Chapter Eight
***** Yesterday's showdown between Willis and Hiram was really good, let me tell you! We (the class) won, and so that meant that Dwayne had to go on his computer and change ALL of our grades to A's for the semester! That's what I'M talkin bout! You should see him though. he still feels salty for losing to us, but we don't rub it in his face-at least not a lot, anyway! LMAO!
Dwayne and I went to our Salsa class last night, and sure enough LaKaye mentioned to us that she'd like to enter us in the competition. So, we're going to Orlando in November! That's 2 months away from now, so Dwayne and I really need to start working with our noses down to the grindstone. Those judges that work in the competitions are FIERCE, and I've seen the championships on tv. You have to be aware of so much when doing those, and.I've never done this before, and neither has Dwayne. But you know like they always say, there's a first for everything!
"Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got. I'm still J.Lo number 2 from the block." Maia sang loud purposely, walking in late to our class.
"Look who decides to join us!" Dwayne said, turning and applauding Maia with a sarcastic look on his face.
"Did you guys miss me?" Maia asked, giving the sad puppy dog face.
"You know we did, girl!" The other 5 of us J.Lo's chimed in.
"Oh lord, please don't do it." Dwayne said, putting his hand on his head and shaking it. He knew what was coming as he watched us 5 practically break our necks getting down the steps to Maia.
We all hugged Maia, and then we turned to Dwayne. Grins across our face, we then turned to the class.
"Don't be fooled by the rocks that we got. We still, we still Jennys from the block." We sang out loud, cracking up afterward.
"Class, welcome to the J.Lo Ass-Shakers Reunion." Dwayne said with a smile, making the rest of the class laugh.
"Oh that was real cute, Mr. Johnson." Cerisa said, smirking.
"Yeah." The rest of us said.
"Well, it's not gonna be as cute as me writing all of ya'll up if you don't sit down." Dwayne said, causing the rest of the class to laugh.
So me, Nikki, Jules, Yolanda, Maia and Cerisa all walked back to our seats, not saying anything more.
Now, even though we all automatically have A's for the semester, we still have to do work. And so, rather then sit here and do bookwork all period, Dwayne said he's going to do a review with us. He's going to ask us questions, and then see if we know the answers to them to prepare for our first test.
"Okay people, now the way I'm going to do this is, we're going to have each row be a team. There are 4 rows, so that means 4 teams. I'll ask your row a question, and you're allowed to talk the answer out amongst your team. I wouldn't suggest being all loud and wrong about it, because other teams may be able to hear you and steal your answer. If you get the question right, you get a point. If you get it wrong, that means you don't get a point and I go to the next row to ask them the same question, and so on and so on. The row with the most points gets that same amount of extra credit added on to their grades for next semester. Now, I need a scorekeeper." Dwayne said, looking around.
Everyone's hands shot up at an attempt to become scorekeeper. Dwayne looked around, and then settled his eyes on one person.
"Hiram, get your ass up there to the board. You're keeping score." He said, smiling.
"Really? You want me, Uncle DJ?" Hiram asked in a girly voice.
"Man, will you just get up there and shut the hell up!" Dwayne said, trying not to laugh, and so we, the class did it for him.
"Okay, before we start. Take everything off your desks right now." Dwayne said, staring at all of us to make sure we did what he said.
"Jules! Did I just stutter? This isn't beauty class, girl. Put that stuff away!" Dwayne said, looking at Jules who had her compact out and was putting it away after being caught.
"Now, are you ready?" Dwayne asked us.
"Yeah!" We all answered, eager to start the game.
"Row one.A crime for which the penalty is less than 2 years in jail is classified as what?" Dwayne asked, reading from a piece of paper.
"Mr. J, I know that! That's a misdemeanor!" Scotty said, smiling.
"That's correct. Row one gets a point." Dwayne says, looking up at the board at Hiram.
"Row two.A crime for which the punishment is imprisonment for 2 years or longer-even death-is classified as what?" Dwayne asked.
"That's a felony." Yolanda answered.
"That's correct. Row two gets a point." Dwayne says, moving on to the next row.
Now, we all know that Maia is the first person in the 3rd row, and she's got this huge grin on her face like she's about to burst any minute. Dwayne's standing in front of her, and she's got a nice view!
"Row three.This is the most serious type of homicide, and is divided into different categories depending on the circumstances involved." Dwayne said, looking at the occupants of Row 3 for an answer.
"Manslaughter!" Maia burst out, trying not to laugh.
"The correct answer is murder, but manslaughter is another term used for it.I'll give you that one. Row 3 gets a point." Dwayne said, moving up to my row.
I'm looking at him, just smiling. He knows that no matter what he asks me I'm gonna get right. He looks like he's thinking.
"Okay, listen up. I'm gonna ask Crystal a question, and this doesn't count as being Row 4's question either. But if she gets this right, Row 4 gets 2 points. If she doesn't then I just go straight to the row's question and they don't get the extra 2 points." Dwayne said.
"You better get her, Uncle DJ!" Hiram said from the board.
"Shut up, Hiram! You better make this good." I said, looking Dwayne right in his eyes.
"Okay, I gotta dig deep for this." Dwayne said, starting to think.
"Now, this question isn't going to be about anything you guys have learned so far in here. But because ya'll have had previous experience with Criminal Justice class and whatnot, this shouldn't be new to you. And Crystal here brags that she knows quite a bit more than ya'll, so I'm gonna test her out." Dwayne said.
