Mahogany Tales

by Chanel Hardy

  Without saying another word, she took his arm, he opened the double doors, and in they walked, together.

  The doors behind them didn’t even close before every set of eyes in the room were on them. Ciara became numb. Nervous, she was never used to this much attention. Brandon placed his right hand gently on her lower back. “It’s okay.” He whispered to her softly. “Let’s dance.”

  She looked up at him, he looked back. Smiling at her with his pearly whites shining so bright. Suddenly, the nervous feeling went away, and as he led her to the middle of the dance floor, everyone disappeared. In Ciara’s mind, her and Brandon were the only ones in the room. Students cleared their path, and Ciara stood facing Brandon. He grabbed her left hand, with his other hand holding her side. A new song had just started playing over the speakers, and they moved together in sync with the music.

  Coming out of her light trance, she became aware again that they were in a room full of their peers, and everyone was staring. Mostly, other girls who didn’t look too pleased to see them together. Their eyes filled with jealousy as they watched the most popular and most wanted boy in school dancing with the least popular and most undesirable girl in school. Ciara looked down, not to make eye contact with any of them and getting too nervous again to look at Brandon.

  “Don’t worry about them.” Brandon could tell their nasty looks were intimidating her.

  “I’m trying.” She looked up at him.

  “You really do look amazing tonight, Ciara.”

  She smiled, giggling a little. She still couldn’t believe any of this was happening. “Thank you.”

  The slow song they were dancing to was ending, and an upbeat hip-hop song started playing. This got the other students hyped, and they all started dancing, no longer interested in Brandon or Ciara.

  “This is my song!” Brandon started dancing, hyping Ciara up to dance along. She was shy, and not much of a dancer, but went along with the beat.

  “Are you thirsty?” He asked.

  “Sure.”

  He grabbed her hand, and they walked over to the refreshments to grab punch. As he grabbed two cups and filled them up, Ciara looked to her right, and noticed Amanda standing there with two of her friends. They whispered to each other, before rolling their eyes at Ciara and heading in the other direction. Ciara tried her best to brush it off but wasn’t good at pretending things didn’t bother her. Brandon handed her one of the cups and noticed that she looked bothered.

  “Why don’t we get out of here and go somewhere quiet.” He said, sipping from his cup.

  “I’d like that.” She replied, relieved to be getting a chance to be alone with him, and away from the crowd.

  With their cups still in hand, they walked out of the ballroom, and down the hall heading out to the courtyard. It was dark but lit with fluorescent lights hanging from the bushes. They walked over to a nearby bench that was next to a fountain and sat down.

  “I should’ve asked, but I was afraid.” Said Brandon, looking up at the sky.

  “Huh?” Ciara was confused by what he meant.

  “Prom. I should’ve asked you to prom weeks ago. But, I was nervous. I didn’t think you’d say yes.”

  Ciara couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Me? You… wanted to ask… me?” She nearly choked on her punch.”

  “Yes.” He turned toward her, looking into her big brown eyes. “I’ve always liked you. When I asked for your notes the other day, I didn’t really need them. I just wanted an excuse to talk to you. I intentionally avoided having a date tonight, in hopes that I would see you here.”

  Ciara stood up, she started to get knots in her stomach. She wasn’t sure if this was real or some big joke. “Look, I don’t know if this is some joke the other girls put you up too, but-”

  “No. Why would you think that?” He stood up, next to her.

  “Well… because, guys like you don’t like girls like me.” She was fiddling with her fingers, avoiding eye contact.

  “Guys like me?”

  “Yeah.”

  He took her hand. “I’m popular, girls like me, I can’t control those things, and I didn’t ask for them. But those things don’t determine how I feel about you.”

  They were facing each other. Ciara felt butterflies and a warm feeling rushed through her as she squeezed his hand firmly. “I like you too, a lot actually.”

  He smiled at her, and she covered her face with the palms of her hands. Before she could say another word, he removed her hands away from her face, and kissed her. It was a moment she had only ever dreamed of. His lips were soft, and his hands were too as he gently held the sides of her face in a moment that was both enchanting and unforgettable.

