The alarm on my clock went off first, and after I hit snooze, the alarm on my cell buzzed five minutes later. I placed my pillow over my head and buried myself under my comforter, which was unusual for me. Normally, I jump up and start getting ready even before the alarm. It’s like a game, whether I could wake up before the alarm sounds.
This morning I didn’t want to budge after a restless night. I couldn’t get Tre out of my head. It’d been more than a week and he invaded my every thought. Even spending time with Wyatt two days ago didn’t work, and when he’d called last night, I pretended to be tired so I wouldn’t have to waste brain power in talking to him. When my cell alerted me again to get up, I stared at the ceiling. I couldn’t get obsessed over him again. It took me a long time to get over Tre LaSalle.
I’d had a crush on him from afar since my freshman year. I remember like it was yesterday the day I met Tre LaSalle. I’d been lost on the first day of school, scared because Shawnie, my best friend from elementary and middle school, attended a different high school. My father had insisted I attend Excel Prep, the best academic high school in New Orleans and so far, I hadn’t seen the hype. Some older boys, roughhousing in the hall, ran past me and knocked my books out of my hand. They barely glanced at me as they continued running. My feelings were hurt, and I’d felt overwhelmed and alone, already hating high school. I’d remembered bending down to get my books trying to fight back tears.
“I got them. Don’t worry, it gets better.”
I looked up into the brown eyes of a cute boy lighter than my brown skin, with a voice that wasn’t quite deep and not much taller than my barely-over-five-feet height.
He kneeled to help me get the rest of my books. “Are you new? Where are you going?”
“Yes, and I don’t know.”
We both stood. I struggled to hold on to my books while I searched for my schedule in my bookbag. He calmly took my books from me, so I could retrieve the piece of paper from the pocket of my bag.
“It’s okay. I can figure it out, you’ll be late.”
“Let me help.” The cutie smiled with a headful of curly hair I longed to touch and suddenly I wanted to thank my father for making me come to this school. “I’m not worried because I have P.E. next. We’re not dressing out yet.”
I looked at my schedule. “I think I have English with Mrs. Parker.”
“Oh, you’re a freshman. I thought you were older. I was wondering why I’d never seen you before.” He tilted his head in the opposite direction of where I was headed. “I know where that is. She was my teacher last year. Follow me.”
I snuck glances as I walked next to him. Several students spoke to him and he nodded and even winked at one girl who touched his arm when he walked past. He appeared to be one of those naturally popular kids with his good looks, trim build, and easy-going manner. The cute stranger also dressed well in his white polo shirt, jeans, and the latest Air Jordans.
He looked at me. “What’s your name?”
I had trouble gazing into his eyes and I dropped mine. “Lorraine Thibodeaux.”
“That’s different. I like that name. Mine’s Tre LaSalle.” He stopped in front of a classroom much sooner than I expected or wanted. “This is Mrs. Parker’s class. She’s one of the coolest teachers. By next week, you gonna have the hang of all this. See ya.”
He walked away and looked back once more to smile and wave. I held on to my books tighter and watched him leave, wishing for the first time I was the popular girl that dated guys like Tre.
Since we were in different grades and didn’t hang in the same circle of friends, we never spoke again, until the winter formal, my junior year. It was my first dance and I was excited, though me and my high school best friend, Royalty, were going solo. Royalty had been asked by two different boys, but she wanted to go with me. Besides, we had other friends who didn’t have dates, so we planned to all get together and have fun. I’d loved to dance and only did it in the privacy and comfort of my home. I’d felt like Cinderella that night because I’d visited a beauty salon for the first time earlier and had my natural hair straightened. I didn’t realize my hair reached almost mid-back and how it would draw so much attention from the boys who saw me every day.
From the moment I entered the barely lit ballroom with twinkling white lights throughout, I became the pretty girl that all the boys wanted. I thought it was about the change in my hairstyle. Royalty disagreed and claimed that the boys saw long hair every day, whether it was real or fake, but they were really drawn to the purple, strapless, form-fitting dress that stopped right at my knees and displayed my burgeoning womanly curves I usually hid under baggy clothes.
