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––––––––
The group filed into the crowded lecture hall. Most of the freshman class were there. Emily summoned up the courage to suggest they sit in front; she wanted to be sure that she was able to catch all of the lecture notes. Mark was quick with a veto, pointing to seats in a row at the back.
“God,” crooned Malajia after the hour was up. “I could watch him teach all day, he’s so sexy. But does he really expect us to do all that reading? On the first day though?”
“He may be cute,” Alex laughed, “but Professor Watson has a reputation for being very demanding.”
“I don’t give a damn,” Malajia replied. “I’m not reading all that.”
Alex shook her head. “Do you guys wanna go to lunch?”
“What time?” Malajia asked, as she looked at her watch.
“Um, now?” Alex chuckled.
“Sure,” Emily put in cheerfully.
“Wow, she speaks,” Malajia teased.
“Leave her alone, Mel,” Alex warned. “Can I call you Mel?”
“Um, no,” Malajia replied, shaking her head. “My name is just fine without you shortening it.”
“Well, Mel,” Alex continued, ignoring her objection. “It’s not nice to make fun of Emily.”
“It’s also not nice to go out in public with a shirt like that on,” Malajia retaliated, pointing to Alex’s mustard yellow, flowy tank top.
“There’s nothing wrong with my shirt,” Alex protested. “At least I don’t have to keep tugging on it to keep my breasts from popping out.”
“Say what you want about mine, but yours is still ugly,” Malajia retorted. Emily just giggled.
After a quick lunch, the three parted ways. Alex headed off to the bookstore. She wanted to get a head start on their psych reading. With so many in the class, she was afraid the books she needed might be gone if she waited around. Not worried by the prospect, Malajia opted to go watch a movie in the dorm lounge with some other students, and Emily headed back to the room to relax while waiting for her next class.
––––––––
Head down, preoccupied, Chasity was making her way to the science building. Her thoughts were a million miles away, she wasn’t paying attention and walked straight into someone on the narrow walkway.
“Um, my fault,” she mumbled and took a long stride away.
“Hey, wait a minute,” the guy said, blocking her path.
She looked up, startled. It was that football player who was staring at her from the field the other day. She’d forgotten how handsome he was. “What do you want?” her voice was traced with frustration.
“What’s the matter with you?” he asked with a little laugh.
“I just wanna know what it is that you want. I bumped into you, and I apologized. What else could you possibly want?” she replied impatiently.
“You know, you’re too beautiful to be acting so mean.” He returned her glare with a smile. He’d wondered how long it would take for him to track her down. He had to admit, she was pretty hard to miss—or to forget. In a swift glance, he took in the slanted hazel eyes flashing at him, the long black hair, smooth light-brown skin, and slim shapely figure. She’s the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen, he thought, and straight mean. Odd, but he even found her hair-trigger temper appealing. He was determined to get to know her.
“Boy, please,” she sneered, rolling her eyes.
“Okay, I’m sorry,” he said quickly, catching her by the arm to halt her departure. “I just want to know your name.”
“Why?” she snapped impatiently. “What purpose would that serve?”
“You’re someone that I would like to get to know, and I’d a least like to know your name.”
She frowned at him. “Who says that I want you to get to know me?”
“I can see that this isn’t going to be easy, but I love a challenge,” he said, running a hand over his short curly hair.
“Well, then you have your work cut out for you,” she promised.
“I’m cool with that; I’m Jason Adams by the way.”
“I’m Chasity Parker. Happy now?”
“Extremely,” he responded. “Now when I see you around campus, I’ll have a name to go with that beautiful face.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere, Jason. I already know that I look good.”
“And you should,” he said, still smiling.
“You’re wasting my time. I have to go.”
As Jason watched her saunter off, one of his teammates walked up. “Jason, we have to meet with the coach now.”
“Okay, let’s go,” he said absently.
His eyes were still tracking Chasity’s progress, but he couldn’t afford to miss his session with the coach. He’d come to Paradise Valley University on a football scholarship. He’d had scouts watching him play long before he graduated high school, and before his tall, lanky frame filled out. He was that good.
