The Diary of Aaliyah Anderson Read online

  “Come on, ‘Liyah! You gotta wake up!”

  I was still a little bit out of it. You know how it is when you go into a deep sleep and then somebody wakes you up. You feel light headed! That’s how I was feeling.

  I started to stretch and yawn as I looked around my room with my eyes barely open, “Allison? What are you doing in my room? Am I dreaming?”

  She grinned. “No you’re not dreaming! D told me to come and get you. Hailey’s downstairs waiting for us. It’s game time! You already know we can’t be late.”

  That immediately snapped me back to reality!

  I hopped out of my bed and went over to the other side of my room to put on some of my Gucci perfume that I had gotten a couple of months back. Even though we’re gonna be outside, I still have to smell good. You don’t know who you may see or meet…

  Allison went into my closet, tossed me my light blue Levi jean jacket, and said, “You’re probably gonna need this. I heard it’s gonna be chilly tonight.”

  I caught it and quickly put it on. I already had on a white and blue Jordan T-shirt, light blue Levis, and some white and blue Retro Jordan 3s. I was gonna look fly and still be comfortable as I watched D do his thing on the field.

  As I quickly put on my jacket, I caught Allison looking at herself in the mirror. She had on a pink and white Aéropostale button-up sweater with fitted navy blue Aéropostale jeans and white, red, and blue Chuck Taylor shoes. Allison’s curly, blonde hair was looking bright and vibrant. From the back, I thought she was a sistah because she sure is built like one. Allison has some thickness to her!

  I smiled and said, “Dang, Allie! Can I have some time to look in the mirror too?”

  Allison looked down at her watch. “We don’t have time for all that, ‘Liyah! It’s 6:22, and the game starts at 6:45. We gotta leave right now!”

  I grabbed my diamond watch, put my comb and mirror in my Gucci handbag, and ran out of my room with Allison. Like she said, it was game time and we couldn’t be late.

  As we made it out the front door and I quickly locked it using my key, I turned and saw Allison frozen on the porch, staring in the direction of a gray pickup truck that was parked on a curb across the street. She had a somewhat shocked, terrified look on her face.

  I tapped her shoulder. “Are you alright, Allison?”

  She turned to me and smiled. “Yeah, everything’s okay. I was just thinking about something from school. It’s cool.”

  She could tell I wasn’t buying her story from the look on my face, but I didn’t have time to find out what was really going on. We had to get to Howard-Jones before 6:45. If we didn’t, we were gonna get locked out of the field.

  We quickly hopped in the backseat of Hailey’s car and she sped off. Allison was looking out the window, still staring in the direction of that gray pickup truck. Something was definitely up and I needed to get to the bottom of it.

  ♠♠♠♠

  Wyatt Pivot

  When we got to the field, it was 6:45 exactly. Dang it! I said to myself - that is, until I saw who was at the gate.

  Albert and Leroy, the campus police officers assigned to the game, were at the closed gate. When they saw us, they quickly opened it back up. Albert is an old friend of my mom from back when they went to high school at Booker T. I doubted that they’d just lock us out, knowing I was with Allison and Hailey.

  As we walked through the opened gate, I said, “Thank you!”

  Albert smiled and replied, “Don’t mention it! Tell your mom I asked about her.”

  I turned my head and smiled, “Will do!”

  We made it onto the field as the game was starting. One thing that I noticed as we walked to the bleachers was the huge amount of news reporters and journalists that were there. There was a representative from every newspaper, magazine, and any other media outlet in Willowsfield. One of mom’s coworkers, WKUL sports personality Andre Jordan (with his tall, fine self), was even doing his radio show out here! He literally was posted up on the sidelines with all his equipment on a table doing his live radio show. They were acting like this was an actual game!

  I guess they have the early football fever! The fall is like the best season for sports in Willowsfield, especially this year. The high school sports scene really has gotten better and there are gonna be some good matchups. This year, for sure, Howard-Jones Falcon’s varsity team football games will be the place to be on Friday nights.