  An hour passed, as they walked around the courtyard, holding hands, engaging in conversation and getting to know each other outside of being classmates who had shared no more than a few words at school. As it turned out, they had quite a bit of things in common.

  “After graduation, I’m moving to LA, to work with my dad. I’m taking over his company after he retires in three years” Brandon told her.

  “That sounds amazing.”

  “What about you?”

  Ciara wasn’t sure how to respond. “I don’t know. I won’t be here, that’s for sure. I can’t wait to get away from my step mom and step sisters.”

  “I’m sorry you have to put up with them.” He tried to empathize with her unfortunate home life.

  “It’s cool. I’m almost eighteen. My birthday is the same day as graduation. Then I’ll be on my own, and never looking back.” She stood by the fountain, looking into the water.

  “Well, wherever you decide to go, I hope we can keep in touch. I don’t want graduation to be the end of us.” He stood by the fountain, next to her, touching her shoulder.

  She looked up at him. “Me either.”

  “Maybe you can come to LA too!” He suggested with excitement.

  Ciara was surprised by his suggestion. “LA? With you? I’d love that!” She then remembered about what Adah told her. After tonight, no one would remember any of this. Not even Brandon. Which means he wouldn’t remember about revealing his feelings, or the kiss, or asking her about LA.” Her excitement turned to sadness. “But, I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s complicated.” Ciara didn’t know how to explain.

  “But it doesn’t have to be.” He brushed her chin with his fingers and kissed her again.

  As much as she loved this moment, she hated it just as much, knowing that after tonight it would mean nothing. She just enjoyed his embrace and let the emotions from the kiss engulf them both.

  “I wanna dance.” Ciara said to him. If this night would be their last, she wanted to enjoy it to the fullest. She wanted everyone to witness their newfound love, and make the best of what was left of her amazing night.

  “Alright, let’s go back inside.” Brandon took her hand, and they left the courtyard, and went back to the ballroom, to dance the night away.

  The prom ended at eleven on the dot. Brandon offered to drive Ciara home, which was great considering she had no idea how she was getting back home. As they arrived at her house, Brandon stopped the car, and they sat for a few minutes. Ciara still had a good half an hour before Adah’s sleeping spell on Wanda had worn off.

  “Promise me you’ll think about it, going to LA with me.”

  Ciara didn’t have it in her to tell the truth, but it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t remember any of this anyway. “I promise.” She said, leaning over to kiss him one last time.

  “See you in school on Monday.” He winked at her, smiling.

  “See ya Monday.” She smiled back, hiding the pain. She got out of the car and hurried toward the door. Looking back one last time as he drove away.

  As she walked in, Wanda was still out cold on the couch. There was no sign of the twins, who never made it to prom just like Adah said, but Ciara wasn’t worried. She quickly went up to the attic, tossing off her heels
and jumping in the bed. She was so exhausted from dancing all night, she drifted off to sleep.

  * * *

  The next morning, Ciara awoke to her alarm clock buzzing through her ears. Her dress was gone, and she was in her pajamas. Her perfect braided bun was now a matted mess of her bushy hair. All she could think about was Brandon, and the amazing night they shared. Then she realized that he would have no recollection of it when she saw him at school. Her eyes started to tear up.

  “CIARA! GET UP!” Wanda yelled from downstairs.

  “She frowned, wiping her eyes and getting out of bed. She turned to grab her charm bracelet from her nightstand, only to find it wasn’t there.

  “Oh, no.”

  She thought back to last night and realized the last time she saw it was in Brandon’s car. It must have slipped off her wrist somehow. She had no idea how she would get it back or explain to him how it ended up in his car.

  “CIARA!” Wanda yelled again.

  Ciara rushed downstairs to start her chores. Jasmine and Jamilla were still livid about missing prom. Threatening to get the driver fired and to sue the limo company for ruining their night. Ciara, wore a sinister look across her face as she listened to them complain about their horrible night, laughing on the inside.

