Four friends—Lena, who is engaged to a basketball superstar; Denise, who is hoping that she will be the first in her family to graduate college; Freedom, who lives up to her name; and Carmen, who needs to work on her self-esteem—lean on each other during their days at Freedom University.
Release date:
May 1, 2011
Publisher:
Urban Books
Print pages:
368
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Denise put on her shades and relaxed in the backseat of her best friend’s Explorer. As soon as the girl gave her the look, Denise knew it was time to get out of the truck. She stepped out and scanned the college campus; it seemed to look smaller every year.
Sounds of the latest hip-hop jam blared through the large speakers that the local hip-hop station had set up in front of the Student Center. Sorority women strolled to the songs, throwing up their hand signs, while fraternity men yelled their frat calls. Anxious people watched, some dreaming of the day they would be in the middle of the lines.
“Damn,” Denise said as the passenger door hit her on her back.
“My bad, Dee. Didn’t mean to hit you.” Lauren smiled as she hopped out of the truck.
“Um . . .” Denise said, pointing to Lauren’s twisted skirt. “You might want to fix that.”
Lauren blushed. “Damn,” she said, adjusting her skirt. She pulled on her shirt to make sure it was in place as well. “Tell Cooley I will see her later.”
Denise watched the young girl switch away. She shook her head. “Will you never learn?”
“Learn what?” Cooley said, jumping out of the driver’s side. “I didn’t do shit.” The grin on her face instantly let Denise know she was lying.
“We been on campus like thirty minutes and you already fuckin’.”
“Wait, I did not fuck her.”
“Then why does your car smell like pussy? Let me get my shit outta there. It bet not smell like pussy.”
Cooley sniffed, realizing that the aroma of Lauren was still lurking in the air. She grabbed a small bottle and began to Febreze her car.
Denise leaned against her friend’s SUV. She watched people pile onto the campus in their mini vans, trucks and U-Haul trailers, bringing unnecessary luxuries to fill their new residence for the year. She laughed at the sight of stressed parents, some eager to drop off their freshmen, others sad to say good-bye.
“Man, was we this excited when we moved in three years ago?” Denise asked her friend Cooley, who was now concentrating on brushing her hair in her mirror. She had to make sure every wave was laid to perfection.
“Hell naw,” Cooley replied as she placed a do-rag on her head. She took her fitted baseball cap and put it on top, and leaned it to the side.
Cooley ran her index finger across her slightly arched eyebrows. Her naturally grey eyes had a slight slant to them. One look from those soft grey eyes made women weak.
“We were chill-type niggas.” Cooley took a step back to check the rest of her look. Her white Sean Jean shirt hung just right on her toned five foot seven inch frame. “Besides, I been dating chicks up here since I was in the eleventh grade. Shiiiit. I came to the school prepared to be a guide.”
“Excuse me, sir, are you about to leave that spot?” a man in a minivan asked Cooley.
“No, sir, but there are some spots still in the parking . . .”
Denise watched the man’s facial expression change at the sound of Cooley’s voice. He peeled off without hearing the rest of Cooley’s advice.
“Well, damn.” Cooley shrugged her shoulders.
“Don’t act new. You know that dude thought you were a guy.” Denise laughed. “Your high-ass voice gets them every time.”
“Well, I really don’t care ’cause I’m still a sexy muthafucka.” Cooley snapped her hand like a flamboyant gay man.
Denise couldn’t do anything but shake her head.
“So what’s up, bruh? You ready to get up on some of this fresh meat this year wit me?” Cooley asked Dee as she scanned the crowd for fine female conquests.
“You already know the answer to that,” Denise said, brushing some dust off of her new Air Force Ones. “I am just ready to get the fuck up out of here.”
“You act like yo’ ass ain’t gone graduate if you get some pussy. Shit, I’ll be glad when your high-yellow ass snaps out of this funk and has some fun again. I know I am.” Cooley grinned.
“Well, excuse the fuck out of me for not having the sponge brain you have. I have to study to pass. I don’t have time to chase behind these girls.”
“There’s always time to chase tail.”
“I’ll leave that to you.” Dee was interrupted by Cooley’s phone ringing.
“What’s up, baby? What’s the deal?” Cooley answered her phone.
