“You kidding me?” Lexus muttered. “They are tore up.”
“No hating. And you need my binoculars. The juniors on varsity are hotter than one hundred degrees,” Carlen said, fanning himself.
The cheerleaders were tumbling, and I was impressed. However, when the announcer got to the last girl—the one I’d been eyeing all first half—she could not do anything. Maybe she could do it, but she froze up. Whatever it was, she ran off the field.
I dashed out of the stands before my two co-workers could ask me anything. I was going really fast through the crowd, not knowing why I was looking for her, but her exact image would not leave my brain. I came to a complete stop when I got to the concession stand. What I saw first were her legs. Beautiful.
She was at the back of the line and I stood behind her. I was moved, as I could hear her weeping. I didn’t know this girl, but I wanted to dry her every tear. I was a semi-pro at teaching folks how to tumble. I was known for helping girls with mental blocks break free and fly. If helping her acquire the skills to be competitive would put a smile back on her face, I had to let her know the man standing behind her could help. Without thinking, I touched her arm and said some encouraging words. I had to let her know I was serious. She could do this. I made her blush, and that made me feel good.
Before we could carry on a conversation, an annoying voice yelled out, “Amir, why’d you leave me?”
My boiling point dropped to a new low. Before the cheerleader could notice, I dealt with the problem. I dashed out of line and ushered Lexus away from the crowd.
She went off right away. “I want be with you. I want to show you how much I care. I know I was a little forceful the other day with the slap and all, but being too sweet was annoying. I wanted you to see that I had a little fire in me too. I can show you right now how hot I am,” Lexus said.
At that moment I wanted to yell out, “Is there anybody who wants to get lucky? There’s a girl right here willing to give it up.”
Dang, the last thing I wanted her to do was think we were together. As we walked back to our seats in the bleachers, I kept repeating to her over and over that she wasn’t my girl. But it seemed my words were going in one ear and out the other.
“I mean, what do you want me to do, Lexus?” I did not spare her the harsh words. “I’ve ignored you. I’ve tried being friends . . .”
Tears were shed. I felt bad. I wasn’t going to back down though. There was really no hope, and she needed to get that. I threw up my hands and sat on the other side of Carlen.
When the game was over, the Lions were victors. Despite a bad defense, we found a way to hold on. Our quarterback, Blake Strong, had an arm that was the difference maker.
I was really bummed out that I did not drive. I had no idea that Carlen was going to be hanging out at the post-game party. He loved talking about fashion and the cheerleaders’ showy uniforms. I just rolled my eyes. However, when I got into the party and saw the mystery cheerleader walking in with her crew, I wasn’t in such a rush to jet.
“You never look at me like that,” Lexus blurted out, startling me. “You’re putting me down for a Cheerio?”
“What’s that?” I said, looking at her truly confused.
Educating me she said, “It’s what the show Glee calls their cheerleaders.”
“I don’t watch Glee,” I snapped. I wanted to get away. Fast. “I don’t really watch any TV,” I said more slowly, trying to sound less rude.
“Well, you should because it’s about people who feel out of place and are not in the in crowd,” Lexus said. “You see all those ballers over there, guys who won the game in the last minute. Well, you’re standing over here with me. Those girls that you’re eyeing so hard and think have it going on won’t give you the time of day because you don’t have a letterman’s jacket. I’m not a nerd or a nobody. But to them, I don’t exist. Neither do you. So why you think you’re all that and deserve one of their girls, I haven’t the foggiest. Those guys will chew you up and spit you out.”
I just threw up my hands and walked over to the mystery girl. One of her girlfriends was standing there. They both smiled my way.
The friend said, “Hi, I’m Charli Black, and this is my girlfriend, Hallie Ray.”
“It’s you,” Hallie said. Then she hugged me real tight.
