It Is What It Is (9 page)

Authors: Nikki Carter

BOOK: It Is What It Is

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Hope seems sad so I try to cheer her up. I whisper to her, “Now that we know what's up with Ricky, won't it be fun to watch Valerie try to hook up with him?”

She doesn't seem cheered at all. Isn't she the one who claimed to have so much spirit? Wow. I sure don't see it.

The first ride of the day is always a roller coaster called Blue Streak. We ride it first because it is right at the front of the park. Plus, it's pretty tame, unlike the rest of the roller coasters in the park, so the wait is usually under an hour.

While we stand in line, roasting in the early September sun, Valerie squeezes through everyone to stand next to Ricky. Ricky tries not to look annoyed, I think, but he's not doing a great job at all. He looks like he wishes Valerie would disappear.

Valerie sits next to Ricky on the metal railing that keeps the line in order. If he wasn't wearing sunglasses, I'd probably be able to see him rolling his eyes. Valerie doesn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary.

“Did you get my text, Rick?” she asks.

Ricky nods. “Yeah, I got it, but I was driving so I couldn't respond.”

“It's cool. So are we riding together or not?”

“Yes, on this one,” Ricky snaps. “But I'd also like to ride with everyone else too. We should switch off.”

Valerie laughs. “Sure. You act like I'm about to eat you up or something!”

“Well ...”

“Ricky! You can't possibly think I'm trying to hook up with you. I'm just teasing with you.”

Ricky takes his sunglasses off and his eyes are open wide. They seem to be smiling. He says, “Seriously, Valerie? You're not trying to hook up?”

“No, papi. Not after last year. But I just wanted you to know that I feel totally bad about what I did to you and I apologize. I hope we can be friends.”

Ricky says, “Valerie, I forgive you and we can totally be friends! I'd like that.”

I almost choke on the soda I've been sipping while watching this little soap opera. Who does Valerie think she's fooling? I can see right through this mess. Ricky, on the other hand, seems pleased. I thought I'd taught him better than this.

Everyone is in harmony for a few hours, but of course, it doesn't last. It is past lunchtime now, and the diehard roller coaster fans (Ricky, Valerie, Candy, and I) want to keep going to our favorite rideâthe Millenium Force. But some weak individuals (Jewel, Kelani, Hope, and Kevin) want to find the grown folk and eat barbeque and whatever else they're cooking over in the picnic area.

I say, “Why don't we just split up? The line for Millenium Force is gonna be a good two hours. Y'all can go eat and meet us back here.”

Hope protests, “We should all stay together. That's how people get lost. It won't take long for us to get a bite to eat and then come back to the line. Aren't y'all hungry?”

“I'm not!” says Valerie as she pulls Ricky toward the roller coaster.

“Me either,” replies Candy, who runs after Valerie and Ricky.

“Hope, you don't even like this ride,” I argue. “Just meet us back ... okay? Text me when you're coming back.”

Hope gazes after Ricky with longing in her eyes. I know she doesn't want to leave Ricky alone with Valerie, but it's pretty much a done deal. I jog over to the line to join my fellow roller-coaster fanatics.

I say, “Ricky, we're riding together on this one, okay?”

“Okay!”

Valerie's facial expression tells me that I was right about her
let's be friends
bit being a scam. She looks ready to scratch my eyeballs out.

But instead of trying to do me bodily harm she reaches up and gently takes Ricky's sunglasses off. She puts them on her face and strikes a pose like she's about to throw a football. Ricky grins, but she looks corny as what.

“Is that supposed to be me?” Ricky asks.

Valerie nods. “Do I have you down?”

“Umm, no,” I say.

Candy says, “That is totally Ricky, all day and all night.”

Valerie puts the sunglasses back on Ricky's face and takes her time doing it. She inhales deeply and closes her eyes, all the while her body is centimeters from grinding on Ricky.

“What are you wearing, Rick? You smell good enough to eat,” Valerie says with a little growl.

I guess she's supposed to sound hungry or something. Umm, yeah ... no.

Ricky shrugs. “It's just something I found on my dad's dresser.”

Valerie laughs. “Well, you shouldn't wear that around me if we're going to be just friends.”

“I'll keep that in mind.”

Oh, good grief! This is so sickening, and I've got a pretty strong stomach.