"Bring it on." I said, putting my hands on my desk and waiting for his question.
"Okay, Miss Thing. Let's see how much you know." Dwayne said, smirking at me.
"Explain the juvenile justice process from taking a child into custody to a disposition. And make sure you discuss ALL possible options and outcomes." Dwayne said.
"Ooh!" The class said, glad that they weren't in my place. That was a good lengthy question that has a lengthy answer attached to it.
"Okay, that's what you want?" I asked, smiling.
"That's what I want." Dwayne said, smiling back.
"First, the child is taken into custody. After that, an intake interview is done, with the results of that being either a dismissal or a diversion. From there a petition is filed, then a transfer hearing is done, and if need be, the child goes to criminal court. Next, an adjudication inquiry is done followed by an adjudication hearing. Finally, a disposition is determined with the options being dismissal, probation, custody or suspended adjudication." I answered, smiling.
"Damn!!!" Was all that Dwayne could say as he looked at me in shock.
"Hiram, give my team our 2 points!" I yelled down to him, grinning.
"Uncle DJ, you suck man! You was supposed to really give it to her, and you didn't! You're sorry!" Hiram said, putting our 2 points up on the board.
Dwayne was still shocked. His jaw is like, all the way down to the floor! I'm telling you, I know he's REALLY gotta be feeling it now!
"Hiram, you shut your damn mouth! And Crystal.how the hell did you remember all that? You ain't even gone to law school yet and you know more than I did when I took this class!" Dwayne said.
"Well, some people are better at some things than others." I said, smiling. Of course you know this sets the class off into a fit of laughter yet again.
"Man, she got you GOOD!" Hiram yelled to Dwayne.
"Look boy, now you better shut up before I gotta take my belt off! You know it's got your name on it!" Dwayne said, touching his belt and looking at Hiram.
"You think that's supposed to scare me, old man?" Hiram asked, grinning.
"Whatever.I'm gonna get you one of these days Crystal, and then you're gonna be real mad. Any other time I ask somebody that question, they leave stuff out or something like that. But you, you just HAD to put up a fight, huh?" Dwayne said, looking at me.
"You know it." I said, smiling.
"Okay, enough with the fun and games. This is Row 4's question. Row four.if you plan out how you will commit a crime before you do it, your crime is said to be what?" Dwayne asked.
"Premeditated." Nikki answered immediately.
"See, now that's MY baby right there!" Hiram said, smiling at Nikki and then adding another point to our score.
"That's correct." Dwayne said, smiling.
Dwayne moved back down the stairs to row one and then proceeded to get ready to ask them their question.
"Row one.any physical contact that you have with someone against his or her will is classified as what?" Dwayne asked.
"That's an easy one. That's assault." Jules answered quickly.
"No it's not. I'm sorry, but you're incorrect." Dwayne said, moving to the second row.
"Hey 4, what's wrong with you girl?" I yelled down to Jules, who everyone (including me) calls J.Lo number 4.
"I thought it was assault, damn!" Jules shouted back up at me.
"Ladies, settle down now, damn!" Dwayne said, looking from me to Jules as we stopped talking.
"Row two. any physical contact that you have with someone against his or her will is classified as what?" Dwayne asked.
"That ain't no assault, that's battery!" Steve answered loudly.
"That's correct. Row two gets a point!" Dwayne said, smiling.
"It was battery?! Well damn, Dwayne! That wasn't a fair question!" Jules complained to Dwayne.
"Why wasn't it fair, Juliette?" Dwayne asked, stopping in his tracks.
"Because assault and battery often get classified as the same thing when someone gets arrested. It's always assault AND battery. When is it ever one by itself? No cop ever says you're getting charged for just assault or just for battery. It's always both! I mean, come on! That really wasn't fair." Jules said.
"And though you put up a good argument, you're STILL wrong." Dwayne said, making the class laugh.
"Why?" Jules persisted.
"That's the exact reason why I told you as a class when I was giving the notes to you.do NOT get assault confused with battery. Assault is defined as an act where someone FEARS they will become a victim of battery, and it can be demonstrated through actions OR words. So, though you put up a good point, DON'T put assault down on your test when the answer is really battery, because I will assure you, you WILL get it wrong." Dwayne answered, finally shutting Jules up.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"So, what's going on between you and Jay?" I ask, walking with Maia back to our apartment.
"Well, I told you how we had our game last night while you and DJ was at ya'lls classes. We're gonna take the shuttle up to Coconut Grove and he's gonna take me to dinner and then we're going clubbing. Cause the stipulations of the basketball game was that if he won I had to go out on a date with him, and if I won, he had to get me front row B2K tickets. He won, and so that leads up to us going out Saturday night." Maia said, smiling.
"Chica, you're glowing! I don't know what he's doing to you, but whatever it is, it must got you hooked! Is he THAT good?" I asked, starting to laugh afterwards.
"Don't be like that! We haven't even had sex, so calm the hell down." Maia said, rolling her eyes.
"YET!" I said purposely, then laughing.
"Don't MAKE me get on you and DJ! Cause you know I will!" Maia said, unlocking the door to our apartment.
"Get on me and him like how? I wanna HEAR this one!" I said, grinning and walking behind Maia into our apartment.
"Every time I mention that man's name around you, you're ALL smiles, girl! Me, I don't have too much of an excuse. YOU, on the other hand do! He's been putting it down on you quite often, and face it-he's turned your ass OUT!" Maia said, cracking up.
