The Young Original Cindy Series
2. Caught Up
Dear Diamond,
It’s your girl Cindy, like you didn’t know that. Thanks for the Birthday letter. Turning 16 was kind of weird. My parents don’t know what to do with me anymore. They tiptoe around me like I have the plague. My birthday was the last time I saw Josie. As much as I missed her when she moved away, my biggest fear is that when you come back home, it won’t be to me. But we’ll find a way, we have too, because I’m not complete without you.
Your Boo forever,
Cindy
OXOXOX
Cindy closed the letter, sealed the envelope and left her room. She walked down to the mailbox and dropped it in. Then she pulled her wallet out. Wasn’t much money in it, but the picture Josie had given her of Diamond was in there. Worn from being handled, creased from being folded. She smiled down at it and tucked it back in her pocket. She had been plotting a way to take the bus to visit Diamond despite the fact her parents said no. They still blamed Diamond for her “condition” as they called it. So far her plans had all been intercepted by something or someone. So she and diamond just wrote back and forth to each other
“Yo Cindy,” a guy called as he approached.
She smiled. It was Snuffy. She had befriended Herbal and Snuffy a few months back. To her surprise, she found herself with more male friends than female friends. Snuffy knew Diamond before she had gotten locked up. Snuffy and Herbal were friends. And Herbal was mad cool. So the three of them often hung out together. Her father had seen her with Herbal one day and assumed they were dating. Angry, she set him straight immediately.
“What’s up,” Cindy said putting her wallet away and greeting each of them.
“My boy ‘ere ‘on’t to go check out the junkyard,” Herbal said. “You be ‘oin’ wit us?”
“Cindy don’t know. The parentals,” Cindy said.
“It’s fly,” Snuffy added. “And the ladies down there are hot.”
Cindy’s eyes suddenly fell to the ground.
“Come on Cindy,” Snuffy said. “Diamond don’t expect you to be celibate.”
She didn’t feel like telling him by all accounts, physical or otherwise, she was a virgin. She had never had any kind of sex with anyone. She didn’t see anything wrong with that, she had just turned 16. But boys could be real stupid about virginity. They considered losing their virginity the gateway into manhood. She wasn’t seeking manhood, or womanhood, that way. When it was time, it would happen, or so she told herself.
“I know Diamond got her thing going,” Snuffy laughed. “She always do. That chick use to pull better broads then me.”
“Snuffy my friend, everyone pulls better broads den you,” Herbal told him.
The two boys laughed for a moment. Cindy didn’t find anything funny. Herbal quickly picked up on this.
“My brother,” Herbal said. “You see how dis is hurtin’ our sister.” Herbal put his arm around Cindy. “If our sister feels dat the love is real, who are we to judge?”
“I’m sorry Cindy,” Snuffy said. “We cool.”
Snuffy opened his arms for a hug.
“Yeah, we cool,” Cindy said hugging him. “Let’s go check this place out,” she said as they broke the hug.
They called it the junkyard, because it had been created from junk. Originally pieced together as a Skate park, the teenagers had fashioned ramps and such from scraps they’d found and made it their own personal hang-out. Seeing it was a popular spot, vendors set up near the place. Though most of the food they sold, while edible, wasn’t great. Most of the skate boards, skates, and bikes the teenagers used had been pieced together with parts they found. A select few actually had money for bikes and skate boards and such. Some helped others out. Some budding artist hung out there, creating logos for different crews on “the wall”. But to make it to the “Wall” a crew had to prove it’s skill. A lot of kids came just to hang out, they made bets, mingled with their friends. The place was alive with kids and activity.
Cindy sat with her two friends and watched a girl and boy from two different crews skate through an obstacle course. The girl was winning. She had some fancy moves.
“Who’s that?” Cindy asked.
“They call her Skate,” Snuffy answered. “She’s very cool. I’m going to hook up with her.”
It was no surprise to her that the girl won. She shook hands with her opponent after and skated over to where Cindy was sitting with her friends. She was a pretty girl – gorgeous skin, long brown hair, great athletic shape, and she had enchanting green eyes. Cindy couldn’t help following her with her eyes.
“Hey Snuff, Herbal,” She said with a smile as she shared a dap with each of them. “Who’s your friend?”
“Dis is Cindy,” Herbal said.
“What’s up,” Skate said turning toward her. They shook hands.
“Why do they call you Skate?” Cindy asked.
“Because I’m a master of all things on wheels,” Skate said with a smile. She skated backward and did a little spin. “My parents had me doing this ice skating thing when I was younger, pre-pulse.”
“Cool,” Cindy said.
