Alia nods in agreement and makes herself comfortable in Chase’s arms. Marcia stands next to them and eyes the rest of the crowded room. My eyes are fixated on Jeremy and his on me.
“Jayd,” Jeremy says, pulling me into a hug. Damn, he smells good enough to eat. Why does he always have to smell so fresh and clean? Maybe if he stunk I’d be less attracted to him.
“What’s up Paul Walker, Gabrielle Union,” Seth says, laughing at his own humor.
I don’t know why drunk, white boys always think racial jokes are funny no matter how inappropriate.
“Let me guess, Seth,” Jeremy says, snacking on a chicken wing. “You caught up on your fantasy fiction this weekend, right?” Jeremy says, walking past Seth and out onto the back deck where the party’s really poppin’.
Seth rolls his heavily lined eyes at Jeremy and wisely chooses to let the comment ride. He knows better than to push Jeremy too far.
Chase and Alia follow Jeremy outside with Marcia in tow. I fill up my plate and then follow them outside—a full mouth will keep me from the saying the wrong thing to Seth and any other haters I may encounter this afternoon.
“What happened to you two?” Seth asks, not taking the hint that we don’t want to be followed. “You were such a happy couple. Now all the doom and gloom.”
Jeremy posts up against the side of the wooden deck while the rest of us take a seat on the adjacent long bench. “How do you know we’re not still the happy couple?” Jeremy asks with a stern look.
“Are you?” Marcia asks. She’s all up in the mix and it’s only her first day. Somebody better school this girl on how things work around here and quick before she’s too bold around the wrong person.
“It’s complicated,” I say, answering for Jeremy and me. I look up at my friend, my estranged man, my confidante, and search for some sort of resolution in his eyes. All I see is a mirror filled with pain staring back at me.
“Is it really?” Chase asks. I know he’s not adding heat to the flames. “Either you’re together or not. Which is it?”
Jeremy and I continue looking at each other, both wanting to say something but stopping short of giving a solid answer. I guess we’re both afraid to say it aloud for fear that it will become real: Is this the end of us?
“I need a drink,” Jeremy says. That might not be what I wanted to hear but it may be just the answer I needed.
I return my focus to the plate on my lap ready to devour the comfort food.
“Hey, Jayd,” Nellie says, walking outside through the opened patio doors. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“That makes two of us,” I say, unapologetically licking the hot sauce from my fingers. “What are you doing here?” What I meant to say was what everyone else around me is thinking: You’re not with Chase anymore, which means you’re no longer affiliated with the Drama Club, so what the hell are you doing at one of our functions?
“Oh, Laura invited me,” she says, gesturing toward Laura, Cameron and the rest of their bitch crew on the back lawn. “Didn’t I tell you they’re supporting me for Senior Homecoming princess this year? I’m so excited!” Nellie says, about to burst out of her body-hugging Bebe dress. “I might be the first black queen at South Bay High. I can’t wait to make history not once but twice.”
Great, that’s just what we need. Nellie’s head got so large after last year’s victory it took everything in me not to slap her on several different occasions.
“Kind of like Jayne Kennedy did back in the day,” Marcia says, again adding her voice unnecessarily. I don’t mind her outspokenness; it’s actually kind of refreshing. But everyone’s not going to share my view.
Nellie looks at the new girl on deck like she’s a leper but chooses to ignore her comment for the time being.
“That woman was official back in the day,” Chase says, nodding his head in recognition of the first black woman to grace the cover of
Playboy
magazine, or any magazine for that matter.
Seth looks at Chase like he’s speaking Dutch. “Is that one of the Kennedy’s, like the former Governor’s wife?” Seth asks. I’m surprised he knows that much.
“No, dude. Not at all,” Jeremy says, laughing at Seth.
“I’m surprised you don’t know who she is, man,” Chase says. Alia looks as clueless as Seth does. She also looks jealous at Chase’s obvious crush on yet another sistah much to Nellie’s liking. “Jayne Kennedy was one of the baddest divas that ever graced the cover of a magazine and made history while doing.”
