Crossroads (13 page)
Authors: Skyy
Denise could tell from Cooley's serious expression that she was sincere. “I'm a model?” Denise questioned.
“Looks that way.”
Denise tried to fight it, but slowly a smile appeared on her face. It wasn't basketball, but she liked it just the same.
20
Lena's pillow was stuck to the side of her face. She pulled the pillow off. It was still damp. She had cried herself to sleep again. The idea of moving on was harder than she expected.
Lena consumed her days with shopping and redecorating. She dragged Carmen out with her to buy useless items. Carmen didn't mind, as the things Lena replaced came to her half-furnished apartment.
Brandon didn't mind the excessive spending. He handed her a new Black card. If spending helped her get over her depression he was OK with it. Anything to help her heal and him feel better for the mess he felt guilty for causing.
Lena forced herself out of bed. She knew it was going to be a down day for her. It was one in the afternoon and she was just waking up. The cold floor alerted her senses. She made a mental note to buy a nice rug for her floor.
Lena walked into her kitchen. She had dismissed her maid; she had grown tired of her worrying for Lena in Spanish every morning.
The silence in her loft was irritating. She turned her plasma on loud. The sound of Wendy Williams ranting about the hot gossip of the day helped, but not a lot.
Lena knew it was time. She had been dreading the phone call, but her mother's constant voice mails were a nagging reminder. She knew if she didn't contact her mother soon she would show up. Lena sipped her espresso. The strong coffee woke the rest of her body up quickly.
She stared at her phone. She pressed the button for her mother's cell.
“Lena, you better have one great excuse for not calling me.” Karen Jamerson held a black Dior dress up to her in the full-body mirror in the upscale boutique.
“Mom, are you busy right now?”
“If you call shopping for the UNCF fundraising gala tonight busy, then yes, but you know I'm never too busy for my beautiful daughter.”
A huge knot filled Lena's throat. The words stung. She sighed. “Mother, I have something to tell you.”
“Yes, do you have this in a six? Make it an eight?” Karen handed the dress to the eager store clerk. “Yes, dear?”
“Mother ... I ...” Tears filled Lena's eyes. “I'm so sorry, Mom.”
Karen's body trembled. “Lena, what is going on?” she sat on the plush chair next to the rack of designer threads.
“Mom there's something I should have told you a while ago but ...”
“Lena please just tell me before I have a heart attack.” Karen held her hand over her mouth.
Lena took a deep breath. “Well, um, I ... See ...”
“Lena!”
“Mom I'm not going back to school this semester.” Lena closed her eyes and sighed.
Karen let a sigh of relief. “Is that it? Lena don't ever have me scared like that again. I'm over here thinking something horrible happened.” Karen stood back up as the assistant brought over a new outfit. Karen gave the navy dress a thumbs up.
“No mom it's nothing worse than that. I just know you and dad were expecting me to finish this year, but ...”
“Oh Lena, please that is totally understandable. You are a newlywed. You have a house to prepare, hopefully including a nursery soon.”
The words pierced Lena. She wanted to cry but held it in. “We are taking our time on that.” Lena couldn't tell the her mother the truth. Telling her mother would bring too many questions she wasn't prepared to answer.
“Well, don't take too long, I do want my granddaughter to see me in my glory years.” Karen admired her beauty in the three way mirror.
Her mother's conversation was too much to bear. Lena couldn't hold the tears in. She didn't get the chance to find out if she was having a girl or a boy. “Well, I just wanted to let you know so you wouldn't be expecting a graduation this year.”
“I will let your father know. My darling I bet you are swamped over there. Do you need me to come to town?”
“No!” Lena caught herself. “No, mother things are fine.”
Karen paused. “If things are fine Lena, why do you sound like they aren't? What is really going on?”
Lena wanted to come clean. She wanted to tell her mother everything that was going on in her life but she couldn't. “I'm just really tired.”
“Well, how about we go away for a week. Hamptons or some where exotic.”
“As nice as that sounds I need to get this house together. Maybe later.”
“OK well I really need to figure out what I am wearing to this benefit. Oh but Lena, if you ever go so long without calling me I will be there so fast you will think I used a rocket instead of a plane.”
Lena hung up from her mother with a sense of relief. She didn't have to worry about her mother showing up and prying in her life for a little while longer. She knew she should have told her that Brandon wasn't living there, but she knew that would warrant a visit for sure.
