College Life 101, page 8
“I don’t care that people know that I’m a virgin, Alex,” Malajia shot back, arms folded.
“Why are you taking them?” Alex quizzed.
“Look, it’s not a big deal,” Malajia blurted out defensively. “So what if I want to be prepared? I could meet my first at any time.”
“You really that pressed for some dick?” Chasity asked smartly.
“Were you born ignorant?” Malajia scowled.
“Nope,” Chasity smirked.
“Wait a minute, hold on,” Sidra interrupted, putting her hand up. “Malajia you’re really a virgin? Seriously?”
Malajia rolled her eyes. “Is it that much of a shock?” she questioned.
“Yes. All this time I thought that you slept around,” Sidra admitted.
“I don’t understand,” Emily put in shyly.
“Of course you don’t,” Malajia bit out, throwing up her hands in frustration. “God you act so clueless Emily, I just haven’t found anyone—”
“Nobody gives a shit,” Chasity interjected, tired of hearing Malajia talk.
“Oh, I do, and that explanation is straight bull,” Alex put in, pointing at Malajia.
“Geez, Alex. Who died and made you mother of the group?” Sidra joked.
“I’m not Sidra, but she needs to stop telling lies...Malajia,” Alex pressed.
“All right fine,” she growled. “I’ve been having irregular periods. My doctor prescribed them. He thought they’d help.”
“Well, that makes more sense,” Sidra said. “Why didn’t you just say that in the first place, instead of feeding us that other crap? You made yourself look desperate.”
Chasity was confused, and it showed on her face in the form of a frown. “Wait, did you really just sit here and come up with that dumbass lie?”
“What? Ya’ll mad because I’d rather say that I have the pills to prepare for my first, rather than tell y’all that they’re for my irregular period?” Malajia shot back.
Chasity narrowed her eyes at Malajia “Okay, repeat that question and tell me if that makes as much sense to you as it does to me.” She didn’t understand why Malajia would just lie about something so simple.
“Exactly,” Alex chimed in. Malajia flagged them, and proceeded to eat her candy.
Two or three minutes ticked by before Malajia finally broke the silence. “Well, now that the discussion about my virginity and my period are over, let’s go out somewhere.”
“What do you have in mind?” Sidra asked, tossing a big red pillow at her.
“I don’t know,” Malajia said, tossing the pillow back.
Sidra ducked, “Wow, good plan.”
“It should have hit your smart self,” Malajia mused. “I just thought I could add some joy to your worthless, boring lives, okay?”
“Malajia, nobody wants your damn joy,” Chasity declared, sipping her water.
“Damn it Chasity, will you chill with the smart ass comments?” Malajia let out a frustrated sigh. “Just angry for no damn reason.”
Sidra chuckled to herself. Mad because you’re not the only one making the smart comments huh, Malajia?
“We could go for a ride,” Alex broke in. “You know, do some sightseeing.”
“You have a car?” Chasity asked Alex, even though she already knew the answer.
“No, but you do,” Alex replied.
“I’m not taking y’all no-damn-where,” Chasity stated.
“Yes, you are. Come on, grab your keys.” Alex stood up, taking a few steps toward Chasity.
“Alex, I have a damn headache, not to mention that I can’t stand you.”
“Those pills that you took will kick in soon.” Alex shoved Chasity’s purse and keys at her. “You know that we’re growing on you”
“Growing on my last damn nerve,” Chasity retorted, walking out the door. It was clear Alex wasn’t going to back down. Maybe some fresh air would clear her head.
“Come on, before she changes her mind,” Malajia called, skipping out the door.
“Hurry up, Emily,” Sidra instructed. “You know her mean self will drive off without us.”
“Can I drive?” Malajia pleaded, prancing alongside Chasity as they walked to the car.
“Fuck no,” Chasity retorted “Don’t ask me another stupid question.”
“Oh, she will,” Alex put in, climbing into the backseat. “Stupid questions and answers are her specialty.”
