LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

best, fresh from church.

      “What’s wrong with Rah?” Mr. Esop asks, turning his head to watch Rah start his car while Nigel tries to reason with him. Then Mr. Esop heads to the game room next to the living room. Mrs. Esop takes off her large white hat and smoothes down her hair while looking in the antique mirror hanging in the entryway.

      “Oh, the usual,” I say, looking back at my crew, who are looking at us instead of the muted screen in front of them. A live show is always more interesting. “I’ll be right back,” I say, adjusting my purse on my shoulder and walking down the steps. I’m so sick of doing damage control, but it’s an unavoidable part of maintaining friendships. And sometimes boys can be more difficult to deal with than girls when it comes to matters of the heart.

      “Jayd, I’m looking forward to continuing our discussion about you becoming a debutante soon,” Mrs. Esop says. I thought I was out of that deal when she went off on Mickey the other day.

      “But I just assumed you wouldn’t be interested in coming to the shower anymore,” I say, trying to speak low so Mickey doesn’t hear. I haven’t told Mickey about my deal with Mrs. Esop yet. But from the look on her crooked face, I’d say Mickey has heard the entire conversation. Shit. Now I’ll have to deal with her drama, too.

      “Just because it’s not my grandchild doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the festivities,” she says with a cunning smile. “And I am nothing if not a woman of my word. Besides, a deal’s a deal,” Mrs. Esop says, waving to Mickey, Nellie, and Chance before walking up the stairs. Mickey looks at me like she’s going to explode, she’s so pissed, but I’ll have to deal with her later. Why does my life have to include all this bull? Right now I have to catch Rah before he does something stupid, which is the usual when his head gets this hot.

      “Yes, ma’am,” I say, making my way out the front door. I guess I’ll have to catch up with Rah later because he’s already gone, and I’m in no mood to pick out baby clothes or to be grilled by Mickey. All that will have to wait until tomorrow. I just want to live a little longer in the moment Jeremy and I had earlier. I should’ve stayed right where we were—damn reality. But, in reality, shit happens, and my friends always seem to be in the thick of it.

      Whether it’s the weekend or a school day, there’s never a boring moment in my life. Luckily, I had plenty of school and spirit work to distract me from yesterday’s argument with Rah and impending debate with Mickey. So far it’s been a relatively quiet morning. I made it through Spanish and English class without running into Misty or Mickey. It’s a shame that one of my best homegirls gives me the same feeling of dread as does my worst enemy, but only when Mickey’s in rare form like I’m sure she is today. Mickey’s had all night to think about it, and, hopefully, she came up with the reasonable solution—that I, as her friend, would never do anything to intentionally hurt her. But judging by the way she’s storming down the main hall, I’d say she’s thinking just the opposite.

      “So when were you going to tell me you were trying to get in good with Mrs. Esop for your own benefit?” Mickey says, fronting me at my locker like she’s going to beat my ass. What the hell? Chance and Nellie are right behind her.

      “Mickey, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, opening the long metal door and almost hitting her in the face. She’d better back up before I lose my patience. Rah’s been working my nerves since last night, and I’m in no mood for any more drama, hormonally driven or otherwise.

      “You know exactly what I’m talking about. You’re using my baby shower to get closer to Nigel’s mama so you can join her little sorority and be all uppity and shit,” she says, rubbing her bulging belly like it’s a golden crown. I’ll be so glad when she finally has that baby, I don’t know what to do.

      “That’s some cold shit right there, Mickey,” I say, looking at my girl in disbelief. How could she think I would do something like that to her? I never wanted to be a debutante, let alone one involved with Nigel’s mom. She has to know I would never betray her trust, and for what, a night as the black Cinderella? Please. I’m not Nellie. This shit is right up her alley. I half wish Nellie had been asked instead of me, but I already know Nellie doesn’t have the grades to participate. Otherwise, I’m sure she would jump at the chance to be in a cotillion.

      “Okay, ladies. Let’s take a step back for a min,” Chance says, trying to lighten the mood, but it’s no use. Mickey’s gone off the deep end and is determined to take everyone with her.

      “Take a step back for what? So Jayd can twist the knife she planted in my back a little deeper? I don’t think so, white boy,” Mickey says, drawing more attention from the majority of white students walking through the hall on their way to class—which is also what we should be doing. Mickey’s already on academic probation for ditching school on the regular. The last thing she needs is another incident on her record.

      “Okay, there’s no need to go off on my man, Mickey,” Nellie says, stepping between us. “He’s just trying to help.”

      Mickey looks from Nellie to me and then back at Nellie. I hope she doesn’t think Nellie’s taking sides, because we’re all in this together whether Mickey likes it or not.

      “Mickey, let’s take a walk,” Nigel says, taking his girl’s right hand and attempting to lead her away, but she’s not budging, no matter how wrong she is right now.

      “Not until Jayd admits she was in the wrong for accepting your mom’s invitation when she knew it belonged to me.” Even Nigel has to smile at his girl’s twisted logic.

      “Mickey, you can’t be serious,” I say, shaking my head at my girl’s overactive imagination. She can blame it on pregnancy all she wants, but I know better. This girl’s just straight tripping off some jealousy bull, and I’m not hearing it, especially after all I’ve done for her lately.

      “I am serious, Jayd. This is my family, not yours, so butt out.”

      Without saying a word, I slam my locker door shut, zip up my backpack, and throw it over my shoulder. I then look my livid girl dead in her eyes, thinking of a way to respond without making her cry, but thankfully Nigel steps in.

      “Babe, Jayd’s not trying to take anything from you. The truth is, my mom asked her because she’s known Jayd for years and respects her stride. It has nothing to do with you.”

      “The hell it doesn’t,” Mickey says. “And whose side are you on anyway, Nigel?”

      “Mickey, you make everything so damned difficult,” I say. I’m trying to spare my girl’s feelings, but it’s not worth it. “Nigel’s mom said if I participate in the ball, she’ll come to your shower. That’s why I’m doing this—for you, not me.” The bell for third period rings in the now still air, causing everyone around us to stir, but we remain at a standstill. For a moment I think Mickey’s coming to her senses, but then she opens her mouth.

      “Whatever, Jayd. You can’t stand the fact that you’re not the only girl in your little boy crew anymore, and I’m not falling for it.” This girl needs to get over herself, but that’ll never happen. Mickey’s nothing if not the truth about her shit. “You can go ahead and have your little ball, but I’ve got the real deal right here, and you can’t take this away from us. Rah’s right: You’re nothing but a traitor.” And with that final verbal blow, Mickey holds on to her baby bump and struts down the hall. That girl is unbelievable.

      “Jayd, I’ll talk to you later,” Nigel says, following Mickey out of the building. Chance and Nellie head out, too, after apologizing for the stupid scene. It’s cool—I’m not going to let Mickey get to me, especially when I know how ignorant her ass is going to feel once she realizes how wrong she is. There’s nothing I can do about it now, and we all need to get on with our day.

      Unfortunately it’s already been a long week and it’s only Monday. Not only is Mickey tripping way too hard for me to deal with—and also try to help her pregnant ass at the same time—but Mrs. Bennett dropped a bomb of her own today, announcing that the mandatory Tuesday

Скачать книгу