Frenemies

by L. Divine

  “Jayd, get up,” Bryan says, reminding me it’s Monday morning and I need to wake up. The buses around here wait for no one, no matter how cute I may be. Damn, I knew something was going to go down at the ball. I’ve got to get through to Nellie before Saturday or she may never recover from this one. There’s no limit to Tania’s evil, and I intend to expose her for the vixen she truly is.

  11

  Yuck Mouth

  “Smile for me, Daddy/

  Let me see your grill.”

  —NELLIE

  After my dream last night about Nellie’s unfortunate snack, I felt a little nauseated this morning and made some raspberry tea for breakfast. My monthly visitor should be gone by Wednesday, but until then Mama’s herbal capsules will help me deal with the inconvenience. No drugs they sell in the store will ever beat Mama’s herbs.

  The bus rides to school this morning were unusually annoying, with my cramps still in full effect. It’s break, and I really just want to lie down on a bench and soak up some of the sun’s warmth; it always relaxes me. I just need to switch off my books before I chill. But to my surprise, Nellie’s waiting at my locker. This can’t be good.

  “Hey, Jayd,” Nellie says, acting like we’ve been cool for the past few weeks. Something must’ve happened over the weekend to make this broad come up to me and chat. Maybe she had the same dream last night. If so, I can’t blame her for looking for help.

  “Nellie,” I say, giving her the cold shoulder. I really don’t want to make this easy for her. She needs to learn that real friends are not disposable, and I’m going to be just the one to teach her that lesson.

  “I know I’ve been kind of unavailable lately,” she says, twisting her straightened hair around her finger like a five-year-old who’s been caught wearing her mama’s favorite shoes. “But I just wanted to see if we could catch up.”

  “Now?” I say, looking at the clock on the wall by the main entrance. There are only ten minutes left until third period, and I really want to grab a quick snack and chill out by myself. Jeremy didn’t have too much to say to me on the short ride from the bus stop this morning, so if I’m going to talk with anyone, it would be him. I’m in no mood for an intense conversation with Nellie right now.

  “Yes, if you have time,” Nellie says. I take my books out of my backpack and place the ones I don’t need back into my locker before closing it shut. “I really just want to see how you and Mickey are doing,” she adds nervously. What’s really going on with her? I don’t feel like this is an innocent mission to rekindle our friendship.

  “What’s really up with you, Nellie?” I say, speed walking down the busy corridor toward the back exit. I can see that the line for the nutrition stand across the way is still long. Damn. I need to get something in my stomach before class. Mrs. Peterson never lets us finish our food in her room, and I can’t afford to be late. “I don’t have much time before the bell rings, so spit it out,” I say, taking my place in line behind the other hungry students.

  “Has Mickey said anything to you about me?” she asks, again with the nervous twitch.

  “Anything like what?” I ask. Oh, hell, no, Nellie didn’t start some more shit with Mickey. “After barely missing getting knocked out the other day, I’d think you would leave her be.” I move one more spot closer to the front.

  “That was totally uncalled for,” Nellie says, tossing her hair over her shoulders and looking down at everyone around us, even if she’s shorter than them. “She can be so ghetto, don’t you agree?” This girl is worse than ever before, and I’m starting to lose any interest I have in helping her. Maybe it’s just the hormones talking, but I kinda wish Mickey would come over here now and finish what she started the other day. This time Chance won’t be here to save her.

  “Did you at least apologize to Chance?” I say. He’s still a little pissed at me, but I’m sure it’ll pass. Chance really means well and has a sweet heart. Besides, I need all the true friends I can find, even if their weaknesses work my nerves sometimes.

  “Yes, I did, and he forgave me.” Nellie grins. I don’t like this feeling I’m getting from her. She’s hiding something, and if it has to do with Mickey, I won’t be able to save her this time. I might even have to jump in on Mickey’s side, depending on what it is. “But if Mickey mentions anything about me, will you please let me know?” she says, forgetting that we’re no longer friends.

