“That she was leaving?”
“No. That she talks to me over you.Duh.” Clementine stood upright and turned to walk off with a flip of her hair. Isis twisted her water bottle open as she looked at me with a roll of her eyes.
The commotion of the dining hall suddenly erupted. I looked back as a sea of siren girls walked in, clapping and singing. They all looked identical with the faux locs, shortened pleated skirts with charms decorating their socks and bags. It was somebody’s birthday and as the young girl sat down, they circled around as they began to slap hands, going around in the circle as they sang.
Down by the river where the moonlight gleams!
We sing for the siren, the birthday queen!
Down by the ocean where the water runs deep!
The girl’s hands began moving faster around her as I watched Asha come in from behind with the birthday cake. That’s when it hit me. They all looked exactly like her. The locs, the hippy grunge school girl look she always went for. The makeup was even similar to Asha’s facial structure. Some of the girls even wore colorful scarves to wrap around their faux locs. They were mimicking everything about her.
“Make a wish girl but don’t fall asleep!” They cheered in mid laughter as the hands kept slapping from one palm to the next.
Call the tide, let the waves come through!
Tonight let the sirens sing for you!
Ohhhh mama, don’t you hear?!
Ohhh mama don’t you feel seeen!
The water chose you BECAUSE YOU’RE THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN!
They cheered as everyone in the dining hall clapped while the girl in the center happily laughed and cried. When Asha lookedour way, I smiled as she did a small wave towards us before focusing back on the girls around her. Isis didn’t seem to notice nor care when she started texting on her phone, but I felt the tension still. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I focused back on my meal when Harvey suddenly stood up with his things.
“Where are…”
He leaned down to a quick kiss on my cheek and said nothing more. Instead, I watched him meet up with his twin brother as the two started for the main doors to walk out. Something must be going on. I started to look at Isis, but her attention was buried deep in the phone
“What up tricks?”
I looked up with a smile as Asha came walking up with a freshly tied colorful scarf wrapped over her locs that hung loose in the back. She had hooped earrings that probably weren’t uniform appropriate but it’s the weekend, and the games were upon us. The school was probably relaxed about little things like that. She had a white-collar shirt with a black tie and black pleated skirt when she pulled up a seat. She smelled so good that I couldn’t help but smile because I was surely starting to miss her aggressive energy. There will always be something missing when she isn't around, and right now? She had a calming aura about herself, like nothing can disrupt whatever peace she was experiencing right now. I didn’t want to do or say anything to disturb that, but I did plan on speaking privately with her to clear the air.
“I can’t stay long but I thought I’d update you guys while I can,” she said before leaning in. Before she could say what she’s about to say, Clementine slammed her hand on the table and stared down at Asha who looked up, annoyed. “Clem, my man ison the Grounds working hard so that you can look good at your work-for-food job this week. I don’t feel like arguing you down today–––”
“And I just KNOW your tuna for brains hard headed behind is not about to say what I think you’re about to say out loud. Not in a buzzing cafeteria full of students who are becoming anti-Maggie…”
Confused, I looked between the two as Asha looked back at Isis and I.
“What’s going on?” I asked. Asha groaned before getting up with a swing of her legs over the chair.
“Y'all come on. Let’s meet in the third hall. Isis, do you have a pen and paper?”
“Um… yeah,” she said as she quickly dug into her bag. “What’s…what’s going on? Is something wrong?”
“Zoriah!” Asha called out as one of the sirens turned around at the sound of her name. She hurried over with a whip of her faux locs dragging behind her. Clementine moved Isis and I forward as we began to walk towards the second hall. Not as lively but still just as packed with a more mature crowd. They even managed to put a lounge area for the men who wanted to watch highlights of games and sports, and a small cafe tucked in the corner for students who wanted to relax. The energy always shifted from the young boys hollering at you to the men giving you a polite nod and occasionally calling you over to talk. We kept walking when I watched Isis get stopped by one guy who she immediately recognized and hugged. I could tell he was a nymph just by his ears, but he was also built like he used to play professional football and now dressed like a wannabe coach. There were a few wandering eyes but when we reached the doors for the third hall, Clementine turned to face us as if she was picked to be our tour guide.
“I hope I don’t need to remind you that this is a silent hall. You cannot speak,” she said. Isis rolled her eyes and moved her aside as she opened the doors. All of the forks, knives and spoons scraping against plates. The laughter, the chatting, and commercials from the TV, everything that made this school feel alive suddenly went quiet. The doors closed gently behind us as I looked around at the levels of private study rooms. There were tables, shelves for books, couches and vending machines. I heard of rumors when my Aunties would attend Drew Collins that students who couldn’t afford the school would sleep in here in order to stay on the Grounds. As long as you didn’t make a noise, you wouldn’t be put out. So we walked around, taking in the aroma of baked goods and desserts laid out on the tables in the back, and made our way to the back corner of the hall. A small table was in the corner with Asha being the last to walk up. She motioned for the pen and paper while we patiently waited for whatever she was about to write down. Clementine snatched the paper from Isis before Asha snatched it from her and glared at her. Clementine instantly backed down, but I noticed Isis simply lowered her head in submission to her either way when Isis glanced at her.
I wondered… I knew there were sororities interested in Isis with the Betas being one of them, but I wondered if she turned her down for another. Asha silently tore the paper in half to hand to me while leaning down to write on the other. When I didn’t see any words being formed, she pulled out a small jar of glossy blue glitter, dipped her finger in it and smeared the bits on the page. Isis pulled at the paper in my hand to see just as words began to slowly form and move like waves in the water.
I saw Maggie…
My eyes snapped towards her, but she kept writing as Clementine simply stared with her nose in the air, wanting you to know she knew everything that’s being said.
She said she’s coming back.
