Chapter 2, Part 2

Please check the "Chapters You may Have Missed..." for previous chapters/parts.



On her drive home, Mykell couldn’t stop smiling. She had just accomplished one of her major goals in life. She felt like she was on her way to stardom and fame. She reached down into her purse and grabbed her phone. Flipping it open, she scrolled down to her mom’s programmed number and hit the send button. The phone rang twice before a soft voice answered.


“Hello?”

“Hey, ma, was you sleeping?”

“Yeah, I was Mykell. Why are you calling me so late?”

“Ma, its not late. I got some great news!”

“This great news couldn’t wait til tomorrow? You know I got to get up early. People do work, chile.”

“Dang, ma, I wanted to share my joy with you. I got a modeling contract!”

“That’s good, baby, but remember that I didn’t send you down there to be smiling and taking pictures.”

“Ma, this is a good thing. I’m still going to go to school.”

“Just remember that pictures don’t pay bills. I’ll call you tomorrow and we can talk about this more. Goodnight.”

“Bye, ma,” Mykell said slamming the phone shut and throwing it into the passenger seat.

Mykell was dreading the conversation that she would have with her mother the following day. She had changed her major at the beginning of the summer from business administration to theatre and neglected to inform her mom. Flashbacks of the horribly, boring coursework of business ran through her head. The only good thing that came from being a business major was meeting Lelani. She had encouraged Mykell to pursue her own interests.

Mykell decided that she would swing by Lelani’s to at least try to share her joy with someone who cared. She pulled up in front of Lelani’s dorm a few minutes later. She examined the parking lot for Lelani’s car but didn’t see it anywhere. Instead of just driving off, Mykell decided to park and walk upstairs, in hopes of Lelani being home anyway.

As she entered the lounge, she saw a few people still up studying and a few more having a conversation in the corner table. She walked upstairs to the 4th floor and knocked on Lelani’s door. She got no answer. Disappointed, she began her trek back downstairs. On the stairwell she bumped into Lelani.

“Hey, I was looking for you. I didn’t see your car, but I came inside anyway,” Mykell spoke softly.

“Yeah, just got in from the gym. You look upset, what’s wrong?” Lelani asked her friend seeing the look on her face.

“Well, I had some good news, but then I called ma and it all went to hell,” Mykell said with a bit of remorse.

“What happened, girly? What’s the good news?”

“I got a modeling contract.”

The two ladies got into the room and Mykell sat down. Lelani began pulling night clothes from her drawers to change into as she listened to her friend’s story. Although she was sweaty and her funk began to permeate through the room, she sat down in her desk chair to listen attentively. Tears began to roll down Mykell’s face as she recounted the evening.

“Babygirl, its gonna be alright,” Lelani consoled her friend. “Don’t’ worry bout your mom. She’s not living your life.”

“I know but when she finds out that I changed my major, she’s gonna cut me off. No tuition, no apartment, nothing! Then what am I suppose to do?”

“I don’t know how to answer that. All I can say is that you have to do what’s best for you,” responded Lelani.

“That’s easy for you to say. You don’t depend on other people,” replied Mykell. She rose from the bed and started for the door.

“Where you going? I want to be here for you. You’re my best friend.”

“I need to get out. Lets go to Snookers.”

“Uhhh, Mykell.” Lelani was hesitant. “You know what, lets do that. But can I change first. I stink,” she continued with a slight chuckle.

“Oh, shit. My bad, chick. Go do what you do. Please,” Mykell said gesturing to the door.

After a quick shower, Lelani put on a pair of jeans, some sneakers, and a green tank top. The two girls headed downstairs to exit the dorm. Walking through the lounge, they ran into Tayla. She marched over to them wearing her pajamas.

“And where do you think you’re going, Lelani?” chirped Tayla with an attitude.

“Out. Why?” responded Lelani.

“You’ve missed the last two RA meetings and I don’t appreciate you coming in all hours of the night, leaving me to run the entire 4th floor, by myself!”

“Well, I’m sorry if you feel that way, but my dormies have not said anything to me. So I assumed that they weren’t having any problems.”

“Regardless, its you’re responsibility to check in with them. I’m going to the dean about you. I think you have your priorities mixed up,” Tayla said with animosity.

“Do what you gotta do. I’m leaving,” smiled Lelani, walking passed Tayla and out the door.

Mykell and Lelani enjoyed the rest of their evening and turned in around midnight. That night as they both lay in bed, they thought about what was going on in their present lives.

