Better Together, page 11
“Are you going to look at me? Or answer?” he asks tilting his head to find my eyes.
“This is unreal,” I say.
“I know right? Brandon told me he thought he saw you and I was like nah, couldn’t be, but here you are. At my house. I’m flabbergasted.”
Chuckling, I punch his shoulder. “Who says words like flabbergasted out loud?” Well, aside from maybe JJ.
“Okay, how about, I’m blown away? That cool? Why didn’t you tell me you were moving out here?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you lived here? Or about Kady?”
He rubs a hand down his mouth and plays with the hair on his chin. “Okay, you got me. Honestly, I dislike the assumptions some people have about people who live in Las Vegas. Like thinking we live in hotels, watch strippers and play slots all the time.”
Good point. I’ve made that assumption before. Especially when Mama and Dad first brought up the idea of us moving here.
“Why weren’t you at school the past couple of days?” I ask.
“I had to help my grandfather with some stuff back at the ice cream shop and then my flight kept getting delayed. I just got here this morning and stayed home to help with the party set up and rest. Now, your turn. You never mentioned moving.”
I shrug. “It just didn’t seem relevant. You would’ve asked why I was moving and I would’ve had to tell you.”
Benny blinks several times. His way of telling me he wants the answer to why I moved. I’d avoided telling him I’m a preacher’s daughter all summer. I sigh. “My dad started a church here.”
He nods slowly. “Is your dad the guy who’s having church in the middle school cafeteria on Sundays?”
I nod.
“What’s so bad about that? You didn’t think you could tell me?”
“I guess my thoughts were the same as yours. I didn’t want you to have this wrongful assumption about me and believe the stigma about Preacher’s kids. I just wanted to omit that part.”
Benny half laughs and shakes his head. “Neither of us were very forthcoming, were we?”
I shake my head no.
“Let’s change that,” he says.
Before I can ask him what he means, there’s a knock on the window.
“I need to get back outside to help my mom with something,” Benny says. “Can we talk after the party?”
“What time will that be?”
“Maybe around 1. I think my parents will put the food away around 12. If there’s no food, then the crowd starts to fizzle. Besides, there’s an after-party somewhere but I’m not going.”
Dad has given me a new curfew since we moved here so going to an after-party isn’t even an afterthought. Benny hops off the back of the sofa, bringing us closer together. We’re face to face and I’m more aware of how he’s the same height as JJ.
“I’m really happy to see you,” Benny says.
I can’t exactly say the same. Before now, Benny was someone far away, someone I didn’t have to think about. My focus had returned to JJ, but now what do I do?
“I have a curfew,” I say quietly. “I don’t think I can stay after the party.”
Benny nods. “I understand. How about I give you a ride home? Who’d you come with?”
“Rosario.”
Benny winces. “Yeah, you’ll like my truck much better. I can have you home before your curfew. Don’t want to get on Pastor’s bad side.”
I smile a little and fidget with my braids. Do I let him take me home?
“Please,” he says politely. “I’ll explain about Kady on the way.” I’m unable to resist a guy with impeccable manners. Especially Benny. He’s hot and he knows it.
“Sure,” I say.
Benny grins, “Alright then, text me when you’re ready and we’ll meet right here. Cool?”
“Cool.”
He kisses me on the cheek and leaves me inside with thoughts whirring around in my head. How is it possible that he’s here? Is this a sign that I should be with Benny? What do I do about JJ?
When I go back outside, I can’t find JJ or Rosario so I send a text: Where r u?
I wait, but get no response. Maybe him and Rosario are together somewhere.
Feeling left out, I wander over to the food table and begin stuffing my face with chips and cookies. All I need is a bucket of ice cream and I’ll be set.
The DJ plays a song that I’d heard in Atlanta and I start bopping my head a little. Brandon sees me. Oh goodness. I look away but it doesn’t stop him from coming up to me.
He extends his hand. “Wanna dance?”
