Fair-Weather Friends (12 page)

Rachel was silent, like she was thinking about her
answer carefully before responding. “I think it's really sad that hate that my parents grew up with is still out there. It's proof that although we've come a long way, we still have a way to go. But there is no generation better equipped to change that climate of hate than you guys.”

“Well, joinin' the Theta ladies ain't the way to do it.”

“I'm not saying Camille and Alexis should choose Angel over the Thetas, but they cannot in any shape, form, or fashion tolerate such hate,” Rachel said.

“I know, and Tori was saying some pretty hateful things, like Mexicans are taking over everything. It's just jacked up.”

“It really is,” Rachel replied. “And Camille, Alexis, and even Tameka need to make it clear where they stand on that issue. I will make sure I tell them that. But maybe you can be the one to get people to—instead of focusing on all the negative aspects of things like illegal immigration—look at all that they contribute to the economy and society once they get here, and how to better integrate them, rather than insisting or hoping that they go home.”

I knew Miss Rachel was right, but it didn't seem like it would be that easy. A lot of damage had already been done.

“I see your point, Miss Rachel,” I said, “but this whole situation might have really messed up our friendship.”

“Jasmine,” Rachel continued, “I want you to understand
that friends go through their ups and downs all the time. It's not going to always be wonderful between you guys. You've seen that already behind that whole fiasco when you were going out for that teen talk show.”

I nodded as I recalled that nightmare. That had definitely taken its toll on our friendship. Shoot, it had almost ended it. Camille had taken backstabbing to a whole new level when we all tried out to host this teen talk show on Channel 2. Luckily, we made up after Camille got fired and came back apologizing to us.

“And you know with that,” Rachel continued, snapping me out of my thoughts, “it seemed like you guys would never be friends again. But you got through it. Just like you'll get through this. Honestly, you seem to be the only levelheaded one right now, so you're going to need to keep up the fight to bring everyone back together.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

“I don't know. Keep trying to get through to them. Come up with a plan. Anything. Just don't give up on your friendship.”

I exhaled and squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn't believe
I
was the one who needed to be levelheaded. As hot tempered as I was?

“Okay, Miss Rachel, I'll think about what you're saying, but I don't know what I can do,” I told her.

“I'm confident you'll come up with something. You guys are too good of friends.”

“I'm glad somebody's confident,” I mumbled.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing,” I replied, massaging my temple. “I hear what you're saying. I'll do what I can and I'll let you know what happens.”

“All right. You call me back if you need anything.”

I said good-bye and hung up the phone.

After a few minutes of lying across my bed, I decided to take Miss Rachel's advice and make the first move to get us back together. I didn't worry about Tameka because in my opinion, she was too far gone. But I did call Camille and Alexis to see if they were back home yet. They were and after talking to them on three-way for a few minutes, we all decided it would be a good idea to go catch a movie tomorrow or something. The hard part was going to be getting Angel to let her guard down long enough to spend time with us. Of course, neither one of them wanted to be the one to call Angel so I had to do it.

I hung up with them, then took another deep breath as I dialed Angel's number. It probably was best that I be the one to call her since I was the only one she really didn't have a reason to be mad at.

“Hey, Angel! What's up, girl? I haven't heard from you in a while,” I said as soon as she picked up the phone.

“Oh, this isn't Angel, this is her friend Christina. Angel's a little busy right now. Can I take a message?”

I was a little thrown off since I wasn't used to Angel
having any friends other than us and I definitely couldn't appreciate somebody trying to screen her calls.

“No, I'll hold on,” I said, trying not to get an attitude. “Can you tell her Jasmine is on the phone?”

“What part of ‘she's busy' do you not get?” Christina said.

I had to catch myself because I was about to go straight off. Obviously, she didn't know who she was talking to. And she definitely must be crazy if she thought she was going to come in and take my—our—place in Angel's life.

“What, are you her personal secretary now?” I said, “I said, I'll hold on.”

“Whatever!” Christina mumbled. Then she yelled, “Angel, it's some girl on the phone for you named Jasmine.”

A few minutes later Angel got on the phone.

“Oh hey, Jasmine. What's up?” Angel's tone was dry. I absolutely was about to get an attitude now. I hadn't done anything to her so she didn't need to be getting funky with me.

“Why is Christina answering your phone?” I asked.

“She's just helping me with Angelica. What's the big deal?”

I was a little bothered by Angel having some strange new chick around Angelica, but I didn't want to get into that conversation with her so I decided to just leave it alone. If she wanted some stranger around her baby then that was her business.

I told her about me, Camille, and Alexis wanting to go check out a movie tomorrow, just like old times.

“I'll have to check my schedule and get back with you. I think we're goin' to a party over near Sharpstown,” Angel said.

I stood up and began pacing my bedroom. For some reason, all of us were pretty protective of Angel, probably because she was so nice, naïve, and gullible. So it was starting to bother me that she had just let Christina—who everybody knew was nothing but trouble—into her life.

“Who is ‘
we
,' and since when do you have a schedule that needs to be checked?” I asked her. She was for real trippin'. “And who has a party on a freakin' Sunday?” I know she wasn't out-and-out lying to me, was she?

“Look, Jasmine, I know you may not realize this, but my life is not defined by my friendship with you, Camille, and Alexis. I do have a life outside of y'all,” she huffed.

“Your life is not defined by us?”
I shouted. “What in the world does that mean?”

She blew out a deep breath like I was getting on her nerves. “Don't be mad because now I have other people in my life who are important to me. If you don't like it, that's your problem.”

I was so close to going off on Angel that I literally had to bite my tongue to keep from losing it. I couldn't believe she was acting like this. When we first met her, she would barely look anyone in the eyes, let alone catch herself getting
smart with somebody. This new group of friends had really gone to her head and it was taking everything in my power for me not to put her back in her place.