"WHATEVER girl. He ain't turned me out. You better shut that shit up right now!" I said, not looking at her.
"Crystal, come here right now." Maia said, turning to face me.
"What do you want?" I ask, walking to stand in front of Maia.
"Look at me with a straight face and repeat what the hell you just said. Tell me Dwayne didn't turn you out." Maia said, looking at me seriously.
"Girl, you really are a joke. This is stupid." I said, smiling and walking away, only to have Maia put me back in my place.
"Just do it! If he ain't turned you out like you said, I want you to look at me with a straight face and tell me." Maia said.
"Dwayne didn't..you know what? Kiss my ass, Maia!" I said, starting to laugh hysterically.
"See? You can't deny it, Crissy! You got turned out by that big pile of sexy and you liked it!" Maia said, playfully shoving me.
"You're so wrong, Maia. Really you are." I said, smirking and walking back to our bedroom to sit on my bed.
Maia followed me back to the bedroom and sat down on her bed and started to look at one of her magazines. Meanwhile, I was laying on my bed looking up at the ceiling, thinking.
"Hey Maia, you know what we need to do?" I asked, sitting up.
"What?" Maia asked, looking up from her magazine.
"We need to go take care of some business. You need to get you some Health Insurance and a Cane Card and all that good stuff. Me, I gotta go pay for some of my fees I got too, so let's go take care of that now before it gets put off to the last minute." I answered.
"You're cool with doing all that? You know I don't know what I'm doing, girly. You gon' have to show me the ropes." Maia said, putting her magazine down and getting up off her bed.
~*~*~*~*~*~
It took us a good couple of hours before getting all of the paperwork and stuff done. Maia should be getting her card in the mail sometime soon, both of our insurance's are paid in full for the year, the apartment is also paid for the entire year, and our other fees for using the WC and other stuff is all paid for. I had to max out one of my credit cards to pay for all my fees, and then unknowingly, Maia had some credit cards of her own too. So she used one of hers to pay for the apartment and all that good stuff.
The advantage to being a college student is all the credit card applications you can get! Having A credit card isn't enough. You have to have a COUPLE to survive through college, I'm telling you. It's like having free money! That is, until the bills come in. One time I got trapped in credit card debt, and I swear it was the worse thing I've ever put myself through. I got out of it, and I learned my lesson. You can believe that one! After going to get my mail, I saw that I had been approved to work in the Miami Commitment Program!!! Yeah! I feel so good right now. All my bills are paid off, I got a job.DAMN I feel good!
Anyhow, I'm at the WC right now. I told Dwayne to just go ahead and meet me here because I didn't know how long I would be with Maia. He said he had some stuff to do too, and that he might be late anyway. It's 7:15, and not even everyone is here yet. Maia wanted to come watch us today, so she's here with me and we're chilling in the corner of the room watching people.
"Look at THEM 2! Crissy, I know I don't know the first thing bout Latin dancing, but what the HELL are they doing?" Maia asked, making me laugh out loud.
"They're TRYING to dance, I'll give 'em that much. But if she keeps stepping on his toes like that, they're gonna be dancing their way to the hospital, I'll tell you that right now." I answered, making Maia laugh out loud also.
Just then, Dwayne came walking in to the room. Coincidentally, that's when all the girls in the room decided they wanted to have a staring problem and start gawking at him.
"Sorry I'm late." Dwayne said, walking over to me smiling.
"Not a problem.not everyone's here yet. LaKaye's not even here." I said, looking at the other women in the room, causing them to go back to doing what they were doing beforehand.
Speak of the devil, LaKaye is now walking into the room. Behind her is.Dany and my ex-boyfriend Sean?! Oh no! This is NOT happening. I'm seeing shit, I have to be.
"Dwayne, Maia.tell me that's not Dany." I said, looking at her.
"That's her alright. Whoever that guy is that's with her, he looks like he stepped straight out of the movie Evita with that slicked back hair and them clothes and shit." Dwayne said, cracking up.
I looked at Maia, and she had just frozen up. She wasn't saying anything to me, just really concentrating on whatever she was looking at.
"Maia, what's the matter?" I asked.
"Nothing.I'm just looking at some of these couples in here." Maia said, weakly smiling at me.
"Alright people, listen up! As you know, we have one couple going to the championship in Orlando. Crystal and Dwayne, can you come stand up here please?" LaKaye asked, looking at us.
I looked at Dwayne nervously and he stroked my hand, taking me up there with him. If she was about to do what I think she was about to do, consider my good day having gone straight to hell.
"Crystal, Dwayne.you two are going to the championship in Orlando. But, what you, as well as the class don't know is that it's been brought to my attention that there is another couple that is just as good as the two of you. Crystal, Dwayne.meet Dany Garcia and Sean Martinez." LaKaye said, standing back so that Dwayne and I could look at Dany and Sean.
"Senorita Michelle, they're not even in the class. How do they get to go?" I asked, confused.
"As of last night they both signed up, and took it upon themselves to show me some of their moves. To be quite frank, I was blown away, and I didn't hesitate to sign them up to go along with the two of you. Why, do you have a problem with the way I run my class?" LaKaye asked, eyeing me.
"No, Senorita Michelle." I said, looking at the floor, feeling like a complete ass.
"You four might as well get acquainted, because from here on out you'll be seeing a lot of each other." LaKaye said.
"Now shake hands right now. You should always show respect towards each other." LaKaye directed.