Seth’s eyes brighten at the thought of another bold and beautiful woman to look up to. Everyone’s well aware that Seth is gay, happy and proud about it. He’s in charge of make up and wardrobe for the Drama Club as well as the set designs for our shows. He takes pride in his work and in being the nosiest gossip at South Bay High.
“Hello all,” Cameron says, stepping onto the deck leaving the rest of her rich, mean girl crew on the lawn to soak up some sun. I hope they sizzle and burn.
“Mmmm,” Alia says, under her breath. She must be drunk acting out like this. She never has anything negative to say unspoken or otherwise.
“Cameron,” Jeremy says, taking a sip of his spiked iced tea courtesy of the servers on deck. I hope he’s been thinking about heeding my words per our last conversation. All that alcohol and smoking is liable to get him in trouble again. If it weren’t for his bad habits we wouldn’t be in this mess.
“Let’s check out the deejay,” Chase says, taking his girlfriend by the hand and heading toward the other side of the pool.
“Love the new shades, Nellie,” Cameron says. “Gazelles?”
“Yeah, thanks,” Nellie says, removing the expensive sunglasses. “They were a gift.” There’s something about her tone that makes me think that compliment was code for something else.
“I’ll come with,” Marcia says, sensing the thick vibe. At least she has that much sense.
Seth looks at Cameron and Jeremy, then down at me taking the hint as well. Damn, this broad can clear a crowd—true evil tends to possess that divine ability.
Nellie stays put but looks anxious as hell. I’ll see what that’s all about later. Just a moment ago she was on cloud nine envisioning yet another crown on her already swollen head. Our crew barely made it through her last coronation, now we may possibly have another one on its way. I don’t know if we can go through that again.
“Jeremy, I’m glad I ran into you,” Cameron says, attempting to loop her arm through his. Jeremy moves before she can make contact.
“Why is that?” Jeremy asks, impatient by his neighbor’s giddy demeanor.
I continue polishing off my plate ready for seconds. Even this wench can’t ruin my appetite.
“I wanted to discuss our Homecoming plans, silly,” Cameron says.
“We don’t have any plans, Cameron,” Jeremy says without attempting to hide his disgust for the trick. At least we can agree on something.
Would it be too crude of me to accidentally toss my drink in her face?
“Of course we do, Jeremy,” Cameron says, taking the drink out of his hand and sipping on it. “You’ll be escorting me to all of the Homecoming festivities in a few weeks.” She attempts to take another sip but Jeremy reclaims his drink before she can get too comfortable with it. “And since it’s our senior year let’s make the occasion yearbook worthy, shall we? We should really shop for our outfits this weekend. We don’t want to wait until the very last moment. Wouldn’t you agree, Nellie?”
Nellie looks from me to Cameron waiting from me to spill my drink all over this trick, but Jeremy intervenes before I can go off.
“Cameron, I’m not going anywhere with you. No matter what you and my mom may think we’re not dating and we never will.”
Nellie looks at Cameron afraid to move a muscle. I swear she knew this was coming but how?
“That’s where you’re wrong, Jeremy,” Cameron says, taking out her cell phone and displaying the planted picture like it’s a newborn child. “According to this photo, we’re not only dating but we’re loving every minute of it. And happy couples do things together like attend social functions, which you will be doing a lot of this year so get used to it.”
“Cameron, what the hell have you been smoking?” I ask, tired of her rant.
“And can I have some because that shit’s got you high as a satellite,” Jeremy says, making me laugh. I’ve missed his sense of humor.
Cameron shoots Jeremy a look that brings her serious tone right back to the forefront. The last time Jeremy almost went to jail for selling weed on campus I made him a batch of cupcakes to get him out of that legal mess. His father’s attorneys also came in handy, but it really could have gone either way. They warned Jeremy then that if he got into trouble again the judge would have no problem throwing him in jail no matter how much clout his parents may have. Cameron knows she’s got Jeremy right where she wants him—away from me and into her prom pictures.
“Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we?” Cameron says, studying the photo. “If you deny that we were making out like we couldn’t keep our hands off of each other you’ll have to admit that you were high in the picture.” Cameron’s really tripping, so much so that she’s almost gangster with her shit, inspiring a little fear in me that she might actually get away with this stunt.