Lena finished her espresso and got up from the table. She had shopping to do, and had already lost half of her day.
21
Cooley got in the taxi and handed a small piece of paper to the Indian cab driver. “Can you take me to this address?”
Cooley turned down the invitation from Mariah and Denise to go to Avenue Q with them. She let them talk her into going to see
The Lion King
the night before. Cooley had to admit,
The Lion King
was a lot better than she expected, but the thought of watching puppets sing crazy songs just wasn't appealing to her.
The Lion King
the night before. Cooley had to admit,
The Lion King
was a lot better than she expected, but the thought of watching puppets sing crazy songs just wasn't appealing to her.
Cooley received the call she had been waiting on. Tee called with the address and phone number for Sonic. After a long conversation, she knew it was time for her to step in.
Cooley looked out the window. She would have to enjoy Harlem another day. They pulled up to the tall apartment building. Cooley looked up at the numbers on the wall. She was there. She paid the cab driver and got out of the car.
Cooley pressed the buzzer for apartment 506. Instantly a buzzing noise echoed, and she heard the lock unlatch. Cooley walked into the building. The hallway of the building had an old smell to it. The paint on the walls was chipping, with tiles on the floor scuffed and broken in places. The rank smell of sweat and mildew hit her as she got into the small elevator. She tried to hold her breath until making it to the fifth floor.
Cooley walked down the long hallway. The few working lights flickered on and off. Cooley examined the sounds coming from the passing apartments. Someone was watching BET in apartment 501. She could hear Keyshia Cole's mother's voice clearly.
Cooley stopped at her destination. She tried to listen. There was music coming from the apartment, but she couldn't make out the lyrics. There was a lingering smell of weed coming from under the door. She knocked twice.
Cooley heard the various locks unlocking. The door opened. A petite woman opened the door. Cooley knew the face, she just couldn't place it. The woman smiled, throwing her long Beyoncé curls behind when she moved her head.
“Hey, Cooley.” The woman reached out.
Cooley hugged the girl, trying to remember where she knew her from.
“Hey ... ummm ...”
The woman pulled back and looked at Cooley. Cooley could see the disappointment.
“Bee-Bee. We met at Sonic's house in ATL when you came last summer.”
Cooley looked at the girl for a moment. There was a familiarity to her. Her booty shorts and T-shirt were form-fitting. Cooley noticed the cursive B.B. tattooed on her leg. Cooley smiled. It hit her.
“Oh, shit. Girl, yeah, I remember you.” Cooley hugged her again. Her model name was Bee-Bee, but around the office she was known as Brain Busta. The woman could put Super Head out of business.
“How are you doing?”
“I'm OK, trying to make it. Got some gigs lined up, doing a Nelly video soon. I might be going on this new reality show on VH1.” Bee-Bee smiled and turned her face, hoping Cooley couldn't tell she was lying. “So, you coming to get this bitch up out of my spare room or what?”
Cooley walked into the tiny apartment. The smell of weed and incense made Cooley feel nauseous. She never understood why people thought that was a good combination.
“Where is she?”
Bee-Bee frowned. “In the bedroom, watching videos, I think. I'm glad you came 'cause I was about to put her ass out.”
Cooley ignored Bee-Bee. She wanted to curse her out. Sonic was the reason she had anything at all. Sonic gave Bee-Bee her first gig in the videos. She took it and ran with it, becoming one of the million whores of Jam Zone.
“Let me go talk to her,” Cooley said, walking toward the room. She could see the TV lights flickering from the room to the wall.
Bee-Bee grabbed Cooley's arm. She slanted her eyes and licked her lips. “Before you do, let me take my moment to say you looking real good. I'd love the chance to see you in better circumstances. How long you gon' be in New York?”
Cooley couldn't help but shake her head. She let out a laugh. She couldn't believe what women would do to try to get on top. “Thanks, but I'm leaving in the morning.”
“Well, I'll be in ATL soon. We should hook up.” Bee-Bee pushed her thick frame up against Cooley.
“Yeah, well, have fun while you're there. Now, if you don't mind.” Cooley walked past Bee-Bee, leaving her dumbfounded in her spot.
Cooley walked into the messy bedroom.
Sonic looked up from her spot in the bed. Her hair unbraided and wild on her head; she had on an oversized white tee and her boxers, Her usual plump cheeks were sunk in, she had lost a lot of weight, she looked ill. Sonic's eyes popped when she saw Cooley's face appear in the doorway. She didn't know if it was Cooley for real or if it was the drugs.
