Summertime Fine

Jamira Terrell

Summertime

A few days had passed since I left home. The house’s aura was dull and draining. Words can't explain how excited I was to get a text from my best friend: “Yo Jamira, I gotta show I’m performing at this weekend and I really want you to come.” I replied, “Sure Quil.” Finally some plans! I couldn’t take being in the house for another boring weekend.

There were a few issues. One, finding something to wear and two, getting permission to even go. Finding something to wear was not that difficult for I had remember about the new dress that I bought for my best friend -Nia’s, party. Now asking my mom for permission was another issue in itself because depending on the work day, my mom can sometimes come home with quite the attitude. I had to remind myself that just because I was excited, it was almost too good to be true, so I probably shouldn’t get my hopes up just in case my mom tells me that I can not go.

My mom usually gets home at five o’clock. I hoped that her day at work was pleasurable because I wanted her in a good mood before I popped the big question. I didn’t feel like listening to another one of her lectures about “those boys” and “how to act when going out places.” She always comes home mad and takes the anger that she has amassed from work out on me, lecturing me about “teenage stuff.” I hope she just answers me a with a simple “yes” or “no” and just leave it at that.

I wondered what songs Aquil was going to perform. I love his voice and when he sings it is simply amazing. I remember when he invited me to his last show. It was a night to remember and I will never forget how he brought me up on stage and sang my favorite song to me.

Now that I think about, I really hadn’t heard from him in a couple months up until he texted me. Well at least I’ll get to see him soon.

That day, it seemed like it took forever for my mom to come home. It just felt like the day was trudging by and forgot that I needed my mom to get home. My mom got home around 6:15. I waited for her to get settled to see if she was in a pleasant mood or not. She hadn’t called me down for my lecture yet, so I guess she had a good day. When she sat down on the couch and started watching Jeopardy, I thought it was an opportune time to ask her. I decided to start slowly.

“Hey mom, how was your day?”

“It was actually good J... How about yours?”

“Mine was cool. Aquil invited me to his show this weekend. I know how you feel about  me going out, but mom…..can I go, please?”

“Yeah sure, I love Aquil and his family. You can go. So when and where is this show? How are you getting there? Who else is going to be there?”

“Aquil has to send me the rest of the info, but he did say that his mom would pick me up and drop me off.”

“Okay cool...just keep me updated.”

“Thanks mom.”

I really didn’t expect her to give in so willingly, but I guess it’s best not to question it. I walked up the stairs pleased that she had not attempted to give me yet another speech. I figured that I should text Aquil to inform him that I could go and also to get my mom the information she wanted. He texted me back a couple minutes later, and I relayed the message to my mom. My weekend is most definitely about to be eventful.

The next day came, and I slept in until about noon. I then rolled out of bed, showered, dressed, and walked to the salon to get my hair and nails done.

I walked 2 hours later looking “fleeky.” I should take a selfie because I look really cute right now.

A couple selfies later I walked home so that I could finish getting ready. Aquil asked if he could take me somewhere before the show. So I went back to the house and threw on something cute, and I left my dress hanging up so that it would be ready when I came back.

My phone rang, it was Aquil, I think he’s outside. I answered and he said, “Yo I’m outside come out so we can go.”

I almost tripped walking down the steps. Then I opened the door, and I saw Aquil.

“DAMN YO YOU GOT TALL!”

“Haha yeah I know”

“I haven’t seen you in forever”

“Yeah I know hahaha that’s why I wanted to see you before we went.”

This boy is like 6’3. He wasn’t that tall last time I saw him. I was super excited to see my best friend again.

He said, “We gotta take the trolley because my dad is using my car today because he had a meeting in New York.”

“It’s cool…don’t stress it.”

To be honest I didn’t really care I was just excited to be out of that house. We got on the 34 trolley at 61st & Baltimore, and then we got off at 48th & Baltimore. We walked into this small cafe for late lunch. Hours went by as we sat and caught up on life. Then Aquil’s mom called. He said that she was 15mins away and that we were about to head to the show. I didn’t notice how much time went by.

“Aquil I left my dress at the house.”

“Okay we can take you back to the house, but you have to hurry up and change.”

“Okay.”

His mom pulled up, we got in, and then we rushed to the house so that I could change. A few minutes later I ran out the house in my heels, dress, and I got back in the car.

“Yo you look amazing,” he said.

“Thanks Aquil”

I was kind of blushing, but not only because of what he said, but I really thought I looked cute. We had to drive all the way down Drexel campus to get to World Cafe Live. During the drive, we didn’t talk that much except for the few questions his mom asked me about school, life, work, the usual. For the most part, I looked out the window as the trees whisked past and people ran by in a blur. I kept thinking about the time I had first met Aquil during a summer program around four years ago, and silently laughing to myself because he had the biggest crush on me back then. At the time I was living in California and we never lost touch, but when I moved back to Philly things seemed to just fit into place.

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted as I jumped back into reality.

“We’re here!” said Aquil’s mom.

I’ve never seen Quil move so fast in my life, he jumped out the car and ran backstage to prepare for his show. I knew then, that not only was he excited to perform, but that it was going to be one hell of a performance.

“Good luck tonight!” I yelled after him, but I doubt he even heard me.

His mom and I walked into World Cafe and as I looked around I noticed the large amount of people just mulling around, waiting for the show. I took a moment to take everything in, the scenery, people, colors, smells, etc; anything that would help me remember this very moment.

“I’ll be right back.” someone said, barely audible.

I turned around just in time to see Aquil’s mom heading backstage, mostly likely prepared to give him a quick pep talk and word of advice. Not used to being in this type of setting, I maneuvered myself so that I was close enough to the stage to be able to enjoy his performance, but even closer to the door so that I would not be bomb rushed on the way out. Just as I was about to drift back into my thoughts, the ground beneath my feet started to quiver and everyone around me became a silhouette. It was then that I looked up and noticed that the lights had been dimmed and the spotlight was on Aquil, standing center stage.

The show was about an hour long and once it ended, I went backstage to meet Aquil an congratulate him on his outstanding performance.

“Quil! You did an amazing job out there! Did you see the crowd?”

“Yea, I did, but the only person I was focused on was you.”

In that moment, I felt a rush through my body. I was highly unaware of my surroundings at the time and could only focus on the warmth of his hands as her grabbed me by my lower back and pulled me towards him. I didn’t know how to feel in that very moment because all I could focus on was how close in proximity we were. All the sounds around us were muffled and my vision slightly blurred, but what I knew for a fact wasn’t blurry was the image slowly coming towards me. He kissed me.

The ride home was filled with common conversation and awkward laughter. I knew I was not the only one feeling the weird tension. It could not be more excited to get dropped off at home. It wasn’t that I was unhappy about the kiss. I just did not know how to feel about it and wanted to go home and clear my mind. With what felt like an hour, within fifteen minutes, I was being dropped off at my house.

“Bye Mrs. Dantzler! Thank you so much for the ride!”

“No problem sweetie. I enjoyed your company.”

Aquil got out the car and walked me to my door. Even though the walk was short, we walked

in silence but deep down I knew that he would not just let me go inside without mentioning something about what had happened earlier that night.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yea. Perfectly fine. I just need some time to think”

“I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward position.”

“I know.” I replied. “Thank you for inviting me to your show. I had an amazing time.”

With that, I gave him a small kiss on the cheek and left him outside as I walked into my house.

As I closed the door behind me, I let go a huge sigh of relief. I great breath I felt like I had been holding in for the last hour. I knew from then, that the relationship between Aquil and I would be more or less than mutual, but nothing from that night on would be the same.