Sacrifice (9 page)

“Come on Ella act like you know how to shoot!”

“I can’t when I’m being drowned by you.”

“Fight back, fight back!”

“Ok.”

I started shooting her with my water gun as she raised her hands and head up to the sky and embraced it with a smile. I kept shooting knowing she was enjoying it and she didn’t shoot back.

“Ahhhh, this feels so good.”

“You gonna fight back!”

“I will!”

She jumped off her boat and into mine. We both landed in the water. I panicked as I held on to her, then I realized the water wasn’t deep.

“You’re crazy,” I said smiling as she laughed while everybody looked at us in surprise.

We messed up big time; one of the workers was walking towards us clearly fuming.

“I know, I love being in the water,” she said ignoring the fact that we were about to be banned.

“I can tell and now we don’t have a change of clothes.”

“Hey come on, you got to go,” the employee said.

“Ok” 

“You are not supposed to jump in and pull somebody else in with you,” the employee said.

“She’s my friend and I was trying to teach her how to swim,” she said with a smirk on her face.

“Wrong place ma’am, I’m sorry but you guys are banned from this park,” he said as we finally got out of the water.

“Ok thank you!” she said as we both walked out.

“Oh my God you are crazy.”

“I know and I know you haven’t done that before.”

“Nope never.”

“Now you have and I can’t believe they kicked us out of the park.”

“I know right. But now I can teach you how to swim and I can redo your hair.”

“Sounds good.”

She guided me to a park where I saw one of the biggest pools ever. I panicked knowing she was going to make me get in the water or force me in like she did before.

“This pool is huge!”

“I know; I come here almost every day to swim.”

“Cool.”

“Now you’re about to learn to swim.”

“Today?”

“Why not? Look, it’s very easy to learn how to swim. The first step is you trusting me and the water to help you stay up. And you got to trust yourself and relax your body so it can float freely,” she said as she took off her clothes.

“That shouldn’t be hard.”

“It won’t be, so come on let’s get started.”

“Oh no, I don’t have a bathing suit.”

“Do you have a bra and underwear on underneath?

“Of course.”

“Ok, take off all your clothes and let’s get started.”

“Ok.” I took off all my clothes to display my body.

“Oh wow, you have a nice body and a nice shape to be wearing a lot of clothes like a big girl!” she laughed.

“I know but I don’t want any attention from anybody at school, I just want to stay low key like I have been for the last three years I’ve been there.”

“I don’t blame you, those people are crazy.”

“They are.”

“Now come on!”

I slowly walked in the water where she was floating. She gave me instructions on how to swim and I failed miserably. She was very patient with me and we took it one step at a time but I didn’t accomplish anything that day, so we left and went to her house where there were kids running up and down asking where she had been with a grown man sleeping on the couch.

“Reggae, where have you been?”

“None of your business, now have y’all eaten already?”

“Yeah we ate the Chinese food you left in the fridge and the Oreo cookies.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, Ron said we should go get our own food.”

“Of course he did, come on, let me make y’all some sandwiches,” she said as three of her brothers surrounded her in the kitchen.

“Who is she Blue?”

“Mind your business.”

“Hi my name is Ella, nice to meet y’all.”

“You so cute Ella,” the older brother said.

“Thank you,” I replied with a smile.

“No problem and you should come on by more often and spend some time so you can get to know me,” he said as I laughed.

“Quit flirting with your young ass, you are too young for her,” Reggae said.

“I’m 13.”

“Exactly now go sit down while I bring y’all the food. Where is Hope?”

“She’s in the room.”

“Go get her to come eat.”

“I don’t think she wants to come out, she was waiting for you to play with her then she cried and went to her room when you didn’t show up after school.”

“I am grown, I can do whatever I want,” she said as she put their sandwiches on the table. “I’m going to start making you guys a snack in the morning so that ya father won’t be starving you guys on the days I will be coming home late from school” she said as I stood in the corner to give them their space.

“So you’re planning to not be coming home after school?”

“I don’t know, just in case this happens again you guys will have something to eat before I get home and clean up this mess you guys made in the kitchen when you are done.”

“Ok,” the oldest one said.

“Come with me,” she said as we went to her room where her little sister was sitting in her doll house sad.

“What’s wrong Hope?”

“I wanted you to play with me and you weren’t here.”

“Why didn’t you play with your brothers?”

“They didn’t want to play with me.”

“I’m sorry baby. I want you to meet my friend Ella.”

“Hi,” she glanced at me once then back to Reggae.

“How old are you?” I said as I got closer.

