I nodded. Just what I needed, more pressure in my life. But I was determined to make it work. After all, I didn’t have any other choice.
13
Angel
I can’t believe she’s making you write that. It’s like something you’d write in college,” Tyeesha said.
“Tell me about it,” Jasmine moaned as we made our way over to Alexis’s car. We’d waited for Jasmine to get done with Mrs. Stafford. Camille and I had told Tyeesha and Alexis how Jasmine had flunked her test and had been on the verge of tears. Naturally everyone was concerned, because anything that could make Jasmine cry was pretty serious.
“Well, put your mind to it and believe that you can do it,” Alexis sang, waving her arms like a cheerleader.
Jasmine must’ve really been bummed, because she didn’t have any comeback to Alexis’s corny cheer.
“Are we about to get something to eat?” Camille said after no one said anything for a few minutes.
“Yeah, let’s go to Beef & Bun. I have a craving for some of their french fries,” I said.
“Do you mind dropping me off at home?” Jasmine asked Alexis.
“Home?” Camille asked. “Why?”
Jasmine looked at her like she was crazy. “Why? Because I have to get started on this novel Mrs. Stafford has me doing. It’s due by Friday.”
“Next Friday?” I exclaimed.
Jasmine nodded. “Are you guys listening? That’s why she’s talking about using Senior Skip Day.”
“Wow, so what are you going to do?” Camille asked. “Does this mean you’re going to miss the senior party this weekend?”
“I’m going to do the ten pages, complete with the support materials and everything. I don’t have much choice,” Jasmine said. “As for the party, forget about it. I can’t mess around.”
“You can’t miss the senior party,” Camille whined. “That only happens once in our lifetime. It’s better than the prom!”
We’d had our prom last month. Camille had gone with her ex-boyfriend, Xavier, and Alexis and Tyeesha had gone with two friends of theirs. I’d missed it because we’d had to rush Angelica to the emergency room with the flu. Jasmine had gone with this guy named William, but I know she wished she could’ve gone with C.J. Then, on top of that, she’d had to be home by eleven, and William had gotten so mad that he’d been talking about her to everybody at school—until C.J. had threatened to beat him up. I know my prom night sucked, but hers was even worse. So we’d both wanted to make up for it at the senior party.
“Look, Camille, I can’t be thinking about some party. I gotta think about this paper or you guys will be partying at Prairie View without me,” Jasmine said, the expression on her face saying she so wasn’t in the mood to argue with Camille.
“Maybe we can help,” Alexis offered. “At least we can pull some research or something.”
“You know what?” Jasmine sighed. “Just take me home, please. I need to get started.”
I’d never seen her so defeated.
“Well, you still have to eat,” Camille said. “Come to Beef & Bun with us and then we’ll take you home.”
“No, you guys can go on.” She looked around the parking lot. “As a matter of fact, just go on. I’ll walk.”
“No, we can at least drop you off at home,” Alexis said.
“That’s all right, I’ll walk,” she decided. “I need to get my head right.”
“Are you sure?” Camille asked. “It’s like ninety degrees out here.”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Jasmine reiterated. “I should still make it home and get on the computer before my brothers want it.”
“Okay,” Camille said.
We watched Jasmine walk away. I hated seeing my girl so dejected. “Dang, I hope she gets that paper finished,” Camille said. “I would hate for her to miss the senior party.”
Watching Jasmine’s body all slouched over as she slowly walked away, I knew partying was the last thing on her mind.
“We’re gonna help her,” Alexis announced.
“How?” Tyeesha asked.
“It’s like I said, we can pull some research or something. Shoot, I’ll even write it if I have to,” Alexis said.
“That sounds like a plan,” I said. I was down for whatever would help Jasmine finish this paper.
“You know what?” Tyeesha snapped her fingers. “I think I may know exactly how we can help Jasmine.”
“How?” we all asked in unison.