  They were just about to do the kickoff with the freshman team getting the ball first. Hailey went up in the stands so she could be with some of her senior friends from Howard-Jones. Allison and I went over to where her brother Wyatt was sitting. I was really excited to see him!

  “What’s up, Wyatt?” I said as I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and immediately hopped up out of his seat to give me a huge hug.

  “Yo, what’s good, ‘Liyah? You’re lookin’ good tonight!”

  I blushed after he said that. Even though I get hundreds of compliments from boys on a daily basis doesn’t mean that I get tired of them!

  I replied, “Thank you! You look nice too! I like that T-shirt.” His outfit was actually really cute. He had on a blue and black Carolina Panthers snapback over his black, low-cut hair turned to the side, a fitted blue and black Trukfit T-shirt that showed off his muscular body, black baggy Levis that were pulled down so low that you could see his matching blue baggy basketball shorts, and some custom-made all blue Nike Air Max 90.

  He smiled and said, “’Preciate it.”

  Wyatt is a white boy that acts totally black. When I say he acts black, I don’t mean he just wears Jordans, uses street slang, and sags his pants. That’s not how all black guys are anyway but, for the sake of the example, just ride with me. Wyatt is Eminem white, which pretty much means he’s white/black. He really reminds me of Paul Wall from back in the day. He has a little gangster swagger to him that’s actually sort of cute.

  “So, why didn’t you come down here to Howard-Jones?” I asked him.

  He started laughing. “You know you’re like the twentieth person to ask me that, right? I just felt like Howard-Jones wasn’t good enough for me. Besides, they already had Sean set to go down here. He’s real fye’ with his game and I am too. I didn’t want a position battle because that was gonna be a waste of time. I just wanted to be the star.”

  I laughed at his honest cockiness. Wyatt goes to Jefferson now, where he’s a quarterback for the Tigers varsity team. Jefferson is Howard-Jones’s closet rival. They’ve been going at it even before we were born!

  Things got really personal this summer when Wyatt was unsure of which high school he was going to since Berkley, a private school on the Northside of Willowsfield, didn’t accept him. Wyatt’s a little bit of a bad boy. He’s gotten into a few fights that easily could’ve been avoided. Wyatt is really quick-tempered, something similar to me!

  Anyways, when Berkley didn’t pick him up, he was unsure of what high school he was going to. When that news hit the local papers, a small bidding war between Jefferson, Denson, Hillman, and Howard-Jones started in June. That’s never happened before! Wyatt must have some skill! It’s a shame that I have yet to see him play.

  With how good I heard he is on the field, he may just take that first string spot. He’s supposedly the second best freshman quarterback in Georgia, with D’s longtime best friend, Howard-Jones freshman and new varsity QB Sean Taylor, being the first.

  Those four schools were the main ones that caught his attention because they put themselves in a position to make some noise in the division this year. All four coaches came to his house and sold their team’s chances to him. He then narrowed the four teams down to two in July - Howard-Jones and Jefferson.

  He eventually chose Jefferson in the end because they landed Antonio “Blaze” Jackson, the closest wide receiver rival to D in Willowsfield. He felt that the one-two punch of him and Blaze, along with Jefferson’s rough defense, would ensure that they won the state championship. Dr. Wittam
ore and the Howard-Jones staff, students, and players took that as an immediate diss. Now, the rivalry is at a major climax!

  He really should’ve chosen Howard-Jones and saved those teams all the trouble. Howard-Jones is the best of the best. If he’s as good as people say he is, Wyatt wouldn’t have had a problem playing with the HJ Falcons no matter who the starting varsity QB was. But he made his choice and D’s going to destroy him for it on October 19th, the first time Howard-Jones and Jefferson face off. Boy, I can’t wait!

  Wyatt’s a flirt, too. He even tried to talk to me a couple of times. Even though he’s cute and really cool, I didn’t give him much play back. Allison is like my sister. How would it look if I went with him? As I said, I always attract the attention of older guys. Sometimes, my God-given charm is a curse! Why do I have to be this fine?

  D was putting on a show out there on the field, scoring three straight touchdowns without even getting tackled. Every time Sean threw it to D, he’d run it into the end zone.