“Are you kidding?” Skate said flopping down beside her. “I hated it. My mom wanted to be in the olympics, but she was in a car accident.” Skate frowned. “She lived, but was confined to a wheel chair.”
“I’m sorry,” Cindy said.
“She’s all right,” Skate replied. “This is too much to be laying on somebody in our first meeting anyway,” Skate said with a smile. “I’m sorry.”
“Yo, there go blaze,” Snuffy said pointing to a guy on a bike as he rode in popping a wheelie.
Cindy tried to concentrate on the show, but she kept glancing at the girl beside her. She tried not to think to hard about it, but Skate glanced away from Blaze and smiled at her. It shook her up. She was no longer the shy little kid she’d been a year ago. But she was still unfamiliar with courtship rituals and the idea of macking to a girl still scared her a little. Besides, she loved Diamond.
“Scuze me,” Skate said. “I got to show this brother some moves.”
Skate took off her skates. She threw on some tennis and grabbed a bike. As she rode past Cindy, she winked.
Cindy decided to pull out after hanging out awhile. Herbal and Snuffy had started talking to some girls and it got old fast, especially since both the girls were ugly. She was surprised when Skate came rolling up beside her. She glanced to the side and kept walking. She skated in front of her.
“You gonna pretend you don’t see me?”
“Going home,” Cindy said. “Is there something you want? Cindy don’t have time for games.”
She wondered if she sounded to cold. Skate had been nice so far.
“All right, I’m going to be straight with you,” Skate said. “Snuffy told me to hang out with you.”
“Oh god, he’s setting me up,” Cindy sighed. “Cindy gonna have to put a straight up beat down on that nigga.”
“Don’t trip,” Skate said. “It’s not like that. Snuffy told me your best friend left a few weeks ago and your girlfriend is currently locked down. He says your cool, but you’ve been real sad lately. Said you might be in need of a non-testosterone driven friend. Not quite in those words, but you know.”
She was a little ticked Snuffy had taken it upon himself the tell all her personal history to this stranger, even if she was an adorable stranger. Skate smiled, Cindy couldn’t help but return it. She couldn’t help feeling awkward around her. She was cute, too cute. It shook her up. Her heart was still very much with Diamond. She didn’t want to feel anything for any other girl. But it didn’t seem like Skate was looking for romance.
She started walking, Skate skated beside her.
“So, how’d your girl get locked up.”
“She stole a car,” Cindy said quietly.
“So you like bad girls huh,” Skate teased.
“Seeing as Diamond was my first girlfriend,” Cindy replied. “I don’t have much to judge by.”
“You know what your attracted too,” Skate said.
“Can we talk about something else?” Cindy said.
“Sure,” Skate said. “Your best friend, how long were you friends.”
“Since ova, our moms went to Lamaze together, threw us in the same play pen while they visited each other. She’s Diamond’s cousin.”
“How Cute,” Skate said.
“Actually, Cindy and Diamond’s romance was not made better by this situation.”
“Worse?”
“In a way,” Cindy said. “But it was all good with me and Josie in the end. Can’t say the same for my parents.”
“This is Cindy’s crib,” Cindy said. “See you later.” Cindy turned away
“You don’t want me to come in?” Skate asked.
She pondered the question for the moment.
“My feet are a little tired,” she said.
“Sure, Whatever,” Cindy said as she opened the door.
Skate came in and sat on their frumpy couch. For the first time, Cindy noticed the quality of Skate’s in-line skates. They weren’t cheep or pieced together.
“You want something to drink, we got water,” Cindy said.
“Sure,” Skate said pulling off her skates.
Cindy gave her a glass of water and sat as far as she could on the other end of the couch.
“Do you think I’m going to infect you with something,” Skate asked.
“No,” Cindy replied, feeling a little silly.
“I’ll leave if you want,” Skate said standing up.
“I thought you said your feet hurt.”
“They do,” Skate said. “But if I’m intruding, I’ll leave.”
“It’s cool,” Cindy said. “It’s just–”
“What?”
Cindy sighed. “You going to laugh.”
“No I won’t,” Skate said sliding closer.
“Girls make Cindy a little nervous,” Cindy admitted, the words flowing out as quickly as possible.
Skate giggled. “Really?”
Cindy didn’t know why she had admitted that at all. Maybe it was because she was a girl. The guys would have teased her for saying such a thing. She had this shield where they were concerned. Sometimes they’d be watching tv or looking at a magazine and she’d comment as freely as they would about an attractive body, a cute face. On other issues, it was just a matter of putting up the right front. But flesh and blood women still made her a little nervous.
“Your laughing at me,” Cindy said getting up. “Why did I even say anything?”
