No Mercy (15 page)

             
Jeremy proposed that we see each other in secret. He claims his life is dull without me in it and I feel the same way. With my entire crew on the fritz, having Jeremy in my life provides a sort of normalcy that I need right now. I didn’t necessarily agree to his suggestion but I am considering it. Besides, keeping our relationship a secret has its benefits when it comes to Esmeralda’s conniving ways as well.

“
Anybody got some lotion?" Shae asks, interrupting the afternoon announcements. She’s so hood it should be a crime.

Marcia
wants to laugh out loud at the ghetto intrusion but covers her smile. What’s that all about?

             
“Here,” Misty says, passing Shae some cocoa butter lotion. Her bag looks like a beauty supply rather than a student’s tool for carrying schoolbooks.

             
“Ladies please. The announcements are on,” Mr. Adewale says, checking the time. He usually has us after lunch not before, and everyone’s pretty antsy.

The school schedule is special today, with each class shortened by fifteen minutes due to our morning assembly. Who made the final cut
for homecoming court, the student council candidates, and when the class rings and yearbook packages will go on sale are included in the extra intrusion.

“Damn it. I missed
the announcements for Maggie’s nomination,” I say, gathering my things. Neither Mickey nor Nellie decided to show up for class today. It must be nice to pick and choose when you want to come to school.

Misty glares at me and then rolls her blue eyes to Mr. Adewale’s back. She was the first person to notice my new eye color. Like everyone else, Misty took them for contact lenses. I thought she’d know better having gone through a similar transformation during her initiation into Esmeralda’s house, but I guess she’s as stupid as her godmother when it comes to the depth of our powers.

“No worries, girl. You know Maggie got this,” Chase says, putting his cap back on. The bells about to ring and I’m starving. Maybe he’ll be nice and treat a sistah to lunch off campus today.

“Don’t forget your homework. And for those of you participating in the debate, don’t forget to continue with your research,” Mr. Adewale says, dismissing class.

As I join the line of students making their way toward the lunch quad a white girl pulls off her ponytail holder and releases her hair across my face. This is the type of shit that makes me want to cut a chicks hair off. And with my newfound knowledge of brooms and dolls, she’d best be careful.

“So what’s for lunch big bro?” I ask, playfully holding Chase’s hand. “It’s been a minute since I had some good pizza.”

“You know I got you,” Chase says, ushering me toward the parking lot. “I already had plans but you’re welcomed to join us if you don’t mind.” Chase disarms his alarm on the classic Nova where Jeremy’s waiting for his best friend.

“I don’t mind at all.” Before I can get too happy about the free lunch and good company, the bitch of the year and her crew cut our reunion short.

“Going somewhere?” Cameron asks, with Laura and the rest of their girls in tow.

It’s times like this that I miss having a strong female crew. With the right broads on my side, heffas like Cameron would never feel free to step up to me no matter the situation.

Jeremy sighs. “We’re just grabbing a bite to eat, Cameron.”

“Excellent. Where to?” Cameron wraps her arms around Jeremy’s waist and kisses his arm, inciting a heat in me that I don’t recognize.

“Actually, it was just me and Chase going,” Jeremy says, separating himself from his leach.

“And Jayd,” Chase says, looking at Jeremy. He did forget to mention me, and it was so nice of my play brother to check his friend on my behalf. “I invited her, too. So if you don’t mind, time’s a wasting,” Chase says, starting the car via remote control.

Laura’s eyes grow wide with excitement at the hum of the powerful engine. I know how she feels. There’s nothing like Chase’s ride to bring a smile to a girl’s face.

“Well, if she’s going then I’m definitely going,” Cameron says, reclaiming Jeremy like he’s property instead of a person.

“Damn, you’re one hungry bitch,” I say to Cameron before I can second-guess my actions. I’m done holding my tongue around this trick.

“Nice eyes, Jayd. Did you buy them at the Dollar Store?” Cameron says, attempting to throw salt but she has no idea how to box with a champion.

“Thanks, Cameron. Want to see what they can do?” I narrow my eyes and contemplate which of the powers in my arsenal to hit her with first.

Cameron lets go of Jeremy and steps in my face. I wish she’d throw a punch because I’d certainly return the favor.

“You may have everyone else around here convinced they should be afraid of you because you’re some kind of witch or something, but I’m not afraid of you, Jayd. Bring it on!”

“Cameron, go sit down somewhere before you get hurt. Seriously,” Chase says, looking at his platinum Rolex. “It’s time to go, y’all.”

“The hell it is. Jeremy, you’re coming with me,” Cameron says, pointing to her convertible BMW parked on the other side of the lot.

“I told you, I already have plans.” Jeremy opens the passenger door and nods to Chase who opens the driver’s side door. He pushes the lever and the seat bends forward for me to get in the back.

“Aren’t you forgetting our agreement?” Cameron says, tapping on her blinged-out iPhone case. I hope she breaks her freshly manicured nails on it.

“Damn, Cameron. Give it a rest,” Chase says, wiping the sweat from his brow. “You give ball and chain a whole new meaning.”

“And it’s too hot out here for this shit. I’ll catch you later, Cameron. Cool?” Jeremy says, trying to appease the bitch, but she’s way out of pocket this afternoon. Jeremy’s becoming more unattractive every second he let’s this heffa punk him.

My eyes start to burn I’m so pissed. “Cameron, step back before you go too far.”

Cameron looks as if she’s considering my words but then she steps closer, almost touching me nose to nose. “Jeremy’s mine, Jayd. Just stay out of my damned way!”

             
“No, Cameron. He’s not. And anyone can tell that he doesn’t want to be with you.”

             
“But I have him now, and that’s all that matters,” Cameron says, sounding more insane the louder she yells. Even her girls look tired of her rampage.

