Cool Like That (11 page)

“H
ey, Sienna,” I say as I walk through Lerner Hall. Sienna is chilling in the game room watching television.

She doesn’t speak back, so I repeat myself. “I said, hey, Sienna.”

“Why are you talking to me, Gia? It’s obvious I’m cool on you.”

“When did that happen?”

“Why do you care? Go find one of your dudes to talk to,” Sienna says.

I shrug and keep going. I’m sure not going to waste any time talking to someone who doesn’t want to talk to me. Plus, it’s Wednesday night, and I’ve got to finish a paper for class and meet up with Ricky to put the finishing touches on our dance step. Only three nights to practice until the party. I don’t want to miss my opportunity for Beyoncé to see me getting my groove on. Shoot, I could definitely be a backup dancer on tour with her!

I don’t have time for anyone that’s drama filled. Especially Sienna.

When I get back to my bedroom, Melody is sprawled across the bed looking exhausted. “Girl, what’s up with you? You look like you just got whupped!”

“I went to this boot-camp class with Sienna, and I
am
whupped! Every muscle in my body is in pain.”

“Why do y’all torture yourselves like that?”

“It’s for Sienna. She insists that she can’t get fat because she can’t be a rapper’s girlfriend and be fat. She’s got jump-offs to compete with.”

“Well, honestly, I don’t care what Sienna thinks. She just dissed me over in Lerner Hall for no reason. I spoke, and she didn’t speak back.”

“Yeah, she’s not really feeling you, I’m afraid.”

I boot up Melody’s laptop. “Can I use this to finish my paper?”

“Yeah, go ahead. I can’t move to stop you, even if I wanted to.”

I bite my lip and pull out my journals. “So, why isn’t she feeling me? I’ve covered for her when she’s come in drunk, and I can’t think of anything wrong I’ve done to her.”

“Come on, Gia. It’s obvious why she doesn’t like you. She’s still on Rashad.”

“What do you mean
still
on Rashad? When was she ever on Rashad?”

“Last summer, right before she met Dan. She hooked up with Rashad the first night of the program,” Melody says.

“So you let me just hang out with her and stuff, and you knew she had a thing for him?” I ask.

“I thought she was over him, the way she talks about Dan.”

“Even if she does still kinda like Rashad, what’s that got to do with me? I didn’t take him from her or anything like that.”

“No, you didn’t take him from her, but he’s treating you way differently than how he treated her.”

“What do you mean?”

Melody replies, “He’s taking you out on dates and sightseeing, and he never did any of that with her. That’s why she wanted to come to church with you so bad. She couldn’t believe Rashad was inviting you to do things like that. When she heard that Rashad kissed you out in the open, she got even angrier.”

“I don’t understand how Rashad embarrassing me in front of everyone would make her angrier.”

“Rashad didn’t claim her, and he didn’t compete with another guy to get her. You just took her shine and threw a big ol’ bucket of dust on it.”

“Well, is she feeling better at least? That’s what I was gonna ask her. Was she hung over again?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

So uncool.

I finish typing my paper about our visit to the Allen Cathedral church. Then I shower and change into some sweats, but not before I get all layered in my Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena lotion. It’s Ricky’s favorite.

On my way back to Lerner Hall, I run into Rashad.

“Princess! Where have you been?”

“I don’t know. Studying and working on this dance step for the party Saturday.”

“You down for a movie later?”

I pause before I answer the question. The stuff Melody just told me is making me look at Rashad a little bit differently. He hooked up with Sienna on the first night of the program! That’s just gross. And to think he’s put his lips on mine. I wonder who else he’s been kissing on. Ew!

“Maybe. I don’t know what time we’re gonna finish up.”

“Okay, well, let me know if you do.”

I start to walk away, but then I turn back. I just can’t leave this alone.

“Rashad, did you hook up with Sienna last year?”

He laughs out loud. “I don’t kiss and tell, Gia. You wouldn’t want me blabbing about it if we hooked up, would you?”

“Let’s get something straight here. We’re not hooking up, Rashad. I’m a virgin, and I’m staying that way until I get married.”

“That’s great. I’m glad to hear there are some girls out here who don’t just want to give it up.”