At that moment, I was conscious of all the football players eyeing me like I had stepped on their turf. But whatever. They weren’t the only ones that had game. Hallie Ray was lovely, and I could tell from the way she was feeling me that I wasn’t a true outsider. To her I had something.
We finally got back to Cheertowne, and I retrieved my car. Lexus pouted all the way back, and I was thrilled when she left me alone. I was also glad Carlen had a key to the gym because I had to use the bathroom. Carlen startled me as he had to go too.
“Boy, you better let someone know you coming in here,” I called out, finishing my business. I didn’t feel uncomfortable using the bathroom with a guy like Carlen, but I was jumpy tonight.
“Man, who else would you think it was?” Carlen asked.
“Crazy Lexus,” I replied quickly. I went to wash my hands.
“Yeah, I don’t know what you gonna do with that girl,” Carlen said. “All she talks about is you. If you don’t take her back, I don’t know what she’ll do to herself.”
“Dude, don’t joke,” I replied. I really felt she was unstable. “Look, my curfew is one and it’s one now. I’m out. You ready to lock up?”
Carlen hurried and washed his hands. “Yeah, I gotta take Lexus home.”
I joked, “And talk some sense into her. Dang.”
Walking to the front door of the gym, Carlen said, “I’m not gonna talk too much sense into her, or she’ll try to talk to me. That needs to be your headache ’cause ain’t no telling what that girl is willing to do to keep you.”
When we went outside, I saw Lexus sitting on the curb, sobbing. I wanted to just keep going and pretend I didn’t see her there, but she cried louder when she saw me.
“Lexus, what are you crying for?” I asked though I was truly not interested.
Lexus whined, “Like you even tryna ask. I saw you tonight talking to that cheerleader. Is it because she’s so popular? Are you so superficial and caught up in all of that?”
I didn’t even know Hallie Ray and certainly didn’t know if anything would come of the feeling I had for her. Suddenly, Lexus jumped up and started beating on my chest. Enough was enough, and I grabbed her wrists tightly.
“Stop this,” I said to her. “Carlen, get your girl.”
Lexus shouted, “Then love me!”
Before I could respond, she was in my arms and slobbering all over my face.
“I gotta go,” I said. I tried to pull the girl off but she was stuck to me like a spider’s web. She would not let me be. She held on to my shirt. Thankfully, Carlen came over. He stepped between us, but she still held on.
“Lexus, girl, dang! What’s up? You don’t want him to have to call the police, do you, girl? You’re starting to act like a stalker,” Carlen tried rationalizing. “Girlfriend, get a grip.”
Finally, she loosened her hold enough for me to completely pull away. Steamed, I went over to my new Mustang. I looked down, and noticed the driver’s side front tire was flat. I knew I was going to be in for it because it was already one fifteen. Thankfully I had a spare in the back of my car. Problem was the back driver’s side tire was flat too. Just then I threw down my keys, rushed over to Lexus, and pushed her.
I shouted, “What the heck did you do to my car?”
She gave me this grim smile. This girl was acting crazy. Now I really did want to call the police.
“Oh snap,” Carlen called out when he saw my car. “Girl, did you really do that?”
Not answering the question, Lexus announced, “Take me home. I don’t have a knife on me. However, I told you, you’d regret it if you didn’t come back to me.”
“So now you’re threatening
me?” I said to her. “Could you help me with this tire and then get her outta my face, Carlen?”
Carlen and I both had Mustangs. His was not new, but his spare would fit. He told me I could use it. It was good having his help putting them on, all the while seething that the person who did this was just a few feet away.
“I told you she was wild,” Carlen said while Lexus was seated in his car. “I didn’t know she was capable of doing all this though. I don’t even wanna take her home. What if she thinks I’m you and slits my throat? She’s gotta have some kind of box cutter or something.”
“At least I’ll be able to tell the police who did it,” I teased him.
“Oh, so you think you got jokes?”
“Now you see, ain’t nothing funny about Lexus. I can’t believe she did this,” I fumed.
