Who You Wit'? by Paula Chase

Author:Paula Chase
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2008-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Dividing Lines

“You coulda been more involved but no,

I’m not the girl that you knew before.”

—Tiffany Evans ft. Bow Wow, “I’m Grown”

At eleven o’clock on the dot, Brian’s parents swooped in and cleared out the backyard like a duo of riot cops. Everyone respectfully vacated the yard, streaming into the front yard and to their cars, talking, some making plans for the hour until their license dictated it was time to head home. Mina gave Brian a quick kiss on the lips and searched the yard for Lizzie, figuring they’d walk to her house since Kelly and Jacinta hadn’t shown up.

It was only as Mina stood in the front yard saying good-bye to Sara that she saw the girls. Lizzie, Kelly, and Jacinta stood by Kelly’s car, talking to JZ. When Mina walked over, they all wordlessly got in the car.

Mina eyed JZ quizzically.

He shrugged. “Rough night, I guess.”

The ride from Brian’s house to Mina’s was a short one, but long enough for Mina to know something was wrong.

The girls’ footsteps echoed on the hardwood floors of the silent house as they filed inside. Mina’s parents, no longer on twenty-four/seven chauffeur duty, were now enjoying their own newfound freedom.

Mina plucked a note from atop the counter informing her they’d be home by midnight.

“Hey, we still have forty minutes. Afterparty,” Mina declared giddily. “Let’s call the guys and invite them over.”

She was greeted with silence.

“Okay, that was a joke.” Mina frowned and eyed her friends. Jacinta gave her a shrug. “What’s wrong?”

She flipped the light on in the sunroom and plopped on the large sectional sofa. Jacinta sat on one side of her, Kelly the other. Lizzie pulled up an ottoman, facing them. Her eyes were red-rimmed.

“I’m not really up for a sleepover tonight,” she said.

“Why not? Todd’s going to be with Brian in DC all day tomorrow. We may as well do the girls’ thing,” Mina said.

Lizzie’s lips pursed. “Is that the only reason you had us over? Because the guys already have plans tomorrow?”

Mina’s eyebrow jumped, but her voice was calm. “Hello, we’ve had tonight planned for two weeks.” She tugged at her spiky ponytail. “Y’all were supposed to be trying new do’s on me.”

“Your hair’s too short now to do anything with,” Lizzie said, her voice heavy. Her fingers fiddled with her own hair, flowing just past her shoulders.

“Liz, what’s wrong?” Mina looked from Kelly to Jacinta. “What did I miss?”

Jacinta’s eyebrows shrugged.

“Todd broke up with me tonight.” Lizzie sat up, cross-legged, on the ottoman and straightened her back.

“Lizzie, no,” Mina said. She scooted off the sofa and sat beside Lizzie. “Why didn’t you come find me?”

“Why didn’t you come find me?” Lizzie said. Her voice broke, and she cleared her throat, swiping at a random tear. Her eyebrow steepled. “Did you and Brian sneak off to his room?”

Jacinta chuckled. “Quickie,” she sang.

Mina shook her head. “Okay not. His parents were there.” She furrowed her eyebrows at Lizzie as she moved back to the sofa so they were facing one another.

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