Flipping the Script (24 page)

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Authors: Paula Chase

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Getting Out More
“I make this look too easy.”
—Jay–Z, “Party Life”
 
 
“S
tupid phone,” Mina said, sending invisible hatred waves to her cellie. She hoped they reached Brian's phone in Durham. She'd been calling him since she awoke an hour before, but his phone was dead or off. She hung up, sent him a text message—Life here sux!—then plopped down cross-legged on the floor in the middle of her room and stared insolently into the closet.
A sea of clothes stared back and yet she still had no idea what to wear to Jill Ling's party. The idea of having to put too much thought into choosing an outfit for a party she didn't really want to go to only made her want to flake on Vic and cry cramps or flu or something. But as soon as she considered sending Vic a message begging out, she thought about Brian telling her to get out more.
She'd get out all right, with sexy Vic, and see how much Mr. Brian James liked that.
She would prove to him she had plenty to do, even though the last place she wanted to be was at a party with the Glams.
It would have been just bearable, if all was right in her clique, but watching Jessica, Mari-Beth, Jill Ling, and the other Stepford friends enjoy themselves as a tight group tonight would be hell.
Her eyes took in the variety in her closet—miniskirts galore hanging on one bar, blouses and dressy shirts next to them, dozens and dozens of folded tee shirts, more jeans than she knew what to do with. But her mind couldn't put an outfit together.
She brightened when her cell chirped. It was Lizzie.
 
R u up?
 
She typed back eagerly, glad for a distraction.
 
Yup. Whutrudoin up so early?
 
She nodded in agreement to Lizzie's response:
 
Cldnt sleep. 2 much drama last nt
 
And commiserated: me either been up since 7. blegh! JZ came by last nt.
 
A message came in immediately, surprising her.
Dag, Liz, your fingers burning up the keyboard today,
she thought, laughing, until she realized the message was from Brian
 
 
'sup, Toughie? Y ur life suck?
 
Her fingers flew over the keyboard: hey 2 much 2 say but mike n jz got into it lst nite.
She immediately responded to Lizzie's:
 
he did? dish!!
 