Cooley was a lady charmer and more importantly, a lady pleaser. She didn’t have time for sports or anything else that took away from her time with individuals of the same sex. She was all about feminine women—femmes. She would never date another stud, because she had to be the only one close to being a male in the relationship. She considered every femme a challenge, and her goal in life was to meet every challenge with a smile and good conversation. Cooley learned a long time ago that words could be used for more than just writing; instead, she’d become a master at using words to make femmes surrender.
“Okay, baby, I’ll get wit you a li’l lata. I’m wit my boy right now and we about to chill for a minute,” Cooley said, trying to end the conversation. “Man, that girl is jockin’ my strap too tough. I gave her ass some and she act like she can’t live without a nigga,” Cooley commented as she closed her Sidekick, which she immediately reopened to answer a text message from another one of her admirers.
“See, that right there is what I am talking about. Drama. Damn, speaking of drama . . .” Denise noticed two girls walking toward them. She sighed. She didn’t know if the girls’ gold teeth or blond hair bothered her more.
“Dee, Cooley, what’s up? I was hoping to see you all this year,” one of the girls said.
“What’s up, Laquisha? Hey, Keyshia. Y’all knew we was coming back,” Cooley said.
“Well, you never know. Cooley, you are looking damn good, boo. What’s up with you?”
“You know how I do it, Quish.” Cooley winked her eye.
Denise had to laugh.
“So, Dee, you taking us to the Nationals, right?” Keyshia asked.
“Hopefully,” Denise said, keeping the conversation as brief as possible.
“So, Dee, you know I have seen you play. You be so intense. You know I give great back rubs, if you are ever sore after a game. If you ever need one, you should stop by my room.” Keyshia rubbed her hand down Denise’s arm. “Maybe you can teach me some skills too, maybe how to do a lay up?”
“You want my bruh to teach you a lay up, or you want to lay up with my bruh?” Cooley joked.
Keyshia hit her on her arm. “Fuck you, Cooley,” Keyshia replied as she turned back to Denise. “On the real, it can be both,” she whispered to her.
“Yeaaaahhh, okay.” Denise walked off toward the U.C.
“So, we gonna get at y’all later,” Cooley said, walking to catch up to Denise. “Damn, Dee, you don’t have to be so damn snobbish.”
“I am not snobbish.”
“You was being a snob back there.”
“No, I was acting uninterested, which was being real, not snobbish.”
“Maybe you should give Keyshia a chance. She is not that bad and she’s been tryin’ to get at you for a while.”
“Tell her to stop trying,” Denise said. “Wait, didn’t you fuck Keyshia and Laquisha?”
Cooley smiled. “Well, I fucked Keyshia. I almost fucked Laquisha, but hell no, I couldn’t do it.”
Denise looked at her friend. “Why not?”
“Man, that bitch was too fuckin’ open. She wanted me to fist her.”
“Shut the fuck up!” Denise laughed. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. I couldn’t do it. And as far as Keyshia goes, ain’t no fun if my homey can’t have none.” Cooley laughed.
“See, man, it’s that attitude that gets you in all the drama you have now. Thanks, but no thanks.”
“See. How the hell we get on me? We were talking about yo’ ass and why you keep actin’ like a stuck-up snob. I personally think lack of sex is the reason you’re so uptight.”
“Whatever . . .”
“You know I am right. Man, you haven’t been with anyone since Crystal.”
Denise didn’t respond. The subject of Crystal was still a sore spot for her.
“See, look, you thinkin’ ’bout her right now. That was freshman year; you a junior now. You need to get some new pussy.”
“The only thing I need to do is graduate and get the fuck up out of Memphis. Women are drama. Hell, look at you.”
“What about me?”
Denise gave Cooley a sarcastic look. She loved her best friend, but she couldn’t count how much drama Cooley had last year alone.
“Look, man, if the right girl comes along then I will take care of business, but I am not looking to fuck around like I’m in high school. I almost let a girl ruin my damn life and I am not about to go through that again.”
“That’s your problem, Dee. You get too attached. You always want relationships and shit. Fuck that. You need to learn how to fuck ’em and send ’em home.”
“And, like I said, that’s why you have the drama you have now.”
“Whatever—DAAAAAAMN!”
Denise turned around to see what had caught Cooley’s eye. Her eyes quickly caught the attention of the sleek black Mercedes. The door opened, and a fine girl stepped out. Denise felt goose bumps cover her body at the sight of the woman.
“Damn, now that right there is wifey material!” Cooley said.
