1.2.1 - White Riot
Dec. 18th, 2009 08:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whedonistSliding the suitcase under the bed, Nikki glanced around her dorm room. Her side of the room was finally unpacked. The few pictures that she had rested atop the ancient, school provided desk/bookshelf. It was an industrial piece of furniture meant to be functional not look pretty.
She really wished it looked a little better. The nicks, dents and stains marring the top and sides gave testament to how much it had actually weathered. Her eyes shifted from the desk to the off white walls down to the twin bed. When she and her father had come to visit the university, she had made it a point to visit the dorms. If she was going to go to school here and have the full collegiate experience, living in the dorm was going to be part of said experience.
Nikki had found that she could live with a lot of the ancient furniture. She could live with the not so clean smell that permeated the place and the dreadful industrial lighting. What she could not handle was the mattress. She knew without a doubt that she wouldn’t get a decent night’s sleep no matter how sleep deprived she was. So her father had bought two new mattresses for the space. Her roommate’s already set up and waiting for her to make up and use.
She sucked in her lower lip and began to chew it absently wondering if there was anything else that she needed to do. She ran down the check list in her head and knew everything was done. She was getting ready to turn to the closet to make sure she had left enough room for her roommate, when the door opened.
Turning to face the individuals as their voices carried through bringing laughter and a soft threat of violence Nikki smiled brightly as she took in the two grinning faces. The girl, who she knew to be named Erica Jamison, greeted her with a bright wide smile. The boy smiling in the exact same way held two large suitcases in his hands and one stuffed under his arm. Nikki remembered the few letters they had exchanged over the summer and assumed the boy was Erica’s cousin, Darius Jamison.
“Hi,” Nikki beamed approaching to help lighten her new roommate’s load. Taking one of the boxes from Erica’s hand, she set it down on the floor.
“Nikki,” the other girl gushed as she tossed the last two boxes on the bed. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.” She grabbed her cousin’s arm and said, “This is Darius. Darius, I’d like you to meet my roommate, Nikki Beaumont.”
Nikki held out her hand, as Darius gently took hold and raised it to his lips, offering a soft kiss to the back of her hand in greeting. “Jeremiah Darius Jamison at your service, cheri.” He looked up into her eyes and winked, “Most call me Darius.”
“Nice to meet you, Darius.” Nikki winked back, liking the young man instantly. “Would ya’ll like some help unpacking or unloading?”
Erica shook her head, “This all there is. Didn’t really know how much room I was gonna have.” She went to the closet and peeked in, noticing the space arrangements, she giggled as she poked her head back out of the closet and looked Nikki over. “I see space for our shoes is going to be a problem.”
Nikki blushed and admitted, “I tried to leave you as much space as I could.”
Darius looked between the two and slapped his hand to his forehead, “Saints help us! Tell me you aren’t as bad as her?” He lifted up one of the suitcases and shook it for emphasis. “I had to talk her down from two suitcases full of shoes to the one.”
Nikki and Erica locked eyes and immediately grinned, knowing that this was going to work out just fine. With any luck, the two girls wore the same shoe size and they could combine their efforts.
Nikki shoved her foot into the boot and triumphantly zipped up the side. Admiring how Erica’s new boots fit, she let her gaze travel over to her roommate of the past eight months. She lingered on Erica’s tight clad legs and traveled up to the woman’s top. Even though she wore a sweater that was a size too big Nikki could not stop herself from appreciating the curves she knew to be hidden underneath.
Licking her lips, Nikki was about to comment, but blushed and admonished herself for the thoughts. These thoughts weren’t new to her. She’d been thinking of Erica in more of a less friendly fashion more recently. She wondered if this was the way it always goes.
In high school, she played her role and was on the cheerleading squad. She also remembered the lingering glances she gave the other girls. Looking a bit too long at their bodies after practice. At the time, she didn’t think it was skeezy. Now she wasn’t so sure. Now, Nikki knew better and realized that while the other girls were checking each other out to see who’s ass was fatter, she was checking them to check them out.
Over the course of the last few months, Nikki struggled with the knowledge that she was indeed, at the very least, bi-sexual. At least that’s what she called herself, unwilling to go ‘completely gay’. The bi-sexual moniker was something that she could handle right now. Contending with decidedly steamy thoughts about a girl while knowing the girl was not only your best friend, but your roommate to boot was almost more than Nikki could handle.
Silently she chastised herself; she couldn’t fathom how it had come to her feeling this way. Erica was always nice, always there to lend a supportive ear. Erica had also proven to be the one person Nikki felt the most “herself” with. Being who she was, coming from the Beaumont family, there were expectations that she had to meet; with Erica, there were no expectations. There were no obligations. Erica not only respected, but also accepted Nikki for everything she was and wasn’t.
