"So, did ya'll do it?" KeKe pressed. Monica smiled shyly.
"No. He said he had other things to do." KeKe pursed her lips.
"Mm hm. See? Probably out with some other chick since you taking your slow time to satisfy him." Monica's eyes grew sad. I shook my head. KeKe was always like this.
"Leave her alone, he ain't with no other chick," I said.
"You don't know how the game work around here, Ronnie. These guys are just as fast as these hoes. Monica need to step her game up." Monica just looked at the McDonald's jukebox.
Monica has been dating her boyfriend Chris for five months. KeKe thinks it's best and wise to give it up three months, even two months, into the relationship. I guess I wouldn't know what was best because I must be the only inexperienced girl at our high school, besides Monica. KeKe says that she's been all around and knows "the game" better than anyone. According to her, Chris is screwing some other chick as we speak. I don't agree; Chris seems nice and I think he really likes Monica and wouldn't hurt her. I try saying this to KeKe.
"Girl, save your breath. You don't know." Like I don't know guys. Yeah they can all be horny bastards, but not every guy is like that. I put money on Chris.
"KeKe, stop being a pessimist. Chris could be hanging with a friend or at the grocery store with his brother, not with some girl." Chris is always at some store with his younger brother.
"Yeah KeKe," Monica found her voice.
"Mmm mm. Ya'll naive," She said and ate some french fries. I continued eating myself. A baby cried somewhere a few tables down from us. I looked out the window at the passing cars. "Oh, sugar honey ice tea," KeKe gaspped.
"What?" I asked.
"Look at them fine asses over there." KeKe pointed and I brought her arm back down.
"Must be college students; we don't know them," Monica said. I looked at them. None of them looked familiar. There was four of them. Two were dark skinned, one was light skinned and the other was brown skinned. The brown skinned one caught my attention.
"That one in the black is cute," KeKe said. She was looking at the brown skinned one. A feeling came to me. KeKe could take him for herself because she gets what she wants. Hopefully he won't fall under her spell. She kept talking about the boys while they ordered and sat at the table next to ours. KeKe started playing with her hair, "Which one you scoping?" She whispered to me. I looked at the brown skinned guy and he looked right back at me. I looked back at KeKe.
"I'm not sure." The guys were looking at us, studying us, probably talking about us. KeKe did the same. Monica was just eating indifferently. I watched the brown skinned one. Not once did I see him smile.
"Let's give them something to look at," KeKe said all excited.
"Like what?" Monica asked with her mouth full and an attitude.
"We'll get up and go to the bathroom." Monica and I thought about it. I was fine with it. KeKe proceeded to stand up, immediately getting all of the guy's attention. Monica and I did the same and we walked to the women's room. I felt their eyes on us.
We made it to the bathroom and went to the mirrors. Keke looked at herself. She is dark skinned and wears a black weeve. She is twice as curvy as me with a small rack on her chest. Monica is brown skinned with permed, brown, shoulder length hair. She's a pretty girl. And I'm a light carmel skinned girl and pretty short. My hair is very unique; it's black on the top and a quarter of the back is platinum blonde. I like doing my hair like that. My breast are also perfect as well, in my opinion. Back on the height, I'm 5'3'', Monica is 5'5'' and KeKe is 5'8''.
"You do know we look stupid walking in here when our food is just sitting on the table," Monica said. I realized this too and just giggled. We could of at least been done with our food and threw it away instead of just up and walking away from it. Monica and I just stared at KeKe.
"Come on KeKe, what's the next plan? What's the next brilliant idea?" I asked and laughed with Monica. KeKe rolled her eyes and walked out passed us. We followed but still laughed. I didn't notice people watching us. It wasn't even that funny, but I guess Monica and I had the giggles now. The guys watched us but right now they didn't phase me. I was too busy laughing it up with my chica. We grabbed our meal bags and threw them away. KeKe was already outside. We walked over to her.
"What the fuck was that?" She demanded.
"What?" Monica giggled, not really caring to know what.
"Ya'll giggling through the whole resturant like something wrong with ya'll."
"Don't be so sensitive," I said. She rolled her eyes again. We were heading for her car when we heard voices being directed at us. We turned and it was the boys. KeKe stepped forward ahead of us. Her she go. I rolled my eyes now and stepped next to KeKe, Monica following.
"I don't know about them," One of the dark skinned guys said with his hands on his chest and indicating to his friends, "But I would like a number." I scrunched up my eyebrows.
"From who?" I asked. He looked at Monica. She realized soon enough.
"Oh no! Taken," she said proudly. I wondered if that was embarrassing for him.
"How about you?" I looked over at the voice. It was the brown skinned one and he was talking to me. I side eyed over at KeKe and she was watching.
"My number?" I asked and he nodded.
"Sure," I said coolly.
I looked at my teddy bear in my lap, playing with his ears. My dad bought it for me and I didn't know what to name him. The teddy bear means a lot to me because my father had passed away recently. Yep, I was a daddy's girl. My mom on the other hand favored my younger sister, Charlene. But that doesn't mean me and my mother have problems.
Laying in bed, I thought about today. I gave the guy my number and he told me his name was Jeremiah. And with that we went in our separate ways, KeKe with her arms folded. No guy stepped forward to her.