Denise studied the curves of the woman. Her body was calling Denise’s name; she wanted to answer. The woman had a body unlike any other. Her blue velour Juicy Couture jumpsuit was fitting in all the right places. The word Juicy written across the butt of the pants described her perfectly.
“Damn! Man, I am going to get that before the year is out-—fuck that, before the semester is out,” Cooley said snapping Denise out of her trance.
“Damn,” Denise said, still amazed by the vision.
Cooley looked at Denise. “Aww shit! Now that’s what I’m talking about. My bruh still has a pulse after all. Fuck it; you can have first dibs at her. But if you don’t handle ya biz, I’m a get her.”
“Shut up, man,” Denise said as she continued to walk. “A girl like that has to be straight, probably got a man and is completely out of my league. Hell, look at that Mercedes. I don’t even have a car.”
“I see the more I teach you, the dumber you get. Them rich girls love gutta muthas like us. And I don’t give a fuck about her being straight. Fuck her man and her sexual preference. It ain’t gon’ mean nothin’ when I get holda that.”
“See, Cool, that is what had your ass hiding in my room last year from that psycho bitch you turned out. You need to leave those straight girls alone.”
“I’ll leave the straight girls alone when you finally give a girl, hell, any girl some play.”
“Then I might just have to give a girl some play.” Denise glanced back at the sexy girl, wondering if she would ever see her again.
Lena admired her dormitory. She felt a sense of pride, knowing that her mother stayed in the same dorm. She was finally excited to be in a new city and a new place, and surrounded by her own people for a change.
“Excuse me, miss.” Two men sporting fraternity shirts walked up to her. “Me and my frat were wondering if we could help you with your bags.”
“Aww, that is so sweet, but this is the only bag I have.” Lena flashed her beautiful smile.
“Well, my name is Tony, and personally I don’t think a woman as beautiful as you should have to lift a finger.”
“Well, if I didn’t lift a finger I may not be as beautiful.” Lena smiled; she was used to men flirting with her.
“I truly doubt that,” Tony said. “Can I walk you to your dorm?”
“Actually, my boyfriend will be here in a few minutes, but thank you anyway.”
Tony looked at the other guy. “See, frat, I told you a woman as fine as her had to have someone.” Tony handed Lena a flyer. “Well, tell ya man he better keep a better eye on his treasure before someone steals it. Hope to see you at the jam tonight.”
Lena smiled. “Thank you, Tony.” She walked off. She knew their eyes were fixated on the Juicy logo on her butt, so she put an extra switch in her step, just to play with them.
“He better watch his treasure!” Tony yelled as Lena continued to walk.
Lena laughed and headed into the dorm. She opened the doors of the dormitory. The lobby was filled with parents and students trying to get situated. She looked around at all the women sitting around on the chairs and couches. Some were still trying to get their keys and sign up for appliances. A few girls stared at her; she smiled, and they rolled their eyes. Lena sighed. She hated when women prejudged her.
Lena noticed a picture on the wall. She admired the picture of her mother. She hoped it didn’t get out too quickly that the dorm was named after her mother.
“Um, excuse me, but will you marry me?”
The sound of the deep voice caused chills to run down Lena’s spine. “I’m sorry, but I am already spoken for.” She turned around and smiled.
“That’s good to know.” Brandon smiled back.
Lena threw her arms around him and gave him a sensual kiss. She could hear the girls’ faces breaking with envy.
“Hey, shorty.”
“Hey, baby.” Lena noticed a few of the onlookers. Girls, who obviously knew who he was—stared. Brandon Redding was every woman’s dream. Six-foot-six, dark and handsome, and the fact that he was the basketball team’s superstar made him even more desirable than he already was. Girls became wet when they saw him, all hoping to fuck their way into the wife position. It made Lena smile to know that position belonged to her, and she held it four years running. She would one day wear his ring and be his wife.
“Baby, get my bag.” She turned around and bent down, making sure that he got a clear view of the Juicy logo on her butt. She knew she had a perfect body. She worked hard to maintain her flat stomach, great abs and an ass that would be perfect for an Apple Bottom ad. Her breasts were a perky C cup; she was what all the men would call a true “silver dollar.” She was the one they sung about in their songs. She had even been asked to be in a few music videos, but that wasn’t her thing.
On top of a great body, she had a unique face, long, wavy, chemical-free hair that was all hers, big pretty brown eyes, and a smile that could always get her out of any trouble. She was a ten and she knew it. All the other women knew so too. That’s why she didn’t have very many female friends, especially black friends.