“Who was that girl?” his teammate asked, curious.
“My future wife,” Jason replied in quiet confidence.
––––––––
By Saturday afternoon, they had made it through the first week of classes. To celebrate, Sidra invited Alex, Malajia and Emily to go to the mall to meet up with the guys. “I’m glad that you came, Emily,” Sidra said, boarding the bus for the twenty-minute ride to the mall. “It’s good that you’re getting out more.”
“Yeah. I’m slowly but surely coming along,” Emily replied, taking a seat.
“Extremely slow,” Malajia mumbled.
“I heard that,” Alex said as she playfully backhanded Malajia on her arm.
“Hit me again, and I’ll smack your hair straight,” Malajia threatened, waving a hand in the direction of Alex’s wavy hair.
Within a week, the pair had fallen into the habit of verbal jousting. Alex still thought that Malajia talked too much and let her know it, and Malajia got tired of Alex trying to mother her and Emily, but they were cool with each other. Emily liked being around them, but still she would hang back, still shy and timid. Alex and Malajia were determined to bring her out of her shell. The three were not the best of friends yet, but they were friends nonetheless and were drawing Sidra into their circle. Helped along by Alex’s prodding, Sidra was even starting to rekindle her old friendship with Malajia.
“Anyway, Sidra, how have you and Chasity been getting along?” Alex asked, hoping to hear a bit of progress on that front.
“We haven’t.” Sidra thought for a moment. “Well, it’s not like we haven’t been speaking. Actually, we haven’t even been seeing each other at all. She’s going when I’m coming.”
“It’ll get better,” Emily said, trying to be optimistic.
“I hope so, it’s getting frustrating,” Sidra admitted. She wasn’t satisfied with the situation. She wanted things to be cool. She really wished that they could be friends; it would make her life so much easier. “At least with our schedules, we’re not arguing anymore. We don’t have the chance to.”
“Look, I for one don’t like her. And I don’t see how you people can even consider being friends with her,” Malajia huffed.
“I’m sure she doesn’t like you either,” Sidra replied, glancing out of the window.
“Here’s our stop; get the hell up and let’s go. I need to go to the bathroom,” Malajia ordered after several more minutes of riding.
“Don’t rush us. Nobody told you to drink that big jug of juice before we left campus,” Sidra scolded as she stepped off of the bus.
“Less bitching, more walking,” Malajia countered.
––––––––
“So, Sidra, where are your friends?” Alex asked, looking around once they made their way inside the crowded mall.
“I don’t know, probably going crazy over some new game system,” she said, keeping an eye out. “Ah, there they are.”
“What’s up, people?” Josh greeted Sidra with a kiss on the cheek and nodded to the others.
“Nothing much. Glad the first week’s over,” Alex smiled. Josh was always so sweet with his greeting.
“Where’s that damn Malajia?” Mark inquired, looking around. “I know she’s slithering her ass around here somewhere.”
“Wow, such hostility,” Alex put in.
“She gets on my damn nerves,” he complained, scratching his head.
“As if you don’t get on mine jackass,” Malajia blurted out. She couldn’t help but hear his comment halfway back from the bathroom. Hell, the whole mall could have heard.
“You make me sick,” he retorted
“And you look like an ass,” she shot back.
“You two need to cut it out. I mean, can’t you at least try to be civil?” Alex asked, shaking her head at the juvenile pair.
“People, can we make moves?” Josh requested. He didn’t want to spend his Saturday standing around listening to Mark and Malajia bicker like children.
“Sure, let’s go,” Sidra shrugged. The mall was huge—and elegant. Skylights lit up the marble interior and fountain gurgling at the center. The group ambled along, window shopping and checking out the stores.
“So Sidra, where’s that bitchy roommate of yours? Shopping for a new broom?” Malajia asked.
“Mel, hush. That’s not right,” Alex rebuked.
“Malajia, you have no right to talk about anybody with your dumb ass,” Mark pointed out.
“I’m not dumb, you ugly-ass jerk!” she hollered back, hitting him on the arm.