"Those guys looked weak, they probably college dropouts," KeKe said the next morning during English class. We sat close in the back of the classroom. I laughed, not at what she said but her. She was trying to play it off because of what happened yesterday. She knew she was feeling them but they weren't feeling her.
"At least one of them is a college dropout," Monica slightly agreed.
"Or didn't finish high school," KeKe replied. Then she looked at me, "Maybe your guy is the college dropout." I smirked at her.
"Don't go getting upset because he got the number and I got the name."
"Oh, and what was the name again? Jerry? Jerome? Jermaine?" I looked at her like she know she wrong.
"Jeremiah. You knew. You know you was liking him KeKe, don't get all hurt." I put it like that in the open. KeKe gave her famous eye roll.
"Ronnie, can you please read?" The teacher asked me. I slowly moved my eyes off of KeKe.
"Sure thing."
Marcus got his ass kicked by his ex girl Tasha after school and Monica and I was laughing it up. KeKe was no where in sight. We stood outside laughing. A police officer came and grabbed Tasha while she tried to shake him off, still going at it with the screaming.
"I love the people at this school," Monica says. We proceed to walk then stop short. A few seconds go by before Monica speaks, "Is that him?" I'm just in shock.
"Yeah," I answered and we walked over to him and his shiny maroon colored car.
"Nice color," Monica whispered, I made a noise in agreement.
"Hey," I said.
"What's up? I just thought I'd stop by the high school and look around for a girl with your looks." How flattering.
"But how did you know to look around this school?" Since there was other high schools around.
"This is going to make me look stupid, but I actually picked this school out of the rest. If you weren't here I would've texted you. You can say I was lucky because apparently this is the right school." I just noticed that he was smiling with a dimple in his left cheek. His eyes were brown and he looked to be around 6 ft tall.
"Wow, you are lucky," I confirmed for Jeremiah. I got a sort of different vibe about him today than I did yesterday. Yesterday he looked almost like he was angry or irritated. Today he was all smiles and happy. Must be a good day. He offered me and Monica a ride.
"Is this car new?" I asked.
"I've had it for a month. So what grade are ya'll?"
"Twelfth," Monica said before I could.
"You?" I asked. He smiled and did that on and off.
"I work full time. I got out of high school last year, and I'm taking a break from school."
"Where you work?" I asked
"At a cell phone store in the mall on the other side of town from here." I smiled
"I go there often, to that mall."
"How old are you?" Monica asked from the backseat. He looked at her in the rearview mirror.
"I just turned 19 three days ago."
"Happy belated birthday!" Monica and I said at the same time.
We were in front of my apartment building, Monica long gone at home.
"Thanks for picking me up."
"No problem," I could see he was hesitating. "You want to meet up tonight?"
"School night." Was my response.
"Yeah, I know, but it doesn't have to be too late or last too long."
"What did you have in mind?" He paused.
"Talking."
I met Jeremiah at around eight. I told my mom I was going to Monica's and to be right back. Jeremiah picked me up and we went to the beach. We sat in the sand and talked about random things.
"Confession time," I laughed. "When you first told me your name, I fell in love with it."
"Why?"
"Because I don't hear the name often. At my school there are some Jerome's and Jesse's, but I haven't heard of a Jeremiah. It sounds nice too." I watch him just simply look out at the water.
"So, what is your name?"
"That's right! Ronnie." He looked at me.
"Ronnie?" I nodded. He took time to think. "That's different for me as well. Is that like short for something else?" I made a disgusted face.
"Yeah, Veronica, but I hate that name with a passion. It sounds so robotic, I can't explain it, but I hate it. Don't ever call me that," He nodded his head. "So is your favorite color maroon?" I changed the subject.
"Why?"
"Your car is maroon."
"Maroon is a color that looked nice on that car, but it's not a fave color of mine. I like it, but not a fave."
"What is your fave color?"
"Red," He was wearing a red shirt. "Yours?"
"White."
"Interesting. White's not a color." I chuckled.
"I know, but don't care. My second fave is purple." Then we were just staring at the water.
"You busy tomorrow?"
"Nope."
I met Jeremiah on Monaday. We hung out for the first time on Tuesday. By Friday it was official. He was so nice and sweet.
"You sure he ain't gay?" KeKe asked. I laughed and lightly smacked her arm.
"Yes, he's not gay." It was lunch time and KeKe, Monica and I and two other girls, who were KeKe's followers to me, were sitting at a table by a window.
"Wait, who do you date?" One of KeKe's followers asked me. I thought it was none of her business.
"Somebody you don't know," I said and looked across at Monica. "What are you doing after school?" I asked just to change the topic and KeKe interrupted.
"Hopefully going over to Chris's house and giving it up to him." I spun my head and looked at KeKe.
"Why you putting all her business in the air?" I asked. What is wrong with this girl.
"It's the truth. Ain't no senior virgins running around this muthafucka." KeKe just amazes me sometimes. This chick can't be that serious, she just hit an all time low.
"Ain't no rule saying you must get rid of your V-card before senior year. And if you think like that KeKe, then obviously you screwed in the head."
