12
KASSIDY
H
er mother sped off, leaving her at the busy mall entrance in a state of double dustiness. Puffs of dust clouded the air where her mother's tires had spun, and Kassidy's house slippers looked like they'd been dipped in sand-colored soot. She looked down at them. No, they weren't nasty-dirty like most of Yummy's belongings, but they'd still classify as unclean if she saw someone else in them, and that was totally unacceptable.
Holding her head high, she owned her dusty slippers as if they were the best things on the planet and followed the other shoppers. She hoped that her air of superiority would make people focus on her upper region, not her feet. But her clothes wouldn't help her avoid attention, she noted, taking a good look at herself as she passed an enormous storefront window. She'd left the house as is, donning a retro Havana T-shirt and ragged-cut, highwater boyfriend sweatsâan outfit she'd normally never wear outsideâand had topped it off with a Panama Jack hat and oversized shades, thinking it made her look like a star who was trying to avoid the paparazzi. She'd figured if no one could see her baby-browns, no one would ever be able to prove that they'd seen her. To her, eyes were like fingerprints; they were unique and identifying, and if no one saw hers, she could pretend she didn't see them. Still, though, she had to admit, anyone would probably know it was her.
With focus and determination to quickly find the best pair of shoes to go with her outfit to go riding with Carsen, she moved through the mall. She looked at her watch as she approached the escalators, then relaxed a bit. She still had hours, and that was more than enough time to buy kicks, she thought, searching left, then right, looking for the trendy boutique she'd spotted the last time she shopped. She knew she needed to buy flats; they'd be more appropriate for motorcycle riding. But sexy, multicolored, strappy stilettos begged for her attention as she graced the store's entrance. Like a junkie, there to feed her shoe addiction, Kassidy scooped up one of the ice pickâthin heels, two three-inch ones, an all-season boot, and a wedge flip-flop. Cradling the bundle of display shoes, she held them to her chest and made it to a bench. In a second, she'd switched from her slippers and into her first choice, and with one foot inches higher than the other and her heel hanging off the back of the too-small shoe, she limped to the mirror. She spun, admiring every angle. Even though the shoes from the display didn't fit, she knew she'd found what she needed for tonight.
“Can I help you?” a blue-haired salesgirl asked, zoning in on the ill-fitting shoe Kassidy had on. Her hair was cut symmetrically with a perfect Asian bang, she had at least five shades of gray on her eyes, and her lips were paler than the law should've allowed.
Kassidy almost laughed.
The receptionist?
“Wow ... I didn't know you moonlight at the mall. You forgot who I am already?” she asked rhetorically, knowing that the woman had to know who she was. “Yes. I need to see all of these in a size ...” She paused, unable to finish. Stretching her neck, she looked over the racks of shoes to the men's section in the back. “Oh no ...” Her heart palpitated and her mouth went dry. The fine guy, Diggs, was turning around toward the front of the store where she was, calling out to the salesgirl. Worse, he'd not only be able to spot Kassidy, he had a full view of the entrance, which meant she had no escape.
“What size did you say?” the receptionist-slash-salesgirl asked, still not acknowledging that she knew who Kassidy was.
Kassidy dropped to her knees, forgetting about the shoes and the blue-haired girl. She needed an escape, and the small rack in front of her would have to do until she could figure a way out of the store. There was no way she could let him see her looking like this, all ragged and homely.
Shaking her head, the girl walked away, laughing. “Let me know when you need something.”
“No,” Kassidy yelled in a low whisper. “Don't go ...” But it was too late. Holding on to the display rack in front of her, she eased up a bit, trying to spot Diggs and avoid being seen. Now her heart dropped. He was headed toward the women's section, toward the space she now occupied. Frantically, she searched for a new place to hide. She looked left, then right, then made a complete circle. Her eyes turned into saucers when she looked out the display window.
Faith?
“Can't be. She's still in New York,” she said to herself, watching a girl zoom by who looked so much like her friend it was scary. Then she heard Diggs's voice, and it sounded like he was only clothing racks away. To her relief, people were circulating through the area she hid in, and without thought, Kassidy grabbed the first person she saw, snatching her like she knew her, and using her for a shield.