“OUCH!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Oh my god, do you have to be that loud?” Alex protested, putting her hand to her ear.
“YES!” he shouted close to her ear.
“You know what?” Alex began, and moved away from him.
“You’re such an asshole,” Malajia ground out, putting her hand in his face. He smacked her hand away and she responded with a sharp punch.
“Stop hitting me!” he shouted, clutching his arm.
“Will you shut up? You’re just loud for no damn reason,” Malajia paused. “You make me sick.”
“I don’t give a shit about how you feel, you fuckin’ fool,” Mark shot back. “Anyway, I’m hungry.”
“Well, genius. The mall has a food court. Knock yourself out,” Malajia said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“You make me wanna squeeze your head until it pops off,” Mark glared at her.
“Why don’t you squeeze your own head?” Malajia shot back “I’m pretty sure you’re good at that.”
Josh and David cracked up. “Damn,” Josh laughed. “You should see your face Mark.”
Malajia smirked at their reaction to her remark. Alex and Sidra were studiously avoiding eye contact. Mark, on the other hand, was regarding her with a salty look on his face.
“Let’s just get something to eat,” Sidra suggested. Maybe their sour dispositions would improve with some food.
“Hey, Sidra,” Alex broke in, noticing a familiar figure in the distance. “There’s your roommate. Should we ask her to join us?”
“Are you crazy?” Malajia grunted. “Hell no.”
“Maybe she would like to sit with us,” Alex countered.
“So?” Malajia objected.
“Call her over here and see what she says,” Sidra encouraged.
“Girl, you better not call that she-devil over here,” Malajia warned.
“Wait,” Alex raised an eyebrow, “did you just say that I better not call her over here?”
Malajia narrowed her eyes at Alex. “You heard what I said.”
“I’d smack her,” Mark offered.
Alex looked at Malajia, her expression bored as she fiddled with the curls on her hair. Then she called out, “Oh Miss Chasity, could you come here for a minute?”
“Seriously?” Malajia huffed.
Chasity crossed the marble floor, resignation in every step. “What?” she answered. She thought about ignoring Alex, but Chasity had a feeling that if she did, Alex would only shout her name louder.
“We’re about to go to the food court,” Alex explained. “We were wondering if you would like to get something to eat with us.”
“No, we weren’t,” Malajia slid in smartly.
Chasity shot Malajia an angry glare. “Nobody wants to sit with your stank ass anyway,” she snapped. The comment and sudden retaliation had Malajia’s jaw dropping; Emily’s eyes widened in shock.
“Whoa,” Josh commented. Not many people got the last word in with Malajia around.
“Wow,” Sidra echoed, a laugh bubbling up.
“Did you hear what she said to me?” Malajia demanded.
“Uh, yeah,” Alex said.
“Well, defend me, damn it.”
“You’d better defend yourself on that one,” Alex responded. Noticing that Chasity was about to slip away, she motioned to her. “Hold on a second.”
“I wasn’t planning on staying anyway,” Chasity said, anxious to be away from all of them. She was going to buy something expensive, something very expensive. Maybe it would make her feel better. “I have things to do.”
“Chasity, come on. Stop being so stubborn. Shut your mouth and chill with us for a bit,” Alex commanded.
Alex’s boldness caught Chasity off guard, and it showed on her face. Most people were too afraid to talk to her like that, or so put off by her attitude that they didn’t bother, which was just the way she wanted it.
“Will you stop talking to me if I go? Because hearing your voice is making my fuckin’ face hurt,” Chasity sneered.
“Oh, sure,” Alex lied without a qualm.
Chasity shook her head. “Freakin’ liar.” Not having the energy to argue, she followed Sidra’s lead into the food court.
“Yeah, I lied,” Alex admitted. “It’s not in my nature to not speak to people.” Chasity took a seat as far away from Alex and Sidra as possible. Across the table, Mark was staring at her hard.
“What the hell are you staring at?” Chasity hissed.
“You see that stick over there?” Mark pointed to a mop handle sticking out of the bucket, just outside the restroom entrance. “Somebody needs to beat you with it. You need a damn attitude adjustment.”
