Chapter 15
Cooley woke up in the arms of Sahara. Michelle had her arm around Cooley, but Cooley had her back to Michelle.
Realizing the time, Cooley got up as peacefully as she could and went into the bathroom. A few seconds later Sahara walked in and started to kiss her.
“Girl, what are you doing? What if Michelle wakes up?” Cooley whispered as she leaned out the door to check Michelle’s sleeping status.
“You didn’t care last night when you were kissing me. I thought maybe you felt the same connection that I felt.” She started kissing Cooley again.
Cooley backed off again. “I did feel a connection, something I never feel with chicks. Girl, what did you do to me?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.”
They smiled at each other.
Cooley and Sahara talked for another hour. Cooley was very intrigued by her. She couldn’t believe such a wonderful girl was dealing in a non-monogamous relationship.
“So, tell me what the deal is. Y’all just pick up girls for kinky extras?”
“Well, that’s Michelle’s thing. She likes to travel to cities and hook up every now and then. I usually don’t get involved as much as I did last night. I never let anyone put their mouth on me besides Michelle.”
“Then why me?” Cooley asked her.
“I told you, I felt a connection with you.” She blushed.
“Sahara,” they heard Michelle call.
“I’m in the bathroom with Cooley. Come on in.” She pecked Cooley on the lips one more time.”
Michelle entered with a displeased look on her face.
“What the hell is going on here?” Michelle questioned them.
“Nothing, baby. We were just talking. We came in here so we wouldn’t wake you.” She kissed Michelle.
Michelle grabbed her by the arm. Sahara squinted in pain.
“It better not be anything else, right? Cooley, you weren’t trying to get a piece of my bitch without me present, were you?” She looked at Cooley while still grabbing Sahara’s arm.
“Naw, dude, it isn’t even like that, and I would appreciate it if you not grab on her like that in my presence.”
“And why is that, Cool? This is my property here. I can do what I want to it,” Michelle said as she grabbed Sahara’s butt.
Cooley felt herself getting angry. She gritted her teeth when she saw water forming in Sahara’s eyes.
“Look, anyway, last night was cool. It was nice meeting both of you, but I got to roll.” Cooley headed to the other room to grab her bags. She heard a smack in the bathroom when she walked out. She knew that Sahara had just been hit. She wanted to run in and save her, but she knew that would make it worse on her.
Michelle walked out of the bathroom. “Yeah, it seems like y’all muthafuckas think I am a fool.”
“Man, Michelle, it’s not like that, and I told you that. All that bullshit you talking is falling on my deaf-ass ears right now. But I tell you one thing—I don’t watch women get hit, so be glad I wasn’t in the bathroom just then.”
Cooley was pissed, Michelle could tell, so she backed off, knowing that she would not be able to fight Cooley and win.
“Look, it was cool meeting you and if you say y’all didn’t do anything, I apologize.”
Sahara walked out of the bathroom. She was a red-boned girl, and the side of her face was still red from the slap.
“Baby, I apologize. I just get so jealous when I think that someone is trying to get close to my baby.” She kissed Sahara, and Cooley instantly felt ill. “Well, Cool, maybe we will see you out New Year’s night.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Cooley hugged Michelle, then walked up to Sahara and hugged her. “901314cool.” Call if you need to get away,” Cool whispered her number in her ear. She walked out the room feeling like she just lost the chance of a lifetime.
“Yo’, anyone here?” Cooley yelled when she made it back to Lena’s house.
Denise came from the back room. “Hey, bruh, how was your night?” She looked anxious.
“Man, I got to tell you about it. Were you doing something? Did I interrupt something?” Cooley could tell her friend looked like she was hiding something. Cooley’s mind started to race when Lena came from the back, also with a strange look on her face. “Oh shit!” Cooley exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
“Dude, come tell me about your night.” Denise grabbed her hand, and they headed to the guest room.
Cooley was laughing the whole way. “Dude, what is really going on? What did I interrupt?” Cooley fell on the bed, still laughing at the thought of Denise and Lena finally hooking up.
“Nothing, man. Nothing happened. I just gave her the gift.” Denise sat down and took a deep breath.
“You are bullshitting me. What else happened?” Cooley wasn’t giving up until she found out the truth.
Finally Denise gave in. “Man, okay. We were sitting in there, eyes locked completely. I decided to go for it, so I leaned in to try to kiss her, but then we heard you and came back to reality.”
“So, she was trying to kiss you back?” Cooley was still smiling.
“I don’t know. I had my eyes closed.” Denise couldn’t say for sure if Lena wanted her to kiss her back. “Actually, I’m relieved that you came in. I shouldn’t have tried that.” Denise lay down next to Cooley.
“Fuck that. You should have gave her the best kiss she ever had. Make her forget all about Brandon.”
“Whatever, man.” Denise stood up and headed back into the other room.
Lena was sitting on the couch on the phone. “Okay, Mom. I’m here. Tell Daddy I love him. The house is fine. I’m going to go now, so I can get ready to go eat.” Lena hung the phone up with her mom.