Skate walked up behind her and put her arms around her from the back. Cindy was about ready to jump out of her skin, but she was so warm.
“It’s okay,” she whispered in her ear. “I would never tell the boys.” She backed off and Cindy missed the warmth. “Besides, you got nothing to fear from me. I’m just a regular old girl from around the way.”
Skates’ watch beeped, yet another expensive item.
“Damn,” she said looking at it. “It’s my Dad,” Skate said. “I got to go. We got a spades game going at Jeff’s house later. You going to be there.”
“Don’t know Jeff.”
“Snuffy do,” she replied. “If he coming, why don’t you drop by.”
“Maybe,” Cindy said.
Skate grabbed her stuff and walked out the door. As she exited, Cindy’s mother came in.
“Who was that?” she asked.
“A friend,” Cindy replied.
“Friend?”
“Yes,” Cindy snapped. “Your daughter is allowed to have friends isn’t she.”
“I am still your mother,” she said. “Don’t talk to me that way.”
“I understand your exploring yourself right now, but you will not do certain things in this house,” her mother stated.
“What have a friend over, give her a glass of water, and talk,” Cindy snapped. “I’m in love with Diamond okay,” she continued. “My girlfriend is locked up, you don’t have a thing to worry about.” She went in her room and slammed the door.
There was a knock on her door sometime later. She opened the door and her mother came in and sat on the bed she sat beside her.
“This isn’t a phase is it.” her mother said. “That you’ll have to live with this stigma all you life.”
“It’s who I am mom, my friends accept it, why can’t my family?” Cindy said.
“You know how much it hurts me to know you’ll never make me a grandmother. You’ll never know what it like to be married and have a family.” Her mother sighed. “To be loved by a man.”
Cindy frowned. “Don’t you understand. Love is love, it’s always love. And I love Diamond and none of you respect it, or care for that matter.”
“We care Cindy,” her mother said. “But Diamonds a criminal.”
“Diamond made some mistakes,” Cindy said. “But she loves me.”
“Even if Diamond were a boy,” her mother said. “We’d have a problem with you dating a convict. Maybe if you’d met a nice girl, it would be easier on us.”
“Except you know that’s a lie,” Cindy said.
“Maybe we’ll never be happy with it,” her mother said. “But it would certainly help to relieve some issues if your girlfriend wasn’t a jailbird.”
Cindy sighed. Then her mother did something unexpected, hugged her and kissed her on the forehead. Then she got up and left. A nice girl huh? Skate immediately came to mind. Somehow she didn’t see her family embracing Skate or any other girl. Besides, she didn’t even now if Skate was gay or straight. all she knew was Skate wore seemed to have her hands on some expensive stuff. And that could mean she was just like Diamond.
She planning on going to Jeff’s house, but at 11 o’clock, Snuffy and Herbal came knocking on her window.
“What yawl doin’ here?” Cindy said.
“Skate said you needed to be picked up,” Snuffy told her.
She sighed. It wasn’t quite a lie, it wasn’t quite the truth.
“Shouldn’t be going out this late,” Cindy said.
“Come on, you’ve done it before,” Snuffy said.
She shrugged, it was true. Plus, it wasn’t that she didn’t like Skate. It was just that the girl unnerved her, bothered her. The last thing she needed was another Nikki. That’s who Skate reminded her of and she needed to avoid that at all cost. But she left with the boys anyway.
When she got there, she was a little sorry she had come. There were a couple tables set up, various card games going on. The truth was, she had never bothered to learn any card game beyond “War” and “Go Fish”.
“Cindy, what’s up,” Skate called as she walked up behind her and put her arms around her shoulder.
“Hey Skate,” she replied.
“What’s up boys?” Skate said to them. “Want to be my partner,” Skate asked.
“Can’t play,” Cindy said. “Don’t know the game.”
“That’s all right, you can just come sit with me and I’ll teach you,” Skate told her. “Cool with you?”
“Cool,” Cindy replied.
Skate walked to a table with Cindy beside her. Cindy didn’t know where Herbal and Snuffy had went off too. Skate introduced Cindy to the two boys and one girl at the table. Skate’s partner was a guy. Cindy sat beside Skate. She whispered to Cindy each time she was dealt a hand telling her which cards were good, how to bid, etc etc etc. She found herself smiling and laughing at the table within a few hours. Whispering back to Skate about her cards. They were playing poker on the other side of the room and it was far more serious. Cindy caught sight of Herbal and Snuffy over there.
Skate and her partner lost and then Skate offered her a beer. She said yes, but she had never drunk beer before. They walked together out to the nearly empty backyard. Their was a couple making out on there. Cindy felt a little weird being in their space. Skate didn’t seem effected at all.
