Any Given Thursday

The morning sun’s rays shined down upon her, and Celina knew that she needed to get up. She also knew that Jake would chide her for her laziness but she didn’t care. According to their own research, they were in the lead over any other group of students from Professor Gaither’s PolySci class. Even with these confirmed facts, Celina still did not wish to wake up yet. She liked being a laze-a-bed. She cherished that feeling of in-between, the state in which a person was half awake and half asleep. One wrong move could mean waking up and facing the day. She wasn’t yet ready to do that.



How could she face the day when her partner could be heard last night extolling all the reasons why Celina could never be as beautiful, smart, or as sexy as his beloved Melinda Banes? Jake hadn’t exactly made himself quiet when his girlfriend called. Now, it wasn’t like Celina tried to listen in on his conversation. She just happened to be exiting the shower and carefully leaving the door ajar so that the steam could escape. Surely she hadn’t counted on hearing such private and personal thoughts. When someone maligned her, Celina would turn the other cheek. She simply would forget about whatever rude and ignorant comment made about her and move on.



This time was not as simple as the other times. She had known Jake for years, and while arguing and debasing one another was nothing new between them, it still hurt to think that he would not have the decency to say these things to her face. Over the years they stopped communicating, and if one defamed the other it hadn’t mattered because neither would ever hear about the comments. In this case, Celina had a bird’s eye view of everything he said.



So what if she was not a perfect sized six? Who cared if she didn’t have naturally curly red hair? She was a black woman, and genetically speaking she was meant to have dark brown kinky hair. She couldn’t escape genetics, nor could she escape the pain of his commentary. She loved all of her features, both ethnic and gender wise. As far as her weight was concerned, well she was big boned that’s all. Yes, she could probably stand to be less of tomboy, and it probably wouldn’t hurt her to go on a diet and she those unwanted twenty pounds. However, she wasn’t going to let an egotistical bastard like Jake Collier be the catalyst for change in her life. She just wasn’t brought up that way.



Her grandmother would roll in her grave if she knew that her grandbaby was letting a white boy affect her so. Never in all of her grandmother’s years had she ever let any man, be he white, yellow or brown say such things about her character and make her lose her sense of self. She was Ina Mae Thicke and before anything else, she was a person. A woman was more than the sex between her legs. A woman was powerful, beautiful, and intelligent. From her womb birthed the world’s nations, from her breasts she nursed the children of the world. Celina was giving women everywhere a bad name by idling standing by and letting that moron get away with his treatment.



Suddenly, she was aware of her great grandmother’s old adage. ‘If you’re white, you’re just right. If you’re brown stick around, and if you’re black get back.’ She snorted then, aware of how completely insane she sounded. Since when did Celina Thompson allow her life dictated by a man, let alone a white man? Biting her lip, she realized that this wasn’t the first time the issue of race between the two had cropped up. Shaking her head, Celina stood and yawned, stretching her long limbs. None of this mattered anymore anyway, because all of those feeling meant something when she once loved him. Now that it was over, none of it mattered anymore.



Yet why was it now, walking into the tiny bathroom sharing the sink as she brushed her teeth did her eyes linger over his muscular physique? Her toothbrush hung idly by in her mouth as her eyes adjusted to the environment around her. She could see him staring at her through the mirror’s reflection. Her shirt had come undone as she slept the night before. Her long sleeved pajama top now hung idly off one shoulder exposing brown flesh. Celina didn’t really care about the shoulder flash. She was more concerned with the fact that he could see down her very loose top. Celina shoved past him to spit into the sink, and then proceeded to rinse out her mouth. Jake stared at her throughout this routine, without saying a word.



“Take a picture it’ll last longer,” Celina sneered, washing her face and hands. He grunted, pushing past her to return to the bedroom.



“You haven’t got anything that I haven’t already seen before,” Jake replied, egging her into an argument. He smirked when her browns eye lit up, knowing that he had gotten a rise out of her. She stalked into the bedroom after him, her long legs and arms akimbo.



While he hadn’t lied when he said that she hadn’t had anything he hadn’t seen before, he did fail to mention that she had the best of what he had seen. Her legs and breasts were her best feature and she knew it too! Jake couldn’t help but be surprised by his reaction to her body years later. Why else would she insist on wearing those revealing pajama tops and those tiny boy shorts? He hadn’t forgotten what it felt like to have those long legs wrapped around his waist. His hands had long ago memorized the layout of her body, and the two breasts that she pathetically tried to hide had never escaped his notice.



“I’m obviously the best you ever seen, otherwise you wouldn’t have gone catatonic just now.” She smirked back at him, secretly pleased with the way his cheeks flushed ever so slightly.



He scoffed at her rolling his eyes. He leaned back against the bed, with his hands behind his head enjoying the view. Hell, if she was going to parade around the room like that who was he to enjoy a free show?



“That may be the case Celina, but be honest…” He grinned cattily, his eyes focusing on one of her more pleasing physical attributes. “I’m the best looking guy that you ever seen, ever had, and will ever have.”



