All That and a Bag of Chips (2 page)

Venice told her, “No way!”

She chased Crimson out into the yard and around the house. Crimson was a pretty child with long, silky pigtails and dark chocolate skin. Her eyes were light brown and she had a smile that would con anyone. Her long legs had all the markings of a future track star.

Venice's closest friend in the world, Joshua, also came down to see her off. They'd grown up together and Venice regarded him as her third brother. They went practically everywhere together. A lot of people didn't understand how a sista and a brotha could be so close without having any sex between them. Venice's boyfriend understood their closeness with no problem, but Joshua's girlfriends always felt threatened by her. All of them except for his present girlfriend, Cynthia. She was cool and Venice really liked her.

Joshua was going to stay home, work the first year, and then join Venice at college later. They planned to share an apartment the following summer while they attended summer school. Venice was going to miss him more than anyone. Oddly enough, he was the one that she shared all of her secrets with. She had another friend, Chanelle, that she hung out with, but she wasn't like Joshua. He cared a lot about Venice. They were each other's rock.

Sinclair, Bryan's devilish wife, drove up in her forest green SUV. She couldn't even say hello because she was too busy scolding Crimson for running around like a wild child.

Venice hurriedly butted in by telling her, “She was playing with me!”

Sinclair gave Venice that “don't start with me look” and asked Crimson where her daddy was. As Crimson was responding, Sinclair's cell phone began ringing. She glared at Venice as she walked past her into the house.

“Skank!” Venice mumbled.

A
t last, Venice could finally pull out of the driveway. Everyone came out onto the porch to exchange hugs and say their goodbyes. Galen was still in the house feeding his face with his mother's chicken when Venice gave everyone a hug and kiss.

Joshua walked her to the car. “Girl, you'd better call me and don't go down there and get mixed up with any thugs.”

Venice laughed. “Josh, you know I'm not going to do anything like that. I'll call you and let you know what's going on. Don't forget you're coming down for homecoming. Okay?”

He smiled, leaned into the window of her car, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I'm going to miss you, Niecy. I love you.”

Venice got out of the car and gave him another hug. “I love you, too!”

This was going to be the first time they'd been separated since preschool and it already felt weird. Joshua lived one street over and during their years growing up, if Joshua and his brother weren't at the Taylor home, Venice and Galen were down at their house. It was hard to realize that they'd grown up and were moving on to
hopefully
bigger and better things.

Venice pulled out of the driveway and waved as she drove down the street. She had to make one more important stop. She had to say her final goodbye to her sweetie, Jarvis Anderson. He was also going to be leaving for college the next day. He was lucky to get both academic and football scholarships. He planned on majoring in Criminal Justice and figured if he didn't make it to the pros, he could work for the FBI or some other government agency.

They'd been dating for the past four years and had been through hell and high water together. It was going to be especially hard to say goodbye to him. Venice still loved him, but their parents felt they should cool it since they were getting ready to go in two different directions. They'd shared a hot love affair over the years and had just spent their last night together before heading off to school. They vowed that if fate put them back together after they graduated, they would get married.

Venice had dated a few guys when they were going through one of their temporary breakups. But, she never found anyone she liked as much as Jarvis. Only one incident seriously tested them and they'd found themselves back together again in no time. Joshua once told her that Jarvis was born to be her husband. Venice always thought Joshua was trippin' when he said things like that, but she listened to him anyway.

When she pulled up in front of Jarvis' house, he immediately came out to meet her. Venice got out of the car and sat upon the hood as he approached.

Jarvis asked, “Are you getting ready to hit the road?”

“Yep! Daddy wants me to get there before dark.”

“Where's Galen?”

“He's leaving in a little while.”

He stood in front of Venice and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her toward him. “I had a good time last night, Niecy. I just wish there were some way we could…”

“Don't go there, Jarvis. This is hard enough for me.”

He hugged her, rubbing her hips. “I know, Venice. Damn, I'm going to miss you. Make sure you call me. You know your stuff will
always
belong to me.”

Venice giggled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Jarvis went on to say, “I'm not playing, Venice! If you hook up with some buster down there, just remember that. I'm just loaning you out until I graduate. Then I'm coming back for you.”

Venice had tears in her eyes. “Do you think we did the right thing?”

“I don't know, Niecy. My mind says we did but my heart says we didn't. We can't dwell on that now. What's done is done.”

“I guess you're right.”

Venice got down off the car slowly, wiping away her tears.

“What's wrong, Niecy?”

“I'm sore! You know what you did to me last night!”

Jarvis gazed at her with his devilish, seductive eyes. “Are you having regrets now?”

She pressed her body to his. “My only regret is that I don't have time to show you just how much I love you before I leave.”

He held her against his strong, muscular body. “Baby, if you show me any more, I'm not going to be able to walk myself.”

They held their embrace as they laughed together. Silence followed as they gazed at each other's lips and into each other's eyes. He held her face tenderly and gave her another sultry kiss.

“Niecy, you taste so sweet. I'm not going to make it without you.”

“I'm going to miss you, too. Everything will be okay. You'll see. Well, baby, I'd better get going. I'll see you at homecoming.”

“Without a doubt, but I need to see you before then.”

“Same here, Jarvis.”

“I'll get with Pops and see what he can work out.”

She held onto him for a moment before they exchanged a series of toe-curling kisses. Venice went numb and lightheaded at the same time. She felt the warmth from his body and saw the devotion in his eyes.

“Lord have mercy, Jarvis!”

“You do the same to me, girl. Too bad I can't take you up on your offer.”