“I’m four.”

“You are so beautiful,” I said as she said nothing.

“What are you supposed to say?” Reggae said.

“Thank you,” Hope said.

“Oh you’re welcome.”

“I’m going to play with you when I’m done with her hair ok?”

“Ok.”

We went to their bathroom where she styled my hair even better than how I had it before.

“Oh my, this is really good.”

“I know.”

“Girl you are really good at this, I love it.”

“I know that too,” she smiled as I hugged her.

“Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.”

I reached in my pocket and pulled out forty dollars, “Here thank you for fixing my hair.”

“Oh no thanks, I can’t charge you to do your hair and don’t ever hand me no money again.”

“But you need to be paid for doing such a great job.”

“I know but you are considered my friend now and I wouldn’t take anything from you.”

“No seriously, please take it. My dad is just going to give me more money anyways.”

“No Ella, thank you.”

“Ok if you say so. I got to go now before my mother starts calling me.”

“Ok.”

“How are you getting to school tomorrow?” I asked as she walked me out.

“I’m taking the bus.”

“We can ride together in my car every day to school if you want to.”

“Ok.”

“See you tomorrow morning then,” I gave her another hug and waved to her brothers and Hope.

“Call me,” the oldest one said.

“In your dreams,” Reggae said as I giggled at both of them. 

I got home and told my dad what happened as my mom was in the kitchen cooking.

“I’m happy you had a good time today sweetie pie.”

“Thank you daddy and I might not be coming home at the regular times because Reggae is going to be teaching me how to swim.”

“Oh, sounds like fun.”

“So that’s ok right?”

“Of course just let us know.”

“I’m letting you know right now just in case I forgot to tell you.”

“Sure Ella, now go clean up and your mom is almost done cooking; and your hair looks different.”

“Yeah Reggae did it.”

“Hmm she is pretty good.”

“I know,” I smiled as I walked to my room to take a shower and get dressed for dinner.

“So how was your day?” my mother asked.

“It was fun.”

“That’s good honey and your hair looks nice, you redid it?”

“Yeah Reggae did it for me.”

“That was nice of her.”

I finished my food and then went to my room as my dad screamed for me to make sure I did my homework.

“I will!”

I finished my homework and went straight to bed looking forward to seeing Reggae the next day. I packed my bathing suit in case we were to go swimming.

The next morning, I picked her up from her house and we rode to school together, ate lunch together then started my swimming lesson again after school. We went off to dinner afterwards and then went home which was the furthest thing from my mind while being with Reggae. We started doing swimming lesson daily until I fully mastered how to swim, and I would challenge her in swimming races, but I knew she would win anyway.

We spent almost every day with each other. I became part of her family quickly and she became a part of mine. We made each other happy and kept our friendship alive throughout high school years and got accepted into the same college. Before we went to college, we both bought rings for each other that had a rose inside the stone.

“This represents our friendship that will last forever, the rose inside is the rose that will never die, so you’re my rose forever.”

I presented the ring to her like we were getting married. She was my only friend so I took time to always cherish her.

“That sounds so gay, but awww you are my rose forever too, no matter what happens,” she responded.

Chapter 7

We both went off to college and became roommates as we added a friend to our circle, her name was Tiara. She immediately fell in love with Reggae’s eyes and my personality. She was the wildest girl I had ever met, yet loving, caring and overprotective when we were all out together.

“What are you guys doing tonight?” Tiara said as she invited herself in as me and Reggae studied for our test.

“Girl we got a test tomorrow morning,” Reggae said as I nodded and went back to studying.

“Oh come on, you guys are such party poopers, we got to go to Kenny’s party,” says Tiara. 

“No thank you, I have to pass this test,” I said.

“Ok fine, I’m letting you guys study for a whole two hours and we’re going after that.”

“Girl it’s a school night,” I said

“You in college,” Tiara responded.

“She is right, we should go,” Reggae said as she looked up at me.

“Let me hurry up and study then,” I said as I displayed a look to tell her to ‘leave us alone.’

“Yay, cool, see you in a minute, and guess who’s going to be there Ella?” Tiara said as she came to my desk where I was studying at and put her hands on my shoulders with a smirk in her face.

“I’m horrible in the guessing game, who?”

“Girl you don’t get to have it like that, you got to guess, sorry,” she responded.

She walked away from my desk like she was enjoying this game she decided to play while I was trying to study with the curiosity of knowing who was supposed to be there.

“Girl come on, I’m trying to study so I can’t be guessing. Now tell me before I change my mind about going.”

“Ce-li-us.”