“Why don’t you beat your own stick?” Chasity snapped back. “I’m pretty sure you’re an expert at that.”
Mark turned his palms up in surrender, annoyed to hear the laughter breaking out around the table.
“Oh my god, I just said that!” Malajia exclaimed.
“Nobody asked your hype ass what you said, Malajia,” Mark hissed. Will that damn girl ever shut up? he wondered. Now starving, he ordered a large supreme pizza to himself, while the others ate wraps, salads, burgers, and fries. Finally, they finished. He balled up his napkin and tossed it onto Sidra’s plate.
“Man, that food was good,” Josh mused, patting his stomach.
“Let’s get out of here. I want to play some ball.” Mark looked at his watch. “There’s a bus we can catch in ten minutes.”
Malajia let out a groan. She had major window shopping on her agenda, and it certainly had not been checked off yet.
“Okay, I’m over this,” Chasity remarked, getting to her feet. “I’m leaving.”
Alex observed Chasity’s hurried departure closely. If she didn’t know better, she’d say the girl was embarrassed or feeling uncomfortable.
“Mark, you guys go ahead. I want to stick around a bit,” Sidra put in. “There’s a boutique here I’ve always wanted to checkout that we don’t have at home.”
Alex nodded. She wasn’t much of a fashionista; fancy brands and labels didn’t appeal to her. But she was happy to tag along to the store to see what all the fuss was about.
Malajia sucked her teeth. “Boutique,” she jeered. “Just say store...with your uppity ass.” Sidra flagged her as she continued her walk.
An hour later, spirits were fading and every shop with any importance had been visited. With relief, Alex spotted Chasity, carrying several shopping bags sporting impressive labels. She cut her off at the main entrance.
“You about to leave?” she asked. “Can you give us a ride back?”
Chasity ignored her and headed for the parking lot. Alex signaled to the other girls, and they followed Chasity to her car.
Shifting all of her bags to one arm, Chasity rummaged through her purse and came up with the keys. She hit the button to unlock the doors. By the time she’d stowed her things in the trunk, Alex and Malajia were sitting in the back seat and gesturing to Sidra and Emily to jump in. Chasity was too tired to scream or fight, so she slid into the driver’s seat without a word.
By the time they made it back to Torrence Hall and Chasity parked the car, she was too exhausted to climb the stairs to her room. She collapsed on the couch.
“Did you see Mark’s face when he slipped and fell in the food court?” Malajia gloated, sitting on the couch. “Then his dumb self had the nerve to run, like nobody saw his ass fall.”
“We shouldn’t laugh,” Sidra said, but giggled anyway. “He could’ve been hurt.”
“Who cares? It made my day,” Malajia replied with a shrug, “And you’re laughing too.”
“No, I giggled.” Sidra put her finger up. “There’s a difference.”
Malajia made no comment, for once, and looked over at Chasity, who was now dead to the world. She nudged her hard.
“Wake your ass up,” she insisted, nudging Chasity again.
Chasity snapped out of her sleep, grabbing the hand that Malajia used to nudge her in a firm grip. “Don’t make me break it,” she threatened.
“Lighten the hell up.” Malajia condemned, snatching her hand away.
“Get away from me,” Chasity hissed, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
“No, I’m comfortable right here next to you,” Malajia taunted as she sat down next to her and leaned against the couch pillows.
“Forget her, Chaz—can I call you Chaz?” Alex said.
“Hell no,” Chasity sneered, still trying to focus.
“What’s with you always trying to shorten people’s names?” Malajia demanded. “Just because you don’t like your full name, doesn’t mean you need to mess with anyone else’s.”
“Malajia, nobody was talking to you. I was talking to Chasity,” Alex shot back.
“Why are you talking to me?” Chasity asked.
“I’m just trying to be friendly,” Alex replied.
“Oh my god,” Chasity groaned. She was so completely tired of Alex talking and pushing at her.
“Can we please find something to do?” Malajia complained. “I mean, come on. It’s a Saturday night.” She wasn’t about to spend a weekend night at college sitting around listening to Alex’s nagging.