Sidra opened the door on the passenger’s side, but Malajia scooted around her. “I wanna sit in front,” she complained, trying to nudge Sidra out of the way with her hips.
“Hell no; get your ass in the back, or you don’t go,” Chasity commanded.
“How come she gets to ride in the front?” she complained, pointing at Sidra who just stood there with her perfectly manicured hand on her hip.
“Because I’m the roommate, so HA!” Sidra shot back.
Resigned, Malajia climbed into the back next to Alex. “Move over,” she ordered, “that orange shirt you got on is making me hot.” Malajia leaned forward, craning her neck so she could fix her hair in the rearview mirror. With a smirk, Chasity immediately adjusted the mirror.
“You are so ignorant,” Malajia declared. She was beginning to get a handle on Chasity. Her nastiness, the rude comments, were like those electric fences people used to keep stray dogs out. Zap and off they’d run tails between their legs. Not this girl, she doesn’t intimidate me, Malajia thought. She knew all about the masks people used to hide behind.
“Stop messing around and move over, Malajia,” Alex said. “Emily still needs to get in.”
“Um.” Emily hesitated on the parking lot pavement, shifting from one foot to the other. “I can’t leave. I’m...Um...”
“That’s it. Close the door. I’m pulling off,” Chasity warned, voice full of frustration.
“No. Wait a minute,” Alex protested, straightening up in her seat.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” Emily stammered.
“Are we going to go through this every time we want to go somewhere?” Malajia asked. “Don’t you guys remember how long it took to persuade her to come with us to the mall a few weeks ago? I don’t feel like it today.”
“Leave her alone,” Sidra said, fastening her seatbelt.
“I wanna go,” Malajia whined, slamming her hand on the back of the passenger seat.
“Girl, will you shut up,” Chasity interjected, tired of hearing the sound of Malajia’s voice.
“Emily, why don’t you want to go?” Alex asked.
Emily shrugged. “My Mom is going to call in a few minutes. If I’m not in the room, she’ll flip out,” she said.
“Oh my god,” Chasity mumbled. Is this girl serious?
“Seriously? Girl, tell your mother that you’re grown and get in this car,” Malajia commanded, fluffing her hair with her hand.
“Listen Emily, you don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to do, okay?” Alex assured her roommate.
“Are you sure that you don’t want to go?” Sidra asked.
“She’s sure, let’s go,” Malajia said quickly. “Nothing against you honey, but we want to get going.”
“Okay. I’ll see you all later,” Emily said in a small voice.
“Now can I pull off?” Chasity asked, glancing at Alex through her rearview mirror.
“Sure can,” Alex replied, sitting back in her seat.
Emily watched the sleek black car until it disappeared around the corner. Then she turned and walked slowly back to her room.
Chapter 10
A week later, the weather took one of those sudden turns that signaled fall was on its way, even in Virginia. The brisk wind sent leaves scuttling across the path. Walking to English class, Chasity kept her head down. She folded her arms to her chest, wishing she had put on her leather jacket over the lightweight long-sleeved top.
The weather suited her mood. She was sure she had just failed that pop quiz in Math, coming on the heels of the Dean’s warning. He wasn’t amused that one of his professors had to kick three students out of class.
“Seriously?” she sputtered when Jason bumped into her. “Watch where you’re going!”
“My fault, Chasity. It was an accident,” he apologized.
“Whatever,” she grunted. “Just get out of my way, Jason.”
“At least you remember my name,” he pointed out.
“I never said that I didn’t,” she replied, voice not masking her irritation.
“I know,” he said casually, “I just wanted to get a rise out of you.”
“Move,” she ordered. “I need to go to class.”
“Not just yet. I want to talk to you,” he protested, stepping in her way to halt her departure.
“Talk?” she ground out, “Oh, now you wanna talk?”
“Chasity—”
“No. Talking wasn’t your main priority last week now, was it?” she scolded.
“Listen, I really did want to talk to you. I honestly didn’t want to sleep with you that night. I mean, I did, but—”
“Fuck you,” she hissed.
