Youngin' Blues: The Story of Reed and RaKeem (8 page)

Before she was able to get much further, she was pulled backwards, and spent around. Had it been any other gremlin, Danity would’ve had a few choice words, but this was no ordinary guy. This was Keem.

“You know; you shouldn’t be walking at this time of night by your lonesome. There’s all different kinds of insane predators waiting to have their chance with a woman as beautiful as yourself.” He rubbed his hands in front of one another.

Danity’s heart stopped, momentarily. It left her to touch herself, wondering if she was dreaming or in some fantasy world. Sure as the night was amongst her, she was in tune with reality. Words caught in her throat, she couldn’t get as much as a sound out.

“I’m RaKeem. RaKeem Jones.” Keem extended his hand, and Danity found the strength to join hers and his. Shaking, he stepped back out of her personal space. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep a safe distance and see to it that you get home.” He insisted. “If you don’t mind.”

“I… Uh…” Danity stuttered. “I’m Danity.” She added.

“Nice to meet you Danity. Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Where do you live?” Keem asked.

“I live in Gregory House.” Danity was a bit mushed that RaKeem hadn’t remembered her. She saw him nearly every day on his way to and from his girlfriend, Reed’s, dormitory. They’d even shared a brief elevator ride once before.

“Oh yeah?” he seemed to be in deep thought.

“Yes.”

“Aight. Well, I wouldn’t want you walking all the way over there alone. I was headed that way, anyway. You can walk with me.” Keem switched up.

“Oh, now I can walk with you?” Danity asked, sarcastically.

“Yeah. Under one condition.” He smiled.

Danity clenched her chest, hoping that she could save her heart from jumping out. RaKeem was so magnifying. His crisp white denim, blue jean shirt, and gold chain meshed so well together. Danity had witnessed him in the most sophisticated and the most thugged out attired. He handled both so well. She adored a man that could switch up.

“What’s that?” Danity nearly whispered. Staring at her feet, shifting her weight from one to the other, she waited for his response.

“Put your number in my phone.” his request was simple, and she was trying to avoid the temptation –being that she was well aware of the relationship that he was heavily involved in.

“I don’t know.”

“What’s there not to know, Danity.” He countered –quick on his toes. He wasn’t going to give her the chance to decline. Especially being that she actually wanted to take him up on the offer. Shit, who didn’t.

“Aren’t you…”

“If I wanted to talk about my engagements and other affairs, I would’ve mentioned them by now. It’s really dark out, and I think that you’d be just the right candidate for some sick motherfucker out here. Don’t risk your life because you’re afraid to play a little.” RaKeem smiled, pulling out his cell, he handed it to Danity. His mother’s picture was set as his lock screen and background.

“She’s beautiful.” Danity stared at the female version of Keem, only Caucasian.

“May her soul rest well.” Keem looked to the sky before focusing back on Danity.

“My condolences.” She was saddened, figuring the woman on the picture was Keem’s mother. She punched her number into his cell and turned to give it back. Danity then started for her dorm again.

“Wait.” Keem laughed. “I’m beginning to think that you were planning on giving the digits without the deal. You just took off on a nigga.”

“Sorry. I’m just tired.” She clenched her lone notebook in her hand, speaking truthfully.

“Well, how about I give you a lift, instead of us walking.”

Keem could see the stress in the worry lines that formed on her forehead. She had a long way to walk, and she seemed like she was just ready to bed. Seeing as though Reed was the same way when she overworked herself, he knew that Danity was much of the same. In that instance, he directly related to her. More often than not, he and Reed both outdid themselves.

“You sure?” Finally, Danity’s shoulders slummed again. She was able to relax.

“Yeah. I don’t say shit that I don’t mean, Danity. If you’re tired, I can help you out. Come on. I’m parked over this way.” He signaled for Danity to follow him. He was parked in the staff parking lot, which was off limits to students. Danity shook her head as she thought about the privileges he was awarded with.

