Suds – Season 1, Episode 20

… a mini soap opera that bubbles with Love & Drama

[Last time on Suds... ready, set, go… Mira was a no show; Terrance told Shantel to hit the door – she took it literally and ended up crying on the floor.

Darien and Leilah put on a show of a smoochy-smooch while he opened the car door. Meanwhile, Shantel watched in disbelief from her bush-view seat, and was abso-certain-lutely not pleased… Can you tell I’ve been reading Dr. Suess to my four year old?

Anywho, grab a bar as soap, and let’s get in the tub…]

Leilah blushed.
“Ready?” he asked resting his forehead on hers.
She nodded, and slid into the seat.Darien closed her door, scanning the area with his eyes as he walked around the car. Something jostled in the bushes less than twenty feet away. Standing with his door open, he stared at the bush as it shifted slightly with the breeze but otherwise remained undisturbed.Darien got into his car and drove away.

When the car was out of sight, a disheveled Shantel emerged from behind the bush.

Shantel walked over to the spot where Darien and Leilah kissed. She stood in disbelief, vacant of emotion. Hollowed and alone, detached and incomplete, Shantel raked her fingertips through her unkempt hair. Shards of pain shot up into her fingertips. Shantel stared at the dried blood and cracked fingernails on her hands and dropped them to her sides.

“Shantel,” Angel screamed in shock as she rushed toward her sorority sister. “Girl, what happened to you?”

Shantel vaguely recognized the chubby neophyte as she babbled rapidly, causing Shantel’s head to pound. Raising her hand to her forehead, Shantel grimaced.

“Girl, are you okay?” Angel whispered, glancing around as students walked past them. “Come, let’s go to your room.”

Shantel, in no condition to disagree, allowed her fuming soror to guide her to her room.
~~

“Mira,” Angel barked into her cell phone while Shantel showered. “We have a mandatory meeting in Shantel’s room. Be here in an hour.”
“Look, Ang, I’m not gon be able to make it,” Mira said faintly.
“Mandatory, Mira. Teneille, Sharia, everybody including you will be here in an hour. Make it happen.”
Angel hung up, and Mira folded her phone shut. She cradled her knees against her chest as she sat in the corner of her bedroom with drained tear ducts. Her damp hair lay limp against the bath towel around her body.

She was only on the wrong side of the table once, a couple years ago when she was in training to become a testing counselor, the exercise in compassion steamrolled through her mind continuously.

Her counseling partner was Marie. Marie looked at her with a blank expression and said, “Mira, you tested positive for HIV.”

Mira remembered how the world stopped.
Her eyes watered, instantly blurring her vision.
She clutched her chest and blurted out in laughter.

Marie raised her brows in confusion and everyone in the room stared, but Mira kept laughing as the words replayed in her mind.

The rolling laughter quieted into unsteady whimpers.
Her tongue became swollen.
Her mouth dried, and her breathing grew faint.

“Mira,” Marie had called as Mira swirled into a panic. She hyperventilated and tumbled to the floor in tears.
“Mira,” the instructor said, rushing over with a bottle of water. She fanned her with a folder. “Look at me, Mira. Look at me. This is only a test. It’s okay.”
Mira stared at her counseling teacher in disbelief.
She continued assuring her, repeating, “It’s only a test.”

Mira took a deep breath and pushed the memory away. This time, it’s real, she thought.

Feeling the brewing tears, Mira stood and walked to the bathroom. She dropped her towel, stepped into the shower, and turned the water as hot as she could bear. At least then, she wouldn’t have to feel the tears, only the scorching hot water against her skin.
~~

“Do you expect me to do all the talking,” Leilah asked.
“Uh… naw,” Darien answered, reaching for her hand. Securing hers in his own, he continued driving, lost in thought. Leilah stared out of the window at fields of nothing, certain that they were something like wheat or some other agricultural product she cared nothing about. Annoyed by his silence, she attempted to pull her hand from his, but he tightened his grip.

“Maybe you should change rooms,” he finally said.
“For what,” Leilah asked. “I’m not about to run from Lil Ms. Priss. If she has a problem with me, she can move.”

Darien pursed his lips together, choosing his words carefully, “I know her well, and I don’t doubt you, but she’s a little… off.”
“I don’t care if she’s on, off, in, or out. You better put your money on me cause I am not one to be played with.”

Leilah attempted to snatch her hand away, and again Darien gripped it in place. Then he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her softly.
“Just think about it,” he said.
She shrugged, knowing she would do no such thing.

[Stay tuned: Mandatory meetings and talks about moving next time on Suds]