KEYSHA
When the dismissal bell rang, I was relieved. I exited my classroom and merged into the flow of hallway traffic and listened to multiple conversations about hanging out at Mr. Submarine, the nearby pizza parlor and the highway oasis perched high above Interstate 80. While everyone was planning an afternoon of freedom from the oppression of teachers and administrators I had to hustle down to the auditorium for rehearsals. I’d been sending text messages to Maya throughout the day, giving her the blow-by-blow of what transpired between Wesley and me. Like me, she couldn’t believe Lori was a student here at Thornwood. When I entered the auditorium, Maya was sitting in one of the house seats, far away from the stage. When I spotted her, she waved me over.
“When I got your text message I was like, ‘No freaking way!’” Maya couldn’t wait to gossip about my strained relationship with Wesley.
“I’m telling you, Maya, I was too damn outdone when that slut showed up and wrapped her arms around him like he was her boo.” I unzipped my backpack and removed my copy of the script. I needed to review my lines before taking the stage.
“And Lori just started groping on him as if you weren’t standing there talking to him?” Maya asked.
“Yup. She was very disrespectful and almost got her butt kicked.”
“We should find her and beat her down,” Maya suggested, fully willing to issue a well-deserved punishment.
“I’m not even going to trip about Wesley and his little tramp. If that’s what he wants then he can have her.”
“Has he tried to contact you?” Maya asked.
“I don’t know and don’t care,” I said without any type of sorrow or sentiment toward him.
“I don’t understand why one minute Wesley is stalking you, begging you to call him, and now he’s acting like player of the year.”
“Do you want to know the theory I’ve come up with?” I asked.
“Yeah, what?” Maya was eager to hear my thoughts.
“I think Lori is doing Wesley. Giving him every exclusive, if you know what I mean.”
“You think she’s been giving him the punany?”
“Yes. Why else would she be acting so boldly?” I asked, arguing my point.
“That’s messed up. I hate girls like that. Girls who know that a guy has a girlfriend and yet they still try to steal him away.”
“You know the thing that hurts the most about all of this?”
“No, what?”
“He led me to believe that he wasn’t like other guys. He made me feel as if I was so special and we were perfect for each other. All the risks I took just to be with him because I didn’t want him to feel as if I’d ever abandon him.”
“You did the right thing, Keysha. He’s the one who messed up and when he realizes it, he’ll come to you with a major sob story about his mistake.”
“Yeah, whatever,” I replied, cringing at the thought of Wesley coming around me.
“Hey, you two. Why are you sitting all the way back here?” Antonio asked as he walked up the aisle toward us. I smiled at him because he was looking as handsome as ever.
“Girl talk,” I answered him with a smile.
“Are you talking about me?” Antonio asked coyly.
“Maybe and maybe not.” I purposely flirted with him.
“You know there is an old saying, Keysha,” Maya whispered to me. “The best way to get over one guy is to get under another one.” I turned my attention back to Maya, who had a naughty grin on her face.
“You are so bad,” I said, laughing at the sexual undertone of what she’d just said.
“Mind if I sit over here with you guys?” Antonio sat down before we invited him to do so. However, I didn’t mind one bit.
“So why haven’t you called or sent me a text today?” Antonio asked me.
“I don’t know. I didn’t think about it.” I really didn’t send it because I didn’t want to seem like some desperate girl looking to sink her teeth into him at the first sign of hope. I wanted him to chase me a little and then see what happened from there.
“Oh, it’s like that. You didn’t think about me at all. Not one time today?” Antonio’s ego was bruised.
“Hmm, this sounds like it’s turning into a private conversation.” Maya rose to her feet and gathered her belongings. Before stepping away she turned and met my gaze. “Okay, Keysha girl. Don’t forget to go over your lines before you get up on the stage.”
“I know my lines by heart,” I answered, putting her questions to rest.
“So what did you think about that kiss?” Antonio asked, staring directly into my eyes. He smiled and then swept his tongue across his lips. I crossed my legs and folded my arms across my breasts.
“It was okay,” I answered, not wanting to overinflate his ego.
“Just okay?” he asked.
“Mmm-hmm,” I answered back.
“Keysha, you are lying. You know you felt something more.”
“Oh, really? So you know all about girls and what they think and feel, right?”
“I’m not going to say all of that, but I do know that kiss was more than just a kiss. It was like eating a chocolate ice cream cone on a hot summer afternoon. Every lick was…well, you know what I’m trying to say.”
I was speechless. I wanted him to continue expressing himself, but I was still trying to get past the image of his tongue licking circles around a chocolate ice cream cone. It was difficult for me to not want to be his chocolate delight melting all over his fingers.
“So are we still going to say our lines and kiss like that again tonight?” Antonio asked. I found my tongue parting my sweet lips to moisten them.
“Yes.” I laughed nervously.
“Good.” He placed his hand on my knee and I swear I could feel the heat of his hand through the fabric of my jeans. I suddenly felt like a lioness, craving for her king to continue his mating session.
Antonio and I performed our scenes with very little direction. It seemed as if the love affair that was written down on the page had somehow manifested inside of Antonio and me. We were inextricably drawn to each other. An undeniable chemistry flowed between us. When it came time for us to kiss each other, we did, and it felt as if all of the breath in my body left me the moment our lips met.
The director of the play loved the chemistry Antonio and I had and encouraged us to bring even more passion to the characters we were portraying. Afterward, Antonio and I walked backstage so that Priscilla, Maya and a few others could perform their parts. As Priscilla moved past me she whispered, “You kiss like a slut.”
I couldn’t let that comment go. I’d grown weary of her snide remarks and I fully intended to nip the beef between us in the bud. I reached out for some of Priscilla’s hair, but I wasn’t close enough. Antonio held me back just in time. Priscilla met my gaze and I could see the flames of defiance in her eyes.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Antonio asked.
“Did you hear what she said to me when she walked past?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“No.”
“She basically called me a whore and I’m going to straighten her ass out,” I said, eager to walk onto the stage for a good old-fashioned catfight.
“Don’t pay any attention to Priscilla. You know she’s just jealous of you. Besides, I don’t like girls who fight. Especially not a girl who I want to be my woman.” Antonio placed my chin on the rim of his forefinger and gently tilted my face upward so that I could gaze at him. The passion in his eyes was unmistakable. In fact it was overpowering, and I found myself completely surrendering to his will.
“Focus on me and not Priscilla,” he whispered as he lightly stroked my cheeks. I wanted to snatch off every stitch of clothing he had on and kiss him everywhere. My lust for him was stronger than it had ever been for any boy and I wondered if my yearning for him could turn into love.