Billie Jean [h.s]

3

Wednesday
Billie Jean

" Robin he's coming over today! What should I wear? Should I like, comb my hair a bit? Can your mama do those braids in my hair like yours?" I shrieked in utter panic running back and forth from wall to wall, while Robin laid on her tummy on my bed, legs kicked up, swinging back and forth reading the latest edition of Tiger Beat.

She gazed up at me from time to time, trying to multitask through my latest breakdown and the latest teen heartthrob.

Robin Lynn Luther.

Robin's been my best friend since kindergarten and she's always kept me grounded. She was amazingly talented, beautiful, sweet. She's all the things I want to be. She was the activist of everything centering African Americans. She stood for equality and wanted nothing, but that. Even if it meant cutting a few throats to get her point across.

Over the years of high school, she became the "it" girl. Everyone loved her, wanted to be her, the fellas even wanted to marry her! She still stayed the same girl I met in kindergarten and never was blinded by the spotlight. She was what they call real and I adored her. From her kindled spirit to her warming coconut brown eyes.

That's why she's sitting here watching me throw myself into a knot over Keith Powers!

" Billie, first, sit down." she sighs still looking into the magazine making me holt of all movement.

"But-"

"Sit!" she demands slapping the magazine shut and finally taking a good stare at me. I contemplate for a moment, but as her eyes got narrow with a slant I took a squat to my shag carpet flooring.

" Keith's going to be here any minute." I groan feeling the jitters beginning to crawl into my stomach.

Mama invited Keith over for dinner, only because Tony begged him to come over after weeks of asking. Last time he was here they broke one of the windows in Tony's room horsing around. Daddy was pissed, he almost beat Tony to death.

Mama saw the disparity on my face once she agreed to him coming; she made it fair, letting me bring Robin for dinner too.

" Billie Jean, you're cute how you are." Robin beams pushing my curls back while my head falls graciously into her hand in admiration. She smiles softly.

" Ya think so?" I ask softly looking at my chipped nails gently rubbing my hands through the carpet. I can admit I didn't think I was as beautiful as the girls around me.

" I know so, silly." Robin rolls her eyes playfully and then gazed at my outfit. " And your outfit is perfect to me." she smiled.

I gazed at the small gray jumper dress while my black turtleneck shirt laid underneath, it snuggled me.

Maybe she was right.

" Thanks Robin." I beam while she picks up the magazine again flipping through the pages sweetly.

" By the way, we're going to Roller King Friday night. It's a party going on." Robin says with a flick of the magazine.

My eyes widen with puzzlement written slightly across my face. " Roller skating party late Friday night? You must not know who my parents are." I blubber while she gazes back up at me with a mischievous grin laying on her lips.

" That's why we'll sneak out, Billie Jean. This party is a must. Everyone will be there." Robin giggles shoving my shoulder excitedly.

" No, if my mama finds out I'll be in deep shit." I found myself seeing the scenarios of mama snapping in my head forcing me to shake my head viciously from the thought.

" Come on, I'll just say you're staying at my house for the night and my mama won't mind us going." she raises her eyebrows at the deceitful idea, using her lenient mom as the perfect plot.

It sounded like a good plan, I can admit, but my mind still ran back on the silly and slim chances of me getting caught and I still shook my head, no.

"I'll just stay inside on this on, Robin Lynn." I say crossing my feet together and she slaps the magazine on the bed.

" Billie Jean! Are you serious? This could be your chance."

"What chance? You're talking crazy." I utter with a roll of the eye and I stood to my feet dusting myself off.

" With Keith! What if he's going to be there?" she whispered as if someone could be in ears reach and my head snapped her way. She's got my attention.

" He's not going to be there, Robin." I shove my hand in the air shrugging my shoulders at her and she pops her eyebrows up in an upward flex.

" It's the talk of the school and he's a jock. Why wouldn't he go, Billie?" Robin spoken again breaking down another argument of mines.

She was right, she was always right. This could be my chance, Tony wouldn't be around to be in the way. We'd be surround by a bunch of people and if all else fails, if he likes me then he'd at least be able to tell me without Tony breathing down his neck.

I thought for a moment, running back and forth from thought to thought. Trying to talk myself out of the decision that I really wanted to make.

After a moment more of thinking I turn to her with a smudge smile on my face, " Let's get ready to boogie." I screamed as she jumps from the bed and grabs me with her arms jumping insanely with balls of excitement and laughter.

We was screaming so much that I didn't realize the door gently squeezed open revealing a tall figure leaning against the door, staring at the two of us in daze.

We abruptly stopped, still holding one another in embarrassment and pure bliss.

" Sorry to intrude." Keith says grinning at the both of us.

My voice hitched in my throat as I stared in admiration of his soft caramel skin.

We were so deep in conversation that I didn't realize he made it to my house.

" Your ma says dinner's ready so get cleaned up." Keith finished his sentences staring the both of us up and down for a moment then smacking the door and footing down the stairs.

There stood a moment of silence as my head slowly rotated to Robin who was already glaring.

" Did you see the way he looked me?" I squealed falling onto my soft, pine-scented bed, screaming in the sheets. My feet flying in the air with happiness.

Robin smacks my bum knocking me from my pure bliss of happiness.

" Time for a romantic evening with the Keith Powers!" she jokes both of us running to the door for dinner.

••••
Short, boring chapter for the moment.

Powerhouse 🤍