Candy says, “How long are we going to be standing in one spot? It seems like we've been in line forever already.”

“We've been in line for fifteen minutes,” Ricky says, glancing down at his watch.

“Well, it feels like forever.” Candy's bottom lip protrudes in a pout.

Valerie says, “I know what we can do to pass the time. We can practice our step for next week.”

I let out a groan. “No, ma'am. I do not feel like stepping right now.”

“Oh come on, Gia!” says Candy. “It'll be fun.”

“We don't have any music,” I protest.

Valerie and Hope line up in the small space between the metal line dividers. “We don't need music. We've got the beat up here.” Valerie points to her temple and starts clapping.

When I still refuse to join them, Valerie and Candy do about half of our step to “No One” by Alicia Keys. They actually look pretty good besides the fact that Valerie keeps
accidentally
flipping one side of her skirt in the air, giving Ricky an unnecessary view of her thigh.

I hear Ricky draw in a sharp breath and hold it. He pushes his sunglasses up on his nose and turns his head away from Valerie. I pat him on the back, acknowledging his struggle. He's doing a lot better than most dudes his age. I'm actually proud of him.

But if Ricky is going to keep associating with Valerie on this
just friends
nonsense, I am immediately placing my best friend on Kevin's prayer list.

A
fter spending all day walking around Cedar Point and standing in two-hour-long lines, you would think we would all be tired. But if you thought that, you would be wrong, because now we're chilling in Ricky and Kevin's hotel room at the Sandusky Marriott. We've ordered lots of pizza and the parents have been banished down the hallway to their own rooms.

Of course, Gwen and LeRon have promised to check on us in a couple of hours to make sure that we all are still fully clothed and not committing any sins. I sure do appreciate them for that ... Not!

Hope is still extra heated with me because we never did hook back up after we split up at the park. We waited for them at the ride, but when they didn't show up, we got cheese fries and kept it moving. Hope claims she tried to call me, but I guess my phone was off.

Anyhoo, she got stuck with Kevin and the giggle twins for the rest of the day. She should be thanking me, because Kevin won her a giant panda bear at the ring-toss game. That was a serious come-up.

I pat Mister Panda Bear on the head. “Hope, this bear is so cute! Kevin, you must've spent a grip trying to win this.”

“Nope,” Kevin says, “I won it on the second try. It was supposed to be yours, Gia.”

“Bummer!” I say, and then quickly move over to the pizza boxes before his rebuttal.

Valerie announces, “Okay, y'all, it's game time. Who's up for truth or dare?”

This cannot end well. I hate playing these clichÃ©d teenager games. Lemme think ... I vote no!

Hope beams. “I love truth or dare!”

Next thing you know, we'll be playing that three-minutes-in-the-closet game. As soon as someone tries to force me to stand in a dark closet in close proximity to Kevin, that's where I draw the line. I don't care if he does have contact lenses, the moistness and clamminess have not yet ceased to exist.

We push the two double beds together and everyone sits in a circle. Although I am completely unwilling to be a part of this, how can I not? I'll look like a total lame if I don't participate.

Kelani pulls a name out of Ricky's baseball cap. “Okay, Jewel. You're first. Truth or dare?”

Jewel bites her lip and deliberates for a moment before saying, “Truth.”

“Who is the better choreographer on the Hi-Steppers squad? Gia or Valerie?”

I roll my eyes. So it's going to be this kind of evening? I kind of feel sorry for Jewel, because it's going to be difficult for her to give the correct answer with Valerie staring at her with her nose flared out. And, by the way, if you were wondering, the correct answer is ... me!

Jewel looks from me to Valerie and swallows hard. She closes her eyes tightly and says in a quiet voice, “Gia.”

“Who did you say?” Valerie asks in a menacing voice.

Hope laughs. “She said Gia! Let's keep it moving to the next question.”

“No, we're not done with this one,” Valerie says angrily. “You think Gia is a better choreographer than me? Kelani, what about you?”

Kelani's eyes widen. “Hey, this wasn't my question. I'm pleading the fifth!”

“Do you feel the same way, Candy?” Valerie asks.

“Umm, Gia is my sister, so I've got to go with her.”

Wait a minute. Did we just enter the Twilight Zone? Candy is claiming me as her sister? I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that I can snitch on her at any time.

