Any Given Thursday

October 1996



Celina hated Mrs. Somerset’s class because she was a new student, and was very different from her classmates. She felt that she didn’t belong with the white children. It wasn’t because she was a slow learner, or had any disabilities. Mentally, she had always been a very astute child. Everytime she walked into Mrs. Somerset’s seventh grade class, she felt like the entire class had singled her out, which was rather easy. Celina hadn’t thought of alienating herself—if anything she went out of her way to try to fit in, but she just couldn’t, and it was that stupid Jake Collier’s fault. Ever since she had caught him and his brother on her family’s land she hadn’t liked him. He teased her, and called her names. She reported these instances to her mother, who believed that he was just being a normal child, and that teasing was merely a rite of passage for all kids. Her father agreed, and told her to suck it up, and that all schools had a hazing of some sort.



Jake had gone above and beyond annoying her however. When she walked the long walk from route 32, up the winding hill to her house, he’d be there claiming that he was going to do a little fishing. Brian, David, and he would fish until dusk. Then the two brothers would gather their fish, and head out through the woods to their own home. Now that the fall had arrived in Bainbridge and the weather was too cold to fish in, Jake simply got off where she did to annoy him. She ignored him, as well as his smart aleck remarks. He made rude comments about her constantly. He called her “bubble butt” and talked about her breasts constantly. Celina hated that he looked at her at all, but to make light of her body, something that she was very sensitive about, was a grave offense. Celina had heard her mother remark to Keesha, that when she was a few years older, the other girls would be jealous of her already developed body. Their mother believed he only teased her because he had a crush on her, but Celina knew the truth. She had never subscribed to that ridiculous theory. Jake was the rabble rouser of the group because he hated her. He was also a little bastard, but she would never say such a thing aloud. Her mother would whoop her senseless if she heard her even utter a curse.



Celina didn’t really understand what that meant, and she found it hard to believe that anyone would be jealous of her, or her body. Keesha had explained that her wonderfully rounded rear would draw in the boys as she became a teenager. What were once giggles and whispers about her growing “boobs” would become hungry lustful stares. Celina didn’t believe any of it, and since the kids went out of their way to torment her, she went out of her way to ignore them all. She had become somewhat antisocial, much to the concern of her family. David, having been fourteen attended the high school, and so he couldn’t protect her from the annoying comments of those brats. Even if he were there, her brother knew not to interfere short of violence. The Thompson family encouraged their children to be resilient survivors, despite the odds against them. By responding to their childish taunts, she would only add fuel to the fire. As they saw that they could not rile her visibly, all of the other children left her alone. All that is, except Jacob Collier. To Celina, it seemed as if his life’s purpose was to make hers miserable.



As she walked dressed warmly under a thick coat, she could see him walking in step behind her. In her peripheral vision, she saw him stop for a moment, and then continue. He looked as if he wanted to broach a topic with her, but had no idea how to do so. She hoped that he would not bother talking to her. Unfortunately, Canton Hill was winding, and it took about fifteen minutes to reach her house from the bus stop. She walked faster then, silently discouraging him from following. She would learn however, that when Jake Collier wanted something he was not deterred in any way. She had begun walking so fast, that she was almost jogging. He had already caught up to her, and she wanted to throw rocks at those long legs of his. Celina had always been tall for her age, but Jake was even taller. She silently cursed boys and their ability to grow like bean stalks.



“Where are you running off to so fast?”



He asked suddenly, stopping right in front of her. Celina, having the annoying habit of looking down as she walked, did not see him. They both tumbled to the ground. He grunted as she was cushioned from the dirt road with his body. Celina quickly rolled off of him, blushing at the close contact. He had cradled her body to his, as if he were used to girls falling atop him. She dusted herself off quickly, mumbled a quick thank you, and practically ran to her house. She could still hear him calling her, but she would not be stifled. Her house could be seen in the distance. Jake yanked her arm back, roughly turning her around.



“Who do you think you are? I said thank you didn’t I? Now let go of me, before I punch your face in!”