  “I don’t have any loyalty toward you anymore, Nellie,” I say, almost reaching my goal. The popcorn behind the counter smells so good I think I’ll take a small bag. It’ll be easy to down while walking to government. “Or have you forgotten the ice chips falling from your shoulder?”

  “Look, Jayd, that’s just a part of the job,” she says, again taking her crown too seriously.

  “Nellie, give it up!” I yell. “You don’t have a job. As a matter of fact, you’ve never worked a day in your princess-ass life. Now, I’ve had it with you and your sometimey ass. Whatever you did to Mickey, you’re on your own. I can’t believe you’d use me like this.” I’m more pissed and hungry than ever.

  “I know a little something about Jeremy and Tania, if you’re interested,” she says, diverting my attention away from the lady behind the counter who’s now ready to take my order. I must admit, I’m curious to know who the devil told Nellie. But gossip ain’t my style. If I’m going to find out anything, it’ll have to be straight from the source.

  “Excuse me, miss,” the lady says, irritated that we’re holding up the line. “What’ll it be?”

  “A small popcorn, please,” I say, ignoring Nellie and pulling out my petite purse from the side of my backpack. I still haven’t used my new bag, and I don’t know that I ever will. “Thank you.” I take the warm treat and walk toward my third period, Nellie still hot on my trail.

  “Jayd, I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say,” she says, making a desperate attempt to engage me in her madness.

  “Nellie, I don’t read about nor do I want to be a Gossip Girl,” I say, alluding to her favorite books. I never did get into them, but now I can see why Nellie’s so intrigued.

  “Fine, suit yourself,” she says angrily. “But you’ll be sorry when you do get wind of the truth.” She stops in front of the Main Hall as I pass it by and continue walking toward my class. The warning bell should be ringing any minute, and students are starting to wrap up their conversations and make-out sessions.

  “I have a feeling you’ll be sorrier than I will when Mickey finds out whatever it is you’re hiding,” I say as I look back at her. Whatever she did must be really bad because my last comment just made her flawless dark skin turn gray. What the hell did she do, and what does she know about Jeremy and Tania that I need to know? I guess I’ll just have to wait and see like everyone else.

  “What’s up for lunch?” Jeremy says as we walk toward his car, with Chance and Matt not far behind. “Mexican or Italian? Lady’s choice.” That popcorn didn’t do anything but tease me at break, and I’ve been waiting for the last two hours to get to this point.

  “A chimichanga sounds really good right now.” I can actually make chimichangas pretty well. Maggie gave me the recipe last year after she brought some to school for our annual cultural festival in March. I’ve been sprung on them ever since.

  “Mexican it is,” he says, swooping out of the parking lot toward the beach. I know he wishes he was surfing right now, because even I want to dip my body in the sapphire waves. The gentle breeze cools my face from the hot classroom I just came out of. My math class smells like a dirty shoe, and I feel like I’m still inside it.

  Chance and Matt are right behind us, bumping Mims’s “This is Why I’m Hot.” I love the remix. Jeremy turns his music up and drowns out Chance’s car.

  “Hey, I’m listening to that,” I say, reaching for the dial and turning down the Smiths. I love Charmed just as much as the next person, but there’s a difference between hearing the song on television and bumping it in the car. As I g
et back into my groove, Jeremy turns his radio back up, again interrupting my vibe.

  “The driver gets to pick the music, remember?” He smiles, but I’m not amused. I know he likes some hip-hop, but his true love is alternative. And that makes for a strenuous ride sometimes. I like to bump down the block, like when Rah, Nigel or Mickey and I roll. Alternative just don’t get me in that chill mood all the time.

  “I know, baby, but can we just finish listening to this song? It’s almost over,” I say, trying to sweet-talk my man. There’s a lot of give-and-take in this relationship, mostly from me, it seems.

  “Jayd, why would you rather listen to Chance’s radio six feet back than to mine right here? Our sound systems are similar.” Yeah, but the tunes are different.

  “Never mind,” I say, giving in. I just want to eat and chill out for a minute before going back to school. It’s been a long Monday, and I’m ready to go home and call it a day.