  “Thank you, Adah.” She whispered quietly to herself, as she swept the kitchen floor.

  * * *

  Monday morning, Ciara stood at her locker, grabbing her books for class, hoping she wouldn’t run into Brandon, but secretly hoping she would. That’s when she noticed him walking in her direction. She didn’t know what to do, or how to react. As he got closer, she got nervous and blurted out the only thing she could think of.

  “HEY BRANDON!” She said loudly, with a screeching voice. She immediately regretted it.

  He paused, caught off guard by her random greeting. “Hey Ciara.” He waved. One of his friends called for his attention, and he kept on his way down the hall. Ciara slammed her head against her locker, feeling like an idiot. She just wanted the school year to be over already, so she wouldn’t have to deal with the pain of loving someone who didn’t even remember loving her back.

  * * *

  Two weeks had passed, and it was graduation day, and Ciara’s eighteenth birthday. She watched from a distance as Brandon took photos with all his friends and family after the ceremony, looking so happy and proud. Ciara took photos of Jasmine, Jamilla and Wanda posing together, getting distracted while stealing glances of Brandon. She hadn’t spoken to him since that morning by her locker after prom, and decided not to approach him about her bracelet, in hopes that he would find it, and inquire about who it belonged to. Still, she had no idea how to explain it being in his car, or if he would even ask.

  Finally, Wanda and the girls were done snapping pictures, and it was time to go. She turned around to get one last look at Brandon, wanting so desperately to run over to him and tell him everything, but it was pointless. He’d just think she was crazy, and that’s the last thing she wanted. She tried so hard to hold back her tears. In the morning, she would be gone anyway. She was going to the bank to withdraw the money her father left her, packing up and going to the train station heading north. After today, everything and everyone would be behind her. School, this town, Wanda, Jasmine, Jamilla and even Brandon.

  When they got home, Ciara didn’t waste any time packing. She grabbed her suitcase from under her bed and started throwing in all her clothes and whatever else could fit. The sooner she packed the better. As she was packing, she noticed Wanda had made her way up to the attic. Standing there with her arms crossed.

  “Where do you think you’re going little girl?” She confronted Ciara with a sassy tone.

  Ciara was done biting her tongue and didn’t care what Wanda had to say. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

  “Leaving? Ha! Going where? You have nothing and no one!”

  “That’s what you think! My father left me money, for when I turned eighteen. Well, now I am. I’m finally out of here.”

  Wanda eased in closer toward her. “Oh, about that… I withdrew that money months ago.” She said with an evil smirk.

  “WHAT!” Ciara was furious.

  “I found out about that little account your father had for you. You really thought you could keep it a secret, huh?” Wanda laughed. “As your guardian, I had the legal right to withdraw the money. So, it’s mine now.”

  Ciara struck Wanda across the face. Wanda held her cheek in disbelief. “Get out of my house! Now!”

  Ciara grabbed her suitcase and left the attic. She bolted past Jasmine, nearly knocking her over running toward the front door and heading outside. She dropped her suitcase on the porch and collapsed down next to it. Crying into her lap, not knowing where she would go, or what she would do. Her evil step mother had taken the one thing she had to start a new life. Now she had nothing.

  Suddenly, she heard a car pull up to the house. She lifted her head up from her hands to see who it was. She couldn’t believe it, and thought she was dreaming. It was Brandon. He got out of the car, walking up toward Ciara. She stood on her feet. “Brandon?” She said with a raspy voice, wiping her tears.

  “Hey Ciara. I think I have something that belongs to you?” He held out his hand, and her bracelet hung from his palm.

  Her eyes lit up. “My bracelet!”

  “I found it while I was cleaning out my car.”

  She reached out and grabbed it. “But… how did you know it was mine?”

  “Prom night. I know it sounds crazy, but when I picked up your bracelet in my car, it was like everything came back to me. I remembered everything. The courtyard, your beautiful blue dress, the kiss. Everything. I can’t explain it, but I remember. I remember us.”