She yelled, scowling at his smirking face. She hated the triumphant smirk that he always wore on his face. He was so cocky and arrogant—and he was only twelve years old. The fact that he had the mere audacity to touch her was more than enough ammunition that she would need in order to justify punching him. The last time she had hit him, it earned her a spanking, no TV, and worse still, no music privileges. Snatching her arm back, she continued walking home. Jake was not worth losing a week’s worth of drum practice..



“I think that I’m the person who saved your life. You didn’t show much appreciation is all.”



“You don’t actually expect me to grovel at your feet do you? If I did happen to fall on the ground, I would just get a skinned knee or whatever. I’m a tough girl, and I didn’t ask you for your help. Now you’re beginning to piss me off, so cut the bull and say what you need to say.”



And he did. He said everything that he had wanted to say since having met her. She was the strangest person that he had ever known. He had done everything to annoy her, to get her to break her resolve. All the other girls giggled, but were getting upset that he tried so hard to get her angry. They considered her a wasted effort, but he considered her an enigma. The challenge had been given, and he would rise to the occasion. Whatever it was that made her so strangely fascinating would cease his curiosity once and for all.



“I think you’re a very weird girl. All you ever do is read, or draw. You never talk outside of class, and you only speak when the teacher asks you questions. You act like a boy, but you’re a girl. You started a fight with MacKenzie and everybody thinks that you’re stuck up.”



He spoke without hesitation. Celina had barely heard what he said, not that it would have mattered. She learned to tune him out after the first month of school. She didn’t care what any of those little brats said about her. As for MacKenzie, that little skeeze had made the huge mistake of calling her an uppity Negro. Of course, she chose a much more defamatory and disparaging way to say it. Celina would not think of the nasty word, she would not give the blonde little girl the satisfaction. She’d yet to make a friend either. None had been willing, and judging from those racists brats she wondered if any were worthy anyway. She missed her friends at CascadeMiddle school. She missed sleepovers with Cynethia, she missed practicing drums with DeOndre, and she especially missed Jacoby her sixth grade crush. She wanted to be back in Chicago with her friends, not stuck in some small town in the middle of nowhere Georgia talking with a stupid kid. If Jake had tried any of that crap back in Chi-Town he would have gotten beaten up.



“Are you just about through? I don’t care if you like me or not. This is who I am and I don’t need your approval. You can take your I’m-Billy-Joe-obey-me-because-I-live-in-this-hick-town mentality and kiss my ass. Don’t speak to me, I don’t like you, and it’s obvious that the feeling is mutual. Stay away from me if you know what’s good for you.”



His smirk was back again, and it unnerved her because he now stared at her like he knew one of her deep dark secrets. His smirk became a smile and suddenly, she felt uncomfortable. Her eyes darted to the house, but now that he had released her arm, something else compelled her to stay. What was it about this exasperating boy that got her so riled? What was it about him that could make her feel frustrated and light all at the same time? The grin on his face was sheepish now, and suddenly all of his bravado had become a shy outer shell.



“There you go again, little Ms. Educated. There are no teachers around, so you don’t have to use big words all the time.”



Celina shook her head, purging thoughts of Jake from her mind. She had enough of this chat with him, and she wanted to be left to her own devices. She had walked a few feet before she was pulled back again. Her fist was already aimed for his cheek, but Jake had caught her hand. Seeing her weakness, he leaned in and pecked her quickly on the lips.



“Call it a reward for my troubles!”



Jake called aloud, running as fast as he could through the woods to his house. Minutes later, Celina still stood frozen in place, with her fingertips touching her tingling lips. She didn’t know why that fluttery feeling was back, she couldn’t explain it. All she knew was that Jacob Collier was trouble, and she needed to steer clear of him. He was probably just being a prick anyway, just getting under her skin so he could go back and tell his buddies. Her beautiful face morphed into a nasty scowl. She wouldn’t ever be used, especially not by the likes of him. Her resolve was strong, and she vowed to dislike him forever. Of course, the things one says as a child almost never becomes the things one feels as an adult.



