The Cost Of Deceit

Chapter 2

"So you want me to seduce a sophomore to get back at your lost love?" Elmer attempted to clarify the situation. Joan was a lot of things, but this was cold blooded even for her. As he leaned back into his lounge chair, he took out a cigarette and pressed it between his lips.

"I wasn't in love with the colored boy." Joan fibbed. "I simply feel slighted that he would even think to see another girl besides me."

"Well, what did this girl ever do to you? Sure, she got with your guy but that's not her fault. She could've not even known about you." Elmer asked. Joan's eyes squinted at him as she sucked a breath in between her teeth. He knew that he set her off.

"Since when did you of all people have such a conscience? Aren't you the travelin' man of the town? You've made girls cry more than anyone here. What's the difference with this one?" Joan asked.

"The difference is that the girl is easy. I'm sure she will get with any guy you send her way." Elmer expressed. "I'm a real catch around here and I have a reputation. Getting with a girl like that could mess with my portfolio."

"To hell with your portfolio!" Shouted Joan. "I want you to ruin her because I trust you'll do it right."

"And what do I get in return?" Asked Elmer as he sucked on his cigarette between his fingers.

Joan thought for a moment. "If you are able to ruin Lucille's image, I'll buy you new Italian leather shoes."

"That's all I'm getting?" Elmer asked.

"Fine." Joan rolled her eyes. "If you successfully seduce Lucille, then I'll get you the shoes alright." Joan allowed the oversized shirt that she wore to fall of her shoulders seductively. "And while you wear them, you'll get to fuck me."

"Sold." Elmer sat up. "You know, you're one of the only loose girls in town I never got into."

"Well now is your lucky shot to do it." Joan stood up from her seat. "Otherwise, you haven't got a chance."

"The way you look at me says otherwise." Elmer swatted Joan's backside as she walked out of the room.

The white school and black school were like two different worlds. At the white school, all of the amenities were brand new. There was enough cleaning staff to keep the entirety of the building sparkling. The teachers were well qualified for their jobs, even if they didn't have as much passion for them. The extracurriculars for the students boomed, football rallied on the field and the cheerleaders cheered them on. The rowing team was in full swing and the lacrosse team carried on.

The black school was a mirror of the white school, in that it was backwards when compared to it. There were sports, but all of the uniforms and equipment were handed down from the white school. The teachers were hard working and passionate about their jobs, but hardly got paid. And the cleanliness of the white school simply wasn't possible at the black one, for there was only one janitor for the entire building.

Despite all they lacked, the kids at the black school still held their heads up. They continued on to go through and hopefully get their education. There were a few who dropped out just because they figured what could school possibly do for them. What place in the workforce could a negro have?

When classes were back in session at the beginning of the Spring Semester, tensions were high. Only a handful of black kids were zoned to attend Eastview High,  but even those few caused a tremendous amount of unrest amongst the white kids.

The few black kids stuck to themselves and the teachers who helped them assimilate to their new school. Many of the white kids harassed them, slightly pushing them in the halls or giving them the dirtiest of looks. Sometimes they'd say the most horrendous slurs under their breaths, and many of the teachers didn't say a word at such behavior.

In Elmer's eyes, it was mostly the lower class that engaged in such cheap acts. Sure, there were differences amongst the races, but taunting the coloreds got them no where.

Besides, Elmer had better things to worry about. He was too busy trying to find out which black girl was Lucille. As he sat in the courtyard of the school with his friends, he was zoned out of their senseless conversation as he watched a group of black girls chat.

"I hope they don't let the negroes play on the football team." Calvin complained to his friends. "We don't need those fellas stealing our thunder."

Calvin was the football champion of the school. His pent up anger is what got him all of those wins out in the field. As victorious as he was, guys like Calvin never mean much after high school.

"Let's not get absurd. I'm sure their color isn't going to make them any better at the game." Howard corrected. As smart and logical as Howard was, even he wasn't totally above the fear of the unknown. "I wouldn't get any of those fellas upset, though. I hear they can get violent quickly."

"I can take any one of them." Calvin clenched his fists. Calvin noticed Elmer staring at the few colored girls huddled together at a table. He tapped on Howard's shoulder and pointed to Elmer. "Would you look at that? He's taken by a nigger girl."

"Would you cut that out?" Elmer asked. "I'm not taken by any of them."

Howard and Calvin both looked to each other. They knew nothing of his promise to Joan, and so in their eyes Elmer just had an interest in the black girls.

"Well, if you're so fascinated by them, why don't you just talk to them?" Calvin teased. Elmer blew hair out between his lips for a moment, but then he realized his friend's idea wasn't so absurd. It was a perfect chance to get to know some of the girls.

He stood up and walked over to the girls who all sat at the table. There were about five of them, but three stuck out the most. Their quiet, reluctant chatter all came to a halt when Elmer approached their table. He stood there in his blazer jacket, perfectly pressed shirt and tailored slacks. His hands were clasped behind his back and he stood like an aristocrat.

Intimidating, he was.

"Good afternoon, ladies." Elmer spoke to them. They were all silent, some in awe and others suspicious. What did this nice looking white body want with them besides trouble?