Cooley also joined them in the living room. “So, Miss Lena, what do you have planned for today?” Cooley asked.
“Well, some of my friends are coming over, so we can go to the Christmas mixer at the club.”
“Oh, the Christmas mixer at the country club. It’s going to be all the rave,” Cooley said giving her best impression of a high-society girl.
Lena hit her. “Yeah, my mom wanted me to go and represent the family. I don’t plan on being there too long. Do you all have something to eat?”
Denise and Cooley realized they didn’t have anything planned for Christmas Dinner.
“It’s okay. I will order you all something to eat. You think Carmen will be in by then?”
“Yeah, she’s supposed to be here by eight P.M.” Denise said.
“Cool, I should be back by nine-ish hopefully.” Lena looked at Denise, their eyes met again.
Cooley started laughing. Lena got up and headed to her room to get ready.
Lena scrambled to finish getting ready; she knew Misty and Susan would be there soon to pick her up. She heard the doorbell and got a little nervous when she heard Cooley yell out that she would get the door. She headed to the living room to find her two friends gawking at Denise and Cooley, who were sitting at the table eating the food that Lena had ordered for them.
“Hey, ladies,” Lena said as she hugged her two friends, who were still concentrating on Denise and Cooley. “Denise, Cooley, this is Susan and Misty.”
Denise stood up and shook each girl’s hand. The girls’ eyes were mainly focused on Cooley. “Okay, well, let’s get out of here.”
They headed out the house to the Club.
The ride started out very silent. Lena sat in the backseat of Misty’s Lexus. She knew they both wanted to ask questions. She just didn’t know who would start. Misty and Susan were the closest to being friends that Lena had. Susan was the usual high-society white girl from a very rich family. Misty was black, but very rich as well. She acted more like a rich snob than Susan.
Lena’s main reason for going to Freedom was to get away from their kind and to meet some regular black people from different backgrounds and social classes.
The silence was killing Lena so she decided to break the ice. “So, what do you all think of my roommate and her friend?” She knew that would start them up.
“Lena,” Susan said, “are they, you know, lesbians?” She whispered lesbian like it was a forbidden word.
“Yeah, I figured you would notice that.”
“Lena, what are you doing living with that kind of woman?” Misty said with her snobbish attitude.
“What do you mean? Denise is a great roommate.”
“I knew you going to that college was a mistake,” Misty added.
“And why is that? Because out of the thousands of students there I’m living with a very smart, intelligent woman who just so happens to be a lesbian?” Lena snapped back.
“Aren’t you afraid that she is going to look at you or something?” Susan added. She was very uncomfortable with the conversation.
“No, she is not like that at all. Actually she is one of the stars on the girls’ basketball team. I barely see her.”
“Speaking of basketball, how does Brandon feel about you living with a dyke?” Misty asked. She always was envious of Brandon and Lena’s relationship.
“He is fine with it. They are actually cool with each other.” Lena knew Brandon was feeling very insecure about the relationship.
“Well, what about your parents?” Susan asked. “I can’t see your mom actually liking your choice of roommate.”
“Actually, they don’t know, but my mother is very fond of Denise as a person.”
“So, you haven’t told them that she’s gay?” Misty asked.
“No. Why does it matter?” Lena snapped.
“Because it does, and you know it. Lena, you are probably one of the luckiest girls on campus. You come from one of the school’s best alumni, and you’re dating the star basketball player. You mean to tell me that there aren’t any rumors floating around about her, or especially about that other one. For goodness’ sakes, she looks like a man for real,” Misty added.
“Yeah, people are going to talk, but I was fortunate to end up with a very nice, sweet, loving roommate, and I wouldn’t change her for anything.” Lena blushed. Susan looked back at her. “Okay, so, I have a question. Have you ever seen her in the act?” Susan giggled at her own question.
“No, actually she really doesn’t date. She is really into school and all.”
“Yeah, or she’s saving up for you.” Misty laughed.
“Whatever. Let’s just change the subject?”
“Well, you know, I hear that Mary Ann dabbles with women.”
“Honey, Mary Ann will dabble with anything that will touch her skanky ass,” Misty added and they all laughed.
The country club was decorated to a high level of elegance. Tables were lined with the finest linen and crystal. The centerpieces were lavish, filled with orchids and other exotic flowers. Women and men dressed in their finest formal wear conversed about politics and gossip.
Lena noticed the children’s area. She remembered when she was a little girl wearing a dress that cost as much as her mother’s. She realized that she did miss some of the elegance that came with her life while she had been at school.
Lena heard a familiar voice call her name. She walked over to a group of what she called “old money” people. Lena knew it was time to perform. She had become a pro at putting on a good act in front of her family’s high-society friends. In their eyes she was just like them; in her mind she was dreading every bit.
“So, Lena, where did you end up, Harvard, Yale?” Ms. McGee was an old, rich woman who put the capital S in snob.
