Chapter 18

~ Gabrielle ~

Six Years Earlier

 

 

I stepped inside the studio after Danny drove away, and sat next to Kat, who was tying up her toe shoes.

“Boys night out tonight?” she asked. At my confused expression, she nodded toward the now empty spot where Danny’s car had been. “I overheard you and D talking outside.”

“Oh, yeah. He said he needed to record with them since he hasn’t been spending as much time with them because of me. No girls allowed,” I added with a small laugh.

“What are you doing?”

“Me?” I shook my head. “Nothing.”

“Come out with me and my girls. Girls’ night out.”

Even though Kat and I had become friendly through dance, I didn’t believe her friends would want me hanging around. “Oh, I don’t want to intrude.”

“You’re not intruding, silly. Come on, it will be fun.”

I mulled over the invitation, admitting it sounded like a good time, never having a girls’ night out before, and spending my nights alone when I wasn’t with Danny was getting old. “Okay.”

After practice, I rushed home to get ready as fast as I could. Monica let me borrow her clothes again, elated I was getting out of the house without Danny, and I took the time to do my hair and makeup.

When the doorbell rang later, I opened the door to Kat and her two friends.

“Hey, Gabby. This is Lisa and DeAnna.” Kat waved to the girls standing behind her. “You ready?”

I smiled at their blatant shock, and tried to forget about their snide comments since people were more accepting of me now because of Danny and Kat. “Yep.”

I followed them out into the hallway and down the stairs. When they came to DeAnna’s car, I piled into the back with Kat. “You look amazing, girl,” Kat said. “No wonder D can never take his eyes off you.”

My cheeks heated at the compliment. “Thank you.”

Lisa turned around from the front seat. “No shit, girl. It’s like night and day from what you look like at school.”

“Lisa!” DeAnna scolded.

“What? You’ve seen her.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “That’s what I’m comfortable in, not this.”

Kat shook her head. “Well, you should be. You gorgeous.”

“So, what’s the scoop with you and D?” DeAnna asked, as she eyed me through the rearview mirror.

“We’re dating, I guess you could say.”

“Girl, you more than dating,” Kat said. “I see how you are. You two are in loooovvvve.”

The girls giggled around me, and I smiled, but said nothing.

“Has he?” Lisa asked.

“Has he what?”

“Has he told you he loved you?”

“Yes.” I was unsure if I should share our intimate details, but it felt good to have girlfriends to gossip with and share in my excitement.

The two girls shot a peek at Kat, and I remembered what Danny had told me about them casually dating in the past. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to diminish what you and—”

She flicked her wrist with a dismissive wave. “Girl, don’t worry. What you two have is different from what we had. It’s like the real thing, and I’m happy for you guys. Really, I am.”

When we pulled up to the curb in front of a house, I peeked out the window. “Where are we going?”

“To a party. Come on.” Kat opened the door and stepped out.

My anxiety skyrocketed, but I refused to give into my nervousness. I’d always wanted to attend the parties Monica told me about, and I would not chicken out now. I wished Danny was here so I’d feel safe and at ease, but I needed to be independent. He couldn’t be by my side day and night to make things more comfortable for me. I needed to build my confidence.

As we neared the non-descript small bungalow, which resembled every other house on the block, loud music boomed out the open windows. Groups huddled outside, smoking what I guessed were cigarettes, even though the scent wasn’t familiar, and eyed us as we approached.

One of them broke away and leered at me, his eyes red and bloodshot. “Hey, baby. I haven’t seen a fine thing like you around here…”

“Back off, Lenny.” Kat shoved his shoulder and kept on walking.

I ducked my head, starting to second-guess my decision not to stay home. But once inside, where the music pulsed and people gathered, drinking and talking, while others ground against each other to the heavy beat, curiosity and fascination surpassed my skittishness, and I steeled myself, determined to see the night through. There was no backing out now.

Trailing behind Kat, my eyes were wide as I tried to take in everything and not become overwhelmed by the commotion and noise. I glanced over my shoulder, expecting to find Lisa and DeAnna trailing, but they remained by the front door, laughing and flirting with two guys. Kat stopped when we reached the kitchen and turned back.

“What are you drinking?” she yelled.

I shrugged.

She shook her head before handing me a bottle of pink liquid. “Here’s a wine cooler. We’ll start you slow.”

A fizzy strawberry scent filled my nose when I took a quick sniff. With Kat watching, an amused look on her face, I raised the bottle for a hesitant sip and then grimaced at the sweet and sour flavor.

