Teenage Love Affair (12 page)

Malachi had his feet resting on the floor and his back laid across the bottom of my bed. I placed my feet on his chest and began testing him for the chemistry test we had on Friday.

“What chemical—”

“Zsa,” he said, cutting me off, “we've studied enough.”

“Oh, really?” I closed the book.

“Yeah, talk to me.”

“What you wanna talk about?” I put the book on my nightstand.

“Does ol' boy really be puttin' his hands on you?”

“Extra random. Now, where did that come from?” I asked, surprised.

“From me. I wanna know.” He sat up. “Does he be hitting on you?”

“No,” I said, “and I don't want to talk about Ameen.”

“Why do you shut me out?” He looked me in the eyes and brushed my hair behind my ears.

I paused. “'Cause.”

“'Cause what?”

“The last time I let you in…you left me.”

“I'm not going anywhere. So how long are you going to make me pay for that?”

“You're not paying for anything.”

“Yes, I am.”

“How is that?”

“'Cause another cat in my spot and I want
it
back. I want
you
back. I'm tired of all of this back and forth and guessing. I wanna chill with you. You wanna chill with me?”

Okay, I'ma attempt to play hard to get.
“Yes.”
Guess my resistance didn't go over too well.

“And what y'all gon' be doin' while y'all chillin'? Gettin' hot?” Cousin Shake stood in my doorway. “Make a real baby.” He looked at Malachi. “I like you, son, but the streetlights are on and around here, that means it's bedtime.”

“Get…,” I said slowly, “away…from…my door!”

Malachi laughed. “It's cool. Cousin Shake is my man.” Malachi got off the bed. “Plus, Zsa, it is getting late.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“I'll keep the baby tonight,” Malachi said, “and you keep it tomorrow night.”

“Ai'ight,” I said, handing him the doll and the bag.

“Thanks for having me, Cousin Shake.” Malachi shook his hand, and afterward we walked outside. I walked Malachi across the street to his truck where he placed the doll in the back. Afterward he hopped in the driver's seat. I walked over to the window and leaned through. “Think about me, ma,” he said, kissing me on my forehead.

“I will,” I said as I watched him pull off. I was grinning from ear to ear as I headed across the street, when a car ran up on me like a Compton drive-by. I didn't know if I was about to get hit or held up at gunpoint. Once the car came to a screeching halt I realized that it was Ameen.

Instantly I froze.

“Can I hollah at you for a minute, Zsa?” Ameen asked.

I slid my trembling hands in my jeans' side pockets. “What?” I tried to seem pissed instead of nervous. “What is it? And what are you doing here?”

“What you showing off 'cause your new man just left?”

I stood still for a moment. Had Ameen been watching me? “Are you stalking me or something?”

“No. I love you, but you be playing too many games.”

“Didn't you just run up on me in the bathroom, practically telling me you'll shoot me over some chicken head? And I'm the one playing games?” I looked both ways, hoping there was someone I knew from the block standing around. I spotted a few guys that I knew so I felt a little more relaxed. “Can I go now?” I asked sarcastically.

“Oh, so that's it?” Ameen said. “You don't love me no more? I make one mistake and we're done?”

I practically laughed in his face. “You keep making the same mistake over and over again. I'm tired. Now, if you will excuse me I don't like standing in the middle of the street.” I went to walk in front of the car and Ameen pulled up so I couldn't pass.

“Zsa, come on now,” he said. “I'm sorry about the way I acted. You know I care about you. You're my heart. Why you think I bought you these boots?” He opened the Gucci shoe box that lay on his passenger seat and practically shoved the boots at me. I held one of the boots in my hand, and I could tell by the scuff marks on the toe and the heel that they'd been worn.

“Are you kidding me? Giving me some used boots.”

“She only wore 'em once and then I realized she ain't deserve 'em. You did, so I'm bringing them back.”

“Keep 'em.” I placed the boot back in his lap. “I'm cold on 'em.”

“Oh, it's like that?” It was obvious that that threw him for a loop.

I guess he thought I was about to break down and accept his fake-behind apology. Not. “What you ain't know?” I rolled my eyes. “Now bounce.”

Ameen scratched his chin. “Why you keep hanging with this dude that I keep seeing you with?”

I rolled my eyes to the sky. “I'm concerned, why are you following me around? We aren't together anymore, remember that?”