Chasity pulled herself up off the couch and started for the stairway.
“Where are you going?” Malajia demanded. She got no verbal response. Chasity, without turning around, simply gave her the finger.
“You can’t go. We need your car!” Malajia shouted after her.
“You know she’s not paying you any mind,” Sidra cautioned, standing with her arms folded.
“Oh, so what,” Malajia huffed and stretched out onto the now vacant couch.
“All right, Sid.” Alex yawned and stretched as she rose to her feet. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Really? Now you shorten Sidra’s name?” Malajia scoffed.
“Sure did, good night.”
“Wait for me, Alex,” Emily called out, jumping to her feet to follow her out of the door. “Night, ladies,” she called out over her shoulder as she shut the door behind her.
Sidra stared at Malajia, willing her to follow her roommates. But she just sat there, twirling a strand of her hair, oblivious. Sidra cleared her throat, then cleared it again, louder this time.
“Do you need some water or something?” Malajia asked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Time for you to go back to your dorm, Malajia.”
“What?” Malajia said, standing.
“Get out,” Sidra demanded.
“I don’t want to,” Malajia replied. “Alex is just gonna be studying and Emily is gonna be talking to her damn Mommy all night. I’m bored.”
“Not my problem,” Sidra commiserated. Patience exhausted, she let out a frustrated sigh and started for the stairway.
“You just gonna leave me here?”
“Yep,” Sidra replied.
“Go on then, you hag!” she shouted, her feelings a little hurt.
“Get out,” Sidra repeated from the bottom step.
Malajia picked up her purse and walked out only to find Alex and Emily standing on the dorm stoop, waiting for her.
“I thought that you two had left,” Malajia said.
“We knew that it was only a matter of time before you were kicked out,” Alex joked.
––––––––
When Sidra opened her room door, she found Chasity lying down not in her bed, but with her face buried in the plump pillows on the small white loveseat near the window.
“Shouldn’t you be in bed?” she asked.
“As you can see, I didn’t make it past the couch,” Chasity mumbled. Her voice was muffled by the pillows.
“Wow, you actually spoke to me in a civilized manner,” Sidra observed with a laugh. “You must be sick or something.”
“No, I’m just too tired to be a bitch right now.” Chasity sat up and rubbed her neck.
“That couch is going to be hell on your back.”
“Sidra, shut up,” she replied, running her hand through her hair.
“Ugh, you’re tired and you still can’t be nice,” Sidra pointed out. At the risk of being swung at, she grabbed Chasity’s arm and pulled her off the couch.
“Why are you bothering me?” Chasity demanded. “Leave me alone.”
“Oh, shut up. I’m just trying to be a good roommate, unlike you,” Sidra answered and prodded Chasity over to her bed. “Look, there’s a flag football game tomorrow. Alex, Malajia, Emily and I are all going...Why don’t you join us?” Hands on her hips, she waited for an answer.
Silence.
“Chasity,” she snapped after a moment or two.
“Oh my god, can I get to sleep sometime this year?” Chasity complained, lifting her head up.
“Not until you accept my invitation.” Sidra folded her arms and didn’t budge.
“What invitation? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Just tell me that you’ll go.”
“Sidra, I’m not going anywhere with you,” she protested and laid her head back down.
“Well then, I’ll just have to jump up and down on your bed until you say yes.” Sidra grinned, making long strides over to Chasity’s bed.
Chasity quickly sat up and put her hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll go. Just leave me alone and let me sleep before I pass out.”
“That’s all you had to say in the first place,” Sidra said. She flicked her long ponytail off her shoulder and let out a big smile. She was proud of herself; she was making an effort and maybe her roommate was too. She picked up her nightgown, and then looked over at Chasity. Her roommate had not even bothered to get undressed.
“You know, you should really put on your pajamas. It’s not a good idea—”
Chasity didn’t give her a chance to finish. She jumped out of the bed, grabbed her pajamas and stormed toward the bathroom. “That’s it, I’m sleeping in the tub,” she announced and slammed the door.