“Hey!” the girl yelled, trying to pull away.
“Sorry. Please help me,” Kassidy begged, her face pressed against the girl's back. She'd crouched as low as she could, and held on for dear life. “This guy is in here. This superfine dude who I must have. Diggs. And I can't let him see me. Not like this. If you help me get out of here without him seeing me, I'll help you. Twice. Two for oneâyou can't beat that.”
The girl stiffened and seemed to be thinking, then laughed. “Really?”
Kassidy cringed. From the girl's reaction, she was sure she'd be on her own. “I'm Kassidy. What's your name?” she asked, hoping the girl would view her as person if she knew her name, and not as a nutcase. She needed the girl's sympathy.
“Jacobi. My name's Jacobi. And you promise to help me, right?” the girl asked, turning around and looking at Kassidy. Her eyes widened into saucers and a look of recognition covered her face. “I'll really need your help, but it may be more than twice ...” She paused, letting her words sink in.
“Boy help?” Kassidy asked. “I can do that.”
Jacobi laughed. “If you can help me with boys, why can't you help yourself?”
Kassidy snickered. The Jacobi girl was good. Really good. “Trust me. My problem is I came out of the house dressed like this. Other than that, I'm good in the boy department.”
Jacobi stiffened and stepped sideways while Kassidy stepped with her. Her body language told Kassidy there was a problem. Maybe Diggs was coming their way.
“Jacobi? Is that you?” a guy asked.
“Um. Um. Yeah. Hey, Malone ... I'm here with your sister and brother,” she said, clearly nervous.
“Ah. If I had known that, I would've come home early so I could drive you. Alek's a bit new at the driving thing,” he said, his voice getting louder by the secondâan indication that he was walking their way, Kassidy presumed.
Jacobi looked at her watch and grunted. “Oh no. Not now.”
“Keep cool, Jacobi. I can help you with him. Whoever he is,” Kassidy promised. “But you have to help me out of here.”
“Okay,” Jacobi whispered. “But he's not really the problem. My friend's gonna be here any second, and I can't let him see
him
.”
Kassidy drew her brows together, trying to figure out one
him
from another
him
, then decided it didn't matter.
This Jacobi girl must be a player like me
, she thought, and that was more than cool with her. “Just repeat after me and you'll be good. The Malone dude will go away. Say this: âI'll be finished over here in a second. I'm getting ready to look at some girly things ... things that I'd like to keep private. If you know what I mean. Maybe we can meet at the food court when I'm finished,' ” Kassidy instructed.
Jacobi parroted Kassidy's words, and Malone smiled.
“No problem. Alissa and my mom have broken me in with all the female stuff. I'll let you handle your girly thing,” he said, his words getting fainter as he moved away from them.
“Whew,” Jacobi said. “Thanks.”
Kassidy laughed from her crouched position. “I told you I got you. Now, if you'll return the favor ...”
“Diggs!” Jacobi yelled out, making Kassidy tense up and dig her fingers into Jacobi's arms. “Ouch,” she said to Kassidy. “Stop!”
“What are you doing?” Kassidy questioned in a low whisper.
“I trusted you. Now trust me,” Jacobi whispered back, then turned her attention. “Diggs? Can you go back to the men's section and see if they have a pair of calf-high purple Chucks in a size seven? They don't have my size up here in the women's section.” She waited for a second, ignoring Kassidy's question about how she knew Diggs. “Now! Move now!” Jacobi hissed to Kassidy, almost running out of the store backward, shielding Kassidy as she shed the display shoe and picked up her slipper, then moved toward the exit.
Kassidy, with only one slipper on, grabbed Jacobi's arm and they blazed through the mall, whirring past other shoppers. They turned one corner and almost collided with someone. The same someone who looked like Faith, Kassidy thought, but couldn't be sure. Jacobi had taken the lead now, and she pulled Kassidy, hightailing it to a nearby bookstore. Like two girls on the run, they moved through the small crowd that'd gathered for an author signing and made their way to the back, between two large shelves.
Kassidy, with slipper tucked under one arm, stuck out her hand. “Again, the name's Kassidy ... the one who owes you for real. It's nice to finally meet you. Formally.” A huge smile spread on her face.
