Chasity and Melanie held hands and sang along to Kelis’ “Milkshake” as they walked into the lavishly decorated hall in the country club their prom was being hosted. The large group then found a table and the girls set their purses down. All of the boys in the group took their seats, and watched as their dates made their way to the dance floor. Melanie and Chasity danced happily with each other, swinging their arms around fluidly and moving their bodies the same.
The song ended and the next, Mya’s “Free” began to play. Melanie and Chasity stared wide-eyed at each other, grabbed hands and started dancing around as if they were at the actual concert. The thought that she would be dancing to that stage in front of thousands of fans, made Melanie even more excited and carefree. To prevent the excess sweat that would soon ruin their hair, Melanie and Chasity found their way through their classmates and over to their table. Justin and the rest of the guys stood, and said that they were ready to take pictures. Once they were in the picture line, Justin snaked his arms around Melanie’s waist and kissed her neck lovingly. “How many are we getting?” Justin asked, referring to the pictures. “A lot. We need wallets to hand out, just a couple 5X7’s and some 8X10’s. I don’t know, there should be a package price.” “Do we really need wallets? Who are we going to give them to?” “Our friends, silly,” Melanie said and looked at him. “Are people really going to keep our prom pictures? People besides family?” “Yes, a lot of people have pictures from dances-I’ve seen them.” “Whatever you say.” Justin noticed the silver thin piece of jewelry that went down Melanie’s spine. He pulled on it’s dangling end curiously, and Melanie turned around. “What is that?” Justin asked. “A necklace.” Justin chuckled, “don’t you have it on backwards?” “No, fool. It just hangs down my back and the front wraps around my stomach.” It was then that Justin saw the sexy piece trailing down the middle of her chest. “Sexy,” he said. “I know.” She smiled. “Don’t get cocky,” Justin mumbled and playfully rolled his eyes. “You’re a hater.” Justin guffawed. “Oh yeah, because I wish I had a necklace like that.” Melanie pushed him softly, and Justin grabbed her hands that were pushing his chest, and pulled her to him. “Don’t make me yank you by that thing,” he said lowly into her ear. “You know I like it rough like that,” Melanie mumbled back seductively. Justin blushed, chuckled, and bit his lip. “I’mma tear you up tonight.” * * The juniors and seniors of Calumet High danced and danced. At one point, Melanie had taken off her red stiletto heels, and she and Chasity switched those out for a pair of red flip flops. “No you didn’t,” Justin said slowly. Melanie just laughed and continued to dance. She and Chasity had managed to turn things out when the DJ played Petey Pablo’s “Vibrate”. Also, when Mya’s “Free” began to play, there was a deeper meaning. Justin didn’t dance as much as Melanie would’ve hoped, but he didn’t stop her from dancing with other people. He even let a couple of guys outside of the basketball team dance with her. Melanie grew worried when he didn’t say anything when Damien and she began to dance. There were also times when the stepper girls and cheerleaders would dance closely and the boys would get excited. Victoria got in the middle of the big circle everyone had constructed, and to Melanie’s encouragement, got her eagle on. When the DJ cut the music off, the class president walked on the stage to the beat of everyone’s applause. “Thank you!” she said to her classmates. “And now, it’s time for the biggest part of prom: the coronation of prom king and queen!” The princes and princesses took the stage and the president took the future king’s crown out of its see-through container and held it up. Everyone cheered and she rose it next to Damien’s head, and everyone cheered. She then moved to Justin, and tried to reach Leroy but couldn’t. Everyone cheered as the crown hovered over the potentials’ head. Finally, she placed the crown on Damien’s head. The boys on stage next to him hugged him and each other and the princes happily left the stage. “Oh well,” Jerome said to Justin once they were back down on the floor. Justin shrugged. “Yeah, I’m happy for him. He deserves it.” “Yeah, he does man.” “Honestly, I’m kinda over this prom thing.” “I’ve noticed you’ve been acting weird.” “Not-“ The loud cheering interrupted the boys, so they looked to see that Victoria had won queen. They watched as all the girls hugged, and as most of them walked off the stage happy. Nicole was the only one without a smile on her face as she walked off. Justin couldn’t understand why she thought she really had a chance, put he put it past him quickly. Melanie, more relieved than anything, walked with Chasity back to their table and watched Damien and Victoria slow dance by themselves. The boys soon sat back at the table, and Jerome and Justin finished their conversation. “So what’s been going on?” Jerome asked. “Nothing, really- I just want get to the hotel that’s all,” Justin laughed. Jerome smiled and nodded knowingly, and the boys pounded their fists. “I feel you. Your mind’s just somewhere else that’s all.” “Have you gotten Melanie a birthday gift yet?” Justin asked. “Nope, what kinda stuff does she like? I was thinking about a 50 dollar gift card to Tower.” “She’ll like that.” “What you gonna get her?” Jerome asked. “Some of that sentimental shit.”They both laughed.