  As D celebrated after his third touchdown, I nudged Wyatt in the arm with my elbow and said, “What are you thinking about Howard-Jones now?”

  He smiled and said, “I’m still too good for them!”

  I playfully rolled my eyes. He stuck out his tongue. Wyatt’s so fine, I swear! I just can’t go out with him because I don’t wanna mess up my friendship with Allison.

  After the first quarter officially ended, I heard ‘Kiyah calling me from the top of the stairs. I got up to see what she wanted.

  As I walked up there, I made note of how beautiful ‘Kiyah was. She had her hair styled in French braids. She’s around 5’5” with brown skin and a thick, wide behind that accents her already shapely body - not to mention that it has boys trying to get with her on a daily basis. However, to put what I’m about to say in simple and less harsh terms, she’s not as exclusive as she needs to be when it comes to boys and sex. ‘Kiyah isn’t necessarily out of control, but she really needs to chill.

  She had on a black Polo T-shirt with blue Levis and black and gray Nike Diamond Turfs. To cover the bruises she got as a result of that fight with those girls, she had on a black bandana tied 2pac style. It didn’t really do much to cover them though.

  I gave her a hug. “What’s up, ‘Kiyah?”

  “Everything’s Gucci, girl, I just got here. I see you’re havin’ fun though,” she said with a sly smile.

  “Oh, naw, girl! That’s Allison’s older brother Wyatt. We’re just having a friendly conversation.”

  “If you say so. But aye, I heard that Deangelo wants to talk to you!”

  I smacked my lips and asked, “Who and where did you hear that from?”

  “Don’t even worry about that! Just know I heard about it. So, what’s up? You two are already cool with each other. Why don’t you just go ahead and make it official?”

  “I don’t know about all that. Deangelo’s cool and all, but I think we should just remain friends.”

  ‘Kiyah was surprised by what I said. “Are you serious? You’re gonna put Deangelo’s sexy self in the friend zone?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I just don’t see us going together. He just doesn’t seem like my type.”

  “You just sayin’ that because he ain’t no seven foot Dwight Howard-lookin’ dude.”

  “That’s not why! He just…that’s not why!” I hesitated and said.

  ‘Kiyah smacked her lips. “Girl, you know you’re a lie! Look at all the guys you done went with. You regularly date tall boys that look like they belong in the NBA or something. You don’t wanna go with Scoop because he doesn’t fit your height requirement. Don’t flex! What looks good to you ain’t always good for you. Remember Brandon?”

  Brandon Roberson was my last official boyfriend. I met him at a concert after party when I was in 7th grade. I think Diggy Simmons came down and they had something at Clarks & Wade Skate Center after he performed. Anyway, when I met him he was fourteen years old, 5’11” with pretty light brown skin and rock hard muscles. He was sexy too! He’s a sophomore and plays basketball for Hillman High School now. We talked for a good while, about eleven months, and I thought I was in love. I even thought about giving it up to him. I really believed we had something special.

  Once again, I thought wrong!

  He had over twenty other girls he was talking to and getting with around Willowsfield and a main girlfriend in his hometown of Miami. I was one of his Georgia jump-offs! Come to think about it, I got played by my past two boyfriends! After I cussed him out in January and almost started fighting with two of his girls he was talking to on the side, I vowed that I was done with this teenage dating thing. My heart was broken. I really do fall for tall guys too quick!

  Even though ‘Kiyah was right, I didn’t wanna admit it to her.

  “Listen, just forget it. If he asks you about me, just tell him that I had a rough breakup and I don’t wanna get into a relationship right now. It’s not like I’m lying.”

  ‘Kiyah smacked her lips. “Okay, I got you. Go on back down there to your li’l’ white boy. I doubt he’ll do you better than Deangelo though.”

  I rolled my eyes. ‘Kiyah does too much sometimes.

  ♠♠♠♠

  Championship Swagger

  In the end, the freshman won and D went crazy! He scored ten touchdowns by himself! D was breaking tackles left and right. The fact that he scored ten touchdowns either shows how special D is when it comes to sports or how horrible the Howard-Jones Falcon’s seniors are on defense. Maybe both!

