“So,” Tiara started when they were situated across from each other, “what’s up with you? Why did you transfer here when the school year is almost up? Are you a senior?”
Mario looked at Tiara with a blank face. “I mean, can I start my food before you start asking me all these questions?”
Tiara instantly knew that she had messed up.
“I-I’m sor—” but she stopped in mid-apology when Mario burst into a grin.
“Aye, I’m just fuckin’ with you, girl.”
“Childish ass!” Tiara grinned.
“But, nah, seriously, I’m not about to eat this nasty shit anyways,” Mario said, making a face at his plate. “This shit looks deadly.”
Tiara laughed so hard she almost choked on the piece of burger she had in her mouth.
“See? I’m cool on that!”
“You’re so stupid!” Tiara said, still laughing.
“Never that,” Mario licked his lips at her, causing her to blush. “But to answer your questions, my family moves a lot . . . Well, who I have left of my family.”
He paused for a second, and Tiara wasn’t sure, but she felt that he wanted to continue talking.
“What do you mean?”
“My mom was black, and my dad was Mexican. Neither one of them was really shit. But my dad’s people? They were all about family. My aunt and uncle, well, they were the heart of my mixed-up-ass family. They worked odd jobs to make sure the entire family was a’ight, you know? My uncle finally landed this nice position where he was making a lot of money. Moved us all into this big house, and he was good to all of us. Shit was good for a long time . . . until somebody murdered him. That shit tore my family up, and even though I know my auntie is hurting the worst, she’s trying to be the rock and hold everybody down.”
“Where’s your mother?”
“Probably in some crack house sucking some nigga’s dick for her next high.”
“I’m sorry, Mario. That’s awful.”
“Yea . . .” He had a distant look in his eyes.
“How did you end up in a private school?”
“Because I was getting into too many fights, so my aunt used the last of her savings to put me in this lovely place.” He waved his hands around for emphasis. “She knew I wouldn’t trick off her money because I respect her too much. She wants me to graduate and go to some white man’s college.”
“That’s deep,” Tiara said and then added shyly, “Well, I’m glad that this is the private school she decided to put you in.”
“Me too . . . now.”
Mario reached and grabbed Tiara’s hand using his thumb to rub it. Thousands of butterflies were released in her stomach, and the chills went from her neck to her toes.
OK . . . Is this what happens in the movies? Does it happen this fast? OK, Tiara . . . breathe. Don’t trip out and be a weird bitch! she thought to herself and tried to force the butterflies out of her stomach.
“OK, now, what about you? So far, all I know is that you’re the most beautiful girl in the school, and you like to fight bitches. I’m sure there is more to your storybook.”
“Well, if you must know, yes, I did fight today. Lately, I’ve gotten into a lot of fights actually,” she said, using her free hand to play with the food on her tray. “But the truth is that I hate to fight. I don’t like causing other people physical pain. You have to really push me to that point. And at this school, I get tested a lot because of who my father is.”
“Why? Does he own the school or something?”
“No, but he runs the streets of Texas,” Tiara sighed.
“You say that like your dad is Blake Rogers or something,” Mario laughed and looked at Tiara in hopes that she would laugh with him. When she didn’t, his eyes widened. “Oh shit.”
Out of instinct, he pulled his hand away from hers in a quickness, like he was touching property that was off-limits.
“See,” Tiara said to him, shaking her head, “that’s how all the guys treat me. Like I’m poisonous. Either that or they try to use me to get in good with my father.”
Mario saw that he had genuinely hurt Tiara’s feelings and replaced his hand on top of hers. He had heard through his own people that Blake Rogers’s daughter attended the school he was going to be attending, but he didn’t believe it. Least of all that she was the girl sitting in front of him. He’d also heard that his daughter was under constant supervised security. He looked around for Blake’s hired hands but didn’t see any. Tiara knew what he was looking for.
“You can’t see them.”
“See who?” Mario tried to act innocent.
“I know why you’re looking around. There’s no security people in here. My father decided to give me a little more space a few years ago. I got tired of being crowded all the time, so he’s giving me more breathing room. I just want to be a normal girl.”
“Nah, trust me. If you are who you say you are, them niggas are in here somewhere. Ain’t no way a man like Blake Rogers would ever leave his daughter wide open like this. I’m sorry to put it to you like this, but you’re something like a princess, shorty . . . There ain’t nothing normal about that.”
Tiara made a face at him. “Thanks. Thanks a lot.”
His words made her think deeply. He made a lot of sense. Blake was a man with a lot of power and reach. If he didn’t want his men seen, they wouldn’t be seen. She groaned at the realization that he probably never really gave in to her request at all. She knew he