"I'm screwed in the head? Bitch, you ain't no different from her. Ya'll both naive and gonna get played. I bet Jerome with some college chick right now." I exhaled and rolled my eyes. KeKe and I were never much of best friends. She and Monica were and I met them both in 9th grade, the year I moved to Shoreview. Even in 9th grade I thought of her as a cocky bitch and she hasn't changed since. It's messed up what she does to Monica by lowering her self-esteem. They knew each other since 6th grade. I looked at Monica and she was staring at KeKe with a look I can't explain, but I did know that she was through with KeKe.
"I'm getting real tired of her hoeish preaches. If we naive then that bitch stupid," Monica said. I laughed and high fived her. We were at the cell phone shop, where Jeremiah worked, after school. He drove us here and we were talking about KeKe as we leaned on the counter. Jeremiah was helping customers and he looke so cute with his short sleeved, collared shirt tucked in his black pants.
"You should tell her that to her face."
"That chick be righteous at times, she ain't listening. I wish I had met you in 6th grade and her ass dragged along with us in 9th."
"Awww," I smiled and wrapped my arm around her shoulder in a hug. "Girl, I don't even know why you be around us. Where is Chris?"
"He's with his brother, he texted me." I looked at her. Chris spent time with his brother a lot. I looked across the room and Jeremiah was smiling at me. I returned my million dollar smile back.
The next night it rained. Jeremiah was picking me up again at eight. When I got inside the car, I don't know what, but something felt different.
"Hey," I said all cheery and kissed him on the cheek. He didn't so much as smile.
"So what you want to do, cause I don't have any plans." My eyebrows frowned because he always had a plan.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Why?" He said with a little attitude and looked mad.
"Whoa, just wondering."
"Whatever." Then he began to drive. After five minutes I realized he wasn't driving nowhere in particular.
"So, how was your day since you didn't pick me up from school."
"You a big girl, I don't need to pick you up everyday." My mouth hung open at how rudely he said it.
"Damn, you never thought like that before." He was quiet and stayed focused on the road. By this time we would be somewhere making out, but no we were still driving.
"I'm hungry, you want something to eat, Veronica?" I slowly looked at him with the most fiery, pissed off look.
"What the fuck did you just call me?" He was confused.
"Um, Veronica? You know, your name."
"But I told you to never, ever call me that. You do recall right?
"It's still your name, get over it, it ain't that serious." I was confused and told Monica the whole story during English the next day. KeKe wasn't at school. Monica was confused too.
"Is he bipolar?" I looked at Monica with brand new eyes.
"That could be it."
"Well don't get so mad with him."
After school he was there to pick me up and was all smiles. I hugged him because now I finally understood.
"That was a very affectionate hug."
"I know," I say. We went to the beach to cuddle and make out.
The next day at school everyone had their cell phones out with shocked faces. If it wasn't their cell phones then it was their ipod or lap top. Even Monica was on her lap top when I found her in the cafeteria. I put my bag down and proceeded to sit down.
"What is going on?" She turned her screen to me. My eyes jumped. There was a picture of KeKe on Facebook not with one guy, not with two guys, but with three guys. The third guy was taking the picture and his head was coming in on the left side while KeKe layed on her back getting fucked and sucking.
"I ain't that surprised, but the fact that it's on the web now I feel bad for her."
"Maybe she'll go to a different school," Monica said. And that is just what happened. By next week we found out she now went to the high school on the other side of town. I guess over there the students were excluded from having seen the photo. Then I heard that her new school was even worse than ours, it was filled with sluts and manwhores. So she fits right in. I don't know the high schools that well, only that there are three all together in Section 1.
By then Jeremiah's bipolarness has been getting on my nerves. One minute he wants to pick me up from school, makeout, and sit on the beach. Then the next minute he wants to cuss out everything in sight and drive around all day and argue with me. His Jerkyll side still called me Veronica. Then I finally decided to ask if he was taking medication because he needed it.
He was all smiles that afternoon and we were eating at Don's bakery. When I asked him, he looked at me with a highly puzzled face.
"What? Medication for what?" I looked at him like 'duh'.
"Your bipolar."
"I'm not bipolar."
"Are you joking? Everytime I see you I don't know what to expect. You're mean and angry one minute and nice the next." He shrugged and didn't speak. I was starting to worry about this boy. Then it happened.
It was eight and Jeremiah came as Jerkyll this time. He didn't even address me
when I got in the car. When we hit the second red light he finally saw me.
"Yo, don't you do anything with your hair?" I touched my hair.
"Why? What's wrong with it."
"It's the same looking skunk shit I've been seeing for weeks. That blonde and black ain't cute."
"Nigga, I don't do my hair to please you. If I like it I'm gonna wear it. You never seemed to have a problem with it before." Next thing I know my head is hitting the window and I can taste blood in my mouth. I breath heavely and look at him.
"You ain't talking to me like that, get that shit correct." Is he crazy?
It only takes one time. I was done with Jeremiah. And I didn't tell Monica what he did.
"I'm going to Chris's house today. That boy never seems to be free," Monica said as we walked out of school. I was deep in my own thoughts, running my tongue over the wound in my mouth. I looked straight ahead. I know that nigga ain't show up after what happened yesterday. He had a rose in his hand too. Since Monica didn't know the situation she pushed me a little in his direction, smiling as she walked away.
"What?" I asked him. He gave me the rose. I took it and let it fall.
"I know I was out of line and acting stupid, I didn't mean it. Every once in a while a man looses control. I really like you Ronnie and I can't see you outta the picture right now," I exhaled. Was I gonna play dumb and get back with him? "Every man deserves a second time. I won't get angry with you anymore Ronnie."
