Frenemies Read Free Page A

have enough issues of my own right now to be dealing with this BS.” As I head down the path toward Spanish class, I can feel their eyes still on me. Unfortunately for them, they have most of their classes together, including first period. Misty, KJ, C Money, Del and damn near the rest of the Black junior population is on the same track and therefore in the same classes. With the bell ringing above my head, I step into Spanish class and momentarily away from the drama. I’m sure it’ll resume soon enough.
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    Getting through my first two classes smoothly is pivotal for me to have a good morning. And I was able to get some of my homework done in the library during break, giving me more time to work on Mama’s assignment, which is also a good thing. But for some reason, this day is determined to be a rocky one. It’s lunch, and instead of going off campus with Jeremy and his crew, I’m in the Main Quad waiting for Nellie to appear. Why am I still such a good friend to her?
    As Nellie and the rest of South Bay’s Homecoming court struts from the cafeteria through the Main Quad, Nigel and our winning football team are escorted by the cheerleaders. Nellie’s gleaming and sucking it all in. Tania, right behind her, has a strange look on her face, like she’s just smelled something horrible. And then, right on Nellie’s back, she throws up.
    â€œAhhh!” Nellie screams. She’s got vomit in her hair, on her neck and back. Tania, embarrassed, runs from the procession back into the cafeteria. Covering her mouth with her left hand, I notice a big diamond ring. This girl’s engaged? My dream may be unfolding, but Nellie getting hurled on was an extra perk.
    â€œDamn, that’s never going to come out,” Reid says into the mic, making light of Nellie’s humiliation. I can’t stand it. I have to help her. The rest of the court, football team and campus can’t contain their laughter any longer.
    As I approach Nellie at the front of the quad, I follow her eyes through the crowd, where I see Mickey and Nigel meet up and head toward the front parking lot. Nellie, already hot, has a new fire lit under her now. That was all the validation she needed to know there’s something going on between Nigel and Mickey. She looks at me as if I somehow orchestrated this entire event and walks off toward the cafeteria. I should’ve gone off campus with Jeremy. I’ve had enough of Nellie’s drama for one day.
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    Thank goodness the day’s finally over. Mickey and Nigel never resurfaced after Nellie’s unforgettable episode at lunch, so all I have to do is go to my locker and meet up with Jeremy and Chance outside the Main Hall. Damn, I hope I don’t run into Misty. That would add to the rest of the day’s negativity.
    Making my way through the busy hall, I notice my counselor, Mr. Adelezi, talking to some hysterical blond girl. I wonder if he likes his job? Just when I think I’m home free from running into my nemesis, Misty rears her curly head. She must be waiting for her mother to get off. I don’t know if Misty’s lucky or not, having her mother work in the attendance office. But I’m sure she milks every advantage out of it she can.
    As I walk toward her, Misty turns around. Noticing my gaze, she smiles a twisted grin, licks her lips and blows a kiss at me. That girl works my last nerve. Lucky for her, I’m almost to the front door, where Jeremy and Chance are there waiting for me. Otherwise I might send a kiss of my own back to her.
    â€œHey, Lady J,” Jeremy says, instinctively taking my backpack from my right shoulder and slipping it over his. We hold each other’s hands as Chance leads the way. Sprung on Nellie, he starts the conversation off as we exit the front door to chill on the steps for a quick minute before heading home. I sit in between Jeremy’s legs, leaning back and ready to give my