Hood Lemonade Jamika's Vendetta (8 page)

The crowd burst out into laughter again, “Okay, sang babay,” Felise slurred, handing Jamika the microphone and stepping to the side. Jamika took a deep breath and looked over at Mark. She remembered the song she’d sang to his image, behind her closed eyelids the first day of school at Dillard High, over two and a half years earlier.

Now, he was there in person. She brought the microphone to her lips and the song began to envelop her. She forgot about everyone that was listening, except for Mark. Her voice was well controlled and strong; she sang every word careful and articulate the way she’d been taught in her vocal classes.

“Before you left me. I had it all

You were with me, and that was enough

Then he came along, and I forgot all about you

I was a fool, but I’m wiser now

Because you left, my world came to an end

Then you came back, again, now I know

There is no way, I can go on without you”

Jamika continued until she finished with what seemed like all the power in her. When she finished, everyone applauded and screamed.

Felise returned to the microphone. “That’s my babay, god-dammit! Let’s keep this party goin’. The DJ started the music again and Jamika headed toward the juice bowl. Mark caught her by the arm. “Damn, it seems like you were singing right to me,” he said.

“You have quite an ego, don’t you think?” Jamika asked jokingly.

“Well, well, well. What can I say?” he said, mocking J.J. again.

“And,” started Jamika, “you make a terrible J.J., so stop watching them re-runs.”

“You’re right. I am too fine to play J.J.”

“I see you still conceited as all outdoors, too,” Jamika said.

“Hey, some things never change,” he said, winking his eye.

Mark made Jamika tingle all over. It wasn’t just his handsomeness; it was a light that shone inside of him like a moon on a starless night. That light still blinded Jamika, as it had in middle school. Jamika had always thought of it as a middle school crush, but that night she knew that it was much more.

She also knew that she still wasn’t Mark’s type, and that he most likely had a girlfriend. It couldn’t hurt to be his friend. She needed some type of male companionship; Shaquita had definitely been right about that.

“What are you thinking about, Meek?” Mark said, interrupting her thoughts.

“Nothing,” replied Jamika.

“Come on now, girl. This is me. I can look into your eyes, into your soul, and tell when something is heavy on your mind,” Mark said seriously.

“Yeah, whatever Mark.”

Mark looked down at his watch. “Damn, I hate to leave, but I gotta get my brother back his ride. Your momma is likely to have this party going all night.”

“Yeah, that’s my momma.”

“Do you feel like walking me outside?”

“Yeah, come on.”

Jamika and Mark walked outside; Jamika hated to see him go. They had just begun to get reacquainted. She wanted so badly for them to be friends again, but she definitely wasn’t going to be the one to initiate it. Mark was one of those types, wherein if you acted too interested, then he wasn’t. Mark reached into his pocket.

“Meek…uh…here’s my number. Call me sometimes. We can hang out or something.”

“Dag, you walk around with your number written down?”

“No. I actually wrote it down before I came. I was sure I would run into someone special; I just wasn’t sure how much time I’d get with her,” he said, with a flirtatious smile. Then he got into his brother’s car and backed out. Before he sped off, he called out to Jamika, “Holla at me tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay,” she said, with a wave and a smile.

The rest of the night was mostly a blur. Jamika remembered dancing, and drinking Felise’s specially mixed, blue, spiked punch until she felt dizzy. Her permanent smile that night was from thoughts of Mark. The alcohol just made everything more vivid. The invitation had read 9:00 pm – until. The party did not subside until after 3:00 am.

Chapter Ten

Jamika thought of how close she and Mark had grown. Although they attended different high schools, they found time on weeknights and weekends to be together. They spent a vast amount of time together going to the movies, playing games at the Grand Prix, or just chilling and talking. Jamika could be herself around Mark; the time that they spent together was effortless. But, Jamika knew in the back of her mind that she would never be his type, and as good as it was to be friends, she really wanted to escalate their relationship to the next level.