"Why one minute you call me Veronica and the next Ronnie?"
"I really like Veronica and want to make you like it too. It's not a horrible name," I sighed. "We can go to the beach..." Yeah, okay, they all deserved second chances, but that's it. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
I got smarter. When he didn't pick me up after school I knew he was going to be an asshole that night. And if he did pick me up, he was a gentleman. It was wierd, but I liked his nice side that I let his bad side pass.
It got to be too much for me that I started to put one and one together.
I snuck the bad side Jeremiah into my apartment that evening. Only Charlene was home. Jeremiah and I went into my room. I sat on my bed while he walked around the room looking at everything. I stared at my covers.
"Jeremiah? What is my favorite color?" He shrugged his shoulders irritably.
"I don't know. Green?" I looked at him.
"But I told you." He looked at me. Then thought to himself.
"I don't think I remember." Strange.
Then I met with Jeremiah again the next day. And he was all smiles. We drove to the beach.
"Jeremiah?"
"Hm," He replied.
"Why don't we just drive around today like we always do sometimes?"
"I don't like driving around for long, it makes me tired." I just looked at him for a long time.
"But every other day we drive around. You never got tired."
"I don't want to today." Strange.
Strange, strange, strange, strange. Maybe he has short term memory. I asked him one day and again he was confused and said no. He hasn't hit me again either.
Monica pulled me into the girls bathroom crying.
"What is going on?" She slammed her bag onto the counter, missing the sink, and took out a pink thong, a purple bra, purple panties, and a black thong.
"This is what I found," She said. My eyes were wide open.
"In Chris's room?" I asked lowly. She nodded.
"So I guess KeKe was right." I didn't want to believe it.
As much as I cared for Monica, I had my own problems. Jeremiah was pissing me off. Something is just wrong with that boy.
One day I was walking home from school, since Jeremiah didn't show up. On my walk home I spotted a familiar looking girl riding in a car with four other dudes and another girl. And she saw me. KeKe didn't even acknowledge me, just looked at me for 10 seconds. She was right back to talking to the guys. I just put my head down and continued walking.
Jeremiah didn't show up that night either. I texted him to see if everything was okay...
It's been a few days and I haven't heard from Jeremiah. The last time I spoke to him it was about the short term memory, that he said he didn't have. What could possibly be going on with him? Monica was still down and didn't have much to say. I didn't tell her about running into KeKe.
Jeremiah remains unforgetable to me. It's been a month and we have not been in contact. That's crazy. I been to his work place and haven't seen him. I asked the manager about him but he said he hasn't seen him. So I gave up and Monica has gotten over Chris.
Monica and I tried to avoid the glass on the sidewalks as we walked down the street. Monica was talking about a guy named Donald. I was listening and avoiding glass, but I also noticed these guys coming towards us. I lightly hit Monica's arm.
"Do we know those guys?" They looked familiar. Monica tried to get a look, they were coming closer. They were looking at us too. We passed them and we were all staring at each other trying to figure out where we recognized each other from. Two were dark skinned and one was light skinned. We passed each other and was moving on when Monica scared me, she jumpped.
"Yes, yes! Those were the guys at McDonalds. One of the dark ones asked me out." My first reaction was to run after them, which is what I did. Monica said nothing and just followed me. I grabbed one of the dark skinned guys. They all turned around. I tried to catch my breath.
"You guys remember us?" I asked with my hands on my knees.
"Ya'll look familiar..." The light skinned one said and they all nodded.
"I went out with your boy Jeremiah," They looked at us then at each other. "I just want to know where he is. I haven't seen him in over a month." They seemed hesitant to say something.
"Well I haven't seen them-" The dark skinned one nudged the light skinned one, who was talking. I pulled a confused look.
"We haven't seen him," One of the dark skinned ones said. I nodded and they slowly walked away.
"Oooookay," Monica said and we walked away.
We continued walking, but in silence. Monica proceeded to continue talking about Donald. I was only half listening. We were approaching this hat and cap store that was on the corner that I've never seen before. I looked around and wondered if I have ever been here before. Hardly. I looked inside the window and seen some guys shopping for hats, that came in every color and style. One guy stood out. He had a hat on. I looked closely and realized it was him! I stopped in my tracks. It wasn't long 'til Monica noticed.
"Why did we stop?" I thought quickly.
"I have to tie my shoes." I got down and pretended to tie really slowly. Monica didn't notice and continued talking about Donald. I continued to watch Jeremiah shop for hats. He was close to another guy, whose back was to me. His friends said they haven't seen him yet they were coming from his direction. Oh, okay. Jeremiah was in a red shirt and his friend was in a black one. They were talking to each other. I continued to watch Jeremiah, who was now talking to one of the workers it looked like. He looked fine and normal as if I never existed or he forgot about me all together. I looked at the guy who was in the black and my breathing stopped. The guy was facing the window, but he couldn't see me. He was on a cell phone and all I could think was which one is Jeremiah. I looked from him to the other. They were both Jeremiah. How is that possible, but then I thought, 'duh, twins'. Then I thought, 'he has a fucking twin!' That explained his strange behavior. I was dating both of them. They played me. That's how it looked and now they want nothing to do with me.
