Drama High: Second Chance

“Explorer like Dora these swipers can’t swipe me/My whole aura’s so mean in my white tee.”

Ever since Jeremy and I started hanging out, my whole vibe has become chill. I used to be so concerned with being stylish like my girls. Now I want to be stylish, yet more laid back, like my new man.

I like my new style. After school, Jeremy and I decide to hang at the Galleria. While walking hand in hand through the mall, I spot this cute white tank top with yellow rhinestones with the Bebe logo across the front. I love Bebe, but I can’t afford it, and from what I know they don’t have too many sales.

For whatever reason, Jeremy wants to go to Bebe, because if it were up to me, I would’ve just kept walking by on our way to the escalator, up to the food court.

“Do you like these shoes,” Jeremy asks, stopping in front of the store window.

“Those little yellow flip-flops?” I ask, pointing to the cutest sandals I’ve ever seen.

“Yeah, I think those would look good on your feet,” he says, guiding me into the store, past the long sales counter and toward the back, where the lush couches and dressing rooms are. It’s so big in here, I could get lost inside.

“Jeremy, I work too hard for my money to spend it all in this store.”

“I didn’t ask you all that, Lady Jayd,” he says, taking the pretty slipper off the display and leading me to the seating area, where a saleslady is waiting and ready to please.

“Size eight, right?” she says, retrieving the shoe from Jeremy’s hand before we have a chance to ask. Damn, she’s good. When she returns, Jeremy takes off my out-of-season Jordans and slips the very pretty and dainty sandals onto my ashy feet. Damn, these shoes feel like butter.

“Jeremy, why are you teasing me?” I say, posing in the mirror.

“Oh, those look really nice on your feet,” the saleslady says. “Have you seen the tee to match?” she asks, taking a white tank off the rack and putting it against my chest so I can see my reflection.

“Oh, that’s cute. And I love how the yellow rhinestones shine on both the shoes and the tank,” I say, feeling as pretty as a princess.

“You’ve got to get them both. They go so well with your complexion,” she says, smiling at my reflection in the mirror.

“Oh, I wish I could. But the shoes alone are one paycheck for me,” I respond, feeling a little less pretty already. Jeremy momentarily disappears into the vast store and leaves me to dream about being able to afford a $60 tank top and $120 pair of sandals.

“Would you like to wear them out or should I put them in a bag for you?” another saleslady asks as I reach down to slip the sandals off my feet. Jeremy walks up behind me, puts his arms around my waist, and kisses my neck.

“Happy three-week anniversary, baby.” He then pulls out a tiny blue box from Tiffany’s, and my mouth drops open. No one has ever bought me something so expensive before. And Jeremy’s not even my boyfriend yet.

“I’ve never heard of a three-week anniversary before,” I say, still shocked.

“It’s been three weeks since you got kicked out of government class and I started to fall for your sassy ass.”

“Here’s your receipt, Mr. Weiner,” my original saleslady says to Jeremy. She then takes my new tank and old shoes to the counter to wrap up. It’s obvious the sandals aren’t coming off my feet.

“Jeremy, I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Just get used to it. Now, please open your gift.”

I carefully unwrap the pretty blue box to find a perfect gold bangle inside, with the letter “J” engraved in the center. It’s the most beautiful piece of jewelry anyone has ever given me.

“Damn, baby,” I say for lack of a better response.

“Do you like it?” he asks nervously. His arms are still around my waist. I turn around and give him the biggest kiss ever.

“I love it. It’s gorgeous. Thank you,” I say, kissing him again. The salespeople clap as we walk to the counter to get my shopping bag, before heading up to the food court. “But, Jeremy, it’s too soon for all of this,” I say.

“Why would you say that?” he asks, looking puzzled. “I bought it to show you how much I appreciate you and your feet,” he says, smiling and making me laugh.

“These sandals are cute,” I say, eyeing them as we glide up the escalator.

“And so are you. So, why shouldn’t you have something to compliment your beautiful features? Why aren’t you worth it?” he asks, really hitting home. Why don’t I think I’m worth a rich guy buying me some shoes at a price that would make even my mom say I’ve hit the jackpot?

“It’s not right. We’re not even officially a couple yet,” I say, still feeling guilty. Slowly, though, these sandals are molding to my feet, making me a little more accepting of the idea.

“Jayd, I don’t only buy things for my girlfriends. Friends are worthy of shiny things too, don’t you think?” As we approach Mrs. Fields’ for some oatmeal raisin cookies, he takes me by the hand and pulls me in close to him, forcing me to look up into his blue eyes. “But, if you were my girlfriend, there’d be no holds barred on me spoiling you.” He bends down and kisses my mouth, allowing me to return his kiss at my own pace.