“No, actually I attend Freedom University.”
The crowd became silent. Lena looked around at their blank faces.
“Why on earth would you go there?” a man asked. “That’s not Ivy League by far.” He stuck his nose up in the air.
“It may not be Ivy, but it is a fine institution. After all, my mother and father graduated from—”
“Yes, back when there wasn’t an option, dear,” Ms. McGee added. “All those black schools have gone to the dogs, no true sense to get an education. How do you expect to get a job after school?”
“She won’t need one.” Misty walked up and interjected. “This one is destined for celebrity wife status.” Misty smirked at Lena; she was completely aware of the can of worms she had opened.
Lena rolled her eyes at Misty. She knew that she was always jealous, but to put her business out like that was unforgivable. She quickly wanted to be at home with her real friends.
The rest of the night was downhill. She was subjected to many conversations about her life and how she was ruining it. Lena felt sick to her stomach at some of the things that the prominent black people of Atlanta thought. How could they all be so stuck-up and arrogant? Lena decided she couldn’t take anymore and called the car service to pick her up.
“Where are you going?” Susan walked up to Lena as she headed out the door.
“Susan, I can’t take it anymore. I am going home.”
“I understand. Look, I am sorry for giving you flack earlier about your friends. I am sure they are really nice.”
“Yes, they are.” She smiled at the thought of Denise.
Susan noticed the look on her face. “Um, Lena, I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t ask you this. What’s really up with you and those girls? Are you dating one of them?”
Lena quickly popped out of her daze. “No! Why is it I can’t have friends? They are the nicest and most down to ear—”
“Because of the look on your face, Lena. You’re thinking about someone, and considering we’re not talking about Brandon right now, my next guess is one of them.” Susan looked Lena in her eyes. “Okay, look. I will tell you something, but you can’t tell anyone, okay.”
Lena noticed the look on Susan’s face and knew she was serious. They both sat down on a bench.
Susan continued. “I have been seeing a woman for a while.”
“What! Get the fuck out of here!” Lena couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.
“I know. It was something that happened at Yale. She is someone very high-powered, but she is also very gay. I like her a lot, but we both have too much to lose, so it can never be more than an affair.”
“Susan, you shouldn’t have to hide who you want to be with.”
“Yeah, okay. Look at where we are, sweetie. Do you know who my family is? We are two of a kind, Lena. We’re destined for something more. Hell, you more than me. My suggestion to you is, if you ever feel yourself getting that urge to be with a woman, suppress it. Don’t do it. Your life is already mapped out. Don’t do anything to mess it up for you and everyone in your life.”
Susan and Lena stared at each other as the sleek black car pulled up. They gave each other a hug.
“If you ever need me, I am just a phone call away,” Lena added. Her phone started to ring as soon as the driver took off.
“Hello?”
“Hey, baby. Merry Christmas. I miss you so much,” Brandon said.
She forgot that she hadn’t spoken to Brandon all day. “Hello, Brandon.” She said it with an attitude. She couldn’t help but still be a little mad at him for not meeting her for Christmas.
“Baby, don’t act like that. I am missing you so much. So how is the family doing?”
Lena realized she forgot to tell him that she was going to Atlanta. “I’m sure they’re fine. I am actually not in the Hamptons right now; I came back to Atlanta.”
The phone became silent. She knew that Brandon was not happy now.
“So, you’re in Atlanta with Denise, huh. You just couldn’t stay away from her, not even for the fuckin’ holiday!” Brandon yelled.
She didn’t expect him to get so upset. “Brandon, calm down. I am really kicking it with Misty and Susan. Carmen is here, too. I just got here today and I just left the Country Club.”
“Whatever, Lena. I’m starting to wonder . . .”
“Wonder what?” Lena could feel her blood boiling. She knew what he was about to say, and she couldn’t believe it. “What? You think your girlfriend is gay or something? Come on, Brandon, get off it, okay.”
“Well, damn, baby, think about it. You are with them dykes all the time. You don’t hang with any normal girls. You got my boys and folks talking and shit.”
“Oh, so, now it’s about your boys. And I don’t hang with those girls ’cause they are fake as hell. The only reason they want to talk to me is because of you.”
“How do you know? You won’t even give them a chance. You’re too busy with the rainbow coalition.”
The phone became silent again.
Brandon took a deep breath. “Look, baby, I’m sorry. I’m just stressing because I miss you and you’re off with some girl that has a crush on you.”
Lena started to think about the “almost” encounter with Denise earlier. She wondered if Brandon was actually right.
“She doesn’t have a crush on me, and you have nothing to worry about. I love you and I miss you.”
The car pulled into her driveway.
“Yeah, I know. Look, I have to go meet with some people. I will call you later.”
They said their good-byes and hung the phone up.
Lena stepped out of the car. She could see Denise through the window in her room. Her mind went back to the almost kiss. She felt herself get a little heated. She took a deep breath and walked into the house, determined not to think about it anymore.