“But you didn’t answer the question about Sienna.”

“And I’m not going to. Whatever she’s mad about, it doesn’t have anything to do with me or you.”

“But it kinda does. She feels like you treated her badly, but you’re up here treating me like royalty and calling me ‘Princess.’ She’s hating me right now.”

“She doesn’t carry herself like royalty. You do. Sorry, I call them like I see them.”

“So what should I call you? ‘The guy who hooked up with a girl on her first day in New York’?”

Rashad sighs. “I didn’t hook up with her, Gia. She wanted to, but I didn’t. That’s why she’s mad. She tried to give it up to me, and I wouldn’t take it. I still wouldn’t take it. Are you satisfied?”

“I guess. I was just about to ban your lips from coming anywhere near mine. I know how she gets down.”

Rashad laughs. “You didn’t want to put a ban on my lips. But Ricky would be so happy to hear you say that, I’m sure.”

“He would. Actually, he already put a ban on your lips!”

“Well, it’s a good thing we don’t care anything about his ban.” Rashad moves in like he wants to plant one on me, but I duck out of the way. “What’s up with that?”

“Gotta go meet Ricky.”

“Right. Okay. Talk to you later.”

“Okay.”

I know Rashad is annoyed that I ditched him and his kiss to go meet Ricky. But I’m still a little bit nervous about him and this whole Sienna thing. I believe him, but I still also think there’s a possibility the story is true.

I walk into the little meeting room Ricky’s taken over for our practice. He’s already warming up and has music going. He’s dancing to “Halo” by my favorite, Beyoncé, and looking just like he could be Columbus Short’s stunt double in
Stomp the Yard.
He is killing it, and he doesn’t even have an audience—except me.

I watch him dance through the entire song. His moves are fluid across the floor, and when he leans back it’s like his body is rubber. I think he’s gotten better since the last time we’ve done this. I’m impressed.

When the song is over, I give him a round of applause. He laughs. “Gia, why didn’t you join in?”

“Because you looked so hot all by yourself I had to just watch.”

“Thank you. Do you wanna learn this routine?”

I nod. “Sure. It looks harder than what I’m used to, but I’ll try it.”

“You can learn it, Gia. You’re a quick learner.”

Ricky turns the song back on again and walks me through the first half. I am getting it pretty easily, and I think it’s because the moves just kind of naturally flow together. It doesn’t even really feel like I’m thinking about it. I just move with the music.

There’s one part where I do a little turn and end up entwined in Ricky’s arms. Then we do a slow rock before we separate. For some reason, Ricky keeps messing it up.

“Let’s do that one more time, Gia. Sorry.”

He starts the music again, and I do the step out and make the little turn. Again Ricky is late on the rock, and we crash instead of move together.

“What’s up, Ricky? It’s your choreography.”

“Gia, did you have to wear that dang coconut lotion? I can’t think, because you smell so good.”

I laugh out loud. “Oh! I’m sorry. Next time I won’t wear any lotion. Matter of fact, I won’t even shower. Better still, I’ll come straight from bed with dragon breath and everything. Then you’ll be able to get it right.”

Ricky joins me in laughing. “Maybe we can just finish tomorrow night. You wanna go get some custard from that place down the street?”

I almost tell Ricky no because Rashad did ask me to watch a movie. But I’m enjoying Ricky so much right now that I just don’t. I didn’t make any definite plans with Rashad anyway. I only said maybe.

“You didn’t have any plans, did you?” Ricky asks when I hesitate.

“No. Not really. Well, kinda, but I’d rather keep hanging with you.”

He smiles. “Okay. Good.”

We pack up Ricky’s iPod and speakers, put them in his backpack, and then head out.

Ricky is quiet for a while as we walk. But that’s normal for him. Ricky doesn’t talk all the time. I jump when he slides his hand in mine and squeezes. This is not normal for Ricky.

“Do you mind?” he asks.

I shake my head and answer by giving him a squeeze back. His hand is trembling almost, which is cool, because mine is too.

“I almost kissed you while we were practicing,” Ricky says in a voice barely above a whisper.

“Why didn’t you?”

“It wasn’t the right time. Later.”

“So I have something to look forward to?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Cool.”

