With Friends Like These Read Online Free PDF Page A

But when Jaquan walked into the living room, slowly sipping on a glass of Sunny Delight, I think it became obvious why I was there, especially from the way both of our eyes lit up.
    “Hey, Alexis. What’s up?” He flashed a lopsided smile. I hadn’t told anyone, but I called Jaquan earlier this week when I knew Jasmine wasn’t home. I’d acted like I was calling for her, and I was so grateful that he answered. Instead of hanging up after he told me Jasmine wasn’t in, he talked to me for almost an hour. I was excited that he even remembered me from the basketball court. But he’d said, “As pretty as you are, who wouldn’t remember you?”
    I was hooked from that moment. We had talked every day since then, and he’d invited me over today just to hang out.
    Jasmine turned toward her brother and frowned. “What do you want?” She turned up her nose and sniffed. “And did you have to take a bath in that cologne? Sheesh,” she grumbled.
    Jaquan ignored her and walked toward me. “I’m glad you could make it.”
    Jasmine’s eyes got big. She looked at me. “What is he talking about?”
    “Me and Alexis ’bout to roll out.” He took my hand. I tried not to blush.
    “Roll out?” Jasmine said. “You’re here for him?” She looked at Jaquan like she thought somebody was playing a joke on her. “Y’all serious? So what, y’all talking now?”
    “And so what if we are?” Jaquan said. “Come on, let’s go,” he told me. “We’re taking your car, right?” I nodded and handed him my keys. My dad would have a heart attack, but I didn’t care.
    Jasmine’s draw dropped open. “You letting him drive your BMW?”
    Now she was starting to sound like my mom.
    “Jasmine, why don’t you stay outta my business,” Jaquan said.
    “Alexis is my friend. So this is my business,” she shot back.
    I definitely didn’t want to see them fighting over me. “Hey, Jaquan, let me talk to Jasmine just for a minute,” I said.
    He let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine. Meet me on the basketball court. I’ma go holla at one of my boys. Don’t be long.” Jaquan then leaned over and gently kissed me on the lips. It caught me off guard. But when he looked at Jasmine and laughed, I knew he was just trying to get under her skin. Even still, the kiss sent goose bumps up my arm.
    As soon as Jaquan left, Jasmine spun on me. “What in the world is wrong with you? Why are you messing with my brother?”
    “I told you, Jasmine. I like him. He likes me. What’s the big deal?”
    “So, what’s gon’ happen when y’all break up? What’s gon’ happen if he cheats on you? Or you cheat on him? I don’t wanna be caught up in the middle of no mess.”
    “Nobody is cheating on nobody, okay. We just kickin’ it,” I tried to reason.
    “No, it’s not okay,” she said as she folded her arms across her chest.
    I took a deep breath. “Well, it’s gon’ have to be okay. Because me and Jaquan are together.”
    “Oh, y’all together now?” Jasmine cocked her head. “’Cuz, I don’t think he kn—” Jasmine threw her hands up. “You know what? Forget it. You do what you wanna do.”
    We stared each other down for a minute. I didn’t want to go there with Jasmine, but she couldn’t dictate who I could and couldn’t see. “I will go there, Jasmine,” I finally said. “And what I wanna do is be with Jaquan. So I’m gonna be with Jaquan.” I turned and headed toward the door.
    “Just leave me out of it,” she called out as I headed out the door. “No matter what happens, leave me out of it!”
    I let the front door slam on the sound of her voice.

6
Camille
    I twirled the phone cord around my finger. Today was a good day. We had the day off from school and I was stretched out across my bed, going into my third hour of talking to Walter. I probably should have been studying for my history test on Monday, but my conversations with Walter were so much more fun.
    “So, did you see Taylor from American Idol last night