It was Christmas Eve, and Jamika was spending it with Monie at Millie’s. Millie had gone to Georgia for a few days to visit her sister. She’d taken all the younger cousins with her. Monie had invited Jamika and Mark over to be with her and Jesse to bring Christmas in.

Jamika looked down at the playing cards she held in her hand as she waited for Jesse and Monie to decide what their Spades bid would be. She’d already counted six spades, two aces and one king, which was her only diamond. That gave her at least eight books she could make on her own. She winked at Mark to let him know that she had a great hand. “Damn, we going board!” exclaimed Monie, looking at her cards, disgusted.

“Y’all better! Give us ten!” Mark exclaimed. Monie scribbled on the pad she was using to keep score.

They all laughed as the hand was played. Jamika kept standing up to slap her cards on the table for dramatic effect. Mark was busy teasing Monie and Jesse on how poor they were playing. After a few hands of the same, Monie ended the game as she was tired of losing and wanted to go on to something else.

She refilled everyone’s drink, and then turned to Jesse. “Okay, it’s eleven thirty, I’ve waited long enough. I want my gift now.”

“Is that so?” Jesse asked Monie teasingly.

“Yes, that’s so! Where is it?” she asked.

“Hmmm…” Jesse said, enjoying Monie’s anticipation. Monie pounced on Jesse and started to fiddle through his pockets. They both laughed loudly as they wrestled and played together. “Okay!” Jessie said in between deep breaths. He fished a box out of his pocket and handed it to Monie. Monie opened the box quickly. The box held a stunning spinning ring, encrusted with diamonds and rubies, with two levels that swept past each other with the words, “I Love You”.

“Oh, that is so sweet,” said Jamika sarcastically.

Jamika hadn’t wanted the gift portion of the evening to come. She had purchased Mark a cap and jersey, with his favorite basketball team logo. He hadn’t mentioned buying her anything, and seeing Monie’s beautiful ring, made her envious.

Jesse, who was tall and dark with a baldhead and well-built body, seemed too handsome for Monie, if you did not know them. Jesse loved the ground Monie walked on. She could get away with murder with him. Jesse looked at Monie expectantly, and then said, “Okay, Shawty, where’s mine?”

“Right here,” Monie said, looking down at herself. Jesse’s face expressed a huge smile like a child about to receive his favorite flavor of ice cream.

He said, “Excuse us; we have a meeting in the back room.”

They were gone within seconds. Jamika and Mark both knew what was about to go on in the back room. “Well Meek, I guess that leaves us. Do you want another drink?” “Yes,” she replied.

Mark walked over to pour Jamika another glass of premixed, alcoholic eggnog. She watched him as he walked over and handed her the glass. He took a sip of his own, and when he lowered his glass, a thin line of eggnog lined his upper lip. Jamika thought that Mark looked exceptionally handsome, even with the milk mustache. She struggled in her mind to understand why this guy had such a tremendous effect on her.

“What are you thinking about?” asked Mark.

“Why?” asked Jamika.

“Well, you were looking at me in this certain way, and your eyes were sparkling.” “That’s because the light is reflecting in them. I was just looking at your milk mustache.”

“You got so much game girl; more was on your mind than that.”

“Hey, are you going to open your gift?” Jamika slipped up, trying to stop Mark from probing into her thoughts.

“Yeah. What did you get me?”

“See for yourself,” she said, handing him the gift.

Mark tore the paper off like a little five-year-old child would do. “This is what’s up! They’ve got the official NBA seal and everything! You must have paid a fortune for these. I got the perfect jeans to rock with these. You got good taste too. What am I going to do with you?” he asked, not really expecting an answer.

Jamika wanted to respond, “Make me yours,” but decided against it.

“Damn, I’m sorry, Meek. I didn’t get a chance to get you anything, but I—”

“That’s all right,” Jamika cut him off, disappointed. She guessed he must have spent his money on his girlfriend, whoever she was. Mark saw the disappointment in Jamika’s eyes and took her hand. As he removed his hand, Jamika realized that he’d left something in her hand.