I kind of like that Ricky didn’t kiss me when he could’ve. That’s how Rashad rolls, but Ricky is much more laid back than that.

I squeeze Ricky’s hand again. Even though I feel sorry for Sienna and everything that happened with her and Rashad, I’m extremely glad they both see me as the royalty that I am.

Sometimes it pays to be a good girl.

F
elicity has called a dorm meeting. Everyone has crowded into our little game and TV room. There aren’t enough seats, but there are people on the floor and standing along the wall. No one wants to participate because tonight is the huge party at the Oasis, and everybody wants to get their outfits together.

Felicity says, “I know you guys are tight, so I’ll be quick. I just want to make a couple announcements and give you some reminders. Next week will start the fourth week of our six-week program, and I’m so glad all of you are having a great time. We have been getting reports of people smoking cigarettes and other items inside the dormitory. This is a nonsmoking building, and if you get caught smoking on the premises, you will be asked to leave the program. Also, some of you know there have been several cases of students coming into the dorm past curfew and intoxicated. If you are caught, you will be sent home immediately at your parents’ expense. Please don’t forget the reason you’re here, and that’s to get a jump-start on your college education.”

A collective groan comes up from the group. I really don’t like being reprimanded when someone else has done something wrong. This speech is no worse than the one my stepfather gave on shoplifting when his daughter was the one caught boosting.

“I know, I know. I hate to go over that stuff too, but, unfortunately, it had to be said. Now on to the fun stuff. We’re doing two adviser-sponsored field trips, and we’d like you all to come along. First, we’re going to see a Broadway show, and then we’re going to spend a day at Coney Island.”

This also gets a mixed reaction from everyone. I think we’ve all pretty much figured out what we want to do, how to get there without supervision, and how to enjoy ourselves without resident advisers hovering. But it looks like we’re not going to get out of these field trips. They say they’d like us to come along, but the truth is we really won’t have a choice.

After the meeting is dismissed, Rashad walks up to me. “Wasn’t that a great meeting to have the afternoon before everyone goes to a party where there’ll be plenty of alcohol?”

“I know, right? It’s a good thing I wasn’t planning on drinking anyway. She didn’t mess up any of my plans.”

“No, not yours. Did you and Ricky get y’all little dance together?”

“What do you mean our
little
dance? Why’d you have to say it all like that?”

“I didn’t mean anything by it. I guess I don’t really care about that kind of thing.”

“Well, I do, so that was a little ill for you to clown it like that.”

Rashad puts his hands in the air to block my verbal blows. “Whoa, Princess. Slow down. It’s me, Rashad. Your friend. I come in peace, remember?”

“Yeah, sorry. It just felt like you were trying to clown me, and that wasn’t cool.”

“I promise. No clowning intended. Maybe I’m just jealous because I don’t have any moves.”

“I could teach you,” I say.

“I’m not really the dancing type. I’d rather stand on the side and observe. You know this.”

“You’re right. I do. So what are you wearing?”

“I’m on my way to Century 21 right now to find something hot. You wanna come?”

“What’s Century 21?”

“It’s a place where you can get designer gear for really, really cheap. Everyone shops there too. It’s not just for broke people.”

Melody walks up. “Did I hear Century 21?”

“Yeah, you did. We’re going there to get outfits for the party. You coming?” Rashad asks.

“I’m so glad you asked! Especially you, Gia. Wait, you are taking down those braids, aren’t you?”

“Actually, yeah. I’m gonna wear it loose.”

“Perfect!”

“We should probably go now before people get off work. It’s already gonna be crowded, but it’s a madhouse in there during rush hour.”

Rashad, Melody, and I make a dash for the door because we don’t want to wait on everyone else, but Sienna catches up with us.

“Where are y’all going?”

Melody replies, “Century 21.”

“And you weren’t going to ask me if I wanted to go? That’s foul, Melody.”

“What? I don’t have to take you everywhere I go, do I? That’s not fair.”

Sienna waves her hand. “Come on, let’s just go. I don’t feel like arguing with you. I need some stilettos.”

“Is your man sending a car for you tonight?” Rashad asks.

“Why do you want to know? You wanna ride with me?”

Rashad shrugs. “A ride is a ride. If Gia and Melody can roll too.”