Jacobi smiled, showing off braces.
Her skin wasn't smooth, and her hair and clothes lacked style. A major overhaul, Kassidy thought, making a mental checklist of what she could help her newfound friend with, as Jacobi took her hand and shook it.
“Jacobi ... the one you'll repay. Now, let's handle your shoe problem.”
Â
Kassidy bit into her garlic pretzel, almost ashamed at herself for enjoying the buttery carbohydrate treat so much. Usually she tried to keep her indulgences in check, especially when she had an upcoming photo shoot or runway event scheduled. But not today. After leaving the bookstore and finding Kassidy a pair of shoes and new outfit to slip into, Jacobi had insisted they stop at the Pretzel Place, located in the center of the mall, and had purchased one for each of them. Kassidy, out of hunger, lingering anxiousness, and not wanting to be rude, couldn't resist. Not that it'd add an ounce of fat to her figure. She ate carefully out of habit, because of her profession, not because she needed to. She couldn't gain a pound if she tried.
“So how long you been shooting?” she asked, pointing to the camera Jacobi wore like an oversized necklace.
Jacobi finished chewing. “With this one? Not long. But I've been dabbling with cameras for years. Just recently moved to film.” She stopped talking and began looking around. “I'm here with some friends. They were supposed to meet me in the boutique to help me pick out a swimsuit for a party.” She whipped out her cell and texted someone.
Kassidy's eyebrows rose at “party.” It'd been so long since she'd been to one, she'd almost forgotten what one was like, and wasn't certain she wanted to be reminded. Besidesâshe looked at Jacobiâshe was certain that Jacobi's crowd was different from her own. Kassidy was an A-lister, not B, and, missing out on fun or not, she couldn't move down the list and party with the average crowd. “A pool party? That's cool. Is whoever your
he
isâyou know, the one who's meeting you hereâgoing to be there? If so, I can help you with your swimsuit, too. I kinda know a lot about fashion, and I have some clothes in my closet that I'm sure no one at the party will have. We can dress you in something hotâand not off the rack. You'll be the It girl at the pool party.”
Jacobi smiled. “Beach-house party. Up the coast,” Jacobi corrected. “And yes, he's going to be there. I wish I could invite you, but I'm a guest. Me and my whole family are going.”
Kassidy plastered a smile on her face. She couldn't let Jacobi know that she wouldn't go to the party if someone paid her to. She just didn't do anything that she felt was beneath her.
“There they are,” Jacobi said, pointing down the corridor. “My friends ...”
Kassidy looked to where Jacobi pointed and saw a girl taller than she, who had a blaze of red hair, and a guy who looked more like a portrait than a person. He was shockingly gorgeous and someone she'd normally go after. But she couldn't do that. Not because her boy roster was full with Romero, Carsen, and Brent, but because Diggs was walking with them. “You never said how you knew Diggs,” she said.
Jacobi turned and smiled. “Diggs is my brother.”
Kassidy gulped. Maybe a beach-house party wasn't such a bad idea. “Good to know ... That means we're neighbors. So maybe I can stop by and help you with your boyfriend problems?”
13
JACOBI
J
acobi leaned against the rack of basketball jerseys, scrolling through her e-mails and text messages. She'd just received a message from Diggs asking where she was, and two messages from Shooby: an e-mail about rating her sex, and a text that said he was two doors down from the sneaker store. A nervous energy ran through her body. Alissa, who knew about the flash mobbing and had signed up to participate, was there, but so were Kassidy and Alek, who knew nothing about what was getting ready to go down. She hoped Kassidy could handle it and that Alissa had found a way to get rid of Alek. He was cool, but she didn't want him in her business. More importantly, she didn't want Alek to tell Malone what she was into, and that bothered her because she shouldn't care what Malone thought. She nodded to Alissa, indicating now was the time to get her brother to leave the store, then closed out her text and highlighted her e-mail account. She opened the message Shooby had sent. The questionnaire he'd forwarded was interesting, if nothing else. And would've been too intrusive if she didn't like him. She wasn't comfortable talking about her body parts, things she'd do when alone with a guy, rating boys she'd been with, or anything like that. She was private, and hadn't even thought about most of the questions, let alone done them. She'd kissed Shooby. That was it.
