Culture Clash (20 page)

1. Should Jayd give up on Rah completely, even as a friend?
   
2. Would you date Jeremy even if you knew his parents were not hospitable to people of color? Should Jeremy be judged on his parents’ beliefs or because of who he is?
   
3. Was Jayd wrong to cut Emilio completely off after his views of black Americans offended her? Do you think she should have been more understanding, or was Jayd justified in her reaction?
   
4. Would you be able to have an open dialogue about your religious beliefs at school? Why or why not?
   
5. Do you have a neighbor who seems a bit strange to you? What types of differences make this person stand apart in your neighborhood? Outside of these differences, are you more alike than not?
   
6. Were KJ and his boys justified in their response to Chance taking a black role? What do you think should have been done differently, if anything?
   
7. Should Jayd resume her relationship with Jeremy and leave Rah alone? Do you think their cultural differences will get in the way of their second chance, or have they both learned enough about each other by now to make it work this time?
   
8. Does your school have an African Student Union? If not, would you consider starting one? What would be the purpose of your club?
   
9. Was Nigel’s mom right about Mickey having an abortion? Do you think Nigel and Mickey should live together once the baby’s born?
   
10. Is Rah handling his baby-mama situation in the most effective manner? What could he do differently to make the situation better for himself, his daughter, and for Jayd?
    

When Ms. Toni wanted to communicate with Jayd but fell short of knowing exactly what she wanted to say, she picked a novel to do the talking for her. The next time you want to share something about yourself or your feelings, use one of your favorite books to get your message across. You might be surprised by how well this works in making your point without arguing.

Stay tuned for the next book in the DRAMA HIGH series, COLD AS ICE

Until then, satisfy your DRAMA HIGH craving with the following excerpt from the next exciting installment

ENJOY!

T
he tickle down the right side of my neck distracts me from keeping up with the steady pace of Jeremy’s lips. He started out kissing my left ear and then moved on to my right. Now Jeremy’s focus has returned to my mouth and I’m glad for it. I love the way his soft lips feel against mine, even though him kissing my neck is definitely my next favorite thing. I could lie on this couch with him forever as long as he keeps making me feel this good.

Jeremy and I have been making out for what seems like hours, but I’m not worried about the time. My phone’s gone off twice since he got here and I could not care less. I know it’s Rah, ready to grill me about seeing Jeremy kiss me on Friday night at the race, but I have nothing to say to him about what we do. I just hope we don’t stop anytime soon. The second time around for Jeremy and me just might be what we both need.

“I’ll give you a thousand dollars for that thought,” Jeremy says, pulling away from my lips and promptly kissing me on my nose. We both need to come up for air, but not for long I hope. It’s been a while since I had a make-out session without having to look over my shoulder for a crazy ex-girlfriend or baby-mama in attack mode.

“And you probably would, too,” I say, kissing Jeremy on his neck—and by the way, he’s shaking. I can tell he likes it. I keep kissing, softly biting his flesh as I smile at every involuntary jump he makes.

“Come on, Jayd. I’m serious,” Jeremy says, kissing me on my right cheek and then again on my ear. If he doesn’t stop we’re going to get into some serious trouble that I know I’m not ready for. I’ll be seventeen next month, and all of my friends are waiting on me to lose my virginity—since I’m the last one in our crew and probably the whole damn school. But I’m not going out like that—not yet. “From now on we need to have full disclosure—no secrets. That’s the only way this can work.”

“Full disclosure? I’m not sure I can do that,” I say, easing my way up from under him and sitting up straight on the small couch that doubles as my weekend bed. The couch was already a mess before Jeremy got here and now it looks like a tornado hit it. The pillows are strewn across the living room floor with my sheets and blanket across the coffee table. If my mom walked in right now she’d be more upset by the mess in her apartment than the boy making out with her daughter.

