Prologue

June 1999

Simeon Harper squinted against the hot summer sun to make out Asa Conroy in the distance. Unsure if he loved or hated her, he couldn’t deny she was the prettiest girl at Northwestern High School. Her creamy skin bore a hint of chocolate and her lush, dark curls captured his attention every time she came within fifty feet.

Across the span of the parking lot, he watched her place a disc into her CD player. This was his favorite way to view Asa. From a distance, he didn’t have to worry about his words getting twisted in his mouth and stumbling all over himself like a fool. Maybe from here he looked like the coolest person in their class, instead of the son of the town drunk.

“Come on, boy, we gotta get home.” Brian slapped him on the back.

“Yeah, I’m coming, bro. Do you think we can go to the Conroy block party this weekend? We never go.” Simeon didn’t take his eyes off Asa. She bobbed her head to the music playing in her ear.

“Hell no, we ain’t going. You know we can’t.”

Simeon sensed his brother’s annoyance. “Look at you. Your pants are too small, they’re raggedy, and if your hair grows another inch you’ll look like Jimi Hendrix. Those Conroys don’t want nothing to do with people like us. Why are you always asking about going over there? We haven’t been and we won’t start now. We belong over here and they belong over there.” He drew an imaginary line with his foot. “Now come on, if we’re late it just gives Dad another reason to get angry.” Brian walked away without glancing back.

Before Simeon could catch up to his brother, Asa waved and started in his direction. He swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. Maybe this time his words wouldn’t get stuck. Her carefree gait matched her demeanor. Her eyes sparkled like the glass shards that littered the park at his housing project. Every time he saw her, she wore a smile. Life treated the Conroys well; the Harpers always drew leftovers. Her shiny red CD player mocked him, emphasizing everything he wasn’t.

She removed the plugs from her ears. He froze.

§ § §

In grade school Simeon had pulled her ponytail, stolen her lunch, and peered under her dress. Now Asa wanted him to venture under her dress. Despite her mother’s abstinence sermon, he would have gotten to second base. Instead, he acted like she didn’t exist.

The way he buried his nose in the books, her grandmother would have called him an old soul. His playfulness had vanished. Now he was all grunts or groans.

Today determination drove her to get his attention. Something about his pecan brown, Shemar Moore good looks, dimpled cheek, and wide smile yanked her across the parking lot toward him. This was her last opportunity before going to college to get what she wanted. Him.

“Hey, Simeon, are you coming to our party on Saturday?”

Instead of answering, his eyes narrowed as they raked over her. Why did he always look so angry?

“Aren’t you coming?” she asked again.

His nostrils flared.

Asa recoiled. Her heart skidded against her ribs.

Before she could flinch, he smacked her CD player out of her hand. It whacked the concrete so hard several pieces of shiny red plastic flew across the pavement.