Chapter One
Janelle didn’t want to ruin the kiss with something like honesty, but it felt like it was the last time he intended to kiss her.
He pulled away from her, still cupping the side of her face with his palm. “I love that no one is all in our business.”
“Yeah I wasn’t on board at first.” Janelle said as she looked away just enough so that he was no longer touching her face. “But I guess I get it now. And honestly I would be okay with just telling people we’re official but not letting-”
“That’s why we need to keep our thing between us. I want to protect it because I care just that deeply for you.”
Janelle bit her lip and raised her cheeks as if it were a cute attempt to hide a smile. “Of course.” Tiny teardrops coyly appeared in the corners of her eyes. “It’s more fun this way.”
“I’ll let you get to your friends.” Joey patted her on the knee and unlocked the door. “I’ve gotta get this car back to my mom anyway.”
She took a sobering look at Joey. She took in his tanned skin and his dark hair that got more product in a day than hers would in months. He smiled at her and it was his usual cocky smile that never showed any teeth.
She stepped out of the car. “Text me later, baby.” She said closing the door to his mom’s Mustang.
Looking straight ahead, he threw up a peace sign as he sped away.
#
Janelle checked herself out in the window of Gigi’s Gelato and took a selfie of herself. She was cheered up by how she loved the contrast of her dark brown skin in the midst of the brightly covered leaves behind her.
Wiping her face once more for good measure she walked into the shop and saw Khadihja who goes by Gigi.
“Janelle is that you?” Khadihja came from behind the counter with her arms out wide. “I’ve missed you. Now I got all my girls coming back to see me.”
Janelle always felt like a happy little girl whenever she got one of these bear hugs. “Hey Ms.Gigi. It’s been super busy since school let out last May, but we always like to come hang out here with you.”
“Oh I’m so glad to hear that.” Gigi beamed at her. “And you’ll notice I’m doing a little redecorating here and there.”
Janelle looked around and noticed the Haitian flag and a large mural. “Who painted the mural for you? That’s gorgeous.” The beautiful colors of the village and the pride of the people holding onto a Haitian flag nearly took the air out of Janelle’s lungs.
“My son, Emmanuel, worked on it.” Gigi smiled. “You know he graduated last year and got into Savannah College of Art and Design.”
“That’s amazing. He definitely has the talent to go very far with his art.”
“Thanks sweetheart.” Gigi put her arm around Janelle’s shoulder and gave her a tight squeeze. “Don’t be a stranger around here girl.”
“I won’t.” Janelle said as she did a quick scan to find her friends.
Charity and Miko were turned around anxiously awaiting to give high pitched shrieks when they finally locked eyes with Janelle.
Miko stood and reached her arms out for Janelle. Her straight her was put into a tight bun and she wore a Burberry wool cape with dark jeans and riding boots. “It’s so crazy seeing you. We talked all the time, but I feel like I nearly forgot what you looked like. Look at you girl.”
“Stop it, Miko. You look amazing. You have a new glow to you.” Jamelle took in checked out her friends new outfit. I guess interning at a fashion magazine will do that to you.”
“Stop fawning all over each other I want my hug too.” Charity said as she put her pistachio gelato down and stood to hug Janelle. “How have you been babes?”
“Good. I now have the Center of Disease Control on my resume. I can’t wait until college is over so I can get an official job there.”
“That sounds amazing. I had to let the Governor’s staff know that getting their coffee is not what their future President should be doing so they would actually give me some real work.”
“So what did you end up doing after that?” Miko asked as she took a sip of her Smart Water.
“I helped take notes and get coffee during important meetings, but dammit I learned things in those meetings so it’s an upgrade.”
The girls all chuckled. And while Miko and Janelle went on talking about their summer internships and experiences, Charity noticed a familiar face wearing a Black Panther hoodie, walking to their Acura from one of the nearby stores outside. He took smooth strides as if he was giving her a chance to check him out, because he knew she was watching. And she knew he couldn’t do anything about it.