“Hey, Brandon.” Two girls walked up to them as they waited on the elevator. “You gonna take us all the way this year.”
Lena tried to hold her anger back as the short girl flirted with Brandon.
“Well, I am going to try to,” Brandon said as they got on the elevator. The two girls joined them.
“Well, I can’t wait to watch you play. I really, really enjoy watching you.”
“Dig that then.”
Lena felt her anger making it to a boiling point. She put her arm around Brandon, hoping the girls would get the hint, but they ignored it.
“Well, um, if you need anything, my name is Coral, and I am in room 332.”
Lena squeezed her arm tighter around Brandon. “I doubt that will be necessary. After all, he has me.” She threw them a fake smile.
The girls rolled their eyes as the elevator opened. “Fake-ass bitch.”
Brandon grabbed Lena before she jumped off the elevator after them.
“Baby, fuck them.” Brandon kissed her on her forehead.
“I knew this shit was going to happen. Black bitches.”
“You know white girls do it too,” Brandon said as they got off on the fourth floor.
“It’s different. Black girls are bold as hell. They hate me for being rich, pretty, and having you. I bet I don’t make any friends this year,” Lena whined.
“Baby, don’t say that. I am sure you are going to make a lot of friends. You are going to be a Chi Theta, right, and you are my girl. You are going to be one of the most popular girls on campus.”
“Brandon, you don’t get it. In Atlanta I’m popular because of my parents’ money. Here, I will be a Chi Theta because of my mother, and I don’t want to be known only as Brandon’s girlfriend. I want people to like me for me.”
“I’m sure they will, baby, starting with your roommate.”
Lena opened her door and gasped. She walked in the room to find it fully remodeled. Both hard college beds had been replaced with two matching plush beds with down comforters on them. The room had been painted and completely decorated and equipped with an entertainment system and a flat-screen TV.
“Now this is a room. Your mom did it up, boo.”
“Well, that whole thing of my roommate liking me for who I am is now out of the question.” Lena sighed as she fell onto the bed.
“Girl, calm down. You don’t realize how good you have it. Reality check, you stopped fitting in when you drove up in that Mercedes. So, if you want to do the college thing, then tell your parents to pick your car up.”
“Give up my car, never. I guess I will make things work.” She wrapped her arms around Brandon.
“See, there’s my baby. Now, let’s see how long this roommate of yours lasts.”
“Shut up. I’m going to make it work. I don’t care what she looks like. As long as she isn’t nasty, or a thief, then I am good.”
“Okay, we’ll see. But when you get ready to kick her out, remember your whole spiel about people accepting you for who you are, okay.”
“Whatever, man. Did I tell you I love you?”
“Nope.”
“Well, I do.” Lena leaned in and opened her mouth to receive his tongue, which he pushed through her lips and across her teeth. She wrapped her lips around it and began to suck hard as he thrust it in and out of her mouth.
His hands slid under the Juicy logo and fingered the lace of the thong caressing between her cheeks. He pulled her closer as she gasped for breath. His hard chest pressed against her tender nipples. She felt the heat and his manhood growing between them as she groaned.
Lena was excited about being with Brandon on the regular. She really wanted to show him just how happy she was, but she also wanted to feel out her roommate, who she was certain would be arriving soon. Her mom’s well-intentioned redecorating was going to be hard enough to overcome if she wanted to be seen as just one of the girls. Adding Brandon to the equation was bound to make that more difficult.
“Baby.” Lena pulled away and looked around the richly decorated room. “Do you mind if I get settled in with my roommate and get freshened up a bit before you and I get into something we don’t want to get out of?”
Brandon laughed. “Okay, Bae. Do your thing. Besides, I gotta check in with coach and the team. I’ll catch up with you later, and we can finish what we’ve started then.” He reached down to adjust himself and kissed her softly on the lips before heading out of the room.
“So this chick’s mom calls you and tells you not to bring anything?”
“Yeah, she said that she was taking care of everything. Hell, it’s a blessing ’cause you know I’ma broke ass. And with Mema being in the hospital, things are real tight.”
“Carla, Dee!” A voice echoed across the yard.
“I know someone did not just call my government name out like that,” Cooley said.
Denise and Cooley turned around to see a thick, brownskinned woman running up to them.