“Why not?” Jeremy asks in that innocent way of his that makes my heart melt. He’s so adorable when he’s on a mission for information. “Look, Jayd, I’m serious about having a committed relationship with you, and that means we have to be completely honest with each other, even if it means having to hear something we might not want to. So, what’s on your mind?” I look into Jeremy’s blue eyes and see his sincerity. But I still don’t feel comfortable telling him everything about how me, Mama, and my mom get down.

“Because, Jeremy, there are some things I can never tell you or anyone else about my life,” I say as Jeremy sits up next to me. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, or that I’m keeping anything from you on purpose. It’s just the way it is. I hope you can understand.” I really, really do. Me being a priestess is a big adjustment for Jeremy, I know. But it’s a nonnegotiable part of my life that all of my friends have learned to deal with in one way or another.

“I can respect that, Lady J. I can’t help but hope that one day you can tell me everything, no holds barred.” Jeremy pulls me into his arms again and I accept his warm embrace. He always smells fresh, like Irish Spring and seawater. It must be from all the surfing he does on a daily basis. “Anyway, I have to get going. I’m meeting the gang at the pier and still need to get my boards from my bro,” he says, kissing me on the back of the neck before letting me go.

“Not yet,” I say, rising with him. “We’ve got all day.” I know I have a ton of things to do before I head back to Compton this evening, but all of that can wait if he’ll stay.

“Ah, baby, I wish I could stay and hang, but we have a surfing competition coming up and we’re in need of some serious practice.” I never knew surfing was more than a hobby to Jeremy. I had no idea he competed outside of his crew, just like I didn’t know about him and Chance drag racing for money. It seems like I have a lot to learn about my elusive friend.

“Full disclosure, huh? You have a few secrets of your own I’m not privy to, don’t you, Mr. Weiner?” I ask, pushing him in his lower back as we walk to the front door. He’s got a cute butt for a white boy, and I love his strong, tanned legs, even if they are covered in hair.

“We all do. But for you, Miss Jackson, I’ll be an open book.” Jeremy turns around and strokes my face with the back of his right hand before bending down for one last kiss. I gently grab the back of his head, entangling my fingers in his thick curls. Jeremy’s hands move from my face down to my waist and he pulls me in closer. Here we go again.

“Damn. Do you have to go now?” I whine as he releases me from his embrace. Jeremy opens the door and steps over the threshold, officially ending our make-up make-out afternoon. Every time Jeremy kisses me like this I feel swept away in the moment. This fool’s got some power over me and we both know it.

“I love you too, Jayd,” Jeremy says, kissing me on the forehead and jogging down the stairs without allowing me to respond. That fool just said he loved me and ran off. What the hell?

I step back inside and close the door as my phone rings once again. I push the silence button and notice the time, realizing I need to get a move on. I just remembered I was supposed to meet my crew at Nigel’s house about an hour ago. No wonder Rah’s been texting and calling me like crazy. I completely lost track of time, but that’s how it is once Jeremy and I get started—and I don’t regret a single minute.

While relocking the multiple bolts on my mom’s front door, I swear I can feel someone’s eyes on me. I walk over to the living room window and look outside over the neighbor’s tall trees to see if I notice anyone staring my way. I don’t have time to play 007 right now. I have to clean up this place and get ready to go, which includes a shower and doing my hair. It’s still early in the afternoon and I know my crew’s not going anywhere anytime soon. I’ll be there as soon as I can, but I’m not rushing for anyone. Besides, I feel too good from Jeremy’s surprise visit and love confession to care about being late or about who may be spying on us. I just want to enjoy this feeling a little while longer before I have to deal with my crew and their inevitable issues.

O
nce all of my chores were done at my mom’s apartment, I gave my hair a quick wash and dry before flat-ironing it and packing my stuff. It’s been a minute since I’ve had time to give my hair the proper love and care it deserves, but hopefully next weekend I’ll have more time to pamper myself. I sent Mickey a text a few minutes ago, informing her I was on my way. I don’t even know why I’m going to this session. I have schoolwork to catch up on and there are always Mama’s assignments to do. Will a sistah ever get a break?