I thought it was hilarious that the same boys who never gave me the time of day were suddenly fighting for my attention. I danced with a couple of them, but I preferred hanging with my friends until Tre LaSalle arrived. Of course, his date was Deena, the Homecoming Queen and the most popular girl in the senior class. Over the years, I’d learned his parents had money, and he drove a new black Nissan Maxima, which made him popular with pretty much everyone.
I watched him and Deena dance, and they looked like they belonged together. She in her black sparkly strapless tight dress and he with his fresh haircut, his curly mop of hair gone since the beginning of this school year, crisp white shirt, black and red striped tie, and dark pants. I sighed loudly, wishing once again he was one of the boys trying to push up on me.
“Don’t worry about stupid Tre LaSalle. There are so many other cute guys. Do you see how much play you’re getting tonight?” Royalty reminded in my ear because the music was so loud. “The winter formal will be over in another hour or so and you know your dad will be here way before then. So, let’s dance.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m having so much fun. Thanks for making me come here tonight.” I hugged her, glad that my best friend was the opposite of me. We’d connected immediately when we were paired the second week of my freshman year in Biology class. We balanced each other. I was her calm and she was my energy. “My cell has bad reception in here. I need to check to see if my dad is trying to get in touch with me and get his ETA. Be right back.”
I left the ballroom and held my phone up. Reception remained poor, so I walked a little farther into the lobby area. I continued to walk until I stepped outside of the hotel. There were a few kids hanging outside but most were still inside. It was a relatively warm January night in New Orleans and I didn’t need a jacket. I looked down at my cell and my father had left a voicemail that he would be picking us up by eleven thirty. Good. Royalty and I had another half hour to have fun.
As I turned to go back in, I bumped into Tre. He caught me by the arms. “I think this was kind of how we met, right?” He laughed. He’d grown to be much taller than me, and his voice had become deeper, manly.
“Yeah. I guess it is. And I got the swing of things as you said, just not until my sophomore year.” I couldn’t contain my smile. Tre LaSalle remembered exactly how we met.
We stood staring and smiling at each other before I heard my phone beep. I quickly checked and my father sent me a reminder text. “I guess I better get back inside. I’ll be leaving soon.”
“Yeah. I still need to get something out my car.”
“Oh.”
I know I sounded disappointed that we weren’t going back into the dance together, but I couldn’t help it. This was the first time I had his undivided attention since the day he walked me to class, and this precious moment would be ending way too soon. Over the past two years he would greet me with a smile or give me a head nod whenever we passed each other in the hall, but we never had another conversation. Until now.
Tre shrugged nonchalantly. “Want to walk with me? I mean, unless you have to go back in. Your boyfriend may be looking for you.”
“Yes, I mean no…um.” I fumbled over my words. Stop being a freaking idiot.
“Huh?” he asked with a confused smile.
Breathe. “I meant that I could walk with you, and that I don’t have a boyfriend.”
He looked me up and down appreciatively. “Seriously, as fine as you are, especially tonight, and you don’t have no dude checking for you? You’ve always been hot but tonight you’re absolutely gorgeous.”
I blushed and stared at the ground, not believing that he said those things about me. “Thank you.”
Tre lifted my chin with his finger. “No need to say thanks for something that’s true.” He then took my hand and pulled me along. “Come on. I don’t think I ever saw you at a dance.”
I walked alongside him, trying not to faint out of disbelief that the object of my affection since the first day of school was holding my hand like we did this every day. “I usually don’t go to dances. This is my first one, and I’m having so much fun. I’m so glad I came and hate that I missed out on past ones.”
“Me too.” He grinned at me. “I wished I’d asked you to the dance.”
My heart pounded. “Really?”
“Yeah. I see you around and thought about saying something to you, but you always seemed so focused and serious…tonight you seem different…you look amazing.”