Sidra stepped out of her grey pencil skirt, took off her black sleeveless blouse, and folded them neatly before slipping the nightgown over her head. Climbing into bed, she relished that slammed door, laughter bubbling up before she drifted off.
––––––––
Sunday afternoon brought at least half the campus to the football field. Regular season wasn’t scheduled to start for another week, but the coach suggested a flag game, with his players divided into blue and red teams. Only a couple of minutes into the first quarter, Sidra noticed that, in between plays, one of the players from the blue team kept looking at Chasity.
“Chasity, that guy is checking you out,” she nudged, pointing to the player near the sideline.
“So?” Chasity cocked her head. “Am I supposed to jump for joy?”
“Girl, do you know who that is?” Malajia interjected, craning her neck to get a better view.
“I don’t know his name, but I’ve seen him around campus a few times,” Sidra added, adjusting the silver bracelets on her slender wrist. “He’s a cutie.”
“His name is Jason,” Chasity drawled, enjoying a moment of private amusement at Malajia’s expense. “I met him about a week ago.”
“How come I never met him?” Malajia exclaimed. “And I’ve met damn near everyone on that football team.”
“Yeah, I’m sure your fast ass has,” Chasity sneered. Malajia’s hyperactive nature was really bugging Chasity. The girl never stopped moving or talking. The high-pitched voice Malajia made every time she became excited was just another reason to keep her distance.
“You don’t have to be so sarcastic, bitch,” Malajia hissed.
“You don’t have to be that fuckin’ hyper all the damn time,” Chasity shot back.
“I’m not hyper.”
“You wanna bet?” Alex interjected, popping a cheese curl into her mouth.
“I didn’t ask you for your input, fat ass,” Malajia snarled.
“I’m not fat.” Alex dismissed the comment with a wave of her hand. “I’m curvy, there is a difference.”
“Whatever,” Malajia conceded, anxious to pick up the earlier conversation. “That guy is beyond sexy. Look at that face, those legs, and those muscles. Don’t you just love the tight football uniforms?”
“No, not really Malajia,” Alex interjected, but her curiosity was piqued. Chasity seldom talked to anyone much less remembered a name. “How did you meet him Chaz?”
“So you’re just gonna shorten my damn name anyway?”
Sidra chuckled as Alex shrugged at Chasity’s observation.
“More importantly, why would he waste his time talking to someone like her?” Malajia interrupted.
“What’s the matter? You jealous?” Chasity taunted.
“Me, jealous? Girl, please; I have no reason to be jealous. Anyone can see how fine I am,” Malajia boasted.
“Ladies, this argument is stupid,” Alex chimed in. “You both are beautiful.”
“Alex, mind your business,” Malajia advised, completely overlooking the compliment. “Your voice is distracting me. I need to focus my attention on that sexy man down there. He’s gonna be my love slave.”
“Oh god,” Sidra groaned. “Here we go.”
“Excuse me,” Malajia hissed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Malajia, you’re always talking about making some guy your ‘love slave’, and you always end up looking stupid in the end,” Sidra replied, softening the rebuke with a smile.
“What’s a love slave?” Emily asked as she shook the popcorn kernels around in her little bag.
Malajia and Chasity looked at her in amazement.
“You need to keep questions like that to yourself,” Chasity commented, playing with her cell phone. She could care less about the rest of this game.
“Emily you don’t know what a love slave is?” Malajia queried.
Emily looked up from taking a sip of her soda. “Um...no.” She didn’t understand why her question was being criticized. Why do I even say anything? she wondered.
“Oh my god. My poor, poor sheltered roommate.”
“Malajia, leave her alone. Your ass don’t know anything about that either from what you told me,” Alex retorted.
“You don’t know my damn business,” Malajia argued, pointing an unopened candy bar at Alex.
“That’s a shame, you run your mouth so much that you don’t even remember all of the stuff you told me,” Alex shot back. “We had a whole conversation last night over popcorn in the dorm lobby.”
“I don’t remember that shit,” Malajia sneered, adjusting the top on her black sleeveless romper.