“Why are you grinning?” Kassidy asked, walking up to her and reaching for her phone. “Can I see?”
“Shooby. That's why she's grinning. She loves him,” Alissa answered. She said something to her brother, then turned back to Jacobi and Kassidy and kept rattling on, even after they were clearly ignoring her.
“She talks a lot,” Kassidy whispered, taking the phone from Jacobi's hand. “So, he is the one, huh? Shooby? That's his name?” she asked, then began reading the e-mail. “He wants you to rate your sex ... interesting. Didn't think of that. I need to do that like yesterday.”
Jacobi smiled. This Kassidy girl seemed to really have it together, at least in the confidence department. There was no wayâor reasonâfor Jacobi to rate her sex. “So you think I should answer the questionnaire?”
Kassidy grimaced. “Uh ... let me see.” She pressed her lips together in thought, pointing to her temple. “Hecky no. I was talking about my needing to e-mail someone. We don't do sex questionnaires or anything demeaning. Remember that.” She began looking around as if she'd lost something, then turned to Jacobi. “What happened to Diggs? He was just with Alissa and her brother.”
“Jacobi,” Alek said, interrupting them and walking over to her. “I'm headed to the food court to grab something to drink and a bite. Can I get you anything?” he asked, standing close.
Jacobi shook her head and a faint smile came over her face. “No, thank you.” Alek was so cute and nice, but he was Alissa's brother and not Shooby. More importantly, if she had to choose between the brothers, her choice would be Malone. But he was way too good for her.
“You sure?” He swept a hair from her eye.
“I'm sure, Alek. Thanks.”
He bit his bottom lip and lifted his head slightly, making himself even taller than he was. Looking down at her, he seemed to be sizing her up for something. “All right. If you change your mind ...” He raised his cell phone in the air, then turned to Alissa and Kassidy. “Y'all be cool. Alissa, check me when you're ready, and I'll meet y'all at the car.”
Kassidy's eyes bulged, and she nudged Jacobi. “Um ... something you're not telling, Jacobi?”
Jacobi shook her head. “What?”
“Serious? You must be playing. You have to see that he's interested ...” Her voice trailed off and she began looking around, then turned back to Jacobi. “You never said what happened to your brother. It was like he was here one second, then the next”âshe snapped her fingersâ“gone.”
“Who knows? He may've caught up with Malone. They know each other,” Jacobi began, then stopped to listen. She heard his voice before he entered the store, and her heart fluttered and butterflies swarmed in her stomach. Shooby walked in with six other members of the crew, looked her way, and nodded. A half smile was on his face, and he looked like he owned the store and his followers.
“Cobi-cobe! What it do?” he greeted Jacobi, quickly walking past her. “It's showtime, baby! Let's rock this role,” he said, excited about the show they were getting ready to put on.
Jacobi grinned harder than before. He'd called her
baby
again. There was just something about him that caused her to melt. She grabbed her camera, checked to make sure it was ready to shoot, and stared at him, waiting for her cue. “I gotcha, Shooby.” Then she eyed the crew again. She didn't see Katydid anywhere. “Where's Katydid?” she asked, looking at his back. He was already on his way to the front.
“I told you she moved. No one knows!” he said.
Kassidy nudged her so hard Jacobi was sure her ribs were bruised. “
That's
Shooby?” she asked, seeming somewhat surprised; and something else Jacobi couldn't pinpoint. “I dunno ... Seems to me there's a better option lingering. The one you're not telling.”
Jacobi ignored Kassidy and moved toward the checkout counter, positioning her camera. Loud music blared from a nearby oversized boom box that one of the crew had brought in. The bass was thick, banging as if real drums were attached. She couldn't help but nod her head to a Lil Wayne track as she zoomed in on Shooby. He jumped up and down in place, then began dancing in a jerky rhythm. Suddenly, as if he had springs on the bottoms of his feet, he jumped on the counter while the rest of the crew hopped onto benches in the store. They all screamed at the tops of their lungs, then gyrated their bodies. Today's flash mob was for the community, and they were making their message clear, telling the customers that hundred-dollar sneakers were sold to keep “our people” down.
