"'Sup Natasha."

"Kenney?" I stretched and tried to shake the sleep off. "I thought I told you not to call me in the middle of the night."

"Are you kiddin' me? It's only seven o'clock! Whatchyou doin' sleep this early on a Saturday anyway?"

"I'm tired."

"Tired of what?"

"Tired of people calling me waking my ass up!"

"Ooo-wee!" He laughed in true Texas form. "I like them hot-blooded red guls."

"What!" I sat up. He had my full attention now. "Who you callin' red, yella? You 'bout three shades lighter than me! Lookin' like golden fried chicken..."

He only laughed harder, but I really was pissed. I hated when black folks called me red. Like I wasn't black like the rest a them fools.

"Hey, get dressed darlin'," he said, totally overlooking my pisstivity. "I'll call you back in a few." Before I could answer, he hung up.

"A few" turned into nine o'clock, and by then I was already back asleep. Not that I had any intentions of going anywhere with him that night, anyway. I hadn't budged since our last conversation and fell asleep about an hour later watching The Box, a random music video channel we used to have that only came through sometimes.

Brring! The shrill telephone jerked me out of what was almost a good dream gone bad.

"Hello?"

"Dang! Soundin' all sexy. You ain't gotta be extra for me, darlin'."

"Whatever," I yawned. "You woke me up. Again."

"Mm-hmm. Hey, sorry 'bout that whole 'red' thing. That's just what we say back home."

"Well, don't say it to me."

"Aight. So, where you from?"

"Maryland."

"What? Somehow I'm not buyin' it."

"Buying what?"

"That you're from Maryland. I'm getting' more of a southern vibe from you."

"Well believe it." I stretched again. "You really think you know something, don't you?"

"I like to believe," he drawled, undoubtedly trying to charm me. "I know somebody did you wrong," he said quietly.

"I'm hanging up now."

"No! Wait. Wait. I meant to keep that one to myself." I couldn't help but laugh. He took that as his queue to continue. "So, are you ready or what?"

"Ready for what? I'm not going anywhere."

"You're not?"

"No." The nerve of this guy!

"Then what'd I get all dressed up for?"

"Are you kidding me?"

He chuckled. "Yeah. That's one thing I don't do is assume I'm goin' somewhere."

"Good thing." I laid back down and propped the phone up to my ear.

"So, what are your plans for the evening?"

"To lay right here in my bed."

"Hey! I'm in bed, too. Does that mean...we're in bed...together?"

I chuckled. "You're silly." After a moment of my laughing and his silence, I was beginning to think I'd accidentally hung up on him. "Hello?"

"I like the way you laugh."

"What?"

"Your laugh. I like it. I was waiting for you to finish."

I laughed again. He waited again.

"I like your laugh, you like my dimples. Sounds like a match made in heaven."

"Kenney..."

"I'm just playin'. Just playin'. Don't flip on me. Really I'm not even like that. I just like your vibe, that's all."

"You're not so bad yourself."

"Thanks. So...tell me about yourself."

"What's to tell?"

"Whatever you want. What's your...favorite color? When's your birthday? Got any brothers and sisters? Where are you really from?" He came with it like he had been waiting all week for me to ask him to ask me a question.

"What is this? Twenty questions?"

"If you want it to be. I haven't played that in years."

I smiled. "Me either. Ok, first question..."

"Aw heck naw!" he laughed. "You ain't turnin' it around on me. I already asked you like four questions that you haven't even answered yet."

"Green, November 29, no, and for real, Maryland. Although, I have been known to spend a summer or two in Houston with my grandparents."

"Ah-ha! I knew it."

"So what's your next question?"

"Got a man?"

"No."

"Want one?"

"Not right now."

"Ok, fair enough. I'll get back to you on that one after we know each other a little better."

I chuckled. "Thanks."

He listened. "I love that laugh."

"And I love your questions. Ask me another one."

"Has anyone told you how pretty you are today? I mean, you are purr-ty, girl, let me tell ya..."

"You're such a charmer."

"I do what I can."

Surprisingly, I found myself falling for his little country boy act...and I do mean act. He still wasn't my type, though.