“Hey, I’m just kidding, don’t get upset,” he urged, swallowing a laugh.
She shot him a cold look. “Do you think you’re funny?” she asked.
“Sometimes. But honestly, I was just joking with you,” he said. “I won’t disrespect you again, I swear. My parents raised me better than that.”
“Are you finished?” she finally asked after staring at him for a long moment.
“Almost...Look, I sometimes have a rude sense of humor,” he admitted. “Sue me. It won’t stop me from pursuing you.”
“Get out my face,” she enunciated slowly.
“Listen, can’t we just start over?” he asked.
“No.” Chasity’s reply was instantaneous.
“Damn. Can you at least think about it?” he asked playfully.
She glared at him, and his smile quickly faded. She looked at her expensive silver and diamond watch and tapped the face. “You’ve just made me late for my class.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he replied, then smiled. “Again.”
“That’s funny?” she questioned.
“No, of course not,” he muttered, his smile fading.
“You’re an asshole.”
“And you’re difficult, but that won’t keep me away,” he advised.
Chasity rolled her eyes. “I hate you,” she hissed, turning to walk away.
“I know that you don’t mean that,” he called after her. “My team is having a party next Saturday, and I would love for you and your friends to come!”
“How many damn parties are you gonna throw?” she yelled back
“As many as it takes for you to have a good time,” he guaranteed.
“Chaz are you going to Jason’s party?” Sidra whispered. Chasity made a face that Sidra had grown accustomed to. It was her way of saying ‘hell no’ without actually saying the words.
“He’s got some nerve,” Alex whispered They’d gone to the library to cram for their Psychology quiz, but huddled over their books, Chasity mentioned to Sidra and Alex about her conversation with Jason earlier that day. “To ask us to a party. After he got us tossed out of class and hauled in front of the Dean?”
“What? A party?” Malajia asked loudly from the other side of the library table.
“Shhhh,” Sidra admonished. “You don’t have to be so loud. In case you hadn’t noticed, this is a library.”
“What time is the party?” Malajia persevered. A party was far more interesting than the psych chapter she had been reading.
“Malajia, I don’t know and I don’t care,” Chasity ground out, annoyed that Malajia had been eavesdropping. “So drop it and leave me alone.”
“Look you—”
“Shhhhhh,” Sidra repeated, nervously looking around. She’s always so damn loud.
“I will not leave you alone. How could you accept an invitation to a party, and not find out what time it is?” Malajia asked, exasperated.
“First of all, I never accepted his invitation,” Chasity tossed her notebook down on the table. “Secondly, I don’t give a shit about this party because I’m not going.”
“Ugh, are you out of your mind?” Malajia asked.
“No stupid, I’m not,” Chasity responded slowly, shaking her head.
“This is Jason Adams that we’re talking about here,” Malajia continued.
“No, we should be talking about Psychology here,” Alex said, tapping her book with her pen.
“That can wait,” Malajia protested.
“No, it can’t, Malajia,” Sidra chimed in. “We have a quiz tomorrow.”
“Fine.” Malajia picked up her notebook and leaned back in her chair. “I wonder what I’m gonna wear.”
“Malajia,” Sidra called, prompting Malajia to look up at her. “Shut. Up.”
Alex looked over at Chasity. “Did you take notes in History class?” she asked.
“Yeah, why?” Chasity asked, curious. Alex had been sitting right next to her during class.
“I need to borrow them. Mine are a mess. I wasn’t paying attention,” Alex explained.
“Yeah. Go ahead,” Chasity replied as she pointed to her notebook.
“You seem preoccupied.” Sidra took a long look at Alex. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, I just have something on my mind,” she replied, skirting the truth. She hadn’t had a civilized conversation with Paul in over a week, not since he’d hung up on her. Not quite sure why, she’d kept her problems private, not sharing them with anyone.
“Forget Alex,” Malajia exclaimed, grabbing the girls’ attention. “Did Chasity just do something nice?”