I looked back at Maia and she gave me a don't-worry-about-it look. I shrugged my shoulders and shook hands with Dany and Sean. Sean's winking at me right now, and Dwayne's going to shake his hand.a little too tightly apparently, because Sean's going to take his hand back and Dwayne's not letting go. I take it he saw Sean's friendly little wink that he gave me.
"Stop it." I whisper, hitting Dwayne on the side of his leg.
"Class, I thought I would give you a break today. However, Dany and Sean, Crystal and Dwayne, what do you say to a little friendly competition?" LaKaye asked, smiling.
"I don't think-"
"That sounds great, Senorita Michelle." Dwayne answered, smiling at LaKaye and cutting me off.
"There's nothing wrong with a little friendly competition, is there honey?" Dany asked Sean, kissing him on the lips, just to be smart.
"Alright, enough with playing sucky-face with each other. Let's have some fun!" LaKaye said, smiling.
All the other classmates backed up to give us our space and then sat down. Dwayne and I walked to the right side of the room with Sean and Dany walking to the left.
"Are you ready?" LaKaye asked, looking at us.
"Yeah." We all answer.
The music starts, and Dwayne and I start dancing. Looking back, I see that coincidentally Sean and Dany wanna start out the same way! Oh no, I can see how this is gonna end up now.
"Dwayne, start doing something else because them 2 are already copying us." I say, steadily looking at Dany and Sean.
"Let's see how they like this." Dwayne said, taking me by my hand and turning me a few times.
I go spinning out of his arms and off to the side. While off to the side, I do a little improv, shaking my hips to the music. Then I start slowly but surely, making my way back to him. He pulls me close to him and runs his hand down my thigh. I go to smack him (this is all apart of the act, folks) and he grabs my wrist, turning me and dipping me. While being dipped, I can see across the room that Dany and Sean are getting a little kinky with theirs. I swear, even when the friendship is long gone, EVERYTHING has to be a contest with her!
Dwayne lifts me back up, and I lean on him while he leans a little bit backward. She wants to show off, that's what she'd gonna get, dammit. Things are about to get dirty.
"Cross-body lead." Dwayne says, instructing me on what we're about to do.
"I wanna do the lift." I say, while we're dancing.
"Now?" Dwayne asks, a little in disbelief.
"Yes. Toss me off to the right side again and we'll go from there." I answer, completely serious.
"Alright, but I'm telling you, they ain't got nothing on us." Dwayne said, getting ready to turn me a few times.
"And that's all we're getting ready to prove." I say, as he sends me off to the side.
Dwayne stands there, looking at me standing only a few feet away from him. I back up, making sure I have good distance. Maia's giving this look like she's saying what-the-fuck-are-you-doing, but it's okay. Her and everybody else is about to get the shock of their damn life.
Running towards Dwayne, I jump into his arms, and he lifts me up. He leaves me there for a few seconds, and then brings me back down, bringing my legs up so that I stretch across his body and lifts me down. Oh my GOD you should see Dany and Sean's face! Everyone in the class (especially Maia) is just now picking their jaws up off the floor, because they're still in shock at what just happened. See, I don't mean to be like this, but do you see what people make me do?
"Okay, stop! Stop! This competition is over! That was NOT fair!" Dany said to LaKaye, who was turning the music off.
"What's so unfair about it, Dany?" LaKaye asked, smiling.
"What the hell was THAT just now? You can't do that!" Dany said, pointing at me and Dwayne.
"Dany, it was JUST a little friendly competition. Cheer up, honey." Dwayne said, chuckling as he and I walked out the room.
"Hey man, we can do better than you two on any damn day of the week!" Okay, that voice belonged to my ex, Sean.
Dwayne and I are stopping, and turning to go approach Dany and Sean. They're standing there with smug smiles on their faces. Taking a quick glance over at Maia, she's signaling to me that I should hit Dany just for good measure, which makes me laugh.
"Was that supposed to be a challenge, big man?" I asked, looking at Sean, and becoming just a little pissed off.
"I see you haven't forgotten, have you Crystal? Big Man is right! Big in all the right places according to how I'd have your ass screaming my name, but anyway, that's a story for another time." Sean said.
"What?" Dwayne asked, looking at me afterward. I'm in big trouble.
"Oh nothing. But you two heard what I said. My baby Dany and I could dance circles around the both of you. And it would NOT be pretty. That little stint you pulled just now? That's kiddie stuff." Sean said, pulling a smiling Dany close to him.
"Kiddie stuff, huh?" Dwayne asked, eyeing Sean.
"Yeah, that's right.DWAYNE." Dany said, rolling her eyes and then smiling at Sean again.
"We'll see just who's doing kiddie stuff come the competition. That right there, was all fun. The real thing ain't no joke.DANY." I said, narrowing my eyes at her.
"Oh, I know the real thing ain't no joke, honey. You forget, us Cubans are a natural when it comes to dancing. That's something you wouldn't know anything about, honey. Let's just hope you and your quote, 'dance partner', learn a thing or two in time to save you out on that dance floor in Orlando." Dany said, smirking at me.
"Honey, you don't have to worry a damn about me. When it's all said and done and we're the ones carrying the trophy, representing for UM, then people will know who the REAL jokers are. And you can best your last damn dollar that the fingers will all be pointing at the two of ya'lls asses." I said, rolling my eyes at her and then finally walking off with Dwayne and Maia.
