Fair-Weather Friends Read online

  We caught up with Jasmine just outside the cafeteria. She was fuming.

  I walked up to her, poised to begin my speech.

  She held up her hand and stopped me before I could say a word. “Camille, leave me alone. I swear, I’m two seconds from punching something. Or somebody.”

  “Why are you letting her get to you?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” Angel chimed in. “You know they just mess with us to get under our skin. That’s what they’re supposed to do to girls trying to join.”

  “Well, that’s stupid,” Jasmine snapped. “Why would they want to make me mad on purpose?”

  I shrugged. “It’s just all part of the process.”

  “Well, it’s a stupid process.”

  Just then the bell rang and everyone began filing out of the lunchroom. We were about to head to our classes when we heard Tori calling me.

  “Oh, Camille,” she said, catching up to us and handing me a piece of paper. “Can you go turn in my history essay to Mrs. King? It’s due by fifth period.”

  Okay, I was getting tired of her, too. Still, I took the paper.

  “Thanks, girl,” Tori said, without giving me time to respond. She stepped around me and immediately bumped into Jasmine. Tori’s backpack fell open and all of her books came tumbling out. I couldn’t be sure, but it almost seemed like Tori had done it on purpose.

  “Dang! Would your big behind watch where you’re going? Good grief!” Tori said, loud enough to make several people passing by stop and start staring. “Pick my stuff up!” She demanded. “You’re going to make me late for class!”

  Jasmine didn’t respond. She just stood looking at Tori like she was crazy.

  “Is all that fat clogging your ears?” Tori snapped. Several people standing around started “ooohing” and “aahing.”

  Angel immediately started picking up the books.

  “I don’t want you to get it,” Tori snapped at her. “I want her to get it. She knocked the books out so she needs to pick them up.” Tori pushed Jasmine’s shoulder. “And hurry up because I don’t have all day.”

  I saw the fire in Jasmine’s eyes and knew it was all over.

  “Get your own books,” Jasmine hissed. “And if you ever put your stank hands on me again I will break your freakin’ arm.”

  “Hit her in the mouth!” some stupid boy yelled.

  Tori seemed surprised for a minute, but quickly regained her confidence as she stepped closer toward Jasmine. “Umph, I don’t know what Donovan ever saw in your big, food-stamp-carrying, ghetto tomboy behind.”

  Jasmine’s chest heaved up and down as she glared at her. She was from the hood and even though her mother was a hard worker, her family was still on welfare. So Jasmine was real sensitive about her background.

  “What, you gonna hit me now?” Tori said, cocking her head. “I happen to know that you had to transfer to Madison in the first place because you got kicked out of your other school for fighting. One more fight and you’re expelled from the district for good.” She smiled as she stepped closer. “So go ahead, take your best shot.”

  Jasmine clenched her fists. “Touch me again and see how much I care about getting kicked out of school.”

  “Come on, Jasmine, chill,” Angel whispered as she lightly touched Jasmine’s arm.

  Jasmine jerked her arm away but kept her glare on Tori.

  “Yeah, Jasmine, chill,” Tori said. “Or you can forget about ever being a Theta.”

  Jasmine took a deep breath, calming herself. “It’s already forgotten. Because I don’t want or need your little funky sorority.”

  Tori sucked her teeth. “Oh, we weren’t funky when you were all up in our face trying to be a member.”

  “I ain’t never been all up in your face.”

  “Well, what did you apply for then?” Tori said.

  “Call it temporary insanity, peer pressure, whatever. But consider this my withdrawal notice.” Jasmine reached over and snatched Tori’s history essay from me. She held it up, then ripped it in half. “You’re lucky your paper is all that I’m tearing up.” She flung the torn paper in Tori’s face before turning and walking off.

  My mouth—as well as Tori’s—fell open in shock. But Jasmine couldn’t care less as she strutted down the hall to her next class.

  7

  Jasmine

  They got it twisted if they thought I was just gonna sit there and take Tori’s mess!