Yeah, what wasn’t there to fall in love with?
“Nikki?” Erica waved a hand in front of Nikki’s face trying to garner a response. She had been calling Nikki’s name for a few seconds, but the brunette hadn’t responded.
“Uh?” Nikki grunted gracelessly, jerking away from the hand waving in front of her face.
“I was saying, darlin’ that Darius is going to be here shortly.” Erica rested her hand on her hip, cocking it out to the side. “You ‘bout ready to go or am I flying solo and leaving you in La-La Land?”
Blushing, Nikki shook her head. “Nope, I’m here. Ready to blow off some much needed steam.”
Stopping her friend from moving Erica took Nikki’s hand and cupped her cheek with the other. “You alright? You’ve been, Nikki, I don’t want to say off, but cher, you ain’t been right for a spell. “
Guiltily, Nikki looked away and broke the intimate embrace. Coughing, she struggled to find her voice, “I’m…good, Rica. I promise. Just with all these damn tests and that paper for end of term.”
Erica eyed her friend carefully. Deciding to let it drop, she offered one last comment, “Well, if there’s anything else, you know Nik, you can come to me. I’ll love you regardless of what you have to say.”
Unable to say anything Nikki nodded lamely in response. She was saved from further embarrassment as a knock on the door broke the tension in the room.
Erica moved to open the door and Darius came bouncing in. “You two fine young ladies ready to make the patrons in the French Quarter blush?”
Nikki smiled as she grabbed her coat, following Erica and Darius out the door, down the steps and to the car. It wasn’t long before they were in front of the only place the three of them could agree to, St. Peters.
Erica followed Nikki in as Darius took up the rear. Her heart thudded in her chest as she watched Nikki’s confident swagger. Erica Jamison never thought she’d fall for a white girl, but a rich, white girl who’s daddy was a major player in New Orleans political arena. The only issue for Erica was that she really didn’t know what to do.
There were times when she felt Nikki at least felt the same way. That she may just reciprocate the feelings that Erica had harbored from their first meeting, but then Nikki would always qualify whatever happened with, “I can’t believe what a good friend you are” or something equally inane.
Shaking her head she took a seat across from the one that Nikki chose. She gave her roommate her drink order. Erica allowed her gaze to linger on Nikki as the other woman sauntered up to the bar and placed their drink orders. Guiltily she looked away as Nikki began flirting with the bartender. A finger hooked under her chin and tilted her head up. Her cousin’s smiling face met her gaze and her expression softened.
“Now, I know my Thumper isn’t sittin’ here with one of the prettiest girls in Nawlins and her down right devilish older cousin pouting.” He let go of her chin and scooted a bit closer to be heard above the din of the bar and music. “You wanna tell good ole Darius, what’s troublin’ you?”
Erica glanced away and couldn’t help let her gaze land on Nikki or rather, Nikki’s backside. Darius followed her gaze and laughed. “Y’ know, ever since you and Nikki been friends, I ain’t seen you not smile.” He poked her ribs playfully as she batted his hand away. “A course, I ain’t known her long either but I ain’t seen her without an equally sappy look.”
Erica’s head jerked around to look at her cousin. He didn’t say what she thought he just said. He shook his head and pressed, “Cheri, I won’t claim to understand it, but if she makes you happy…I suggest you let her know. A girl like her won’t wait around forever.”
Unable to stop the insecurity, she asked, “And if I go and ruin one of the best friendships I’ve ever had?”
Darius shrugged unable to answer. “Ain’t love worth the risk? Better to know than not.”
As Erica was about to respond Nikki came back to the table with their drinks. Laying the beer in front of Erica, Nikki’s hand lingered as it brushed against the smooth mocha skin of her friends. Warmth spread through her and she blushed.
Darius nudged Erica’s leg with his foot and looked pointedly between his cousin and Nikki. Once Erica caught on Darius stood and said, “There was a fine lookin’ woman that was eyeing me when we got in. I’m gonna go see if I can track her down.” He picked up his club soda and beamed. “You ladies holla if you need me.” With that he turned around and melted in with the crowd.
Nikki shook her head. Darius was certainly a character but time in and out he’d proved one of the best people she’d ever met. Looking over at Erica, Nikki smiled. She still marveled at how right it felt just being around her. This hadn’t ever happened with anyone else. This was new, strong and it scared her. Add to the fact that she couldn’t express her feelings to her friend and it was enough for Nikki to knock back her whiskey sour in a fourth of the time it usually took her.