When I pull up to Nigel’s house I see all of my friends are in attendance this sunny Sunday afternoon. I wish I were at the beach with Jeremy, as nice as the weather is. I park my little gray ride behind Chance’s Chevy and turn off the engine. Maybe I can take Chance’s car around the block before we leave and disturb Nigel’s pristine neighborhood. I need to make it a habit to drive his and Jeremy’s cars more often, so I can sharpen my hot-rod driving skills. I wonder if girls ever race in their car crew?

“Sorry I’m late, y’all. What did I miss?” I ask, entering Nigel’s foyer and greeting my friends chilling in the plush living room. They all look distracted by whatever’s on the flat screen television. I’m surprised Mickey would come back so soon after Mrs. Esop called her out last week about being unsure of the paternity of her unborn child. But I guess my girl’s still hopeful she’ll be accepted into the family. If there ever was an eternal optimist in the midst of the darkest of challenges, it’s Mickey. She’s dead set on marrying Nigel and becoming a housewife, even if his mama can’t stand her.

“Damn, Jayd. You missed everything. Me and Nellie are almost done with the registry and guest list,” Mickey says, flipping through baby catalogues, which has been her and Nellie’s favorite pastime lately. I’ll be so glad when this baby is born I won’t know what to do. I walk into the living room and join the session in progress. I know they didn’t smoke down here, but my boys are definitely on cloud nine.

“You must’ve been real busy to be almost three hours late. Where were you?” Nellie asks, tagging several pages with pink Post-It notes. Party planning is definitely my girl’s thing. Maybe she can plan a small birthday celebration for me this year. My birthdays are usually uneventful, but I wouldn’t mind doing a little something on my special day. Nigel and Chance nod their greetings without looking away from the Chow Yun-Fat flick in front of them. Martial arts always mesmerize my boys, and he is one of my favorite actors, too. Looks like I came just in time, no matter what Nellie and Mickey may think.

“She was with her boy toy,” Rah says, taking his red eyes away from the fight scene on the big screen to glare at me. I knew he would be irritated about seeing Jeremy kiss me on Friday, but he really can’t say shit. I have to endure not one but two of his ex-heffas sniffing around him on the regular. Jeremy and I actually have a future together, unlike what he and Trish and Sandy have.

“He’s not my boy toy,” I say, ready to defend me and Jeremy if need be. “I know you know me better than that, Rah,” I say, rolling my eyes at him and sitting down next to Nellie on the couch. Mickey and Nigel are cuddled up together on the loveseat and Chance is sitting on the floor in front of Nellie while she plays in his hair. Everyone’s coupled off except for me and Rah, yet we’re the two that brought them all together. Isn’t this ironic?

“Then what is he, Jayd?” Rah asks, turning his body around to face me completely in the chair he’s posted up in next to the couch. “You’re usually not late to a session and you didn’t answer my calls or texts. Naturally I got worried and went by to check on you. Before I could get out of the car I saw your boy Jeremy leaving your mom’s apartment, and he looked very happy,” Rah says, waiting for my confession—but from where I’m sitting I don’t owe him an explanation.

“Ooh, a midafternoon make-out session. I love it,” Nellie says, taking her hands out of Chance’s hair and clapping. “Details, please.” Nellie is a bit too excited for the heaviness of the situation between me and Rah. I’ll fill her in on the kiss-by-kiss encounter another time. Right now I need to check my boy before he goes too far.

“Rah, Jeremy and I are friends, and you’ve known that all along. Besides, you don’t see me spying on your ass when you don’t answer my calls, which is quite often now that Sandy’s back in your life,” I say, sucking my teeth at him. He’s got nerve enough for the both of us.

“Jayd, you can say whatever you like, but you know you’re wrong to be dealing with that punk again. He shouldn’t even be touching you,” Rah says, his high cheekbones flexing at the very thought of Jeremy and me kissing. I didn’t mean for him to ever witness Jeremy and me being affectionate, but it happened and there’s no going back.