“Nah,” he said, “I don't remember that and I suggest you erase it from your memory too, because if I can't have you, nobody will.”

“Are you done?”

“The question is, are you done,” Ameen said, and then he pulled off. I stood there for a moment. I couldn't believe what had just happened to me. My heart was racing in my chest, but a part of me was happy that I got to play Ameen in his face.

I walked back in the house and headed straight for my room. I flicked my lights off, lay back on the bed, and just as I closed my eyes and started thinking about my day my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and it was my baby, Malachi. Immediately, I started smiling. “You rang?” I answered my phone while turning my radio on. WBLS's Quiet Storm was playing and Aaliyah's “At Your Best” was on.

“Thinking about me, ma?” Malachi asked. His voice was so soothing that I swear he made all the fear inside of me subside.

“And you know this.”

“I know I just left, but I miss you, ma,” he said.

“And I miss you too.”

Malachi's voice was like sweet heat to my ears and before I knew it, time was flying by and we'd been talking for hours. I looked at the clock and it was four
AM
.

“Ai'ight, Zsa, I'll get up,” Malachi said.

“Okay, talk to you later.”

The line went silent. “Malachi?” I said.

“Yeah.” He laughed. “I guess we should've hung up.”

“Maybe,” I said.

“You hang up first,” Malachi said.

“No, I can't hang up on you. You hang up.”

“Ai'ight, ma. On the count of three we'll both hang up.”

“One,” we said simultaneously, “two…three.”

I held onto the phone because I didn't want to be the first one to hang up. “Malachi,” I called.

“I'm here.” He laughed. “It's obvious that neither one of us wants to hang up, so I tell you what, keep the phone to your ear, lay down, and we'll go to sleep together.”

I couldn't stop smiling. “Alright.”

I started to close my eyes, and just as I spotted the early morning sun coming up I felt myself drifting into another world.

 

I don't remember my sister sneaking in my room to sleep. All I remembered was her taking the phone from my ear, telling me to move over, and the next thing I knew my mother was calling our names. “Zsa-Zsa, Hadiah, time for school.”

Don't ask me why, but I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. Why was she acting as if she actually got us ready for school in the morning? This was really over the top.

“Zsa-Zsa,” my mother called again while knocking on my door. “Can I come in?” She twisted the knob but the door was locked.

“Say no,” Hadiah said, laying across the foot of my bed. “It's too early in the morning to hear her nagging.”

“Zsa,” my mother called again.

“I can't say no.”

“Ignore her, then.”

“Be quiet,” I snapped at my sister, “and open the door.”

Reluctantly Hadiah walked over to the door and opened it. “What took y'all so long to open the door?” my mother asked.

“No reason.” Hadiah ran out the room. “I have to get ready for school,” she yelled behind her.

I could've smacked my sister. She knew exactly what she was doing by leaving me with my mother. Now, she didn't have to deal with her.

“So what's going on?” my mother asked me while sitting on the edge of my bed.

“Oh, nothing.” I batted my eyes. “Just work, church, and a few dates that I've been on.”

“Are you being smart?”

“Nope, just recapping your life. You seem to be having fun, so I figured like mother like daughter.”

“Zsa-Zsa, what is going on that we don't talk anymore?”

“You're not here.”

“I am here. But you never want to be bothered. Like yesterday when Malachi came over, why don't you want to talk to me?”

“Ma, not today.” I pulled a pair of Deréon jeans from my closet.

“Yes, today,” she insisted. “And right now. Tell me, because you are my child and we have to get through this.”

“Ever since Daddy died—”

“This is not about your father.”

“Why do you always do that?” I frowned.

“Do what?”

“Cut me off”—I chose a pair of stilettos—“when I have something to say about Daddy.”

“Because, truthfully, I don't want to hear it.”

“I didn't think this was about you. I thought you wanted to hear my side.”

“Your side of what? Everything is a problem with you. I want us to be close,” she said as her cell phone started to ring.

“Ma—”

“Wait a minute.” She smiled, looking at the caller ID. “Let me get this.” She rose from my bed and walked out of my room. “Hello?”

I just looked at the door and knew I should've taken my sister's advice. The next time I won't let her in. I finished choosing my outfit and listened to the radio that was still playing from last night. Neyo was singing about being sick. A few minutes later my mother stood in my doorway with her coat on. “After school we'll finish our conversation.” And before I could respond she was gone.