“Gia’s not going with me. Sorry, honey, there just won’t be enough room. But we can squeeze you in, Rashad.”

“I’m cool then, Sienna.”

I shake my head. “Don’t turn down the ride because of me. I’ll just go with Ricky.”

A low growl escapes Sienna’s lips. “Let me ask you a question, Gia. What kind of skills do you have that these two hot boys are cool with you kicking it with both of them?”

“Actually, I’m not kicking it with either of them. We’re just friends.”

Sienna ignores me and continues. “You must have mad, nasty skills. I mean, they fight over you like you’re the only girl left on the planet.”

“Sienna, why did you come with us if you were gonna act up?” Melody asks. “No one is in the mood for drama right now.”

“I came because I need some shoes. Didn’t you hear what I said earlier?”

“Don’t take your stress out on us just because you got caught out here,” I say.

Melody’s eyes widen, and she shakes her head. She doesn’t want me to put her on blast for telling Sienna’s dirt, and I don’t plan to.

“What do you mean ‘caught out here’?” Sienna asks.

“You’re one drink away from being an alcoholic.”

“What do you know anyway? You’re just a dumb nerd trying to be fab. But you don’t even have it in you to be fly.”

“If fly is what you’re supposed to be, then no thanks.”

Rashad takes my hand and pulls me to the subway station. “Just ignore her,” he says. “She’s mad she’s not you.”

“But I need Melody to help me pick an outfit,” I say, not wanting to leave the fashionista behind.

“I’ll help you pick something, Princess. I’ve got great taste.”

“Sure you do.”

There’s a train coming as we dart through the subway tunnel. There’s no way Melody and Sienna will make this one, because we left them standing above ground arguing.

“You excited about going to Coney Island?” Rashad asks once we’re on the subway car. We don’t get a seat this time. We’ve got to stand and hold on to the rails. It’s the beginning of rush hour.

“I guess. I want to see it without a resident adviser though. How unnecessary.”

“I know, right? Sienna’s making it bad for the rest of us with her drunken binges.”

“You know, for a split second I thought she was bulimic instead of hungover because she’s always talking about her weight.”

“Her weight? Why was she concerned about that? Her body is banging.”

I respond with a frown.

“What?” Rashad asks. “Am I not supposed to notice a girl with a banging body?”

Now he gets a blank stare.

“Gia, you aren’t that jealous, are you, to where you can’t give another girl props when she’s hot?”

“I can give another girl props. Just not another girl who accused me of being nasty just because two boys decided they both wanted to like me. How foul is that?”

“Yeah, she was tripping on that.”

“Exactly. So, no, I don’t give props to anything that’s banging on her. Sir, no, sir.”

“That’s fair.”

We get off the subway and walk a few blocks over to Century 21. It’s right in the middle of the financial district.

“Wait. Rashad, is that the World Trade Center site?”

He nods. “You wanna see it?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Come on.”

We walk all around the gated area where the two buildings used to stand. It’s surreal that there are just giant holes in the ground there where there used to be gigantic skyscrapers. There is a huge plaque on the wall that has the names of the people who died in the bombing. I touch the plaque, and send up a little prayer for their families.

“Are you okay, Gia?” Rashad asks.

I wipe a tear out of my eye. “Yes, I just remember watching all the stuff on TV about the bombing. I was a little girl, but I remember how everyone was crying.”

Rashad puts his arm around me. “I know. I remember too.”

I take a deep breath in and exhale it out. “I’m ready to go shopping now.”

We walk into the store, and it is swarming with people. It reminds me of when you step on an anthill, and all the ants run out in different directions, trying to put their home back together.

“Where do we go first?”

“Shoes. You’ve got to build your outfit around your shoes. It’s easier to do it that way.”

I stand frozen in place.

“What?” Rashad asks. “Come on! We don’t have all day, Princess.”

“Who
are
you?”

Rashad walks up and touches his forehead to mine.

“Gia, do you want an outfit or not?”

“Yes.”

“Then come on. I’ve still gotta score an Ed Hardy T-shirt for myself.”

We go downstairs to the shoe section. I browse the racks in my size, and I’m overwhelmed by the different styles, colors, and prices. I pick up a pair of Manolo Blahnik stilettos. The price tag says $599.