* At the end of the dance, the lights were turn on, and so were the water works, as many people began to cry upon realization that that had just been their last high school dance. After the good-byes, Melanie and Justin were the last of their group to hop into the limo. The ride to the nearby Holiday Inn was quiet, and pictures were taken. Once they’d arrived, and checked in, they said their good-byes and Justin told everyone to meet in the lobby at 5:00, giving them five hours to take care of business. As Justin and Melanie neared their room, she asked why he was so quiet during the dance. “I was saving my energy,” he replied. “For what?” “You.” With that, Justin pulled Melanie into the room and soon had her up against a wall, groping her freely. Melanie smiled, allowed her to pick her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. While she straddled him, and he made his way to the bed, he began to slip the top part of her body out of the sexy red dress… - PART 2Monday 12:20 pm Boxes seemed to be the primary objects in every senior’s life at the moment. Everyone had different colors, some were decorated, some scribbled on. Whether one was moving, or cleaning out their locker everything was piled in a big box. Melanie remembered seeing about 5 different classmates at the U-Haul station over the weekend, and at the post office all three times she went. Boxes were handed to every senior at the end of the second period final, and they were instructed to clean out their lockers, putting their books in the boxes provided and carrying them to the library. Chasity caught up to Melanie in the crowd of moving seniors and nudged her arm lightly. “Hey girl,” she said.” Melanie smiled at her and sighed. “I never thought this day would come.” “Yeah,” Chasity agreed somberly. “We’re moving on like Mya.” “Don’t quote her songs,” Melanie laughed. “I’m proud of you, girl, that’s all.” Melanie smiled. “I’m proud of me too. I plan on telling Justin Wednesday.” “I know. “ Chasity rolled her eyes. “You’ve told me five times over the span of two days.” “Sorry,” her friend offered sheepishly. “I’m nervous.” “Yeah, well you should be,” Chasity said as they entered the library. “That’s a nice thing to say.” “I would be more than nervous if I were you.” “Chasity!” Melanie whined. “I’m not helping huh?” “Hell no.” “You better call me,” Chasity changed the subject. “I will after 9.” The girls both laughed and returned their books, and in exchange, they received a yearbook. “So…”Melanie stalled, “what are you getting me for my birthday-you know it’s tomorrow.” “Um…shit.”
Tuesday, Melanie’s Birthday “Okay, class do not begin writing until I instruct you to do so. Here’s your essay question,” said Mrs. Hopkins, Melanie’s English teacher. She then turned on the overhead projector and showed the students their essay question.
Class was interrupted however when an office aid walked in the room with a dozen of red roses and two large balloons: one was gold in the shape of a 1, the other in an 8. The teacher allowed the delivery girl to leave them on Melanie’s desk. Melanie blushed and looked at the little card even though she knew who it was from. The note read:
I hope you already know who sent these, cause if you don’t…you’re special. But, I hope you know that you’re already special in my eyes anyway. Happy Birthday, baby, maybe if you’re good you’ll get a little treat tonight. I was thinking about some uh vanilla ice cream with some thick chocolate syrup on top, and will be on top of a nice long banana-with a lot of nuts too, cause I know you like the nuts. But, I get to mess with the cherry. So…yeah, I’ll take you to Ben & Jerry’s after school. HAHAH! I wonder what YOU were thinking about.