Pulling on the collar of her blouse, Nikki fidgeted. Tonight seemed a bit warmer than usual in the club, which really was nothing more than a dive that happened to play decent music instead of the mass produced synthesized crap that was standard fair. The floor was painted black and she usually ignored the times her feet stuck a little as she walked. The stools and tables were at least twenty years old but there was a charm to the place that she and Erica couldn’t seem to get over.
“Nik,” Erica started, “you know how earlier I said you could tell me anything?” She waited on Nikki’s nod before continuing, “There’s some stuff I want to talk to you about.”
Nikki swallowed the last of her drink and asked, “What is it, darlin’?”
Silently, Erica cursed Darius for his persistence. In a way she knew he was right, but that still didn’t take away from her nerves or the cold sweat that began trailing down her spine as she committed to confessing her feelings to Nikki tonight. Standing, she grabbed Nikki’s hand and led them towards the back of the club.
She led them through the small sea of people on the dance floor, past the long line to get into the bathroom, to a back door that led to an alley behind the bar. Knowing it was kept open; she pushed through the heavy security door and turned left to a stack of crates that were resting along the wall. The fresh air did wonders for her head, but caused her to shiver as the already cold perspiration chilled further on her body.
Sitting down, she waited as Nikki followed suit. Their knees touched as Erica turned towards her friend and grabbed both hands. Swallowing, Erica’s posture stiffened as she began confessing. She smirked, realizing their situation was a walking talking cliché, her, a scholarship student from the ghetto falling for the moneyed, popular girl from the ‘right side of the tracks’.
Absently, Nikki rubbed her nose. The ray of sunlight peeking through the crack of the hotel blinds warmed her face. She turned her head, burrowing further into the crook of her lovers arm, effectively shielding her eyes from the natural alarm clock. Drawing in a contented breath, she wasn’t sure which smell she preferred. The body holding her, the sweet smell of the flowers in the hotel room or the lingering scent of a night spent in bed, on the floor and against the wall.
The arm holding her tightened and she heard, “Bien-aimé, you can’t sleep all day. We’ve got plans.”
“But, it’s eeaaarrrrllllyyy,” Nikki whined into the body holding her. A lazy smile infected her features that she hoped couldn’t be seen.
“Nicollette Joyelle Beaumont, we will not be wasting the day away in bed,” Erica’s voice full of mock severity.
Groaning, Nikki turned over, scooted up the bed and covered their entwined forms with the sheet. Pouting at her girlfriend, she said, “I just knew telling you my full name would give me nothin’ but grief.”
Erica reached up and smoothed the crease that formed between Nikki’s eyes. “And yet you didn’t mind a lick when I was using it earlier this morning or last night,” she stopped and tapped her finger to her lips as she drawled the last part, “or the night before that.”
“Well, Erica Frances Jamison, you said it so sweetly before. Wooed this Southern Belle right off her feet.” Her eyes danced with merriment as she traced her love’s full bottom lip. “My full name can only be used as it falls gracefully from these gorgeous lips in the heat of passion. Not as you sit here and scold me as if I’m a child.”
Erica’s eyebrow rose elegantly as she licked her lip and caught the tip of Nikki’s finger. She laved the tip with her tongue before releasing the digit and said, “But, Nikki, you misbehave with the best of Nawlins upper echelon of rich, spoilt girls.”
Nikki’s response was that of a four year old, as she stuck her tongue out and made a face at Erica. “Now, now just because I come from a certain background doesn’t mean I was spoilt.”
Erica pursed her lips and offered Nikki a disbelieving look. Conceding, Nikki said, “I just happened to be Daddy’s favorite.”
“You’re your daddy’s only,” Erica pointed out.
Laughing, Nikki pulled Erica closer, running her hands down the other girl’s smooth, lithe back and whined, “You weren’t supposed to mention that.” Adjusting their position, Nikki turned Erica face down and straddled her lover’s thighs.
“Hmm,” Nikki’s lover hummed in appreciation of the hands kneading the slightly sore muscles of her back. Melting under her girlfriend, Erica mumbled, “Since this is the last day of our break, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to stay in bed a bit longer.”
“Uh-huh,” Nikki said triumphantly. Knowing her light massages worked nicely on her girl. “Considering that it’s not only Spring Break, but our year anniversary, I feel that we should set up camp here the rest of the day.” She teased a knot out of the middle of her lover’s back admiring the contrasting skin tones along the way. “Room service is a wonderful thing.”
“Indeed,” Erica agreed. “With the start of the new term you know we’re barely gonna see each other.”
Nikki groaned, “Don’t remind me.”