~TO BE CONTINUED~
***** Yesterday's showdown between Willis and Hiram was really good, let me tell you! We (the class) won, and so that meant that Dwayne had to go on his computer and change ALL of our grades to A's for the semester! That's what I'M talkin bout! You should see him though. he still feels salty for losing to us, but we don't rub it in his face-at least not a lot, anyway! LMAO!
Dwayne and I went to our Salsa class last night, and sure enough LaKaye mentioned to us that she'd like to enter us in the competition. So, we're going to Orlando in November! That's 2 months away from now, so Dwayne and I really need to start working with our noses down to the grindstone. Those judges that work in the competitions are FIERCE, and I've seen the championships on tv. You have to be aware of so much when doing those, and.I've never done this before, and neither has Dwayne. But you know like they always say, there's a first for everything!
"Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got. I'm still J.Lo number 2 from the block." Maia sang loud purposely, walking in late to our class.
"Look who decides to join us!" Dwayne said, turning and applauding Maia with a sarcastic look on his face.
"Did you guys miss me?" Maia asked, giving the sad puppy dog face.
"You know we did, girl!" The other 5 of us J.Lo's chimed in.
"Oh lord, please don't do it." Dwayne said, putting his hand on his head and shaking it. He knew what was coming as he watched us 5 practically break our necks getting down the steps to Maia.
We all hugged Maia, and then we turned to Dwayne. Grins across our face, we then turned to the class.
"Don't be fooled by the rocks that we got. We still, we still Jennys from the block." We sang out loud, cracking up afterward.
"Class, welcome to the J.Lo Ass-Shakers Reunion." Dwayne said with a smile, making the rest of the class laugh.
"Oh that was real cute, Mr. Johnson." Cerisa said, smirking.
"Yeah." The rest of us said.
"Well, it's not gonna be as cute as me writing all of ya'll up if you don't sit down." Dwayne said, causing the rest of the class to laugh.
So me, Nikki, Jules, Yolanda, Maia and Cerisa all walked back to our seats, not saying anything more.
Now, even though we all automatically have A's for the semester, we still have to do work. And so, rather then sit here and do bookwork all period, Dwayne said he's going to do a review with us. He's going to ask us questions, and then see if we know the answers to them to prepare for our first test.
"Okay people, now the way I'm going to do this is, we're going to have each row be a team. There are 4 rows, so that means 4 teams. I'll ask your row a question, and you're allowed to talk the answer out amongst your team. I wouldn't suggest being all loud and wrong about it, because other teams may be able to hear you and steal your answer. If you get the question right, you get a point. If you get it wrong, that means you don't get a point and I go to the next row to ask them the same question, and so on and so on. The row with the most points gets that same amount of extra credit added on to their grades for next semester. Now, I need a scorekeeper." Dwayne said, looking around.
Everyone's hands shot up at an attempt to become scorekeeper. Dwayne looked around, and then settled his eyes on one person.
"Hiram, get your ass up there to the board. You're keeping score." He said, smiling.
"Really? You want me, Uncle DJ?" Hiram asked in a girly voice.
"Man, will you just get up there and shut the hell up!" Dwayne said, trying not to laugh, and so we, the class did it for him.
"Okay, before we start. Take everything off your desks right now." Dwayne said, staring at all of us to make sure we did what he said.
"Jules! Did I just stutter? This isn't beauty class, girl. Put that stuff away!" Dwayne said, looking at Jules who had her compact out and was putting it away after being caught.
"Now, are you ready?" Dwayne asked us.
"Yeah!" We all answered, eager to start the game.
"Row one.A crime for which the penalty is less than 2 years in jail is classified as what?" Dwayne asked, reading from a piece of paper.
"Mr. J, I know that! That's a misdemeanor!" Scotty said, smiling.
"That's correct. Row one gets a point." Dwayne says, looking up at the board at Hiram.
"Row two.A crime for which the punishment is imprisonment for 2 years or longer-even death-is classified as what?" Dwayne asked.
"That's a felony." Yolanda answered.
"That's correct. Row two gets a point." Dwayne says, moving on to the next row.
Now, we all know that Maia is the first person in the 3rd row, and she's got this huge grin on her face like she's about to burst any minute. Dwayne's standing in front of her, and she's got a nice view!
"Row three.This is the most serious type of homicide, and is divided into different categories depending on the circumstances involved." Dwayne said, looking at the occupants of Row 3 for an answer.
"Manslaughter!" Maia burst out, trying not to laugh.
"The correct answer is murder, but manslaughter is another term used for it.I'll give you that one. Row 3 gets a point." Dwayne said, moving up to my row.
I'm looking at him, just smiling. He knows that no matter what he asks me I'm gonna get right. He looks like he's thinking.
"Okay, listen up. I'm gonna ask Crystal a question, and this doesn't count as being Row 4's question either. But if she gets this right, Row 4 gets 2 points. If she doesn't then I just go straight to the row's question and they don't get the extra 2 points." Dwayne said.
"You better get her, Uncle DJ!" Hiram said from the board.
"Shut up, Hiram! You better make this good." I said, looking Dwayne right in his eyes.
"Okay, I gotta dig deep for this." Dwayne said, starting to think.
"Now, this question isn't going to be about anything you guys have learned so far in here. But because ya'll have had previous experience with Criminal Justice class and whatnot, this shouldn't be new to you. And Crystal here brags that she knows quite a bit more than ya'll, so I'm gonna test her out." Dwayne said.
