Starr ran breathlessly around her room. She picked up her make up caboodle then paused. No one special was gonna be there, why wear make up? She threw it down and began pulling her hair up. Thank God AJ won’t be there. She grabbed her keys and books and rushed out the door.
Jamie laughed and picked up the piece of popcorn Jamie threw at her. AJ just smiled and tried not to be to obvious with his constant glancing at the door, waiting for a certain someone to walk through.
“So Mr. B…don’t you have a date with your girlfriend tonight?” Trinity smiled, waiting for a “No, of coarse not. I’m single. Would YOU like to go out sometime?”
“No, my girlfriend lives in Toronto.” He lied, picking up his plastic cup and stared into it, long and hard. Trinity nodded her head disappointedly and turned toward Bobby. A light knock made AJ fly up out of his seat. He crossed his arms and waited patiently as Jamie opened the door. He stared in amazement as someone he thought he didn’t know at first was revealed. He couldn’t help but let his eyes travel down. She was wearing khaki Capri’s with a soft, spring yellow, spaghetti strap. He hair was put messily into a bun and she had thin rimmed glasses laying weightlessly on her little nose, making her look seductive and sensual. AJ’s breath turned into a light blow when her eyes met his.
Starrs’ stomach did back flips when she saw AJ standing in the living room. She licked her lips and smiled. Jamie gave her a look of satisfaction and secretiveness. Starr took a deep breath and decided to play it cool.
“Hey guys.” She smiled to AJ, walking towards him. She hugged him, Bobby, Trinity and Jason, then dragged Jamie into her room.
“You told me it was only gonna be Trinity, Bobby and Jason tonight.” Starrs’ face was emotionless and faint.
“Well I decided to invite AJ.” She just grinned and crossed her arms.
“I didn’t feel like having him here tonight though, Jamie.” She pushed her glasses up and tugged at her shirt.
“Sorry…just talk to him. He likes you Starr. I swear I caught him staring at the door 5 times.”
“I don’t care if he likes me. I don’t have time for a relationship right now. I barely have time for friends.”
“Make time.”
“No. School is my priority.”
“What’s the matter? He’s just a guy…someone to cuddle and kiss. Give him a chance.” Jamie sat down at her desk.
“I don’t want to mess around with “just a guy” Jamie. I want to know when I find THAT guy...then I’ll sacrifice stuff for him...”
“What makes you think he’s not the one Starr? You have to take sacrafices anyways, why not one on AJ?” Jamie stood up and edged towards the door. Starr stared at her. She started to consider her comment and followed Jamie.
“Ok, we have a lot of work to do.” Jamie clapped her hands together and looked around at the listening faces. “Thank you so much for coming to help AJ.” Jamie smiled and walked over to the kitchen table. AJ knew he was only there to see Starr...kiss her and tell her how much he loved her.
“Ok...” Jamie grabbed two chairs and set them in front of each other. “Starrs’ Scarlet, Bobby’s Rhett, Trinity’s Mammy and I’m Christy.
Starr and Jason sat down in the chairs and smiled at each other. AJ saw the expression on Jasons’ face. I see I have competition... He almost grinned but stopped when he caught Starrs’ eye. She barley smiled to him and turned back to Jason. Starr glanced down at the script she was holding. “Which part are we doing?” She asked Jamie, who looked at AJ and nodded her head towards him.
“Um, how about scene 21?” He sat up and hooked his fingers together. He was so infatuated with the way Starr acted. It came so naturally that it seemed as though she multiple personalities. Starr cleared her throat and let the begging personality take over her body as she read the words on the paper.
“Ashley...please don’t go. I beg you!” She fell to her knees and held Jasons’ hand with both of hers.
“I haven’t a choice, dear Scarlet.” Jason got up, letting Starrs’ hands fall into her lap.
“Wait.” AJ walked to them. He looked down at Starr, still sitting on her knees. “Sit down, say your line,” he instructed as he demonstrated it, “While she says her line, you get up. But bend over and while she’s still holding your hand, say, “I haven’t choice, dear Scarlet.” AJ stared into her eyes with parts of the sky trapped into them, and paused. Her eyes were so tempting, so strong. It was like they were telling him something...but what?
Starr couldn’t stop looking at him. She didn’t care if everyone was watching; she just wanted to kiss him. More than she wanted to meet Marilyn Monroe or swim with the dolphins or float around the stars in the nights’ black hole of a sky.
“...I haven’t a choice, dear Scarlet.” Jason impatiently finished the scene. “I see what you’re saying.”