Lelani contemplated her ongoing relationship with Neo. She couldn’t understand why she had let herself have unprotected sex with him, besides incidentally having sex with him at all. Understandably, he was attractive both physically and emotionally, but she knew that continuing a sustainable relationship with him would draw focus away from her education. She had never intended to get involved with another man until after her Master’s was securely in her hands.

Mykell considered revealing her secret to her mother. How bad could it really be? She couldn’t in good faith stop supporting her all together. Besides, if that was her mother’s intentions then her cousin Jadan would be out, too. Her modeling career, although so fresh, was destined to take off and be very lucrative. All in all, nothing could be worse than going back into the business arena with nothing but resentment and hatred toward her mother for pressuring her to practice something she had no interest in. She was the master of her own abilities and needed to be accountable for them.

The next day Mykell awoke to Jadan banging on her room door. She rolled over and glanced at the time on the clock resting on her nightstand table. It read 9:45. Blurry eyed and drowsy, she pulled the comforter back, placed most of her weight on her elbow and pushed herself up.

“What? I’m up!! What?” Mykell yelled toward the door.

“Aye, ya momma is on the phone. Pick it up!” Jadan hollered back.

“Aight, I got it,” Mykell said as she reached over and lazily put the phone to her ear. “Hello, ma.”

“Chile, do you see what time it is? Get your butt up and talk to me.” Ms. Georgetta Armstrong was good for barking out orders. “Now what is this you was saying last night about some modeling thing?”

“Ma, I went to an open call the other day and got some responses. I was offered a contract, so I took it.”

“What you mean you went to some open call? Modeling is NOT a career, Miss Thang. You need an education to get anywhere in this world!”

“Listen, ma. No disrespect to you, but this is MY life. If I wanna put it on the line for a modeling career, than I will!” retorted Mykell, losing all censoring in her opinions.

“Excuse me? Who you think you talking to?” questioned Georgetta. “Mykell, you better watch your tone!”

“No, I’m an adult. But you are still treating me like I’m 16. I’m not Amiracle, ma. That’s who you should’ve been keeping an eye on; her little fast ass!”

With that, Mykell’s mother lost all command of the conversation. She was stunned to hear her oldest child speak to her in a way that was, to her, disrespectful. Mykell waited for a response, but none came. Mykell offered a simple apology for using foul language but stood by her words. Nothing would hurt her more than losing her mother’s trust and faith. The conversation civilized and ended with Mykell reluctantly revealing that she had changed her major.

“Mykell, I wish you would have told me how you felt,” her mother said softly. “You’re right. I’ve been pushing you to succeed but I never asked you what you wanted. And I’m sorry for that.”

“Ma, I didn’t mean to be so disrespectful, but I knew you wouldn’t listen had I came at you any other way.”

“So, I guess we do have some things in common after all,” suggested Georgetta. “One more thing before I go.”

“Yeah, ma. What is it?”

“Amiracle and Quentin are getting married this summer.”

“But she’s only 19!”

“Yeah, but she’s been through enough with the babies and the coma. Ya know?”

“Whatever. I’ll talk to her another day. I’ve got class.”

Mykell hung the phone up with her mother and dragged herself down the hall to the bathroom. After a quick shower, she stood in front of the mirror watching the condensation run down the glass. She reached up and wiped enough away to view her reflection. Her fresh skin smelled of lilac and her wet, kinky tendrils hung from her head. She examined the beauty of her reflection and smiled. For once in her life, she felt like everything was right; finally in control of her own destiny.

Interrupting her thoughts, music from down the hall began to blare in her ears. She opened the door to the bathroom and walked down the hall to the living room. Jadan was sitting on the couch reading a magazine and eating a bowl of cereal. Her head was bobbing to the music and seemed as if she hadn’t even seen Mykell approach her.

“What the fuck!! Its too fucking early for this shit!”

“What? I’m just trying to wake up. I didn’t say anything when you got a phone call this damn early?”

“Doesn’t matter. That was my mom. Don’t you have something to do today?”

“Nope. Jamere is coming by today to take me shopping.”

“Wow, you really have no idea do you? Jamere is a freaking loser!”

“Ha! And Dayshawn is any better? What is this week 4 he done stood you up?”

There was silence from Mykell. Although she hadn’t anticipated building an exclusive relationship with him, she never expected to be just another chick to D, and that was exactly how he treated her. He didn’t even have the courtesy to call her on her birthday. The night of their first “date” and half watching the movie at Neo’s house, she had brought him back to her house to finish the evening.

