FIFTEEN
“Yeah, yeah. I was shocked that she could take all that inside of her. I felt for her.” Danielle said. Then Josephine joined her in her current chant:
“They were running such a trizain on da bitch.” Both the girls said.
“Ahight, Jo so you know the scoop, you know the scoop, you heard it all before, right?”
“At least six…seven times now. How they fucked the shit out of the bitch early in the morning in the park and how you felt like a peeping Tom when the nigga busted you and Cory. And oh, how you two went back to his dorm and fucked non-stop like rabbits. I heard that many times now.”
“Uh-huh, yes, that was cool. Everything was love-lay today, though. We played hooky all day. You know tight-assed Deedee could be fun.”
“Why she gotta be a tight-ass?” Josephine asked.
“Hold up a sec, I got another call. Hold on, hold on. Yo, it’s Cory.”
“Ms. Busybody herself! Wish Coco had a phone. Need to talk, you know? Party line, us girls,” Josephine suggested.
“My girl’s mom be sniffing, drinking and smoking the line up. She got a problem.”
“You need to check yourself before…”
“Save it. I got to go. My man’s on my line. See ya.”
“Bitch!”
“Just don’t be late for the train, Jo. Call your man, girlfriend,” Danielle said. She clicked over to Cory’s call. “Hi, baby, I’m sorry I kept you waiting. Running my mouth with girl talk. What’re ya doing?”
The transition was smooth. Cory hugged the receiver in delight. He fumbled for the answer.
“Nothing, really. Kicking back, thinking ‘bout some special boots.”
“Don’t tell me. Let me guess. It’s only ten p.m. and I’m getting a booty call?”
“Babe, the last time was a week, week and half ago. C’mon.”
“Maybe after the dance finals. I’ve been rehearsing. Well, you know how that is. You play football.”
“Yeah, but can’t we sneak a little snack prior to the big one?”
“Snack? Cory, you don’t snack. You wanna have everything on the menu. So no snacking. Baby, chill. After the finals, I’m gonna need you to do me right. You know, hit a home-girl off proper-like.” Danielle smooched into the phone and the blood rushed to Cory’s crotch.
“Ahight, I’ll chill. So how’s rehearsal? Still battling Coco?”
“Oh yeah, it’s a day to day struggle, let me tell you...”
Cory interrupted. “Babe, hold on a sec while I terminate this other call… Danielle, why don’t you get some rest and I’ll call you back, okay?”
“Okay, cool. I’ll talk to you later, honey. Maybe we can get together tomorrow in the evening or—no! I’ve got rehearsal.”
“Don’t sweat it. Chill. We’ll catch up with each other at some point, alright? Get some rest, babe.”
“Love ya,” Danielle said as she cradled the phone in its charger. Why did Cory hang up so quickly and who was he speaking with on the end of the other line? She wondered. Danielle wanted to call back, but the urge left as quickly as she found the comfort of her mirror.
Danielle stared at her reflection and contemplated the girls on the frenzied day. Coco, why doesn’t she get a phone? Coco was always telling her and Josephine things about guys. Coco always said: ‘Don’t sweat ‘em. Let ‘em sweat you’. Why doesn’t Coco ever have a boyfriend? Danielle wondered.
She sauntered back over to the phone and dialed Cory’s number. No answer. Then she tried sending him a text message. She set the receiver down. Danielle returned to the comfort of her mirror.
“Ah-h, it still was a great day,” she whispered.