The motel was dingy, and a little bit rundown, but it was the best that they could find. Money wasn’t an issue yet, but the town just was too small to accommodate a larger, more luxurious hotel. Going over their finances in the car, they realized that if they paid for separate rooms, they would soon run out of money needed for paying the people that they would be interviewing. Once they realized that they could have a double bed room, the problem had been solved. Celina had taken a shower first, silently thanking herself for not having brought more revealing sleepwear. She settled on a pair of pajama pants and a tank to sleep in. She exited the bathroom wearing her terrycloth robe because she knew Jake would look.



Jake had always stared when she was in any form of undress, and that both confused and unnerved her. The last thing she needed was to have an annoying jerk behave like a pervert for the duration of the trip. Though they didn’t like each other, she knew the affect that her nearly naked body had on him before. He was after all a young male, and could act like a horny retard at the sight of a little flesh. After she settled in the bed, Celina began to braid her hair. Jake had stopped staring and went to the bathroom to change into his sleeping clothes. He had always been fascinated by her hair. He would look amazed when she would thoroughly comb it out into a wavy hairstyle, and upon exiting a building her hair would kink up once more because of the humidity. She settled on twisting her hair into tiny twists for the night. There was nothing wrong with a simple, easy to create style.



She remembered long ago during the hot summers when her sister or mother would braid her hair. Jake and Brian would come over to fish and swim with her brother David. After they had caught a sufficient amount, her mother would fry the catfish. Brian and David would be inside the house playing with the Sega, and most of the time, Jake joined them. Sometimes however, he would simply watch her getting her hair done. He always seemed to be amazed by the waviness her hair would feel one day, and the next it would be completely kinky. He used to constantly want to poke at her afro puffs, or watch as the humidity made her hair go from silky straight to an Angela Davis afro. Celina never understand his fascination, and it confounded her to this day.



“Hey Celina?”



She turned her head towards the bathroom door, and silently cursed when she saw Jake emerge. He was bare-chested, wearing loose cotton boxers. She averted her eyes, returning to the television in front of her. She had forgotten just how good he looked without a shirt. She could feel her cheeks flame once more. Thankfully, her skin was dark enough he could not see the red heat that spread across her face. Though he had the body of an Adonis, Celina knew that she couldn’t allow herself to be fooled again. Just because she caught sight of his rippling muscles and tan skin, did not mean that she liked him. What hot blooded woman wouldn’t look twice at the sight of an attractive man? She wouldn’t be normal if she didn’t look.



“What is it?”



He blocked her view of the television, obviously upset that she refused to meet his eyes. Granted, the exchange in the car had been a bit awkward but so what? The two of them had been caught in much more socially awkward situations before. They had a job to do, and the unresolved issues between would have to stay that way for the duration of their project. He was annoyed by the fact that Celina was more concerned with the coils of her hair, more than the quota of their work. Her hands were so busy twisting her hair into those tiny little braids that she appeared lost in her own world. Jake was not about to let her just ignore him like that. He silently swore, wishing that he had put forth a little extra cash so that they could sleep separately. The stipend they had been given could only go so far and he knew that eventually, they’d be paying out of pocket. Whatever extra cash he had should be saved and used in times of emergency. Besides, the room was a double bed, and therefore more cost effective.



“We should get our questions ready tonight. It’s only 9:45, so we still have time to prepare ourselves for the questions we will ask. The first person in your focus group is a 58 year old white male. Bill Aston Graves. He has two children, and identifies himself as a conservative with independent leanings. You are supposed to ask him questions in Criteria B, regarding his opinions on the status of Social Security, partial birth abortion, and faith based initiatives.”



Celina highlighted the man’s name, before returning to the other people on her list. She didn’t like him as an interviewee. She already had two loaded topics for him. Partial birth abortion would be difficult because as a woman, she felt that he may very well be aggressive as a respondent. Still, she wasn’t supposed to allow her personal beliefs get in the way of her assignment. Faith based initiatives were also a hot button issue with her. Judging from his bio, the man seemed to be the atypical right wing, Protestant, rural male she took him for. Perhaps he would surprise her with his answers.



“I only have this guy for forty minutes so I think that I should dive right in with my questions as opposed to having him fill out the questionnaire. We have to get very detailed answers from these people, so they need to already have filled in the basics.”



