Lamia's Dream

Chapter 7

Malik arrived at 1:46.  Not that the additional minutes helped.  I finished the kitchen, as it would be the first thing my aunt would check.  I put a sheet over both baskets of laundry, hoping she wouldn’t notice.  Then got myself ready.

Malik’s car shook from the song blaring through his speakers.  It was a song I hadn’t heard on the radio before.  I thought it was 2 Chainz, but rappers did a terrible job of distinguishing themselves from other rappers without shouting out their name.  And I rarely listened to rap music by choice.  There were only so many clever ways to say “my life is great because I have more money and cooler stuff than you.” 

The ride was quiet after our initial greeting. 

When Malik turned the music below ear-bleeding volume, I knew he was ready to give another attempt at conversation.  “So you and Valerie, huh?  That’s wild man.”

“Yeah, save a girl’s life.  It works every time.”

“They ever find the guy?”

“No, I haven’t heard anything about him since.”

“Weird.”  And then, “are you the first black guy she’s dated?”

“No, she dated Shawn Price freshman year,” I said.

Malik nodded his head.

Silence.

"So, you and Lynn?"

“Yeah, I didn’t think she’d take me seriously at first.  But we’ve been talking almost every day since that night at the party.  And she sat with us at lunch a couple of times.”

"Pssh, all-state basketball player and you were worried you couldn’t get one girl?”

"Lynn's not just one girl.  She's bad, man.  Probably the baddest in school.  But, you're right.  This is me we're talkin about."  He laughed obnoxiously.  At least it wasn’t Tyler’s laugh.

“Careful.  She might lose interest if your ego gets any bigger.”

“No girl’s every complained about the size.  It’s such a big ego.”

“Dude.  Gross.”

The conversation died down after more of his laughter.  More oddly catchy references to sex, drugs, cash, and violence replaced it.

We made it to Adventure Landing at 4:58.  I, for some odd reason, thought it was the first time Malik had ever been early to a date. 

Our time at the mall was forgettable.  I had followed Malik around like a small child until I came across Game Stop.  I’d waited for him there, checking out the new releases and thumbing through various gamer magazines.

Jack and Phil waited for us in the latter’s car.  We got out to meet them.  They knew who Malik was- how could anyone at our school not?- and had probably met him once or twice before.  Malik acknowledged a previous meeting but was straight forward about not remembering their names. 

Sunny with clouds.  I didn’t bring a jacket, as the temperature was in the upper fifties.  Great weather for late February. 

I pressed the central button on my phone.  6:01. No girls.  I tried to keep the apprehension off my face.

“Oh no, they’re late Miles.  What are we gonna do?” Jack jeered.

“A whole minute.  You may want to text them to make sure they’re ok,” Malik added.

“You two were made for each other, you know that?”

They chuckled. 

6:05.