Getting Played by Celeste O. Norfleet Page B

wasn’t sure what I was going to say if someone picked up anyway. I put the bills back in the folder and leave. I call Jade. She still isn’t picking up. I call my dad, thinking he might know something. He doesn’t pick up, either.
    The thing is, I usually have no intention of dealing in other people’s drama. But I guess I don’t have a choice. My grandmother, Jade, my dad, even my girls, Jalisa and Diamond, were having it bad. I know I need to step up.
    I go up to my room and sit down on the bed to start doing my homework, and then I hear the first two steps on the first floor creaking. They always do that. I can always tell when somebody’s coming upstairs. I call out to my grandmother to let her know I’m home. When I hear thedoor slam closed I go downstairs to check. Nobody is there. It’s strange. I am just about to go back upstairs when my grandmother walks in the front door. “Hi, Grandmom. Was that just you?” I ask.
    â€œHi, sweetie, here take this bag. Was that just me where?”
    I grab the shopping bag and follow her into the kitchen. I sit it on the counter and look at her confused. “Didn’t you just come in a few minutes ago?”
    She walks over and starts pulling stuff out of the bag. “No. Why?”
    â€œNothing, I just thought I heard you come in a few minutes ago. The steps creaked like when someone’s going upstairs.”
    â€œThis old house has a lot of creaks. How was school?”
    â€œNot too bad.”
    â€œAre you okay with staying there for a while?”
    I nod. I wasn’t really, but at this point there wasn’t anything I could do to change the situation, so why stress out about it? “I stopped at Freeman afterward and then went to the Pizza Place and guess what? I got a job there.”
    â€œA job, what are you going to do with a job?”
    â€œWork like everybody else,” I say. “I’m usually sitting around doing nothing most of the time, so I thought I might as well get paid for it. I’m working at Giorgio’s Pizza Place.”
    â€œThat was fast.”
    â€œI know. It just kind of happened. He hired me right on the spot. I start tomorrow, although I work mostly on the weekends. Is that okay with you?”
    â€œSure, as long as you keep up with your studies and your chores around the house. What about going to see your father on the weekends?”
    â€œIt’ll be fine. I’m going back to do my homework.” The phone rings just as I leave the kitchen. It’s one of my grandmother’s friends. I hear her laughing and know she’ll be on the phone for another two hours. I go back up to my bedroom and sit down to start my homework again. That’s when I get sleepy. I am just about to lie down when my cell rings. I check the caller ID, then answer immediately. “Hey,” I say, happy and excited for the first time all day.
    â€œHey,” Terrence replies. There is a slight pause. “How are you doing?”
    â€œFine, how are you?”
    â€œI’m all right. So you want to talk or what?” he asks.
    â€œYeah, I do. What’s up with you?” I ask, trying not to sound like I’m accusing him of anything.
    â€œI got a lot of stuff on my mind, that’s all. Things I gotta figure out.”
    â€œLike what? Maybe I can help.”
    â€œNah, I doubt it.”
    â€œIs it about school?” I ask.
    â€œYeah, it’s school, too.”
    I know Terrence isn’t going to out-and-out lie to me. I know his character better than that. He’ll avoid the answer, but not lie. “I thought you were doing great in school. You’re magna cum laude, right? Doesn’t that mean you’re doing great?”
    â€œYeah, it’s not the grades. It’s just other stuff.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œLike stuff.”
    â€œIs it ’cause Gia’s at Howard, too?” I ask. He doesn’t answer for a