Like a girl in a horror movie who pops up out of nowhere, she hovered over the both of us and screamed, “Prove it!”
Carlen squealed like a little girl. I stood up. My patience with her was gone.
“Get back over to the car, Lexus,” I demanded.
I knew she was upset. I knew she was mad. I knew she was ticked that I ended things, but for real, she was taking things too far. Yeah, my loving might be all that, but truth be told, if she hadn’t shown me she was crazy, I might’ve broke her off a little piece sometime before she graduated. Now all that was over. If she came near me again, no telling what I’d do.
So I stood my ground and demanded, “Get to Carlen’s car.”
That scared her because she left. When I got home it was 1:50 a.m. The lights in my house were on, and my parents were sitting on the couch.
“Dad, I’m sorry. I know my curfew is one, but somebody slashed my tires,” I tried explaining.
He squinted. “Someone slashed your tires? Where was this?”
“At the gym.”
“I told you working down there wasn’t the best environment. By working in the hood, my son has enemies. You need to be doing something more productive and working someplace safer. People going nowhere are always jealous. You need to be better than that and not care what the little man thinks. Your brother is home from college. Anthony Jr. won that national science competition. He’s been waiting since eleven to tell you about it. We were going to celebrate, cake and all. You only said you were going to the game, and even in the worst case your curfew was at one.”
“I rode with some co-workers to the game, and I left my car. I didn’t know they were going to the dance.”
“Do they trump your parents? Do they make your decisions? I don’t even care who they are. You could’ve let us know something. You have a cell phone.”
“Son, I was worried,” my mom added. The mood was getting ugly.
I looked in her eyes and could tell she was weary from hearing my dad go on and on. I hated that she always had to defend me. When was he going to cut me slack?
“Okay, Dad, what do you want me to say? I was irresponsible. I’m sorry I didn’t call. But I fixed the tires on my own. I didn’t call you to take care of them for me.”
“Your tires aren’t fixed,” he said. “You have spares on. But you’re right, the job is yours to have them fixed. I bought you a new car. Upkeep is your responsibility. Your little job can pay for new tires. I’m not gonna give you a dime to take care of any of that. And as soon as you make enough money to do that, you’re gonna quit.”
“I’m not quitting my job,” I said defiantly.
“You’re gonna do exactly what I say,” my dad snarled. “Some young men grow up and handle their responsibilities. Other young men just want to try adults. Newsflash for you, son. Nothing around here is your own. You do it my way, or you can get stepping. Why can’t you be like Anthony?”
“Because I’m Amir.”
“Right, the son who doesn’t measure up to my expectations. Just looking at you makes me sick,” my dad said before storming away.
I knew that was how he felt, but he never blatantly came out and said as much. Hearing that solidified the fact that as soon as I graduated from high school, I was not coming back to this house. Though I was his son, he certainly didn’t act like my father. He told me in no uncertain terms that I was a true outsider.
CHAPTER 2
Opportunity Knocks
I’m getting the heck out of here, Anthony,” I said to my brother when he appeared in my doorway. I was done, so I went to my room and immediately started packing my things.
“Mom’s talking to Dad right now. You know he has high standards, and he didn’t really mean any of that. Don’t let him get to you, bro,” Anthony said.
I vented, “Come on, man, don’t try that stuff with me. He’s always on my case. He never says those things to you.”
“Mom is calming him down now. I don’t know what’s going on with him.”
“Exactly, so why should I stay here and take it? Am I lying, Anthony? Is what I’m saying not true?” I asked. I wanted my brother to admit our dad treated me unfairly.
I looked at my brother. He was a distinguished and smart-looking guy. He wasn’t a nerd because he had swag. There was something about him that exuded confidence. You just knew that he was destined to be the next doctor in the family. My father was angry that I didn’t have what he saw in Anthony. Honestly, I used to detest my brother because I was always treated like the stepchild. Anthony and I were tight now. When I was through packing my bags, my brother stood in my way and wouldn’t move.
