Chapter 6 #2
Deanna doesn’t seem as intimidating this close up, even though she’s slightly taller than I am. The perfect posture and innate confidence aren’t what I’m most impressed by. How is she also so sweet?
“Oh, don’t worry, the hard part is done,” she says. “New kids never get great partners.”
“Thanks,” I say, “but you don’t have to.”
“I want to,” she says matter-of-factly. “Just don’t make me regret it; I only get A’s.”
We both laugh.
“Anyway, two things,” she says, following me. “First, sorry about Alice. She’s not always like that.”
Deanna leans up against the lockers as I try to open mine. The combination doesn’t work. I close my eyes and pretend she’s not standing so near—pretend I can’t smell the lemon candy on her breath—and try again.
“You’ll end up loving her, everyone does,” she continues.
The locker opens.
“I’ll live if I don’t,” I say, switching out my notebooks.
Deanna laughs.
“That was rude, sorry.” I wish I could disappear into my locker.
“Remind me to stay on your good side! You’re tough!”
I consider telling her I’m not, but decide against it. I close my locker and say nothing. She hands me a small packet with a big red A+ at the top next to her name. Deanna Lowe.
“What’s this?”
“This is the second thing,” she says. “You seem really serious about the notes for the quizzes, so I figured this could help you study. It’s from the last book we read, but Ms. Taylor uses the same kind of questions every time, and…”
I flip through the three pages and notice how perfect her handwriting is. “You only get A’s. I remember.”
“You’re memorizing things about me already? That’s cute,” she jokes. “Okay, anyway—give me your phone.”
I pull it out and hand it to her.
Deanna types her name and number in, then sends herself a text that says, from Jasmine’s phone. Handing my phone back, she points to the granola bar peeking out of my bag. “I hope you plan to eat more than that, but call me after school, okay?”
“Okay, sure. Thank you for thinking—” I start, but stop short, noticing her waving at someone behind me. Please don’t be Kayla …
No such luck. A few seconds later, Kayla is standing next to Deanna, smiling like she’s happy to see me. I muster a smile back and put Deanna’s notes in my bag.
“Umm, can I have a minute with my sister?” Kayla says.
Deanna nods. “But hurry up or we’re gonna be late,” she says before starting down the hall.
Kayla drops the smile as soon as Deanna leaves. “I can’t imagine why my friends are the ones you go after in a school this big. Looks sort of desperate, no?”
“I’m not going after your friends, Kayla. She’s just trying to help me pass our test next week,” I insist.
“Yeah, well, maybe say no thanks next time,” Kayla says, glaring.
“Whatever you say.”
She glares at me a little longer and I imagine she’s waiting for tears or an apology. She’s getting neither. I force down the anger I’m feeling. I can’t afford the trouble.
The bell rings and Kayla walks off. Once again, I’m left in the hallway, all alone.
When I get home from school, my mom is sitting at the counter swiping through something on her iPad.
I’ve gathered that this is the best place for her to make sure she sees or hears me when I come through the door.
I’m trying to find it endearing that she cares, but it still feels like I’m being watched.
I say hi and grab the sandwich half on the counter to take with me to my room.
She puts the iPad down. “Umm, hold on. Why the big rush, Jasmine Cooper?” she asks, tilting her head.
I step one foot backward out of the kitchen and stuff the sandwich in my mouth. “Homework,” I say with my mouth full, taking another step so I’m standing outside the doorway.
She looks at me suspiciously and shakes her head. “Better be, young lady. I might ask to see that homework before I head to the hospital later.” She goes back to her iPad.
This feels like déjà vu but I try not to let it bother me.
Little by little, things are starting to thaw between me and my mom—we’re learning how to be around each other again, even if we aren’t always saying everything on our minds, and I tell myself that’s progress.
I don’t want to undo all the hard work I’ve been putting in with a snide comment, so I keep my mouth shut and head upstairs.
By the time I close the door to my room and plant myself in my chair to decide whether I’m brave enough to do anything with Deanna’s number, my phone rings. I put it on the desk and watch Deanna’s name light up the screen.
“I figured you wouldn’t actually call, you’re so shy,” she says when I pick up.
Her directness makes me blush and I’m glad she can’t see me.
“I was going to, but I wasn’t sure if you were busy,” I say, trying to sound very chill.
She laughs loudly but I can hear a man’s voice calling her name in the background. “That’s what texts are for. You didn’t have phones in boarding school?” she jokes.
I grimace at the mention of boarding school. It reminds me immediately that talking to Deanna isn’t exactly all light and fun. “Wow! It was boarding school, not jail.” I laugh almost as loudly as she did.
The man’s voice calls out to her again. She tells him that she’s coming. “Well, you can tell me all about it this weekend. Want to come over around two on Saturday for the interview?”
I catch my breath and push it out slowly before responding. I don’t want to sound too eager. It’s just a project, Jasmine. “Okay sure, I’ll ask my mom.”
“Cool, text me.”
“And I will actually text you this time.”
“We’ll see about that. Later,” she says, laughing.
“Later, Deanna,” I say, and hang up.
I’m almost sure my cheeks are going to explode from how big my smile is until I hear a movement outside my room. I jump up and open the door just in time to see Kayla’s closing. Great.