Read Online Hood Lemonade Jamika's Vendetta by T.J. Hope - Free Book Online Page B

Marquis really cared. She wasn’t in the deepest of love with him either. But, she did care. She was loyal. She felt betrayed. She no longer heard Marquis’s words as they seemed to be fading away.
    Somewhere in the midst of her thoughts, she’d turned and walked away. The tepid sunshine mixed with a light breeze was comforting. She needed a good cleansing cry. She sadly smiled to herself and shook her head in disbelief. She wondered what else lie ahead; this was only her very first day.

Chapter Eight
     
    Zahrice and Jamika kissed as she hopped out of his car for another day at Dillard High. She began to walk over to Nalisha, who she had become very good friends with. They had formed a duet. They often did sing-o-grams for birthdays, holidays, and special occasions for students around campus to earn extra money.
    They’d won two of the school’s talent shows. Their talent was making them quite popular. Many of the guys were interested, and many of the girls were envious. This made some days at Dillard more like a chore, than a learning experience.
    She turned to wave at Zahrice as he honked his horn for her to wave goodbye. Zahrice wanted all the guys there to know that Jamika was his girl. He kept Jamika draped with nice jewelry and expensive clothing. He enjoyed spending money on her and showing her off.
    Jamika was getting fed up with his obsessive and jealous behavior. Just last week, he had pushed her down in the dirt because she’d spoken to a guy who’d said hello to her first.
    “Wassup, Meek?” asked Nalisha.
    “You girlfriend! I am diggin’ those sneakers,” replied Jamika.
    “Yeah, I haven’t seen anybody with these, yet.” Nalisha said proudly.
    “Well, I have a pair that Zah bought me; he’s taking me after school to get an outfit to match ‘em.”
    “Girl, you are lucky to have Zah. He keeps you up on everything. That car he be pulling up here in, you shouldn’t even have to wonder why so many of these girls hate you.”
    “I don’t wonder.”
    They burst out laughing as Jamika’s purse began to shake. “What is that?” Nalisha asked. “My beeper, girl. Zah bought it; he beeps me all day. I put it on vibrate so that it won’t go off in class. He’s the only one with the number and he knows I am in school. He is so stupid sometimes. Look, he put in 143—he just left me a few minutes ago.”
    Nalisha looked a little concerned. “Dag, doesn’t he have a job or something?”
    “Not really. He gets his money fast and spends it fast. Do you know what I mean?” “Yeah,” Nalisha said. “Please be careful and don’t get caught up in none of that.”
    “I will.”
    “How did you meet him anyway?” Nalisha asked.
    “Oh, I thought I told you. Remember I told you how Marquis did me for that Spanish girl, Reva, right?”
    “Speaking of the devil,” Nalisha stated as Marquis and Reva walked by, holding hands. Jamika still got a funny feeling whenever she saw them together. She had really liked Marquis. She still liked him. But, if anyone asked, she would have denied it. Marquis still called her from time to time, trying to talk her into having sex with him. Jamika would hang up and feel like a fool for even taking the time out to listen.
    “Anyway,” Jamika continued, “I left school walking that day in tears. I heard this loud stereo system approaching. It was playing Michael Sterling’s ‘What Do You Do’.” “Oooo, that’s my jam,” crooned Nalisha, “oh, sorry girl, continue.”
    “So, I was walking along, singing along, waiting for the car to pass. Well, I noticed that the car wasn’t passing; it pulled right up beside me. I looked over to see this dark, green Cadillac with thirty’s and voes. Then the passenger window went down and Zah was sitting there with a light blue, plush Kango, and a light blue polo shirt. He asked me why I was crying. I didn’t realize I had dried up tears on my face. How embarrassing…”
    “Girl please, that’s nothing. Go ahead