Love, your Sugar Daddy a.ka. your milk man aka your white chocolate aka JUSTIN fool. Melanie laid her head on her desk and proceeded to laugh hard, but silently.-10:15- Justin’s fingers were beginning to hurt from all the writing he’d done. From the final he took in English, which was an essay, and currently from signing friends’ yearbooks. Everyone was posted in the hallways signing as many yearbooks as possible in the allotted time given for break. Justin was in the middle of Damien’s before Jerome and Victoria sat theirs beside him. “Who has your yearbook?” Damien asked when Justin returned his. “I don’t even know, man,” Justin said and searched for a spot to sign in Victoria’s book. Damien laughed and shook hands with Justin. “I don’t know if I’ll see you tomorrow, so I’ll see you at graduation.”
As Damien left Justin, he read the note he’d left next to Mike’s on the last page:
Hey man, it’s been fun, but all good things must come to an end unfortunately. It’s too bad that our ignorance kept us from getting to know each other more. But, I’m glad we finally looked past our differences and became friends-you’re a cool dude. Next time I see you I’ll be dunking on you inside Michigan State’s gym, so watch out for me son! I’m just kidding…not really, but you know. Anyway! Keep your head up and your game strong. HOLLER!
-JT.
“Mama, I don’t need that many clothes,” Melanie said as she entered her bedroom and noticed her mom pilling more and more clothes in her suitcases. “Yes, you do. You’re leaving me,” Rhonda whined and folded another shirt. “Mama, I’m not leaving. I’m just going to be gone for a while. I thought we went over this already? I’m leaving for New York, staying there for about a month and a half. I’m coming back for like a couple of weeks, going to New York again, and then a whole bunch of other places for promotion. After that I’m coming back again, and the first city on the tour is Florida, sometime in October.” “Oh gee, I get to see you for about four weeks, not even consecutively,” Rhonda whined again. “Mom I’ll be home in September. It’ll be like I’m gone for summer-“ “Then you leave again for about a year.” “Maybe 6 months. But, I’ll come back!” “What are you going to do after that?” Rhonda asked. “Move out,” Melanie said sheepishly. “Melanie!” “Mommy, I have to! After the tour, I want to audition more. And I can’t be under you forever.” “Why the hell not?” “Because…you’ll understand when you’re older, sweetie,” Melanie joked. Wednesday, Justin’s enlightenment Holy crap. I have to tell Justin about New York after we get out. Today’s our last day at school. It’s a big day. I gave Justin my yearbook last night, and told him that I had a page front and back reserved for him. He proceeded to look at me like I was crazy because he didn’t understand why I had given him so much space, but I didn’t tell him anything but to “just write whatever comes to mind”. He’ll have a lot to say after tonight. Before he left my house after we had that “ice cream sundae”, he left me his yearbook and told me to write whatever came to mind too. I’m sure he was just saying that so that we’d both have something written in each other’s yearbooks. I only have one final today, and it’s my last one: government. I should get an A though- it’s open notes. Justin has Economics today, and that’s his only one as well. I hope he does well- he was stressing about it because that’s the only class he doesn’t have an A in. He did move it up from a C- to a B+ though, and I thought that was good enough. But, Justin didn’t of course. My birthday was really fun, I got a lot of cool gifts. My mom got me an I-pod, and Justin, oh Justin. When we were in Cali, I saw this really cute Dior purse that had matching stillettos. They were pink and white and Dior was written in pink and the strap of the shoes had this pretty white flower, and the purse had the same white flower. Anyway, he got me the Dior shoes and purse! I was so happy- I didn’t even tell him that I wanted them, I just said they were cute. Chasity got me this really cute blue, dance suit type thing, and matching baby blue jazz shoes! How cute is that? Then a bunch of us went out to eat at Red Lobster-good stuff. -Melanie jumped at the sound of the doorbell, her own trepidation getting the best of her. Slowly and reluctantly she went to open the door because she knew Justin was standing behind it, following her request that he show up. Rhonda had called earlier to wish Melanie good luck since she wouldn’t be there due to work. Melanie shook her head at the fact that people, her mother, Chasity, Lisa, and Brian, had wished her luck- it let her know how big she’d let the situation get. She opened the door and gave a small smile to Justin. “You wanted to see me?” Justin asked. “Yeah, come on.” Melanie led him into the living room and plopped down on the couch. She patted the