“Come on, man. Don’t make me hurt you,” I said, looking at the skinnier version of myself and knowing that it would not take much energy for me to have him get out of my way.
“Amir, you are not going to hurt me. I’m trying to help. I love you, bro. You know Dad is over the top sometimes. You just don’t hear him going off on me. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t do it.”
“Anthony, don’t lie to my face,” I said to my brother. I knew that in our dad’s eyes, Anthony could do no wrong.
My big brother would still not let me by. “I’m not letting you out of the door, Amir.”
“Anthony, move!”
“No! Bro, where are you going to go?” my brother said. He made a grab for my bag.
“What difference does it make? I’ma be far away from here.” I shook my head.
When I was not looking, my brother reached for my arm. On impulse, I tugged it away real hard, and he flew back into the door. It made quite a bit of noise, and he bumped his head.
“Dang, Anthony! You all right?” I said in a panic.
It took no time for our parents to come bursting in my room.
“What’s going on in here?” my father said. When he saw my brother down on the ground holding his head, he looked over at me and grabbed my shirt collar.
Immediately my brother stood up and got in between us and said, “Dad, I fell.”
My father responded to Anthony, “Oh, because if your brother hit you, I—”
“What, Dad?!” I said angrily as I hit my chest. “What? If I would’ve hit him . . . what?”
“Amir, calm down!” Anthony said, trying to be a peacemaker.
It was becoming abundantly clear that my father had something against me. I could not live my life to please him anymore. I could not allow him to dictate my happiness or my anger.
“I’m out of here, Pops,” I said. I grabbed my bag and started to walk away.
My dad yelled, “If you leave now, you are not coming back. You don’t get to dictate. You’re not grown, boy. Just because you don’t like what I have to say, you think you can leave? I’m the parent. That’s what’s wrong with you. You’re tough in the wrong places, always letting your anger get the best of you. Take what I have to say like a man and be better for it. Don’t try to run from your problems!”
“Don’t scream, honey,” my mom said. “Talk to him. Please, he can’t leave.”
When she started crying, I turned back and said, “Mom, I don’t want you to be upset. I’m going to be okay.”
“You can’t leave, honey. You and your dad are going to work this out.”
“Do not speak for me, Anna,” my father hissed. With one look and touch from my mother, I guess my dad had a change of heart because he got real calm. “Look, son,” he said in a milder tone. “I’m not trying to get your mom all worked up. I’ve got to go to the hospital. You stay here and calm your mom down. We’ll talk about this later.”
His calm demeanor was crazy. When I did not think there was any way things would work out, my dad just changed. It was like he was two different people, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or something. Thankfully, Mr. Hyde was gone. My mom calmed down, and my brother was not seriously hurt.
I was able to chill, but not for long. Someone was banging on our front door. It was bizarre since it was after two thirty in the morning. When I answered the door, it was Lexus.
“What are you doing here?” I growled.
“I had to make sure you were okay. Someone slashed your tires. I know you thought it was me, but—”
“Lexus, please. It’s best we don’t even talk,” I said, knowing that the chick standing in front of me was full of it.
“Is there anybody home?” Lexus said as she tried to invite herself into my house.
Our bodies were practically rubbing up against each other. Knowing that this chick was crazier than my dad, I really did not know what to do. She was hitting me, vandalizing my property, crying uncontrollably. She just did not seem stable.
“Lexus, seriously? I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” I demanded, putting my hand in between our bodies.
Suddenly, she grabbed my hand and put it on her left breast. “You like the feel of that, huh?”
“Okay, all right, Mom?” I yelled out. I had no other option.
She backed up. “Your mother’s here?”
“Yeah, my mom is here. It’s two thirty in the morning. Where else would she be?”
“I don’t see her coming,” she said, trying to nuzzle my neck.