“Don't tempt me, baby. I really better get going. Oh, don't go up to that fancy college and get something you can't get rid of. Better yet, don't become somebody's baby's daddy. I know you're a big football star and all, but I'd be pissed if you let something like that happen. “

Jarvis opened the car door for her. “I'm not going to take any chances with those chickenheads up there. You know where my heart is.”

“Me too, baby. Love you and I'll call you when I get in.”

Jarvis gave her another kiss and then waved to her as she backed out of the driveway. He hollered, “Don't be speeding!”

She blew her horn at him and was out of sight within seconds. Jarvis stared at the ground for a moment before mumbling, “We did do the wrong thing, Niecy.”

V
enice had a six-hour drive to college, which she hoped she could cut into five. As she drove, she reminisced about the previous night with Jarvis. He definitely knew how to please a woman and Venice was really going to miss that. He made sure he sent her off to college well-satisfied. They'd been through a lot together, more than most people their age. Jarvis was definitely her boo. Venice was a little unconvinced that she wanted college to open new doors for her. She was also slightly nervous about possibly dating someone else since she'd been with Jarvis for so long. She knew she'd have to cross that bridge when she got to it.

When she finally made it to the college, Venice was exhausted and ready to settle in. She hoped that her roommate would be friendly and easy to get along with. Venice saw all the hustling freshmen coming into the dormitory parking lot. Some were pulling trailer hitches full of school necessities. It took Venice about an hour to get her things to the room. There were boxes in the room marked “Monique.” Her roommate had obviously arrived.

Venice plopped down on one of the beds. “I hope she's not a nut case.”

Venice called her parents and Jarvis to let them know that she'd arrived safely. After she got off the phone, she started hanging her clothes in the closet nearest to the bed she'd selected. By the time she made the bed, two hours had elapsed and her stomach was growling. It was eighty-thirty and she hadn't had a bite to eat. She still hadn't heard from Galen or met her new roommate. Venice decided to page Galen to make sure he'd made it in okay. It wasn't long before the telephone rang.

“What's up, baby sister?”

“Don't call me that! Why didn't you let me know you were here?”

“I was going to call you, but I've been kicking it with my boys. What are you doing?”

“I've finished putting up all my stuff and now I'm starving.”

Galen laughed. “Look, I'm going to meet some of my boys over on the band's practice field in a minute. Look for me over there and I'll take you to get something to eat.”

“How am I going to find the band field?”

“Follow the music!”

“Funny, Galen.”

“I'm just playing. It's over behind the track.”

“Oh, I know where you're talking about now. I'll see you after I change.”

She hung up the phone and called her girlfriend Chanelle. She gave Chanelle her phone number and told her that she hadn't met her roommate yet. They talked a few minutes more and Chanelle informed Venice that it appeared she was going to be joining her after all. The dormitory had an unexpected opening and Chanelle was next on the waiting list. Chanelle told Venice that she'd see her in a couple of days. After they'd said their good-byes, Venice changed into a pair of royal blue shorts and a white tee, wrote her roommate an introductory note, and left out to meet Galen.

Venice took note of all the activities for incoming freshman as she walked across the campus. A vendor was selling Dawson T-shirts and baseball hats. Venice paused long enough to finger through them. Young men were trying to flirt with her, obviously sensing some “fresh meat.” Venice's mind was on Jarvis, though. She missed him already. Only time would tell if they were doing the right thing by cooling it. Finally, Venice heard the band's music in the air.

Venice reached the field and saw the majorettes, flag corp, and band members on the field going through their routines under the glaring lights that had come on automatically at sundown. As she walked along the fence, she could see Galen and a group of guys across the field. She took her time, stopping occasionally to watch the band's dance routine.

Galen and his friends were hanging over the fence near the majorettes, checking them out.

One of his friends said, “Damn, look at the booty on that one! I'd love to get with her.”

Galen didn't have much to say because he was spoken for. He'd been dating his girlfriend, Sidney, since freshman year. He did, however, laugh at the comments his friends were making. Galen hadn't talked much about Venice during his years at Dawson. It was going to be somewhat of a surprise to his friends to find out that he even had a sister. Galen didn't talk much about his family
period
to his friends because he was private like that at times. He was a little uneasy about Venice coming to college there and had tried to keep it on the downlow. When they were in junior high and high school, there were several times he had to get in the face of guys that he felt disrespected Venice. He had a pretty bad temper, but he was doing better controlling it.

As the guys continued to yell at the majorettes, one of the guys hollered out, “Lawd! Here comes another one over there! Damn, she's fine!”

Another one of his friends said, “Man! That one's going to be my baby's momma.”

When Galen and his friend Craig turned to see who they were trippin' out over, Galen realized that it was Venice. He dropped his head and smiled as Venice approached the group. She noticed everyone was staring at her and it made her feel a tad bit uncomfortable.

She walked over to Galen and put her arm around his waist. “Hey, bro! Are you ready to go?”

Galen laughed as he saw his friends' mouths drop open.

One of the guys mumbled, “Don't tell me Galen's trying to be a playa.”

“Nah, you trifling fools! This is my sister, Venice.”

One of his friends said, “Negro, you ain't got no sister!”

Venice interrupted. “No, he's telling the truth. Can't you see the resemblance?”

Craig leaned against the fence, looked her up and down, and said, “Galen wished he looked like you.”

Venice smiled and thanked the extremely handsome friend of Galen's. Venice sensed that he was checking her out and wondered what he was thinking. A tingle ran up her spine as he continued to ogle her.

Craig felt a familiar yearning start to build in his gut. While he was accustomed to being aroused, a woman had never stirred him to the core like Venice did. He thought to himself,
This woman is absolutely gorgeous! But…she's Galen's sister. Damn! Why me!
Craig noticed he wasn't the only one instantly attracted to Venice.
I want to get to know you, Venice Taylor
!