FOR YOU

ED is a DJ!

"Mom, you haven't been going to work for a week now. Is there a problem?" I ask my mom as we have dinner. She’s been sewing all week, even though she’s a teacher. The only time I see her at home this long is when schools are closed, and the last I checked, schools have been reopened for barely a month.

"Nothing to worry about, baby. I just wanted a break to spend time with my two cute babies," she says, holding Gerald, my little brother, by the chin. He just smiles and continues to dig into his food.

"Mom, I know you. You never take breaks from work, and you're a damn workaholic. So just tell me what the hell is going on!" I stop eating. I can see in her eyes that she’s lying.

"Priscilla, how many times do I have to tell you to stop cursing in front of your brother?"

"I'm sorry, Mom. Sorry, Ger. Why don't you go and do your homework? I'll come check on you." I'm addressing the little boy. He carries his plate to the kitchen and runs to his room.

"Okay, Mom, please tell me what is going on," I ask once Ger is gone.

"I said nothing to worry about, young lady." That's her usual line to get out of a situation.

"Come on, Mom. We can't be going down this road again. What did you do this time?"

"I did nothing, baby. That principal just thought he could fire me because I threatened to tell his wife about our affair if he didn't make me his deputy," she says, raising her voice.

"Shh, Gerald's room isn't that far away, you know. What the hell, Mom! You were screwing the principal?" She never ceases to amaze me when it comes to misbehaving.

"Well, do you think my salary would have been enough to take care of the two of you? Priscilla, you've just completed your high school. I needed the money to pay for your final exams."

"Why do you always use us as an excuse for doing uncouth things?" I’m so angry that I feel my tears start to fall.

"Because that father of yours abandoned me with all these responsibilities. I want you kids to have a better life, but my salary can't provide that." She’s crying. Anytime she brings up that topic, she ends up crying and nagging all night. I’m not ready for any of that.

"You know what, Mom? I can't do this right now. I'm out of here," I say as I stand up and grab my phone.

"Where do you think you're going at this time of night, young lady?"

"I'll be at Julia's. You need to calm yourself down. I'm so tired of going through this over and over again." I put on my shoes and head for the bus stop. I can hear her shouting curses, ordering me to come back.

I just don't understand her. I know my dad abandoned us eight years ago, but my mom always gets herself into compromising situations in his name.

As I approach Julia's luxurious home, I can hear laughter and music from inside. How I wish I had a family like that. I ring the doorbell, and Julia comes to open it.

"Sup, gal? You didn't tell me you'd be coming over." That's the first thing she says when she sees me.

"I know, I'm so sorry. It's just that my mom..." I can’t finish the sentence; I'm already in tears.

"Are you okay, gal? Please come in and have a seat. Do you need something? Coffee, perhaps?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you."

Julia is this rich kid. She has it all: money, caring parents, and a famous boyfriend. But one thing I love about her is how she stuck by me when our lives changed from rich to just surviving. She’s always been the friend I could run to. When I enter the house, I see Luke is also there.

"Hey, Pree."

"Hi."

"You okay?" he asks as he comes to give me a hug.

"Yeah, I am." I lie.

"You sure?" he asks once more.

"She is, baby. Come on, let her sit down. I'll get something for her, and don't you dare disturb her." Julia heads to the kitchen.

"Hey, Pretty Face, are you okay?" What the hell is Adrian doing here? At Julia's home?

"Adrian?" I call out his name as I lift my head to look at the tall boy dressed in dark blue jeans, a sky-blue shirt, and a black leather jacket.

"Yeah, that's me," he says with a smile. For once, I notice how beautiful his smile is. Why hadn't I noticed that before?

"Don't tell me you guys know each other," I say, shocked. Then I realize Luke is the mutual friend Adrian was talking about. "Luke, you gave him my number? And why did the drummer at the concert throw the drumsticks at us? Did you plan this?" I ask Luke, standing up and getting angry.

"Yes, I gave him your number. But about the drumsticks, that was a coincidence. You think I would do something like that to you on purpose, Pree?" He tries to calm me down by making me sit again.

"Adrian, why didn't you tell me you knew Luke?" I ask the tall guy standing in front of me, not knowing what to think next.

"I did tell you; you just didn't take it seriously," he says.

"Here you go, gal." Julia hands me a cup of coffee and sits next to me. "Ed, are you going to sit down, or are you going to stand there like a tree just because you saw a pretty girl?"

"Ed?"

"Yeah, short for Adrian. Oh, by the way, this is Adrian. Ed, this is Priscilla, my best friend." Julia introduces us, apparently unaware that we know each other.

"We kind of do know each other. He is my other pair from the concert," I tell her.

"You do? Oh my God, what a coincidence?" she screams.

I don't know why she's so obsessed with screaming.

"Yes, it is," says Adrian.

"We were planning to go out. Come with us, Pree," Luke suggests.

"No, I'll just head home," I tell them as I stand to leave.

"Come on, gal. It wouldn't be best if you went home. Let's go out and relax your mind. Besides, Adrian will be performing today, and it would be nice if you were there," Julia tells me. I wonder if Adrian is also a band singer like Luke; I mean, they are friends, apparently.

"I don't know, guys, but I guess a little fun will be good," I say, and I can see Adrian smile.

"Nice. Baby, come with me upstairs," Julia says as she drags Luke to her room.

"So, you sing too?" I ask Adrian once they leave.

"Not really, I'm more of a decks person. I'm a DJ," he says.

"You are?"

"Yeah, so I have performances at times, and I DJ for Luke's band," he says.

"Wow, that's nice."

"Thank you."

"Did you expect to catch the drumstick at the concert?" I ask him after an awkward silence.

"Not at all."

Talking to him makes me realize he isn't such a bad guy.

"Okay, let's go, guys," Julia shouts as they come down the stairs.

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