Read Online Diamonds and Pearl by K'wan - Free Book Online

only,” Ruby said, adding her two cents.
    â€œHush, white girl. I wasn’t talking to you,” Drea told her. She meant it as a joke, trying to act like she belonged with their group, but it caused an awkward moment.
    â€œDrea, I know I don’t have to tell you that dissing my homegirl is one of the quickest ways to get you touched. You don’t really know her to be playing like that,” Pearl said seriously.
    â€œMy bad, Pearl. I didn’t mean anything by it. So like I was saying, how can I go about getting an invitation for me and a few of my friends? We don’t mind paying if we have to,” Drea said, hoping to sweeten the pot.
    â€œDrea, you know I ain’t pressed for no cash, but I respect the fact that you even offered. Most bitches want shit for free. Tell you what: I don’t know your friends to have them up in my shit, but since me and you got history, if I do happen to have a party, I’ll consider you for an invitation. But in exchange, I’m going to need you to knock out this class assignment for me. I’m supposed to do a report on To Kill a Mockingbird over spring break, but a bitch got better shit to do than to be all up in some book when I’m supposed to be chilling. Hook me up and you’re in, but I don’t know about your friends.”
    â€œI don’t mind doing the project for you, Pearl, but I think it’d be kind of foul if I left my girls out. There’s only three of us. Don’t you think you could look out this one time?” Drea asked.
    â€œNope, take it or leave it,” Pearl said flatly.
    Drea weighed it. “Damn, I really wanna come, but I can’t do them like that. Thanks anyway, Pearl.” She stood to leave, but Pearl motioned for her to stay.
    â€œLoyalty is a rare trait in people these days, Drea, and I admire the fact that you ain’t willing to shit on your friends. If by chance I happen to have a party, you and your friends can come, but since it’s more than just you, I’m going to need more than one class assignment done. From now until the end of the year, you will be on retainer for me and my whole crew. Whenever we get an assignment we don’t wanna do, you’ll knock it out.”
    Drea frowned. “Pearl, between my own schoolwork and what I take on from you guys, I won’t have any type of social life. Let’s be reasonable about this.”
    â€œFirst of all, you don’t have a social life to begin with, so stop it, Drea. And second, I am being reasonable. It’s like you said: my parties are always over-the-top and you always get snubbed. This is your opportunity to stop being on the outside looking in. Think about how jealous the rest of the chicks in this school are gonna be when they find out that you got in and they didn’t. It’ll send your credibility through the roof.”
    Drea knew Pearl was getting over on her, but she desperately wanted to go to the party and finally feel like one of the in crowd. “Deal.” She shook Pearl’s hand to seal it.
    â€œYou ain’t shit, Pearl,” Ruby said, and snickered when Drea had gone.
    â€œYou might be right about that, Ruby, but I just guaranteed your remedial ass will make it out of high school,” Pearl teased her.
    The girls continued to chat and crack jokes while they waited on the stragglers to come back with their lunches.
    â€œPeep game.” Marisa nudged Pearl under the table.
    Three tables over, Kate sat with her ragtag bunch, who were all staring venomously at Pearl and her friends. Kate was a pretty blond white girl who came from a wealthy family and acted like she owned the world, much like Pearl did. The two had so much in common that some found it strange that they were bitter rivals instead of friends. Both Pearl and Kate believed there was only enough room in the pride for one lioness. Kate was so engrossed in the game of cards she was playing that she