With: asked me if mike was gay and I had 2 tell him the truth. its just a mess
She scooted over until her bed brushed her back, then leaned onto the mattress, into the text conversations for the long haul. The rhythm of the two exchanges relaxed her.
She read Brian's message: wtf? Got into it like jus tlkg shit or throwing bows?!
She mulled over how to explain last night to Brian as she responded to Lizzie's: I kno. Mike isn't ansrg his phone. dreading monday!, with: who r u telling?! jz is our ride 2 school. no idea if hes goin 2 jus leave mike behind or what.
She rested her head on the edge of the mattress and stared at the ceiling a few seconds, before responding to Brian with a simple: throwing bows.
Lizzie hit her back: do u thnk they'll make up?
Mina inflated her cheeks with air. She held her breath a few seconds then blew it out noisily as she answered: truthfully?: No. jz acted like done is done, son. Not sure abt mike but u kno how jz can get ... all stubborn!
Her heart ached with understanding at Lizzie's response: yeah I feel same way. they said stuff they cant take back. sux majorly!!!!!
Mina had no response. It did suck majorly, no need to restate the obvious. She chuckled at Lizzie's next message: what? no infamous Mina plan 2 fix things?!
Mina wished she had a plan and she admitted it: nope, wish there was.
Seconds later she followed it with: but its still early u never know ;-)
She didn't feel as confident as her message, but no need to close the door on the possibility that she could work some magic and get the two best friends back on track. She checked back on the last message from Brian: dam 4 real?!
She didn't feel like rehashing the whole thing, via text or a phone call. She wanted to forget yesterday or at the very least not have to relive it. She typed back: yeah. its bad. dont feel like goin into it rt now. Kno what I mean?—and hoped Brian didn't take offense. She smiled, grateful, when he responded: yeah those ur road dogs, I kno u tore up. Feel better baby girl, they'll wrk it out. U kno how guys do.
I sure do,
Mina thought. That's exactly why she didn't think it would be as simple as them working it out like nothing ever happened.
She happily switched subjects: called u earlier was ur phone off?—and then fretted that she came off needy. Brian's “you need to get out more” echoed in her ears.
But his response was a simple: dead. Sitting here now cant move cuz its on the charger.
She laughed as she typed back: ah-ha got ur azz on lock down lol
He played along: I kno rt! lol
So whut u doin 2day? she asked, hoping that wasn't yet another needy question.
But any annoyance Brian had with her earlier in the week was gone.
Already had prac. Prbly catch a nap, hang out w/pop and jingle.
She chuckled, laughing at the nicknames Brian had given his roommates. Pop was another freshman starter on the team, whose real name was Damian, from upstate New York, where they still called beverages soda pop—something Brian found hilarious. And Jingle was a freshman benchwarmer who had apparently been made to carry the entire team's keys one day on a huge ring. Brian said he jingled everywhere he went and people heard him coming a mile away. any plans 4 da nite? she typed.
She debated sharing her own plans, especially when his response came back: nope. nuttin.
Oh, so I have something to do and you don't,
she thought, giddy, deciding she'd only share if he asked what her plans were. She typed: whut no hot frat parties 2 go 2?
He replied: Plenty 2 go 2 jus 2 dam tired. Rdy 2 hit the road 4 the tourney soon, got mad work 2 catch up on.
Her heart went out to him. She couldn't imagine how hard it must be for him to travel as much as the team did, practice as often as they did, and still have class work to tackle.
Poor baby, she typed, cracking up when he wrote back: u shld come down here and give me a quickie.
Her fingers danced over the keyboard as she laughed: u want me 2 travel 6 hours away 4 a quickie?!?!
LOL quickie, longie jus come down here, he wrote back.
Her heart soared. He wanted to see her. She'd be so glad when March came and went—they could talk more—and then before she knew it, he'd be home early May. Before she could respond, he typed back: gtg Toughie. pop heading out 2 get some grub n im gon roll w/him.
Ttyl she typed.
She closed her eyes, savoring the joy of a normal conversation with Brian and during the hours she was usually awake to boot.
She checked for Lizzie's last message, saw none, and resumed the stare-off with her closet. Needing an excuse to call him, she dialed Michael under the guise of wanting fashion advice. The call was two rings in and she was about to give up—he certainly hadn't returned her last twenty calls—when he picked up.
“What's up, Deev?”
He sounded as tired as Mina felt. Still, she infused her voice with cheerfulness. “Hey, Mike. I need a fashion consult.”
“Dial it down a notch, Diva, you're blowing up my eardrum.”
Mina giggled.“Sorry.”Without the false cheer, her voice broke. “I just really need your help. I'm going to this Glam party with Vic and I don't know what to wear.”
“A Glam's party? Found a new set already?”
He chuckled and Mina burst into tears, caught back in the reality of the other day.
“Diva, I was joking.”
“Mike, I can't do this. It hasn't even been twenty-four hours and I feel like I've landed on Mars or something.”
“We're still cool, Mina.”
“But we're
all
not cool and it's wack.” She wiped her face, determined to be stronger. “Can you at least come over and help me?”
“Seriously, are you really gonna make me leave the house when you know my face looks like a plate of hamburger?”
Mina sniffled as she laughed, surprised that Michael sounded so normal. She attempted to evoke the same stance. “You're gonna let vanity stand in the way of finding me a tight outfit?”
“And you know this,” Michael said, laughing. “No. It's not that. I'm in the middle of something and it's sort of important. Can't I just talk you through?”
Mina sucked her teeth and pouted.
Michael read her mind. “Stop pouting, girl. I know your wardrobe like it's my own.”
“Yeah, whatever,” she said, refusing to be cheered up.
“Look at you doubting my skills. You're lucky I'm busy or I'd come over there and boot you in the butt.”
Mina giggled. “Boot. Ha.”
“That's more like it,” he said in a fatherly reprimand. “All right, let me think for a second... .”
“I could wear jeans. That's nice and easy.”
“Shhh. How you gonna call me and ask for a consult, then tell me what you should wear?”
“Sorry,” Mina said. She waited silently, browsing the closet from the floor.
“Wear that black cotton mini with the big buttons down the middle, black tights, black boots, three quarter length or knee ... the yellow V-necked long-sleeved shirt.You know, the one that looks like a sweater but isn't?”
Mina stood up, walked to the closet, and immediately plucked out the shirt. “Yeah.”
“And then wear that black and white houndstooth vest.”
Mina wrinkled her nose. “Black and yellow ... I'm gonna look like a bumble bee.”
Michael sniffed. “A
fly
bumble bee.”
Mina grabbed all the pieces, holding them up to herself in the mirror, while holding the phone with her chin. She smiled at her image. “All right, all right.Yeah, it's fly.”
“Hmph, doubting me twice gon' cost you two boots in the phatty.”
“Thanks, Mike.”
“Welcome, Deev.”
“Next time, though, come over. I don't like this phone consultation.”
“Get used to it,” he said.
Mina stuck her tongue out at the phone. “What'd you say?” he said, as if he'd seen her.
She laughed. “Nothing. I said our connection breaking up.”
“I hook you up and you pull the old lost call thing on me.You're not right.”
Mina let his nagging ring in her ear. She confessed, “I never thought I'd enjoy hearing you lecture.”
He chuckled. “And now you know.”
“Yeah.” Mina dropped the clothes on her bed. “Mike ...”
“Deev, I gotta go for real. I gotta finish this.”
“Wow, could you be a little bit more concerned about crushing my feelings? Dipping out on me all fast.”
Michael dismissed her with a snort. “No time for drama, Mouthy Mi. Just call me later and tell me all the juicy bits from the party. I know those Glam hags gon' act a fool tonight.”
“Don't remind me,” Mina said.
“Love you, Deev. I gotta go.”
“Love you,” Mina said into the dead phone. She dropped the phone and went to take her shower. The hot water lifted her spirits enough to keep her motivated. She went to the sunroom and sat on the sofa between her parents, so deep into Saturday mode they still had on pajamas, unusual for them.
Her father raised one eyebrow. “Nowhere to go?”
Mina snuggled against him, loving the comfort emitted from his body heat. He put his arm around her.
“Nope ... not until tonight anyway,” she said.
“That's right, you're going to a party with Vic from work,” her mother said. “I think it's good that you're widening your circle.”
Mina scowled. “I'm not widening anything, Ma. Vic just didn't feel like being with all those boogee snotty kids and I'm keeping him company.”

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