Cold As Ice by L. Divine Page A

would spill my guts to my favorite uncle. But Bryan and I both have work to do and need to move fast if we’re going to get anything done today.

5
Change Happens
    â€œYeah, I got some changin’ to do.”
    â€”J OHN L EGEND
    I don’t even remember how I drove the forty-five minutes it takes me to get from Compton to Redondo Beach this morning in less than forty, but I’m here and ready to get on with my day. I wish I could call my mom from mind to mind like she does me, but I’ll have to settle for using my cell later. It’s not fair that her powers work in only one direction. Had my mom appreciated her powers when she was my age, there’s no telling how dope her shit would have been. Now her gift of sight works to get into only my head, no one else’s. I sure could use my mom’s help this morning, but it’ll have to wait until I see her tonight, if she comes home before going to her boyfriend’s apartment for the weekend. She’s a professional at arguing with her mother and eventually gets over it, whereas I, on the other hand, always feel bad after having a disagreement with Mama.
    Mr. Adewale could tell something was up with me in first period. I wanted to talk to him about my issues, but because he has such a profound respect for Mama and our lineage, I doubt he’ll take my side. What am I thinking, leaving Mama’s house? But if I don’t do something fast, I’m in danger of not passing my AP exams, and I’ll be damned if I give Mrs. Bennett the satisfaction of seeing me fail. Besides, I’ve worked my ass off for two years on the AP track and deserve to study for my exams in peace.
    The only good thing about this freaky Friday is that my mom’s powers have been off the chain. The people I come into contact with all let me inside their minds with no idea of what I’m doing, and I can’t help it—I can hear everything they’re thinking. It’s like verbal diarrhea in my head. And the fact that some of it is audible doesn’t help keep the noise down, but it did help me chill out Nellie and Mickey for the time being. My mom’s persuasive techniques can cool almost any situation and turn it to her advantage, I see. I’ve decided not to tell Mama or my mom about my newfound sight. I’m not ready to give up this power just yet.
    â€œHey, girl,” Mickey says as she and Nellie approach my locker. They’ve been texting me all day about the baby shower this weekend, and I’m not any more excited about it than I was last week or the week before. I’ll just be glad when it’s all over. Mickey’s still sour about Mrs. Esop inviting me to become a debutante, but I think Nigel has helped calm her down about the entire situation, especially since I agreed only for Mickey’s sake. And Nellie hasn’t said a word about dinner at Chance’s house earlier this week. I heard what they wanted to say to me before I mentally resolved their issues during the pass between first and second period, and I am grateful I could squash that girl fight before it surfaced.
    â€œHey,” I say unenthusiastically. Reid and Laura are passing out fliers for some Associated Student Body event I could not care less about. Nellie and her platinum hair are right on the back of the bandwagon with them. She tries to hand me a yellow paper, and I ignore the gesture. The last thing I need is another piece of trash in my locker. I think the environmental club should set up an official tribunal and put ASB on trial for unnecessarily killing trees to advertise their useless bull.
    â€œWhat’s got your panties all up in a bunch?” Nellie asks, reading the sour expression written all over my face while placing the paper back in the pile she’s carrying. This morning’s battle—not to mention the plastic-coated couch—left me feeling twisted.
    â€œJust shit,” I say, not wanting to relive