VELVET RED: BEGINNING

NOA: We always say that crushes are meant to be simple feelings. Small infatuations that will disappear and disclose themselves.Not until I set my eyes upon this creature.......... Today, he will pass by our house and cross the street to his place. I have myself set at my bedroom window, ready to gaze at him as I always do. I have had a great liking for Gray since I could remember and I have had my eye on him since then. It was at a restaurant where I was holding my sixth birthday and my mom had invited him and his mom. I was so amazed by his difference from all the other boys in the room and I liked him right away. But all I could do was gaze at him , not a word came from my mouth and, since I have wished to be close to him. The car approaches. It's an old school Lincoln, black in color. It's got new tires and I will tell you that he is from the mechanic's place. As usual , I take a snap of that. Then , the passenger door opens and Mrs. Jackson , his mom sashays out of the car. She is a tall , ebony-skinned lady with curves in all the right places. She is a model and a successful entrepreneur. She doesn't wait for her son, she just goes into the house. Then , he comes out. The reason for all this. Like paparazzi, I start to snap photos like my life expenses depend on this. As usual , he seems all serious, something so gorgeous about his pose. He moves to the boot and picks out his gym bag before shutting it. As he turns around to go , his eyes linger upon mine up within my bedroom window. I feel a surge of energy go through me and I lose balance , falling on my back. I feel so excited. "Is there a stampede in here or what?" I hear my mom ask as she enters my room. "Can't you knock?" I ask her. "What are you doin' on the damn floor?" " Just thinking." "Are you for real? Get your ass off of that floor and get ready for dinner. Your dad is home." My mom is a true definition of a black woman. She's got that accent that kills me and her vocabulary mm-hmm. She loves us though she never wants to show it and I love that about her. I slipped into the dining room , where everyone is already seated waiting on me. "Can't you ever be like those other girls, punctual, responsible and dressed appropriately? Look at yourself your sweatpants, buggy shirts, messy hair. You look like s**t if you never knew." "Leave her alone Derrick. She is just finding herself." "You never looked like her." "But you were a wreck like she is. It's just a faze, remember!" My dad wants me to be like everyone else. I hate it.He wants me to wear like those bullies in all High school movies that we hate so much. Short skirts, skinny jeans, long wavy hair , painted lips and make-up, eew. "Its not in my house. She should wear clothes appropriately in my house." I feel so angry and head into my room.I stand at my bedroom window hoping to see Gray again. I see him but he is taking out the trash. He crosses the street towards my neighbor's place.Casey Beatrice, his supposed girlfriend. He enters her house, which is next to ours, and the usual stuff. Every day , at around this time , they make out in her bedroom , which is across mine. Casey is a local pageant queen. She is in no way like me. She is a tall slim girl with thick brown hair and beautiful coffee-brown skin, unlike me, who is chocolate brown with messy curly hair. She looks so organized and that is why she has him.We are two different worlds all craving one thing, a man.