              “Obviously you don’t have him, you psychotic wench. If you did, why is he still trying to get with me on the low?”

             
“What is she talking about, Jeremy?” Cameron screams at him. “I told you I would not tolerate any indiscretions, ever!”

             
Other students anxious to get off campus look at the scene and keep stepping. I wish I could walk away, too.

             
“But you will tolerate being with a man who hates you,” I say, bringing her back to reality with the rest of us. This trick is really off her rocker. “How pathetic can you be?”

             
Cameron stares at me and I stare right back. She looks at me so intensely that my head gets hot and my eyes begin to burn. Before I can stop her, Cameron lunges toward me, slapping me to the ground.

             
“Oh shit!” Chase says. He moves out of the way, knowing I can handle myself.

             
“Get off of me!” I scream, snatching Cameron’s long, brown hair and forcing her head back into an unnatural position. I look into her eyes and attempt to calm her down with my mom’s sight but it’s no use. Cameron’s literally too hot for me to handle.

             
“Not until you get off my man!” Cameron attempts to scratch my face but I dodge the assault, still controlling her head. She then kicks her Dolce and Gabana sandal at me, hitting me in the arm.

“That’s it!” I say, standing. The who
le turning the other cheek thing is good in theory but it’s not working for me in this moment. I pull Cameron up to her feet and put her in a headlock like my uncles used to do with me when we would play fight. It wasn’t fun to me when I was little, but now that I’m older I see the benefit in the unwelcomed entrapment. 

             
“Hey, what’s going on here?” the security guards call out entering the gated lot. “Let her go!”

Ah hell, now I know I’m in for it. I do as I’m told and stand my ground. I didn’t do anything wrong but I know I’m still going to go down for this shit.

“This chick just went crazy on my homegirl,” Chase says, coming to my defense. “We just wanted to get some lunch.”

Jeremy doesn’t move or speak up. What the hell?

“That’s not true!” Laura screams at Chase. “This girl attacked my friend.”

“Laura, shut the hell up with your lying ass,” I say as calmly as I can. “Officers, I can explain,” I say, but Tweedledee and Tweedledum aren’t interested in the truth.

“Save it for the principal,” the biggest one says. “Let’s go, ladies.”

“
Focus your energy in the right direction and really make a difference.”

-Ms. Toni

Drama High, volume 2: Second Chance

~12~

GOOD INTENTIONS

Because of Cameron’s little temper tantrum and Laura’s lying on Wednesday, the three of us were placed on in-house suspension all day yesterday. Once I explained my side of the story to Mr. Adewale and Ms. Toni they vouched for me with the principal, and so did Chase. You’d think the administration would let me go and apologize for not believing me, but instead I have to sit through this damned meeting with Cameron, Laura and their parents. I can’t believe I was involved in yet another fight over a boy who didn’t even come to my defense like he should’ve. Will I ever get too old for this drama?

“
Nope, so learn to keep your mouth shut and just deal with it, baby
,” my mom says, lending me her twisted support.

“
Thanks mom, but I’ve got this
,” I think back. Her mental hijacking is actually a welcomed distraction to the bull going on around me. What a waste of a perfectly good Friday morning.

“When my daughter
arrives on campus in the morning I expect you to do your job, John, and that includes protecting her from your bussed in students,” Cameron’s mom says, making it clear why my presence was requested even though I’ve been cleared of any wrongdoing. “I shouldn’t have to do a damned thing when she comes home from school but ask her how her day was.” Cameron’s mom is a piece of work. No wonder her daughter’s such a spoiled brat.

“I agree with Catherine,” Laura’s mom says. “I’ve never been so humiliated in all my life, John.”

Somehow I truly doubt that. Whether Mindy knows about it or not, her daughter’s done much worse.

“It wasn’t our intention to make you uncomfortable,” Mr. Adelizi says. At least one person here is on my side, sort of.

“Mindy, you know I didn’t want to have to do this,” Principal Shepherd says, on a first name basis with their parents. I don’t even think he knows my parents exist, which is just fine with me.

“But you did. You know our girls would never start a fight. They come from a good home and have no need to resort to violence, unless provoked.”

Mindy and Catherine look at me hard as if the mere suggestion that their debutantes couldn’t possibly attack a little hoodrat like me will change the facts. Too bad it happened in the parking lot where the video surveillance provided indisputable evidence.

“Mindy, Catherine, unfortunately that wasn’t the case,” Principal Shepherd says, cuing the recording on his wide screen television.

We all watch the incident in real time with audio included. I’m the only one in the room smiling.

“Well, I think Cameron’s learned her lesson from this unfortunate occurrence,” Catherine says. “My daughter won’t respond like that to obvious provocation again.”

“What provocation?” I ask, tired of being unfairly accused. “All I wanted to do was eat lunch until Cameron and Laura prevented me from doing so.”

“If I may,” Mr. Adelizi interjects. If this was a meeting for us regular students the special circumstances counselor would be present, not our senior guidance counselor. “I think it’s a good idea to put this all into perspective before it continues to escalate, and no one wants that.”

“Agreed,” Principal Shepherd says, leaning back in his leather chair.

             
“What do you want to do after high school, Laura?” Mr. Adelizi asks, attempting to provide guidance when what Laura really needs is a good ass whipping from my grandmother. That’ll straighten her out.
              “Marry Reid and raise our children.”

She sounds just like Cameron’s delusional ass, except I think this trick is really going to make it happen.
Her mother’s beaming with pride. I guess the mad apple doesn’t fall too far from the crazy tree.

“Well,” Mr. Adelizi says, shifting
uncomfortably in his seat. “Whatever your post high school goals are, lying isn’t going to help any of them.”