"So..."

"I'm not finished," he interrupted. "What do you like to do in your spare time?"

"I don't really have a lot of spare time."

"Don't give me that. You got a job?"

"No."

"Got any kids?"

"No."

"Then you have a lot of spare time. I'm a freshman, too, remember?"

"Oh yeah." I smiled sheepishly. "I forgot who I was talking to."

"Please recognize."

"Anyway..."

"So...the answer is?"

"I like to write."

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Um..." I didn't really want to tell him that I was a poet. Most guys took that as my being potentially 'emotional'.

"Ever done spoken word?"

I was surprised. "No."

"Maybe you should try it. You might be good at it."

"Yeah, I've always wanted to..."

"So read me something."

"What?"

"A piece. Read me something that you've written."

"How do you know what I write?"

"I can see it in your eyes. You're a dreamer. Like you're looking for the world to show you a better side of itself than what it could possibly have, so you must be a poet. Bet you like jazz, too, huh?"

"What do you know? You've only seen me twice."

"I know that you know I'm right. We should go to a jazz club sometime. I know one in Norfolk called Jasmine's."

"Jasmine's? That's corny. We're not old enough to get in anyway."

"I bet you $100 that we can."

"You're on."

"So what's so corny 'bout my auntie's name?"

"Jasmine? No I meant as a name for a jazz club. You know, jazz...Jasmine...wait a minute. Do you have family here?"

"Only my Aunt Jasmine. She has this jazz club in Norfolk..." I could tell he was smiling.

"You're unbelievable."

He gave a hearty laugh. "I know this. Pretty soon you will, too."

"Humph."

"Humph my ass. One day you'll look up and be in love."

"Are you serious?" This kid was nuts.

"I hope so."

I blushed and went back to the questions. "So what's your favorite color?"

"Red. Not so fast. I'm not done. You still have to read me something."

"Oh, right..." I searched through my papers and picked up my American Lit assignment. "Alright. Let me know what you think."

"I always do."

"You ain't never lied."

"And I never will...not to you, anyway."

I rolled my eyes. "You're too much."

"You never know. I might be just enough... but go ahead."

I bypassed. "Ok. It's called 'Absent Love.'"

"Sounds depressing. You'd be writing about...other stuff if I was your man..."

"Don't start."

"Sorry," he said with a grin. I could just picture those dimples...

"I'm actually kinda glad you asked me to read this. I have to turn it in on Monday and need to know if it's corny before I get up in class and embarrass myself."

"If you want, I could come to class with you so you'll feel more comfortable."

"How do you figure I'd feel more comfortable just because you're there?"

"I know you would. You'll always feel more comfortable with me around." My heart fluttered, and I lost my words for a minute. "Hello?"

"I'm here." I squeaked.

"Well..." I could tell he knew he got me just then. "Are you gonna read it to me or what?"

"Yeah...Absent Love..."

"You already said that part."

"So...you gonna let me read this, or...?"

"I'm waiting..."

Sigh! "You ready?"

"I'm ready."

"Alright then..."

"A'ight then."

"Look Bud..."

"Aw," he heckled. "Here you go."

"Naw, here you go." It was so easy to talk to him.

"Wanna hear something crazy?" he asked.

"Always."

"I feel like I've been knowing you for years." Was that shyness I heard in his voice?

"You read my mind."

"Yeah?" There went those dimples again. I could practically hear them over the phone.

"So anyway, here it goes." I covered for the awkward silence. "A baby tree, withered and helpless Someone forgot to water it A baby bird, broken and flightless Someone forgot to mend it A baby doll, tattered, torn and thrown to the side Someone forgot to play with it A baby boy with a broken heart and shattered dreams Someone forgot to believe in him A baby girl with teary eyes and bruised up thighs Someone forgot to protect her A grown man with a prison record and no criminal tendencies Someone forgot to defend him A grown woman with hardened eyes and a bitter smile Someone forgot to love her. Whatever happened to all the love in this world?"

An indefinite amount of time passed before he said anything.

"Interesting."

"Interesting?"