I smiled as the name came out of her mouth like she was singing.

“Now you really want to go because he is going to there?” asked Tiara.

“I don’t care, I see him on campus every day.”

“Yes you do care,” Reggae said, giving her two cents.

“Shut up Blue,” snapped Ella.

“Ok I’m done!” Reggae smiled then went back studying.

“Girl you tripping, he is cute, hell I would talk to him if you wasn’t my friend,” Tiara stated

“You can talk to him, it’s not like we talking,” I said.

“No, you like him and I will throw a pen at you if you deny that one more time,” Tiara said.

“Whatever; leave me alone I’m studying,” I said.

“Ok, just one more thing.”

“What Tiara?” Reggae said.

“Well two, one of them is that I need a ring too, I mean we all friends right?”

“Right, you will get it soon,” Reggae responded to her.

“Ok. And the second one is; there is this guy I like right? But he is always around this light skin girl and I think he likes her, which pisses me off,” says Tiara.

“Why do people do that?” Reggae asked.

“Do what?” asked Tiara.

“Differentiate themselves from their own race.”

“What you mean?” Tiara asked again.

“Sorry, I just can’t stand when we as black people differentiate ourselves from each other because someone’s shade is darker or lighter,” stated Reggae

Tiara said, “Girl we’re not differentiating, we’re all different colors.”

“I get that, but it’s out of control how it’s being used,” Reggae said annoyed.

“You’re right, but everybody is doing it now,” Tiara said as Reggae felt the need to school her. 

“It’s not everybody, just our race and trust me, if another race sees a light skin girl and a dark skin girl together, do you think they will say ‘light skin’ and ‘dark skin’? No. they will say those ‘black girls’ over there because you’re a black girl or boy regardless of your shade. But when our own people see us, they are quick to describe us as light skinned or dark skinned. You don’t see other races doing that. It needs to be changed because we are all one,” Reggae finished.

Tiara responded, “You’re right and I would love for every race to get along, because we were all made by one creator; God. I think He only made us different because He’s creative. He didn’t make us different to hate one another. It’s like we were born by one mother but we don’t get along because we all are different colors. I mean where would the fun be if we all looked alike?”

“Right, it’s sad, but it exists. Anyways let me finish studying if you want me to come out with you tonight,” Reggae said.

“Now you talking,” I said as my head stayed in my book.

“You didn’t like what we were talking about?” Tiara asked when I didn’t put in my opinion about it.

“It’s not that, I just want to pass this test. But it’s true, and hey it’s reality. The only hope is that one day we can change it, because we are all parting ways from each other and slowly hating ourselves,” I shook my head as I went back to my studying.

“Right, but I will see you in an hour and a half,” says Tiara.

“Ok,” Reggae said as she went back to studying. Do you really feel like going out tonight?” 

“Not really but we already told her yes,” I said.

“Like as if that ever mattered to you, unless you want to see Celius.” 

“Hush, you just mad because I am a woman of my word.”

“So you say.”

“So ignorant,” I shook my head as we both laughed knowing Celius was the only reason I decided to go to this party.

“Ok, time to study for real this time.”

“Ok fine,” we kept studying until Tiara busted in on us still studying.

“Ok, it’s time to get dressed.”

“Ten more minutes,” I responded.

“Ok I’m going to start getting dressed and you have an hour to get yourself together.”

“Mine will be quick because I don’t really wear makeup.”

“You don’t need it anyways.”

“I know,” I said smiling.

“So cocky,” she said as she shook her head. “Anyways, I shall be back so get ready.”

“Ok.”

I studied for twenty more minutes as Reggae put on her face. I put on a little makeup that was barely noticeable and Tiara was back by the time we were almost done.

“You lucky I live two doors from you, or my ass wouldn’t be burning calories running back and forth.”

“I wish you didn’t live two doors away so it would take you longer to get here, or we could just communicate through the phone,” Reggae said jokingly.

“You know what, forget you.”

“Hey, I’m just saying,” we all laughed.

“Ok I’m ready.”

“Of course you are, can’t wait to see Celius huh?”

“Ok, on the other hand I’m not ready,” I said as I turned around.

“Oh no we are leaving now,” Tiara said as she pulled me out of our dorm room as Reggae followed.

We got to the party and everybody was drinking, dancing and smoking. I stood in the corner and stared at Celius half the time while Tiara and Reggae danced. His presence completed my mood. 

“Girl, come on!” Tiara pulled me out from the corner away from seeing Celius. I guess she was thinking she was doing me a favor. I was enjoying staring at him as girls stayed all in his face. We danced and I finally let myself go with some liquor that I got introduced to that night.

