“So, man, how was the first day?” Devin asked.
Lucas was sitting at his computer, checking email. “It was a’ight.”
“Just a’ight? C’mon, tell me somethin’. What was da honies like? Did any of them step to you?”
“Man, them chicks got they heads too far up their butts to notice anybody,” Lucas said, as he clicked away on the keyboard.
“Don’t tell me didn’t nobody give you no rhythm? Don’t they know who you are?” Devin said, as he sat on Lucas’s bed, and fiddled with the controls on his iPod.
“Yeah, they know who I am, a’ight. They think I’m a welfare reject.”
Devin looked up from the tiny gadget in his hands. “Whatcha mean?”
“Man, there was this tall redheaded chick who asked if I was there on a scholarship,” Lucas said, as he wheeled around to face his friend.
“What? You mean she straight up asked if you was poor?”
“Basically.”
“Damnnn, man, that’s cold. Why you think she asked you that?”
“’Cuz I wasn’t dressed like them, and wit’ da paint job I got,” he said, pointing to his skin, “I guess I don’t look like no preppy dude from the East Side.”
“Wait a minute. I thought you had to wear a uniform.”
“I do.”
“Whatcha mean you wasn’t dressed like them?” Devin was curious.
“First off, I had my moms order my uniform a size too big, ’cuz I didn’t want it fitting just right, like some nerd. And then I slept in it, so that it’d be all wrinkled, and stuff. I wasn’t about to stroll up in there looking all bright and shiny like some new penny fresh out the mint.”
“Word!” Devin slapped Lucas a high-five. “I bet you looked like some heathen hood rat.” Devin laughed.
“Yep!”
“But tell me this…when she asked if you were there on a scholarship, why didn’t you tell her the truth?”
“’Cuz I didn’t want them phony fake wannabes liking me ’cuz I’m a singer. If they don’t like me for who I am then…,” he put up his middle finger, “…’em.”
“I heard that. But what’s going to happen once your single and video drop? They gonna be all over you then.”
“Yeah, I know. But once my joint drops, I’ll know who my real friends are, and them rich brats at Walburton ain’t on the list.”
Devin held up his hand and again slapped Lucas five. “I’m sho glad I’m on the list.” He grinned.
“Oh, oh,” Lucas said, raising his voice, “Man, I forgot to tell you who I saw in the school’s courtyard as I was waiting for the bell to ring!”
“Who?”
“Roshonda’s friend!”
“You mean that chick you saw with Ro uptown?”
“Yep, the one and only. Man, I thought she was from around the way, but she’s one of them. She’s a snob,” Lucas said, with disdain oozing from his voice.
“Just ’cuz she goes to a private school doesn’t mean she’s a snob.”
“Yeah, I know that, but you didn’t see the way her and her friends were staring me down, like I had crawled up out the sewer. That’s why I didn’t want to go to that school, ’cuz you gotta look and act a certain way to be accepted.”
“Man, once yo’ joint drops, Ro’s friend is gonna be singing a different tune. She gonna wanna be getting wit’ a brother.” Devin grinned some more.
“She can forget it. Even though she’s fine, I don’t wanna be dealing with nobody who likes me ’cuz I’ma rapper. Kevin told me about girls like that, and I can’t be bothered,” he said, turning his attention back to the computer.
“Word!” Devin agreed, and began fiddling with his iPod again.
Kennedy was at home, underneath the covers, nursing a cold. Her bed was littered with tissues that she had used and discarded. She had her chemistry book open, but wasn’t really in the mood to study. Instead, she was watching an afternoon talk show, and today’s topic was teen pregnancy. The last thing Kennedy had to worry about was getting pregnant, unless it was an immaculate conception like in the Bible. She didn’t have a boyfriend, so the chances of knocking boots were nil, and even if she had someone special, she still wouldn’t be sexing him up. She wasn’t ready for all of that yet. Since she wasn’t planning on being a teen mother, she switched channels. As she was channel surfing, the telephone rang. She was the only one in the house, so she picked up.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Ken. What’s up?”
“Uh…nothing. Who’s this?” she asked, not recognizing the voice.
“It’s me, Ro.”
“Roshonda?”
“Girl, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Ro?” she said, annoyed that Kennedy kept forgetting her nickname.
“Sorry. So, Ro, how did you get my number?”
“I got it from the emergency list at the center. I figured since you didn’t come to the meeting today, something must be wrong, ’cuz you never miss a meeting, so I decided to call.”
“Oh.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I have a cold. I didn’t go to school, and didn’t feel like trekking uptown. I’ve been in bed all day,” she said, grabbing a tissue and blowing her nose.
“Oh. I hope you feel better. We went over to the building today, and started laying out the design for the roof garden.”
Kennedy let out a sneeze. “Excuse me.”
“Sounds like you could use some rest, so I’ma let you go. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“Thanks. See you later.” Kennedy was about to hang up, but she decided not to. “HEY, RO!” she yelled into the receiver, before Roshonda disconnected the line.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Uh…” Now that she had Roshonda’s attention, she didn’t quite know how to broach the subject, so she just spat it out. “I ran into your friend the other day.”
“What friend? I got lots of friends.”
“That boy we saw when we were on our way to visit the vacant building for the first time.”
“You mean Lucas?”
“Yeah, Lucas.”
“Where’d you see him?”
“I went back to the building to get some ideas, and we bumped into each other in front of the building. So…how do you know him?”
“We go way back. Why you asking? You like him or something?” Roshonda asked, getting right to the point.
Kennedy started to blush, and was glad that this conversation was taking place over the phone. “No, I don’t like him. I was just curious, that’s all,” she lied.
“Um-hmm.” Roshonda was wise beyond her teenage years, and knew a crush when she heard one. “I bet.”
“I’m serious!” Kennedy said quickly. “I was only asking.”
“Okay, ‘only asking.’ Anyway, Lucas is my boy, so the next time we see him, I’ll introduce you. Since you so curious and thangs.” She chuckled.
“Don’t bother. Anyway, it’s not like I’m looking for a boyfriend,” she said, trying to hide her true feelings.
“It ain’t no bother. I gotta go; my moms is calling me. Later,” she said, and hung up.
Kennedy continued to click through the television channels, but her mind was on Lucas, wondering when she would see him again. And this time, they were sure to have a conversation, especially with Roshonda making the introduction. Kennedy couldn’t help but smile at the thought. Lucas was fine, and exactly her type.