The Chaos by Nalo Hopkinson Read Free Book Online

hair. She took her sweet time. The gym bag, the cosmetics bag, and the back of the brush all had the same MAC logo. Perfect Black Barbie, complete with matching accessories. She looked at Ben’s reflection in the mirror. “So you’re going to be the one who’s all responsible, making sure Sojourner practices? Some sleazy guy who hangs out in the girls’ washroom?”
    I rolled my eyes. “Please. It’s Ben.”
    Glory sniffed. “Don’t matter. He’s a boy, and he not supposed to be in here.”
    Ben said, “Come on! Like I’m gonna be peeking up any girls’ skirts. Besides, it’s not like there’s anyone in here.”
    Glory hissed. “I’m here, all right? You trying to tell me I’m not anybody?”
    I said, “You know he means nobody else, Glory. Just the three of us.”
    Softly, she replied, “You really hurt Tafari, you know?”
    And there it was. “Well, you seem to be working hard at making him feel better.”
    Ben muttered, “Two girls fighting over a guy. How original.”
    Glory kept brushing her hair into a sleek wave. “I told you; he and I have been talking, is all.”
    I glared at her. “I bet.”
    She actually looked hurt through the anger. “Time was, you used to trust me.”
    “Time was, you weren’t trying to steal my boyfriend.”
    She put the brush down and turned to face me. “Which boyfriend, girl? You dumped him, right? So tell me, nah? Is which boyfriend of yours I trying to steal?”
    I had nothing to say to that. I looked down at my feet.
    “And stop talking about ‘steal.’ Like a boy is a candy bar youcarry around in your purse with no will of him own.”
    “I’m saying,” muttered Ben in agreement. He stepped in between us, a ref keeping two warring prizefighters apart. “Okay, okay, I got it. Here’s what you two are gonna do. We’ll cut Tafari in half, and you can share him.” Glory and I stared openmouthed at Ben. He said, “Only I get his bottom half first. Kind of like a finder’s fee.”
    Glory was the one who broke. She glanced at me. She sputtered out a short laugh. Which got me started laughing, too. Glory’s laugh always did. She and I both just fell out giggling. I high-fived Ben, and then Glory and I were hugging.
    “Is he all right?” I asked Glory. “Tafari, I mean.”
    “He will be.”
    “He’s mad at me?”
    “He’s sad. And hurt, and confused. He really liked you, Scotch.”
    Ow. “Not anymore, though, right?”
    She smiled ruefully. “He’s trying not to, but the boy got it bad for you, girl. You should talk to him.”
    “I—”
    The washroom door opened and two girls came in. They eeped in alarm when they saw Ben. “It’s all right,” he said. “This girl was fainting”—he pointed at Gloria—“and I just helped my friend carry her in here so we could get some cold water on her face. You all right, sweetie?” he asked Gloria. She nodded and fanned herself, trying to look faint while her eyeballs were practically bulging out of her head with the effort of not laughing.
    I said to the two surprised girls, “We’re going now.” I bundled Ben and Glory out of there, the three of us giggling like old times. Friday night! We stopped in the hallway to sort our various knapsacks and bags.
    “You guys,” said Glory shyly, “I’m going to that patty place in the market. Wanna come?”
    Ben replied, “Can’t. Gotta screen that new Star Trek movie for GSA on Monday. You could come with me to that.”
    Glory and I sometimes attended meetings of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. It was Ben who had persuaded us to give it a try. I shook my head. “Not this time. My folks want us to be home to see them off.” I kinda liked the GSA, but they always wanted to talk about politics and demonstrations. Me, I’d rather talk about Katastrophe and Meshell Ndegeocello.
    Glory’s eyes widened. “Your folks are going away? Without you?”
    “Yeah, for the weekend!” I exulted. This felt good, the two of us talking again. I’d never