With Friends Like These by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Read Free Book Online Page B

go hook up with some thug from across town.” My mother shook her head. “Sometimes I just don’t understand you, Lexi. I don’t want you to see that boy, and it’s not open for discussion.” She slapped her legs. “Now, as I was saying earlier, let’s do a day at the spa.”
    My mother didn’t give me time to respond before she jumped up and began punching numbers into the phone.
    “Yes, this is Veronique Lansing. I want an appointment for my daughter and myself for later this afternoon.” She flashed me a smile. I rolled my eyes.
    She quickly made an appointment, then hung up the phone. “We’re going to have so much fun. Now you run and get dressed so that we can start on our special day.”
    “I am dressed,” I snapped. I was praying this wasn’t one of those times when she’d want us to either dress alike or wear the same colors. I hated when my parents fought, not just because it was embarrassing, loud, and worked my nerves, but after the infamous fights, my mom felt like she had go out for the Mother of the Year awards. And that usually left me stuck in the middle of the makeup war, too.
    See, Dad picks up on what she’s doing, then next thing you know I’m off to the golf course or some other place I don’t wanna go. When my parents fight, I’m the one who really suffers.
    Mom’s eyes roamed up and down my fringed-edged lowrider jeans and my “I Like Cute Boys” tank top. She turned up her nose.
    “This is an exclusive spa, darling. Why don’t you wear that sweater twin set and that black skirt I like,” she said, prancing over to her massive walk-in closet.
    “But I’m comfortable,” I said.
    “Yes, I know. But you can’t step into this place looking like we don’t belong. Now run and get ready, dear.” She was deep in the closet before I could say anything else.
    I dragged myself back to my bedroom to change. After I’d changed out of my jeans, I laid across my bed and began absentmindedly flipping through the channels. When I heard a knock on my bedroom door a few minutes later, I thought about not answering. But then I figured she’d barge her way in if I didn’t, so I got up, opened the door, and tried not to let my frustration show.
    Mom’s eyes got big and her mouth fell open as she looked at me. She started shaking her head and stormed right over to my closet.
    “I did not tell you to change out of those horrid jeans just so you could put on some warm-ups,” she snapped.
    I pouted, plopped down on the bed, and crossed my arms across my chest.
    It didn’t take long for Mom to come walking out of the closet clutching the sweater twin set and skirt she first told me to put on.
    “The car is waiting, so you need to hurry and change. We have a full day ahead,” she said before turning and rushing toward my bedroom door.
    “Does it matter that I don’t want to go?” I sat up, my arms still folded.
    She spun around and looked at me with beady eyes. “I’m not in the mood today, Lexi. Now get dressed and meet me downstairs. I’ll be waiting in the car.”
    I sighed in frustration. Just once, I wish someone would care what I want. Thank God for Jaquan. He was the only bright spot in my life. And I didn’t care what my mother said, we were going to be together forever.

10
Camille
    I watched as Jasmine stared at the big red letter scratched across the top of her exam. I leaned over to her desk and looked at it.
    “F?” I asked.
    She held the test toward me and whispered. “A big F. How in the world did I get an F?”
    I couldn’t help but smile when she said that. “Ummm, let’s see. Didn’t you say you started studying the morning of the test? You know Mrs. Reed is hard, and you can’t do any last-minute studying for her class.”
    Jasmine let out a groan. “Shut up. What did you get?”
    I held up my paper. “A-minus.” I was just about to gloat some more, but the way she slumped back in her seat made me change my mind. I know Jasmine had been bummed out ever