Habibah Carter - Absence of Color

Absence

of

Color

Carver High Series

Book 1

Chapter One

Jordan

H e leaned in close. Not too close, he was testing the boundary. She didnt back away. Instead she smiled up at him. He leaned even closer. Her hand slid around his back, just above his waist, pulling him a little bit closer. Finally, he went in for the kiss. She slipped her hand back to his side and up his arm, to his neck. She was enjoying this. He pulled back and looked at her, smiling wide. He obviously enjoyed it too; going back in for another kiss. She giggled when they separated once more.

He reached for her hand and they fell in step together. Unfortunately for me, they were walking in my direction. I fell deeper into the shadows. I had nowhere to run. They were going to see me. I was delaying the inevitable. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders and stepped in their path.

~~~

I SAT UP, PLACING ONE foot on the floor and then the other. My bed had become my best friend and today I was being forced to leave it. I leaned forward, my elbows resting on my thighs. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, dreading the day ahead.

Hey, sleepy head. Mom popped her head in the open doorway and smiled at me. First day! Final first day! Obviously, she was excited for me. I groaned and she let out a tiny laugh. One hundred, eighty days of six oclock alarms! Get on up! She practically sang. She slapped my door frame and walked away.

Good morning. I heard the tiny voice before I saw the tiny body. My four-year old sister stood in my doorway, holding her favorite blanket tightly in her arms. She stared in at me with wide eyes. I stretched my arms out, sitting up a little straighter. She smiled and raced into my room, running straight into my arms. I held her for a full minute before Mom popped her head back in, encouraging me to get a move on.

I sent my sister running, promising to see her at the breakfast table after I showered. I closed the door behind her and leaned against it. I do not want to go to school! Im sure most teens in America wake up feeling the same way, but most teens in America didnt catch their life-long best friend kissing their girlfriend of two years. I should have punched him. I wanted to punch him. Instead I looked at him, looked at her and walked away.

I dressed in a pair of faded jeans, my favorite boots and a basic tee. I brushed my hair back with very little putty. Im a no-fuss type of guy, if it falls, I wont care. No one to impress, since I'm single and couldnt care less about finding a new girlfriend. I just need to get through senior year and off to college I go.

How exciting today is for you! Mom said when I entered the kitchen. Such a morning person. I cant relate! My baby boy is a senior! My sister stood at my feet, looking up at me. She had put on her favorite blue dress and white sandals. Mom mustve combed her hair because it was pulled back away from her face with a barrette. I bent to pick her up. And my baby girl isnt even in school yet!

I go preschool! She told me.

Can you say, I am going to preschool? I suggested to her. She nodded. I waited. Silence. Mom and I both chuckled. Im going to miss you today. She wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and hugged me tight. I planted a kiss on her cheek.

Are you riding with Amber and Brian? Mom asked. It was an innocent question. It's not like I ran home to tell her about what I saw. For two weeks Ive just been home, saying I wanted to spend as much time with her and Emmy as possible before going back to school. Considering how much time I spent on the couch with them watching whatever Emmy wanted to watch, or lying in bed reading books to Emmy, I had made it a believable lie.

Im solo this morning. Im going to have breakfast with my favorite girl and I didnt want to be on anyone elses time schedule. I lied, kissing Emmy again. Lets eat!

Mom didnt ask any questions. She just retreated into the kitchen, reappearing moments later carrying a plate of pancakes in one hand and one of sausages and eggs in the other. I carried Emmy into the kitchen and we gathered plates and forks. Mom came back in to help.

Finally, the three of us sat down to enjoy my favorite breakfast. It was a first day of school tradition for the entire family to sit down and have breakfast together. When Dad was here he would go to work late and make it a special morning for me.

Okay, baby girl. I said when we finished. You have fun at preschool and I will be there to pick you up right after I get out! I kissed Emmy on the top of her head and walked around the table to do the same to Mom.

Wait! One last photo! She held up her cell phone. I groaned. Its the last one! Senior year! She sing-songed with a silly dance involving only the top half of her body. I smiled. It was nice to see a genuine happiness in the house again.

Me too! Emmy stood on her chair and jumped up into my arms. I laughed, catching her with ease. Five minutes later I was finally out the door.

I dreaded taking my car to school. Shes my baby; a gift and project from my father. Before the cancer. Together we restored the 1969 Chevelle convertible and named her Honey for the original color she was. I didnt want her to get scratched or dinged at school but since I could no longer ride with Brian, I was on my own. I started the engine, feeling the usual bit of excitement as she roared to life. Let the day begin!

The student parking lot was nearly full by the time I arrived. I parked my car in the senior area. There was an unwritten code that only seniors could park in the small lot at the end of the main lot. Thankfully not all seniors tried parking out here considering its location at the back of the lot. Unfortunately for me, the only spot left was right next to Brian; and he was still in his vehicle. I turned off my car, the world going silent without the roar of my engine.

I grabbed my bag off the passenger seat and climbed out of my car. Swinging the heavy door shut, I double checked that it was locked. I took a moment to admire Honey one last time. As I started walking toward campus, Brian fell in stride with me.

Look, man, Im sorry. He said. I kept my head down and picked up the pace. He had sent text message after text message saying the same thing. I bet the next thing to come out his mouth will be, it just happened. Cmon, man, it just happened. I rolled my eyes. Look, bro, I helped you out. You found out she wasnt doing you right. Personally, I would much rather have just heard a rumor than actually see my best friend kiss my girlfriend. Bad enough she wasnt doing me right, but my best friend wasnt either.