It was her turn to scoff at his ridiculous behavior. Celina grumbled, rummaging through her suitcases for suitable clothing. She snatched her outfit and rushed back into the bathroom, slamming the door angrily behind her. Tears ran down her face as she hastily dressed herself. Damn it, for all of her tough talk he was right about one thing. He had been the best she’d ever had. He was the only one she ever had. For him to make light of that magical night between the two of them hurt deeper than any cut he could ever give. Of course, he had no idea that she hadn’t slept with anyone else after him. He’s been her first and still was her only. She was his first. She could still recall the first time they shared a moment of intimacy. Leaning against the door Celina sobbed quietly in reminisce. She wondered if she would have shared her heart and body with Jake if she knew how things would have ended…



July 1999



They were fifteen years old now. Jake had turned fifteen in February and she soon followed in May. She and Jake had been dating for a little over two months. After he had given her such a lovely fourteenth birthday present, Celina decided (her parents helped too) to make amends and becomes friends with the boy. They both had held crushes on one another throughout their ‘getting to know each other, let’s be friends’ stage. Jake still teased her, but now he did it in a much friendlier manner. Judging by their friendly banter, one would never guess that they had been bitter enemies, It wasn’t until they turned fifteen did Celina finally realized that she had more than just a school boy crush on her friend.



Jake claimed that he was infatuated with her from the start, or rather shortly after her arrival in Bainsbridge. Celina was the one who had been the ‘cold fish’. Either way, they were together now and neither could be happier. However, now that they were a couple there were still a few awkward moments between them. Intimacy was the biggest issue. Celina wasn’t a prude, but neither was she promiscuous. She wanted to do more than just kiss him and hold his hands. However, if her parents found about that, not only would her father castrate Jake, her mother would beat him down, followed by her siblings. Still they had an undeniable chemistry with each other. Why deny themselves the pleasures of the flesh?



It wasn’t like they were children, she thought as she was out walking down the side of the road, heading towards the general store. She told her parents that she would be back in a few hours, definitely by dinner time. It was only 11:00 a.m., and already she had a light sheen of sweat against her back. So wrapped up in her thoughts was Celina that she hadn’t even noticed her boyfriend pull up next to her. He had pulled his vintage red 77’ Bronco unto the shoulder of the road. She smiled shyly at him, hopping into the passenger seat. They kissed briefly, but in that moment, Celina felt like she was in heaven. She pulled back from him then, embarrassed that her cheeks were stained a ruddy hue. For all her bravado, Celina still was a silly schoolgirl in front of him. He cupped her chin gently, his own cheeks just as red as hers. Celina buckled her seatbelt and then realized something was out of place.



“Jake shouldn’t you have an adult with you in the car. You have you learner’s permit, but you do not have a full license yet.”



He shrugged nonchalantly, driving comfortably down the road. His free arm unconsciously wound around her shoulders, bringing her closer to him. Celina was briefly glad that the vehicle didn’t have bucket seats. There was ample room for them to snuggle now.



“Celina, this is the deep south. We’re talking BainsbridgeGeorgia! This is the norm for us country folk so get used to it. Geeze, you’ve been living here for almost four years now. I would think you’d have adapted by now.”



Celina crossed her arms cutely, and punched him lightly on the arm. Jake grinned at her perceived anger. Even annoyed, Celina was too cute for her own good. Celina then noticed that they were driving down an unfamiliar road. In fact, she lost track of the highway a few minutes ago. She was suddenly starting to get very, very nervous. Where were they going?



“Where are you taking me?” She voiced aloud, unconsciously drawing herself closer to him. She didn’t like that the area was so wooded and that the road was lush and didn’t look well traveled. They passed a ‘private property’ sign a few miles back and what looked to be a few rusty mailboxes.



“Relax, Celina I’ve got a surprise. It’s something that I have been meaning to show you.”



He grinned, squeezing her hand gently as he pulled up into a driveway. What Celina saw then floored her. Amidst the deep woods, and underneath a canopy was a beautifully medium sized cabin. It was complete with a satellite TV, a small garden, and there was a tiny pond to fish in out back. Jake led her inside, placing his hands over her eyes like an excited parent about to reveal a special gift for a child. When he removed her hands, Celina’s eyes widened at what she saw.



Inside the den, Jake had set up brunch for two. The room was dim, but Celina could faintly make out the meal he’d prepared. Walking further into the room, she could see a few VHS tapes were neatly stacked on an end table, and a Playstation plugged up into the television. Jake led her around the cabin, briefly showcasing the nicely decorated rooms of the house. They both blushed when they came upon the bedroom.



“What is all this Jake?”



Celina asked, plopping down on the comfortable couch. Jake leaned over her, wrapping his arms around her from behind. She could feel him smile as he she sighed happily. Suddenly she felt herself being pulled against him. She wished that they could stay like this forever, in one another’s sweet embrace. Since that was not possible she would take this moment and cherish it in her heart forever.



