Big Girl Chronicles 2

Car Trouble

It was the 4th quarter with 1:12 second left, and we had just made a touchdown. The stands were going crazy. The band started playing a victory song, and then the dance squad was up on our feet, moving to the drums and horns. I have loved my school ever since I was little. I wanted to attend an HBCU and got accepted into 4 and made my pick of this one. The law program was great, and most who were in the program got internships into highly accredited firms. But for now, being one of the BBW dancers in the band was just as thrilling. At first, I had some concerns about beginning on a team with all big women, but then I realized the positiveness of the group and what they stood for. I had been on this team since freshman year, and now going into my second year, I was proud to be a part of the team. With a loud roar taking over the stands, we won the football game, giving us a chance at the championship. I was glad the game was over. I was tired and hungry, plus my feet were killing me. All I wanted to do was go back to my place, shower, and eat a fat burger. Once we made it back to the school, I didn’t even change out of my uniform. I just grabbed my stuff and headed for my car. I just wanted to get home. I put my key in the ignition, and nothing the car wouldn’t turn over, I turned it again, and still nothing WTF was all that came out of my mouth. I sat there for a minute, trying to figure out what I was going to do. I don't have roadside assistance, and I didn’t know of anyone who could help at this time of night. As I sat there with my head on the steering wheel, when I heard a tap at my window, it scared the living shit out of me, making me jump and scream, thinking the worst. I look up to see a huge shadow bending over to the window “ Are you o.k.” Half afraid, I replied. I was fine he must have known I was lying because he then said," Pop the hood I’ll take a look. " I looked at this guy like he was out of his mind, and then I realized that I knew him from somewhere. Then it dawned on me that it was the linebacker from our football team. My inner terror had calmed down a bit as I pulled the tap to open the hood. I got out hoping to hear some good news like all I needed was a jump but that wasn’t the case after looking it over and trying to start it up again he finally told me it was the starter. I damn near cried. All kinds of things ran through my mind like “How was I going to get home, or how was I going to get this fix? I guess I was showing the despair on my face when I felt the weight of a heavy arm on my shoulders '' Are you o.k? I know this is fucked up but would you like a ride home? With tears starting to form in my eyes I replied with a soft yes then grabbed my stuff, locked the doors and looked at my car shaking my head. I was going to get into the back seat when he opened the front for me. I was surprised to see him open it for me and that he could be such a gentleman. I knew who he was but we really hadn’t had much interaction outside of a few after football games hi’s and byes. I got in looking around to make sure he didn’t have any signs of ‘ I’m really a low key killer” stuff around but the other thing I could notice was the soft old school r&b coming from the speakers. Two seconds later I see him hop in on the driver's side and put on his seatbelt then though the car drive “ Where to? “ make a left then head towards campus road “oh you stay off campus?”, “Yeah, just this year”. Now I was thinking he was getting too personal. I was still on guard. He must have felt the wall I had up “ So how did you like the game?” “It was good, you guys had us worried for a minute there but you pulled them through for the win”, “Oh so you are watching me from the stands?”, “Um NO! I am a dancer I'm supposed to watch the game”, “Yeah right I be seeing you eyeing me from the stands”, “ Now how in the hell would you figure that aren’t you suppose to be watching the game”, “ Yeah but sometimes I can’t help looking at what's off the fields”, “ yeah and what's that “,“ Not what, who”. I pause I was too afraid to even ask the next question but he answered it for me “Bet you already know who it is” but before he could give me the answer I told him to make the next right and my place was on the corner he pulled over I hopped out of the car before it was even in park I quickly thanked him for the ride and made a beeline for my door. “Hey Mariah ” I whipped around with my mouth half open I didn’t even know he knew my name “Look my uncle owns a garage if you want I can have him take a look at it for you” that would explain how he knew what was wrong with it, “ Thanks but you’ve already done some much I couldn’t ask you to do that”, “ You’re not I’m offering” he had left his car and was heading towards me he handed me a piece of paper with a number and name I was sure it was for the uncle he was referring to but when I opened the paper it was his name and Number, Dayveon 555-9311. I just stared at it when I looked back up he was headed to his car “ Call me in the morning I’ll give you a ride to your car and have my uncle meet us there”. Before I could even protest he drove off. I stood there for a moment holding the paper in disbelief when I snapped out of it and headed up to my place. It was late. I was still hungry and tired as hell so I took a shower, put on my pj's and made myself a sandwich with some chips and hot tea. I sat on my couch, turned on a movie, ate then quickly fell asleep. The last thing I remember thinking was how in the hell was I going to pay for my car?