"Bring it on." I said, putting my hands on my desk and waiting for his question.
"Okay, Miss Thing. Let's see how much you know." Dwayne said, smirking at me.
"Explain the juvenile justice process from taking a child into custody to a disposition. And make sure you discuss ALL possible options and outcomes." Dwayne said.
"Ooh!" The class said, glad that they weren't in my place. That was a good lengthy question that has a lengthy answer attached to it.
"Okay, that's what you want?" I asked, smiling.
"That's what I want." Dwayne said, smiling back.
"First, the child is taken into custody. After that, an intake interview is done, with the results of that being either a dismissal or a diversion. From there a petition is filed, then a transfer hearing is done, and if need be, the child goes to criminal court. Next, an adjudication inquiry is done followed by an adjudication hearing. Finally, a disposition is determined with the options being dismissal, probation, custody or suspended adjudication." I answered, smiling.
"Damn!!!" Was all that Dwayne could say as he looked at me in shock.
"Hiram, give my team our 2 points!" I yelled down to him, grinning.
"Uncle DJ, you suck man! You was supposed to really give it to her, and you didn't! You're sorry!" Hiram said, putting our 2 points up on the board.
Dwayne was still shocked. His jaw is like, all the way down to the floor! I'm telling you, I know he's REALLY gotta be feeling it now!
"Hiram, you shut your damn mouth! And Crystal.how the hell did you remember all that? You ain't even gone to law school yet and you know more than I did when I took this class!" Dwayne said.
"Well, some people are better at some things than others." I said, smiling. Of course you know this sets the class off into a fit of laughter yet again.
"Man, she got you GOOD!" Hiram yelled to Dwayne.
"Look boy, now you better shut up before I gotta take my belt off! You know it's got your name on it!" Dwayne said, touching his belt and looking at Hiram.
"You think that's supposed to scare me, old man?" Hiram asked, grinning.
"Whatever.I'm gonna get you one of these days Crystal, and then you're gonna be real mad. Any other time I ask somebody that question, they leave stuff out or something like that. But you, you just HAD to put up a fight, huh?" Dwayne said, looking at me.
"You know it." I said, smiling.
"Okay, enough with the fun and games. This is Row 4's question. Row four.if you plan out how you will commit a crime before you do it, your crime is said to be what?" Dwayne asked.
"Premeditated." Nikki answered immediately.
"See, now that's MY baby right there!" Hiram said, smiling at Nikki and then adding another point to our score.
"That's correct." Dwayne said, smiling.
Dwayne moved back down the stairs to row one and then proceeded to get ready to ask them their question.
"Row one.any physical contact that you have with someone against his or her will is classified as what?" Dwayne asked.
"That's an easy one. That's assault." Jules answered quickly.
"No it's not. I'm sorry, but you're incorrect." Dwayne said, moving to the second row.
"Hey 4, what's wrong with you girl?" I yelled down to Jules, who everyone (including me) calls J.Lo number 4.
"I thought it was assault, damn!" Jules shouted back up at me.
"Ladies, settle down now, damn!" Dwayne said, looking from me to Jules as we stopped talking.
"Row two. any physical contact that you have with someone against his or her will is classified as what?" Dwayne asked.
"That ain't no assault, that's battery!" Steve answered loudly.
"That's correct. Row two gets a point!" Dwayne said, smiling.
"It was battery?! Well damn, Dwayne! That wasn't a fair question!" Jules complained to Dwayne.
"Why wasn't it fair, Juliette?" Dwayne asked, stopping in his tracks.
"Because assault and battery often get classified as the same thing when someone gets arrested. It's always assault AND battery. When is it ever one by itself? No cop ever says you're getting charged for just assault or just for battery. It's always both! I mean, come on! That really wasn't fair." Jules said.
"And though you put up a good argument, you're STILL wrong." Dwayne said, making the class laugh.
"Why?" Jules persisted.
"That's the exact reason why I told you as a class when I was giving the notes to you.do NOT get assault confused with battery. Assault is defined as an act where someone FEARS they will become a victim of battery, and it can be demonstrated through actions OR words. So, though you put up a good point, DON'T put assault down on your test when the answer is really battery, because I will assure you, you WILL get it wrong." Dwayne answered, finally shutting Jules up.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"So, what's going on between you and Jay?" I ask, walking with Maia back to our apartment.
"Well, I told you how we had our game last night while you and DJ was at ya'lls classes. We're gonna take the shuttle up to Coconut Grove and he's gonna take me to dinner and then we're going clubbing. Cause the stipulations of the basketball game was that if he won I had to go out on a date with him, and if I won, he had to get me front row B2K tickets. He won, and so that leads up to us going out Saturday night." Maia said, smiling.
"Chica, you're glowing! I don't know what he's doing to you, but whatever it is, it must got you hooked! Is he THAT good?" I asked, starting to laugh afterwards.
"Don't be like that! We haven't even had sex, so calm the hell down." Maia said, rolling her eyes.
"YET!" I said purposely, then laughing.
"Don't MAKE me get on you and DJ! Cause you know I will!" Maia said, unlocking the door to our apartment.
"Get on me and him like how? I wanna HEAR this one!" I said, grinning and walking behind Maia into our apartment.
"Every time I mention that man's name around you, you're ALL smiles, girl! Me, I don't have too much of an excuse. YOU, on the other hand do! He's been putting it down on you quite often, and face it-he's turned your ass OUT!" Maia said, cracking up.
