Page 80 of You've Got a Place Here, Too
Leo had chosen an HBCU hoping that he’d feel more at home than he would at Oklahoma State. Beside sharing their Blackness, everyone was so…different. He shook his head, swinging his long black locs from side to side as he tried to erase the week’s worth of memories.
“I should have never come here,” Leo whispered to himself. “Why did I come here?”
Outside his door, faint beats blended with deep voices inconversation and occasional outbursts of laughter. The dorm’s hallway was in constant motion, its own gathering spot of sorts. Leo was grateful that at least he had his own room to escape to.
The melody in the hallway moved closer, gradually growing louder, and Leo realized that someone was walking with their boombox. Instinctively, he reached for his Walkman and quickly removed the black cassette tape. After holding it in his hand for a moment, he opened his top dresser drawer and hid it in the back.
No one at Langston University could ever know aboutthat.
Leo stood there for a moment, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He looked just like all the men in his family—tall with broad shoulders, his flawless skin a deep, dark brown, his locs wild and free. Except now, there was one major difference between him and the other Pickett men—Leo was a liar.
Someone started banging loudly on Leo’s door, catching him by surprise and causing him to jump. Which made him feel like a liaranda coward.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Hold up, hold up, I’m coming.” Leo sighed as he walked over and reluctantly opened the door. He exhaled with relief once he saw who it was. “Aye, what’s good, Scootie?”
A tall, thin, light-skinned teenager from Houston, Scootie Harris lived a few doors down. His tee and jeans were so baggy, Scootie looked like he was swimming in his clothes. Yet somehow, he was pulling off the style, because even Leo had to admit that Scootie looked dope.
“I’m good. Just checking to see what time you’re headed to the party. Want to roll together?”
Shit.
Scootie was in Leo’s Pride, a group of fellow freshmen randomly assigned to have each other’s backs during Lion Campand, ideally, throughout their first year of college. Which meant the two men were supposed to look out for each other. They were supposed to help and support each other so that no one felt like they had to go it alone. Which meant Leo was supposed to say yes to Scootie’s invitation even though what he really wanted to say was “Hell, no!”
Instead, Leo looked down and frowned at his socks and Nike slides. “I don’t know, man. I mean, it’s Sunday night. Classes start tomorrow and—”
“Classes?” Scootie looked at him with sincere confusion.“Classes.”
“I’m just saying!” Leo laughed uncomfortably. “I got a scholarship, dawg. One I can’t afford to lose.”
“Man, first of all, you ain’t gon’ lose your scholarship over going to one lil’ party the nightbeforeclasses start,” Scootie began. “Secondly, did you see what I saw this week? Tender Roni after Tender Roni after Tender Roni? Bruh. They’re all gon’ be at the party tonight!”
Leohadnoticed that was one thing Langston University had working in its favor: There were plenty of beautiful women. Every body type. Every shade of brown. Long hair. Short hair. Those who looked sweet as pie. And those who looked like they caused a lot of problems. The best and worst kinds of problems.
And then there washer.
He hadn’t actuallymether, yet.
Earlier today, as he stood in the Student Success Center with his plate stacked with herb-roasted turkey, mashed red potatoes and gravy, and a warm dinner roll that he couldn’t wait to smother with butter, as he’d looked across the room for a place to sit alone, Leo had seen the first woman who’d ever taken his breath away.
Strolling across the marble-gray floors like she was on ascholarly catwalk, a red leather messenger bag slung over her right shoulder. Her skin the perfect shade of chocolate brown. Her box braids pulled into a high bun, accentuating her striking cheekbones, wide eyes, button nose, and glossy full lips. Her body a human hourglass in a simple white tee and fitted jeans. Her Air Force 1’s clean like she’d just pulled them out the box.
Leo wondered ifshewas going to be at the party tonight.
“So, you’re coming, right?” Scootie continued to lay on the pressure. “You gotta come, dawg!”
“Look, I want to go but I’ll be honest, I ain’t got nothing to wear. All my best gear…” Leo paused for dramatic effect before sucking his teeth. “Man, I don’t even want to talk about what happened to my stuff. But ain’t no way I’m going out wearingthisand getting clowned.”
This—a white T-shirt and black sweatpants—had become a uniform of sorts. An ensemble that gave an air of “I’m too cool to dress up” for Lion Camp. A look that definitely would not work for an off-campus party.
“So I’m just gonna chill until my new gear gets here,” Leo reasoned as he continued to stare at the floor. Because he most certainly was not being honest.
Again.
Scootie nodded. “Sorry to hear that, homie. I mean, you’re a little more swole than me. Looks like you stay in the gym,” he teased, giving Leo’s chest a playful jab. “But I got some joints that you might be able to rock until your stuff gets here. I mean, if you’re cool with that. I know some folks be funny about wearing other people’s clothes.”
“Word?” Leo asked. “Yo, that would beamazing! And man, I got a bunch of cousins, and we stay wearing each other’s stuff soI’m cool with that. Besides, I’m in a real jam so whatever you got I’d be good.”