“Hey, that punk is my friend, and he helped you win that basketball game against KJ, don’t forget,” Chance says, having Jeremy’s back like a true homie. Nigel has his back, too, but he’s Rah’s homie first, so he’s silent for the time being. But I know if Rah gets too carried away Nigel will step in. We all know Rah’s not really pissed at Jeremy; he’s just jealous because I’m doing my own thing.

“Whatever, man,” Rah says, calming down for the time being, or so I think. After a few minutes of silence, Rah comes back at me. Am I going to get to watch the movie in peace, or what?

“Just admit that the shit was disrespectful, Jayd, and I’ll let it go.” Mickey and Nellie look at Rah and then back at me. Nigel feels the gravity of the situation and turns the volume down on the surround-sound system his dad hooked up in here, much to Chance’s disapproval. The entertainment system in the game room is even tighter than this one and I already feel like I’m at one of Magic Johnson’s theaters. But Rah’s drama is distracting us all from watching the movie.

“I’m not admitting a damn thing,” I say, now just as irritated as Rah. This fool is really tripping and messing up my vibe. I was feeling good when I left my mom’s house. Now I feel like kicking his ass. “Can you please shut up so we can enjoy the movie? We’ll talk about it later.” If I were a dude Rah would’ve socked me in my mouth for telling him to be quiet. He looks like he’s going to hit something and I feel him.

“You’ve lost your damn mind, you know that?” Rah says, standing up from his seat and towering over me. “Do you really think I’m stupid, Jayd? I know you and that punk-ass white boy are more than friends—no offense, man,” Rah says to Chance, who looks like he wants to jump in, but chooses against it. When Rah gets this angry there’s no reasoning with him. Nigel gets up from his cozy spot next to Mickey just in case he needs to cool Rah down.

“Come on, man. Let’s take a walk,” Nigel says, trying to distract Rah. But Rah’s eyes are set on me, and mine on him. Nellie scoots over, putting more space between her leg and mine. Chance scoots over on the floor just in case Rah takes another step and accidentally crushes Chance’s fingers underneath his new Jordans.

“You betrayed me, Jayd. You betrayed us,” Rah says between his teeth before storming out of the living room and through front door, passing Mr. and Mrs. Esop on his way down the porch steps. Nigel looks down at me and shrugs his shoulders before following his boy. I haven’t seen Rah this angry with me in a long time.

“Rah, wait a minute. It’s not that serious,” I say, rising to follow them out. He can be so dramatic sometimes.

“Hello, Jayd,” Mrs. Esop says, leading her husband through the open door. I smile at Nigel’s mom and dad before walking through the foyer. They look stunning in their Sunday best, fresh from church.

“What’s wrong with Rah?” Mr. Esop asks, turning his head to watch Rah start his car before heading to the game room next to the living room. Mrs. Esop takes off her large white hat and smoothes her hair down in the antique mirror hanging in the entryway.

“Oh, the usual,” I say, looking back at my crew looking at us instead of the muted screen in front of them. A live show is always more interesting. “I’ll be right back,” I say, adjusting my purse on my shoulder and walking down the steps. I’m so sick of doing damage control, but it’s an inevitable part of maintaining friendships. And sometimes boys can be more difficult to deal with than girls when it comes to matters of the heart.

“Jayd, I’m looking forward to continuing our discussion soon about becoming a debutante,” Mrs. Esop says. I thought I was out of that deal when she went off on Mickey.

“But I just assumed you wouldn’t be interested any longer in coming to the shower,” I say, trying to speak low so Mickey doesn’t hear. I haven’t told her about my deal with Mrs. Esop yet. But from the look on her crooked face, I’d say Mickey heard the entire conversation. Shit. Now I’ll have to deal with her drama, too.

“Just because it’s not my grandchild doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy the festivities,” she says with a cunning smile. “And I am nothing if not a woman of my word. Besides, a deal’s a deal,” Mrs. Esop says, waving to Mickey, Nellie, and Chance before walking up the stairs. Mickey looks at me like she’s about to explode she’s so pissed, but I’ll have to deal with her later. Right now I have to catch Rah before he does something stupid, which is the usual when his head gets this hot. Why does my life have to include all of this bull?