"WHATEVER girl. He ain't turned me out. You better shut that shit up right now!" I said, not looking at her.
"Crystal, come here right now." Maia said, turning to face me.
"What do you want?" I ask, walking to stand in front of Maia.
"Look at me with a straight face and repeat what the hell you just said. Tell me Dwayne didn't turn you out." Maia said, looking at me seriously.
"Girl, you really are a joke. This is stupid." I said, smiling and walking away, only to have Maia put me back in my place.
"Just do it! If he ain't turned you out like you said, I want you to look at me with a straight face and tell me." Maia said.
"Dwayne didn't..you know what? Kiss my ass, Maia!" I said, starting to laugh hysterically.
"See? You can't deny it, Crissy! You got turned out by that big pile of sexy and you liked it!" Maia said, playfully shoving me.
"You're so wrong, Maia. Really you are." I said, smirking and walking back to our bedroom to sit on my bed.
Maia followed me back to the bedroom and sat down on her bed and started to look at one of her magazines. Meanwhile, I was laying on my bed looking up at the ceiling, thinking.
"Hey Maia, you know what we need to do?" I asked, sitting up.
"What?" Maia asked, looking up from her magazine.
"We need to go take care of some business. You need to get you some Health Insurance and a Cane Card and all that good stuff. Me, I gotta go pay for some of my fees I got too, so let's go take care of that now before it gets put off to the last minute." I answered.
"You're cool with doing all that? You know I don't know what I'm doing, girly. You gon' have to show me the ropes." Maia said, putting her magazine down and getting up off her bed.
~*~*~*~*~*~
It took us a good couple of hours before getting all of the paperwork and stuff done. Maia should be getting her card in the mail sometime soon, both of our insurance's are paid in full for the year, the apartment is also paid for the entire year, and our other fees for using the WC and other stuff is all paid for. I had to max out one of my credit cards to pay for all my fees, and then unknowingly, Maia had some credit cards of her own too. So she used one of hers to pay for the apartment and all that good stuff.
The advantage to being a college student is all the credit card applications you can get! Having A credit card isn't enough. You have to have a COUPLE to survive through college, I'm telling you. It's like having free money! That is, until the bills come in. One time I got trapped in credit card debt, and I swear it was the worse thing I've ever put myself through. I got out of it, and I learned my lesson. You can believe that one! After going to get my mail, I saw that I had been approved to work in the Miami Commitment Program!!! Yeah! I feel so good right now. All my bills are paid off, I got a job.DAMN I feel good!
Anyhow, I'm at the WC right now. I told Dwayne to just go ahead and meet me here because I didn't know how long I would be with Maia. He said he had some stuff to do too, and that he might be late anyway. It's 7:15, and not even everyone is here yet. Maia wanted to come watch us today, so she's here with me and we're chilling in the corner of the room watching people.
"Look at THEM 2! Crissy, I know I don't know the first thing bout Latin dancing, but what the HELL are they doing?" Maia asked, making me laugh out loud.
"They're TRYING to dance, I'll give 'em that much. But if she keeps stepping on his toes like that, they're gonna be dancing their way to the hospital, I'll tell you that right now." I answered, making Maia laugh out loud also.
Just then, Dwayne came walking in to the room. Coincidentally, that's when all the girls in the room decided they wanted to have a staring problem and start gawking at him.
"Sorry I'm late." Dwayne said, walking over to me smiling.
"Not a problem.not everyone's here yet. LaKaye's not even here." I said, looking at the other women in the room, causing them to go back to doing what they were doing beforehand.
Speak of the devil, LaKaye is now walking into the room. Behind her is.Dany and my ex-boyfriend Sean?! Oh no! This is NOT happening. I'm seeing shit, I have to be.
"Dwayne, Maia.tell me that's not Dany." I said, looking at her.
"That's her alright. Whoever that guy is that's with her, he looks like he stepped straight out of the movie Evita with that slicked back hair and them clothes and shit." Dwayne said, cracking up.
I looked at Maia, and she had just frozen up. She wasn't saying anything to me, just really concentrating on whatever she was looking at.
"Maia, what's the matter?" I asked.
"Nothing.I'm just looking at some of these couples in here." Maia said, weakly smiling at me.
"Alright people, listen up! As you know, we have one couple going to the championship in Orlando. Crystal and Dwayne, can you come stand up here please?" LaKaye asked, looking at us.
I looked at Dwayne nervously and he stroked my hand, taking me up there with him. If she was about to do what I think she was about to do, consider my good day having gone straight to hell.
"Crystal, Dwayne.you two are going to the championship in Orlando. But, what you, as well as the class don't know is that it's been brought to my attention that there is another couple that is just as good as the two of you. Crystal, Dwayne.meet Dany Garcia and Sean Martinez." LaKaye said, standing back so that Dwayne and I could look at Dany and Sean.
"Senorita Michelle, they're not even in the class. How do they get to go?" I asked, confused.
"As of last night they both signed up, and took it upon themselves to show me some of their moves. To be quite frank, I was blown away, and I didn't hesitate to sign them up to go along with the two of you. Why, do you have a problem with the way I run my class?" LaKaye asked, eyeing me.
"No, Senorita Michelle." I said, looking at the floor, feeling like a complete ass.
"You four might as well get acquainted, because from here on out you'll be seeing a lot of each other." LaKaye said.
"Now shake hands right now. You should always show respect towards each other." LaKaye directed.