Tyeesha looked like her mind was spinning a hundred miles a minute. “Let me work some stuff out first.”
“No, tell us,” Camille said.
Tyeesha waved a hand at us. “I’ll call you guys later. I have to go catch someone.” She darted off, leaving us all wondering what in the heck was going on.
14
Jasmine
One look at the crazed girl pacing back and forth in front of my apartment door and I knew I would find no peace at home tonight.
I’d seen her before. Her name was Briana, and she lived in the apartment building next door. A few weeks ago she and my sister Nikki found out they were both dating the same guy, and they’d been at each other’s throats ever since. It didn’t make sense to me. They should’ve been mad at Davon for trying to play them, but whatever.
Briana stopped pacing and banged on my door again. “Open this door! I know Davon is in there!” she screamed. She kicked the door so hard I thought it would fly off its hinges.
I was about to tell her off when the door swung open. My mother stood in the doorway, her face clouded with fury.
“Little girl,” she hissed. “I am not going to tell you again to get away from my door before I call the police.”
The look on my mom’s face had me terrified, but Briana wasn’t fazed. “Tell Nikki to come out here and say all that trash she was talkin’ to my face.”
“I ain’t scared of you!” I heard my sister scream from behind the door. “I can’t help it Davon don’t want yo’ ol’ broke-down, jacked-up-weave-wearing—”
“Nikki, shut up!” my mother snapped.
“Come out here and say that,” Briana said, jumping up and trying to see over my mother’s shoulders. “You think you all that? Come say it without your mama stopping you!”
At that point my mother noticed me and motioned for me to come in. “Jasmine, get in here,” she demanded.
I hurried past Briana, who was now hitting herself upside the head like she was trying to contain her anger. It was nothing for me to fight—even though I’d tried to change my ways—but I didn’t choose to fight crazy people, especially over my mean ol’ sister, who I couldn’t half stand myself.
I had just passed my mother when Briana tried to push her way inside.
“Let me at her!” she screamed.
My mother pushed Briana back so hard that she fell on the ground. Before she could get up, my mom slammed the door.
Inside our small living room, my grandmother was standing in the kitchen doorway, her hand clutched to her chest. Nikki was pacing back and forth, ranting. My brothers were sitting in a corner, terrified, too, and that worthless excuse my sister called her boyfriend was sitting on our sofa with a look on his face like he was enjoying the drama.
“Nikki, I done told you about bringing this mess to my doorstep!” my mom yelled.
“Me?” Nikki cried. “How am I the one to blame for this? She came over here trippin’!”
“Handle your business, girl, and don’t bring that to my house.” She spun toward Davon, who was struggling to contain his giggles. “And you, boy, you think this is funny?”
“No, ma’am,” he snickered.
My mother ignored him and turned her attention back to my sister. “Why you and that girl are fighting each other is beyond me. You need to be fighting this triflin’ fool that’s tryin’ to play both of you.” She pointed at Davon. “His drug-selling behind ain’t worth your time of day.”
“Mama!” Nikki exclaimed.
That wiped the smug smile off Davon’s face. He gritted his teeth like he wanted to say something.
“Don’t ‘Mama’ me,” my mother snapped.
“For your information, Davon doesn’t sell drugs,” Nikki protested.
She didn’t believe that for a moment. “I guess they’re just giving away souped-up Cadillacs, big ol’ chains and gold teeth to every high school dropout in this neighborhood!”
It was my turn to try and fight back laughter. I knew my mom didn’t like Davon, but I sure didn’t know she felt like that. What she said must’ve been true, because Davon stood up, a big scowl on his face.
“I’m outta here, Nikki,” he said, almost tripping on his saggy jeans.
“Good riddance,” my mom said. “Go deal with that pregnant psychopath outside my door.”
He stopped and glared at my mother like he wanted to say something, but even though he acted like a hard-core thug, he wasn’t hard enough to disrespect my mama.