  I didn’t need to be a part of nothing that bad. I knew Camille was going to try and come give me some lame excuse about why I should give the Thetas another chance. And I was right because she, Angel, and Tameka were waiting at my locker after my last class.

  “Camille, don’t even start with me because I’m not trying to hear you,” I said as I opened my locker and stuffed my English book in.

  “Come on, Jasmine. Why are you trippin’?” Tameka asked.

  I slammed the locker shut. “You need to ask that snob Tori why she’s trippin’.”

  “They really are nice girls,” Tameka said.

  I turned and stared at her. “Do your lips hurt?”

  She looked confused. “My lips? Why?”

  “I’m just wondering if your lips are sore from playing kiss-up.”

  Tameka rolled her eyes, but I didn’t care. I was too through. “Look, you guys might be okay with running around like a slave or something, but I’m not with that,” I told them.

  Camille tried to convince me with, “Jasmine, you know this is all a big game.”

  “Game over.” I headed down the hall and out the building. Camille, of course, was on my heels and Angel and Tameka were right behind her.

  “Jaz, it’s just all part of what they do,” Tameka said as they caught up with me.

  “Yeah, it’s all in fun,” Camille added.

  Tameka, I wasn’t even trying to hear. As for Camille, she was my girl and all, but she was definitely losing her mind. I spun on her. “Camille, there was nothing fun about today. There was nothing fun about last night. There is nothing fun at all about being humiliated, degraded, and talked to like you’re crazy. If that’s what gets you off, then fine. But as for me, no thanks.”

  “It’s not that bad,” Angel chimed in.

  I turned to her and shook my head. “Angel, I can’t believe you’re falling for this mess. Half the time, they act like you’re not even there. I don’t understand why you even want to be a part of this.”

  Camille let out a long sigh. “You’re judging the whole organization by one person. It’s not even like that. Tori is just one person in the group.”

  “She seems to be the only one that matters since everybody else is too scared to speak out against her.” It was my turn to let out a frustrated sigh. They were making my head hurt. “Look, I told y’all. I’m out. You can stay and take that crap all you want, but I’m done. The bad part is, you guys are taking all of this mess and you don’t even know if you’ve been accepted.”

  “We’re supposed to get our letters Friday.” Camille pouted. “But Raquelle told me she thinks we’re a shoo-in.”

  “Whatever, Camille.” I was about to add something else when I looked up and saw Tori and her crew heading our way. I swear, if she said something out of line to me, I was gon’ haul off and knock her in her jaw. That’s why I decided it would be best if I bounced.

  “I’m gone. I’ll see you guys later. Have fun getting treated like dirt.”

  I left before they could say another word. More power to them. But just like I tried to tell them from jump, I’m not cut out to be a sorority girl.

  8

  Camille

  Today was a bittersweet day. One on hand, I was happy because we were supposed to be getting our letters of acceptance delivered to our lockers today after school. On the other, I was upset because I really wished Jasmine was going through the process with us. But after Jasmine went off on Tori the day before yesterday, I knew there was no way in the world that would happen.

  Even
still, me, Tameka, Angel, and Alexis were so excited. We’d all agreed to get our letters then meet behind the bleachers at the track after school and open them together. Alexis had skipped out of her last class early so she could come pick up her letter from the Theta advisor.

  “I sure wish Jasmine was here,” Angel said as we pulled out our letters.

  I sighed. “I know. Me, too.”

  “You don’t think our friendship will suffer behind all of this, do you?” Alexis asked.

  “Nah,” I replied, hoping that I wasn’t just trying to be optimistic. Jasmine had missed school yesterday and today because she was sick and she hadn’t been in a talkative mood when I called her. I could tell she was still upset so I just left her alone. “She’s just mad at Tori right now. I think she’ll be fine with us when she gets over that.”

  We all stood in silence for a moment, but the excitement began to overtake us.

  “Okay, let’s open the letters,” Tameka finally said.

  “Wait,” I excitedly said before anyone could get their letters open. “Are we going to open them all together or one at a time?”