“You know what, Angel? I'm going to hang up this phone now before you make me say something I am gonna regret. You my girl and all, but you need to think about who your real friends are and who has, and always will be, there for you,” I told her. “I'm going to chalk this conversation up to you being upset about the whole Theta thing and give you a pass. You give me a call when you come to your senses.” I slammed the phone down before she could reply.

So much for me being levelheaded.

I
grabbed my duffel bag and threw it over my shoulder. I couldn't believe how excited I was about doing community service. But this wasn't some boring visit to the senior citizens' center. We were actually heading to New Orleans with the Habitat for Humanity “Teens Give Back” project. Although we were traveling as part of the Good Girlz, other people from my school were going, too—including Christina and her crew and Tori and some of the Thetas. I'd been hoping the trip would give me, Alexis, and Jasmine time to repair our bond with Angel, but somehow I doubted we'd have much success with Christina in the way.

I noticed Angel's sister pulling up to drop off Angel. I quickly made my way over to her car.

“Hey, Rosario.” I waved after she came to a stop.

“Hey, Camille,” she replied. “I haven't seen you in a while.”

I looked at Angel to gauge her reaction, but she acted like she hadn't even heard her sister.

“Hey, Sweet Pea,” I said, turning to Angelica, who was sitting in her car seat in the back. I leaned in and tickled Angelica's chin. The little girl giggled and almost made me cry when she said, “Hi, 'Mille!”

“I miss you, Pumpkin,” I replied, tousling her curly black hair. “But I promise I'm going to come see you when I get back, okay?”

Angelica nodded, a huge smile across her face.

I stood up and faced Angel, who had just gotten her bag out of the trunk. I watched as she kissed Angelica, then told Rosario good-bye.

“Hey Angel,” I cautiously said after Rosario had driven off.

“Hey,” she responded.

There was a moment of awkward silence between us before I said, “So, are you excited about going to New Orleans?”

“Yeah.” She didn't say anything else.

I was determined to make some headway. “Jasmine, Alexis, and Tameka are already here. They're inside helping Miss Rachel load up some stuff. Are you going to sit with us on the bus?”

Angel glanced over at Christina, who was standing near the bus glaring at us.

“Naw, I already told Christina I would sit with her.”

“Angel …” I sighed.

“I gotta go,” she said, without giving me time to finish.

My heart sank as I watched her dart off.

Christina had now moved over to a group of Hispanic guys and was pointing my way.
Great
, I thought,
just get everyone all worked up, why don't you?

“What's up, cutie pie?”

I looked around; Vincent and another Gamma Man had just finished unloading their stuff from their car.

“Hey Vincent. Hey Julian.”

Vincent noticed my uneasiness and glanced from me over to Christina and the others. “What's up?” he asked again.

I shook my head. “Nothing.”

“Don't tell me ‘nothing,'” Vincent said, continuing to look back and forth between us. “They're looking at you like you stole something.”

“Yeah,” Julian added, eyeing them as well. “If they're messin' with you, you just let us know. You're a Theta now. That means anybody messes with you, messes with us.”

I couldn't help but note how that sounded exactly like something a Crip or a Blood would say.

“Naw, I'm straight,” I lied.

“This wouldn't have anything to do with the rumors I heard that Christina and her crew were mad about Angel not making it, would it?” Vincent asked.

I sighed. I should've known this gossip would be all over school.

“I guess. But squash it. It's not even worth trippin' over.”

“Naw, forget that,” Julian said, stomping over toward Christina's group. Vincent followed and I groaned, then took off after them.

“Guys, it's nothing. Just leave it alone,” I called out after them.

They ignored me and kept walking. “Yo, Hector,” Vincent said as he approached the group. He was pointing at a tall guy who had stepped to the front of the crowd.

“Yo, the name is José. But you know that,
vato
. You're just trying to be funny,” José said, clenching his fists.

“Hector, José, Jesus, whatever,” Vincent said. “You got a beef with my girl, here?” He pointed at me.

“Naw, it seems your girl and her little friends got a beef with
my
girl,” he replied, pointing at Angel. “Seems y'all got a problem with her people.”

By this time, a small crowd had started to gather, including several of the Thetas.

“I think the problem is your girl just needs to start her own sorority and stay out of ours,” Tori interjected. I should've known she'd throw in her two cents.

José flashed his palm in her face. “Was anybody talking to you? Go back to Africa or something.”

Tori wiggled her neck. “No you didn't! I ain't from
Africa. I'm from the north side. Unlike your girl here,” she said, pointing at Christina, “who probably snuck across the border last night.”

Christina stepped up next to José. “For your information, I was born here. My mama was born here and my mama's mama was born here. Not that I need to explain anything to you.” Her face was turning red with anger.

“Oh, but I'm sure that somebody snuck over on the fruit truck.” Tori folded her arms across her chest and glared defiantly at Christina.

“Just like I'm sure your brother Ray-Ray is probably out carjacking someone right now,” Christina retorted.

They were in each other's faces now and I just knew it was about to turn into an all-out brawl. Luckily, Miss Rachel came racing toward us.

“What is going on here?” she demanded.

Tori pointed her finger in Christina's face. “You'd better tell this
chica
I ain't the one. Don't get it twisted and think just because I'm pretty, I can't fight.”

The next thing anyone knew, Christina swung at Tori, narrowly missing her face. Tori immediately lunged toward Christina, grabbing a handful of her hair, and the two began tussling.

It only took a few seconds for several chaperones to come over. They managed—although I don't know how—to break up the fight.

“Enough! This is insane,” Rachel said after they got the
girls apart. “I can't believe you all are stooping to this level. You are young ladies, out here fighting like some common thugs!”