I do want to dance, but not with him. He’d been a jerk to JJ the first day of school. “I’m good,” I say.
“Promise I’ll be nice.”
My best friend is off flirting with my new friend and Benny disappeared. I can either stand here and eat my feelings or go burn some calories. “Fine,” I tell Brandon.
Brandon follows me to where other people are dancing. The DJ switches the track. This is my song! Like everyone else, my hands go up in the air. Brandon does the same. In less than a minute, the DJ changes the song again. This one is moderately slow with a catchy, Jamaican beat. I debate on whether or not I should keep dancing with him but I like this song so I move with him.
“You got good rhythm,” he tells me.
He takes my hand and lifts it, spinning me halfway around so that my backside is facing him. We keep the same rhythm and I’m okay with it until he begins to press himself against me. Through a small space in the crowd, I can see Terry watching us. The last thing I need is to start drama as the new girl.
I stop dancing. “Um, I think I need a drink.”
Now that I’m thinking about it, JJ was supposed to bring me a drink a long time ago. The DJ stops playing music and people express discontent. Someone gets on the microphone making an ear-splitting sound that causes everyone to cover their ears.
“Sorry about that,” a voice says over the mic. “I have good news. We’ve found someone to help us out for the night. We’ve got about five songs for your listening pleasure.”
There are a few boos and requests to let the DJ keep playing. Benny steps on stage and takes over the mic. “C’mon y’all know this is not how we do things. We agreed that everyone gets to show their talents. And we’ve known Pedro, Tyronne, and Matt since kinder. So get your clap on ‘cause getting up here and singing in front of y’all clowns isn’t easy.”
Benny has successfully convinced people to start cheering. It’s obvious he’s a charmer that possesses the power of persuasion.
Once the clapping dies down, he says something else. “We got someone new to our school and the stage. I’ve only known him for like thirty minutes maybe, but he’s cool people, and I heard he can sing. So, let’s give it up for…” There’s a pause. “Sorry, he has two names just wanna make sure I get it right. Let’s give it up for JJ.”
I almost choke on my water. Immediately, I’m pushing through the crowd. “Excuse me…’scuse me, sorry, excuse me. Can I get by please?”
Squeezing through people in swimsuits and trunks, inhaling the scent of body splashes, cologne, and pool water, I gradually make it to the front of the stage and wedge myself between Terry and Rosario. I can’t believe JJ is on stage holding the guitar I bought for him. He looks so nervous. I cup my hand around my mouth and yell my support for him. “Wooooooo! Jaaaaay Jaaaaay!”
He smiles at me and gives me a slight nod as a thank you. He begins to tune the guitar, positioning his hands in the right places. People are talking, joking and commenting on the colorful guitar strings.
JJ strums the strings once and the crowd begins to quiet down. He strums again but this time he begins singing. His voice is so beautiful it’s making me feel all sorts of emotions.
* * *
For the last song, JJ plays the keyboard. I can tell he’s more comfortable playing keyboard than guitar. I’ve been recording his entire performance. I smile as I recognize the tune. I’d heard it on the radio in Atlanta and loved it the first time I heard it. As he plays the notes, he looks right at me. I can feel my pulse racing as I anticipate him singing the lyrics.
Benjamin moves in front of my camera. “May I have this dance?” he asks.
I want to say no, because I was focused on recording JJ, but I don’t want to be impolite.
“S-sure,” I stammer.
I stop recording and put my phone in my back pocket. As JJ begins to sing, Benny sways me to the music. I shiver in his arms even though it is still warm outside. It’s this song. It’s JJ’s voice and the words he’s saying that have goosebumps appearing all over me.
JJ sings as if he wrote those lyrics for me himself. Completely captivated, I watch him over Benny’s shoulder.
“What time is your curfew?” Benny asks.
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” he asks.
I ask beginning to gain focus again.
Benny slowly turns me so that now I’m facing the back of his house and just like that the spell is broken.