“Davon, don’t go,” Nikki begged.
My mom was so disgusted that she threw up her hands. She was about to say something else when a brick came crashing through our living room window and straight into our computer screen. I stared at the cracked glass in horror.
“You think I’m playing!” we heard Briana scream from outside. “Davon, you or that tramp betta get out here now!”
“Oh, Lord Jesus,” my grandmother muttered as she pulled my brothers close to her.
“This is absolutely insane!” my mother yelled as she stomped over to the telephone. “Get out!” she screamed at Davon as she started punching the numbers. “I’m calling the cops!”
Davon must have known what was best for him, because he quickly made his exit. My sister sank to the floor, sobbing. My granny kept my brothers close as my mother called the police. And all I could do was stare at the brick sitting in the middle of the computer screen—a computer we’d had less than three months. Even if I was able to work despite all the drama in my household, how in the world was I supposed to do a ten-page paper now?
15
Angel
I could really get used to hanging out with Rico. It’s a good thing I didn’t have a car, because I would probably have been up here at Prairie View every single day. I’d finally gotten a chance to hear him rap. He was pretty good. I especially liked that he’d written a rap song called “My Angel.”
“So, what do you want to do today?” Rico asked as he snuggled up behind me.
I enjoyed his cologne. He’d told me it was called Calvin Klein Euphoria, and it had become my favorite.
“I don’t know,” I said. “What do people do around here on a Saturday?”
Rico shrugged nonchalantly.
“Same thing they do every day—nothing. There’s a party tonight, but I just want to enjoy the day with you. I ain’t tryin’ to hang out at a party.”
I smiled. Those words were music to my ears. I was so happy that I was finally getting a life of my own.
“But I am hungry,” Rico said, jumping up from his sofa. “Let’s go grab a bite to eat.”
“Okay, just let me use the restroom and I’ll be ready.”
“I’m going next door to get Trey’s keys so I can use his car,” Rico said.
In the bathroom, I made sure my hair was tight and dabbed some fresh lip gloss on before making my way to Rico’s suite, where his roommates looked like they were caught up in some video game. Rico, Trey, Oscar and some other boy were all leaning over a laptop. Whatever they were watching had their full attention. I figured it was some YouTube rap song or something.
“Dang, she is too fine!” Trey sang. “I definitely could get with that.”
“Naw, man, I want the twins. They look like they know how to party,” Oscar replied, licking his lips.
“Dude, I can’t believe you know her,” Trey added, giving Rico’s chest a pounding.
“What hoochies are you guys feenin’ over?” I joked.
They glanced back at me. Everyone had these big cheesy grins on their faces, except Rico. He looked shocked. That alone caused me to lose my smile.
“Hey, Angel,” Oscar said, “hook a brother up.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, walking over to them. “Hook you up with who?”
Oscar pointed to the screen on the laptop. “Them.”
I leaned in and peered at the screen. It was a YouTube video of two girls dancing in their bras and panties on top of a king-sized bed. They looked like they were in their own world as they danced and sang “Umbrella” by Rihanna.
I squinted. Both of them looked really familiar, but I couldn’t place their faces.
“I don’t know them,” I said, frowning up.
Oscar used the mousepad to click the video back a few frames. “But Rico says you know her, so tell her to hook me up.” As he pointed at the screen again, I almost fell over backward.
“Alexis?” I mumbled. It dawned on me why the twins looked familiar. They were Mari and Marlee, some girls Alexis used to hang with before she joined the Good Girlz.
“So you do know her?” Trey said. He slapped Oscar on the shoulder. “That’s what I’m talking about. Gimme her number. Tell her to call those twins and we’ll come to party tonight.”
I watched in horror as Alexis danced with Mari and Marlee. All three of them had on sexy lingerie, lace bras and panties clamped to some fishnet stockings. They were dancing real provocatively, and Marlee was even licking all over the microphone as they sang. It was so disgusting.