“Charity what happened to Iyana and Janelle? Weren’t they supposed to come?”
Miko and Janelle noticed Charity was focused on someone outside. “Who do you see?” Miko asked.
“Uh, no one. I was just listening to y’all.” She bit her lip while she tried to think of what they were saying. “Uh. Um yeah, Iyana said Kayla is hung over from some pool party two nights ago. So they will see us at school later because Kayla is such a lightweight.”
Charity noticed her friends were still looking out the window to see who she was looking at. But she couldn’t let them have the slightest hint as to who it was or why she’d care because the last time she dated someone and didn’t want anyone to know Janelle, who she loves dearly, opened her big mouth and blabbed before Charity was ready to tell anyone. She hasn’t been able to trust her the same since then, at least not when it comes to her biggest secrets.”
“O.M.G. it’s that guy.” Janelle snapped her fingers repeatedly and looked up to the ceiling through squinted eyes as if the answers would fall from it. “Aw man I can’t think of his name, but you know he hung out with Mike and Sam all the time. They were seniors last year and he was the super smart one that was already half way done with college when he graduated.”
“Andre or something like that.” Miko said excitedly as if she was answering a question on Family Feud. “Yeah I remember him. But anyway, Janelle who dropped you off? Did you get a car?”
“No my dad said once I pass my drivers test we can go shopping though.”
“Uh oh.” Charity added. “Please don’t tell me you are still toying around with Joey. I almost feel sorry for him.”
“Please don’t.” Miko scoffed. “He’s such a douche.”
“He’s not that bad ya’ll.” Janelle hated putting on a facade for her friends but she would look pathetic if she told them the truth. “He is still wanting to tell people about us, but I’m like no sweetie I like keeping you as my cute little secret.”
“Damn playa playa. So if another girl dated him you’d be cool with that?” Miko asked.
“Playa playa is so 90′s.” Charity said. “But great question. Would you be like a guy and get jealous that the person you’re toying with is interested in someone else? Are you even interested in someone else?
“Y’all are silly. I would never have to worry about that because he is way too wrapped up in me. And I don’t care about anyone else because I just want to focus on my future and having fun with my girls.” Janelle put a big spoonful of gelato in her mouth so she would have a break to think if they asked her anything else she didn’t have an honest answer for.
The girls stayed and caught up for a couple of hours before they left.
“Alright my Dad’s here to pick me up. I’ll see y’all at school tomorrow.“Janelle said as she eagerly checked outside for her ride to pull up.
“Sweet.” Charity stood up and threw her empty cup in the recycle bin.
“This year is going to be different than Sophomore year or anything we could imagine. I can just feel it.” Miko wrapped her arms around herself as if she was containing herself from exploding with joy.
“Yep. It was fun to catch up. See y’all at school tomorrow.” Janelle had her back pressed up against the door and waved goodbye and she left. “Bye Gigi. I’ll be back soon.”
“Bye dear.” Gigi shouted from the backroom of the shop.
Charity waited for Miko to get up so they could walk out together. “You ready to head out babes?”
“That’s not her dads car. They have like SUVs or something.” Miko said as she watched Charity get into a white Dodge Charger. “Did her parents get a new car maybe, because that’s definitely not Joey’s car either.”
“Can’t see his face but I can tell you we aren’t so deep in the South we kiss our dads like that.′ Charity giggled at her own joke.
“I can’t believe this shit. We meet here to catch up and Janelle is holding out on us. I thought she told me everything.”
They watched as the car turned out of the parking lot. Charity didn’t care much. She figured she was dating an older guy she didn’t want anyone to know about. She’d always seen Janelle as very innocent. She saw her and Kayla the same way. But she felt protective over her the same way Iyana was protective over Kayla. At the same time she was focused on her own future and figured that her friend could handle herself.
Miko on the other hand felt that her and Janelle were closest. When Miko got her license she would drive Janelle to school each day. They had been best friends since middle school and suddenly it felt like it was all slipping away.
