Shades of Sepia

IV

Onika Tanya Maraj
May 24th
Houston, Texas

"Don't split that pole Sierra," I yanked her by the wrist.

"You and these damn superstitions."

"They work. You haven't died a bizarre death now, have you?"

There was a silence between us aside from the beeping horns and yelling of the people surrounding us. She had something on her mind and I would hear it soon.

"So..."

"What Si?"

"I was on the phone with Solange and she was telling me how you and Beyonce wouldn't leave each other alone at the ball. You gave me every detail of that night except that. What a coincidence?"

"I didn't tell you because there's nothing to tell. We had one conversation, one dance, and then I left. Nothing to tell."

"Liar. Solange said that one conversation was all compliments and googly eyes."

"So? She liked what she saw."

"Oh I know. That's why she keeps calling my phone to get to you. I'm about to go ahead and give her your phone number."

"You better not."

She sucked her teeth, "Why?"

"I wanna see how far she'll go."

If I was honest, I loved this chase. I'd been chased plenty, but never of this intensity, never by someone that I liked to look at as well. Every time she looked at me, she stared like she wanted to eat me. She talked to me like she couldn't help the compliments that spewed from her lips.

I was playing hard to get purposely. She looked like she had determination and I liked that. I refused to give in to her so easily because I knew she wouldn't stop.

"Sierra's coming over tonight. I can bet you Beyonce's coming too."

I shrugged, "Let her. That's none of my business."

"Girl you know she's coming for you. She is not coming so she can be a third wheel."

"Not my business," I sang.

Sierra went inside the Starbucks while I waited outside.

I thought about what she was saying, and I was lying straight to her face. Of course Beyonce was coming. It felt like her and her sister were joined at the hip so I was not surprised.

Sierra came back out and handed me my refresher. Walking along beside me, she said, "Let's find something to wear tonight."

"Girl this is your date, not mine."

"Stop fronting and let's go shopping."

I followed behind her into every store, treating her like my Bratz doll and vice versa.

I wanted to replicate what Beyonce had met me in, but that would be too obvious. Though I didn't expect to be seen, I knew that I would be. There was no reason for her to come to our house than me.

Her chase was exhilarating, and so much fun. I felt fire in my loins whenever she was around me, but we'd only met once. Initial attraction was just that. Attraction. She didn't know me and I damn sure didn't know her.

I dressed Sierra the way she had dressed me, knowing that Solange would love it on her. Then again, Solange loved Sierra in anything.

We ran errands all day long. Shopping, paying bills, dropping off homework. By the time we finished, Sierra was freaking out because Solange would be showing up in an hour.

She rushed me back to the house, tripping over herself as she ran her bathroom to shower. She was trippin'. She could wear a brown paper bag and Solange would be all over her.

There was a knock on my door before it opened and Solange was standing in the doorway with Beyonce behind her.

I sat up, "Where's Sierra?"

"Getting out of the shower now. My sister wanted to come say hello."

Behind her, Beyonce waved once. I could see from here that she'd traded in her Dapper Dan style for streetwear, and she still looked good. Code switching was even in her attire.

We were just staring, watching each other like Solange was a ghost.

"I'm gonna check on Sisi."

She left and I finally got a good look at Beyonce. She wore a plain white t-shirt and dark, loose jeans. She wore a gold Rolex chain around her neck and a stack of Van Cleef bracelets on each wrist. She left her shoes at the front door.

"It's nice to see you again. I thought I would never see you again."

"You never thought that."

She smiled at me like she couldn't help it and I saw two gold and diamond fangs inside her mouth. I was embarrassed, really. She looked damn good and I was sitting up in my bed in a damn nightie, looking like a troll.

"You like nice," She complimented me.

"You're not a very good liar."

"May I come in?"

I rose from my bed and met her at the door. Her eyes watched my entire frame, from my toes up to my bone straight middle part.

"You may not come in. You're not here for me."

"Both of us know I'm here for you. I damn sure didn't come for my sister. I needed to see you," She spoke like she was breathless, simply looking at me taking her breath away.

I loved that.

"I've been seen," I went to shut the door but she held her hand up against it, her eyes all pitiful.

"Can I have your phone number?"

"For what?"

"I can't come to your house every time I find myself wanting to talk to you. I would never leave your side."

I pointed to her wrist, "Trade me."

She didn't think twice. She took off three of her bracelets, placing them onto my left wrist. "Every time I see you, I want you to wear all three of them."

I nodded, but I had never been one to take orders. Especially from someone that wanted me so badly. Next time she saw me, if there even was a next time, I would wear no jewelry, just to taunt her.

"Now may I have your phone number?"

I let her sit in her anticipation, watching her grow increasingly impatient.

She was used to having things her way and that much was obvious. From the money she spent for my bid to her willingness to give away jewelry that costed more than my rent.

She had a control problem. Not saying it was a bad thing, but as long as she found herself chasing me, the control was no longer hers.

She handed her phone over, watching as I typed my phone number into her contacts. I handed it back to her and attempted to shut my door again, but she kept her weight against it.

"What now?"

"I don't want to wait another 48 hours to get to you."

"I just gave you what you wanted. Don't be greedy."

"Tell me you like me and I'll stop coming on so strong."

I smirked, "I don't like you."

I wanted her to turn up the heat actually because I was not going to make this any easier on her. I wanted her to work for me.

"I won't let up."

"Move so I can close my door."

_______________