AJ stared up at him. He had forgotten where he was, what he was doing. Even everyone around him. Then something clicked in his mind and he stood up. He pulled his hand slowly away from Starr. “Ok, now you do it.” As he stepped back, he had made his mind up. He was gonna kiss her tonight, whether he be kissing Starr or Scarlet.
AJ rubbed his blurring eyes and glanced around at the solemn people around him. Trinity stared at Starr and Jamie endlessly. Bobby lay sprawled out on the floor, gazing past the white ceiling. Jason was sunk into a big armchair, sleeping soundly. AJ watched Jamie slap Starr across the face lightly and run toward the wall as if she were running barefoot through a field of wheat in a torn, slave dress. Starr laughed and threw her head back in exhaustion. “Let’s call it a night.” She reached towards the wall in back of her and moaned.
“Oh all right...” Jamie plopped down in a counter stool and laid her head on her arms that were folded on the cool counter top.
“It’s only 10:00.” AJ tried to think of something to do so he can go through with his plan. Jason sat up and yawned. Trinity got up and headed down the hall, kicking Bobby playfully as she past him.
“Want to go play some pool?” AJ suggested.
Bobby jumped up. “Yeah man!”
Jamie and Starr got up, nodding their head. “Good idea.” They went into her room. “We’ll be ready in a few.”
“Omigod Jamie. I want to kiss him sooo bad.” She eagerly ran a brush through her fine hair and stared at herself in the mirror. Jamie hopped around on one leg, trying to put her tight jeans on.
“Just do it.”
“I want to. But what if he doesn’t like me like that. Then I would be ruining a great friendship.”
“He’s a sensible guy. And he knows what its like to have girls screaming for him. I’m sure he can handle one more.” Jamie hung on that word.
“That was like 6 years ago.” Starr frowned as she watched Jamie pass from behind her. Starr didn’t want to be ‘one more’. That made her sound like a bullet. The first few hurt after they hit you, but when you die, the other ones coming at you don’t hurt as much...they don’t matter.
Jamie froze by the closet and stared at Starr. “Do you want it bad enough to risk a friendship Starlight?”
Starr took at deep breath and stared into her eyes. “Yes.”
Bobby, Trinity, Jason, Jamie and Starr squeezed into AJ’s car. Jamie and Starr giggled and hit Jason as he tickled them. AJ turned on the radio and backed out cautiously. A few people walked out behind him and waved. They were drunk, happy, and didn’t care if a semi hit them going 150 miles an hour. Starr sang with Jamie to the ‘Thong’ song, wiggling in their seats.
“How can you guys have so much energy after 4 hours of nothing but talking and sitting.” Bobby scratched his head. They just kept singing, screaming in his ear. AJ and Jason laughed to themselves. They drove, listening to the girls sing for a little while, until AJ turned into a parking lot. A huge neon sign, that hung over the glass walls, sent a green light cascading over the cement. Everyone jumped out and ran around the parking lot. Starr jumped on Jason’s back and he piggyback road her into the billiard. Jamie walked over to AJ’s side.
“You should go for it tonight.” She stared at the ground. AJ opened the door for her, sporting a confused set of eyes. “Don’t look at me like that.You know what I’m talking about.”
AJ grinned slightly and leaned on the front desk. He looked down into the case, seeing sticks, stick cases, blue chalk and replacement balls.
“What’s up man!” A tall guy with bleach-blonde spikes came out from a back room and shook AJ’s hand. “Wow, looks like you brought the whole class.”
“Naw, these are some of them. We were hanging out and practicing.” AJ glanced behind him as Jason came in with Starr on his back. The guy laughed and asked how many tables. AJ told him one and the guy led them to a table in the corner.
“I have to warn you guys.” AJ picked a stick and twisted blue chalk on the top. “I’ve been playing for 17 years.” He smirked and started rolling the balls on the green carpet of the black, wooden table.
“So have I.” Starr positioned her stick on the table ad practiced shooting. AJ raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Me, Starr and Jason versus AJ, Trinity and Bobby.” Jamie decided and stood in front of the stick rack. Trinity hopped over happily and Bobby followed. Jamie threw Jason a stick and walked next to Starr.
“Ok, who’s gonna break?” Asked Bobby as he leaned on his stick. Starr signaled to AJ and he gratefully excepted. Starr carefully observed his odd angles and confident expressions. He easily shoot at the white ball, that made the other balls run in different directions as it hit them. She looked at him and smiled, knowing instantly that it was gonna be fun kicking his ass.