“What the fuck? Cool, is that you?” Sonic sat up on the bed, trying to adjust her eyes.
“Yeah, it's me,” Cooley said, walking farther into the bedroom.
“Oh, shit.” Sonic sniffed and rubbed her nose. She leaned over and opened the drawer next to the bed.
Cooley's eyes darted down. She noticed the glass tray filled with white powder and a razor blade. Cooley's eyes almost popped out when she noticed a small pipe in the drawer as well.
“What you doin' here? Hell naw, man.” Cooley grabbed the plate from Sonic.
“What you doin'?” Sonic looked up at Cooley. She knew she didn't have the strength to jump up at that moment.
“Sonic, what the fuck is wrong with you? Look at this shit! Look at where you are!”
“Don't fuckin' come in here and judge me, Cooley! You think you all that now 'cause you working at Jam Zone. You wouldn't be shit without me!”
Cooley tried to ignore Sonic's rants. She noticed a duffle bag in the corner. She picked it up, realizing Sonic's few possessions were in it. “Get the fuck up. We are going.”
“I ain't going nowhere!” Sonic said as she lay back in the bed.
“You right. You did help me, and now I'm helping you. Sonic, you're better than this, and you fucking know it. These damn drugs and shit, I'm checking you into rehab.”
“I don't need no damn rehab. I need a hit record, so I can get back on my feet. You gon' get me a hit record, Cool? Or you too busy working with that bitch!” Sonic threw her hand in the direction of the TV.
Sahara's face flashed across the screen. It was her MTV spotlight. Sahara's face normally would have calmed Cooley down. But she felt rage at Sonic's words.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Cooley could feel the anger rising.
Sonic lit her blunt. Instantly the room filled with the thick cloudy haze. “I don't know why you brought that stuck-up-ass bitch to the crib anyway. I knew she wasn't shit. Now they all catering to her ass like she fuckin' Beyoncé or some shit, ho trippin' about letting a nigga smash.”
Cooley felt a large knot in her throat. “Did ... did you?”
Sonic looked over at Cooley. “Nah, she too damn stuck-up. Always saying she belonged to someone else. I know you hit it though. Man, girls drop the panties for your ass.” Sonic's laugh turned to a whooping cough. She grabbed a hot beer and took a swig from it.
“It's not even like that.” Cooley looked at the TV again. She couldn't believe Sahara wasn't seeing anyone else. She looked back at Sonic. “Man, look, are you gon' let me help you or not?”
“What, you got a hit for me or what? I know if I get a hit, they will let me come back to the company.”
“Sonic, I want to help you, but you have to help yourself first. You need to go to rehab.”
“I saidâ”
“Sonic, if you want your career back, you'll do this. Do it for me.”
The only sound from the room was the television. Sonic stared at Cooley.
Cooley wasn't breaking. She stared right back at Sonic with a stern look on her face.
“You promise to get me a hit if I do the rehab thing?”
“I promise.”
“A'ight. But can you make it a nice one. These wack-ass centers just make me wanna leave.”
Cooley sighed. “I'll do the best I can. I'm going to pick you up tomorrow morning after I get everything together.”
Sonic stared at Cooley. “You know I always liked you, Cool. Even when we first met, I normally don't let others come around me like that. It was something about you. I knew you were true.” Sonic lit a cigarette and took a puff. A'ight, man, I'll do it for you.”
Cooley smiled. “Any time.”
Sonic looked at Cooley, who was tapping away on her phone. “Aye, Cool. Thanks, man.”
Cooley let the crisp New York air hit her. She felt a sense of pride. She was able to get Sonic to do something no one else was able to do. She hailed a cab and headed back into the city.
And we are bringing it to you first. The hottest new singer out of ATL's Jam Zone: Sahara.This girl is is hot, and this song is blazing. Lemme know what ya think. Hit the line.
Cooley listened to the radio coming from the cab. Sahara's sultry voice sounded amazing against her beat. Sahara entered her head. Cooley felt the warm sensation taking over her body. She thought about Sonic.
Sahara wasn't some whore that fucked her way to the top. She was really all about Cooley.
Cooley smiled. She thought about Denise and her Twilight reference. Maybe she wasn't the werewolf after all. Maybe she was the vampire, trying to stay away from someone who was made for her. Cooley knew she didn't want to resist anymore.
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