The Perfect Present Read Free Page B

at the same time.
    I dropped one of my Poetic Justice Braids that I had been twirling in my hand and said. “I can’t even. I was not going to turn up for her.”
    Vanessa quickly said, “Jazz you can tell us. We are fam.”
    I didn’t want to be messy, but Teresa and Vanessa were like my big sisters, so I could tell them. “Well, she acts like she is better than everyone just because she is from California. She gets on my nerves!”
    â€œShe looks like she is scared to me. Look at the way she looks up and then looks back down to her feet,” Vanessa said. We all turned to stare at her. Jayla was just standing there, looking stupid.
    â€œI think we should go and say hello,” Tionna said.
    I gave her a mean look.”
    â€œYou know grandma will ask us about it later. We just need to do it,” Tionna said.
    I waved her off. “You do what you want. I am not fooling with her. You go over there. I am not trying to start my day off wrong.”
    â€œJazz, it is not that serous. We are just going to say hello. Girl, get yourself together,” Vanessa said.
    Jasmine said, “I am staying in this spot.”
    â€œWell, we are walking over to say hello. Tionna, are you coming with us?” Teresa asked.
    Tionna looked at me, then looked at the twins. She hesitated, but then said, “Come on, I will introduce you to her.”
    I stood alone and mad. I could not believe Tionna was acting like Jayla was cool.
    Girl, your outfit is the most!” Vanessa said.
    â€œThank you. I have another skirt like it if you want to borrow it,” said Jayla.
    â€œK. That’s what’s up!” Vanessa said.
    â€œYou want to hang with us sometime?” Teresa asked.
    â€œSure, I don’t know a lot of people here in this town,” Jayla said.
    â€œCool, we’ll talk after school,” Vanessa told her.
    â€œThat’s what up,” Jayla said.
    I wanted to scream who was this chick and what had she done to the monster I met the other day . Vanessa, Teresa and Tionna were talking and laughing like Jayla just fit right in.
    The first bell rung.
    â€œI guess I need to go to my class. We will talk after class,” Jayla said.
    The girls hugged and Jayla walked off.
    â€œWhy are y’all hanging out with her?” I snapped as soon as she left.
    â€œWhy don’t you like her? She’s nice. You just stood there making faces while she was talking. You are the one who’s being mean,” said Vanessa.
    Tionna said, “The girl did not do a thing to you. You were acting real - ”
    Before my cousin could finish her sentence, I exploded. “If anybody should say hey first, it should be her. I could see something in her like grandma sees in people and I am trying to save all of you from being fooled,” Jasmine said.
    â€œJazz, Grandma told us to be her friend. So she must not see what you see,” Tionna replied.
    â€œWhatever, Tionna!”
    The twins looked at us and shook their heads. There was complete silence for about a minute.
    Finally, I said, “Who has seventy-five cents? I need it for a drink. I’m tired.”
    â€œI have a dollar you can have. You know you are still my girl,” Vanessa said with a hug and walked away. Teresa followed her.
    As soon as they left, Tionna just stood staring at me. “Maybe you should give Jayla a chance. She’s not that bad.”
    â€œYou are really doing the most right now, Tee. Leave me alone,” I said.
    â€œFine, keep your funky attitude.” Tionna rolled her eyes at me and stomped off to her class.
    I stood alone in the commons, wondering what had just happened.

Chapter 3
    I was at praise dance practice, the one place I felt at peace. I loved dancing, talking and laughing with the girls in the ministry. They were my sisters and I needed some new ones since my cousin, Tionna, and my friends, Vanessa and Teresa, had turned on me (I mean, they were even