He did, in fact, have everything he had preached about, but after everything was said and done, he up and left…without hesitation. Since then, his participation in her daily activities had been scarce. Jadan’s comments had truth to them, but still they were harsh to hear.

“So don’t come out here hating on me, chick, cuz I got and you don’t,” Jadan said smartly.

“Look, I don’t have time to argue with you,” Mykell shot back. “I have real things to do.”

“Ok, whatever.”

Jadan turned her attention back to her magazine and cereal. Mykell resisted the temptation of smacking the milk from Jadan’s lips. She turned and went back into her room, slamming the door shut to make a point. She finished her grooming ritual and collected her things for school. Just as she was about to leave, the phone rang again. She heard Jadan’s feet thumping across the floor and then a second later her voice say “Hello?”

Mykell hurriedly walked through the house and out the door. She could have cared less who was on the phone. As she made her way down the last step, she heard her apartment door open and Jadan yell down the stairs. She said it was Dayshawn calling. Mykell yelled back an angry “So fucking what!” and kept on her path to her car. No sooner did she sit down and turn the key in the ignition did her ringtone begin to sing. It was Dayshawn.

“What?”

“Damn, baby, why you couldn’t come back and answer the phone?”

“Nigga, are you really speaking right now?” snapped Mykell. She was still fuming from Jadan’s insensitive comments and D’s lack of interest in her.

“You seemed pissed. What’s wrong?” D faked sincerely.

“Just got some shit on my mind. Where you been the last couple of weeks.” Mykell started to remember that she really hadn’t spoken to D since their short episode. “You missed my birthday and some more shit.”

“I had to go out of town, shawty. Business.”

“Business? Yeah right. A phone call would have been nice, D.”

“Well, I’m sorry. How can I make it up to you, My?”

“Shit, I don’t even know.”

“What you bout to do?”

“I’m on my way to class. I won’t be done til 2.”

“Well, I’ll call you back at 2. I wanna spend some time with you.”

“Aight, call me back, nigga.”

Unsure about what the afternoon with D was to accomplish, Mykell still looked forward to spending time with him. Her classes drudged on for what seemed an eternity, then finally, they were over. She wasn’t sure what exact time D would call but she tried not to think about it.
As she walked to her car a few blocks away, she enjoyed the scenery of the college campus. The hot Miami sun beat down on her brown body, causing her to sweat. She always enjoyed the sunlight and the heat, but today just seemed extra hot. She shifted her bag on her shoulder and picked up the pace of her walk. Nothing would feel better right then than an ice cold strawberry and banana smoothie.

Driving to the Tropical Smoothie near the campus was uneasy. She couldn’t keep her mind off of D, but yet the craving for her favorite smoothie overtook her body. She quickly jumped out her car and raced into the café. Her forehead was filled with sweat and her chest was heaving from running.

“Can I get a strawberry and banana original smoothie, please?”

“Sure. Would you like a wrap with that?”

“Naw, just the smoothie.”

“Sure, but you have to do something for me, pretty lady.”

“I’m getting the money. Sorry bout that.”

“That’s ok. Its on me if I can get ya phone number.”

Mykell looked up from digging around in her bag. She hadn’t even bothered looking at the person standing behind the counter until then. As she lifted her head, she saw a masculine physique, nice creamy milk chocolate skin, and the brightest smile she had seen in years. When she finally got to his face, she smiled. Perfect and sexy as hell.

“Damn!” she said aloud not realizing she had until he smiled.

“I kinda have that effect on people. So can I get your number?”

“Umm, well…I…I’m kinda involved right now,” Mykell lied. Even if she had been “officially” with D, she would have left him in a heartbeat for the man in front of her…on looks alone.

“Oh, my bad. I had no idea. I see you on campus often. You’re always hanging out near the theatre.”

“Yeah, that’s my major. Um, how much do I owe you?” Mykell asked while she began digging through her bag again.

“Nothing. Its my pleasure. Here’s you’re smoothie. I hope to see again.”

Mykell grabbed the smoothie from the counter and slid to the side to let the next person in line order. She returned her bag to her shoulder and nervously walked out of the café. She could feel the cashier’s eyes still on her. She pulled the door open and took a quick look over her shoulder in his direction. He winked, she blushed, then exited.

Mykell waited in her car a few moments, considering going back into the café to hand the man her phone number. As she sipped her smoothie, she let her imagination run wild. How did his body feel? What about his lips on her neck? Was his touch gentle and caring? Her daydreaming was cut short by D’s ringtone humming inside her bag.

