Page 95 of Kiss Collector

You’ll be cryin’ by the end, enough tears for a bath.

God showed his humor when he made me, pale skin droppin’ def beats,

The day you came along, he was yawnin’ in his shredded wheats.”

Kwami rubs a thumb against his nose and grabs at his crotch.

“Bro, please. You think you all that and more.

I got the rhymes and the time, Imma settle the score.

Back down, on your knees, go hug on some trees,

You about to feel the sting of my words, killer bees!”

Joel never loses his blasé expression despite the hollers from students.

“On my knees? Think again. You get no action today.

In fact, you get no action anytime, the rumors say.

Kwami’s tame. It’s a shame. The dude needs some sin.

He can’t even grow hair on his chinny-chin-chin.”

He tweaks Kwami’s smooth chin while the crowd reacts in laughter and cheers. Even teachers are watching with smiles.

“Oh, now it’s on, Slim Shady, with a side of gravy.

I got the balls to tell a girl when she can have my baby.

Unlike you, Romeo, who slips a poem in her locker.

Wherefore is her love? Not with you! Big shocker!”

Pow. My head spins. The crowd’s cheers are lost on me as Kenzie grabs my arm and screams. I’m staring at Joel’s serious face as he smirks at Kwami, and things click into place. Every inch of me is on fire.

“It’s called romance, my man, you should give it a try,

Instead of chasing every tail till the day that you die.

Call me puss all you want—we both know I ain’t soft,

Keep being wack. I got your back. I hold my standards aloft.”

Everyone is cheering like crazy, punching the air; andteachers start hollering for students to clear the hall, fire code violations, busses being made late, blah, blah, blah. I get jostled side to side as I stare at Joel.

“It’s him!” Kenzie is shouting.

I know. I think maybe I’ve known for a while, and Isodid not want to fall for him.

But now. Oh, now. It is on.

I push through the throng of smiling, laughing, shouting faces, people clapping both guys on the back and smacking their hats. When I’m finally in front of Joel, he is as collected and unreactive as ever. Only the slightest lift of his eyebrows responds to my face in his.

I say nothing because he’s said enough for both of us.

I just kiss him.