"What is taking you so long, damn girl," Monica said.
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
"No. He said he had other things to do." KeKe pursed her lips.
"Mm hm. See? Probably out with some other chick since you taking your slow time to satisfy him." Monica's eyes grew sad. I shook my head. KeKe was always like this.
"Leave her alone, he ain't with no other chick," I said.
"You don't know how the game work around here, Ronnie. These guys are just as fast as these hoes. Monica need to step her game up." Monica just looked at the McDonald's jukebox.
Monica has been dating her boyfriend Chris for five months. KeKe thinks it's best and wise to give it up three months, even two months, into the relationship. I guess I wouldn't know what was best because I must be the only inexperienced girl at our high school, besides Monica. KeKe says that she's been all around and knows "the game" better than anyone. According to her, Chris is screwing some other chick as we speak. I don't agree; Chris seems nice and I think he really likes Monica and wouldn't hurt her. I try saying this to KeKe.
"Girl, save your breath. You don't know." Like I don't know guys. Yeah they can all be horny bastards, but not every guy is like that. I put money on Chris.
"KeKe, stop being a pessimist. Chris could be hanging with a friend or at the grocery store with his brother, not with some girl." Chris is always at some store with his younger brother.
"Yeah KeKe," Monica found her voice.
"Mmm mm. Ya'll naive," She said and ate some french fries. I continued eating myself. A baby cried somewhere a few tables down from us. I looked out the window at the passing cars. "Oh, sugar honey ice tea," KeKe gaspped.
"What?" I asked.
"Look at them fine asses over there." KeKe pointed and I brought her arm back down.
"Must be college students; we don't know them," Monica said. I looked at them. None of them looked familiar. There was four of them. Two were dark skinned, one was light skinned and the other was brown skinned. The brown skinned one caught my attention.
"That one in the black is cute," KeKe said. She was looking at the brown skinned one. A feeling came to me. KeKe could take him for herself because she gets what she wants. Hopefully he won't fall under her spell. She kept talking about the boys while they ordered and sat at the table next to ours. KeKe started playing with her hair, "Which one you scoping?" She whispered to me. I looked at the brown skinned guy and he looked right back at me. I looked back at KeKe.
"I'm not sure." The guys were looking at us, studying us, probably talking about us. KeKe did the same. Monica was just eating indifferently. I watched the brown skinned one. Not once did I see him smile.
"Let's give them something to look at," KeKe said all excited.
"Like what?" Monica asked with her mouth full and an attitude.
"We'll get up and go to the bathroom." Monica and I thought about it. I was fine with it. KeKe proceeded to stand up, immediately getting all of the guy's attention. Monica and I did the same and we walked to the women's room. I felt their eyes on us.
We made it to the bathroom and went to the mirrors. Keke looked at herself. She is dark skinned and wears a black weeve. She is twice as curvy as me with a small rack on her chest. Monica is brown skinned with permed, brown, shoulder length hair. She's a pretty girl. And I'm a light carmel skinned girl and pretty short. My hair is very unique; it's black on the top and a quarter of the back is platinum blonde. I like doing my hair like that. My breast are also perfect as well, in my opinion. Back on the height, I'm 5'3'', Monica is 5'5'' and KeKe is 5'8''.
"You do know we look stupid walking in here when our food is just sitting on the table," Monica said. I realized this too and just giggled. We could of at least been done with our food and threw it away instead of just up and walking away from it. Monica and I just stared at KeKe.
"Come on KeKe, what's the next plan? What's the next brilliant idea?" I asked and laughed with Monica. KeKe rolled her eyes and walked out passed us. We followed but still laughed. I didn't notice people watching us. It wasn't even that funny, but I guess Monica and I had the giggles now. The guys watched us but right now they didn't phase me. I was too busy laughing it up with my chica. We grabbed our meal bags and threw them away. KeKe was already outside. We walked over to her.
"What the fuck was that?" She demanded.
"What?" Monica giggled, not really caring to know what.
"Ya'll giggling through the whole resturant like something wrong with ya'll."
"Don't be so sensitive," I said. She rolled her eyes again. We were heading for her car when we heard voices being directed at us. We turned and it was the boys. KeKe stepped forward ahead of us. Her she go. I rolled my eyes now and stepped next to KeKe, Monica following.
"I don't know about them," One of the dark skinned guys said with his hands on his chest and indicating to his friends, "But I would like a number." I scrunched up my eyebrows.
"From who?" I asked. He looked at Monica. She realized soon enough.
"Oh no! Taken," she said proudly. I wondered if that was embarrassing for him.
"How about you?" I looked over at the voice. It was the brown skinned one and he was talking to me. I side eyed over at KeKe and she was watching.
"My number?" I asked and he nodded.
"Sure," I said coolly.
I looked at my teddy bear in my lap, playing with his ears. My dad bought it for me and I didn't know what to name him. The teddy bear means a lot to me because my father had passed away recently. Yep, I was a daddy's girl. My mom on the other hand favored my younger sister, Charlene. But that doesn't mean me and my mother have problems.
Laying in bed, I thought about today. I gave the guy my number and he told me his name was Jeremiah. And with that we went in our separate ways, KeKe with her arms folded. No guy stepped forward to her.
