my side and looks me up and down. “Don’t play. My question is can you keep up?”

  “Aight then.” I smile. “Let’s see whatcha workin’ with.” We head out poolside where everyone is getting their swerve on. The DJ throws on Flo Rida’s “Shorty Got Low”—and that’s just what my girl does. I’m right up against her, amazed how she flips the script on me again.

  “Aw right. My baby got skills.” I praise. It’s the first time I call her that, and I can tell by the way she lights up that she likes it.

  From the “Soulja Boy” to “Walk It Out,” we’re having a blast. And I’m lovin’ every minute of it.

  chapter 35

  Tyler—Swallowing My Pride

  I don’t know how I let Kierra talk me into coming to this stupid party. But from the moment we arrive, I feel like we’ve been thrown out of our element. The house is as big as some hotels, and Shadiq’s private cottage can easily house a large family.

  “What’s with your girl? She doesn’t speak?” Chris asks Kierra sitting in the passenger seat of his car.

  “I can speak for myself,” I tell him from the backseat.

  His gaze shifts to his rearview mirror, and our eyes clash. “Good to know.”

  Kierra turns around in her seat and gives me the will-you-chill look.

  I just roll my eyes. It wasn’t my idea to come to this thing. She wants so badly to blend in with these rich kids. Her and Anjenai. Kierra has Chris. Anjenai has Romeo. Who do I have?

  Nobody.

  As usual.

  Two weeks into the school year and I’ve been reduced to playing the third wheel on an obvious date. I draw a deep breath. Here I go again. I need to get myself together and just chill. When we step out of the car and attempt to migrate toward the heart of the party, it looks to me like every kid in Fulton County has been invited to this thing. That’s good for me I suppose. It’ll make it easier for me to become invisible.

  Kierra finally detaches herself from Chris’
s side to come back toward me and loop her arm through mine. “C’mon, Tyler. This is a party,” she says. “We’re here to have a good time.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Hi, Tyler! Kierra! Over here!” We look up to see Nicole waving as she makes her way toward us. “I didn’t know you guys were going to be here,” she says, smiling.

  Nicole scored an invite?

  As if hearing the question drift across my head, she answers, “This weekend I’m stayin’ with my father, and he of course pawns me off on Phoenix. She dropped me off and went back home to change out of her cheerleading outfit. She always has to stage an entrance.”

  I turn and look at Kierra. “This night just keeps getting better and better.”

  Chris invades our small circle and drapes an arm around Kierra’s shoulder. “Li’l ma, are we going to go do this or what?”

  Kierra glances back at me, and I give her the okay. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?” she asks.

  “Positive.”

  “All right,” she says and beams a smile before disappearing into the crowd.

  “I guess that leaves me and you,” Nicole says, shrugging. “The two single chicks.”

  “Yeah, I guess so.” I glance around and notice a few people drinking. “Where is everyone getting the punch?”

  “Over by the cottage. C’mon. I’ll take you over there.”

  We walk through a maze of dancing and laughing people and then ladle out a few cups of obviously spiked punch. “Well, this is definitely a party starter.” As I glance around, I bob my head to the music.

  “So what did you think of the game?” Nicole asks.

  “It was all right,” I say. “Football is not my thing.”

  She nods, and we have efficiently ended our list of things to talk about. But by the time we finish our second cup of punch we’re more than loosened up and have become quite giggly. I very rarely giggle.

  I even manage to get some poor soul who I believe is in my English class to feel sorry for me and ask me to dance. I think his name’s James. Anyway, we make it to poolside, the apparent dance floor. That’s when I spot Anjenai and Romeo getting their groove on.

  I feel that familiar kick of jealousy in the pit of my stomach. I try to look away, but I can’t. My dance partner is grooving while I only manage a pathetic two-step. For the most part, I’m just drinking in Romeo’s handsome profile. I can tell by the way he’s smiling that he’s really having a good time.

  So is Anjenai.

  Why can’t I be happy for her?

  “Hey, remember me?”

  I turn back toward James. “Oh. Sorry.” I get back to our dance. I give him the attention he wants for all of thirty seconds before my gaze drifts back to Romeo and Anjenai. But then slowly but surely everyone stops dancing. It’s not long before I see why.

  Phoenix Wilder has made her grand entrance.

  chapter 36

  Phoenix—A Woman on a Mission

  I’m confused. I thought Romeo was kicking it with that Tyler bitch—not her nerdy sidekick. All eyes are on me as my heart is hammering its way through my chest. Finally, the music stops.

  “What the hell, Romeo? Is one broke project ho not enough for you?” I ask.

  “Oooh,” the surrounding crowd choruses.

  “Phoenix, don’t this,” Romeo warns.

  “What the hell did you just call me?” Anjenai challenges, stepping toward me.

  I take two steps forward. I’m more than willing to help her with her damn hearing. “I called you a project ho,” I repeat.

  “Oh no the hell she didn’t,” another voice charges from my right.

  Kierra peels away from Chris’s side to make her way next to her girl. “Bitch, you better back down or get knocked down,” she says, swirling her neck like we’re at the ghetto Olympics or something.

  Bianca and Raven quickly flank my sides.

