Dahlia

Official

Kal sat down on the couch at Dahlia and Cortez’s house. She had her cell phone in her hand debating on whether she was going to call her mother or not. It had been about a month since she arrived in New York and her mother didn’t call one time. She hadn’t told her where she was going. Obviously she didn’t care, so why should Kalmia? She was doing well without her mother and she had been shown more love by Dahlia and Cortez in a month than she had been shown by her mother, stepfather and sister her entire life. Kal was in the process of looking for her own apartment, even though Dahlia and Cortez told her she could stay as long as she liked. She gave them money for groceries every week and she insisted on paying half of the cable bill but Cortez wouldn’t hear of it. She had gotten a job at the Coldstone Creamery Ice Cream Parlor on 42nd Street. She was making all kinds of new friends and she loved it. For the first time in her life she felt free. Free of her stepfather’s demands, free of her mothers denial and free of her little sister’s superior attitude. It was a brand new life for her. Even though she was loving her new life, she was at war with herself. She tried so hard to get Buckey out of her head. She didn’t want to get her hopes up with him but she couldn’t get him off of her mind.  She really wanted Buckey to notice her and it annoyed her. She didn’t think he paid any attention though. He talked to her sometimes but it seemed as if he were just being polite. He would say nice things to her but she refused to get excited. She thought that maybe he liked her until about two weeks ago when she went to meet Tania at the school. She went into the chill spot waiting for Tania to come down from class and she saw another girl all up in Buckey’s face. He was smiling and joking with her and they looked really happy. They looked like the perfect couple. Kal was a plain Jane and Buckey needed a fashionista. Kal’s heart sank. “Man,” She thought. “I knew he was just too good to be true.”After that she convinced herself that he wasn’t interested in her. As she absent mindedly played a game on her phone,  Buckey walked in the front door. She snapped her head up and smiled when she saw him. 

When Buckey walked in the house he saw Kal sitting on the couch. “Damn she fine.” He thought. “Hey beautiful.” He said to her. He sat down next to her. “What the hell am I about to do?” He thought to himself. He had practiced this over and over before he left his house. “Listen,” He said turning towards her. “I know this may seem a little forward but I am really digging you.” “I was just wondering if maybe…you know you could… go out with me.” “That is, be my girlfriend.” He watched nervously as Kal sat across from him with a blank look on her face. “Oh, shit.” He thought. “I missed the signs.” “Maybe she wasn’t interested.” What he didn’t realize was that she couldn’t get yes out of her mouth fast enough. “Ummm” she stuttered. “Ummmm…” Buckey felt himself starting to look nervous when she leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips. Buckey was stunned.  

The normally shy and reserved Kal leaned back and stared at him.  He was completely shocked and he looked at her for what seemed like a long time. Then as if they were drawn to each other both of them leaned forward and kissed again. Buckey felt light headed. Sure he had been with a whole bunch of different girls before but when he kissed Kal it felt right. It was as if the entire world was in harmony. Only the two of them existed. Only the two of them mattered. This just felt right. They both felt wanted, needed. It was a different feeling than he had ever had before. The kissing became more and more intense. Buckey laid her down on the couch and continued kissing her. He ran his hands through her soft curls tenderly and touched her face. They were so engrossed with each other that they didn’t hear Cortez coming out of his bedroom. As he walked towards the kitchen he saw the couple on the couch. “YOOOOOO!” he said laughing hysterically. Dahlia was three steps behind him. “Baby, what’s so funny?” Cortez pointed at Buckey and Kal as they quickly sat up and tried to straighten themselves up. Dahlia put her hands on her hips. “And just what is going on out here?” She said in her best motherly tone of voice. Buckey stood up. “Umm I was just helping Kal find her uhhh… her earring!” “Yeah, that’s it.” “I was helping her find her earring.” “Look here it is Kal.” Kal’s face turned beet red as she looked over at Cortez and Dahlia. Dahlia enjoyed every minute of this. “Buckey just what are your intentions with my cousin here?” Cortez pulled Dahlia close to him and wrapped his arms around her. “Yes Bernardo, what are your intentions?” Cortez said, trying his best not to burst into laughter. “Well,” Buckey started. “Kal and I are now officially a couple.” Dahlia smiled. “Good, that’s what I was hoping you would say.” “Carry on.” Dahlia dragged Cortez back into their bedroom. Kal held on to Buckey’s hand. “So, we’re officially a couple?” She asked softly. He leaned over and kissed her lips. “Official baby.” She smiled and laid her head on his shoulder. 

Later that night, Buckey, Kalmia, Dahlia and Cortez decided to go out on a double date to celebrate. There was nothing like spring time in Manhattan. Not only were they celebrating Buckey and Kal finally becoming a couple, they were also celebrating the court’s decision to give joint custody of Demetrius to Cortez. The scenery was breathtaking. The skyscrapers were all lit up and the sounds and smells of New York City were intoxicating. Buckey walked hand in hand with Kal feeling proud. Since she was new to New York he wanted to walk around downtown for a bit before they picked a restaurant to give Kal a feel for the city. She worked on 42nd Street so they decided to go a bit more downtown to the 34th street area, near Madison Square Garden. They decided to go to BeeBeeCee’s in Manhattan. Buckey couldn’t keep his eyes or hands off of Kal. She looked so gorgeous without even trying. Tonight for dinner her hair was bone straight and pulled up into a tight bun. She wore just a little bit of black eye liner that set off her light eyes and some mascara over her naturally long eyelashes. Her simple black sleeveless romper was paired with a simple denim jacket and some open toed sandals. Buckey chose to wear his long hair in two braids. He effortlessly complimented Kal with a red Ralph Lauren polo shirt, black jeans and red and black retro Jordan 11’s. Dahlia also looked stunning this evening. She chose to wear a mauve bodycon maxi dress with short sleeves. She had a cropped flannel shirt tied around her waist in case she got cold. On her feet she wore brown strappy sandals. She had two french braids in her hair with her baby hairs poppin’.  They stopped right at the bottom of her neck. Cortez met them downtown after work so he was wearing his work uniform which was a black Polo shirt, black denim jeans and black Timberland boots. As the couples were walking around the city Buckey and Cortez’s ladies were earning admiring looks and Buckey loved every second of people admiring Kal. He loved it because he knew that they could look but they couldn’t get. Kal was his and he was going to spend his life loving and caring for  

The couples spent a carefree evening together eating, drinking and enjoying each other’s company. After dinner they walked around the city for a few more hours. Buckey couldn’t remember the last time he felt so at peace with his life. Even though he had only known Kal for a short time she made him want to do anything and everything he could to give her the world. He didn’t know much about her family story except that it was similar to Dahlia’s. It was that night that he decided to do his best to make Kal and Dahlia feel accepted and loved as a part of he and Cortez’s family. Buckey vowed that the two of them would never feel alone again on his watch.