Читать книгу Cool Like That: A So For Real Novel - Nikki Carter - Страница 10

Okay, so why is my New York City adventure getting off to a bad start already? You would think that Ricky and I would be sitting next to each other on the plane, but no. I’m two rows behind the first-class seats, and Ricky’s close to the back. There’s no telling who I’m going to have to sit next to now!

Lord, please don’t let it be someone smelly or extra large.

I play with my shiny cornrows and the butterfly barrette that’s clipped into the side. Looking out the window is making me even more anxious to take off. I open a little compact mirror that’s in my purse and refresh my strawberry mint lip gloss to take up the time. Then flip through the SkyMall magazine they stuff in the back of airline seats. Umm…do people really buy massage beds for their dogs? And if so, why would they be thinking of said purchase while they’re on an airplane?

After putting the magazine back in its place, I lean my head back and close my eyes. Maybe if I take a nap, this time will fly by.

“Hello. I think you’re in my seat.”

So much for my nap. But for real, for real, if my nap just had to be cut short, at least I’m waking up to a cutie.

The boy standing in front of me has to be near my age. He’s cocoa brown, and not the ashy kinda cocoa—the smooth, make-you-wanna-reach-out-and-touch-it cocoa. Nice.

“Umm…let me see. My seat is nine-C. Is that what yours says too?”

He brushes the long, shiny locs out of his face. “Yes. Mine says nine-C too. Great.”

With an annoyed look on his face, he signals for the flight attendant. “Do you mind if I sit here?” he asks me as he motions to the empty seat next to me while he waits for the attendant.

“I don’t mind at all. Help yourself.”

“Thank you. I’m Rashad, by the way. What’s your name, Princess?”

The smile is involuntary. Dang, I’m cheesing extra hard. My brain is trying to tell my teeth to separate so I can answer the question, but they aren’t listening!

“Gia,” I force myself to reply. “My name is Gia.”

Rashad smiles back. “Gia. That fits you. It means ‘flower in bloom.’”

“It does?”

“I just made that up, I’m afraid,” he says with a mischievous smile. “Are you mad?”

Memo to my brain: Stop with the grinning already! He’s gonna think I’m mentally challenged. “No, I’m not mad.”

The flight attendant stops in front of our row. “What can I help you with, young man?”

“This young lady and I are assigned to the same seat,” Rashad says.

He hands the flight attendant both of our plane tickets. She squints and reads the tickets with a perplexed look on her face.

“This is odd. Just hang out here until I come back, mmmkay?”

Rashad nods. “Okay. No problem.”

“I hope they didn’t make a mistake and overbook this flight,” I say, “because I cannot wait to get to New York, and it would totally suck lemons if you had to go on the next flight.”

“That is the truth, Princess. For real. Are you going on vacation? You with your family?”

“No, I’m…Wait a minute, how do I know you’re not some criminal trying to scam me? I don’t play that.”

A huge grin bursts across Rashad’s face. Ooo! Please, God, don’t let him be a criminal! He’s way too cute for felonious activities.

“That’s funny, but I am not a criminal. I’m going to New York to a summer program at Columbia University.”

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

“Word? Me too. What a coincidence.”

“I know, right? What are the odds that I have a seat mix-up with another person from the program? Do you think it means anything?”

I bite my lip to keep from foolishly grinning again. “What do you think it means?”

“Maybe that we’re supposed to be friends. That would be cool, right?”

“It would be totally cool.” What is wrong with me? Did I forget that my longtime crush and best friend forever is sitting on this plane with me? I’m getting my serious flirt on like Ricky doesn’t even exist. What is up with that?

Thank goodness the flight attendant comes back. She says to Rashad, “Yes, there has been a mix-up on the tickets. I apologize for that. But, fortunately, the seat you’re in is not assigned. You don’t mind an aisle seat, do you?”

“No, I don’t mind. I’m just glad I’m getting to go. I didn’t want to get stuck flying standby.”

“You’re all set then. We’ll be taking off soon, so go ahead and get comfortable.”

The flight attendant walks off with an armful of blankets and pillows to a mother and her two crying babies. I sure hope they fall asleep soon or that somebody finds a piece of candy to pop in their mouths.

“This is your first year going to the summer program, right? I would’ve remembered you if you’d been before.”

I nod. “This is my first year, and my friend Ricky’s too.”

“Your friend. Is he on the flight?”

“Yes, he’s somewhere back there.” I point to the back of the plane.

Rashad glances over his shoulder. “Do you want to sit next to him? I can switch seats with him if you want.”

“N—no. That’s okay. You don’t have to do that,” I say.

Did I just sound really thirsty or what? Womp, womp on me.

“Okay, then, I’ll stay. What classes are you taking in the program?” Rashad asks.

“Oh, I’m doing the creative-writing curriculum. I’m going to be a writer.”

“Me too. Sweet.”

“Where are you from, Rashad? I hear an accent, but I can’t place it.”

“You can hear my accent? I’ve been trying to hide it. I’m from Atlanta.”

“Ah, that’s it. You sound like my down-South cousins.”

Rashad smiles. “And you sound like my up-North aunties.”

“I might be going to college in Atlanta. Spelman is on my list of schools.”

Rashad’s eyes light up. “Word? I’m hoping to hear back from Morehouse myself. We’ll be neighbors.”

“That would be hot.”

“Gia, we are going to have a great time this summer.”

“We are?”

Rashad touches my arm, and I nearly jump out of my seat. His touch is electric.

“Yes. Have you ever been to New York?”

I shake my head. “No. I went online and found some cool places I want to visit.”

“The best places aren’t online.”

“Then how am I supposed to find them?” I ask.

“You were supposed to meet me on this flight so I could show them to you.”

I let out a half laugh, half snort. “Seriously? Wow, you’ve got it all figured out, I see.”

“Glad to provide some humor, Princess.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?” I ask.

“What? Princess?”

“Yeah.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “You don’t like it?”

“It just seems a little…I don’t know…like maybe we should get to know each other first before you start giving me nicknames.”

“I call every young lady I meet a princess.”

I feel really stupid right now. I thought he was giving me a pet name or something.

“So is your friend Ricky really your boyfriend, and you’re just saying he’s your friend to throw your mother off the trail?”

“Uh…not exactly. Not officially.”

Rashad chuckles. “So does that mean I still have a shot?”

“A shot at what?”

“Being your summer crush?”

“Anything’s possible I suppose.”