“Damn! A hello would be nice,” Carmen said as she caught up with her two friends. She laughed as their mouths dropped open.
“Carmen? Damn, girl!” Denise said, hugging her. “You had the surgery.”
“Yeah, I did. Damn, Carla, are you just going to stare?” Carmen said, watching Cooley finally snap back to reality.
“Shit, girl, I can’t believe it’s really you. You look damn good,” Cooley said.
“Thank you, baby.” Carmen hugged Cooley; she was so glad they both approved.
As the three walked into the dorm, Carmen noticed the stares toward Cooley, who seemed to be oblivious to the looks people were giving her.
Denise noticed people frowning and whispering. It had become a part of her life that she just had to ignore. They checked in and received their keys.
Two girls walked past Cooley and winked.
“Damn, I am going to have a ball with these curious-ass freshmen.” Cooley smiled.
“Cooley, can we have a drama-free year?” Carmen asked as they got on the elevator.
“I already asked her that,” Denise added.
“Whatever. I am going to be better this year. No straight girls this year.”
Denise and Carmen looked at each other, knowing that Cooley was lying.
“Damn, can y’all have a little faith in your boy?”
“Well, I really hope you do. You heard about Pauline running Ronnie over with her car?” Carmen said.
“Get the fuck out of here. When?”
“Well, I don’t know all of the details, but this is what I was told. We all knew that Ronnie was a ho. Well, Pauline had been dealing with her ass for three years, and I guess she hit her breaking point. Pauline caught her coming out of the other chick’s apartment and ran her ass over.”
“She’s right,” Denise said. “She can’t play basketball no more ’cause of it.”
“Damn, that’s fucked up. Okay, I’ma be better, I promise. And as far as you, Carmen, you better not turn into a freak ho. I don’t approve of that tight-ass skirt you have on.”
Carmen laughed. She loved how overprotective Denise and Cooley were over her. “Whatever, this is my floor. See y’all tonight at nine. Let’s go to the jam together. I’ll come to your room, Carla, and then we will go to Dee’s room”
“Carmen, quit calling me that shit. You know I am incognito,” Cooley said.
Carmen blew a kiss right before the door closed. She headed to her room ready for her new start.
Denise heard the sound of Floetry coming from her room. She was already digging her roommate. Her mouth dropped when she opened the door. The word Juicy was the first thing she saw on the girl standing in a chair, pulling down some curtains.
Cooley is not going to believe this, she thought to herself as she stared at the girl’s round ass. Denise noticed the chair beginning to wobble.
“Whoa!” Lena yelled as the chair slid from under her.
Denise caught her. Her heart was beating fast; she didn’t know if it was adrenaline or the fact that she had the sexy girl in her arms. “Um, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I am. Thanks for catching me.”
Denise looked at Lena’s face; she was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen. “Um, I guess you must be my roommate.” Denise realized she was still holding on to Lena. “Oh shit, my bad. Yeah, I am Denise, but most folks call me Dee.”
“I am Lena.”
They shook hands.
“Um, I hope you like the room. My mom went a little overboard.”
Since Lena’s body was the only thing on Denise’s mind, she didn’t realize the room was different until then. “Oh my God, this is amazing. Is that a flat-screen? We have a flat-screen in our room!” Denise realized how corny she sounded. She walked over to her bed and began to unpack. “This is real cool.”
“I am glad you like it.”
“Oh, so you play basketball, I guess.” Lena picked up Denise’s ball and attempted to dribble it.
“Yeah, and I guess you don’t.”
They both laughed.
“No, I don’t, my boyfriend does, and he plays for the school.”
Denise’s fairytale of sexing Lena all night long quickly faded. If it was one thing she didn’t do, it was mess with girls who were straight, curious, or bisexual.
“For real? What’s his name?” She really didn’t care.
“Brandon Redding.”
Denise’s dream really faded, making Lena no more than another regular girl. Brandon Redding was one of the best players on the team, if not the best. She knew Lena wasn’t going anywhere.
“Really, man, he’s a great player. I’m sure he’s gonna go pro.” Denise put her clothes in her closet.
“Yeah, I think he is. He hopes he is. So does your man play ball?”
The question caught Denise off guard. She wondered if Lena was asking to find out if she was gay, or if she really had no idea she was.
“Um, no, I am single,” Denise said as she unpacked the rest of her things. She wanted to give Lena a little more tim. . .
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