Kat let out one of her loud, bawdy laughs. “Girl, you a virgin in so many ways, aren’t you?” She laughed harder when I blushed. “Hang with me, and I’ll take care of you.”

She selected a glass of light brown liquid for herself, and took my hand, guiding me toward a group of people dancing near a table, on which sat speakers, a CD player, and a mixer. A guy moved around behind the set, wearing big block earphones as he kept the music spinning.

Kat pulled me into the middle of the crowd and lifted her glass as she whooped and moved to the beat. I stood frozen, unsure of what to do. I danced, but not to music like this. I didn’t know how and would look like an idiot if I tried. My body refused to move that way.

She noticed my hesitation and nudged my hip with hers. “Come on, Gabby. Move. You can move.”

“Not like this.”

“Sure, you can. You just need to loosen up.” She danced around, her hips circling and her shoulders swaying to the music. “Do what I do.”

I watched in awe, wishing I could dance the same way, unguarded and carefree. But I’d be stiff and awkward, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself. I laughed and shook my head. “I’ll leave the dancing to you, and that way I won’t scare anyone away.”

Kat gave another laugh of hers, and the next thing I knew, Danny was standing in front of me. Pleasant surprise lit within me and I beamed, but then I noticed his deep scowl and the bottle of liquor he held, and my smile fell.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I came with Kat and her friends. What are you doing here? I thought you were recording.”

“Baby, this isn’t a place for you,” he said, ignoring my question.

I frowned. “If you can be here, why can’t I?”

“It isn’t safe. Come on, baby, I’ll take you home.”

I planted my feet and resisted his tug. “Danny, I don’t understand why I can’t be here. If it isn’t safe for me, then it isn’t for you either.”

“Yeah, D. Leave her alone.” Kat clamped her mouth shut when he shot her a menacing glare.

“Don’t be mean to Kat. She’s done nothing wrong.”

He took hold of my arm and pulled me away from our audience, taking me outside. When we were out of earshot, he spun back. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Why? I didn’t mean to intrude on your night out with your friends. I didn’t know you’d be here since you told me you would be recording.” I raised an eyebrow at him, wondering why he would lie to me.

“No, baby, that’s not it.” He gave a quick shake of his head. “It isn’t safe here. The crowd here isn’t one you should be around.”

“But it’s okay for you to be here?”

“This is my crowd!”

I took a step back. “Are you ashamed of me? Do I embarrass you?”

His eyes widened and then he gave a sharp shake of his head. “What? No, baby. God, no. It’s nothing like that.”

“Then what is it?”

“Just like I said, it’s not safe here for you. Shit always goes down at these parties.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know...shit.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “It doesn’t take much for people to start beating on each other, or for guns to be pulled.”

“Oh,” I said, catching on. I was quiet again, studying him. He looked…odd. “What’s wrong with your eyes, Danny? Why are they so red?”

He averted them and waved his hand. “It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Are you on something? Are you doing drugs?”

He sighed. “It’s only pot. It’s nothing.”

I stumbled in surprise, for some reason believing he stayed away from drugs. I thought he understood what was best for him, and would do whatever to keep his reputation clean if he wanted to make it big in the music industry; which was ridiculous, given the environment in which he lived, but I’d held onto that confidence in him.

Now, to have my belief shattered in my face, left me uncertain. Danny was a good person at heart, but sometimes made the wrong decisions. I would never tell him how to live his life, but perhaps I could steer him in the right direction.

“You shouldn’t—”

“I don’t need a fucking lecture, G.” He pinned me with a sharp glare. “It’s just weed, that’s all.”

My chin came up at his tone. “It may be nothing to you, but it’s something to me. I don’t want to be around you when you’re on it.”

I turned, and his hand shot out and grabbed me, pulling me back in front of him.

“Don’t do that. Don’t walk away.”

“Then don’t get snippy with me. I’m only worried about you.”

“I know, and I appreciate it, but it’s not a big deal.”

“Then you won’t mind not doing it, if it isn’t a big deal,” I pressed, holding my ground.

He paused before shaking his head, a slight curve playing at his lips. “Fine. I won’t do it, if it means that much to you.”

Surprise filled me at his quick concession. “Really?”

“Yeah.” He put his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. “You’re way more important than that stuff.”

A warm glow radiated within me at his words. “That’s nice to hear. Thank you.”

“It’s the truth.” He moved in, his mouth mere inches from mine, making my heart trip in my chest from anticipation. “You’re my girl, G, and I’d do anything for you. Anything.”