I said shyly, “So do you.”
His smile widened and he held my hand tighter, as if we were on a date together, and if he didn’t care that he came with Deena then I wouldn’t care either.
“My car is over there.”
His car was parked on a side street a few blocks from the hotel. When we got to his Maxima, I switched from foot to foot while Tre reached into his pocket for his keys. He looked around and gently pushed me against his car and lowered his head to kiss me. His lips were so soft.
I’d never been kissed before, and though I was initially shocked, I quickly caught on and kissed him back. His tongue slid in my mouth and my stomach clenched at the unexpected sensuality. Tre angled his head to deepen the kiss and I opened my mouth wider, reveling in the roughness of his growing mustache on my lips. He had his arms wrapped around my waist pressing me into him. I could feel his hardness, which aroused me even further, and I placed my arms around his neck, caressing the back of his head. He moaned and began touching my breasts through my dress, and though my rigid nipples stung at his insistent rubbing, I wouldn’t change this sweet, sweet pain for nothing in the world.
I couldn’t believe what was happening! My first kiss and make-out session was with Tre LaSalle!
He then unlocked his door with his clicker, tugged on my hand, and whispered in between kissing, “Come on.”
I blinked and realized what he’d expected. There was no one around and he wanted me to get in the car with him. This was all happening so fast. I needed to walk away. My daddy would kill me if he knew I was about to get in a car with a boy. But this was not any boy. This was Tre LaSalle.
Oblivious to my inner battle, Tre got into his backseat, pulled me in to sit across his lap, and shut the door. He curved his hand on my neck and lifted his lips to mine and my nervousness faded. I wanted to be here in this unexpected thrilling situation with the boy I’d always fantasized about, consequences be damned. This reality was so much better than my imagination. I caressed the top of his wavy head as he moved from my lips to place kisses on my neck, my bare shoulders and the top of my breasts. I wondered if I would be able to stop him, or even if I wanted him to stop. His hand drifted up my dress, on my thigh, in between my legs, and I involuntarily squeezed them together.
He moved his hand from underneath my dress as he raised his head to look at me, eyes burning with desire. “Sorry. I got carried away. We haven’t even spoken more than a few words and I have my tongue all down your throat. You’re just so freaking hot.”
His dark gaze focused on my lips again and this time I kissed him hungrily, and I opened my legs. The palm of his hand pressed against my center through my cotton panties, and I moaned in his mouth. The sensation so overwhelming, my legs trembled. Tre’s finger traced the edge of the fabric and my body naturally undulated, asking for his sensual invasion.
My phone suddenly rang, breaking me out of my stupor. Oh God, it’s probably my father. I tried to grab it from my purse next to me. Tre put his hand over mine.
“Ignore it.”
“I really can’t.” I reached for my purse and pulled out my cell. It was Royalty. Realizing she was probably worried, I answered.
“Hey, I’m okay…I—”
“Your dad is already here.”
“What? He said we had until 11:30.”
“Well, he’s already here and in the lobby trying to figure out why you and I aren’t together. I made up some lie, but wherever you are with Tre, get your ass back here,” Royalty spoke quickly.
“How did you know I was with…” I looked at Tre, who continued to kiss my bare shoulder while his hand remained on my thigh near my panties.
“I saw him practically run after you when you walked out, and I followed to see if you were the reason. I saw you cheesing at each other at the hotel entrance. You can give me details later but get back here now.”
I clicked off the cell and looked down at Tre.
He sighed, “You have to go. I heard. Your friend talks loud.”
I blushed. “You heard everything?”
“I did and she’s right. I did run after you.” He tried to kiss me again, but as much as I could stay with him forever, my forever would be short-lived if my father caught us in this boy’s car. I moved my head and Tre sat back and let out a frustrated breath. “Alright, I’ll stop. I wanted to kiss you again in case I never get another chance. I know you have to go.”
Feeling torn between Tre and dying, I said, “Yeah, my father is waiting for me.”
