Match Made

Hangin'

Friday afternoon school ends and Aden is ready to hang. Dallas hops in the car with us as we follow Sonya and a gang of others to a suburban pizzeria. When my family first moved into this area, Whittier High and our neighborhood were predominantly White. Our family was the first Black family to purchase a home on our street, but you know how some people do. As soon as we moved in the For Sale signs started popping up everywhere. I was 7 years old when my parents purchased our home. After a divorce and nine years later the neighborhood is predominantly Black and Whittier is just another inner city public school.

Now seated in our booth with Dallas and Sonya across from us, no one can sit before conversing with Aden or Sonya first. Although I know no one's name everyone knows mine. During this era in time light-skinned was in. The girls who were like Vanity of the group Vanity 6's complexion and hair were everything. That's why Desiree was so popular. She really resembled Vanity. One guy obsessed with her would call our home asking to speak to Vanity. I'd be so annoyed and say, "You have the wrong number."

Frustrated he'd sigh, "Kelly, will you please put Vanity on the phone?" I'd think, What a loser.

Now glancing at all the girls flirting with Aden, I realize I look nothing like them. I'm a cinnamon brown, with slanted eyes and luscious lips. Both my parents have mixed genes. My dad's grandfather was White, while my mother's grandmother was Native American. Because my hair is long, thick, and wavy many think I'm mixed myself. Nevertheless, the boys thought I was gorgeous. Most girls couldn't comprehend that a brown girl was the most coveted.

Aden was considered light-skinned but he wasn't. He was blessed with that golden tan complexion that everyone desires. As I already stated his eyes and lashes were amazing, but his bottom lashes were so thick it looked like he wore eyeliner. Always groomed to perfection, his nice tapered hairline accentuated his chiseled cheekbones and those perfect lips made you long to kiss them.

Refusing to acknowledge me Sonya asks, "Aden are you still coming?"

His eyes lifted towards her as he sucked his straw. He swallows then asks, "When is it again?"

"When? It's tonight!" She scowls.

Gazing into my eyes, he replies, "Sorry, I already have plans."

It was then she rolled her eyes straight at me. Playing ignorant to her blatant disrespect he asks, "Kelly did you want to go there instead?"

Dallas and Sonya are glaring at me, so I answer, "I'm fine either way."

"Well, we'll come through for a minute," Aden answers.

Sonya jumps up and heads to the girl-filled table adjacent to us. Then Aden stands and tells Dallas, "Follow me real quick."

Sitting alone I sense the tension and envy directed towards me. Glancing up, I see Sonya watching and fidgeting. I'm sure she wants to ask me if we're a couple, but Aden returns whispering, "Let's go."

I'm only a step behind him when he stops and lets me pass him. As I head towards the door, he says something to Sonya and then rushes past me to open the door for me. Once outside he says, "We're not going to that party. Do you want to go to the show?"

"Sure." I grin.

We have several nearby theaters but Aden takes us to a quaint one near the lake. Once parked I open my car door but he says, "Wait!"

Jumping out he jogs to my door and opens it for me. Blushing I say, "Thank you."

We enter and it seems we're the only ones here. Per usual he pays for everything. He chooses the back row for us, and there are only a handful of heads in front of us throughout the entire theater. The movie is Ferris Bueller's Day Off. He leans into my ear whispering, "I like it here because although this is a popular movie this place is never crowded."

I whisper back into his ear, "Yes, I like that too."

The movie ends and now we're headed to my home. Now parked we sit quiet a moment. It's then we look at one another and I smile. Hesitant, he leans my way. I lean too, meeting him a quarter of the way. We give each other a gentle peck on the lips. Immediately after he exits his car, opens my door, then walks me to the porch. Keys in hand I say, "Thanks again and I'll see you Monday."

"May I call you tomorrow?"

"Of course!"

Cheesing he says, "Have a good night, Kelly Charlevoix."

"You too," I say as I slowly shut my front door.