"Those guys looked weak, they probably college dropouts," KeKe said the next morning during English class. We sat close in the back of the classroom. I laughed, not at what she said but her. She was trying to play it off because of what happened yesterday. She knew she was feeling them but they weren't feeling her.
"At least one of them is a college dropout," Monica slightly agreed.
"Or didn't finish high school," KeKe replied. Then she looked at me, "Maybe your guy is the college dropout." I smirked at her.
"Don't go getting upset because he got the number and I got the name."
"Oh, and what was the name again? Jerry? Jerome? Jermaine?" I looked at her like she know she wrong.
"Jeremiah. You knew. You know you was liking him KeKe, don't get all hurt." I put it like that in the open. KeKe gave her famous eye roll.
"Ronnie, can you please read?" The teacher asked me. I slowly moved my eyes off of KeKe.
"Sure thing."
Marcus got his ass kicked by his ex girl Tasha after school and Monica and I was laughing it up. KeKe was no where in sight. We stood outside laughing. A police officer came and grabbed Tasha while she tried to shake him off, still going at it with the screaming.
"I love the people at this school," Monica says. We proceed to walk then stop short. A few seconds go by before Monica speaks, "Is that him?" I'm just in shock.
"Yeah," I answered and we walked over to him and his shiny maroon colored car.
"Nice color," Monica whispered, I made a noise in agreement.
"Hey," I said.
"What's up? I just thought I'd stop by the high school and look around for a girl with your looks." How flattering.
"But how did you know to look around this school?" Since there was other high schools around.
"This is going to make me look stupid, but I actually picked this school out of the rest. If you weren't here I would've texted you. You can say I was lucky because apparently this is the right school." I just noticed that he was smiling with a dimple in his left cheek. His eyes were brown and he looked to be around 6 ft tall.
"Wow, you are lucky," I confirmed for Jeremiah. I got a sort of different vibe about him today than I did yesterday. Yesterday he looked almost like he was angry or irritated. Today he was all smiles and happy. Must be a good day. He offered me and Monica a ride.
"Is this car new?" I asked.
"I've had it for a month. So what grade are ya'll?"
"Twelfth," Monica said before I could.
"You?" I asked. He smiled and did that on and off.
"I work full time. I got out of high school last year, and I'm taking a break from school."
"Where you work?" I asked
"At a cell phone store in the mall on the other side of town from here." I smiled
"I go there often, to that mall."
"How old are you?" Monica asked from the backseat. He looked at her in the rearview mirror.
"I just turned 19 three days ago."
"Happy belated birthday!" Monica and I said at the same time.
We were in front of my apartment building, Monica long gone at home.
"Thanks for picking me up."
"No problem," I could see he was hesitating. "You want to meet up tonight?"
"School night." Was my response.
"Yeah, I know, but it doesn't have to be too late or last too long."
"What did you have in mind?" He paused.
"Talking."
I met Jeremiah at around eight. I told my mom I was going to Monica's and to be right back. Jeremiah picked me up and we went to the beach. We sat in the sand and talked about random things.
"Confession time," I laughed. "When you first told me your name, I fell in love with it."
"Why?"
"Because I don't hear the name often. At my school there are some Jerome's and Jesse's, but I haven't heard of a Jeremiah. It sounds nice too." I watch him just simply look out at the water.
"So, what is your name?"
"That's right! Ronnie." He looked at me.
"Ronnie?" I nodded. He took time to think. "That's different for me as well. Is that like short for something else?" I made a disgusted face.
"Yeah, Veronica, but I hate that name with a passion. It sounds so robotic, I can't explain it, but I hate it. Don't ever call me that," He nodded his head. "So is your favorite color maroon?" I changed the subject.
"Why?"
"Your car is maroon."
"Maroon is a color that looked nice on that car, but it's not a fave color of mine. I like it, but not a fave."
"What is your fave color?"
"Red," He was wearing a red shirt. "Yours?"
"White."
"Interesting. White's not a color." I chuckled.
"I know, but don't care. My second fave is purple." Then we were just staring at the water.
"You busy tomorrow?"
"Nope."
I met Jeremiah on Monaday. We hung out for the first time on Tuesday. By Friday it was official. He was so nice and sweet.
"You sure he ain't gay?" KeKe asked. I laughed and lightly smacked her arm.
"Yes, he's not gay." It was lunch time and KeKe, Monica and I and two other girls, who were KeKe's followers to me, were sitting at a table by a window.
"Wait, who do you date?" One of KeKe's followers asked me. I thought it was none of her business.
"Somebody you don't know," I said and looked across at Monica. "What are you doing after school?" I asked just to change the topic and KeKe interrupted.
"Hopefully going over to Chris's house and giving it up to him." I spun my head and looked at KeKe.
"Why you putting all her business in the air?" I asked. What is wrong with this girl.
"It's the truth. Ain't no senior virgins running around this muthafucka." KeKe just amazes me sometimes. This chick can't be that serious, she just hit an all time low.
"Ain't no rule saying you must get rid of your V-card before senior year. And if you think like that KeKe, then obviously you screwed in the head."
"I'm screwed in the head? Bitch, you ain't no different from her. Ya'll both naive and gonna get played. I bet Jerome with some college chick right now." I exhaled and rolled my eyes. KeKe and I were never much of best friends. She and Monica were and I met them both in 9th grade, the year I moved to Shoreview. Even in 9th grade I thought of her as a cocky bitch and she hasn't changed since. It's messed up what she does to Monica by lowering her self-esteem. They knew each other since 6th grade. I looked at Monica and she was staring at KeKe with a look I can't explain, but I did know that she was through with KeKe.