“Guess she told you, Mel,” Sidra teased.
“Sidra, fix your bangs, and leave me alone,” Malajia spat.
Alex shook her head as Sidra, unaware if Malajia was just being smart or if there really was something wrong with her hair, quickly reached for her pocket mirror. “Okay enough, let’s watch this game,” Alex ordered.
––––––––
In the last seconds of the game, Jason scored the winning touchdown for the blue team. Amid all of the commotion, he managed to wave at Chasity. “Did you see that?” Malajia exclaimed, holding her hand over her heart. “He waved to me.”
“No, he did not,” Sidra contradicted. “He waved at my roommate.”
“Does it matter?” Chasity asked, bored with the silly discussion.
“Oh please,” Malajia argued. “Why would he wave to her, when for some crazy reason she’s obviously not interested?”
Malajia took out her little pocket mirror and began applying a fresh coat of her burgundy lipstick.
“You better hurry up and finish your touchup,” Alex advised. “He’s on his way over here.”
“Oh man. He’s coming over.” Malajia gave herself one final glance into her mirror, fixing one wayward curl. “He’s coming to see me.”
“Malajia, don’t embarrass yourself,” Sidra cautioned. “You’ve never met him.”
“Whatever Sidra. Malajia Lakeshia Simmons does not get embarrassed.”
“Was it necessary to use your full name?” Alex teased. “We got the point”
“Very funny,” Malajia said, then broke off. Jason was only one row away, his helmet tucked under his arm. She was about to say something to him when he kneeled down and whispered to Chasity.
“Hello again,” he said softly, but within earshot of Malajia, Mark, Josh and David, who were sitting in the row behind her. “Remember me?”
Malajia’s smile faded and she stood up, a stupid look on her face.
“I told you,” Sidra put in, but was soon drowned out by Mark.
“That’s what the hell you get Malajia!” Mark shouted, laughing.
“Where the hell did you come from?!” Malajia spun around to face him.
Chasity shook her head. She wished she hadn’t come.
“Did you hear what I asked?” Jason repeated.
“I heard you. I’m just trying to ignore you,” she responded with an attitude.
“Come on, Chasity. You shouldn’t act so nasty.”
“Who are you to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do?” she threw back.
“It’s a good thing I knew that you’d give me attitude, or my feelings would’ve been hurt,” he replied.
“Ask me if I care.”
Jason leaned in closer and she shot him a warning look. “What you’re doing has no effect,” he whispered.
“What are you talking about?” she asked, her temper rising.
“You think if you keep talking to me as if I’m garbage that I’m gonna run away like a scared puppy.”
“What’s your point, Jason?” She blinked in surprise. He’d read her like a book.
“My point is that I was raised to go for what I want—always. I’m very determined.”
“I’m not going to be one of your fast-ass girlfriends. So get out of my face.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he clarified.
“I promise I don’t care,” she snarled.
“Oh my god, you bitch!” Malajia exclaimed.
Chasity rolled her eyes at the loud interruption.
Jason shuffled on his cleats, cursing his timing. “Listen, I really would like to get to know you better. How about you come to my place?”
“What?” Chasity snapped. “You’ve got a lot of damn nerve saying that shit to me.”
“For a party, babe,” he said with a laugh. “You know, a social gathering.”
“Funny.” She scowled at him.
“Some of my teammates are throwing a party at my dorm. I really want you to come. You’ll have a good time. I’ll see to that.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“As a heart-attack,” he responded.
“You better say yes!” Malajia intervened, leaning forward in her seat.
Chasity spun around to face the meddling Malajia. “Scream in my ear one more fuckin’ time,” she threatened, “and I swear I’m gonna smack the bullshit outta you.”
“Bitch, I wish you would,” Malajia shot back.
“Will I see you later?” Jason asked quickly, sensing that Chasity was fed up with the whole scene.
“Hell no,” she sneered, frowning at him.
Definitely fed up, he thought; then Sidra came to his rescue. “She’ll be there.”
“Good, it’s going to be at Thompson Hall.” Jason winked at Sidra. “Bring your friends.”