“What is your real name?” Cindy finally asked.
“Kiersten,” Skate replied.
“Pretty,” Cindy said. “Unlike my plain old name.”
“I don’t know, I don’t like it. To girlie.”
“You are a girl,” Cindy told her.
“I know,” Skate said. “But I’m not exactly the princess my parents want me to be.”
“Who is,” Cindy said, as she watched Skate take a swig of beer. “Me and my mom had an interesting little talk after you left.”
“What happened?”
“She thought you were her daughter’s knew girlfriend,” Cindy said playing with the bottle in her hands.
Skate laughed. “What did you tell her?”
“That I was in love with Diamond.”
“Have you seen her?” Skate asked. “I mean since she got arrested.”
“No,” Cindy said. “Been trying to though.”
“What was she like?” Skate asked.
“Intoxicating,” Cindy said with a smile. “She knew just just how to get me right here.” She touched her heart. “Even though at the time I was infatuated with another girl.”
“What was her name?”
“Nikki,” Cindy replied. “What about you?”
“What about me?” Skate said.
“Past boyfriends, girlfriends, whatever.”
Skate smiled, a sly smile.
“You want to know if I’m gay or straight.”
Cindy shrugged. “I just want to know about you.”
“I had a boyfriend last year. Total cutie pie, thought I was in love with him. I messed around with a girl once. I don’t know, I like who I like.”
“So do you consider yourself bi-sexual?”
She shrugged. “I consider myself, myself. What are the labels really for?”
“To let guys know Cindy ain’t havin’ it,” Cindy replied. Skate smiled.
“So you gonna drink that beer or play with it?” Skate asked glancing at her with those enchanting green eyes.
“I’ve never really had any before,” Cindy said. She looked down at it for a minute and took a swig. It was the foulest tasting thing she’d ever had, she spit it out and dropped her bottle, startling the couple that had been making out. They got up and left, leaving the girls alone. Skate laughed.
“You find Cindy funny huh,” she said standing up.
“Don’t be so sensitive,” Skate said as she stood up. She walked beside her and put an arm around her neck. “Her take a drink of mine and don’t hit it so hard.”
Skate put the bottle to her lips and Cindy helped guide it with her own hand. Her eyes met Skates over the bottle. It didn’t taste so foul this time. Or maybe it was the view. They talked some more and shared Skates beer. After awhile, Cindy put her hand in her pocket, pulled out her wallet and looked at Diamond’s picture, then showed it to Skate.
“That’s my girl,” Cindy said. “Ain’t she fine.”
“Not as fine as you,” Skate replied. She smiled and kissed Cindy softly, gently. It could have even been interpreted as friendly. “I’m sorry,” Skate said with a giggle. “I’m buzzed. Damn, I can’t drive.”
“You have a car?” Cindy said surprised.
“I have a lot of things,” Skate said.
Herbal and Snuffy finally showed up and luckily, Herbal was able to drive. Cindy was surprised Skate had a nice Jeep. They dropped her off first and she got in without being caught, but the next morning she had to do her best to hide her hangover.
“Where were you last night,” she asked as she dropped a mush that resembled oatmeal in her bowl.
“In bed,” Cindy replied.
“I went to check on you last night,” her mother said. “And you weren’t there.”
Cindy shifted in her chair.
“Were you with that girl?” her mother asked.
“I went to a party,” Cindy replied.
“On a school night,” her father exclaimed standing up.
“What exactly is the point of school?” Cindy asked. “I’m not going to be getting no office job.”
“One day,” her father said. “This depression is going to be over. And you’re going to need your education.”
“Then I’ll worry about school then,” Cindy yelled, slamming a chair as she got up from the table.
“Come back here,” her father said. Cindy left the room, with her father yelling at her. She was to out of it to go far. Josie’s house was still empty, so she crawled through the window and slept. She was a bit more level headed when she awoke at noon and went back to her empty house. She didn’t know why she had snapped on her father, hormones maybe. Skate showed up at her house at 3, about an hour before her mom was due home.
“What you doing here?” Cindy asked as she opened the door.
“Damn, did I upset you that much last night?”
“We gotta bounce now,” Cindy said coming out the door. “If my mom or dad see me that’s it.”
“Damn, did you get in that much trouble?” Skate asked when they were a good distance from her house.
“I snapped on my dad this morning and cut school.”
“Really?”
“It was fucked up,” Original Cindy said.
“We were all a little fucked up last night,” Skate said. “I’m sorry.”
Cindy wanted to say “you kissed me last night”, but decided to avoid that conversation. they were drinking, they were acting stupid. That was the end of it. She wasn’t ready to talk about it.