She looked down at her hand and Mark said, “For you, Meek. Merry Christmas.”

Jamika lifted her hand to get a closer look at the 14K gold charm and chain. The charm read, “#1 Champion Lover”. Jamika immediately knew that he must have felt guilty and gave it to her, because she couldn’t be his number one lover; they had never been intimate. This time, she couldn’t keep her thoughts to herself. “Uh…Mark?”

“Yeah. Do you like it?” he asked.

“How could I be your champion lover, we ain’t never got down like that? Are you sure this is for me?”

“I got it just for you, because I know that you are going to be the best.”

“Going to be the best? What are you talking about?” Jamika said, getting more confused by the minute.

Mark then kissed Jamika deeply. She felt her heart skip a beat, and could not stop kissing him. He licked his tongue across her lips, then down to her neck. He snapped open her shirt, to reveal her full breasts. He took his time, kissing and sucking each nipple. She opened her legs slightly to allow him to lie comfortably on top of her on the narrow couch. She felt him unzipping her jeans, and pulling them down as his tongue did circles in her belly button.

She felt her center thumping and removed his shirt. She was surprised at the moans that were escaping from the excitement of his enticement. He removed her panties in what seemed like one motion. He began to enter her. “Wait!” cried Jamika.

“What’s wrong?” Mark asked, with his face contorted like he was in pain because she stopped him.

“Do you have a condom?” she asked.

He found his pants on the floor, and reached in the pocket to retrieve a condom. He fumbled to put it on, while biting his lower lip with the anticipation of being inside of her. Finally, he tried to enter her. Jamika tensed up. He felt too big for her, and it was painful. “No Mark, it hurts.”

“Shhh… just relax, Meek. Just relax,” he said.

She tried to relax, but he still felt too big for her. She couldn’t understand. She’d had sex with both Marquis and Zahrice, and she’d never felt so uncomfortable, as well as embarrassed.

He began to kiss her all over. He kissed her face, her lips, her breasts and then he headed down to her thighs. Then he let his tongue explore her most intimate spot. Jamika felt her body relaxing. He stayed there licking and sucking her for a while, exciting passion in Jamika that she didn’t know she could muster. She wanted him inside of her badly.

Then, he again tried to enter her, and this time it was right. Jamika grabbed him so tightly she was sure that she would bruise him. They moved in a smooth, continuous motion, and Jamika never remembered sex being this enjoyable. She felt the heat of his breath in her ear, as he said things she’d never heard him say to her before. There was a passionate exchange with every stroke. As full as her vagina was with him, so was her heart. Then she felt an uncontrollable urge to explode. She heeded to the feeling, and at the same time felt Mark’s body go limp. This was the first time she’d ever had an orgasm. They lie there entangled in one another, trembling in each other’s arms.

This was indeed the best sexual experience that she’d ever had. She hadn’t realized it could feel so good to her; she always thought sex was meant to satisfy the guy. Yet, pure satisfaction is what she felt, as she lay there naked, next to Mark on the narrow couch.

Neither of them spoke a word, they just held onto one another in a comfortable silence. Then, they took turns washing up in the restroom. Jamika could not believe she’d just made love to Mark Rosier. Did this change things between them? Did he just want her for sex? Was sex with his girlfriend this passionate? She was full of questions that she was too confused to ask.

Jamika felt happy, yet exhausted as she lay with her head in Mark’s lap. She felt herself drifting off to sleep, when she felt Mark’s finger caressing her cheek. She opened her eyes to see him staring at her. He said softly, “I knew you would be the best. I just knew it.”

Jamika did not respond. She just let her eyes close as she drifted off into dreams that the eggnog would leave clouded from her memory.

When she awoke, she found herself lying on a soft pillow, beneath a warm blanket. Mark had already gone home, but his presence was still there, as real as the soft comforter spread across her bare, dark skin. She smiled to herself as she remembered the previous night’s escapades. She touched the new gold necklace and charm around her neck, just to make sure that it had not all been a dream.