"CHAPTER TWO—THEY MEET AGAIN"

School came and went for the rest of the week, and soon it was Friday evening. Veronica was in her room, applying the final touches of her make-up and ensuring that her hair was in place. It was relatively quiet in the apartment that she shared with her parents—a luxury that she had enjoyed for two years—even though they would frequently enjoy the company of several small children who belonged to Veronica's older siblings. She put on a blue turtleneck sweater—the sweater being light because of the mild weather—and a pair of black bell-bottomed slacks. Veronica had to make sure that her clothes did not fit too snugly, for her father would NEVER let her out of the house. Her mother would not only forbid her to go to the party, but she would also treat her to a lecture. Spraying on some perfume, Veronica studied and critiqued herself in the full-length mirror that she used to share with her three older sisters. Not bad, she thought. Maybe if I lost a few inches from my butt and a few from my waistline, I'd be alright.

"Hey, Ronnie!" Mrs. Hollis called from downstairs. "Your friend is out here, blowing the horn and making all this racket out here in front of the house! C'mon out here so she can quit!" Veronica opened her bedroom window and stared down at Poochie, waving impatiently at her. She waved back and closed her window. Grabbing her jacket, Veronica rushed downstairs and met her friend.

When they arrived at the party, it was in full swing. There were many other teens there, but they were mostly guys from ROTC or students who were invited. Poochie, always the extrovert, did not wait for the boys to invite her onto the dance floor—she simply helped herself. Veronica did not join her. Instead, she remained on the sidelines. That was when she noticed a young man standing nearly adjacent to her. With skin the color of copper, he wore a beige sweater and dark-blue jeans that were neatly pressed. His hair was slicked back in a ponytail. Veronica knew who he was immediately and turned to relocate to another part of the room, when the boy stopped her. "You not gonna dance?" he asked.

Veronica took note of his strong grip. "No, I'm not too particularly crazy about this song. Besides, I don't see why you would want me to dance anyway, seeing that you were a bit mean to me the last time I spoke with you." She knew she was giving him a hard time, but she also knew that the boy had been quite dismissive toward her. The boy knew exactly who she was and smiled, exposing straight, white teeth. "OK, I deserve that shot."

"So, why are you talking to me now?"

"Because I want to get to know you." He rolled his eyes at the loudness of the music and the overcrowding of the party. He leaned forward and said into Veronica's ear, "You wanna go somewhere more quiet?"

Veronica straightened up, appalled. "I ain't goin' nowhere with you. I'm not that kind of girl—I'm no hoe." However, she was not given the option as the gentleman wrapped his arm around hers and gently pulled her into the kitchen and out the back door. Veronica did not exactly approve of this type of treatment—and she let him know it. "What the hell is wrong with you? You don't be pullin' on me like that!" The boy simply smiled and sat down on the back porch. "Now that we're away from all those distractions, we can communicate a bit better." He offered her a seat, which she declined. "So…you don't like the music?"

"I don't really care for a lot of rap music," Veronica confessed. "I'm more into R&B." The boy nodded. "Yeah…I'm into old school music. My uncle grew up in the 70s, so he hipped us to all that—P-Funk, Cameo, Zapp and Roger…the good stuff."

"Us?"

"Yeah, me and my brothers and sisters. You got siblings?"

"Three sisters and one brother," Veronica answered. "I'm the youngest." That comment made the boy laugh. "Hey, the baby! Well, I'm the middle boy but my oldest brother was gone for a long time so I was the oldest for a while. The rest of my siblings are younger. Hold up…where are my manners? What's your name?"

Now it was Veronica's turn to laugh, and she told him. "Everyone calls me Ronnie, though. What's yours?"

"My name's Josh…Josh Moran." He held out his hand, which Veronica shook politely. "I'm glad to meet you. Maybe we can hang out sometime." Veronica nodded, being careful not to let him detect her emotions. Josh then asked her, "You live around here?" She didn't want to answer that question, in fear that he may stop speaking with her. Josh took her hand gently. "I won't laugh at you." He pointed to the south. "I live three blocks from here—with my auntie, my uncle, my little brother, and my two little sisters. I know a little bit about being in a house with expanding mouths and straining finances."

"I live in Park Manor," Veronica finally admitted. Josh nodded. "My big brother Jimmy hangs out around there quite a bit. I'm not allowed up in there, though. See, I got in a fight with a dude who lived there at the time and—ever since then—I haven't been allowed to go back up in there." Veronica took a long look at Josh, studying him. He was pretty cut, there was no denying that. There was a hardness about him, especially in his face and eyes. She correctly figured that he was the kind of person who did not reveal anything about himself that he did not want others to know. Yet, there was also a sweetness about him—the smile, the manners, the warm raspiness of his voice—that intrigued her greatly. Josh looked down at his watch. "Oh, shit!" he exclaimed before remembering his company. "Girl, it's almost one in the morning! We better be gettin' up out of here!"

One o'clock?! Veronica looked down at her cell phone and checked the time. Sure enough, the time was accurate. "Oh no…our parents are going to kill us!" Veronica said frantically as she and Josh rushed back inside to make sure that their prospective rides did not leave them. Sure enough, Poochie was sitting on the couch. "Where the hell have you…" she started, but suddenly fell silent once she saw Veronica with Josh. Instead, the biggest grin crept across her brown face. Veronica saw the smile and gestured for Poochie to keep her silence. Josh walked the girls to their car, opening the door for Veronica. Poochie purposely and loudly cleared her throat, indicating that he repeat the ritual for her as well. He frowned up his face, but opened Poochie's car door, too. As Poochie started her mother's car, Josh walked back to Veronica's side. "I meant what I said, Veronica. I don't want to be a stranger now."

"Ronnie…call me Ronnie," Veronica said, smiling and not caring if Josh saw her. He returned the smile with one of his own as he walked back to the house. "Ronnie!" he called back.

"Yeah?"

"It's Jey. Call me Jey," he said. Veronica waved as the two girls pulled out of the driveway and headed home—where they would be fussed at by their mothers for getting home so late. But Veronica would take her mother's ranting in stride tonight. She had met one of the finest guys in the entire school and-what was better-she had an inkling that he liked her, too.