what those girls think doesn’t matter. They’re not the ones you need to impress. In fact, being friends with them will only hold you back. I’m taking you out to meet some classmates that you’ll actually want to know.”
“I don’t think so,” I began.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. I know Mrs. Glabough doesn’t give you girls a curfew or anything and I also know you really don’t want to be around here later tonight.” He didn’t give me a chance to argue. Instead he boldly walked right into my bedroom, pulled open my closet doors, and began rummaging through my clothes.
“What do you think you’re doing in my closet and what exactly do you mean that I won’t want to be around here later tonight?” I called over his shoulder.
“There’ll be too much drama. Trust me.” He threw a pair of shimmery black jeans at my head. “I’ll wait in the living room while you change,” he announced. He thrust a black blouse and pair of boots at me, and then he was gone.
I decided his offer was a lot better than sitting around here and feeling sorry for myself on my birthday. So, I changed. But I didn’t want him to think I was his personal lap-dog, ready to jump whenever he commanded it, so I took my time.
I searched around and discovered that all the jewelry I had been given was stored behind a large oval mirror that stood in the corner of the room closest to the window. I had never owned enough jewelry to need a jewelry box, but now I had enough to fill a jewelry armoire that was taller than me. I selected a pretty set of silver hoops and a clunky silver chain comprised of large heart shaped links.
Then I headed to the bathroom to wash, brush my teeth and apply some make-up. Once I was there I even took the time to curl the ends of my hair. I didn’t usually put so much effort into getting ready, but for some unexplainable reason, I got a perverse enjoyment out of making Avery wait. I don’t know, maybe it was my way of passively-aggressively putting someone that thought they were my superior in their place. Seeing Mrs. Glabough couldn’t be that person, Avery made a good substitute.
I was a little disappointed when I finally emerged and he wasn’t the least bit perturbed. All he said was, “Wow. You look great.”
I decided to put my cattiness aside. After all, Avery had been nothing but nice to me and didn’t deserve to be the target of my frustration. So I simply smiled and said, “Thanks.” I even placed my arm through his as he led me towards the door.
“Trust me,” was all he said as he stooped by my front door and duct-taped the garbage bag to the floor.
It was a nice night outside. Avery said our destination was nearby, so we walked. He stopped in front of a place called Club Night. I refrained from commenting on what a lame play on words it was and followed Avery inside.
Fortunately the name was the only lame thing about the place. Large comfy mismatched seats of every color and shape scattered the perimeter of the dance floor, which was packed with dancers. I noticed that everyone in the place looked about our age.
In the corner farthest from us someone waved. Avery nodded his hello and led me in that direction.
An assortment of guys and girls dressed similarly to Avery and I looked up from their chairs. “Gang, Zandria . Zandria , gang,” was Avery’s version of an introduction.
“Hey,” I said. They answered back the same. Not wanting to stand out like the new kid I was, I pulled over a yellow chair and sat down. Mimicking the haphazard way they were all poised in their seats, I hugged one leg to my chest and dangled the other one down to the ground. Believe me, the position was much more comfortable than it sounds. Avery pulled his own chair up next to me, but most of his upper body ended up draped over mine. I got the impression it was his way of declaring to the gang that I was his.
“ Trevin ,” a boy with an odd resemblance to Avery stated. “So where’re
“I don’t think so,” I began.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. I know Mrs. Glabough doesn’t give you girls a curfew or anything and I also know you really don’t want to be around here later tonight.” He didn’t give me a chance to argue. Instead he boldly walked right into my bedroom, pulled open my closet doors, and began rummaging through my clothes.
“What do you think you’re doing in my closet and what exactly do you mean that I won’t want to be around here later tonight?” I called over his shoulder.
“There’ll be too much drama. Trust me.” He threw a pair of shimmery black jeans at my head. “I’ll wait in the living room while you change,” he announced. He thrust a black blouse and pair of boots at me, and then he was gone.
I decided his offer was a lot better than sitting around here and feeling sorry for myself on my birthday. So, I changed. But I didn’t want him to think I was his personal lap-dog, ready to jump whenever he commanded it, so I took my time.
I searched around and discovered that all the jewelry I had been given was stored behind a large oval mirror that stood in the corner of the room closest to the window. I had never owned enough jewelry to need a jewelry box, but now I had enough to fill a jewelry armoire that was taller than me. I selected a pretty set of silver hoops and a clunky silver chain comprised of large heart shaped links.
Then I headed to the bathroom to wash, brush my teeth and apply some make-up. Once I was there I even took the time to curl the ends of my hair. I didn’t usually put so much effort into getting ready, but for some unexplainable reason, I got a perverse enjoyment out of making Avery wait. I don’t know, maybe it was my way of passively-aggressively putting someone that thought they were my superior in their place. Seeing Mrs. Glabough couldn’t be that person, Avery made a good substitute.
I was a little disappointed when I finally emerged and he wasn’t the least bit perturbed. All he said was, “Wow. You look great.”
I decided to put my cattiness aside. After all, Avery had been nothing but nice to me and didn’t deserve to be the target of my frustration. So I simply smiled and said, “Thanks.” I even placed my arm through his as he led me towards the door.
“Trust me,” was all he said as he stooped by my front door and duct-taped the garbage bag to the floor.
It was a nice night outside. Avery said our destination was nearby, so we walked. He stopped in front of a place called Club Night. I refrained from commenting on what a lame play on words it was and followed Avery inside.
Fortunately the name was the only lame thing about the place. Large comfy mismatched seats of every color and shape scattered the perimeter of the dance floor, which was packed with dancers. I noticed that everyone in the place looked about our age.
In the corner farthest from us someone waved. Avery nodded his hello and led me in that direction.
An assortment of guys and girls dressed similarly to Avery and I looked up from their chairs. “Gang, Zandria . Zandria , gang,” was Avery’s version of an introduction.
“Hey,” I said. They answered back the same. Not wanting to stand out like the new kid I was, I pulled over a yellow chair and sat down. Mimicking the haphazard way they were all poised in their seats, I hugged one leg to my chest and dangled the other one down to the ground. Believe me, the position was much more comfortable than it sounds. Avery pulled his own chair up next to me, but most of his upper body ended up draped over mine. I got the impression it was his way of declaring to the gang that I was his.
“ Trevin ,” a boy with an odd resemblance to Avery stated. “So where’re
Similar Books