  Nevertheless, D plays like a champion, not backing down from any challenge that he faces on the field. I really need to take on that aggressive attitude if I wanna win that tennis team tournament with Allison in the spring. I need to take on D’s champion attitude in my life altogether! D can be a role model to everyone!

  Boy, I live a busy life! Even though it’s a Friday night and I just got back from D’s superstar scrimmage, I still need to go on to bed early so I can get up and get ready for this youth choir practice in the afternoon. Mt. Zion’s teenage choir hasn’t performed in about four months, so this practice is mandatory. Plus, I don’t know what I’m going to face. Even though this is church, there’s still a lot of drama. It’s really a shame too. Don’t bring all that into the Lord’s house! That’s just disrespectful!

  Anyways, let me go on and do my late night routine and hop in the bed. It’s gonna be a long day tomorrow; I can already tell.

  Sincerely,

  Aaliyah Anderson

  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  A Black Woman’s True Value

  August 18, 2012, 8:22 a.m.

  Good morning, good morning, good morning! I woke up at about 7:39 and immediately started my morning routine. In about twenty minutes, I was finished. I decided to go for a laid back look for choir practice with a pink Adidas track suit hookup. It’s not anything too flashy, but it’s cute and definitely comfortable, as it’s been real chilly in Willowsfield over the past few weeks. The craziest thing about it is that it’s the middle of August! I wonder how the temperature’s gonna be during the fall?

  As I tried to put together some breakfast, I turned the TV to VH1. In the morning they show reruns of season one of my favorite reality TV shows, T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle. The new season starts next month! Over the past few Saturdays, I’ve been trying to catch up on what I missed. If I get lucky, I’m up to watch it. Usually on Mondays, I’m doing something that makes me forget that the show is even on. I always miss it!

  I don’t care what anybody says, T.I. and Tiny are a cute couple! These hateful people go around acting like she’s the ugliest thing on the earth. That’s totally untrue. To me, she’s a beautiful person. One thing that Momma taught me when I was little is that outer beauty is important but it isn’t everything.

  “A woman should have more to offer than how good she looks,” she’d always tell me. “The true value of a young black woman is her mind.”
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  With that said, Tiny seems cool. She has a fly personality, a great business mind, and a hustler’s attitude. She’s a great mother and she seems to really love T.I. Isn’t that supposed to be all that matters? People are way too judgmental nowadays.

  In the episode I was watching, T.I was trying to teach his kids how to be independent. He said that his kids can’t live off him their whole lives and that they needed to get their own little hustle going. All his children have their own unique talents and seem to have a lot of ambition - well, except for his eleven-year-old son Doomani, who is so cute and funny! He doesn’t exactly know what he wants to do yet.

  I could see myself being the proud big sister of a younger sibling like him. I would take him under my wing, protect him, and give him sisterly advice, something similar to what D does for me. I wish Elijah was more like Doomani. Ever since he started hanging around Jeff and the Rydahz 24/7, he hasn’t been the same.

  Anyways, T.I suggests that he tries rapping. Doomani accepts and T.I works it to where he opens up for the OMG Girlz during one of their stops on the Scream Tour. He has about a day or two to record a song and practice performing before the concert. Watching him nervously prepare for his performance made me wish I had a true younger sister or brother. As I said, Jeff and the Rydahz have already corrupted Elijah.

  I want somebody to be known as “Liyah’s younger brother” or “Liyah’s younger sister”. I’m known around Willowsfield as D’s younger sister, which isn’t bad in any way, but I just wish I could share that experience. For some reason, it seems so special.

  Thinking of having another younger sibling made me think of how much of a punk my “father” is for aborting his child he had with his former mistress. Yeah, he was dead wrong for cheating on Momma like that, but at least be a man and take care of your own child. He was the one that decided it was a good idea to run up in that broad without protection. He didn’t have to kill it! What a pathetic excuse for a man! Why can’t all guys be like D and T.I?