He opened the door. “You think he’ll let me give you a ride home?”
I laughed loudly at even the thought of asking my father to let a boy as sexy as Tre take me home. He’d already made it to second or maybe it was third base in a matter of minutes. “No. I’m not even allowed to date. One look at you and this car and he would know.”
Tre gave a wicked smile. “Know what?”
I tapped his shoulder playfully. “I don’t need to say it.”
His voice deepened. “But I would like to hear it.”
I climbed out of his backseat, the air cooler against my hot skin. “Come on, I need to get back before my best friend and my father kill me. And even if he did let you bring me home, didn’t you come with a date? She must be looking for you.”
“Oh, you’ve been stalking me?” He got out after me.
I teased, “Stalking? Really? You’re not all that.” Surprisingly, I felt more relaxed and comfortable talking to him after our heavy make-out session than before we kissed. I would’ve gone so much further if we had the time, though I wasn’t sure how much. “Everyone knows you’re with Deena.”
He shrugged and placed his hands in his pockets. “She’s not my girlfriend. We can see whoever we want. And you’re free, right?”
“Yeah.” My phone buzzed again. “I gotta go.”
“You want me to walk back with you?” He hit the sensor on the door to lock it.
“Probably not a good idea.” I looked at his empty hands. “Wait, did you get what you needed out of the car?”
He winked. “Almost. Next time?”
I smiled as I started walking backwards so I could still see him. “Maybe.”
“Naw…there’ll be a next time.” Tre strode quickly to kiss me again, and I gave him my tongue and we kissed deeply in the middle of downtown.
I broke away from the gravitational pull to be in his arms. “I got to go, Tre.”
He reached for my hand and missed as I darted off.
I licked my tongue. “I’m too fast for you.”
Tre asked, “Can I get your number?”
Sprinting away, uncomfortable heels and all, wanting to run even faster with joy, I yelled, “At school on Monday morning.”
He caught up with me, slightly panting. “Promise?”
Not breaking my stride, I responded, “Yes.”
“Why do I feel like this is a Cinderella moment and I won’t see you again?”
“I’ve been feeling like Cinderella all night. But you will. I promise.”
He jumped in front of me, slowing me down. “At least let me make sure you get back safely.”
“My daddy sees you and he’ll know where I’ve been.”
“I won’t let him see me. You get to the corner and look around and if he’s not nearby, we can make it back to the hotel. It doesn’t look right, walking out here alone on Canal Street, especially if your father sees you.”
I slowed my pace to a brisk walk. His point was valid.
“Ask your friend to keep your father busy so we can sneak back in.”
We made it to the corner of the hotel. I didn’t see my father’s car. I quickly called Royalty. “Where’s my dad?”
“He was parked illegally and went to drive around the block but said that when we were ready to call him.”
Afraid I would get caught with Tre, I hung up the phone. “My father is driving around. He might see us. I’m safe…let me go first.”
Tre only laughed. “You’re really scared.”
I love my father, but he was crazy when it came to boys. My aunt finally got him to agree to let me date in my senior year, and that was like pulling teeth. “Yep.”
“Then how can I see you again?”
I smiled. “I’ll figure something out. Bye, Tre.”
“Bye, Lorraine.”
I ran all the way back, happy that I had my own Prince Charming.
Except he wasn’t a Prince Charming and my tale didn’t end happily forever. Tre never got my number because on Monday, he pretended like we’d never shared an intimate moment or that he even asked for my number. When we passed each other in the hall, he purposely looked the other way, and at lunch he was hugged up with Deena, who as it turned out was his girlfriend. I was crushed by his behavior and felt used. He’d probably wanted to see how far he could go with me and once he didn’t get sex from me, he was over it.
I spent the rest of the week in the library at lunch time, scared to see him and be reminded of how much of a fool I’d been. That I would think the most popular boy in school really liked me. I remembered wondering how I would make it the rest of the school year. But by that next weekend, my whole life changed in a flash, and my crush on Tre became inconsequential.