Chapter 16
I agonized over what to wear to the carnival. It was only the end of the second week of November and the weather remained in the high seventies. We hadn’t yet experienced a dip that required heavier clothing—thank God.
Still, I felt silly thinking about what to wear. I was just going to a school carnival with friends—but Dreux was taking me. Which didn’t really mean anything because he was a friend, but yet…
I never put thought into what I wore around the guys back home.
Yet, here I was, rethinking every article of clothing I owned.
First, I considered a hoodie and ripped jeans, but then I questioned why I was so covered and if I’d come off closed off.
Shorts came to mind next, which required me to shave my legs.
And then I felt fucking ridiculous for shaving my legs and caring how I looked.
I groaned and cursed my jumbled mind as I settled on a Rolling Stones T-shirt and a pair of cutoffs. After slipping my feet into my black Converse, I decided my outfit would do.
My eyes drifted to my pink-painted nails and a fuzziness I couldn’t shake radiated through me.
I was going to the school carnival with Dreux. The thought warmed me.
Down on the first floor, I found Scott watching TV in the living room. With a beer on his knee, he was completely engrossed in what looked like some cop drama. Suddenly, I felt shy about approaching him.
Scott noticed me standing awkwardly at the edge of the room. “What’s up, Say?”
“I’m going out to the school carnival,” I told him as I thumbed a finger over my shoulder.
Immediately Scott lifted a suspicious brow. “School carnival?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s this weekend. Seemed…like fun.”
Scott sank back in his chair, studying me. Honestly, I couldn’t blame him. This was new territory for me too. “Uh-huh.”
My cheeks were heating up at having to come out and say it. “Dreux invited me.”
Just like that Scott’s demeanor changed. He lightened up, his expression going from guarded to relaxed. “Oh. Sounds good. It’s nice to know you two are becoming good friends.”
I looked away, hoping my blush wouldn’t betray me.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
The front doorbell rang, sparing me from further embarrassment and confusion.
I turned back to Scott. “That’s probably him now.”
“Here’s some cash if you’re short.” Scott dug into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He fished out a couple of twenties before handing them over.
“Thank,” I said as I accepted the money.
Scott sat back in his chair. He didn’t budge to get the door. Because he trusted Dreux. He trusted me.
The realization made me feel good, but I couldn’t forget his words. “You should know I’m also friends with a guy named Bonham Church. He was one of my first friends I made here.”
The name drew recognition. “Aidan’s brother?”
Quickly I jumped to his defense. “He’s got a bad rep, but he’s not a bad guy. He’s like me. A little misunderstood.”
Scott drank in my response, not rushing to dismiss the idea. “Okay, I’ll take your word for it. Everyone needs a second chance.”
“Sometimes thirds,” I agreed, echoing Cameron.
I went down the hall and answered the door, finding Dreux on the other side waiting patiently.
Back home, no one had ever rung our doorbell or waited on our front step for me.
My mother didn’t approve of the boys. And Kevin had never tried.
Dreux could’ve sent me a simple text, but here he was on our porch. It was small, but I liked it.
He was wearing a white T-shirt that featured an image of two Black men standing in front of the American flag.
The image was in black and white, and above it in red letters was the word OutKast. I didn’t miss the way the shirt hugged his broad chest and emphasized his toned arms. With the gold chain around his neck and the pink breast cancer bracelet on his wrist, he made it look effortless.
I bet he didn’t spend too much time on it at all.
Dreux took one look at me and a small smile curled the corner of his lips up. “You ready?”
“Yeah.” My voice sounded foreign to me, breathless.
It was only a school carnival, but I felt like I was floating as I followed Dreux down to where he’d parked at the curb. He opened my door for me and let me in first. No one had ever done that for me before. Even still, somehow it was so Dreux. Ever the gentleman.
Once he was behind the wheel driving for Horton High, the first thing I noticed was the song on the radio. Even if I was unfamiliar with the artist, I knew the genre was country.
A glimpse at the touchscreen confirmed it.
“Country?” I questioned.
Dreux kept his eyes on the road as he gave a shrug. “I guess I like a few songs and artists.”
The song playing was by a man named Chris Stapleton, and I had to admit, it was good.
“Well, I guess I can’t judge. I do like Cowboy Carter,” I confessed.
Dreux stole a glance my way, eyes widened. “No shit?”
“Yeah. You didn’t like it?” I asked.
Dreux was quick to shake his head. “No, it was amazing. I just didn’t picture you as a Beyoncé girl.”