“Oh, he can bust the same move and it’s all right. But when I tried it earlier, you left me hangin’,” KJ says from out of nowhere. Where the hell did he come from?

“Earlier? When did he try and kiss you?” Jeremy asks, waiting for my reply.

“It was nothing, Jeremy,” I say, trying to diffuse the situation. But Jeremy doesn’t look satisfied with my answer, and KJ looks like he’s ready for a fight.

“If it was nothing, then why didn’t you tell me about it?” Jeremy asks.

“Because it was something,” KJ says with a smile on his face like he’s just caught me in a lie. “What Jayd and I have is special, and ain’t no White boy gone come between us. Ain’t that right, Jayd?”

“Hell no, that ain’t right,” I say, pissed KJ’s ruining our afternoon. “Like I told you earlier, I’ve got a new man now, KJ. Your kisses and anything else you have to offer are no longer welcomed by me.”

“You need to shut up with all that bullshit, Jayd. We both know the real deal,” KJ says, stepping toward me.

“Hey, man. You don’t need to talk to her like that,” Jeremy says, coming to my defense.

“Hey, dude,” KJ says, mimicking Jeremy’s surfer accent, “like, stay out of this. It doesn’t concern you, dude.”

“What’s this guy’s problem?” Jeremy asks me.

“His ego’s too big for his own good,” I answer, ready to leave without the cookies. We need to find another mall to hang at.

“You need to lose the zero and get back with the Negro, Jayd,” Del chimes in from the background. He’s so silly. If the situation weren’t serious, I’d have to laugh. Ignoring Del’s comment, but not my obvious discomfort, Jeremy takes my hand and leads me away from the food court and back toward the escalator.

“That’s it, run like a little—” Before he can say what I know is about to come out his mouth, I turn around and silence KJ with the most intense look I’ve ever given him.

“Now you see why I didn’t answer the phone? All you do is bring drama into my life, and all I really want is peace. Can you please chill out?” I ask, surprising myself with my calm words. I was ready to cuss him out a minute ago. But then, just as I felt myself getting hot, I also caught a whiff of Mama’s shea butter still lingering from this morning.

“How can he chill when you keep throwing rejection in his face?” Misty says, following Shae and the rest of the crew up to the scene we’ve just created. Did everyone in South Central decide to come to the mall today? And where are my girls when I need them? Jeremy’s not enough backup for all this heat.

“It wouldn’t be thrown in his face if he’d stop following me around,” I say, unsure if I should be talking to KJ or his attorney, Misty. Just as we get into it for the second time today, Chance and Matt walk though the door from the rooftop parking lot and head our way. Thank God. Finally, some relief.

“What’s up, dude,” Matt says to Jeremy, unaware of the drama taking place. Chance, a little more keen than Matt, senses the awkwardness and takes my other hand, ready to lead me toward the door.

“Hey, Jayd. What are you two still doing here? I thought we were meeting at Matt’s after school,” he says, providing a diversion to the chaos.

“No, I guess Jeremy decided to take her on a shopping spree instead,” KJ says, walking up to us and grabbing my left hand away from Jeremy’s, revealing my new bracelet for everyone to see.

“Hey, man, you need to watch yourself,” Jeremy says, reclaiming my hand from KJ’s grip and slightly knocking KJ off balance. KJ catches himself and stares Jeremy down like he’s doing a drive-by on him with his eyes. Then he steps up to Jeremy like he’s going to sock him, but turns his attention to me instead, making me feel a rush deep inside. I’ve never had two dudes literally fighting over me. I have to admit, this is kind of cool.

“Sock the shit out of his White ass,” Misty yells suddenly. Jeremy doesn’t move a muscle and neither does KJ, who’s still looking right at me.

“You need to step back,” Jeremy says, stepping in between KJ and me. KJ slowly looks from me to Jeremy before doing something I never expected.

“And, if I don’t?” KJ says, pushing Jeremy’s shoulders and knocking him off balance. What the hell? When Jeremy regains his footing, he returns KJ’s push, and the fight is on.

“Fight, fight,” Misty yells through the crowded food court. I’d better stop this before we all end up in jail. These police officers in Redondo Beach don’t play.

“KJ, let him go,” I say, knowing he’s not listening to me. “Jeremy, stop it!” Jeremy does hear me and untangles himself from KJ’s grasp before they both fall to the floor. Wiping a trickle of blood from his lower lip, Jeremy grabs my hand and catches his breath.

“Let’s get out of here,” Jeremy says, looking at Matt, Chance, and me. I feel so bad for getting him into this mess.

“So, that’s what it takes to get the cookies from Jayd Jackson: the bling-bling,” Misty calls, adding salt to KJ’s already open wound.