“Yes!” Jamie jumped up and down as Starr hit the red 7 ball into the right corner pocket. They were getting down to a few balls. AJ and Starr remained calm as the other four eagerly screamed and cheered. There was the occasional laugh-in-the-loosing-persons-face and victory dance, but it stayed one-on-one crazy. AJ got ready for his turn. He stared at the white ball, with the yellow one right in front of it, that was aligned to the side pocket. He calmly called out his intention and slowly pulled back his stick. Pushing it sharp and quickly, the white ball flew towards the yellow ball, only to bounce off the sideline and creep to the 8 ball that was right in front of the left side pocket. Starrs eyes widened, as she was about to burst out in screams and jumps. The ball started slowing down as it got closer to the 8 ball. AJ was the one getting ready to burst at this point, until the ball tapped it lightly. The 8 ball turned sluggishly till it was hanging on the edge, then disappeared into the blackness. Starr exploded and hugged Jamie fiercely. AJ hit his forehead and laughed.
“Ok, ok. So you won. Who cares!” Joked Bobby. He pulled Trinity towards a little stage with a TV and Stereo sitting on it. After she calmed down, Starr glanced at Jamie with hinting eyes.
“Come on Jason. Let’s go get a drink.” Jamie grabbed his hand and walked towards a small bar.
“Well Mr., let’s see if I can beat you one more time.” She smiled playfully and gathered all the balls from the pockets.
“Ok. But you only one last time because it was my first time playing with you. I figure out your tricks, then I beat you.” He teased.
“Yeah right.” She laughed under her breath. They played for two hours, taking turns being in the lead, but Starr finally won.
“I guess I don’t have any tricks. I’m naturally good.” She crossed her arms and spread a cocky grin across her face. AJ had his feet crossed as he leaned against a pool table, staring at the ground with an unconscious feature. Starrs’ grin disappeared and she walked over to him. “Are you ok?”
AJ snapped his head up out of startlement and glared at Starr. “Yeah.” He got up and put his stick back on the rack.
“Are you mad that I won?”
“No!” He laughed. “I just daze off sometimes. Sorry.” He tapped her shoulder and stood limply in front of her. She had this thing for cheeks…she didn’t know why. She stared at his cheek when he turned to look at the stage, imagining herself reaching up and touching it. Then running it slowly down is tattooed, muscled arms, sliding them into his hands and leaning in to kiss his…
“Is…everything alright?”
Starr blinked and saw AJ staring at her like she had just said I Love You or something. “You were kinda…staring at something.”
“Oh.” She stood up and laughed. “I have that problem too. Just got kind of side tracked with my imagination.” She looked away, half embarrassed at what she just said. AJ smiled. AJ thought again about kissing her. He shook his head. I’ll know it’s right when the time comes.
“All you ladies leave your men at home, the club is full of ballers and they pockets full grown.” Sang Jamie. She swung her hips and nodded her head.
“And all you fellas leave your girl wit her friends, cause it’s 11:30 and the club is jumpin’ jumpin’.” Starr raised her hands into the air and shook her butt. They were dancing on the small kareoke stage with practically the whole billiard gathered around, dancing to the 2 kooks. When they were done, they jumped off the stage and danced back to the table, where everyone was sitting. Starr sat in her seat, still moving as she sat down, next to AJ.
“Told ya I’d hear you sing sometme.”
“Ugh!” She hit AJ in all his glory. “Was I bad?"
“Not at all. You were really good.” He pushed a cup of dark liquid toward her. She sucked from the straw and thanked him vigorously.
“I’m ready to go. How about y’all?” Jamie scrunched her face into a tired look and threw her hands onto the table like 20 bricks falling from a 15-story building. They all agreed and headed toward the campus of UCLA.
“Nite sweetie.” Starr hugged Jamie as her and AJ dropped her off at her door. “Now, you two be good.” She teased. Starr laughed to herself as she imagined Jamie with her ear pressed against the door.
“Thanks for all your help tonight.” She smiled weakly at AJ as they walked down the deserted hall.
“No problem. I had fun…” He wrapped his hand around her arm and turned her toward him. She gazed up at him with crystal jaggars and fell numb all over. That look on his face made her feel desired and safe. It was so sure and powerful. It felt like a dream when she saw his eyes getting closer to hers. It just didn’t seem real. But when she felt his lips on hers…it was defiantly real. When he pulled back and looked at her with a content smile, she just stared at him and melted away.
“Is it ok that I kissed you?” AJ asked. He was confused by her. She seemed like she liked him, now she looks mad.
“Uh huh.” She was so blown away. She had waited all night for this kiss, it had taken over her body, her mind, her life. Now what?