  “All together,” Angel responded.

  Tameka and Alexis nodded in agreement.

  “On the count of three,” I said, holding up my envelope. “One, two, three!”

  We all tore open our envelopes. My eyes immediately zoomed in on the word “congratulations.” I started squealing as I jumped up and down. Alexis and Tameka were doing the same.

  “I’m in!” Tameka shouted.

  “Me, too!” I sang.

  “Me, three,” Alexis echoed.

  I high-fived Alexis. “As if we had any doubts.”

  We waited for Angel to start screaming as well, but she stood quietly, the letter gripped firmly in her hand.

  “Come on, slowpoke,” I said. “Hurry up so we can go celebrate.”

  Angel looked up, her eyes filling with tears. “It looks like you guys will have to celebrate without me. I didn’t make it,” she said softly.

  The smiles left our faces. “What?” Alexis and I said at the same time.

  “You heard me. I got rejected.” Angel balled the letter up and stuffed it down in her book bag.

  “You’re kidding, right?” I said, reaching in her bag and grabbing the letter.

  “I wouldn’t kid about something like this.” Her voice was shaky.

  I quickly scanned the letter. The words “sorry” and “try again next year” seemed to be blaring across the page.

  I was speechless. It never crossed my mind that any of us might get rejected. And definitely not sweet, quiet Angel.

  “I don’t understand,” Alexis said. “How can they reject you? You’re the nicest one of us all.”

  Angel shrugged, trying to fight back tears. “I guess they just didn’t like me.” She took a deep breath. “But don’t worry about it. You guys got in. That’s all that really matters.”

  “No, it’s not,” I said. “We were all supposed to get in.”

  “Well, we all didn’t,” Angel replied matter-of-factly as she threw her book bag over her shoulder. “It’s probably for the best anyway. I need to be focused on school and raising Angelica.”

  I could tell she didn’t mean that and was just trying to say something to ease the pain.

  “D-do you think they rejected you because you have a baby?” Tameka said.

  “I don’t know,” Angel responded. “Maybe. Probably. Who knows? Look, it’s no big deal. You all go on and celebrate. You know everybody is going to be gathered in the courtyard after school.”

  We were supposed to keep everything a secret, but some of the girls had already said they were going to hang out after school in the courtyard if they made it into the Theta Ladies.

  “Angel …” My voice trailed off. I didn’t know what to say.

  Angel forced a smile. “Really, Camille, I’m fine. You guys go have fun.” She looked at her watch. “I gotta go or I’ll miss the bus. Call me later.”

  We stood speechless as Angel darted off. And I didn’t know whether to turn flips of joy or break out in tears.

  9

  Camille

  “So, I guess you guys are happy now?” Jasmine said as she walked into tonight’s Good Girlz meeting. “You made it into your precious little sorority.”

  “How’d you know?” Alexis asked.

  “I saw Angel on the way home. She was pretty bummed out. But I’m sure you don’t care.”

  “Jasmine, don’t start,” I moaned.

  Me, Alexis, and Tameka had hung out with a bunch of other girls that had gotten invitations from the Thetas. Seven of the nine girls that were at the park with us had made it in. They’d all gone out to eat, but me and Alexis decided to go to the Good Girlz meeting. We would’ve skipped it, but we didn’t want Miss Rachel trippin’. Besides, I think both of us wanted to check on Angel.

  Tameka didn’t seem bothered about Angel or missing the meeting, though. I don’t know if she thought Rachel wouldn’t do anything to her because that was her aunt or if she just didn’t care. She just went with the other new Thetas.

  “No, seriously, that’s all that matters to you guys—that you’re now Thetas.” Jasmine plopped down in the chair next to me.

  “We’re not Thetas yet,” Alexis pointed out. “We just got letters of invitation. We still have to go through a process before we get in.”

  “Get into what?” Rachel asked as she walked into the room.

  “Camille, Tameka, and Alexis made it into their little sorority.” Jasmine smirked.