“Shut the hell up, you little instigator,” I say, trying to get Misty to realize her part in all this. I then step from in between KJ and Jeremy, feeling both of their bodies extremely close to mine. There’s that rush again. “Jeremy, let’s just go. They’re not worth our time,” I say, allowing Chance to lead us out the door following Matt, who’s already in the parking lot.

“This ain’t over, dude,” KJ calls to our backs as the rest of the spectators laugh at his imitation of Jeremy.

“No, dude, it isn’t,” Jeremy says in a tone so calm it’s almost frightening. I guess he can get down and dirty with the rest of us when he needs to. But, he can also maintain his cool, which makes any doubts I may have had about his character fly out of my head.

I know there will be some sort of backlash from this scene tomorrow. I wonder if we can just hide out until the weekend comes. I don’t want to deal with KJ, Misty, or even my girls anymore. Jeremy and I were having a great afternoon until they messed it up. And I don’t care what Nellie says. KJ hasn’t changed a bit. I know he’s hurting, but he doesn’t have to act like this. Only Mama can help me with this. She’s with clients tonight, so I’ll just have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to get some advice.

It’s been a long week, and I’m glad to go to my mom’s tonight. I started packing my bag last night, so all I need is to finish and wait for my mom to swoop me up when she gets off work.

“Jayd, come back here and help me find my shoes, please,” Mama yells from her closet. I’m barely through the door and already working.

“Which shoes are you looking for?” I ask, immediately looking under my bed, then hers.

“Any pair of black ones that match,” she says, frantically searching through the pile of shoes on the closet floor.

“What y’all doin’ in here?” Jay asks from the hallway.

“Looking for Mama’s shoes. You can help if you want,” I say, glaring at him from my crouched position.

“Naw, that’s okay. I’m going down to Ms. Prichard’s house. I’ll see y’all later,” Jay says, turning around to leave.

“Jay, take some of this cream to her. Tell her this will help with her arthritis,” Mama says, grabbing a jar from her bookcase and handing it to Jay, who steps over me to reach Mama’s hand.

“Dang, Jay. Watch out before you crush me with your boat feet.”

“And don’t be down there all night, either, boy. You hang out with them girls too much,” Mama says. She don’t want no premature babies from no one to raise.

“Yes, Mama. Bye, Jayd. Tell Auntie Lynn I said hi.” And Jay was gone to chase after some broads while I’m still here looking for Mama’s shoes, doggy style.

“Jayd, where’d you get that bracelet from?” Mama asks, noticing my new bling.

“Oh, Jeremy gave it to me yesterday. You like it?” I ask, waving my arm around like a star.

“Yes, very much. It matches your shirt and shoes quite nicely,” she says sarcastically, referring to my new tank and sandals.

“How’s it going with KJ and Misty? Are they still causing you problems,” Mama asks, still digging through the closet.

“Oh, yes. KJ’s jealous and so is Misty,” I say, pulling out several black shoes, none of them matching.

“Jayd, just be careful with both of them. Men can get real petty when egos are involved,” Mama says, tossing several almost identical shoes out of the closet and into my pile. “One of those has got to match one of your shoes,” Mama says, giving up and taking a seat on her bed.

“KJ’s ego is just too much for me, Mama,” I say, finally finding a match to one of her shoes. “And, I feel bad for him, especially because I found another dude so quickly. But I don’t know what else to do,” I say, handing the matching pair to Mama and getting up from the floor to sit across from her on my bed.

“Have you tried listening to KJ? Maybe he just wants to be heard,” she says, slipping on her shoes before grabbing her purse and heading out the door. She and Netta are hosting a candle party at the beauty shop, and Mama’s running late, as usual.

“All I do is hear KJ because he won’t leave me alone.”

“Okay. Then maybe it’s time you changed your approach. Instead of fighting his advances, allow them in and see where they lead. If there’s nothing there anymore, then you have nothing to be afraid of.” And, with that last bit of advice, she’s off, and I’m left waiting for my mom, who’s also running late. Just then, my phone vibrates, letting me know there’s a text message in my mailbox.

“Peace, Jayd. Didn’t c u at school 2day. Just want 2 say sorry 4 yesterday and I want 2 c u this weekend so we can talk face-to-face. Please call me when u get this message. KJ.”

This fool must be tripping if he thinks I’m calling him after the scene he caused at the mall yesterday. Jeremy and I did an excellent job today of avoiding everyone we didn’t want to see at school. That’s one good thing about going to the second largest high school in Southern California. It’s easy to avoid people if you know all the hiding places, like Jeremy does.

Speaking of my honey, we have a date tomorrow night, and I think it’s time we made this thing official. I’m tired of waiting for everything to be just right, and it’ll obviously never be a cool time for us to get together. So, the only thing really stopping us is me. Well, no more. I’m ready to give Jeremy and me a chance at love. I can’t wait until our usual Saturday night date. I’m getting used to him being a part of my weekend routine.