“Uh, Rashad, this stuff is not in my price range.”

Rashad takes the box out of my hand and puts it back on the shelf. “Princess, you can’t afford those shoes, not even on sale.”

“Ya think?”

“You’re dancing tonight. So you want flats, right?”

“Yeah, or some wedge heels. But I can barely walk in stilettos, much less dance in them.”

Rashad taps his chin and looks at the shelves. Then his eyes widen, and he takes a pair of silver, open-toe, wedge heel sandals from their box. “What do you think about these?”

I shrug. “They’re cute, I guess. But can I afford them?”

He flips them over and looks at the tag. “Nineteen bucks?”

“Cool.”

“Let’s go upstairs and get your outfit.”

“I just need a top because I’ve got a jean skirt I want to wear.”

Rashad nods. “You need to learn brand names, Gia. You like BCBG?”

“Umm…yes?”

“I think you would look good in a BCBG top. Their stuff looks good on slim girls.”

“I am uncomfortable with you knowing so much about fashion, Rashad. Boys aren’t supposed to know this stuff.”

Rashad laughs out loud. “Who says? I’m good at picking out clothes for girls because I love to see y’all looking hot. Why is that a problem?” He hands me a top on a hanger. “Go try this on.”

“The back is all the way out, Rashad.”

“It’s not all the way out. Only mostly.”

I have to admit the top is hot. It’s mostly earth tones like beige and brown, but it has little shocks of blue and silver. It will look great with the shoes, and it’s only twenty-nine dollars. But I need to know what kind of bra to wear with it. I scratch my head and look at the back again.

“Gia, what’s wrong?” Rashad asks impatiently.

“Umm…I need a salesperson, I think.”

“For what? It’s hard to find a salesperson on the floor here.”

I glance around trying to locate someone. “I, uh…I need…”

“Oh, I get it. You don’t wear a bra with that top, Gia. That’s why it’s good for petite girls.”

My eyes widen. This is way too personal of a conversation for me to be having with a boy I like. He’s totally noticed that I’m flat chested, so he picks out a top for the itty-bitty committee. How embarrassing! “Okay. It’s cool. I don’t need to try it on. I can tell it fits.”

Rashad laughs. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Gia. I have three sisters, and I go shopping with them all the time.”

“Why am I just finding that out? Do you have any brothers?”

“Yeah. I have two brothers. I’m the youngest.”

“Whew! I’m glad you explained how it is that you know how to shop with girls.”

“Whatever, Gia. Come on, so I can get my T-shirt.”

I help Rashad pick out a fly Ed Hardy T-shirt in about thirty seconds flat. Boys always shop quicker than girls—even the boys who know fashion-designer names.

On our way back to the subway, Rashad asks, “Gia, is everything cool with us? It feels like you’re falling out of like with me.”

“Everything is cool, Rashad. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Maybe it’s because you’ve been spending so much time with Ricky.”

“Well, Ricky’s always been there, you know.”

“But he wasn’t much of a contender in the beginning.”

“He’s a contender, Rashad. He always was.”

Rashad stops, takes me by both my shoulders, and looks into my eyes. “What is it about you? Dang, I really dig how you don’t care to try to impress me.”

“I do want to impress you, I think.”

“You might want to, but you’re not going out of your way to do it.”

I let out a long sigh. “And you think that’s a good thing?”

“Do you know how many girls go through changes to be what they think they want me to be? Last summer Sienna took up spoken word trying to get at me.”

“How’d that go?” I ask.

“She was horrible at it, and it annoyed me.”

“Did you tell her?”

“Nah. I almost let her know she was more attractive as a science buff. But then I didn’t care, so I didn’t say anything.”

“Rashad, you’re way more mature than most of us. I don’t know why you like me. I can’t even figure out how to have a crush on one boy at a time.”

“Who says you have to? I think it’s really interesting that you can’t decide.”

“You’re different than most boys, Rashad.”

A grin blooms across his face. “You’re one of a kind too, Gia. I’m gonna miss you when the summer is over.”

“We won’t talk after the summer is over?”

“I hope so, Gia. I really hope so.”