"I'm getting real tired of her hoeish preaches. If we naive then that bitch stupid," Monica said. I laughed and high fived her. We were at the cell phone shop, where Jeremiah worked, after school. He drove us here and we were talking about KeKe as we leaned on the counter. Jeremiah was helping customers and he looke so cute with his short sleeved, collared shirt tucked in his black pants.
"You should tell her that to her face."
"That chick be righteous at times, she ain't listening. I wish I had met you in 6th grade and her ass dragged along with us in 9th."
"Awww," I smiled and wrapped my arm around her shoulder in a hug. "Girl, I don't even know why you be around us. Where is Chris?"
"He's with his brother, he texted me." I looked at her. Chris spent time with his brother a lot. I looked across the room and Jeremiah was smiling at me. I returned my million dollar smile back.
The next night it rained. Jeremiah was picking me up again at eight. When I got inside the car, I don't know what, but something felt different.
"Hey," I said all cheery and kissed him on the cheek. He didn't so much as smile.
"So what you want to do, cause I don't have any plans." My eyebrows frowned because he always had a plan.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Why?" He said with a little attitude and looked mad.
"Whoa, just wondering."
"Whatever." Then he began to drive. After five minutes I realized he wasn't driving nowhere in particular.
"So, how was your day since you didn't pick me up from school."
"You a big girl, I don't need to pick you up everyday." My mouth hung open at how rudely he said it.
"Damn, you never thought like that before." He was quiet and stayed focused on the road. By this time we would be somewhere making out, but no we were still driving.
"I'm hungry, you want something to eat, Veronica?" I slowly looked at him with the most fiery, pissed off look.
"What the fuck did you just call me?" He was confused.
"Um, Veronica? You know, your name."
"But I told you to never, ever call me that. You do recall right?
"It's still your name, get over it, it ain't that serious." I was confused and told Monica the whole story during English the next day. KeKe wasn't at school. Monica was confused too.
"Is he bipolar?" I looked at Monica with brand new eyes.
"That could be it."
"Well don't get so mad with him."
After school he was there to pick me up and was all smiles. I hugged him because now I finally understood.
"That was a very affectionate hug."
"I know," I say. We went to the beach to cuddle and make out.
The next day at school everyone had their cell phones out with shocked faces. If it wasn't their cell phones then it was their ipod or lap top. Even Monica was on her lap top when I found her in the cafeteria. I put my bag down and proceeded to sit down.
"What is going on?" She turned her screen to me. My eyes jumped. There was a picture of KeKe on Facebook not with one guy, not with two guys, but with three guys. The third guy was taking the picture and his head was coming in on the left side while KeKe layed on her back getting fucked and sucking.
"I ain't that surprised, but the fact that it's on the web now I feel bad for her."
"Maybe she'll go to a different school," Monica said. And that is just what happened. By next week we found out she now went to the high school on the other side of town. I guess over there the students were excluded from having seen the photo. Then I heard that her new school was even worse than ours, it was filled with sluts and manwhores. So she fits right in. I don't know the high schools that well, only that there are three all together in Section 1.
By then Jeremiah's bipolarness has been getting on my nerves. One minute he wants to pick me up from school, makeout, and sit on the beach. Then the next minute he wants to cuss out everything in sight and drive around all day and argue with me. His Jerkyll side still called me Veronica. Then I finally decided to ask if he was taking medication because he needed it.
He was all smiles that afternoon and we were eating at Don's bakery. When I asked him, he looked at me with a highly puzzled face.
"What? Medication for what?" I looked at him like 'duh'.
"Your bipolar."
"I'm not bipolar."
"Are you joking? Everytime I see you I don't know what to expect. You're mean and angry one minute and nice the next." He shrugged and didn't speak. I was starting to worry about this boy. Then it happened.
It was eight and Jeremiah came as Jerkyll this time. He didn't even address me
when I got in the car. When we hit the second red light he finally saw me.
"Yo, don't you do anything with your hair?" I touched my hair.
"Why? What's wrong with it."
"It's the same looking skunk shit I've been seeing for weeks. That blonde and black ain't cute."
"Nigga, I don't do my hair to please you. If I like it I'm gonna wear it. You never seemed to have a problem with it before." Next thing I know my head is hitting the window and I can taste blood in my mouth. I breath heavely and look at him.
"You ain't talking to me like that, get that shit correct." Is he crazy?
It only takes one time. I was done with Jeremiah. And I didn't tell Monica what he did.
"I'm going to Chris's house today. That boy never seems to be free," Monica said as we walked out of school. I was deep in my own thoughts, running my tongue over the wound in my mouth. I looked straight ahead. I know that nigga ain't show up after what happened yesterday. He had a rose in his hand too. Since Monica didn't know the situation she pushed me a little in his direction, smiling as she walked away.
"What?" I asked him. He gave me the rose. I took it and let it fall.
"I know I was out of line and acting stupid, I didn't mean it. Every once in a while a man looses control. I really like you Ronnie and I can't see you outta the picture right now," I exhaled. Was I gonna play dumb and get back with him? "Every man deserves a second time. I won't get angry with you anymore Ronnie."