I know Jeremy doesn’t want to miss his senior year for anything, most of all jail time. By drinking and smoking weed he’d be in violation of his parole agreement and on his way back to court.
“Cameron, are you that hard up for a man that you’ll blackmail one who quite obviously wants nothing to do with you into dating you? Really?” I ask, amazed at how vengeful a wench can be.
“Don’t worry about my motivations, Jayd. As of this moment, Jeremy Edward Weiner is no longer your concern. TTYL, babe.” Cameron smiles wickedly, blows a kiss to Jeremy and walks away.
Nellie looks after her mentor like she wants to follow but hesitates. What the hell?
“I’m going to tell my attorney about Cameron staging the photo and blackmailing me and see if there’s anything we can do,” Jeremy says, visibly upset. “She’s really lost her mind.”
“Sanity’s a crap shoot when you’re in love.” I say, ready to roll.
This isn’t the stress-free afternoon I’d hoped for. At least I’ll get some free groceries to go. There’s enough food inside to feed an army and Matt always insists we take food to go. A couple of plates should last me a day or two until I can get to the market. Constantly rising gas prices are forcing us broke folks to make some tough choices these days.
I look at Nellie who looks away guilt-ridden. I’ll lay into her ass over the phone or at another time. The last thing I want to do is be a part of another scene. I wipe my hands on the thick napkin and head for the patio doors.
Jeremy stops me in my tracks and blocks me from entering the doorway. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get you back, Jayd.”
Jeremy walks through the door ahead of me and vanishes inside the spacious basement, no doubt to find a bong and smoke his brains out in an attempt to forget about Cameron’s latest revelation. I can’t even enjoy my last jumbo shrimp. I don’t know if it bothers me more that Jeremy allowed himself to get into this situation or that Cameron’s got him right where she wants him and how that affects me.
“Is everything okay?” Chase asks, stepping behind me and rubbing my shoulders.
Nellie looks pissed but can’t say shit about who Chase chooses to touch. She lost that right when she gave up on him—one of the biggest mistakes she’s ever made since I’ve known her. I know she could kick herself now that Alia’s snagged her ex-boo up.
“Not at all. I wish I knew who sent me that picture,” I say, thinking out loud. “Then I might be able to help Jeremy check Cameron without getting in trouble for it. I know there’s some sort of law against what she did.”
Nellie replaces the shades over her eyes and looks around anxiously like she stole something. What the hell is wrong with her?
“That’s actually not a bad idea, depending on who sent the picture and if they’re willing to testify against Cameron. Good luck with that,” Chase says, sympathetically tapping me on the shoulder.
Chase knows as well as I do that Cameron’s replaced Jeremy’s baby-mama, Tania as the head bitch in charge. Sometimes I wish Jeremy weren’t the most wanted dude at South Bay High. Then there wouldn’t be so many hating females to deal with on the regular.
Nellie shifts from one butt cheek to the other like her shorts are on fire. She then removes her glasses again and looks sadly at Chase.
“Nellie, are you okay?” I ask. “The bathroom’s inside if you need to go,” I say, gesturing toward the patio doors.
She looks down at her uneaten veggie platter and plays with her celery sticks. “Jayd, I sent you the picture,” Nellie says with tears in her heavily made-up eyes. “I didn’t want too but Cameron was showing it off to everyone at Laura’s house like she’d won some sort of bet or something. I just wanted you to know what was up.”
“Nellie, say it ain’t so,” Chase says, disappointed in his ex girlfriend’s admission.
“Damn it, Nellie! Why didn’t you say something before?” I ask, pissed as all get-out.
“I wanted to but I was trapped,” Nellie says, taking her napkin and dabbing her wet eyes without smearing her mascara. “If Cameron found out that I sent it from her phone I would have been seen as a traitor. Besides, I just wanted you to get the information. What difference does it matter how you got it? The most important thing is that Chase proved it was altered slightly to her advantage and now you can help Jeremy and move on, right?”
“Wrong,” I say, too upset to argue with my friend. I step inside and take a deep breath.