reaching into his right sweater pocket and pulling out a small pack of cinnamon doughnuts, my favorite. I have to be careful, now that weâre back together. When Jeremy and I dated earlier this school year, I put on ten pounds just from our daily off-campus lunch ventures alone. I know he likes my thickness, but a sistahâs got to stay healthy and fitting into her own jeans. With one homegirl pregnant and the other one almost down to a size two, I donât have the clothing options I used to via my friendsâ closets. Hell, I canât even wear Mickeyâs shoes anymore, her feet have stretched out so much. And Nellieâs got thin model feetâthe exact opposite of my short, fat Flintstones feet, as Rah would call them.
âOh baby, you shouldnât have,â I say, accepting the sweet treats. I open the plastic and stuff one bite-size circle into my mouth while entering the classroom. Iâll try to sneak another in before Mrs. Peterson sees me. Jeremy kisses me on the nose before we take our seats. The bell rings loudly over our heads, and, finally, third period begins, and so does the rest of our day. Iâm anxious to go to Chanceâs house this evening with Nellie for Chanceâs dadâs birthday dinner; I also want to see what Chanceâs parents are like, especially because I already met them in my dream world on the day they adopted ChanceâChristmas Day seventeen years ago. Itâs going to be a trip seeing them now.
Â
As usual, thereâs a mad rush to get out of the gate in the parking lot after school. I should park in the lower parking lot by the drama room like Chance and Jeremy do most of the time, but Iâll be damned if I have to hike up the hill leading from the theater area to my first-period class, which is near the main gate where I park. Chance already sent me a text saying heâs waiting for us at his house already. I guess Nellieâs rolling with Laura and the rest of the ASB crew since they have sixth period together and probably left early to go shopping or something. Chance rarely goes to his sixth-period art class, too. Am I the only one of my friends who believes in staying at school for the entire day?
Finally out of the lot and on my way to Chanceâs mini mansion in Palos Verdes, I catch traffic again and am forced to sit for a few moments while an accident clears on Pacific Coast Highway. My phone vibrates, and I see yet another text from Nellie. Iâm giving this girl my phone bill next month because she is not in my network, and her neurosis is costing me a small fortune.
âI knew it,â I say, voicing my frustration at the message and at the fact that Iâm sitting still on this bright, sunny afternoon. Nellieâs running late. I glance at the clock on the dashboard and pray that Nellie wonât be too much later than I am. Alia gave me the information for the AP study group. Theyâre meeting tonight at six to go over the exams and other information, and I donât want to be late. I already called Mama and asked her if I could stay out for the study session. She wasnât happy but agreed when I pointed out that I usually donât leave the shop until after nine, which is when I plan on driving home. Nellie owes me big-time for this one.
When I finally make it to PV, itâs after four. I park in the U-shaped driveway and get out, making my way up the steep steps leading to the front door. Their Zen garden offers a stunning view and soothing sounds due to the large waterfall fixture to the right of the front door. These are the types of homes I see in magazines.
âHey, Jayd. Thanks for coming,â Chance says, letting me into his home before I can ring the doorbell. If I didnât know better, Iâd say he was nervous. He gives me a hug and closes the front door before leading me inside. Last year Chance and I used to hang out here sometimes when his parents werenât home.
âOh baby, you shouldnât have,â I say, accepting the sweet treats. I open the plastic and stuff one bite-size circle into my mouth while entering the classroom. Iâll try to sneak another in before Mrs. Peterson sees me. Jeremy kisses me on the nose before we take our seats. The bell rings loudly over our heads, and, finally, third period begins, and so does the rest of our day. Iâm anxious to go to Chanceâs house this evening with Nellie for Chanceâs dadâs birthday dinner; I also want to see what Chanceâs parents are like, especially because I already met them in my dream world on the day they adopted ChanceâChristmas Day seventeen years ago. Itâs going to be a trip seeing them now.
Â
As usual, thereâs a mad rush to get out of the gate in the parking lot after school. I should park in the lower parking lot by the drama room like Chance and Jeremy do most of the time, but Iâll be damned if I have to hike up the hill leading from the theater area to my first-period class, which is near the main gate where I park. Chance already sent me a text saying heâs waiting for us at his house already. I guess Nellieâs rolling with Laura and the rest of the ASB crew since they have sixth period together and probably left early to go shopping or something. Chance rarely goes to his sixth-period art class, too. Am I the only one of my friends who believes in staying at school for the entire day?
Finally out of the lot and on my way to Chanceâs mini mansion in Palos Verdes, I catch traffic again and am forced to sit for a few moments while an accident clears on Pacific Coast Highway. My phone vibrates, and I see yet another text from Nellie. Iâm giving this girl my phone bill next month because she is not in my network, and her neurosis is costing me a small fortune.
âI knew it,â I say, voicing my frustration at the message and at the fact that Iâm sitting still on this bright, sunny afternoon. Nellieâs running late. I glance at the clock on the dashboard and pray that Nellie wonât be too much later than I am. Alia gave me the information for the AP study group. Theyâre meeting tonight at six to go over the exams and other information, and I donât want to be late. I already called Mama and asked her if I could stay out for the study session. She wasnât happy but agreed when I pointed out that I usually donât leave the shop until after nine, which is when I plan on driving home. Nellie owes me big-time for this one.
When I finally make it to PV, itâs after four. I park in the U-shaped driveway and get out, making my way up the steep steps leading to the front door. Their Zen garden offers a stunning view and soothing sounds due to the large waterfall fixture to the right of the front door. These are the types of homes I see in magazines.
âHey, Jayd. Thanks for coming,â Chance says, letting me into his home before I can ring the doorbell. If I didnât know better, Iâd say he was nervous. He gives me a hug and closes the front door before leading me inside. Last year Chance and I used to hang out here sometimes when his parents werenât home.
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