Cold As Ice by L. Divine Page B

the drama. “What’s up with you?”
    â€œOh, bitch, you have to see the outfit I picked out for the shower. It’s too cute.” There Nellie goes with that word again. I guess Mickey’s resolved not to fight it any further, but I’m denouncing the apparent brainwashing of which our girl’s bleached hair is reflective.
    â€œNellie, I know you know my name,” I say, slamming my locker door shut and facing the two of them while the rest of the crowded hall buzzes around us. I’m in no mood for her bougie ways.
    â€œBitch, please,” Nellie says, not fully feeling my rage. “It’s just a word, like I said before. You’re going to be using it before you know it.” She and Mickey lead us down the hall, but I’m stuck on Nellie’s blatant disregard for my feelings. Has she completely lost her mind?
    â€œAll I know is if you call me that again, you better mean it and be ready to fight like a bitch.” I know that was a bit harsh, but I’ve already told Nellie not to refer to me like that. There are so many other titles she could have chosen. Why that one stuck is a mystery to me. But who knows what Nellie’s ever thinking. It’s just like her and this blond phase. I can’t wait to get my hands in her head and bring my girl back to center. I think she’s more lost than I am right now, but she’s afraid to admit it. If I weren’t rushing to get to government class, I’d take the time to school Nellie.
    â€œJayd, calm down,” Mickey says between bites of her Nacho Cheese Doritos. “We’ll see you at lunch.”
    â€œNo, you won’t, because I have to study.” When we cross the threshold leading from one opening in the main hall to the history hall, I can see Jeremy leaning up against the wall outside our third-period classroom. Noticing us walk in, Jeremy smiles my way, and I return the favor. He’s exactly what I need to focus on for the rest of the day.
    â€œWhat about at basketball practice this afternoon? We’ll be there waiting for Nigel to get out.” I wonder if Nellie still knows she sounds like one of Nigel’s groupies instead of his baby-mama’s best friend?
    â€œYeah, I guess so, but I don’t have much time. I have to go to work,” I say, reluctantly surrendering to my friends’ collective will. The tension will be thick at work this afternoon, but at least it should be full of clients. That way, Mama and I can avoid each other and not get into it at the shop.
    â€œLater, Jayd,” Mickey and Nellie say, turning the corner at the end of the hall and leaving me to my man and our class. We’ll see each other in speech and debate next period, where I’m sure the all-about-baby talk will continue. As Jeremy opens his arms for me to fall into his energetic embrace, I feel more grateful than ever to have him in my life. Where there’s Jeremy, there’s rational behavior. Maybe he can teach me how to change up my stylo and be as laid-back as he always seems to be, because this shit I’m dealing with is getting old, for real.
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    The rest of the school day was productive and just the distraction I needed from my personal bull. I left a message for my mom, giving her the full rundown of what happened with Mama and will fill in the rest of the details tonight. There was no dressing out in my weight-lifting class today, so I got to sit in the gym with my girls and watch the boys prep for the basketball game tonight as planned. I miss hanging out with my friends. All I ever seem to do is work, work, work, and the people I’m working with don’t seem to appreciate my presence anymore. Ironically, I feel the same neglect in my current conversation with Nellie.
    â€œOkay, so this is the shirt. I figured we’d go with a bright yellow because it’s spring and it’s a girl. It also sets off the yellow sparkles in the House of