"Why one minute you call me Veronica and the next Ronnie?"
"I really like Veronica and want to make you like it too. It's not a horrible name," I sighed. "We can go to the beach..." Yeah, okay, they all deserved second chances, but that's it. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
I got smarter. When he didn't pick me up after school I knew he was going to be an asshole that night. And if he did pick me up, he was a gentleman. It was wierd, but I liked his nice side that I let his bad side pass.
It got to be too much for me that I started to put one and one together.
I snuck the bad side Jeremiah into my apartment that evening. Only Charlene was home. Jeremiah and I went into my room. I sat on my bed while he walked around the room looking at everything. I stared at my covers.
"Jeremiah? What is my favorite color?" He shrugged his shoulders irritably.
"I don't know. Green?" I looked at him.
"But I told you." He looked at me. Then thought to himself.
"I don't think I remember." Strange.
Then I met with Jeremiah again the next day. And he was all smiles. We drove to the beach.
"Jeremiah?"
"Hm," He replied.
"Why don't we just drive around today like we always do sometimes?"
"I don't like driving around for long, it makes me tired." I just looked at him for a long time.
"But every other day we drive around. You never got tired."
"I don't want to today." Strange.
Strange, strange, strange, strange. Maybe he has short term memory. I asked him one day and again he was confused and said no. He hasn't hit me again either.
Monica pulled me into the girls bathroom crying.
"What is going on?" She slammed her bag onto the counter, missing the sink, and took out a pink thong, a purple bra, purple panties, and a black thong.
"This is what I found," She said. My eyes were wide open.
"In Chris's room?" I asked lowly. She nodded.
"So I guess KeKe was right." I didn't want to believe it.
As much as I cared for Monica, I had my own problems. Jeremiah was pissing me off. Something is just wrong with that boy.
One day I was walking home from school, since Jeremiah didn't show up. On my walk home I spotted a familiar looking girl riding in a car with four other dudes and another girl. And she saw me. KeKe didn't even acknowledge me, just looked at me for 10 seconds. She was right back to talking to the guys. I just put my head down and continued walking.
Jeremiah didn't show up that night either. I texted him to see if everything was okay...
It's been a few days and I haven't heard from Jeremiah. The last time I spoke to him it was about the short term memory, that he said he didn't have. What could possibly be going on with him? Monica was still down and didn't have much to say. I didn't tell her about running into KeKe.
Jeremiah remains unforgetable to me. It's been a month and we have not been in contact. That's crazy. I been to his work place and haven't seen him. I asked the manager about him but he said he hasn't seen him. So I gave up and Monica has gotten over Chris.
Monica and I tried to avoid the glass on the sidewalks as we walked down the street. Monica was talking about a guy named Donald. I was listening and avoiding glass, but I also noticed these guys coming towards us. I lightly hit Monica's arm.
"Do we know those guys?" They looked familiar. Monica tried to get a look, they were coming closer. They were looking at us too. We passed them and we were all staring at each other trying to figure out where we recognized each other from. Two were dark skinned and one was light skinned. We passed each other and was moving on when Monica scared me, she jumpped.
"Yes, yes! Those were the guys at McDonalds. One of the dark ones asked me out." My first reaction was to run after them, which is what I did. Monica said nothing and just followed me. I grabbed one of the dark skinned guys. They all turned around. I tried to catch my breath.
"You guys remember us?" I asked with my hands on my knees.
"Ya'll look familiar..." The light skinned one said and they all nodded.
"I went out with your boy Jeremiah," They looked at us then at each other. "I just want to know where he is. I haven't seen him in over a month." They seemed hesitant to say something.
"Well I haven't seen them-" The dark skinned one nudged the light skinned one, who was talking. I pulled a confused look.
"We haven't seen him," One of the dark skinned ones said. I nodded and they slowly walked away.
"Oooookay," Monica said and we walked away.
We continued walking, but in silence. Monica proceeded to continue talking about Donald. I was only half listening. We were approaching this hat and cap store that was on the corner that I've never seen before. I looked around and wondered if I have ever been here before. Hardly. I looked inside the window and seen some guys shopping for hats, that came in every color and style. One guy stood out. He had a hat on. I looked closely and realized it was him! I stopped in my tracks. It wasn't long 'til Monica noticed.
"Why did we stop?" I thought quickly.
"I have to tie my shoes." I got down and pretended to tie really slowly. Monica didn't notice and continued talking about Donald. I continued to watch Jeremiah shop for hats. He was close to another guy, whose back was to me. His friends said they haven't seen him yet they were coming from his direction. Oh, okay. Jeremiah was in a red shirt and his friend was in a black one. They were talking to each other. I continued to watch Jeremiah, who was now talking to one of the workers it looked like. He looked fine and normal as if I never existed or he forgot about me all together. I looked at the guy who was in the black and my breathing stopped. The guy was facing the window, but he couldn't see me. He was on a cell phone and all I could think was which one is Jeremiah. I looked from him to the other. They were both Jeremiah. How is that possible, but then I thought, 'duh, twins'. Then I thought, 'he has a fucking twin!' That explained his strange behavior. I was dating both of them. They played me. That's how it looked and now they want nothing to do with me.
"What is taking you so long, damn girl," Monica said.
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
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