Too Young: A ChriLiyah Story

Chapter 6

The next afternoon, Chris was in his room pacing back and forth. You can do it Chris, he said to himself. He jumped on his bed and reached for his phone. He dialed Aaliyah's number. The phone rang twice and Chris took a deep breath.

"Hey Chris," Aaliyah said on the receiver.

"How'd you know it was me?" Chris asked, surprised.

"You plugged your number into my phone, remember?"

"Oh...hehe," Chris chuckled nervously, "You right." He laid back on the bed.

"You're blushing right now, aren't you?" Chris's face immediately turned beet red.

"How- how did you know?" Chris could hear Aaliyah giggling in the background.

"Let's just say it was magic," Aaliyah said, inflecting her voice. "So what's up?"

"Oh, I was wondering what color you were wearing to the dance on Friday," Chris placed an arm behind his head.

"I'm sure I have a little black dress in my closet somewhere."

"Alright," Chris said as he smiled to himself. He began imagining what Aaliyah would look like in her dress. "And I can tell you're smiling at the phone too."

"Ooh, you know me well," Aaliyah said jokingly. Chris chuckled.

"Well I know you're a busy woman so I'll let you go."

"Yes, well radio is very demanding,"

"Can't wait to see you Friday night," Chris said.

"Aww, how sweet," Aaliyah cooed. Chris smiled.

"See you then."

"Alright, bye."

"Bye." Chris pushed the end call button on his phone and then stretched out on his bed, smiling, feeling accomplished.

*******

It was now finally Friday, and Chris was sharing his anxiety with Shad during breakfast.

"Can't believe it's Friday already."

"Yep," Shad said while eating pancakes and watching Chris pace back and forth in front of the kitchen table. "Can you sit down?" He asked, getting annoyed.

"Oh, sorry." Chris sat across from Shad. "I just can't wait for tonight!" he said, repeatedly tapping his right foot on the floor beneath the kitchen table.

"You'll be alright... you gonna eat breakfast?"

"How can I eat when I have a ton of things to get done before tonight?" Chris wiped his hand down his face.

"Like what? You just going to the dance and back." Shad cut up his pancakes.

"I still gotta get my haircut, and figure out what to wear, and come back and take a shower, and then-"

"Whoa man slow down," Shad chuckled, "you talking too fast for me."

"I have a lot to do," Chris sighed then looked at Shad. "Let me borrow your car for tonight."

"Nigga what?" Shad looked up from his food. "You wanna borrow MY baby? Yet you walk to school everyday though... Go take a cab." Shad stuck a forkful of food in his mouth.

"Aaliyah told me to pick her up from her job! I can't pick her up in a cab, that's not cool."

"She's gonna know that's my car," Shad said as he lowered his eyes at Chris.

"You don't know that," Chris said in defiance.

"It's not like she hasn't been in my car before..."

"What you mean she been in your car?!" Chris jerked forward, his eyes on full alert. Shad dropped his fork onto his plate.