Darius & Chayla - A Change of Clothes

This teaser picks up right where we left from the last one. Now that Chayla has a ride to school with Darius, she must decide what to wear. No reason in particular. Enjoy.

I hovered over the keys on my phone, debating whether or not to give him my address. But he needed it in order to pick me up. However, I didn’t want my mom to see a big, black 4 x 4 pulling up in front of the house. 

Just as I was about to text him my concerns he texted first

I’ll pull up a ways away. So no one sees me. 

Ok

I heaved a sigh of relief until something heavy settled in the pit of my stomach. Why did him pulling up a block away make me feel sad? I mean, I didn’t want my mom to see him, hell, I didn’t want her to even know he existed. Did that make me guilty? Okay, yes, but that wasn’t the feeling I was feeling. I couldn’t quite place it. 

Having only a small window of time before his arrival, I shook it off and began loading my books into my backpack. I grabbed my Statistics book, then English, plus the Grammar workbook, Biology II, and U.S History. I could already hear my back breaking but I wasn’t done yet. Then my tablet for the paper, plus my 3-ring Binder, although Ms. Robinson said I could take notes on the tablet, since it was for school. The tablet was encrypted and the school would wipe it clean once I got done with it. I should take the suggestion so I wouldn’t have to lug around this giant binder. 

All done packing, I turned to the mirror hanging on my closet door and gave myself a once over. I had on the usual wear for me, a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt and of course my Crocs. They were so comfortable, why would I wear anything else? However, I also realized I looked like one of the old ladies power walking around the mall. Comfort was important but maybe a little flare to the look wouldn’t hurt. Not like I was trying to impress anyone or anything. This was just a touchup to the look. 

I peered in my closet to see what I could pair with the ensemble and I hated everything. All my clothes looked like I was in a retirement community. I wouldn’t be able to shop until after school and Trina and I weren’t speaking, so I couldn’t ask her. I’d have to just go in what I was wearing. Besides, he’d already seen me in this getup before and he wasn’t deterred, why change it now? 

Then at the last minute I changed my mind and my shirt. Ripping my sweatshirt over my head, I slammed my closet door open and threw every shirt I could grab onto my bed. I swiveled around, surveying the mess before and immediately said not to anything white, stripped, and baby colored. Then I narrowed down my choices between solid, patterned, and shirts with designs on it. I struck the designed shirts because they seemed childish. I also decided to toss out the patterned ones as well because they made my body shape even weirder. And so I settled for a plain black Polo with colored stripes around the collar and sleeve cuffs. It’d have to do. 

Suddenly my phone buzzed and Darius was calling me. I ignored the call and texted 

On my way 

I grabbed my sweatshirt, just in case and my backpack, rushing like a bat of hell, bypassing my mom in the kitchen, barely uttering a word goodbye before flying out the front door.