I showered, did my hair, fought off thoughts of Ameen, smiled at thoughts of Malachi, and dressed for school. “Bye, Zsa,” Hadiah said.

“Bye,” I said, walking out of my room and sitting down at the dining room table to eat the breakfast Cousin Shake and Ms. Minnie prepared. Once I was done I kissed them both on the cheeks and headed for the front door. When I opened the door I couldn't believe it, but Malachi was standing there with his hand on the bell.

“Hey.” I know I was cheesin' from ear to ear. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to take you to school.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah, you ready?”

“Of course I'm ready…but there's only one thing.”

“What's that?”

“We have to pick up Courtney.”

“Courtney?” Malachi arched one eyebrow. “Oh, no, baby, you know I don't get down with Courtney like that. He's too…too…zessy for me. And his clothes be all smedium. I just can't deal with all of that temperament in the morning.”

“Boo, he's really a good dude, and in the morning he's really quiet and peaceful.”

Malachi stood and stared at me for a moment. “You better be lucky I'm feelin' you.”

“Yeah, I am,” I said, handing him my backpack.

By the time we got to Courtney's house Courtney was waiting outside on the porch for me. His clothes were tossed on him like a cyclone, the baby was upside down in his backpack, and he had a head full of pink and green sponge rollers.

Malachi looked at me and said, “Yo, ma, dig. No offense and I love you to death but I am not about to ride in the car with no dude and a head full of rollers. That's a li'l far.”

“Courtney.” I got out the truck and walked over to him. “Why do you have rollers in your hair?”

“Can't you see this is a quick weave gone wrong?!” He twisted his lips. “You see me? I'm sleepy, I'm tired, and I can not do this with this damn recycled doll. Ms. Parker can fail me, kick me out, whatever. But see me and li'l Tink-Tink are done.”

“What happened?”

“This thing wouldn't stop crying. I'm tired. I swear I am. So, I talked this over with my mother and I'm staying home today. You take this thing and I don't care what you do with it.”

“Courtney—” I called him but he never turned around. Instead he kept going in the house and slammed the door behind him.

I got back in the car with Malachi, and he said, “What happened?”

“I don't know.” I hunched my shoulders. “But I think he may have dropped out of high school and now we have twins.”

I
had to admit it felt good riding into the school's parking lot being chauffeured by my baby. And believe me, all eyes were on us. Staci and her crew were standing near the school's entrance, and I swore I could see green glob comin' all out of her mouth.

I hated to rejoice at someone else's expense but Ha…lle…lujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Ha…lle…lujah! I was his girl now. I promise you I felt like tap dancing. I grabbed the doll out the backseat and patted it on its back. I knew the baby thing was a reach, but it was enough to get Staci to imagine that I wasn't stepping to the left anytime soon.

We parked next to Asha and Samaad, and I could tell by the smile on Asha's face that she couldn't wait to hear what I had to say. “Ai'ight, baby,” Malachi said, opening my door and giving me a peck on the lips. “I need to kick it with Samaad for a minute. You got it from here?”

“Yeah. Plus I need to catch up with Asha.”

“Ai'ight,” he said as he walked over to Samaad and I walked over to Asha.

“Skip all the yadda-yadda and get to the point,” Asha said, grinning from ear to ear. “Is it official?”

“Ill.” I couldn't stop smiling. “Could you stop sweatin' me?”

Asha batted her extended lashes. “If you don't cough up the business.”

“Okay, Asha, it's not exactly official. Like, I just broke up with Ameen.”

“So, we're seventeen,” she said as we started walking toward the school's entrance, “we don't need that much space between relationships. All we need to do is get the point; which is: Ameen is hot piss and Malachi is a love fest.” She snapped her fingers. “Two snaps up and a fruit loop, as Courtney would say. Speaking of which, where is he?”

“Yo.” I stopped dead in my tracks. “Courtney was pissed off this morning. I went over there and homie had rollers in his hair.”

“Rollers?”

“Rollers. He said it was a quick weave gone bad. For real, for real, I know that's our boy but he was a little extra with the zest this morning. I ain't sayin' but I'm just sayin' I think he's sleeping in fishnets.”

Asha laughed. “You stupid.” She laughed again. “Anyway, have you heard from Ameen?”