I looked back at Maia and she gave me a don't-worry-about-it look. I shrugged my shoulders and shook hands with Dany and Sean. Sean's winking at me right now, and Dwayne's going to shake his hand.a little too tightly apparently, because Sean's going to take his hand back and Dwayne's not letting go. I take it he saw Sean's friendly little wink that he gave me.
"Stop it." I whisper, hitting Dwayne on the side of his leg.
"Class, I thought I would give you a break today. However, Dany and Sean, Crystal and Dwayne, what do you say to a little friendly competition?" LaKaye asked, smiling.
"I don't think-"
"That sounds great, Senorita Michelle." Dwayne answered, smiling at LaKaye and cutting me off.
"There's nothing wrong with a little friendly competition, is there honey?" Dany asked Sean, kissing him on the lips, just to be smart.
"Alright, enough with playing sucky-face with each other. Let's have some fun!" LaKaye said, smiling.
All the other classmates backed up to give us our space and then sat down. Dwayne and I walked to the right side of the room with Sean and Dany walking to the left.
"Are you ready?" LaKaye asked, looking at us.
"Yeah." We all answer.
The music starts, and Dwayne and I start dancing. Looking back, I see that coincidentally Sean and Dany wanna start out the same way! Oh no, I can see how this is gonna end up now.
"Dwayne, start doing something else because them 2 are already copying us." I say, steadily looking at Dany and Sean.
"Let's see how they like this." Dwayne said, taking me by my hand and turning me a few times.
I go spinning out of his arms and off to the side. While off to the side, I do a little improv, shaking my hips to the music. Then I start slowly but surely, making my way back to him. He pulls me close to him and runs his hand down my thigh. I go to smack him (this is all apart of the act, folks) and he grabs my wrist, turning me and dipping me. While being dipped, I can see across the room that Dany and Sean are getting a little kinky with theirs. I swear, even when the friendship is long gone, EVERYTHING has to be a contest with her!
Dwayne lifts me back up, and I lean on him while he leans a little bit backward. She wants to show off, that's what she'd gonna get, dammit. Things are about to get dirty.
"Cross-body lead." Dwayne says, instructing me on what we're about to do.
"I wanna do the lift." I say, while we're dancing.
"Now?" Dwayne asks, a little in disbelief.
"Yes. Toss me off to the right side again and we'll go from there." I answer, completely serious.
"Alright, but I'm telling you, they ain't got nothing on us." Dwayne said, getting ready to turn me a few times.
"And that's all we're getting ready to prove." I say, as he sends me off to the side.
Dwayne stands there, looking at me standing only a few feet away from him. I back up, making sure I have good distance. Maia's giving this look like she's saying what-the-fuck-are-you-doing, but it's okay. Her and everybody else is about to get the shock of their damn life.
Running towards Dwayne, I jump into his arms, and he lifts me up. He leaves me there for a few seconds, and then brings me back down, bringing my legs up so that I stretch across his body and lifts me down. Oh my GOD you should see Dany and Sean's face! Everyone in the class (especially Maia) is just now picking their jaws up off the floor, because they're still in shock at what just happened. See, I don't mean to be like this, but do you see what people make me do?
"Okay, stop! Stop! This competition is over! That was NOT fair!" Dany said to LaKaye, who was turning the music off.
"What's so unfair about it, Dany?" LaKaye asked, smiling.
"What the hell was THAT just now? You can't do that!" Dany said, pointing at me and Dwayne.
"Dany, it was JUST a little friendly competition. Cheer up, honey." Dwayne said, chuckling as he and I walked out the room.
"Hey man, we can do better than you two on any damn day of the week!" Okay, that voice belonged to my ex, Sean.
Dwayne and I are stopping, and turning to go approach Dany and Sean. They're standing there with smug smiles on their faces. Taking a quick glance over at Maia, she's signaling to me that I should hit Dany just for good measure, which makes me laugh.
"Was that supposed to be a challenge, big man?" I asked, looking at Sean, and becoming just a little pissed off.
"I see you haven't forgotten, have you Crystal? Big Man is right! Big in all the right places according to how I'd have your ass screaming my name, but anyway, that's a story for another time." Sean said.
"What?" Dwayne asked, looking at me afterward. I'm in big trouble.
"Oh nothing. But you two heard what I said. My baby Dany and I could dance circles around the both of you. And it would NOT be pretty. That little stint you pulled just now? That's kiddie stuff." Sean said, pulling a smiling Dany close to him.
"Kiddie stuff, huh?" Dwayne asked, eyeing Sean.
"Yeah, that's right.DWAYNE." Dany said, rolling her eyes and then smiling at Sean again.
"We'll see just who's doing kiddie stuff come the competition. That right there, was all fun. The real thing ain't no joke.DANY." I said, narrowing my eyes at her.
"Oh, I know the real thing ain't no joke, honey. You forget, us Cubans are a natural when it comes to dancing. That's something you wouldn't know anything about, honey. Let's just hope you and your quote, 'dance partner', learn a thing or two in time to save you out on that dance floor in Orlando." Dany said, smirking at me.
"Honey, you don't have to worry a damn about me. When it's all said and done and we're the ones carrying the trophy, representing for UM, then people will know who the REAL jokers are. And you can best your last damn dollar that the fingers will all be pointing at the two of ya'lls asses." I said, rolling my eyes at her and then finally walking off with Dwayne and Maia.
~TO BE CONTINUED~