“This is the product of three weeks of hard work. I asked my manager for the day off, and I got some help from my brother. Basically, I wanted to do something nice for you. We never get to do anything together. I just wanted an afternoon where I could have you all to myself.”



“Thanks Jake, that’s really sweet of you. It’s nice to be alone once in awhile with no parents, siblings, or friends getting in the way.”



She meant it too. It really was pleasant to share each other’s company without interlopers ruining everything. If it wasn’t her mother’s constant teasing, or his father’s lame jokes they would blush around each other every five minutes. She sat up then, determined to enjoy this date her boyfriend had arranged.



“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get started! I’ve been meaning to kick your ass at Tekken anyway. It’s about time someone brought you down a notch, country boy!”



Celina teased sticking her tongue out at him. Jake tackled her to the ground, frowning as her giggling continued. He decided the best tactic in this situation was his fail safe. Tickling. Tickling Celina Thompson was the best way to end an argument with the girl because of her ticklish nature. She swatted his hands away but to no avail. He straddled her then, tickling her for all she was worth. His hands gently pushed her arms into the carpet, and he caught her gaze. Nothing was spoken in that instant, for their eyes were locked one another.



As their eyes met, Celina no longer thought about video games, but had her feelings on more important issues. Jakes lips were not nearly as full as hers, but she still longed to have them covering hers. He had stopped tickling her then, and Celina could swear that her heart was beating faster and louder than never before. Jake’s hands released her wrists, and instead moved to her side. He looked embarrassed, but at the same time, very certain of something.



Jake leaned down closer to her, so close that their noses were touching. His mouth captured hers hungrily as hers arms wrapped around his neck eagerly. She could hear him moaning as they kissed and she returned his passion with eager fervor. His arms wrapped possessively around her waist, and she could feel them moving lower and lower. Celina squeaked when his hands found and cupped her rear. He pulled himself into a sitting position against the sofa, pulling her against his chest.



Jake damned the friction against his jeans, hoping that his girlfriend didn’t feel or see his reaction to her ministrations. Her hands were gripping his shirt tightly, and he himself was nearly out of breath from their play. His hands were already moving to remove the buttons from her blouse. Her hands stopped his movement. Jake opened to mouth to protest but silenced by her tongue. She pulled his hands from her shirt warily. Sighing in understanding, he released her so that she could get up.



“It’s not that I don’t want to, you understand,” Celina explained, arranging her clothes back into some semblance of order. “It’s just that we’re only fiftee, you know? I’m just not ready for that yet.”



Her back was against him, and with her shoulders hunched he could tell she was waiting to hear his reaction. He sidled up behind her, wrapping his arms around her. She relaxed considerably when he rested his chin against the nape of her neck. Jake held her gently but firmly in his embrace.



“You realize that I would never force you to do something that you are uncomfortable with,” He whispered in her ear, whirling her around to face him. “I love you, and I would never want to give you reason to not trust me.”



“I do understand. I didn’t mean to lead you on.”



Jake scoffed at that, mussing her hair up a bit. She slapped his hands away, straightening her hair out. She frowned at his actions, refusing to give in to his puppy eyes.



“Jakob Collier, do you have -any- idea how long it took my mom to cornrow my hair? You should know better than to mess with a black woman’s hair!”



Jake rolled his eyes, intent on droning his girlfriend’s lecture out. Hair was hair, despite what race a woman was, it wasn’t a big deal. Of course, his big sister Rhonda and his mother got mad whenever he or his father and brother would accidentally muss it up. Still, what difference was her hair from his mother or sister’s? Aiming to prove his theory correct, Jake pulled on a thick, long plait, earning a curse of pain from the girl in front of him.



Now came the part Jake loved best about arguing with Celina. Her face would light up, and her perfectly arched brows would draw together in annoyance. She would place her hands on her hips, legs slightly apart and fists clenched. She tackled him roughly to the floor, peppering him with light smacks all over his chest and arms. (She predictably left his face alone, most likely because it was no fun to make out with a guy covered with bruises on his face.)



“Are you about done yet, Celina?”



She frowned at his comment, but remained straddled atop him. Jake looked in her eyes, and then at the position they were in with a smirk on his face. Celina blushed at his implications, and immediately hopped off of him. He couldn’t help but grin at her mortification.



“Don’t be so hasty Celina, I wouldn’t mind if you tackled me all night.”



“It won’t be happening again, because you are such a pervert!”



“Hey that’s not fair. We’re going out, so all of this is natural. Besides, you wouldn’t deprive a guy as sexy as me of your romantic attentions would you?



“Humph! You’re not -that- sexy. Anyway, let’s get on with this date already. We’re burning daylight as it is.”



She gave him a genuine smile then, beckoning him to the couch so they could enjoy the wonderful set up he had created. All thoughts of their brief fight left their minds as they turned their attentions to the video game in front of them. If this was what being in love meant, she could definitely get used to it. It was a shame that no one was there to tell her that love was never easy, and that love could be unkind.