Instantly my heart raced as I shook my head to erase the picture of Ameen from my mind. “Asha, he ran up on me in the middle of the street yesterday.”

“He did what?” she asked in disbelief.

“You heard me. Yo, he is really jealous. I was crossing the street after walking Malachi to his car, and as I went to step across the yellow line Ameen pulled up like he was about to do a drive-by. I was like ‘do I need to take my jewelry off?'”

“Did you tell your mother and Cousin Shake?”

“So they could overreact?” I waved my hand. “Ameen is retarded but he ain't crazy.”

“Yeah, okay.” Asha twisted her lips.

“I'm not scared of Ameen, he won't do anything to me.”

“Zsa-Zsa, you don't know what he'll do. You didn't think he would cheat on you either, did you? But he did.”

“Well—”

“Well nothing. All I'm saying is to be careful. Those type of dudes always get away because we miss the clues.”

“Asha, please don't start reciting what you've seen on TV or learned in health class. I'm not a victim, believe me. Ameen wants me when he wants me, and when I don't respond he doesn't know what to do. But I'm done now.”

“Are you sure?” She looked at me with one eye open and the other closed.

“Yes, silly. Besides”—I turned around and looked at Malachi, who was still kickin' it with Samaad—“something tells me I have all I ever wanted.”

“I'm so glad that's your dude.” Asha smiled as we walked into the school and over to our lockers.

“That's my baby, Asha. For real,” I said, gleaming. “I love him so much.”

“Her baby?” A voice drifted from behind me. “Malachi?” the voice continued. “Is she talking about your man, Staci?”

As soon as I heard that, I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. I was not in the mood to get it poppin' this morning.

I turned around. Staci and her crew were standing at their lockers, and the one spittin' all the ying-yang was named Nyesha.

“We got a problem or something?” Asha rolled her eyes. “'Cause we don't need the rah-rah, we can get to the heart of the matter.”

I waved my hand at Staci and her whack crew. Then I looked them up and down. “Asha, we're not going to even sweat the gutter rats. So, I advise ‘the wanna be me's not to let the stilettos fool them. If Staci has something she wants to say to me, then she needs to say it to me. And not wait until she gets around her fake posse and wanna beef. Trust me.” I looked Staci in the eyes and then Nyesha. “I am not the one.”

“Who is that tramp looking at?” Nyesha spat. “I know not me.”

“Who you calling a tramp, skeezer?” I said, looking at Nyesha. “You better get on.”

“For real,” Asha said. “Come on, Zsa, they don't want it.”

“Don't want what?” Nyesha said. “Why would you steal somebody's man? You just a slut.”

I spun around so quickly that I think my feet had to catch up with my head. “You a slut, trick.” I walked up on Nyesha, and Asha was right by my side. Asha wasn't the one for drama but she always had my back no matter what.

A crowd started to gather around us as I carried on. “Don't let your don't-know-how-to-keep-her-man-happy friend get you a beat down!” I pointed my finger in Nyesha's face. “You singin' all this rah-rah and she hasn't even opened her mouth. At least I don't need a clique to fight my battles. So yeah, come to think of it I did steal her man, and you know why? 'Cause I wanted to, and at least I had the balls to take him. Now what, what you gon' do?!” We were now chest to chest.

“Nothing,” Asha said. “Or it's gon' be on.” She started taking her earrings off.

“Yo, chill,” Malachi said as he walked in and slid his arm between us, and Samaad grabbed Asha by the hand. “What's up with this?” Malachi looked at me and then to Staci.

“Your ex-girl.” I pointed my finger in Staci's face. “You better catch her 'cause I ain't the one.” Before I could continue on the bell rang and the crowd dispersed. “You better do something with that thirsty trick before she get a beat down.” I looked at Staci, and just to drive the point home, I kissed Malachi on the lips. “Come on, Asha,” I said, “you're right, they don't want none.” And we walked away, heading to class.

I was pissed for the next two periods, and I don't know what bothered me more—that Staci and her crew ran up on me or that when I walked away from them Malachi didn't run after me. I mean…I know he had a different class than me and everything but still, he didn't have to stand there when I walked away as if after I was gone he would be entertaining Staci's sorrows.

I was in calculus, and I couldn't wait for the bell to ring so that I could find Malachi and tell him what was on my mind. Oh, and to also dump this crying-behind doll on him. Do you know that thing cried every hour on the hour and the pacifier didn't always work? I know the school wanted to teach us a lesson, but dang even a real baby shuts up sometimes.