“I need to go home and deal with being punished. Can I talk to you later? I don’t have a phone, but you know where I’m at.”
Skate reached down in her vest pocket and pulled out a pen. She took Cindy’s hand, opened it and wrote her number on there. “I do have a phone. So if you can get to one, this is how to reach me.”
Cindy smiled. Still rationalizing the kiss as something that just happened while they were a little buzzed. It didn’t mean anything. She liked Skate, as a friend. Every girl needed a girl to talk to and Skate had a rhythm all her own. Cindy couldn’t help being drawn to it.
“Later,” Cindy said turning towards home. She turned back for a moment, Skate was watching her leave. Yeah, she had a new friend.
Cindy apologized to her father on her own, but she was punished for a month. She went to school and after school, she went to her mothers job and worked. She swept, cleaned counters, washed dishes. Her mom was a waitress in this high class restaurant (on of the few in existence) and Cindy wages went straight to her mother. After work, she came home, she ate dinner, she went to bed. She didn’t complain.
The restaurant had a phone, so if she got a free moment, she sometimes called Skate. And at night she wrote letters to Diamond and mailed them in the morning on the way to school. She was very careful to avoid mentioning Skate, though she couldn’t think of a good reason why she was doing it. Skate was just a new friend of hers. Diamond wrote back, but her mom always read the letters first and certain letters she refused to give to her. Said they were “inappropriate”.
When she was finally off punishment, she got Skate to pick her up after school. She still planned to get home early, but it was a Friday and she was going to have fun. She was leaving with Herbal and Snuffy when Skate pulled up in front of the school. Skate jumped out the car and greeted the two guys and then Cindy.
“You finally off of lock down huh?” Skate said to Cindy.
“Cindy is free,” Cindy told her.
“Then lets roll,” Skate said.
The two girls jumped in the vehicle. Snuffy came up to the car.
“What about us?” Snuffy asked
“This is ladies night,” Skate said as she turned the key.
Skate pulled off, the boys watched them leave.
“She then stole my girl,” Snuffy said turning to Herbal.
“You hooked them up, mon, “Herbal told him.
“Yeah,” Snuffy said. “But Cindy was suppose to be my in.” He sighed, “girls”
“Where we going?” Cindy finally asked after they had drove for almost an hour.
“Well, I’ve been to your crib, it’s about time you checked out mine.”
Cindy sat silent, afraid. Her crib? She wasn’t sure if she was ready for that. She asked herself a million times, what exactly was going on with Skate and herself. She tried to tell herself they were just friends, never quiet convincing herself that was all they were. Truth was, they had only kiss once and otherwise it had been all good.
Suddenly, Skate pulled into paradise. She’d heard rumors of neighborhoods like this, but was never quite convinced they existed.
“What are we doing here?” Cindy said.
“Didn’t I tell you,” Skate said pulling into a driveway. “My parents are loaded.”
Skate flipped a gadget out of her pocket and a garage door opened. She pulled in, parked, and jumped out her vehicle. Cindy sat completely still, looking around the garage, which contained at least five vehicles.
“Come on,” Skate said.
“I’m not quite sure I belong here,” Cindy said.
“It’s cool,” Skate said. “We all take off our gear the same way, even with a whole lot of cash in the pot.”
Cindy got out the car and walked slowly toward Skate. She finally understood why Skate seemed to have such high priced stuff.
“Come on,” she said putting an arm around her and walking her into the house. Some guy in a penguin suit approached them.
“Miss may I take your coat,” he said.
“I’m not wearing a coat Davis,” Skate said. “This is my new friend, Cindy.”
“Whats up,” she said to him.
He bowed and left.
“Want some ice cream,” Skate said leading her into the kitchen. “What’s your favorite flavor?”
“I don’t know,” Cindy said looking around. “Man, this pad is tight.”
“It’s just a house.”
“There’s more money in one room of this house then Cindy’s whole hood.”
Cindy sat on a stool in the kitchen and Skate pulled out three boxes of ice cream. Skate grabbed a spoon and dipped it into a strawberry ice cream. Skate tasted it.
“Umm,” she said. “My only weakness. This ice cream.”
Skate smiled as she scooped some more on the spoon and offered it to Cindy. Cindy looked at it and reached for the spoon. Skate pulled it away.
“Open,” she said.
Cindy opened her mouth and Skate put the spoon in her mouth. The ice cream was sweet, the sweetest she ever tasted. almost as sweet as the enchanting eyes she was looking into. She tasted a little chocolate and a little vanilla the same way. Skate took a long lick on the spoon before throwing it in the sink.