“I can't believe this,” Valerie says. She snatches the hat from Kelani and picks a name.

“But it's my turn to pick,” protests Jewel. She shuts her mouth quickly when Valerie gives her the look of death.

Valerie opens the slip of paper. “Kevin. Truth or dare?”

“Truth. Absolutely, truth,” Kevin says. “I have nothing to hide.”

Valerie squints. “Hmm ... is it true that you're jealous of your best friend Ricky?”

Kevin gasps and blinks rapidly like he needs some saline solution for his brand-new contact lenses. I cannot believe Valerie would ask him something like that. This game is beyond unfriendly.

“I suppose there are some things that I am jealous about. He's a lot smoother than I am, and girls like him,” Kevin says. “I don't think I want to play this game anymore.”

“I don't either!” I concur.

Hope glares angrily at Valerie and snatches the hat. “No! Why stop now?” She opens the paper. “Valerie. Truth or dare?”

Valerie laughs. “All right. Truth.”

“Is it true that you want Ricky to take you to Homecoming just so you'll have a shot at being Homecoming queen?”

Ricky objects. “Hey! Leave me out of this!”

Hope ignores him. “Valerie, answer the question.”

“Well, he deserves to go to the dance with the most likely candidate for queen,” Valerie says. “Not some busted rally girl who wishes she was me.”

Hope stands to her feet. “I don't wish I was you. You are one of the most evil and hateful people I know.”

“Who says I'm talking about you? Well, I guess you
are
the only busted rally girl here, so I see how you could think that I was talking about you.”

Now they've got me angry, because this was supposed to be a fun outing with my friends, not a bloodbath by Valerie. I do not appreciate this nonsense at all.

“Valerie, I've got a dare for you,” I say.

Valerie laughs. “It's someone else's turn.”

I reply, “This has nothing to do with this game. I dare you to be a good person. You told me that you'd changed, but I don't see any evidence of that.”

Valerie rolls her eyes. “Give me a break, Gia. You didn't say anything to Jewel and Kelani when they asked that stupid choreography question. They're the ones who brought the negativity.”

“And you had to continue down the same path, because you got embarrassed?” Ricky asks. “You need to get over yourself, Valerie.”

Valerie stands up and walks to the door. “You know what? I'm over all you lames. I'm out of here. Anyone who's in my hotel room better come now, or you aren't getting in.”

Jewel and Kelani stand to leave. I say, “Y'all can stay in our room if y'all don't mind sharing a bed. We're not done having fun yet, Valerie. If you want to act evil you can do it by yourself.”

Both Kelani and Jewel have a seat back on the bed. Valerie looks undecided. I think she really wants to stay but is too embarrassed to say so. Whatever. I'm definitely not trying to make it easy for her. She hasn't changed one bit. She's still the same mean, sneaky, and conniving Valerie that she's always been.

Ricky says, “Valerie, you're welcome to stay, but only if you're going to be nice.”

“Does that rule go for everyone?” Valerie asks.

I guess this is fair, because Hope got a little bit carried away too. I'm just glad they never got around to my turn. I was going to have to say dare, because the questions they were asking were bananas.

“Yes,” Ricky says, “it goes for everyone. We're all friends here, so let's keep it friendly.”

“Let's play spades!” I suggest. “It's a totally dramaâfree game.”

Valerie's breathing slows and she seems to calm down. She returns to her seat on the bed and says, “Deal me in, Gia.”

As I deal the cards I completely change the subject. “So, Ricky, do you think the Spartans are going to go to the state championship this year?”

“Well, we lost in the playoffs last year, but we really want to go all the way this year. I think we've got the squad. Romeo and James have really gotten better this year, and we've got this freshman, Lincoln, who is totally off the chain.”

Hearing Romeo's name makes me cringe. I have been doing a good job
not
thinking of that good crush gone bad.

“I know Lincoln!” Candy exclaims. “He is awesome. He was the star running back on our middle school team.”

Kelani laughs. “Dang, Candy! Calm down.”

“Somebody's got a crush, I think,” Jewel teases.

A smile flashes across Candy's face. “Well, he is cute. Unlike some people in this room, I'm not ashamed of my crushes.”

Hmm ... I wonder who she means by “some people”?