She didn’t bother looking at Jake because he knew he only wanted to see her reaction. Bill Graves was the antithesis of everything that she stood for politically. This already grated on her nerves because she knew Jake had given him to her on purpose. He knew how she felt about the issues of abortion, and faith based initiatives. This project was exactly what she needed however. She had to step out of her comfort zone, and work with people who in her opinion may have screwed beliefs, but they did have a right to believe what they wished. She only hoped that the guy wasn’t a bigot or a homophobe or anything else that would make her detest interviewing him. She shook her head, trying to focus on what Jake was saying.



“I agree. My first respondent is a 47 year Indian housewife. Saleerna Raji, four adult children. She holds a Master’s from Queen’s College. She identifies herself as a moderate Democrat. My questions for her are regarding the immigration laws, voter disenfranchisement, and campaign financing. Hey, are you paying attention Celina?”



“Huh? Oh yeah, I heard you. Something about campaign finance, immigration, voting disenfranchisement. Blah, blah, blah.”



“Could you be a little more attentive Celina? I would like to get into the finals of this competition.”



Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Jake slammed down his notebook. Celina was already being a pain in the ass, and if he called her on it, they would fight. Even if Celina acted liked the wicked bitch of the west, she still didn’t give a damn. Some might call that nonchalance positive, but he merely found it annoying. Just because she didn’t want to win, didn’t give her the right to slack off. They were a team, and he would be damned if he lost because of her! Jake watched her silently with a frown. He hated that she could be oblivious to him, but yet every time Celina entered the same room as him, he knew that she was there. Sure, she was perusing the notes, but would it kill her to actually talk with him about the assignment.



“You’re a real pain in the ass you know that. You’ve been one ever since I met you.”



Jake smirked as Celina stared at him in surprise. He still had the ability to completely throw her off track. All it took was a smart-ass remark here, and a dry comment there. Her face went from the shock of surprise to the scowl of anger. She ignored him then, and continued to twist her hair. He scoffed as she coiled it, wondering why she took so much time on that hair of hers anyway. It would always look impeccable when she left in the morning anyway. He didn’t understand that trait among women, and definitely not with Celina. She grabbed the remote, and began flicking through channels. She always did that, Celina just couldn’t find a channel and stick to that. He remembered visiting her house one weekend, and marveling at the speed in which she surfed the television. He had asked her why she did that, and she’d replied “because I might miss something.”



“Dammit Celina! Find a station and stick with it!”



She rolled her eyes, and settled on the soap opera channel. Jake groaned in disgust. There was no way in hell he would be tormented with hours of soap opera hell. The storylines were always the same. Someone was pregnant with their lover’s best friend’s baby. Someone was hooked on drugs; there was a mobster in town terrorizing people… Jake couldn’t stand that nonsense. He leaned over to her bed, and snatched the remote from her hand.



“We are not watching the Soap Network! I am not going to be watching girly shows for the duration of this trip.”



She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at his typical male response. It was just like Jake and every other guy she knew to bad mouth a soap opera. They were always afraid to watch one with her. What exactly was so bad about it anyway? Of course everything was a farce, with all the, plot holes, and crazy tales but that made for good television. Besides, watching a soap was like watching any other television show. Nothing was real, but at least soaps kept things exciting.



“Then you need to go get another room. I am watching the Soap Network. I missed General Hospital and I want to know if Gia took Nikolas back.”



He groaned at her answer, obviously not wanting to be stuck hearing about who was sleeping with their sister’s half brother’s cousin uncle. There was usually something good on Spike TV, but he knew Celina wouldn’t go for that either. She didn’t like to see barely clothed girls traipsing around nearly naked in wet t-shirts. All the other girls he knew thought it was sexist as well, but some of them were just jealous that they didn’t have a nice body, or chest. Since Celina was not lacking in that department, he definitely doubted that she was jealous. She was what he and his buddies called a neo-feminist. Those Generation Y girls that didn’t burn their bras, they burned their boyfriends financially, and drained them emotionally. When that process was finished, they then purchased a dildo, and said fuck you to their old lovers.



“The storylines never change, Celina. Besides, the people who watch soap operas only do so because they lack excitement in their own lives and therefore choose to live vicariously through fictional characters.”