“Come on girl, just have a little.”

“No it’s got alcohol in it.”

“I know, but drink it and see what happens.”

“No, I can still have fun without it.”

“No you can’t,” Reggae said. “Just drink a little bit then we can all go back dancing joyfully.”

I took a sip of the liquor. It tasted like juice so I drank some more.

“Mmm, this tastes really good.”

“I know right, now come on!”

She pulled me to the dance floor and we danced our night away causing me to lose sight of him.

I woke up the next morning with a major headache as I zoomed in on my clock to see that the test had already started.

“Oh shoot!” I jumped out of the bed and went to see if Reggae was still sleep, “Wake up, we’re late for our test.”

“What?” she said as she turned the other way and closed her eyes again.

“Girl get up, we have to go take our test!”

“I’m not getting up. I will do a makeup test.” 

“It’s MIDTERMS! Get up and stop being lazy.”

“It’s going to be over by the time I get up and get dressed because I am not going out looking like this.”

“Put a jacket over your clothes.”

“No that’s tacky, I need to take a shower and put my face on before I leave this room.”

“You know what I give up, I’m going to class.”

I ran out of her room, brushed my teeth then went straight to class with my pajamas and a jacket on. The whole class looked at me as I walked in, some of them laughed at the way I was dressed, and of course my hair was messed up. I didn’t want to look at Celius who was sitting in the corner of the classroom staring. Looking at him made me nervous and I couldn’t even focus on my test worried about what he thought of me. The test was finally over and I ran out of the classroom with my head still pounding from yesterday.

“Girl I am so mad.”

“Me too,” Reggae responded.

“Why are you mad?”

“You keep waking me up.”

“You need to wake up, but anyways everybody was staring at me looking a hot mess, I was so ashamed.”

“You mean Celius?”

“Can we have one conversation without you or Tiara thinking it’s about Celius?”

“No because it’s always about Celius, now stop playing yourself.” 

“I’m not and it’s not about Celius. I don’t even know why I’m talking to you right now anyway. I need some medicine for my headache.”

“I was going to tell you the same thing.”

“What?”

“Why you talking to me right now when I was clearly sleeping when you walked in here?”

“Whatever, I’m leaving now.”

She sighed then said, “Thank you.”

“You are not welcome.” I went in my room and got a phone call from my dad as I was straightened up.

“Hey daddy, how are you?”

“I’m fine sugar you ok?” he asked sounding like he was really sick as he talked slow and low.

“Yes I am, are you? You don’t sound good.”

“I am, thank you sugar.”

“Daddy what’s wrong?”

“Nothing baby, I’m fine.”

“But you don’t sound good.”

“I’m fine, I’m just at the hospital but the doctor said I will be fine.”

“You’re at the hospital and nobody even bothered to tell me!” I said with anger.

“It’s not that serious that’s why, and you need to focus on your studies.”

“No daddy, you’re more important than my studies, I’m on my way.”

“Don’t you leave that school, child! Now I told you I’m fine and your mother is here with me.”

“Is she really?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t believe you, let me speak to her.”

“I wouldn’t lie to my sugar cane.”

“You would when you don’t want me to worry.”

“Ok fine here is your mother,” I waited on the phone then my mother came on.

“Hey sweetie, how are you?”

“I’m fine thank you and why didn’t you tell me my dad was in the hospital?”

“Because we didn’t want you to stress and I’m here making sure he is ok.”

“Thank you mommy but I want to see him so I’m coming home.”

“No you’re not, stay where you are sweetie, he will be ok.”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“No really, he will be fine.”

“How bad is he?” I said ignoring the fact that she said he will be fine.

“Let me let you talk to him.”

I panicked having the feeling that there was more than what they were telling me.

“Hello.”

“Daddy, please tell me you’re going to be ok?”

“Of course I am. Now how is your studying going?”

“Its fine dad, but it’s not that important, I want to come home and see you,” I said feeling the need to be there with him.

“I don’t want you to, finish this semester first then you can come see your old man.”

“You’re far from old; can I speak to the doctor please?”

“Ella you’re worrying yourself too much, I am fine and I will talk to you tomorrow ok?”

I sighed, “Ok,” I was still a little worried that there was something they were not telling me.

“I love you,” my dad said.

“I love you more daddy.”

“Ok talk to you later sugar.”

“Ok dad bye,” I said. We both got off the phone and I kept cleaning. Reggae walked in my room after overhearing my conversation.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing, I’m just cleaning.”