A few of the students raise their hands but the girl next to me doesn’t. Ms. Taylor sighs and opens her copy as wide as shecan. “Then might as well start from the beginning. We’ll take the quiz tomorrow,” she says.
The class breathes a collective sigh of relief.
When the bell rings, Ms. Taylor reminds Alice not to leave. Alice waves at Deanna and sinks into her seat.
I grab my things and head out with the rest of the class. Deanna is leaning on a locker across the hall and pauses her conversation to wave when she sees me. Before I can wave back, I notice the person she’s talking to, and it’s none other thanKayla.
My stepsister glances over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing. “Come onnnn,” she says to Deanna, grabbing her arm and leading her away.
Then
Desiree:
Eww I’m literally begging!
I’m going to sue you for distress or whatever!!
Me:
LOL dramatic much?
I miss u too
According to Desiree, I’ve been on her last nerve for the past few months. She’s been threatening to stage a protest about “house arrest” being unfair punishment for curious teenagers. I had to remind her that a protest is actually the quickest way to break the thin ice I’m already on. That usually keeps her cool for a day or so, but then all of a sudden, we’re having the same conversation again. Today, it’s about hanging out with her boyfriend, Ty, and his friend, who are visiting from college for the weekend.
Desiree:
but not enough to come outside?
plsssss Jasmine omg
I push my phone across the table and open my history textbook to finally do my homework. I’ve been putting it off all day. It’s six p.m. and I’m bored enough to start. But after reading a few sentences, I drop my head into my hands.
My mom left for work a little over an hour ago and won’t be back until seven tomorrow morning. I would be home way before that. But should I really risk it, after all these months of following the rules?
I think about how I’ve been doing everything right lately—getting my homework done, coming home right after school, and checking in with Ms. Dean. I still kind of can’t believe I evenhavea PINS officer, but to humor my mom, I’ve been following all the rules. I’ve been so good, I should be able to hang out with a friend for a couple of hours.
I pick up my phone to text Desiree, still unsure of what I’m going to say, when her face pops up on the screen. I laugh at the timing.
“What, Desiree?” I ask with a deep, playful sigh.
“Yo, what’s up, Jasmine?” A guy’s voice blares loudly into my ear. It’s Ty.
I don’t respond right away. He whispers something to someone and Desiree yells from the background.
“Don’t be weird! It’s my husband.” She laughs.
I roll my eyes. “So that’s why he’s answering your phone?”
“Yeah. So are we coming to get you? My friend wants to meet you,” Ty asks impatiently.
“That sounds like a setup. I’m good.”
Desiree’s voice comes through the speaker. “You’re being a buzzkill, Jas. I’ll just talk to you later.”
She sounds so annoyed that I’m afraid this really might be the last nerve. I close my book and take a deep breath.
“I’ll meet you downstairs in an hour.”