My arms circled around his neck as his lips settled on mine. The malt, almost gasoline-like flavor of his drink filled my mouth, but I didn’t mind. However, when Danny jerked away, I tensed. “What?”

He grimaced. “You taste like Kool-Aid, girl. It’s awful.”

I smacked my lips against his. “You don’t taste too hot yourself.”

He smiled before pulling me back to him. His mouth caused me to melt under his touch, as I always did when he kissed me this way, his tongue sliding against mine. Our breathing hardened as we deepened the kiss and tightened our hold on each other before a purposeful cough interrupted us.

Danny broke away, but kept me tight against him, and spotted Big T standing on the small porch watching us.

“You comin’ back in, D?”

“Yeah, we’re coming. One sec.” When Big T remained where he was with a grin, Danny raised his brow. “You mind?”

“Oh, sorry, my man.” He winked at me before he walked back through the door.

I giggled and ducked my head as my face flamed in embarrassment.

Danny smiled. “I love the way you blush.”

I scowled, still humiliated at being caught making out. “I hate it. I blush at everything.”

“That’s what I love about you. My little innocent GE.”

“I can’t keep up with all the names you call me.”

“I go with what I feel and right then, you were my light again.”

I shook my head, but continued grinning. “You’re crazy.”

“About you.” He leaned down and kissed me again. “Come on, let’s go back.”

I followed him into the house and to the corner where he and his friends were hanging out.

“Hey, girl,” they murmured as I waved.

Danny moved across the room toward the couch and sat, pulling me onto his lap, causing Dollar to raise a brow, but neither said anything. I worried I was coming between them, but he had assured me they worked out whatever disagreement they had. Noticing the disgust on Dollar’s face, however, I wasn’t so sure.

The guy manning the DJ station stepped into the room. “How about giving us a little something, D?”

“Nah, man. Not tonight.”

“Come on, D. You need to do this, get your name out there,” Dollar encouraged.

“Yeah, I want to see you do your thing,” I added.

Everyone around, overhearing this exchange, joined in, pushing and urging, and he sighed in concession. “Okay! All right, all right. Calm the fuck down.” He took me with him into the front room and, letting go of my hand, grabbed a microphone.

“Hit me with bass, Kev.”

He was amazing, freestyling and throwing out words in what seemed like impossible rhymes. He spit them without hesitation, and I marveled at the speed in which he relayed them, bending the verses to fit the beat, lyric and music becoming one, and the clarity in which he whipped through them. Back and forth, he moved with confidence, in sync with the heavy bass as he laid it all down, and the crowd cheered and swayed with him.

I had never seen him perform in front of others, and it was natural for him; nothing forced or uncomfortable. He pulled the audience into the song with him, even though they didn’t know the words, but it didn’t matter. This was what he was destined to do.

His language was colorful—more than usual—using slanderous terms that made me flinch, but I understood it was part of the hip-hop culture. I tried not to let the sexual innuendoes bother me, but my cheeks flamed, exposing my discomfort. They were not words I would ever utter, but I couldn’t fault him. In his music as he told a story was one thing; toward me was another, which he would never do.

When he finished, he kept his face neutral despite the loud cheers as he pushed his way through the crowd. I beamed and clapped my hands as he crossed the room, people patting his back as he passed.

I threw my arms around his neck. “You were unbelievable!”

He broke into a crooked grin and kissed me. “I’m glad you liked it.”

“Liked it? Danny, you were amazing!”

We returned to where Big T and Dollar waited for us, but then Danny turned and gave me a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get a drink.” He looked toward Dollar and Big T, hitching his chin in my direction, and they both nodded.

My gaze followed him as he crossed the room, disappearing into the kitchen, before catching Dollar observing me, mistrust clear in his eyes.

“Is there a problem?” I asked.

He continued to eye me before shaking his head and smiling, but the smile was anything but friendly. “I’m wondering what a girl like you sees in a guy like him.”

Despite my unease, his insinuation irked me. “And what exactly is a ‘girl like me’?”

“Nice and sweet. Refined. You refined. He ain’t.”

“Refined? You make it sound like I’m stuck up.”

He raised a brow, but he didn’t expand.

“Like I told Danny, I’ll tell you. It’s dangerous to make assumptions about people because of how they look. Would you like me to do the same with you?”

Big T laughed and shook his head. “She got you there, Dollar.”

He continued to eye me, but then his gaze sharpened at something over my shoulder. A hand gave my behind a friendly slap, and I jerked.

“There’s my girl. I’ve been looking all over for you.”

I turned and gazed up into the leering smile of Terrell.