A Girl Like Me by Ni-Ni Simone

but you did and now a whole day later, you still can’t drive. I don’t believe this. You’re pathetic!”
    â€œI’m sorry, Elite.”
    â€œWhatever.” I flipped open my phone.
    â€œWho are you calling?” Naja asked in a panic.
    â€œHaneef. I’ma see if he can send someone to pick us up.” I dialed Haneef’s number at least ten times and each time the call went to voicemail. “Bump it.” I looked at Naja. “I’ma call Jahaad.” Reluctantly I dialed his number and he answered after the third ring. I could’ve sworn I heard a female voice when he answered, but I wasn’t sure. “What, you got company?” I snapped.
    â€œWhat, you care?”
    â€œAnyway, can you and one of your boys that can drive come get us.”
    â€œUs?”
    â€œMe and Naja, Tamara, Samantha, and Mecca.”
    â€œWhere are you? And why do I need to bring one of my boys that can drive.”
    â€œIt’s a long story, but Naja can’t drive and we have her father’s car. So we need someone to drive it back. Can you do it or not?”
    â€œYou getting’ smart? You’re lucky I’m even taking your calls.”
    â€œShould I take that as a no?”
    He sucked his teeth. “I don’t have time to argue with you. Where are you?”
    â€œNew York.”
    â€œNew York!” he screeched.
    â€œKnow what? Never mind.”
    Jahaad sighed. “Where at in New York?”
    Reluctantly I gave him the address and an hour later he was pulling up with one of his friends. When he walked over to the car and looked into our faces, he scrunched up his nose. “I see why she couldn’t drive.”
    â€œElite,” Naja moaned. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œWhatever,” I said as I headed toward Jahaad’s car. I tossed my purse into the backseat.
    A few minutes later, Jahaad’s friend was driving Naja’s dad’s car and we were pulling off behind them.
    â€œWhy you do me like this, Elite?” Jahaad asked.
    I rolled my eyes and sucked my teeth. I knew the feel-sorry-for-me speech was coming. “Do what, Jahaad?”
    â€œUse me. I wanted you so bad last night,” he said as he entered the highway.
    â€œJahaad—” I was cut off by my cell phone ringing. I knew it was either Aniyah or Sydney calling me. It was the first time they’d ever slept in the bed without me, and I knew they were scared. I was hoping Ny’eem stayed with them, and they hadn’t been left in the house alone.
    I reached in the backseat to grab my purse when I noticed a pair of women’s panties on the floor, and beside them was a name bracelet that read Ciera. I couldn’t believe it.
    â€œYou sleeping with Ciera?!” I snapped.
    â€œWhat?!”
    â€œYou heard me, and here you are trying to make me feel guilty. I don’t believe this!” I screamed as he pulled in front of my building.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” I took Ciera’s name bracelet and threw it in his face. “You figure it out!” I got out of the car and slammed the door.
    â€œElite!” he called behind me. But I ignored him and kept walking.

SPIN IT…
    Track 12
    I didn’t hear from Haneef for two weeks, and it looked to me that I was still stuck with Jahaad. And he was sweatin’ me like crazy, begging me to please understand that we were in the same predicament and he was just like me…and that he had no idea how the panties and the bracelet had gotten there either.
    All I could say to that was: What…the…hell…ever. I was tired of that scenario, Jahaad and Elite no matter the cost. The only problem was I found myself giving in, which was why after a week of Jahaad badgering the hell outta me in school, using up minutes on my phone, I decided to let him convince me to chill with him in New York City at Justin’s.
    â€œElite,” Jahaad said as he looked at