  “There’s nothing to explain.” She threw her arms around him, pressing her lips against. It felt like prom night all over again.

  He broke their embrace and noticed her suitcase. “Going somewhere?” He asked.

  “You tell me.”

  Brandon grabbed her suitcase. “Our flight leaves next week.”

  Wanda came storming out, swinging the front door wide open. “What is going on here?!” She looked at Ciara and Brandon, puzzled by what was going on. Jasmine and Jamilla ran to the door, behind her.

  “Brandon Charles?!” Jasmine exclaimed, her jaw dropped at the sight of him.

  “Goodbye Wanda. Enjoy the money. I won’t be needing it.” Ciara grabbed Brandon’s hand and they ran to his car, jumping inside as he started the engine and pulled off. Ciara looked back at Wanda and the girls, who were still standing there, watching them disappear in the distance.

  “Oh, I almost forgot, Happy Birthday babe.” Brandon said to her.

  Ciara smiled, as the breeze from the window brushed her faced. “Happy birthday to me too.

  II. Porsha

  Porsha sat at a table in the corner of the coffee shop, sipping her chai latte. She was reading “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett. The noise from the busy espresso machines & baristas yelling out orders was no distraction for her whenever she was deep into a good book. She was so into it, her eyes glued to page 186, that she didn’t even notice a young man trying to get her attention.

  “Excuse me?” Said the young man, rather loudly this time.

  Porsha lifted her head, a little bothered by his interruption. “Yeah?”

  “Sorry, I was just wondering if you were using this chair?” He asked, with his hand on the top of the black wooden chair.

  “Uhm, no.” She replied, immediately going back to her reading.

  “Thanks!” He started to drag the chair back to another table, then paused, when he noticed the book she was reading. “Good movie.”

  Porsha lifted her head again. “What?”

  “The movie, The Help. I loved it. Haven’t read the book yet though.” The young man said.

  Porsha was wondering why this guy she didn’t know, a tall, medium built, blue eyed blonde boy was still talking to her and wouldn’t go away.
“Oh, that’s nice.”

  The young man could tell that Porsha was too into her book to care about what he was saying, so he dragged the chair back to his table, leaving her alone. Suddenly her phone rang, it was her friend Brittany. Porsha closed her book, with her bookmark in place and answered the call.

  “Hey what’s up.” She answered.

  “Girl! You won’t believe what I’m looking at!” Brittany exclaimed.

  “What?”

  “The Riley Gibbs Recreation Center! There is a sign in front of it that says condos are coming soon! They’re tearing it down!”

  “You’re playing!” Porsha was furious. But underneath her anger she wasn’t surprised. DC had been slowly going through gentrification the past few years. It started with white twenty-year old’s moving into the city for college, pursuing government jobs after graduation. Then a black owned business closing here and there. Within two years, there was a Starbucks at the corner of Porsha’s block. A fancy coffee shop in a predominately black urban area always sealed the deal.

  “We grew up at that rec center! Where are the neighborhood kids supposed to go now? That raggedy playground up the street where they can get shot? Oh, no wait. That’ll be a Starbucks next week too, so they won’t have to worry.” Brittany said sarcastically.

  “Brit, I’m at the coffee shop on 10th street. Let me finish my coffee and I’ll talk to you a little later.”

  “Alright, cool.”

  Porsha hung up the phone, and suddenly lost the urge to finish her book. Although gentrification wasn’t anything new, the thought of a place that meant a lot to her, and to most kids who grew up in the neighborhood being torn down, still hurt. She put her book inside her bag, tossed the last bit of her drink in a nearby garbage can and left.

  ***

  Porsha sat at the breakfast table, her father Brian, a DCPD officer read the local newspaper while he drank his coffee. “This place is changing more and more every day. Don’t even feel like home anymore.” He said as he read an article about the Riley Gibbs rec center closing. The local government was selling the building, and it was scheduled to be demolished in three weeks. He flipped to the next page, where another article talked about how the city had “thrived” and improved so much in the last decade. Brian grunted at what he saw.