  “Well, congratulations.” She smiled, then looked around. “Wait a minute. You said Camille, Tameka, and Alexis. Does that mean Angel didn’t make it?” Of course, we had filled Miss Rachel in on the fact that we were all trying to be Thetas in the first place.

  “Answer me, somebody,” Rachel said. “Does that mean Angel didn’t make it?”

  Neither me nor Alexis said anything.

  “That’s exactly what it means,” Jasmine replied, shaking her head. “Which probably explains why she isn’t here now. I saw her on the way home, and although she tried to act like she was fine, I know she wasn’t. And you know she must be upset because Angel never misses a meeting.”

  A worried look crossed Rachel’s face. “Oh, I hate to hear that. Maybe I should give her a call.”

  Jasmine sucked her teeth and shot us disgusted looks. “Well, personally, I think Camille, Tameka, and Alexis should tell the Thetas what they can do with their little acceptance letter,” she said.

  Alexis’s mouth dropped open. “That’s crazy. Why should we not accept it just because Angel didn’t make it?” she asked.

  Jasmine rolled her eyes. “That’s just like you to be so selfish. How about thinking about someone else for a change?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Alexis snapped. “I know you’re not talking about me being selfish. Not when you’re always borrowing my stuff.”

  Jasmine sat up in her seat and pointed at Alexis. “Look, don’t be throwing stuff up in my face. I can’t stand when somebody does something for me then throws it up in my face.”

  “Girls, calm down, please,” Rachel interjected.

  Jasmine crossed her arms across her chest and leaned back in her seat. “I don’t know what you guys are getting all excited for anyway. You act like this is a real college sorority or something,” she mumbled.

  “Are you sure that Angel is upset?” Rachel asked.

  “Like I said, the fact that she isn’t here says it all,” Jasmine barked.

  Rachel ran her fingers through her hair, then turned to me. “Have you talked to Angel? Is she okay?”

  I shrugged. “When we got our letters, she said she was cool. She wants us to go ahead and accept the invitation.” I knew Angel was upset but I was hoping she really meant it when she said that.

  “Well, if Angel doesn’t have a problem with them being Thetas, I don’t see why you do, Jasmine,” Rachel said.

 
Jasmine threw up her hands. “Like Angel would really say something if she did have a problem with it. The bottom line is the Thetas didn’t think Angel, the nicest person on the face of the planet, was good enough for their little sorority, so I think all of them should tell the Thetas what they can do with their little invitations. But that’s just my two cents.”

  “Jasmine is just being her usual foul self,” Alexis said, shaking her head.

  “Whatever,” Jasmine mumbled.

  “Well, I just hope you all stay friends and don’t let this sorority stuff mess that up,” Rachel said. She took her seat at the front of the room. “And as a matter of fact, that’s what I wanted to talk to you girls about today, what makes a friend.”

  Miss Rachel spent the next thirty minutes talking to us about true friendship. As she usually does, she even incorporated a few Bible verses to hammer home her point.

  “I want you all to take a look at Proverbs 12:26 when you get a chance,” Rachel said, flipping through the Bible. “It basically says that the righteous should choose his friends carefully for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

  “Are you saying the Theta Ladies are wicked?” I asked, not sure where she was going.

  “No,” Rachel shook her head. “That verse is specifically telling us that if we do not choose our friends very carefully in this life, we could end up choosing the wrong type of people to become friends with and they can then end up leading us astray from God and with what He wants to do with our lives. So for that reason I want you to be careful in choosing your friends. You girls have a true friendship here. Don’t let outside forces threaten that and remember that in order to have a friend, you must be a friend.” She looked us in the eye one by one. “I want each of you to ask yourself if you are being a true friend.”

  I thought about that for a minute. I was being a friend. Jasmine was the one that was trippin’.

  Miss Rachel finally began wrapping up the meeting, and made us promise to call Angel.

  “Miss Rachel, did you ever think of joining a sorority?” Alexis asked, as we started gathering up our stuff to leave. I was hoping that we’d left that topic alone, but Alexis seemed oblivious to the tensions it was creating.