  “You want to go in?” he asks, pulling up to Alonzo’s, the best fast-food Mexican restaurant in the South Bay.

  “Drive-through,” I say, shifting my weight in the leather seats. As Jeremy orders our food, I feel a little wet and notice a spot has surfaced on my gray sweats. I’ll be damned if I didn’t bleed through my pad. What the hell? Thank goodness I have a sweater in my backpack to wrap around my waist. But I can’t guarantee it will save me for the rest of the day. I’m going to have to call Mama to get a pass home. When it comes to my cycle, Mama never questions me wanting to be in my own bed. I simultaneously grab my phone and sweater from my bag as Jeremy places our order.

  “Hello?” Mama says, sounding like she’s been interrupted. All My Children’s on, so I know she’s not in the mood to talk.

  “Mama, it’s me. I need to come home,” I say, trying to be as discreet as possible. I’m not comfortable enough to tell Jeremy about this. It’ll be like farting in front of him, and we’re just not there yet.

  “Haven’t I told you to carry an extra set of clothes when you’re on your cycle?” she says, instinctively knowing why I’m calling. “I’ll call the office and get your uncle Bryan to come and pick you up. He just got in from Miracle Market, so I’ll send him on over there.”

  “Thank you,” I say, hanging up my cell and reaching for my backpack. I’m glad to have the rest of the day off. And with tomorrow being a short day for teacher meetings, the end of the week will come quickly. But I’m sure there’ll be enough drama throughout for it to seem as long as it usually is.

  “Here you go, Jayd,” Jeremy says, handing me the cold drinks before reaching for the hot food. I can’t wait to get started on my fried burrito.

  “Thank you,” I say, pulling a tortilla chip out of the bag while we pull up and wait for our friends. When we get back to campus I’ll go straight to the attendance office, get my pass and wait outside for Bryan. Knowing him, he’ll probably demand I give him gas money or something. I don’t blame him; his old Chevy van uses up a grip of gas, and Redondo Beach ain’t around the corner from home.

  When we get back to campus, Mickey and Nigel are in his car kicking it. We pull up right beside them, but they hardly notice. I’m almost finished with my food, and my Coca-Cola is next on the list. I can take my time since I’ll be waiting for another half hour, at least. But everyone else has to get back to class. Speaking of which, KJ, Del and C Money pull up on the other side of Nigel, creating an awkward sandwich. Everyone exits their cars almost at the same time as the warning bell rings.

  “What up, Jayd?” KJ says, showing off his new grill. I notice that his homies each have one of their own. Oh, no, they didn’t waste their money on some foul shit like that.

  “What the hell is that in your mouth?” I say, closing the car door. Jeremy and Chance are getting a kick out of me roasting KJ. Why is it different now than when it’s about Tania?

  “What do you think it is?” KJ slurs, being a smart-ass.

  “The girls love it, Jayd, ain’t that right, Mickey?” Del says, making her laugh. She and Del have known each other since elementary school and have been homies ever since.

  “I think they make your breath stink,” Mickey says, following Nigel out of his Impala and up the steps leading into the main office.

  “Girl, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” C Money says as he exits the backseat of KJ’s hoopty. “Girl’s love it when Daddy smiles the bling at them.” C Money can be such an ass sometimes.

  “Whatever. All I know is that it looks cheap and Mickey’s right—it does make your breath stink,” I say as Jeremy grabs my backpack and wraps his free arm around my waist while I finish the last of my lunch. KJ and his crew walk up the side steps and through the front gate, entering the main quad. Chance and Matt are still in his car having a smoke before heading down to drama class, and Jeremy and I lean up against the steps. Jeremy’s hand moves down my back, making me feel self-conscious.

  “Not too low, baby,” I say, feeling my sweater begin to slip down my waist. I’m going to have to toss the rest of my drink so I can hold on to my little secret until I get home. All I need is for KJ and his crew to see me blemished; I’ll have a new nickname all around campus before Bryan gets here.