“What’d you say?” I ask.
“What time is your curfew?”
“Oh, um, 11:45.” My curfew used to be 11:30 on weekends, but Dad extended it a whole 15 minutes just for this Kickback thing.
Benny looks at his watch. “It’s 11:15. Would you mind if I show you something?”
I hesitate. Show me what? And where? Aside from the lights in his backyard, it’s dark out here.
“I only want to take you to the top of this mountain,” Benny says. “It’s a short climb, but it has a great view of the city. Promise I’ll have you home in time.”
JJ ends the song and people clap. Benny waits for my reply but I’ve started to regret telling him that I’d let him take me home. I know where I want to be and it’s not in his car or truck or whatever.
I try to think of a way to tell Benny that I don’t want that ride afterall, but then I see girls flock to JJ as he steps off the stage. That’s when reality hits me that this is no longer my geeky best friend. What did Jess and I call him? JJ 2.0? Yeah, that’s him now. He’s got girls, by the dozen it seems.
“Okay,” I say accepting Benny’s offer.
I follow him through his house and out the front door. We climb up the miniature mountain that’s next to his house. Every step makes me think of JJ and how earlier this year we climbed up a hill to watch the sunrise. The difference is that this mini mountain is sandy and rocky. It’s also lit by moonlight. Benjamin shines his phone flashlight to light the path. I slip on the rocks but he catches me.
“Careful,” he says. “Let me help you.”
The similarities between him and JJ are almost uncanny. We finally reach the top. I’m sort of out of breath but I try to hide it. Benny faces east towards the strip. He was right, the view is beautiful, nothing like Smalltown. Bright lights everywhere and a giant Ferris wheel in the center.
“What’s up with the big Ferris wheel?” I ask.
“Ferris wheel?” he frowns. “Oh, you mean the High Roller. It’s far more advanced than just a Ferris wheel. It’s an enclosed pod that can fit many people. Some even have an open bar. It takes 30 minutes to go around. My sister got married on there last year.”
That’s different.
“I could take you there tomorrow night. Would you like to go with me?”
Over the summer, Aunt Didi didn’t have very many rules that I had to keep but things are different now that I’m with my Dad. “I’ll have to ask my dad and you’ll probably have to meet him first.”
Benny nods. “I figured that. My dad was the same way with my sister so I get it.”
The idea of going on the High Roller sounds nice, but he still hasn’t told me about Kady.
“What’s up with you and Kady?” I ask.
“What’s up with you and JJ?” he shoots back.
Good question. I don’t know how to answer. Thankfully, he goes first.
“Kady and I broke up. Not trying to be her puppet anymore. Meeting you was like a breath of fresh air. You’re kind and not bossy or moody. You’re also really smart and I like that about you.”
If only he’d met me a few months sooner, he might’ve thought I was extremely moody.
“What about you?” he says. “You talked about JJ so much that I feel like I already know him. Are you sure you two are just friends?”
The answer should be no because my feelings for JJ have deepened, but with all his new-found fame, I don’t think I stand a chance.
“Yes, we’re just friends,” I answer.
Benny grins “Good to know. So, tomorrow night, you and I have a date. Will you call me when you get clearance from your dad? I’ll come early to meet him.”
“Of course.”
26
Mr. Wonderful
~Jonah
I’ve been waiting for Clove on her front porch for twenty minutes–almost 21 minutes. I’m not sure why I’m waiting because she didn’t have the decency to tell me she was leaving. After Benny blocked my song to her, I saw them leave together. It was like taking a sucker punch to the stomach. I know he did that on purpose.
I think I give up. Clove has ignored my not so subtle pick-up lines, compliments, my serenade, and now she’s out somewhere with Benny who has her late for her curfew. I’m done tripping. Me and Clove are just not going to happen.
Before dropping me off at home, Rosario asked me to go out with her tomorrow night. She put her number in my phone and I told her I would let her know in the morning. But forget waiting. I text her now.