“So what you want?” Skate asked.
“How about a little of all three?”
“Works for me,” Skate said. “Good apart, but delicious together.”
She began to prepare two bowls of ice cream and a young boy, about two years Skate’s junior, entered the room.
“Kiersten,” he said. “I thought I heard you come home.”
He looked at Cindy.
“Another one,” he said annoyed.
“This is my friend,” she said with a smile. “Cindy.”
“At least mother will be pleased this one is female,” the boy said.
Cindy was ready to snap the boys neck at this point. Who did he think he was?
“Cindy this is my brother,” Skate said. “Christopher.”
“A pleasure,” she said with a false smile.
“Let’s go,” Skate said handing Cindy her bowl. They left the kitchen and walked toward the back of the house. Skate opened a door that lead down into the basement. She grabbed a remote, flipped on her TV, and fell on the bed.
Cindy stood their astounded. The basement was immaculate. Their was a closed off area she guessed was the laundry room. But Skate had a queen sized bed in one corner, a huge TV with all types of other electronics. Their were bikes, in various states of repair, hanging from the ceiling on hooks or on the floor in pieces. Along with skateboards and various skates. It was the most awesome room she’d ever scene.
“Come sit,” Skate said patting the bed.
Cindy sat cautiously on the end of the bed and stared at the TV. They both ate their ice cream and remained quiet. When they were finished, they sat the bowls on her night stand and continued to sit in silence.
“Are you still afraid of me,” Skate said laying across her bed.
“Of course not,” Cindy said. “But I didn’t expect all this.”
“My brother thinks I got the worse room in the house. He doesn’t understand why I want to live in the basement.”
“I’d gladly live in a basement like this,” Cindy said. “It’s awesome. But why are you down here instead of upstairs?”
“I don’t know. It makes a better workshop. Upstairs, that’s where ‘the little princess’ lived. Skate’s not that princess.” Skate smiled at Cindy. “Why don’t you relax?”
“I’m cool,” Cindy said. She was actually as closed up as she could be, sitting on the edge of the bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her.
Skate sat up a little, pulled on her arm a little and Cindy fell back on the bed. Cindy’s arms remained crossed across her chest. Still a little uncomfortable.
“If it ain’t me, what are you afraid of?” Skate asked, raising up on her elbow, looking down at Cindy.
“This is all a little shocking,” Cindy replied. “Cindy just thought you were a girl from around the way.”
“I am, just from a place different than you thought,” Skate replied.
“Thank you,” Cindy said.
“For what?” Skate asked.
“Just being my friend,” Cindy said.
“Is that all we are?” Skate asked leaning forward. Cindy couldn’t move, she didn’t want to. She met Skate’s lips. Her lips were soft, and both sticky and sweet from the ice cream. Her tongue met Skate’s. She hardly thought about the action, until Skate begin to trace a path down her neck and lift up her shirt.
“Don’t,” Cindy said finally. “I’m sorry,” she said turning away.
“What is it?” Skate asked.
“It’s Diamond,” Cindy told her. “I can’t do this to her.”
“She’s locked up,” Skate said a little frustrated. “She probably has another girlfriend herself.”
“Don’t say that!” Cindy yelled getting up from the bed. “And you’re not even sure that your gay.”
“Are you saying I’m just some confused little girl?” Skate asked.
“No, I mean.” Cindy sighed. “Yes, you don’t know what you are. Just like Nikki.”
“Is that the problem, I remind you of Nikki.”
“No, there is no problem. Cindy knows the facts. Cindy knows she love Diamond. She knows this?” Cindy told her. “Just like Cindy knows she like girls and knows. . .she likes. . .you.”
“You do,” Skate smiled. “Then I don’t understand what the problem is.”
“The problem isn’t you. As much as I’m feeling you, I love Diamond.” Cindy stated plainly. “I better go,” Cindy said moving toward the door.
“Wait,” Skate said.
Cindy stopped and turned back.
“We can just be friends,” Skate said walking up to her. “Aiight,” Skate said putting her hand out.
“Aiight,” Cindy agreed accepting her hand and then pulling her close for a hug.
“Hey,” Skate said. “You want a bike.”
“Never learned to ride,” Cindy said.
“I can teach you,” she said unhooking a shiny purple bike from the wall. “You can have it,” Skate said.
“Couldn’t accept it,” Cindy said looking at the two wheeler.
“Trust me,” Skate said. “It’s no big deal. I like fixing up bikes.”
Cindy took the bike. Skate grabbed another and started up the steps.
“Come on,” Skate said.
“We starting now?” Cindy asked
“No time like the present.”