After the teacher gave us the homework assignment the bell rang and everybody was up and out of there with the quickness. I went to my locker to get my book for English class, but surprisingly I didn't see Malachi anywhere.

I knew I would probably get in trouble, but I left the doll in my locker, and from the sound of things I wasn't the only one. I walked away from my locker and I could swear that I saw Malachi out the corner of my eye as I passed the study lounge.

“Staci—”

Once I heard that, I knew it was him. Now I was pissed, and a lump was settling in my throat. I backtracked and walked over toward them. Malachi was leaning against the wall and Staci was standing in the doorway of the study lounge with tears in her eyes. For a moment I felt bad, at least until I heard her say, “If I catch her, I'ma kill her.”

“And who might that be?” I slid in between them. “You gon' kill who?”

“Zsa,” Malachi said, “stop.”

“Stop?” I couldn't believe he said that. “She and her cronies attacked me and you're taking up for her? Is this your girl?”

“Chill,” he said sternly. “For real, fall back.”

I looked at him and I felt as if a thousand bullets rang through my chest. This felt worse than anything with Ameen. I looked Malachi dead in his eyes and said, “I'll get up, 'cause I'm 'bout to fall all the way back.”

I went to storm away but before I could get far, Malachi grabbed my hand and turned me around. “I'm so sick of you runnin'. Stand here until I'm done. You tryna be so big and bold but you leaving your man with the very chick you can't stand. Relax.”

Damn, did he just call himself my man in front of this chick?
I looked at her and smiled. “Checkmate.”

“You know what, Malachi”—Staci looked me up and down—“you and this bird deserve one another.”

I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. Is that all she could think to say? “At least you get the point!” I yelled behind her.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Malachi snapped as Staci disappeared from our sight. “I can fight my own battles.”

“She and her friends walked up on me.”

“Okay, and you checked 'em, it's no need to keep comin' for her throat. She knows how I feel about you, but I didn't want to make her feel like nothing behind it.”

“Why do you care how she feels? You know what, I have already been down the road of dealing with other chicks in my relationships, and for real”—I paused—“I would just be more comfortable if you didn't talk to her anymore.”

“What?” He looked at me as if I were crazy.

“Like, don't even have no words for her, because I just can't deal with the nonsense.”

“Zsa, I'm not doing that.”

“What?” I took a step back.

“You know how disrespectful that is? Our families are very close. I can't play her like that.”

“You can't play her like that? So it doesn't matter how I feel?”

“Of course it does.”

“I can't tell.”

“You know what, Zsa,” he said as the bell rang, “it's a wrap talking about this.” He placed his hands on my waist and moved in for a kiss. I nicely backed out of his embrace, turned my back, hit him with a two-finger peace sign, and with every ounce of motion in my ocean I sashay away.

“It's cool, ma,” Malachi said from behind me, “I like that view too.”

 

It was last period, and just to keep it one hundred with you I was really pissed off with Malachi. I mean, I guess I could understand where he was coming from, but still I felt really insecure with him talking to this chick…. I felt like…like something she'd said or did would make him change his mind about me and reconsider her. And then where would I be? I was just starting to feel normal again and not have to think about having a boyfriend who cheated on me every five minutes, but now I had to deal with this.

I tore a piece of loose-leaf paper from my binder and started writing Asha a note:

After I finished writing the note, I dropped it on the floor and kicked it slyly with the tip of my stiletto over to Asha. She picked it up, started to read, and then responded. A few minutes later she passed the note back the same way I had given it to her.

The note read,

That pissed me off. I was a lot of things but I was not extra. Now Courtney, he was extra.

I passed the note back.

A few seconds later the note was given back to me.

After reading Asha's response I couldn't respond fast enough.

I had to hold the note for a second before I passed it back because my health teacher was looking toward the back of the classroom. A few minutes later the teacher turned around and I quickly slid the note to Asha.

I could tell by the frown on Asha's face that she was writing something that I wouldn't like, and once I got the note back, my gut instinct was correct.

I sucked my teeth.

I wanted to fling this note at her head, but I didn't. When Asha received the note back and read it, she looked at me and smiled. I hated having such an honest best friend. I gave her the gas face and she started laughing, which caused me to laugh. But don't get it twisted, I was still pissed.