It was so hard to concentrate.
My textbooks were spread all over my bed and my computer was in my lap, but none of that helped. I still couldn’t focus on this paper that was due on Monday on Zora Neale Hurston. First I’d had to read a book that was written in like 1937, and now I had to write about her life. How could I think about someone who lived so long ago when my head was filled with the Divine Divas? I had such a good feeling about us. First of all, we were cute. We could dance. But best of all, we could sing. And Veronique and Aaliyah could do better than that—my girls could sang! I really believed—no, I knew—that we could win this thing.
But I had to find a way to get focused on my homework and keep my grades up, because my mother wouldn’t waste one minute yanking my big break away from me if I didn’t keep up in school.
I turned back to my computer, but then a second later, I jumped up when Fergie’s voice vibrated through my Sidekick, “We flyin’ first class up in the sky. Poppin’ champagne, livin’ my life.” I glanced at the clock. It was just before ten, my phone cutoff time. And the judge was serious about that. I couldn’t count the number of times she’d taken my cell away from me for violating that rule.
“Hello,” I whispered.
“Diamond?”
I recognized her voice right away but decided that since she didn’t know me, I didn’t know her. “This is Diamond,” I said, putting on the voice that I’d heard my mother use so often.
“This is Jayde Monroe from the dance squad.”
“Oh, yes, Jayde,” I said, continuing my façade. “How are you?” But inside, my heart pounded. I’d told Veronique that it didn’t matter whether I made the team, but that wasn’t true. The dance squad was the coolest part of the cheerleaders. I was already popular, but being part of the team would take me way up on the Who’s Who radar. And I might be able to pick up a few steps for the Divine Divas.
“I’m calling with good news. You made the team.”
I jumped off the bed and punched my fist through the air. But I made it seem like no big deal when all I said to Jayde was, “Thanks.”
“You were really good,” Jayde continued, “but not everyone was convinced that you were ready, because you’re only a sophomore.”
I wondered how many times she was going to throw that in my face.
She said, “I was the deciding vote that put you on the team.”
“Thanks, Jayde. I’m ready.”
“I think you are, but I also did it because our parents work together.”
Oh, so now she wanted to remember that we did know each other.
“So, don’t make me sorry,” Jayde said. “And just stay in your place.”
There it was again. What did “stay in your place” mean? It was probably some female drama. At least that’s what the magazines called it. And even though we were at a Christian school, my mother always said that church folks had the most drama.
I really didn’t care; it didn’t matter to me what Jayde meant. Right now my world was too straight. So I just said, “I’ll see you in practice on Wednesday,” and hung up the phone right before I heard the knock on my door.
“Diamond?”
“Yes, Jud … I mean, yes, Mother.”
The judge peeked inside my room. “I heard your phone ring. Just making sure you’re off.”
“I am,” I said, holding my cell in the air for her to see. “It was Jayde Monroe. I made the team.”
“That’s terrific.” My mother came into my bedroom and hugged me. “Just remember,” and before she could continue, my smile went away, “you have a lot on your plate this year, but your grades are most important.”
Inside, I groaned. But outside, I said, “Yes, Mother.”
When she left me alone, I did my own little dance. Could my life get any better? Before I could answer my own question, Fergie sang out on my Sidekick again. I grabbed it fast and prayed that my parents hadn’t heard that.
“Hello,” I whispered.
“Hey, this is Jax.”
Just his voice alone was going to make me stop breathing. “Hey, Jason,” I said. “How did you get my number?”
“Call me what my peeps call me. Jax.”
“Okay.” I grinned and leaned back into my pillows. “But you didn’t answer my question; how’d you get my number?”
“I get anything I want, if I really want it.”
Now it was more than his voice that made me shiver.
“Hey, congrats on making the dance squad. I told you, you were good.”
“Thanks, I’m excited. Now I’ll be at all your games.”
“True dat. Well, I gotta make this run, but holla at your boy.”
And then he hung up. It was barely a minute. But then I stopped trippin’ over how much time. Jax had called me! I scrolled to my incoming calls, but his number showed as Private. Oh well, I’d just ask him for his number the next time I saw him.
I wanted to get back to Zora, but there was no way I could concentrate on her now. Anyway, I had all weekend to do this report. Tonight, all I wanted to do was think about my glamorous life. The dance squad. The Divine Divas. And now, Jax. I was sure that he didn’t call every girl. Especially not on a Friday night.