Jayd's Legacy Read Free Page B

enough.”
    â€œWhat do you mean by that?” I ask, eyeing the hall clock. “Is Westingle turning all White or something?” I say, referring to their school. It’s basically the Black South Bay High. My mom tried to get me to go there, but no such luck. Her address wasn’t in the right area and she missed the deadline for submitting a transfer request.
    â€œNo, but the coaches from South Bay said they could promise me a starting position, basically guaranteeing me playing time in front of recruiters from the top colleges in the nation, which means scholarships. Now, a brotha can’t pass that up, can I?” he says.
    â€œSo, you mean to tell me you’re going to my school?” I ask, almost shouting. Oh, hell no. This can’t be good. And, knowing Raheem, he’ll be at every game, if not trying to transfer himself. They are each other’s clique, no other members allowed or needed.
    â€œYeah, you got a problem with that?” Nigel asks, smiling.
    â€œNo, not at all,” I say as Mr. Donald opens the door. But, hell yeah I got a problem with it. First Nellie’s nomination, and now this. What the hell?
    â€œJayd, you know our new student, Nigel?” Yeah, a little too well. But, Mr. Donald doesn’t need to know all that.
    â€œYeah, me and my girl here go way back,” he says, putting his arm around me and giving me one last hug before I head to the Main Hall.
    â€œI was just going to get my book,” I say, leaving the two of them to talk.
    â€œI’ll catch up with you later, Jayd. Raheem gave me a letter for you, but I left it in my locker.” A letter saying what, I wonder? All I need is more drama to deal with.
    Â 
    After voting, Nellie, Mickey and I decide to hang in South Central for the remainder of lunch. Although I miss my man, I need to chill with my friends too. Most of the usual suspects are still voting in the cafeteria. So, it’s unusually peaceful in the quad area.
    â€œDo you think I made it?” Nellie asks.
    â€œI think so. The other names on the ballot weren’t nearly as recognizable as yours. Well, except for Laura,” I say. Laura’s the first lady of ASB and that unofficial position always has its perks.
    â€œWhat’s the big deal?” Mickey says, picking at her hamburger. We each settled for cafeteria food today, which isn’t so bad. But, the voting line was long and our food has gotten cold. “So what if you don’t win. Does it really matter?” The look on Nellie’s face surely makes Mickey regret her statement.
    â€œHow can you say that?” Nellie asks, beginning what I predict to be the tantrum of all tantrums. Whenever her voice raises ten octaves, I know she’s about to throw a fit. “This is very important to me. And, it’s good for our social status,” she says, giving Mickey the evil eye.
    â€œOK, whatever. Slow your roll and bring it down a notch,” Mickey says, taking a bite out of her lukewarm burger. “All I meant was you shouldn’t be disappointed if you don’t win.”
    â€œThat’s just the type of negative thinking I don’t need. And besides, I wouldn’t be worried about our social status if Jayd had come to Byron’s party with us as planned,” Nellie says, bringing up old news.
    â€œWhy are you dragging me into this?” I say as I get up from the bench where we’re seated to throw away my chili fries. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s cold potatoes.
    â€œBecause, Jayd, not showing up to Byron’s party wasn’t a good move. It seems like you just don’t care about your popularity anymore,” Nellie says, sounding truly concerned. “Yes, it helps that you’re dating Jeremy. But, he’s not concerned with popularity at all and that’s OK for him. He’s a rich White boy. You on the other hand, need to think more seriously about your