“What?” Chasity frowned. “You hype because I gave Alex my notes?”
“Uh, yeah,” Malajia replied, “Since you’re in such a generous mood, can—”
“No,” Chasity supplied before Malajia could continue.
“You don’t even know what I was going to ask,” Malajia complained.
“Doesn’t matter, the answer is ‘no’ no matter what you ask,” Chasity responded. Malajia sucked her teeth as Sidra giggled.
Alex threw her books on the table. “Hey, Emily,” she greeted. “Girl, I’m glad that Psych quiz is over. I think I aced it.”
“Hi,” Emily said softly. “That’s good news. Alex, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, sweetie. You can ask me anything,” she answered, flopping down on the bed next to Emily “What’s on your mind?”
“Uh,” Emily faltered, not sure she actually wanted to know the answer. “Do you guys mind me hanging out with you?”
“What? No, of course we don’t mind,” Alex stammered. “Why would you even ask that?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I do,” she said, fiddling with her hands. “I just get the feeling that you guys let me stick around because you feel sorry for me.”
“That’s not why we hang out with you,” Alex protested. “You’re a good person, sweetie. I mean, come on; you’ve seen how the rest of us act. We have to have someone nice in the group.”
“You mean, a naive little girl who can’t stick up for herself,” Emily amended, “but a nice addition to the group.”
“We like you. You just need to loosen up a little. You’re in college. It’s okay to go out and it’s okay to miss your mother’s call every now and then, and if someone says something to you that you don’t like, it’s okay to tell them. How are we supposed to know that we are upsetting you if you don’t say anything?”
“It’s not that you guys upset me,” Emily fumbled for an explanation. “I’m just so used to my mother standing up for me that I’ve never had to do it for myself. Now I’m paying the price I guess. I’m going to try, but it’s hard, and I don’t want you guys to stop hanging out with me because of it.”
“Emily, honey, you don’t have to worry,” Alex assured. “Malajia and Chasity can be a couple of jerks sometimes, but they’re harmless. Just be yourself okay, you don’t have to worry about trying to please us.”
“Okay,” Emily sniffed. “Thanks...Thanks for talking to me about this.”
“Anytime sweetie,” Alex smiled, and threw her arms around Emily.
Chasity and Alex were in the gym working out, while Malajia watched the guys work out.
“Damn he’s fine,” Malajia sighed and pointed at the tall, light-skinned guy lifting weights.
“Look at all those muscles. You better lift those weights, you sexy thing.”
“I’ll bet twenty dollars you’re thinking about sex,” Chasity challenged.
“Girl why would I take that bet?” Malajia laughed back. “You think I’m dumb? I’d lose. And I need my money.”
When Sidra walked in wearing sweats with her gym bag over her shoulder, Malajia’s mouth dropped to the floor.
“Miss Sidra? No dress slacks, no silk blouse?” she gaped. “What have you done with my friend?”
“Funny,” Sidra fired back with an equally phony smile. “At least I actually wear clothes.”
“Ooh, you shouldn’t hate honey.” Malajia cautioned, fiddling with the strap of her red sports bra. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you.”
“Give it a rest, Malajia,” Alex interjected. “Nobody is jealous of you, and you know that.”
“Alex, I wasn’t even talking to you,” Malajia complained. “Can you at least try to mind your business?”
“I’ll mind my own business when you start wearing clothes that have more than two strings of fabric to them,” Alex retorted, picking up her water bottle.
“You’re just mad because you’re fat,” Malajia huffed and walked away.
“Hey, I’m not fat!” Alex yelled after her. She turned her focus to Sidra “Since when is being curvy, fat?”
“She doesn’t think you’re fat really; she’s just being a jackass,” Sidra assured her, knowing her childhood friend all too well.
“What’s up, ladies?” Josh greeted, ambling toward the group with Mark and David in tow.
“Where are my hugs, ladies?” Mark demanded.
“In the trash!” Malajia shouted from a few feet away.
“I wasn’t including you!” Mark yelled back.