seat next to her and looked at him expectantly, so he sat down. “What is it?” He questioned again. “Are you antsy?” “I don’t know. When you called me like, “I have some important stuff to tell you”…what am- you’re not pregnant are you?” Melanie grinned. “No, that’s not even close.” She watched Justin visibly relax and rubbed his shaved head. “Good. Is this bad, I feel bad like-“ “Why do you feel bad?” “I just have a bad feeling.” Melanie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Justin sprung up from the couch, and her eyes popped open. “What are you doing?” “You’re breathing all-“ “Justin, sit down.” Justin nodded his head and cautiously sat down on the couch. It was then that Melanie began to second-guess her decision to tell him, because he was already paranoid. However, she went with her first instinct. “I’m going to New York.” His piercing blue eyes shot in her direction and his head slowly followed. “For what?” “To dance for Mya- I’m a back up dancer on her upcoming tour and I have to go to New York for rehearsals, I’m going to be there for a while. Then we start the tour.” Justin faced forward with a blank look on his face, but on the inside, the slow pain of rejection began to overcome him. Anger fused with the abandonment that had just set in, and he sprung back up with his vision still facing forward. “When did you go to audition for that?” Melanie cursed herself inwardly, because she hoped he wouldn’t ask that question. “During spring break, when we-“ “And Danielle took you, and I picked you up and asked you how things went and you didn’t answer.” “I didn’t know then, Justin.” Justin turned to her, his face clearly different than how it was when he’d walked in. She’d only seen that face a couple of times when he was having family problems. That look of ‘how could you?’ “Oh really? So when did you know?” It was like he was waiting on her to lie. “A couple weeks later.” Justin gave a sarcastic chuckle and put his hands on top of his head, and turned his back to her again. “You’re estimating right? So that it doesn’t look bad? You know what?” Justin turned to her again. “That’s not even the point right now- spring break was in what? March? And it’s…June. We graduate on Saturday. And you’re just telling me NOW! That shit doesn’t even make sense, Melanie.” “I know, Justin. I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to be in a relationship with an ending already there.” “Oh!” Justin proclaimed sarcastically, “so you’re the surprise type! I get it now!” “Justin, we wouldn’t have gotten as close as we have now if we knew we were going separate ways.” “Oh, so you’d just wait til’ now…when I’ve already gotten close to you to just drop all this shit on me. Makes a lot of fuckin’ sense, Melanie.” “You know what?” Melanie rose her voice. “I don’t need you fuckin’ patronizing me right now! I know the shit doesn’t make sense, but for some reason it did then!” “I’ll patronize you all I want, dammit! You’re not the one standing here with your heart being broken!” Justin vehemently wiped away the tears that he deliberately tried to keep from falling. “Is that what you think Justin? I’ve been walking around with this secret for a whi-“ “Whose fuckin’ fault is that? It’s not mine! What next? Are you gonna tell me you’re leaving the night we graduate? Or are you going to leave that as a surprise too?” Justin spat sadistically. “I leave the day after graduation at 8:15 in the morning,” she said quietly through tears. “Oh wooooww! You’re quick huh?” “Justin, I got really close to you over the past couple of months, and I didn’t know how to handle it because things were going good, so I didn’t want to ruin it by distancing you.” Justin scoffed and shook his head. “Congratulations! You just did.” With that, Justin left the apartment and her standing in the living room crying. Part of her was crying because she knew that no good would come of the situation, yet she still felt like dirt.Thursday
The sun was shining bright, and it was hot outside for the first time in ages it felt like to Justin. Despite his urge to stay in bed and mope, after talking to Jerome last night, his boys personally went to his house and made him get out of bed. They all went to Wellington Park to shoot some hoops, in hopes to cheer Justin up, but it wasn’t working too well. “Remember your first street ball game, Justin?” Jerome reminisced. Justin launched the ball roughly at the backboard and Samuel caught the ball that was coming fast at his head. “She fuckin’ lied to me! For like three months! Is that shit even possible? FUCK! I thought I had lying down!” The boys shot around nervously, and still tried to calm Justin down. “Hey, remember that time we all went to the club and got hella drunk?” Leroy laughed, as the rest did-except for Justin. “We did everything together. Fuckin’ everything! And she PLAYED me! SHIT!” Justin p