Me: Where would you like to go tomorrow night?
I hear the gates to our community squeak open and bright lights shine ahead. A truck with heavily tinted windows stops in front of Clove’s house. The driver’s side door opens and Benny climbs out. He goes around to the passenger side and takes Clove’s hand to help her step out of his truck.
“Sup JJ? You did good tonight,” he tells me. “Clove wasn’t lying when she said you could sing.”
“Thanks,” I mumble.
Next he adds insult to injury; he kisses Clove on the cheek and says, “See you tomorrow, beautiful.”
Don’t be kissing on my friend and calling her beautiful! I want to yell, but that’s just silly. I feel beyond stupid for waiting for her so I begin to leave.
“JJ, wait,” Clove reaches out for my arm. “I’m so sorry. I forgot to tell you Dad changed my curfew for tonight.”
That would’ve been nice to know. “Where were you?”
I regret asking. Maybe I don’t want to know or maybe it’s none of my business.
“Benny took me to the top of the mountain his house sits on. It was a really pretty view.”
My eyebrows raise. I guess she goes climbing mountains and watching scenic views of the city with him now.
“Great. Glad you’re home safe. Goodnight.”
My phone chimes with Rosario’s response.
Rosario: How about the Bellagio first? It’s a tourist must-see.
Me: Okay.
Rosario: I’ll pick u up.
Me: No, I’ll pick u up.
I should have my license and registration by tomorrow morning and I don’t want to get into that crusty, clown car of hers again.
“Who’s texting you this late?” Clove asks.
I shrug. “Does it matter?”
She blinks those ridiculously long eyelashes of hers several times. “No, it’s just…you…there were alot of…um…You sounded amazing tonight. I’m proud of you.”
Proud of me? It sounds like something my mom would say. “Thanks.”
There’s only the sound of crickets singing. Seeing as though there is nothing else we need to say, I turn to leave.
“Wait,” Clove calls again.
I slowly pivot to face her. She opens her mouth but then quickly closes it only to open it again but she still doesn’t say anything.
“I’m late for curfew, Clove. Everything alright? Something I can help you with?”
She begins playing with her fingers and looks at the ground. “W-what are you doing tomorrow?”
I look down the street, stalling my answer. Do I tell her about the plans I just made with Rosario? “I have worship team practice, then my dad and I are going to the DMV. After that…” I clear my throat. “I’m going somewhere with Rosario.”
Her face changes and she blinks even more. Not sure if it’s because of what I said or because one of those fluffy caterpillars on her eyelids are falling off.
“You mean like a date?”
“Guess you could call it that.”
“You asked her out?”
“No, she asked me out.”
“Is she picking you up?”
“No, I’m picking her up.”
“In your new car?”
I run my fingers through my hair, starting to get irritated with these questions. “Yes. In my new car.”
Her shoulders slump, “Where are y’all going tomorrow?”
“The Bellagio. She said the gardens are a thing to see when you come to Las Vegas.”
She nods. “Did Rosario take you to get your guitar?”
“No, Terry did.”
Clove’s eyes widen.
“What’s that look for?” I ask.
“Terry looked at you like she was a hungry lioness and you were the last antelope on earth.”
“Why do I have to be an antelope? Or even the last antelope? I’m a prime choice.”
“Don’t remind me.” Clove mumbles.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” she says folding her arms across her body.
“No, say what you need to say.”
She sighs. “Okay fine. First, it was Hannah, then Rosario, now it’s Terry. You got all these girls looking at you.”
She seems jealous, which makes no sense to me. Wasn’t she the one hugged up with Benny in a photo, jumping in his arms when she saw him, letting him take her home and kiss her on the cheek? I furrow my eyebrows and lean in closer to look at her face.
“What is it?” she asks touching her cheek. “Is something on me?”
I shake my head, “Nah, I think that make-up Rosario put on you is starting to turn green.”