“This is me.” he walked around to the passenger side of a candy apple red Maserati. Danity had already known his car. She seen it around campus often. He’d just upgraded. Each year, he got a new Maserati, along with the other cars that he purchased. However, he drove that one himself. Other than that, he was in the back of a foreign while his driver pushed the pedal.

“Here you are,” he opened the door and allowed Danity to sit before closing it back. He, then, rushed to his side of the car and got inside. The engine purred like a little baby kitten when it came to life.

Danity was amazed as she looked around. The peanut butter seats went well with the red trimming. It was pretty clear that he’d had some customization done. RaKeem hiked the volume of her stereo up as he pulled backwards. The sounds of Meek Mill blasted through the speakers, causing vibration in the seats.

The passenger mirror was down, causing Danity to stare up into it. She realized her hair had flattened, mainly due to humidity. Her edge control had served its purpose, and was now pure grease. With her right hand, she tried to smooth her hairs back down as best she could. Looking down at her graphic tee and blue denims, she compared it to RaKeem’s fit. His clothes looked like they cost a fortune. If Dainty had to guess his occupation, she’d sum him up to be a well-groomed drug dealer. However, something inside was telling her that she couldn’t be more incorrect.

Just a few minutes before they made it to the dorm, Keem turned down the music. Pulling out a cell, Danity took note that it was much different from the one that she’d had in her possession just minutes prior. This one had a photo of a beautiful little girl on the front. She had big honey colored eyes, much like Keem. Hurriedly, he dialed a number and placed the phone to his ear.

Keeping quiet, Danity listen on as he begin to speak. From the conversation, she concluded that he was talking to Reed. As much as Danity wanted to reconsider and rethink her decision to give him her number, she knew that she wouldn’t. Even if she told him not to and he called, Danity knew good and well that she’d be picking up. At that very moment, she fell into the roll of a side chick. She kept her mouth closed as the conversation progressed.

“Where you at, yo?” Keem asked.

“Aight, stay put. I’m about to come up. Pulling up in a few. Don’t move.” He stated. If Danity had to guess, he was being sure that she wasn’t outside. Men were the slickest.

“You good?” he asked after hanging up his cell.

Danity didn’t answer, she nodded instead. Feeling a bit foolish, she swallowed the lump in her throat. RaKeem was a once in a lifetime, and she simply wanted to be in his presence. Even if they became the coolest of friends, she wanted to be there somewhere. Everyone did, niggas and bitches. They all loved Keem and Reed. Too bad, Reed was out of the question. She barely even associated with anyone that attended the university. All high, mighty, and about her shit, Reed didn’t have much time to spare. Besides her family, best friend, and man, there wasn’t much more that she needed –in terms of communication with others.

“Aight.” Keem turned his volume back up and continued.

They were at the dorm in no time at all. Before Danity could remove herself from Keem’s whip, he grabbed her. “I’m going to go ahead and get out. Once I hit the door, you can go ahead and make your way to your dorm. It was nice meeting you Ms. Danity. I’ll be seeing you around.” He smiled.

Danity immediately felt offended, but as soon as Keem reached over and hugged her, all was forgiven. She melted in his muscular arms and allowed his manly fragrance to take control of her body. The hug lasted for only a second or two, but it felt like a lifetime. Danity couldn’t wait to tell her friend, Gia, about who she’d encountered. Gia didn’t attend the university, but she knew exactly who RaKeem was. The entire Philly knew who the young bull was. Just was much as he was, his name was popping.

RaKeem ended the hug and got out of his car. Danity watched from the driver side window –admiring his physique. The minute he touched the door, she was out like light. Speeding, she tried catching up to him. She wasn’t ready to rid his presence. An elevator ride would suffice, anything to see those pretty eyes and smile just once more. In a matter of minutes, she’d become completely smitten by the likes of an occupied man. Just as Danity made it to the elevator, the door was closing and Keem winked.