  “Why? What you hiding back there?” he says, tickling me and not understanding that this isn’t the time to play. I glide his hand back up to my waist while giving him a look that stops him once and for all.

  “Jayd, you want to go to the mall after school?” Mickey says from the top of the steps ahead of us. Thank God for the interruption.

  “Nah, I’m actually going home early,” I say, breaking the news to everyone around. “What about tomorrow? It’s an early day.”

  “Oh, that’s right,” Mickey says with a sly smile. If it weren’t for football practice and mandatory weight days when we have short days, I’m sure she and Nigel would have other plans. “All right then, Jayd. Are you feeling okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m cool. I just had a doctor’s appointment I forgot about, that’s all,” I lie, silencing Jeremy and Mickey without any more questions. Jeremy doesn’t look like he believes me but doesn’t push any further. “Y’all better go before the bell rings,” I say, dumping my trash into the bin outside the office door.

  “All right, baby. I’ll call you after school,” Jeremy says, kissing me on the lips before heading through the double doors, right behind Chance, who nods me good-bye. When I finally enter the double doors and make a right toward the attendance office, I can see Nellie up ahead talking to Misty. Noticing my approach, they both head out in opposite directions. What the hell do they have to talk about?

  I feel something very bad stirring in the wind. All this gossiping is going a bit too far. Maybe my dream about Nellie’s rotten mouth was alluding to her spreading shit around about Mickey. I know KJ and his boys are the ones with grills, but it looks like Nellie’s the real yuck mouth around here. Whatever mess she’s gotten herself into with Misty, I hope she’s ready for the repercussions, because knowing Mickey, payback will definitely be a bad bitch.

  12

  The Cuss-Out

  “I said you hold back and if you ain’t heard /

  But them are fighting words.”

  —MACY GRAY

  When I got home yesterday from school, I changed my clothes, took a shower and went straight to bed and stayed there until this morning. I had to spend my break and lunch today making up my homework from last night. Luckily I was able to get my English homework done in Spanish class; my first period’s always boring. I’m actually looking forward to kicking it at the mall with Mickey, if for no other reason than to see if I can exchange this bag Jeremy got for me. I’ve been hiding it in my locker all day and still don’t know what to do.

  “Jayd, are you ready?” Mickey says as I close my locker and head toward the end of the barren hall. Mickey usually parks in the back parking lot; her pink Regal is too special to be with all the popular kids’ cars.

  “Yes, I am,” I say as Alicia Keys announces Rah
’s call. “What up, man?” I say, happy to hear from him. We texted each other yesterday, but I haven’t talked to him since Sunday.

  “Nothing, shawty. What are you up to?” he asks.

  “Well, right now I’m about to get into Mickey’s car and ride up to the mall. And you,” I say, knowing his school’s on the same schedule as mine, like all the other schools in our district.

  “I was about to head up to your school and work out with my boy. You leaving right now?” he says, sounding as cute as ever. It wouldn’t be a good idea for Mickey and I to be in the weight room. That’s how rumors get started, and we already have enough of that going around as it is.

  “Yes. You know I have things to do, people to see,” I tease. Jeremy’s surfing with his crew, so it’s just me and my girl this afternoon.

  “Whatever, man. Sounds like you’re avoiding me,” Rah says, trying to make me feel guilty. But it isn’t going to work. I don’t like his pressuring me about my Jeremy right now. “Or have you finally come to your senses and decided to take that bribe bag back?” How does he read my mind like that?

  “You know what, Rah?” I say, trying to divert his radar; I have enough people in my head already. “You think too much. I’ll holla back,” I say, sitting down in the hot car as Mickey turns on the engine, the speakers immediately bumping E-40’s bass line, putting me in a good mood.

  “You do that. Peace, queen,” he says, sounding like he’s from the east coast. His dad’s originally from New York, and even though he’s on lockdown in Atlanta, they still talk often, sharing knowledge however they can. I know Rah and Kamal miss their dad, especially with a crazy mama like theirs at home. And the South ain’t nothing nice, especially not when a brotha’s got three strikes, so I know it has to be hard for him, too.