“And if I’m gonna finish early I need to double up this next quarter,” she reminded Nikki.
“You do know that graduating a year and a half early isn’t all that important?”
“It is if I wanna get outta law school before twenty-five.”
Reluctantly, Nikki agreed, “I suppose.” Stopping her ministrations she stretched out, lying directly on top of Erica. Stretching her arms out Nikki entwined their hands as she rested her cheek between the other girl’s shoulder blades.
A shiver coursed down the other girl’s body as Nikki melted into her. She let out a low hum of approval. Silently she wondered at how well things had worked out. How amazing her life had become with Nikki as a friend and then as her lover. With that girl on her arm, Erica felt like she could conquer the world. In a few years time, she’d be working with the N.A.A.C.P and Nikki would be doing whatever Nikki wished to do.
It was still a sticking point with Erica; her girl didn’t seem to have a driving need to do anything. She was at Loyola to get her dad off her back, but Nikki had no real idea what career she might want. For Erica, her driving passion had always been about the fight for equality. She’d seen the discrimination since early childhood and had been on the receiving end of more than just passing racial comments.
Nikki always joked that she was the reincarnation of Martin Luther King Jr. and that pleased her. Erica couldn’t think of another person that held her respect in such away. Although, much to her annoyance, Nikki became the one thing she wanted more than she did a position at the N.A.A.C.P.
A series of kisses broke her from her comfortable musings. The feelings of contentment that had wrapped around the young lovers began to be replaced. With each kiss Nikki placed on Erica’s back a slow need began to build in the pit of her stomach. She groaned and turned over, trying hard not to dislodge the brunette on top of her.
Instinctively their lips met. The kiss began slowly then a small part in Erica’s lips allowed Nikki’s tongue to slip in. Hands roamed and legs entwined. Wanting to slow things down, Erica pulled back and flipped them over. She knew, with Nikki at the helm, the girl would satiate the need burning equally through both of them as quickly as possible. Erica wanted this to last.
Her arms braced her weight as they settled on either side Nikki’s head. Her leg slipped between the other girl’s thighs as a devilish smile curved the corner of her mouth upwards. Feeling her lover shudder below her, Erica smiled and set herself at a nice, even pace rocking their bodies together.
Nikki bounced into the apartment calling out for Erica. “Baby, I’m back!” She set her purchases down next to the couch in the living room. When no reply came, she looked around and noticed the red light on their answering machine blinking. She walked over to the end table and hit ‘play’.
Nikki let out a small sigh of annoyance. It wasn’t that big a deal, but she was hoping Erica would be home so they could cook dinner together. Today was her last day of class before Christmas break and while Erica had one more evening class to attend, Nikki had celebrated by dragging Darius to a sale at Saks. Nikki shrugged. Easy come easy go. She’d just have to cook dinner for both of them as she silently cursed Dr. Carter for his stupid project.
Passing by a thin table that ran along the back length of the couch she smiled at the photo of Erica and her on their anniversary trip this last April. While it was only mid-December the trip seemed like a warm, distant memory. Convincing her lover to allow her to take them on a trip to Los Angeles had been like pulling teeth. Eventually she wore Erica down.
Making a note to try for a little get-a-way over New Years, Nikki thought of possible locations. Convincing her daddy that these were sorely needed and that she needed to pay for Erica too was always fun. Looking over at a picture of her and her father together a pang of regret washed through her. Despite her and Erica being together for nearly two years she’d yet to come clean to her father. Instead they both remained in the closet. One day she’d tell her daddy, but she knew it would be no time soon.
She walked back over to the bags, grabbed the handles and moved down the hall to their bedroom. She set them on the bed and began taking the shoe boxes out of the bags. She’d gone a little overboard, but these shoes weren’t just for her. Erica would end up wearing them too. In fact, Nikki had bought her a pair of pumps that she knew her lover would die for. Smiling as that particular box was pulled from the bag, she decided that instead of wrapping them and placing them under the tree, as she’d intended, they’d be sat on the bed as a surprise for Erica when she returned.
After stashing the bags away Nikki noticed it was a little later than she thought. She knew the school library was open until eleven tonight. She also knew that Erica’s group was nothing if not industrious perfectionist. They would be there until the very end. Resigning herself to a night alone, Nikki got ready for bed. As she settled in, she picked up the book that Erica had asked her to read, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. She settled in to the bed with the book on her lap and set off reading.
The shrill ringing of the telephone startled Nikki from her sleep. Absently she reached over for the receiver on Erica’s side of the bed. Finally grappling with it, she pulled it from its cradle and mumbled an annoyed, “’Ello?”
“Hi, is Erica there?” came the chipper bouncy voice from the other line.