With a smile, Danity hugged her notebook, and began to hum. She was on cloud nine as she pushed the elevator’s button to get to her floor. The smile that was on her face remained as she got on and road all the way to her floor. It hadn’t even left by the time she changed into something more comfortable and laid down to call Gia. Just before she dialed her number, a text came through.

Meet me around back, let’s go for a spin. -Keem

That was the start of it all.

Slamming down the top to the washer, Danity turned to find Reed staring at her. She figured she was, because she could feel the eye penetrating. All of a sudden she remembered that she had on Keem’s t shirt. He’d left it over at her place just the day prior, and she’d thrown it on because she didn’t have many clean tees. Biting the inside of her jaw, she hoped that Reed didn’t dig much into the situation.

Her luck was short lived as she heard Reed clear her throat. She stood from her seat and mellowed over to where Danity was standing. Nervousness floored through Danity as she tried to come up with the perfect way to respond to the million-dollar question that was sure to be asked.

“Danity, is it?” Reed asked.

She was so beautiful. RaKeem had himself a winner, and you’d have to be blind not to see it. Reed’s caramel skin, pretty pink lips, thin waistline, significant body ratio, and especially beautiful round eyes were all just too perfect. She seemed gentle to the touch. Her voice was even angelic.

“Yes.”

“I’m Reed.” Reed smiled. “I see our men must have similar taste. My boyfriend Keem has the exact same shirt.”

Instead of answering, Danity looked down at the shirt as if she hadn’t seen it before. She was near a response when Reed continued. “I couldn’t help but to notice that you’re a natural –like myself. Your bantu knots are perfect, and I can’t seem to get mine to stay put for the life of me.” Reed hissed.

Danity sighed, hoping that the relief wasn’t written all over her face. She thought that Reed had figured something out that she wasn’t meant to. Danity was wondering how she’d explain it to Keem if they’d had words –or worse fought.

“Is your hair usually wet or dry when you attempt them?” Danity asked, slightly still uptight.

“Damped. Right in between. I usually spritz it with water. I have too much hair to twist it while completely wet.”

“Well, there you have it. That’s the problem. To get them to stay, you must saturate your hair in water. It doesn’t have to be completely wet, but that’s best.” Danity informed Reed.

“Thanks a lot. I’ll keep that in mind next time.” She tried to store the advice into a mental pocket in her head as she went back to her seat.

As she walked off, her knees nearly gave out. The entire room began to spin as her world seemingly came crashing down. It was as if she’d just been told that her life was near the ending. Soreness arose in her chest area, making way for unwanted and uninvited emotions. Reed felt torn, immediately.

She tried to place a time that she’d felt so helpless, other than the rape and her brother’s supposed death. Her heart hurt, and her feelings were crushed. Without a doubt, she knew now what heartbreak felt like. Never, had she ever even considered the turmoil, until it was knocking at her door.

Reed was the least bit interested in holding a conversation with Danity. It was simply a ploy to get close to her. She had the right mind to believe that Danity was sporting her boyfriend’s shirt, and there was only one way to tell. Keem wore a very significant amount of cologne on any given day. You could still smell it on his clothes even days after they’d been removed. To Reed’s dismay, there were traces of her man.

As she made her way back to where she’d been prior, she tried her best to weed away the thoughts of Keem ever consenting in such foul play. There had to be a logical explanation as to why the young lady’s shirt looked and smelled as if it was his. Maybe her boyfriend had a keen sense of sophistication much like Keem. Yeah, that had to be he case. Chalking it up to the fact that she could still very much be freaking out, Reed tried calming herself.

“You okay?” KinZu asked, aware of the sudden deflation that Reed had undergone.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” Reed nodded, seemingly trying to convince herself.

“I’m just about finished here.” KinZu turned to see how much longer her washing machine load had. The drying only took 45 minutes. “If you want to head back upstairs, then it’s fine.”