  I look around. “Don’t you hood rats usually travel in threes?”

  “You’re a fine one to talk,” Anje spits.

  “If it’s a third person you need, I’m right here.” To my amazement, my own half sister steps out of the crowd. The traitor.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I say.

  “Fight! Fight! Fight!” the crowd chants.

  “Whoa. Whoa. Whoa,” Romeo shouts across the crowd. “There’s not going to be a fight,” he says, planting himself between the two groups.

  “You damn right!” Shadiq thunders his way through. “This is my damn party. Phoenix, you need to roll your drama queen ass up out of here if you came to start trouble.”

  “What?” Raven asks. “How are you gonna talk to my girl like that?” she asks.

  “Hey, you can hit the road with her,” Shadiq says. “This is getting old. DJ, get that damn music back on.”

  The crowd moans in disappointment but then starts grouping back off to dance. Some continue to ogle us.

  Shadiq turns back to me. “I mean it, Phoenix. You gonna have to head out. Everyone was having a good time until you showed up.”

  “I didn’t come here for your damn party,” I say. “I came because I have to talk to Romeo.”

  Romeo shakes his head and drapes an arm possessively around Anjenai. “Sorry, Phoenix. But we ain’t got shit to say to one another.”

  My face heats up. “It’s important,” I insist. I’m not going out like this. I’m not giving up on him without a fight.

  “Then say what you gotta say,” Romeo says. “Whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of my new girl.”

  I hesitate.

  “See, Phoenix. That the main problem with you,” Romeo says. “Too much drama.”

  “Believe me,” I tell him, glancing to our few onlookers. “You want to hear this in private.”

  He gives me a half laugh, rolls his eyes and then starts to walk away.

  “Romeo!” I snap. “I mean it. Just give me three minutes of your precious time, and I’ll go away.”

  He stops and looks back over his shoulder. I can see him weighing his options. “Three minutes?” he asks.

  “Make it two.”

  He draws in a deep breath, glances at his girl and says, “I’m sorry, baby. But let me just holler at her for a minute.”

  Baby? He’s calling her baby now?

  Anjenai doesn’t look happy. Too damn bad.

  Finally, she says, “All right. I guess I’ll go get a drink.”

  He nods and then right in front of me he leans forward and kisses her.

  “Goddamn,” Raven swears. “That’s foul.”

  Tears burn my eyes.

  Romeo walks over to me. “Two minutes.”

  “Let’s go somewhere private.”

  He draws a deep breath and then turns toward the cottage.

  I give Anjenai a quick sneer and then follow behind him. Inside, we make our way to the bedroom, kicking out a few people playing touchy-feely in the dark. When they clear out, I lock the door and turn toward Romeo.

  “All right, Phoenix. Spit it out.”

  I’m suddenly nervous.

  “Tick tock,” he says. “Time’s a wasting.”

  “I want you back,” I say bluntly.

  He laughs. “Is that it? That’s what was so important?”

  “Romeo—”

  “Look, Phoenix. We’ve been down this road too many times. We get together. We break up. We get together. We break up. It’s time to let it go. I mean, I know we’ve been together since sixth grade and all but that was puppy love. We’ve changed. We’ve grown apart. Let’s just accept that and move on.”

  “And you want to move on with that hood—”

  “Hey! Watch yourself. I’m not going to sit here and let you talk about my girl. I’m feeling Anje right now. She’s cool, smart and, most importantly, drama-free.”

  “What?”

  “C’mon. That little stunt you just pulled proves my point. Rolling up in here acting like some damn diva. All for wh
at? For you to be the center of attention? This has played out. I’m tired of the head games. I need a girl that’s into me as much as I’m into her. Someone who listens and cares about the things I care about.”

  Tears blur my vision and slide down my face. “I do care about the things—”

  “C’mon, Phoenix. Enough with this. Save your acting skills for Hollywood. Frankly, I’m tired of the same old performance.”

  I step back, seeing the hostility in his eyes. When did he start hating me so much? When did we start drifting apart? More than ever I hate the games I’ve played with him—all the drama I stirred, thinking it would keep him interested.

  “But I love you, Romeo, and you said that you loved me. How can you just walk away from us?”

  He shakes his head. “Easy.”

  I gasp and he finally relents a bit. “Phoenix, you’re just hanging on to me because I’m comfortable—because we’ve been together for so long. If you think about it, we haven’t been happy for a long time. We’re just together to be the ‘it’ couple at school.”

  “That’s not true,” I say. And it isn’t. I’ve loved him since he passed me that first note in sixth grade asking me to check yes or no on whether I liked him. I saw us being together through our high school years, attending the same college and then getting married—complete with children and a white picket fence.

  “I’m sorry, Phoenix, but it’s just over. Let it go.” He heads toward me but reaches around for the doorknob.

  I’m forced to play my last card. “Romeo, I’m pregnant.”

  BFF Rule #5

  When in doubt, return to rule #1.

  chapter 37

  Romeo—Teenage Dad

  “What the hell did you just say?” I ask, convinced that I heard her wrong.

  She takes a deep breath. “I said I’m pregnant.”

  “By who?”