“Yeah?”

“Where you at?”

“In the Campus Corner Plaza getting a smoothie. Where you?”

“On my way to your house. Meet me there.”

“Aight.”

She turned the key, put her car in drive, and headed home. She sat at the light a few blocks from her house waiting for the green. Dayshawn was a few cars ahead of her being his flamboyant self, blasting his music so that the world could hear what he was listening to. She followed him into the complex, parked in a space nearby and got out. He was still looking fresh and very fly.

He walked over to greet her. He gave her a light kiss on her cheek and put his arm around her shoulders. She brushed his arm off with attitude. The look on her face told him, she wasn’t having it. He grabbed the smoothie cup from her lips and sucked down as much as he could before she snatched it back.

“Whats your problem, girl?” D snarled as they walked up the steps.

“Wow! How can you ask me that?” Mykell looked back at him, as he trailed her by two steps. “You’ve been M.I.A. for almost a month and I’m the one with the problem?”

“Look, I told you I had business. Don’t start poppin off with that shit.”

“Oh, so now I’m poppin off? Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Man, come on now. I didn’t come over here to argue with you. If you’re gonna act like that, I’m gonna fuckin go,” he said stopping at the top of the stairs.

“Haul ass then nigga!” Mykell was fed up. She walked to her door, unlocked it and went inside.

“My, don’t act like that now,” Dayshawn begged, quickly reaching the door before Mykell had a chance to close it.

Dayshawn pushed his way into the house and wrapped his arm around Mykell’s waist. He kissed the nape of her neck and ran his hand down over her hip. She pulled away. Nothing was gonna deter her from saying what she had been waiting to say to him for the last couple of weeks.
She pulled her bag off and placed it on the coffee table and then took a seat on the loveseat.

Folding her arms across her chest, she pouted her lips into a mean expression. Dayshawn walked over and flopped down on the couch, reaching for the stereo remote. He waited for it to power up then selected the same disc and song in which was the soundtrack for their first sexual encounter.

“You remember this?”

“You ain’t slick, D. You know I remember this song.”

“So, stop pouting and come over here.”

“Hell naw, I’m upset with you.” Mykell said retaining her adverse composure. “Why you been treating me like I’m some random chick hangin on ya dick!”

“Mykell, I don’t think of you like that.” Another lie. “I thought we had an understanding?”

“I thought so too. But that doesn’t mean you can dismiss me like you been.”

“Well, I’m sorry if you took it that way. Now, come over here.”

“Why?”

She finally looked up at him. His face was charming. Her mind was telling her to get up and kick his sorry ass out, but her body was reluctant to follow suit. She slid out of the loveseat and over to the couch next to D. She laid her head on the inside of his shoulder and got comfortable. They continued to talk until the sun went down. She caught him up on the things he had missed, including the events of her birthday party and her new modeling contract.

His attention seemed to drift back and forth from Mykell and his constant text messages. Every other word she spoke, a new text message came through as if he was carrying two separate conversations. He finally put his phone down when she began to talk in depth about how much money she would be potentially making as a model. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead with congratulation.

Mykell sat up and turned to face D. She smiled in return and pulled his face toward hers for a kiss. His hands found themselves a home all over her body, exploring her frame once more. She reached down and pushed her hands underneath his bulky tee to feel his body. The ripples in his abdomen felt rock hard, but yet his skin was as smooth and creamy as it looked.

“What you wanna do, daddy?” Mykell anticipated his answer. “You wanna feel me again?”

“You know I do. Come on lets go back to your room.”

On the way back to the room, Mykell stopped in the bathroom to pee. She closed the door behind her and sat down. Hello! Nothing was happening that night. Realizing the date, Mykell wished she had been more attentive to her calendar. Although her “gift” was about three days early, she took it as a sign…”You shouldn’t be having sex with this man!” She straightened herself and went into the bedroom to give D the news. She walked in to find D sprawled out on the bed, ass naked. She shook her head in disapproval.

“No nookie this week,” Mykell delivered with disappointment.

“Why not?” D said sitting up.

“Mother nature came early this month. Sorry.”

“Man, that’s bullshit!” Dayshawn was irritated. “You just saying that cause I haven’t called you in a few weeks.”

“What! Why would I even…” D cut her explanation short.

“I’m out!” He jumped from the bed pulling his clothes on from off the floor. “Don’t even know why I wasted my time over here,” he said under his breathe.