They spent the rest of the evening bike training. Cindy left her bike at Skates’ house. She was still quite wobbly on the wheels, but they decided to continue the lesson tomorrow. Skate drove her home. When she came in, her parents were sitting on a chair, reading a paper while a radio her dad had repaired played in the background. She heard Skate pull off as her parents looked up at her. Walking back into her house, after having been in Skate’s, she felt like she’d walked into a mouse hole.
“Where have you been?”
“With Sk–Kiersten,” Cindy said. “She’s teaching me to ride a bike.”
“Next time,” her mother said. “Tell Kiersten to introduce herself.”
“Sure,” Cindy shrugged and walked off.
“Were you two on a. . . date?” her mother asked, swallowing hard before uttering the last word.
“No,” Cindy answered simply. “She’s just a friend.”
She knew her mother wanted to know more, but couldn’t get it out. Her father remained silent as he always did around her these days.
The next day, Snuffy bombarded her with questions about Skate. She told him a thousand times she and Skate were just friends and then he wanted “a hook up”. She told him to control his own hook ups. She met up with Skate at the junkyard. They embraced as friends and left together in her car after hanging out for a couple hours. Cindy practiced riding a bit. She was up on the wheels, but when she attempted to gain some speed, she ended up tumbling down a hill and scratching up her leg. Skate helped her into the house and into the living room.
“You think we should take a break?” Skate asked.
“Definitely in need of a bit of a rest,” Cindy said as she watched Skate bandaged her knee. “I could have done that myself.”
“I’m the trainer,” Skate said as she stood in front of Cindy. “I’ll care for the injuries.”
They looked at each other for awhile, studying each other. They were trying to ignore the chemistry between them, but they weren’t succeeding. Cindy finally broke eye contact.
“So,” Cindy said. “My parents said the next time you come by, you should introduce yourself.”
“They think I’m your girlfriend?”
“Yeah, well moms does. Dad, I’ve given up on,” Cindy said.
“You tell her I wasn’t your girl,” Skate asked.
“Yeah,” Cindy said. “Don’t know if I convinced her.” ‘Don’t know if I convinced myself,’ Cindy thought, but didn’t say.
Cindy and Skate walked into the living room.
“I can take you to see your girl,” Skate said. “If you ain’t doin’ nothin’ tommorow.”
Cindy smiled. “You’d do that for me.”
“That’s what friends do right?” Skate said. “It’s no big deal.”
“It’s a very big deal,” Cindy said. “You’ve been too sweet to Cindy.”
“I got you drunk and punished the first time we went out together,” Skate said.
“You’ve made up for it,” Cindy told her.
They heard the door creek. Davis, the butler, greeted two people. Skate’s father walked into the living room pushing Skate’s mother in a chair.
“Kiersten,” her mother said. “You’re actually home.”
“Yes mom,” she sighed.
“And who’s your friend,” her mother asked.
“Cindy,” Skate replied.
“Cynthia McEachin,” Cindy said standing up and taking a moment to shake hands with each of them.
“It’s nice to see our daughter handing out with a young,” Skate’s mother paused and looked Cindy over. “Lady.”
Cindy held back reacting and continued to smile politely as Skate’s brother entered the room and kindly greeted his mother and father. They left the living room.
“I know what’s up with you two,” Skate’s brother said turning up his nose at them. “You’ll never be anything more than a ruffian my sister.”
Skate stuck her tongue out at him. He huffed and left the room.
“Do your parents know?” Cindy asked.
“Know what?” Skate said slightly annoyed. “They don’t know anything about me okay.”
“Define anything.”
“The second I stopped being their princess, is the moment I stopped being anything to them.”
Cindy decided not to get into it.
“I’ll drop off the bike tommorow. And them we can roll to see your girl,” Skate said changing the subject. “Is that cool.”
“Yeah,” Cindy told her. Cindy studied her for a moment, her eyes were fixed on the mirror. She looked into it and saw her parents behind her in the next room, laughing with Skate’s brother. It was the first time she had seen Skate unhappy.
“Yo,” Cindy said. “I’d like to check out that musical system down in your room.”
“Let’s go,” Skate said leading her to the basement door. As they came down the steps, she flipped on some old ballad and flopped down on her bed. The sullen look remained on her face. Cindy laid down in front of her. Touched her cheek gently. Skate looked up at her. Cindy leaned in and kissed her. She didn’t really think about it, she just felt like kissing her. There was more to Skate than the smiling girl that was a whiz on wheels. Their was also Kiersten, and seeing a vulnerability in Kiersten had done something to her.
When the kiss broke, Kiersten looked into her eyes.
“Why’d you do that?” Kiersten asked.