"Yeah, that was very...interesting. It was like a window into your soul."

"Dude, whatever!"

"No, really. I learned a lot about you just that quick."

"Like what?"

"Like...how much you want someone to love you."

"Uh-huh. Is that it?"

"No. You also want someone to protect you. I'm not sure from what yet, though..."

"Ok. Smarty pants..."

"Just an observation."

"Not the right one," I lied and quickly deflected his attention away from the obvious. "So, you think it's an 'A' or what?"

"No."

"No?"

"No. B- maybe. B tops. I loved it, but that's not to say anyone else will. That's just the way writing goes."

"How would you know?"

"Because I'm a writer."

"Oh, really?"

"Well...no. More like I freestyle sometimes. But I can get a little sentimental when I need to."

"When you need to, huh?"

"You know, to impress...somebody. You know y'all ladies like all that emotional romanticism...ness."

"Did you just call my stuff sentimental and emotional?"

"Naw, baby. It's cute when you do it."

I was grinning from ear to ear. I know I didn't have a crush on this countrified Jason's Lyric throwback. He was way too bama for me.

"Why so quiet?"

"No reason." Call me baby again, I thought to myself.

"Well, you asked me to tell you the truth."

"And I appreciate it. So..." I struggled for something to say. "B- huh?"

"Yeah, darlin'. If you're lucky." There was no humor behind his words.

"Hmm."

"So anyway, there's this spot down the street called Shipwreck where we all go to bless the mic."

"Bless the mic? I like that."

"I thought you would."

"You know me so well."

"I plan to." Had he been pre-Collin, this kid could have definitely charmed the panties right off me. "So what do you say?"

"About what?"

" 'Bout open mic night."

"Sounds alright."

"You know you wanna go."

I giggled. "Maybe."

"I love that laugh. You should get up and read something."

"You mean like what I just read?"

"Um...no. Something else."

"Oh! You got jokes now?"

"Nah. I mean...just dig deep. See what you really got inside. Then put it on paper...and read it out loud. Just read it exactly how you feel it."

"Hmm."

"I'm serious darlin'. I can tell you got some stuff behind those eyes. Just come on out and say it. Enough of all this metaphorical BS."

"Well, maybe I will. But not now. Maybe some other time. Later..."

"Who says you get to have a later? You better embrace this world and take advantage of it now while you have the chance."

"Wow! For someone who claims to not be a poet, you sure do have a way with words."

"I'm sayin'. Words is words. We all use 'em. I just say mine out loud, occasionally put a beat to them."

"Mm-hmm. So in other words, you're just trying to get me to go out with you."

He chuckled. I kinda liked his laugh, too. Never out loud, just barely a chuckle. "Yeah, pretty much."

"We'll see. I'll think about it."

"Nope."

"What do you mean nope?"

"I mean you need to let me know now. I'm not asking you out on a date or anything. Just trying to get you out of the dorm. You need this. I can tell."

"You sure do think you know a lot."

"I don't know things. I feel them."

"Yet another excellent play on words."

"Yeah...I'll write it down. Look here, girlie," he quickly switched his tone. "This conversation is getting' way too hard. Tomorrow night. Pick you up at seven. Going once...going twice..."

"Alright! Alright! You're a persuasive little guy."

"Stop right there. I may be a lot of things...skinny even. But I can gar-un-dang-tee you, little I am not."

It took me almost a full minute to get the joke. It only took me a second to bypass it. "Pick me up at eight."

"Seven thirty. Gotta be there in time to sign up."

"Oh, so you'll be blessing the mic tomorrow?"

"Might do a little somethin' somethin'."

"Can't wait to see it."

"I can't wait to see you."

I giggled. Funny, he always made me laugh. I hadn't been this silly with anyone in a long time.

"Bye Kenney."

"Bye Tashi. That's what I'm callin' you now. Tashi."

Tashi? I looked at the phone, but he hung up before I could respond.

"Later Bud," I mumbled as I hung up. Then I turned the TV off and smiled to myself before falling back into a comfortable sleep.

Hey guys! What do you think so far? Please comment and vote! Thanks for the reads!