Here we go. “Look, my mom and her best friend are the biggest fans. I had no choice. I’m almost certain if I didn’t at least appreciate Beyoncé I’d be disowned.”
Dreux’s laugh made my heart beat harder and I bit my lip at the sensation.
I grabbed my phone and went to my mother’s social media page to show him the photo of her and Joyce at the Beyoncé themed party she’d thrown last summer.
Dreux pulled up to a red light and leaned over to get a good look, his cologne surrounding me and taking me under.
It was intoxicating—he was intoxicating.
Dreux was oblivious as he angled his head and studied the image of my mother and Joyce. He smiled and tipped his head at it. “I get what era the other woman is, but what’s your mom’s?”
Joyce was dressed in theme with the Lemonade album, complete with the mustard-colored dress and baseball bat—something that had her husband, Everton, apprehensive the whole night.
Dressed in theme with the B’Day album, my mother in her golden metallic dress with fringe on the ends couldn’t be missed.
Her hair was even styled the same, with the effortless messy updo.
At the time of the party, I’d been too cool to admit and admire the dedication my mother and Joyce had for their beloved singer.
I wouldn’t even admit that the idea had seemed fun.
I was only a casual listener of Beyoncé after growing up with my mother playing her music, but if I wasn’t being a brat, maybe I would’ve dressed up too and gone to Joyce’s party.
“She’s from the B’Day era,” I told Dreux.
He peeked again at the image before continuing to drive as the light turned green. “Interesting. So, Cowboy Carter, huh? Did not know you knew ball.”
He was teasing and it made me smile. “I guess that’s one blonde I’ll let you call me.”
He smirked. “What’s your favorite song from that album?”
God, I must’ve heard that record about a million times. My mother had played it religiously whenever I was home. She’d even cried when Beyoncé had won Grammys for it.
There was one song that had always stuck out for me. A smooth, mellow ballad that called for perseverance. “ ‘Just for Fun’ is definitely my favorite.”
Dreux accepted this and appeared thoughtful. “I guess mine would be ‘II Hands II Heaven.’ That outro is celestial.” He looked my way. “ ‘II Most Wanted’ is a hell of a duet, too.”
“II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus. One of the album’s love songs.
Dreux’s eyes were back on the road and I kept quiet as he pulled into the student parking lot.
Over the last week, the lot next to Horton High had transformed from vacant to a wonderland of neon lights, rides, game booths, and concession stands.
The smell of fried food hung in the air as we climbed out of the Bronco.
The parking lot was full. Shouts and screams could be heard in the distance, and a rap song was blasting from speakers.
At the gate leading into the carnival, I spotted Cameron, Vanity, and Bonham hanging back.
It was a group adventure, but there was an elephant that needed to be addressed.
As we came to a stop in front of them, there was no missing the way Dreux only acknowledged Cameron and Vanity.
Bonham was beside Cameron, hands in his pockets and as out of place as I was. He gave me an awkward smile and a tip of his chin.
Tonight was about fun. Fun with friends.
I took a step away from Dreux and looked between him and Bonham. “So, before we head in, what if you two talk?”
Dreux silently raised a brow as Bonham repeated, “Talk?”
I didn’t know the complete depth of their previous friendship, but I thought it was worth hashing out. Dreux had messed up, and Bonham deserved to know Dreux was sorry and hadn’t ratted him out. And I hoped Dreux would even thank him for not dragging him down with him once he was being sentenced.
Second chances, sometimes thirds, was what some of us really needed.
So I pushed for peace. “Yes, you’re both my friends and I really think if you talked, you could squash the issue between you.”
Bonham all but glared at Dreux who stared on impassively.
It was Dreux who shrugged. “We should talk.”
Bonham’s gaze flickered toward Cameron who gave a shy smile of encouragement, and for just a fragment of a second, I could’ve sworn I saw him blush. He came back to Dreux and grimaced as the two walked off.
“This oughta be good,” Vanity mumbled as she watched the two head down the parking lot for a quiet space to talk.
I went and stood with the girls, quickly taking note of their outfit choices for the night. Cameron kept it cute in a white small button up top that barely covered her belly button and ripped jeans. Vanity was in a large pale pink hoodie with a matching headband in her hair.
“Do I look okay? For…the carnival?” I stammered to ask.
Cameron hid what looked like a laugh behind her hand as Vanity narrowed her eyes. “You look cute…for a carnival.”
“Yeah, I’m sure Dreux thinks so too.” Cameron leaned close to tease me.