Shortie Like Mine Read Online Free PDF Page B

shoulder-length hair behind my ears—“can ya boy get a break?”
    My boy, more like my man.
    Please do not ask me how, but him pushing my hair back made me lose control of my backpack and everything in my hand fell to the floor. My English book slid down the hall and my notebook with his name scribbled in it flew open at his feet. We both looked down at the same time and I just knew he saw his name drawn a million times with hearts all over them. He bent down, picked up my notebook, and handed it to me. I was so nervous that I snatched it and practically ran down the hall to pick up my English book. I didn’t know whether to turn around and face him or not, so I started walking toward my class.
    â€œSlow up, beautiful. You don’t have to run.” He grabbed my waist from behind and twirled me around toward him. “It’s cool.” He ran his left hand across my cheek and my dimples lit up.
    In a minute, I’ma hyperventilate!
    I was cheesing so hard I hadn’t even noticed Deeyah standing in front of us. She tapped the heel of her stiletto riding boot. “My eyes must be deceiving me, Josiah, ’cause I know you not hustling backwards!” She pointed her finger and rolled her eyes. “What is this, Seven? You tryna be me?”
    â€œAnd why would I do that?” I snapped. “Then I’d be standing there looking at my man playing me.”
    â€œHow could you be looking at yourself? When you gon’ catch a hint, he don’t want you?!”
    â€œI can’t tell”—I rolled my neck—“he was in my face and not once did he mention yo’ behind!”
    Josiah looked at me sideways, but I didn’t care. I didn’t know what type of game these two were playing but I’m not the one. “Y’all can leave me outta this nonsense.” I rolled my eyes and started to walk away. Josiah snatched me back by my forearm and I felt forced to stand still. Why was this turning me on?
    â€œDon’t do that, ma,” he said. “Don’t kick a buncha ying yang and then take off like what you said was the end-all. ’Cause obviously you two got it twisted. I’m not no lil’ boy and I’m not beat for nonsense, so you running off at the mouth like you tryna be saved and you gettin’ all amped up like you ’bout to do something”—he pointed to Deeyah—“you better dead that, ’cause I ain’t the one. I can kick it to who I wanna kick it to, and I don’t have to ask your permission.”
    â€œJosiah—” she attempted to interrupt.
    â€œI’m talking. And you know what we talked about, so chill. And unless you wanna be embarrassed, you’ll step back to class.” He turned to me. “Your mouth is ridiculous and that’s the part of you I’m not feeling, so kill it.” He looked me up and down and swaggered down the hall.
    It took everything in me not to skip behind him and say, “Okay, Daddy.”
    I looked at Deeyah and gave her a look that dared her to say something. For a moment, I couldn’t remember why we were even friends this long. Maybe it had something to do with the ridiculous pact we made in elementary school or something like that. But right about now, I could tell that all bets were about to be off.

4
    Never know when you might stop by ...
    Â 
    â€”FANTASIA, “WHEN I SEE YOU”
    Â 
    Â 
    Â 
    â€œ N ow why you wanna see me fight?” Shae snapped as she rang up her customer and I bagged for mine. We worked at Burger King in Livingston Mall after school for four hours every other day and on the weekends. And we rarely called in sick unless there was a party or a game we wanted to attend.
    â€œFight? For what?” I handed my customer their food. “You love to brawl, don’t you? I’m glad we’re friends.”
    â€œOh, you my girl,” Shae assured me while handing her customer their