But obviously I was the only one who thought so, because the way Trey, Oscar and the other guy were staring, they were wishing they’d been the microphone.
I was even more horrified when I saw the caption. “‘The freaks come out at night’?” I read aloud. “Where did you all find this?” I demanded.
Trey shrugged. “Someone sent me the link. I saw it last week and told my boys about it.”
Oscar nodded, then pushed Rico’s shoulder. “Yeah, and then today we find out our boy knows one of these chicks. Oh, it’s about to be on and poppin’. So, when you gon hook us up?”
“I’m not hookin’ anyone up,” I said sharply, wiping the stupid grins off their faces.
“Awww, Angel, why you trippin’?” Trey asked. I’d only met them once, and they’d instantly taken a liking to me and vice versa. They treated me like I’d been around forever.
“Look, leave my girl alone,” Rico said, stepping in. “That’s her best friend.”
“Even more reason to hook us up,” Oscar replied. “Then we could quadruple date.” He looked at Trey. “Or would it be quintuple, since it’ll be Rico and Angel, you with that light-skinned girl, and me with the twins?” Trey and Oscar busted out laughing as they gave each other dap.
Rico must’ve known I was really upset, because he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door. “Come on, babe, let’s go.”
I was too stunned to say anything else and let him lead me out. Trey and Oscar were still yelling for me to “hook them up,” but I just wanted to get out of there. I couldn’t believe Alexis was on the internet exposing herself like that.
“You okay?” Rico asked once we were outside his dorm.
“Yeah, I guess so,” I softly said. “When did you find this out?”
“Right before you walked in. I recognized Alexis and I was as shocked as you.”
“I can’t believe, of all people, Alexis would be all on the internet like that.”
“I guess you just never know some people,” Rico said.
“That’s just it, I do know her.” I scrunched up my face. “At least I thought I knew her. Why in the world would she do something like that?”
Rico shrugged as he opened the car door. “What’s the big deal? It’s not like she was naked or anything.”
I narrowed my eyes at him but didn’t respond as I got in. I don’t know how he could think this wasn’t a big deal. I mean, she was all over the internet, having college boys in another cit
y thinking she was a freak. And Alexis was so far from that. In fact, she wore a chastity ring and told any boy that she was talking to that it wasn’t coming off. The only person who’d even come close had been this guy named Anthony Vickers. Thank God, though, Alexis had found out what a creep he’d been before she’d given up her ring. He’d been trying to date both her and Camille, hoping they would never find out.
“So, where are we going to eat?” Rico asked as he was backing out. He was acting like nothing was wrong.
“Rico, I’m sorry, but I need to go,” I said.
“What?” He looked at me like I was crazy. “Go where?”
“Home. I . . . I need to talk to Alexis.”
“You have got to be kidding me.” He looked at me like he was really waiting for me to tell him I was joking.
“No, I’m serious.”
“Can’t you just call her?”
“They’re at the service project—you know, the one I skipped out on to come here. Miss Rachel makes them cut off their phones. Besides, I need to talk to them about this in person.”
He huffed. “So, you’re about to kick me to the curb for your friends?”
“Rico, don’t be like that, please.” I gently touched his arm, but he jerked away so hard that I thought he was going to hit me.
“Whatever,” Rico said, speeding out of the parking lot. He mumbled something else, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. I knew he was mad, but I’d have to make it up to him later. Right now I had to get to my friends.
16
Angel
I hated riding in silence. But that’s exactly what we were doing.
“Rico . . . ,” I began.
He didn’t give me time to finish my sentence. He leaned my way and turned his music up louder.
“Rico!” I said over the music. “Are you that mad at me?”
“‘My chick bad, my chick hood . . . ’ ” He ignored me as he rapped along with the Ludacris cut on the radio.
“Would you stop, please?” I said. “I said I’m sorry.”
Drama Queens Page 7
