Fair-Weather Friends by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Page B

other,” Alexis continued, totally ignoring Jasmine’s sarcastic remarks.
    â€œAlexis, you are so naïve. You watch way too many movies,” I told her. “Don’t believe everything you hear.”
    At that moment one of the AKAs spotted us looking at their table and waved like she knew us.
    â€œOh my goodness, that’s Crystal waving at us,” Alexis excitedly said.
    â€œWho?” I asked.
    â€œShe used to go to my school. She was my senior mentor when I was a freshman,” she explained. “Let’s go talk to her.”
    Jasmine frowned up. “Don’t even look at me.” She stuffed another cheesestick in her mouth. “I don’t feel like jockin’ nobody today.”
    Alexis pulled me up from my chair before I had a chance to protest. I was a little skeptical myself about going up to a bunch of strange women asking them dumb questions in the middle of a crowded restaurant, but Alexis seemed determined to talk to them.
    â€œHey Crystal. Do you remember me? We went to high school together,” Alexis babbled.
    â€œAlexis, right?” Crystal replied.
    â€œYes, and this is my friend Camille. What are you doing here? I thought you were off at college somewhere.”
    â€œI am,” Crystal replied. “I’m a sophomore at Prairie View A&M. We’re just here for the weekend, hanging out.”
    â€œExcuse me,” one of the women at the table, a Delta, interrupted, “but what is a Theta Lady?” She pointed to our jackets.
    â€œOh, it’s the sorority at our high school,” I said proudly.
    â€œOh, that’s so cute,” another one of them, an AKA, replied. “We didn’t have sororities when I was in high school. I had to wait until I got to college.”
    â€œSo how do you like being in a sorority?” the Delta asked us.
    â€œWell, to be honest,” I said, glancing back at our table where Jasmine was sitting, looking more than a little agitated that we left her alone, “it’s been great so far, but not everyone is as happy about it as we are.”
    The girls at the table started to giggle and gave us a “we know how you feel” look. “Girl, get used to that. There are a lot of haters in this world who don’t want to see you succeed,” Crystal told us. “I take it your friend over there isn’t a member?”
    â€œNaw,” I said. “Jasmine started out with us, but she quit because they were making her do some really stupid stuff and picking on her.” I really did feel bad for Jasmine. I know she tries to act all hard, but deep down, she really wanted to be liked and accepted.
    â€œGood for her,” another Delta replied. “I can’t believe hazing has made it all the way down to the high schools. It’s just stupid. Y’all do know that’s not what being a part of a sorority is all about, don’t you?”
    Alexis and I both looked at each other. “Well, yeah, we know there are other things, community service and stuff,” I said. “But what else were we supposed to do? We didn’t want to get kicked out before we even made it,” I added defensively. I was beginning to feel a little dejected after talking to them. And a little angry with Alexis for dragging me over here.
    â€œI thought being in a sorority would be fun,” Alexis added. “But it’s causing all kinds of problems, especially because another one of our friends didn’t make it either, and we think it’s because she’s Hispanic. Now she’s barely even speaking to us.”
    I didn’t understand why Alexis was telling them all of our business but before I could shoot her a look telling her to chill, Jasmine cleared her throat loudly from our table. I guess that was her way of signaling to us that it was time for us to cut the conversation short.
    â€œWell, ladies, they just brought our food so I guess we should get back