white-passing- jamal turner

twenty-six

Jamal and I made up. We just talked things about and apologized, which helped a lot more than I thought it would.

Two weeks later, it was my birthday, and we all celebrated. 

A week after that, Izabel and I went to the public pool to meet up with the gang. Well, the gang minus Cesar. We hadn't seen him as much since his dad came back. Not that I blamed him.

After Izabel and I found an open spot, I walked over to Ruby and Jamal who were selling sandwiches. Jamal still needed to pay his dad back, and Ruby was still worried about his parents' financial state. They fully stole two of Dwayne's joint shirts, put tape over the wording, and labeled it "Ruby's Fancy Festivities with Jamal."

"Hey boys!" I said, "How's business?"

"Not bad. Not bad," Jamal said.

"Well, how about you take a break and go swimming with me?" I said.

"Can't! Gotta be at least two people here at all times."

"There's only two of you, though."

"Exactly!" Ruby said. 

I sighed, taking off my baggy shirt, "What a shame."

Next, I took off my jean shorts so the boys could see my black bikini, "I guess I'll just have to go swimming by myself."

Jamal was at a loss for words as his jaw was practically on the floor.

"Have fun, though," I said before bending down to kiss him.

"Hey! Stop shoving your tongues down each other's throats! I'm right here!" Ruby said.

I pulled away and smirked, "It's ok, Ruben. It'll be your lucky day someday."

Jamal tried not to laugh as I walked over to Jasmine and Monse.

"Who wants to swim with me?" I said.

"Damn, chica!" Jasmine said, "Ok, I see you! I'll come in a few. Just got to put on some sunscreen."

"I invited Cesar to come," Monse said abruptly.

I looked at her, "Girl, I thought you hated him."

"I don't know anymore," Monse said.

"I'm still not choosing sides," I said, "But I think if it upsets you that much that he slept with someone else while you were broken up, then you should stay broken up. Just saying."

Monse sighed and looked at Jasmine, "Can I get some of that on my back?"

"I got it," Cesar said.

Monse smiled, but her smile faded when she saw Oscar was there too.

Izabel saw the two of them and got up.

"Hey, baby," she said. Oscar wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her. They were pretty much official, but it was still weird every time I saw them together.

"Yep, I'm gonna puke," I said, running into the pool and cannonballing.

Jasmine, Oscar, and I spent a while in the pool. I swam while Jasmine and Oscar played Marco Polo. Well, Jasmine played, Oscar just stood in one spot and said Polo over and over. 

After a while, I got out to tan and sat with the group.

"Crap," I said, feeling my hair, "I need to use leave in tonight. Chlorine dries my hair out."

"Mana, what did I tell you about always putting your hair up when you go in the pool?" Izabel said.

I scoffed, "Stop talking like mom!"

As I turned over and lay on my back, I noticed a couple of people throwing up. When I looked over, I saw Ruby and Jamal counting their money. I got up and walked over to them.

"Yo," I said, "Let me see one of those chicken sandwiches."

I didn't even wait for an affirmative to grab one, and I took one look at the sandwich before looking back at them.

"Guys!" I said, "You're serving these people raw chicken?! What the hell?!"

"Look!" Ruby said, "We need the money, and Dwayne's is open right now, so we can't use the grill!"

 "So, what DID you use?!"

"We uh," Jamal said, "Well, you see-

"We grilled them on the street."

"What the  fu-

I got cut off by Jasmine screaming. Some kid threw up on her, and the lifeguards made everyone evacuate immediately.

"Oh meu deus," I said, rubbing my head, "Alright. I'm leaving this shit show now."

____________________________________________________

I was looking at outfits for Summer Night Lights while Jamal was on the phone with a frantic Ruby. Ruby was paranoid after the chicken incident and was terrified of being arrested for food poisoning.

"Oh my god. Just gimme the damn phone," I said, "Ruby, listen to me! Keep your head down, breathe, and you'll be fine. STOP OVERTHINKING THIS! Goodbye!" 

I hung up the phone and rummaged through my drawers only to find I was out of clean bras.

"Goddamnit!" I said, "This top is so sexy, but I just threw my last bra in the hamper."

"Then don't wear a bra?" Jamal said.

"Dude, I'm a C cup!" I said, "If I wear that top without a bra, everyone will notice because they'll be bouncing up and down and give me a black eye!"

Jamal laughed, and I lightly smacked him on the chest.

"I'm sorry!" he said, still trying not to laugh.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I was only wearing jean shorts with nothing covering my upper body.

"You know," Jamal said, getting up and putting his arms around my waist, "Instead of going out, we could stay in. Have some fun ourselves."

I looked at us in the mirror as I put my arms over his, and he pressed his lips to the side of my head. I loved it when he did that.

Suddenly, Summer Night Lights didn't seem that fun anymore.

"Hold on," I said, putting on a sweater, going into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of wine and the bottle opener, and coming back.

I opened the bottle and took a drink. We took turns until we were about halfway or so through.

"Is it me, or does wine make you really horny?"

I laughed, "It makes me soooo horny. And all I know right now is that I want you."

I was definitely slurring, but it didn't matter. We were both more than a little drunk.

I kissed him, and we started making out, our lips tasting like cheap sauvignon blanc. I closed my eyes and threw my head back as he kissed my neck. 

Man, I thought. This is even more fun when you're drunk.