“Don't buy into the lie,” Shooby demanded. “The Man's shoes are meant to keep
us
down.
We
buy shoes instead of food.
We
buy hundred-thousand-dollar cars instead of homes. We invest in fashion, not education! It's time for a new nation ... Today's revelation is get outta our situation. Don't buy the lie!” he yelled as various crew members chased customers out of the store.
Jacobi felt her body being pulled, and her zoom on Shooby shifted as she was moved closer to the exit. She snatched her arm away from whoever was pulling her. She couldn't turn to see who it was for fear she'd lose the shot of Shooby. He was in rare form, more daring than she'd ever witnessed before. There was something dangerous about the look in his eye, and as scary as it would've seemed on any other day, today it was beautiful. Sexy. “Stop!” she finally said, but it was too late. Her feet were lifted off the ground and her butt met the tiled floor with a thump and a slide. “Dang!” She'd safeguarded her camera on the way down. She couldn't let anything happen to it.
“Get up!” Kassidy yelled. “Let's go. Now!”
Jacobi was about to protest but saw Shooby and the crew running out of the store. The flash mob was over. With Kassidy's help, she stood up and made haste, following behind Kassidy, who continued to pull her. “Wasn't that great?”
They turned a corner, then another, dashed through the food court, and made it outside. Kassidy bent over, resting her hands on her thighs while she caught her breath. She shook her head. “That was awful,” she said between gasps. “It was awful, base, negative. Unnecessary.”
“Hey, you okay?” Alek asked, holding money in one hand and a drink in the other. “I saw you run by when I was about to pay for my food.” He held up the dollars to confirm his words.
Jacobi nodded, smiling. “I'm fantastic.”
“Yes, you are,” a different voice answered.
Jacobi turned, and so did Alek and Kassidy; and Alissa, who'd somehow made her way out of the mall. Malone stood there, smiling.
“You said to meet you in the food court, not outside of it,” he said. “I never would've guessed you'd make me
chase you
chase you.”
Jacobi swallowed hard. All eyes were on her, and that made her nervous. She looked to Kassidy for help, and noticed the surprised look on Alissa's face. She knew the exchange had to be weirder for Alissa than it was for her. Alek and Malone were her brothers, and she was Jacobi's friend. Jacobi and Diggs clashed from time to time, but Jacobi had never witnessed sibling rivalry to this degree.
“Sorry ... What did you say your name was?” Kassidy asked Malone.
“Malone,” Alek answered for his brother, then sidestepped next to Jacobi and Kassidy. “His name is Malone, and he's my superstar brother.” His statement was sarcastic.
“O ... kay,” Kassidy said. “This is a bit thick.”
Malone's eyebrows shot up, and his words were few. “Stop it, Alek. Let this one go.”
Alek ignored Malone and handed Jacobi the drink he held. She gave him an appreciative half smile. “I bought that for you, you know,” he said.
Malone nodded toward the drink Jacobi held and shook his head. He looked at Alek and repeated, “I said let this one go, Alek. I'm not playing.”
Jacobi looked from person to person, boy to boy. It seemed like it was only days ago that she was a nobody: a plain girl with uneven breasts, bad skin, and braces, whom no one would take a second look at or befriend in the new neighborhood. Now she had Alissa and Kassidy as friends, and options. Choices in guys. Shooby, who'd held her heart for years, had kissed her and said he'd go away to the beach house. Alek, who seemed cool as a fan, cared if she was thirsty or not. And Malone, a guy with the case of the perfectsâperfectly popular, smart, and richâwas interested in her for something. She was sure it wasn't a relationship, but he was around for something.
Suddenly, like a gust of wind, Shooby breezed by, running faster than she'd ever seen him move. She raised her hand to wave and was getting ready to call his name, but he'd disappeared inside a waiting car, which pulled off before the door closed. If only she could get him to want her like Alek did, and if only he would think of her like Malone did, her world would be brighter. She had to do what she had to do, to get his attention. Maybe filling out the sex questionnaire wasn't such a bad idea, she rationalized, deciding she'd print it out and do just that when she got home. She turned and looked at Kassidy, then shrugged.
Kassidy shook her head and grunted. “Okay. I know. I know. I got you. He'll be yours.”