It Is What It Is Read Free Page B

Cleveland. Maybe it’s the elements trying to insist on my hair looking like a beehive on the first day of school.
    â€œNow that you have a car, you should come scoop me sometimes,” says Hope in a kinda flirtatious tone.
    Ricky laughs. “What do you think I’m doing now, silly?”
    â€œI don’t mean scoop me to go shopping ... I mean ... oh, never mind.”
    Hope can’t seem to hide her frustration as she climbs into the backseat of Ricky’s car. She must not realize that the boy she’s trying to hook up with is utterly clueless. I guarantee that Ricky has no idea that she’s trying to holla.
    I’m still tripping at Ricky’s random use of the word silly . Um ... what?
    â€œGet in the car, silly, ” I say to Ricky. “I’d like to get to the mall today.”
    Ricky clears his throat and replies, “You know I don’t say silly all like that.”
    â€œYes, you do,” I say as I jump into my shotgun position.
    As Ricky pulls off, he asks Candy, “This is a big year for you, right? Freshman year!”
    â€œI guess it’s cool. It probably won’t be too different from middle school,” replies Candy.
    Okay, who isn’t excited to start high school? There is something weird about this girl, for real. Methinks she’s a clone.
    Hope asks, “You aren’t just a little bit excited?”
    I yawn loudly and look out of the window. Candy is so transparent to me. She’s only acting like she isn’t excited so that she’ll get Hope and Ricky’s attention while they try to convince her to be excited.
    Boo ...
    â€œShe is too excited,” I say, bursting her bubble. “I heard her on the phone with her little friends talking about the matching outfits they plan to wear for the first day.”
    Hope scrunches up her nose. “Matching outfits? That’s definitely not the business, Candy. You’ve got to be unique and make your own fashion statement.”
    Ricky and I glance at one another and burst out laughing. I know Hope is not talking about being unique. She and her crew have almost the exact same wardrobes in different colors. They have so many similar outfits, that they come to school dressed alike by accident!
    â€œWhatever, Gia! You and that Tweety apparel is so ten years ago, and Ricky, don’t you still wear Wranglers with the crease down the middle?”
    I’m proud of Hope! She’s been hanging with me long enough to get a little gusto about herself. She’s got comebacks and everything.
    Candy is finding all of this friendly conversation funny. “I thought you guys were best friends,” she says.
    â€œWe are,” Ricky replies. “We’re just playing. Right, Hope?”
    Hope smiles. “Of course. Gia, Tweety is banging.”
    â€œAnd Hope, your Juicy T-shirts in every color of the rainbow are most definitely the bidness,” I say, returning Hope’s smile.
    â€œWell, I won’t be rocking much Juicy. That’s last year,” says Hope. “Junior year is gonna be all about Dolce, Lucky, and Prada.”
    Candy’s eyes get wide. “Wow. Your mom lets you buy all those designers?”
    â€œYeah, she gives me my dad’s credit card and just tells me not to get too crazy.”
    â€œMust be nice,” says Candy with a frown.
    Hope being a spoiled brat is no surprise to me and Ricky. We’ve known this about her since we were in kindergarten. My uncle, Pastor Stokes, is a great church leader, but if he has a weakness, it’s his little girl. She has him completely trained.
    As for my own personal fashion statement, I plan to give Mr. Tweety a rest this year. It’s junior year, and time for something new, I think. I’m going vintage, like lace, pearls, black jeans, and red shoes. Kinda like Beyoncé’s little sister, Solange. Don’t you just love her? She’s so anti .
    We pull into the mall