Celina knew well that he was baiting her into an argument. They were after all political science majors, and often debated in impromptu discussions. He was itching for an argument, and they both knew that, but Celina refused to acquiesce. She had been given plenty opportunities over the years to put Jake in his place when he got out line, and she would do so again if need be. They had never been able to allow the other to have the upper hand. They were debaters to the end, and could argue until the cows came home.



“That is not true!”



“If it’s not true then prove it. Let’s watch something that is not so girly. See here—Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is on right now on channel 54! This movie is great.”



It was now Celina’s turn to groan. She had heard of that stupid piece of crap that the movie executives actually considered genuine cinema. She didn’t think that she could take two of hours of “snoogins” and whatever else those idiot actors spouted from their mouths. No, she had Oasis, Ludacris, and the Brian McKnight to comfort her. There were plenty of batteries, and if she got really bored, she could just call a friend or family member.



“Jake, only an idiot that likes dick and fart jokes would find this film even remotely funny. They’d have to be high as hell to laugh at this piece of shit. If I agree to watch this, we get to watch what I want to tomorrow. And before you ask, we are not ordering porno!”



“Deal!”



Jake shook her hand vigorously, happy that he had gotten his way. Celina ignored the din of stoner jokes, and began to read one of her favorite novels. Betty Smith could make her get so emotional over the simplicity of a growing tree. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn was a classic novel, that always made her weepy. The woman had so much talent, and Celina believed that this was one of the best books ever written. She had become so engrossed in her book that she ignored the strange smell that began to waft through the room. She sniffed for a moment, and then instantly recognized the familiar smell.



Of all the times to need to buckle down and prepare Jake was lying on his bed and getting high. She had always known he recreationally used marijuana, but did he have to smoke weed around her? She never touched the stuff, and didn’t want a contact high. Celina remembered very well how Jake behaved when he was high, and she didn’t approve. He always seemed to say what he kept to himself. Like all drunkards, and stoners he revealed his greatest secrets while inebriated. Though it would have been entertaining to have something to use against him in future dealings (if there would be any) she needed him alert and cognizant of his environment in the morning. She charged to him, and yanked the joint from his hand.



Before he could react, she had already had the joint flushed down the toilet. When she exited from the bathroom, she could feel his scowl on her but she didn’t care. He knew that she didn’t play games. She returned to her book, ignoring the shadow over her shoulder. Finally, she couldn’t take anymore him standing over her. Yanking off her headphones, she replied succinctly.



“Rule four, Jake rule four.”



He rolled his eyes at her answer.



“Flushing down my joint is obviously infringing on my part of rule four. I am behaving as I normally would, but you are being a hindrance, Celina.”



She smirked then, surprised that he had remembered the rules.



“Okay then, Jake. Here’s a new rule. Rule five: Neither person may invoke rule four if it infringes on the full exercise of rule four for the other person, unless the activities of rule four are illegal. How’s that for you, hmm?”



He narrowed his eyes at her smug answer.



“That’ll do for now Celina. Just remember it works both ways.”



His ominous warning didn’t make her feel anxious; because she knew that he was just talking out of his ass. He’d been beat, but when it came to the two of them, they both had to have the last word. Neither had ever been willing to accept defeat. They could argue until the cows came home, and still have room for more.



“That is the point isn’t it?”



Celina answered with false sincerity.



“Charm was never your forte was it Celina?”



“And wit was never yours, Jake. Turn down the television; I want to go to sleep.”



She yawned, slipping off her robe and turning off the lamp on her end table. Her back was to him, and Jake watched her silently, feeling that painful twang that he thought he’d silenced forever. He was in danger of falling in love with her all over again. Then as her breathing slowed, he began wonder if he ever really stopped. He’d only manage to stifle that empty feeling in his heart, momentarily. He didn’t think that he could survive the next months traveling alone with her. Not when a gentle smile his way would make his knees turn to jelly. As she turned to his side, he could see her pretty face shadowed by the darkness and he was fearful. Everything felt good, but how could something that felt so right, fail so miserably? He lay awake in thought wondering if he could ever get his answer.