Letting some of the fog clear, Nikki glanced over at the clock and realized that it was way past eleven p.m. It was actually nine in the morning and as she quickly glanced around there was no trace of Erica coming home the night before. Resisting the panic that welled up she told the girl on the other end of the line, “She’s actually not here right now, can I take a message?”
“Yeah, if you can just tell her that Janine called and we just needed the closing piece for our presentation that we’ll be all set and I’ll see her in class.”
“I’ll make sure she gets the message,” silently adding ‘After I strangle her for not coming to bed last night.’
“Thanks. Nikki, right?” Janine asked.
“It is,” her reply short.
“Good to actually put a voice to the face. Hopefully we can meet up sometime, between the picture she has of you two and the way she talks, we’d have fun.”
“That’d be just swell.” Gathering a bit of patience, she ended the call, “Janine, I gotta get goin’, but I’ll make sure Erica gets the message. Take care.”
“Bye!”
Not bothering with another platitude, she replaced the receiver and rubbed her eyes. Sitting up, she swung her legs towards the floor and sat on the edge of their bed getting her bearings. Grabbing her robe, she padded out into the living room, hoping to find Erica curled up on the couch.
Much to her annoyance there was no one there. In fact, the place looked exactly like it had when she got home last night and forgot dinner in favor of a book and sleep. Worry wrapped itself along the base of Nikki’s spine. Unsure of what to do, she called Darius.
“Yo,” came the gruff answer.
“Darius, it’s Nikki.” She chewed her bottom lip deciding on how to approach her concerns. “I don’t mean to bug you, but Erica didn’t come home last night. Did you hear from her?”
The voice quickly became laced with concern as he asked, “Cher, I ain’t talked to Erica since Sunday night dinner.”
Nikki moved to the kitchen table. Slouching down in a chair, she nervously picked at the table top. “Darius this isn’t like her. She always calls.”
“I’ll be over in a five minutes,” Darius said, ending the call.
Nikki unwound the phone cord and put it back on the hook. She looked around the kitchen, lost. Acid turned sourly in her stomach. Coffee would have been nice. She shook the idea off knowing her stomach couldn’t handle it.
Instead she moved into the living room. Unconsciously she took to walking the length of the room. She tried to figure out where Erica could have gone. If she hadn’t gone to Darius, Nikki was at a loss. The only family she had was Darius, her grandmother and a brother that she didn’t speak to. Her not coming home last night made no sense to her lover as she wouldn’t have gone anywhere else.
It was less than five minutes when Darius let himself in with the key he had to their apartment. He approached Nikki cautiously. He knew by looking at her that the lines marring her face were from worry. She may have only woken up a little bit ago, but the concern wore at her.
“Nik,” Darius said softly.
Unthinking, Nikki rushed him, hugging him tight.
He tried to soothe her. Rubbing his hand up and down her back, he said, “You still in bed clothes. Why don’t you get dressed and we’ll head out. See if we can track down that wayward girl of ours.”
Nikki nodded into his neck and released him. “I’ll be right back.”
Darius watched her rush to the bedroom and looked around. He smiled as he remembered helping the girls move into this place. It was right after their freshman year ended. The place and the move had been good for them both. Nikki came out a few moments later, a t-shirt of Erica’s that had the Southern Poverty Law Center’s logo emblazoned across the chest and a pair of jeans made up the brunette’s outfit.
She walked to the couch and sat down to put on a pair of socks. She reached under the coffee table, grabbed her tennis shoes and laced them up. She stood absently running her fingers through her hair and looked at Darius.
“Where are we gonna look?” she asked nervously.
Darius motioned for her to follow him. They headed outside and he locked the door behind them. He led her out into the crisp winter morning trying to think of places his cousin would go.
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no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 07:53 pm (UTC)Can not wait to see what happens next. how did you decide on the full and middle name for Nikki?
I like this juxtaposition of seeing both nora's and nikki's firsts - it is really cool!!!
Bouncing on my hands impatiently waiting for next installment : )
Thanks for writing!
no subject
Date: 2009-12-25 09:18 am (UTC)Nemodory, Nikki's name seemed appropriate. I have a cousin Nickie, whose full name is Nicole. That seemed a bit boring for Nikki. Nicollette seemed to just fit. =D
Thanks for reading.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-19 12:17 am (UTC)Wonderfully crafted story with a lovable OC. I have a terrible premonition that we're about to find out Nikki's reason for joining the police force. Nice to see Darius popping up though, and you've captured his voice so well.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-19 01:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-20 09:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-22 04:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-25 09:19 am (UTC)Thanks everyone!