“You’ve got some nerve, boy!”

“Yeah, better to have nerve then let some silly bitch play me out!”

“Oh, I know you not calling me no bitch!”

D jumped into his sneakers faster than he did the last time and headed for the door. Mykell flung the room door open and let him pass. She followed him down the hallway and watched as he almost snatched the door off its hinges. On the other side stood Jadan and Jamere. She looked as if she was just about to put her key into the door.

Jadan jumped out the way as D pushed pass them angrily. Mykell just stood watching. After she heard him stomp off the last step, she sauntered to the kitchen. Frustrated she pulled open the freezer door and snatched the last ice cream pint from the back and slammed the door shut. On her way out, she grabbed a clean spoon from the dish drain.

“Damn, you alright, ma?” asked Jamere still wondering what situation he had just walked into.

“I’m good,” rolled off Mykell as she continued back into her room.

“Hey, we bout to watch a movie. You wanna join us?”

“Naw. Ya’ll don’t need me as a third wheel.”

“I can call my homeboy if you want me to.” Jamere added to encourage Mykell to enjoy the rest of the evening. “He should be just getting off work right now.”

“Whatever. Do what you want.”

“Jamere, call ya friend and invite him over. She’s gonna come out here.”

Jadan walked down the hallway to Mykell’s room. She knocked softly and pushed the door back. Mykell was climbing into her bed, the tears began to well in her eyes; she was about to start crying. Jadan slowly walked over to her cousin to console her. Mykell tipped her head onto her cousin’s shoulder as Jadan squeezed in next to her in the bed.

“What’s wrong, chick?”

“Dat nigga ain’t shit!” Mykell’s eyes poured with tears.

“So. Fuck him. You knew that before tonight, so why you trippin over his ass?”

“I don’t know.”

“Stop crying, I got a nigga to impress, you messing up my shit,” Jadan said causing Mykell to sniffle and laugh at the same time.

“Aight. What movie ya’ll got?”

“Some random shit he wanted. But he’s calling his friend for you so get yourself together and bring ya ass out here.”

“Ok, give me a few minutes.”

Jadan closed the door behind herself and went back into the living room. Mykell knew that Jadan was right. She did know that D wasn’t shit before that day. Why had she even let him get to her. Mykell checked herself over in the long mirror bolted to her closet door and joined her cousin and Jamere in the other room. A half hour later there was a knock at the front door.

Butterflies churned in Mykell’s stomach. She wasn’t big on “blind dates.” Although she half expected the guy to be a hot mess, she was anxious to find out what he looked like. Jamere answered the door and invited his friend in. He began the introductions with Jadan then motioned over to Mykell. Mykell turned in the chaise she had made herself comfortable in to see the anonymous stranger.

She could believe it. It was her mystery smoothie man from the café. His smile was just as bright in the house at night as it had been earlier that day. Mykell began to blush again remembering his wink and his smile. He stretched out his hand as if he was offering a handshake.

“So we meet again, beautiful.”

“I see that. I’m Mykell.”

“Alexander but my friends call me Alex.”

“Ok. Well..ummm…I…” Mykell stumbled “Sit, please.”

“Will do, only if I can sit next to you.”

“Sure, why not.”

The rest of the evening, the foursome talked, played cards, and watched scenes from the movie playing on the DVD player. Their was so much laughing and joking, the time flew by quickly. Mykell forgot about the evenings earlier altercation and enjoyed Alex’s company. She recalled that she had told him that she was “involved” but not once did he question her about it. He seemed legitimately interested in who she was and what she was doing with her life. Mykell learned that Alex was a senior psych major with intentions of earning his Ph. D in clinical psychology. He wanted to pursue a career in psychiatry but lacked the ambition for medical school.

The night came to an end when Jadan and Jamere retired to her bedroom. Alex excused himself for the night and promised to call Mykell at his earliest convenience. Mykell locked up the house and headed off to bed. Before drifting off to sleep Mykell called Lelani on her cell.

“Hey girl. You sleep?”

“Yeah, just about there. Why what’s up?”

“Trying to make plans for tomorrow and this weekend.”

“Ok, cool. Whatever you want to do. Just call me.”

“Aight, girl. Go to sleep.”

Mykell hung up the phone and placed it back on its charger. She rolled over towards her window. The moonlight shone through her sheer curtains and onto her face. She closed her eyes to dream. Hopefully, it would be even more fulfilling than her day had been…sex or not.