“I don’t know,” Cindy said. “Is it all good?” she said with a smile.
“Yeah,” Kiersten smiled.
They laid there looking at each other and then feel asleep. By the time Cindy woke up, it was the next day and she was wrapped in Skate’s arms. She sighed. She was already in trouble, so she just remained in the warmth of the girl beside her. What would she say to Diamond tommorow, or today, whichever. How could she look at her, the woman who’d opened her eyes, and say she’d fallen for another. She felt Skate stir and look at the clock.
“Oh shit,” Skate said jumping up. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Cindy said. “Friends have sleepovers, right?”
“Is it all about Diamond, me takin’ you to see her and all.”
“No,” Cindy told her. Cindy pulled out the picture she always carried. “Maybe it’s time to let her go. I guess, Cindy’s sort of hiding behind her.”
Skate smiled and they kissed again. Then Skate rolled out of bed.
“Time to get washed,” she announced walking off into her bathroom.
It was a long silent drive. Cindy had a couple of issues in front of her. One, explaining to her parents why she had been out all night. And two, telling Diamond there was someone else. Diamond was the first female she had ever kissed and it was so right. Diamond was the first person she’d ever said “I love you too.” Diamond had opened her eyes, made her real. And then she’d used Diamond as yet another shield from the world.
Skate parked and was out the car before Cindy.
“You comin’?” Skate asked.
“Yeah,” she sighed.
Skate walked over to her side of the car.
“You don’t have to say a word about me,” Skate said leaning down to her.
“I do,” Cindy told her. “I don’t want no secrets comin’ back to smack me on the ass.”
As she sat in front of Diamond’s window, her legs turned to jelly. She hadn’t faced Diamond in awhile. Her hair was corn rolled neatly across her head. She looked washout and tired. Her nails cracked. She wore a gray jumpsuit. And yet, somehow, she was still beautiful. She wasn’t the girl in the picture, she was the real Diamond.
“Damn, I then missed you,” Diamond said.
“Me too,” Cindy replied. “I been hurtin’ without you boo.”
“Glad to know you missin’ Diamond,” Diamond said. “But she a little upset to know she hurtin’ you at all. i’m surprised some pretty little girl ain’t came to snatch you up and make you hers. ”
Cindy sighed her eyes dropping contact with Diamond’s.
“Is there another girl?” Diamond asked.
“There’s a girl. . .,” Cindy admitted, “she’s a friend.”
“And you want more?”
“We’ve kissed.”
“And you want more?” Diamond asked again.
“I don’t know what I want,” Cindy admitted. “You my girl, my boo. My heart is all filled up with you, but Kiersten.”
“Kiersten? Is that her name?”
“Yeah,” Cindy said. “The peeps on the street call her Skate. I don’t know, there’s something there.”
“Want me to tell you what Diamond want?” Diamond asked.
“What?”
“Diamond wants you to be happy,” Diamond told her. “And if Kiersten can do that while I’m in here, it’s all good. But you let her know, I’m coming back for you.”
“Boo,” Cindy said. “It ain’t gotta be like that. Lookin’ at you again, I know there ain’t never gonna be another.”
“Baby girl, love is sorta like ice cream. Sometimes, if don’t taste the new flavor, you can’t be sure your favorite is still your favorite.”
Cindy smiled at the ice cream reference. “I love you,” Cindy said with a smile.
“I know,” Diamond said. “But I don’t want Diamond to be a reason you don’t get a chance to live your life.”
Cindy touched the glass softly, Diamond returned the gesture.
“You got my heart girl,” Diamond said getting up.
“Same here,” Cindy said watching her leave.
She and Skate dropped off her car and rode their bikes to Cindy house. It was a long ride, but a much needed one. They sat on the steps playing spades with Herbal and Snuffy for awhile. Then they went inside to talk to Cindy’s mother. Cindy’s mother was stirring some noodles in a pot when Cindy came in with Skate.
“Mom,” Cindy said.
Her mother turned to her.
“Are you going to explain where you were last night?”
“Sleep over,” Cindy said. “With a friend.”
“This friend,” her mother asked.
“Yes mom,” Cindy inhaled. “I’d like you to meet Kiersten.”
“Hello Miss McEachin,” Skate said presenting her hand.
“Welcome,” her mother said. “It’s nice to meet you formerly.”
“There’s more,” Cindy said. “We’re dating. Is that cool?”
“I suppose it will have to be,” her mother said.
Dear Cindy,
When you left I looked through the window and saw you walk to the car. She’s a cute little thing, your new girl. Good choice. But don’t you forget to tell her, Diamond will be back.
Peace,
Diamond
the end
