Drama High: Cold As Ice

Book 11: Drama High

by L. Divine

Genres: YA Social Themes

Synopsis

Jayd Jackson's about to take the most important test of her life. . . With the Advanced Placement exams coming up, Jayd can't afford any distractions. Enter Rah's baby mama, the master of stirring up trouble. Despite her best intentions, Jayd gets entangled in the drama and fails her pre-test exam. Knowing it's time to get her act together, she joins a study group on campus, sharpens her skills--and meets a whole new crew. Unfortunately, Jayd's the only one who's happy about her newfound study habits and newfound friends. Her old crew is suddenly full of haters--and even Mama's giving her a hard time. Just when it seems things can't get any worse, Misty starts talking smack, hoping to destroy Jayd once and for all. Now Jayd's wondering if the real test is whether she's ready to say goodbye to the old and move on up and out. . .

Release date: May 5, 2010

Publisher: Dafina Young Adult

Print pages: 226

Sample

Jayd

A sassy sixteen-year-old from Compton, California, who comes from a long line of Louisiana conjure women. She is the only one in her lineage born with brown eyes and a caul. Her grandmother appropriately named her “Jayd,” which is also the name her grandmother took on in her days as a voodoo queen in New Orleans. She lives with her grandparents, four uncles, and her cousin Jay. Jayd is in all AP classes and visits her mother on the weekend. She has a tense relationship with her father, whom she sees occasionally, and has never-ending drama in her life, whether at school or home.

Mama/Lynn Mae

When Jayd gets in over her head, her grandmother, Mama, is always there to help her. A full-time conjure woman with magical green eyes and a long list of both clients and haters, Mama also serves as Jayd’s teacher, confidante, and protector.

Mom/Lynn Marie

At thirty-something years old, Lynn Marie would never be mistaken for a mother of a teenager. Jayd’s mom is definitely all that and with her green eyes, she keeps the men guessing. Able to talk to Jayd telepathically, Lynn Marie is always there when Jayd needs her.

Netta

The owner of Netta’s Never Nappy Beauty Shop, Netta is Mama’s best friend, business partner, and godsister in their religion. She also serves as a godmother to Jayd, who works part-time at Netta’s Shop.

Esmeralda

Mama’s nemesis and Jayd’s nightmare, this next-door neighbor is anything but friendly. She relocated to Compton from Louisiana around the same time Mama did and has been a thorn in Mama’s side ever since. She continuously causes trouble for Mama and Jayd. Esmeralda’s cold blue eyes have powers of their own, although not nearly as powerful as Mama’s.

Rah

Rah is Jayd’s first love from junior high school, who has come back into her life when a mutual friend, Nigel, transfers from Rah’s high school (Westingle) to South Bay. He knows everything about her and is her spiritual confidant. Rah lives in Los Angeles but grew up with his grandparents in Compton like Jayd. He loves Jayd fiercely but has a girlfriend who refuses to go away (Trish) and a baby-mama (Sandy). Rah is a hustler by necessity and a music producer by talent. He takes care of his younger brother, Kamal, and holds the house down while his dad is locked up and his mother strips at a local club.

Misty

The word “frenemies” was coined for this former best friend of Jayd’s. Misty has made it her mission to sabotage Jayd any way she can. Living around the corner from Jayd, she has the unique advantage of being an original hater from the neighborhood and at school.

KJ

He’s the most popular basketball player on campus, Jayd’s ex-boyfriend, and Misty’s current boyfriend. Ever since he and Jayd broke up, he’s made it his personal mission to persecute her.

Nellie

One of Jayd’s best friends, Nellie is the prissy princess of the crew. She is also dating Chance, even though it’s Nigel she’s really feeling. Nellie made history at South Bay by becoming the first Black Homecoming princess and has let the crown go to her head.

Mickey

The gangster girl of Jayd’s small crew, she and Nellie are best friends but often at odds with each other, mostly because Nellie secretly wishes she could be more like Mickey. A true hood girl, she loves being from Compton, and her man with no name is a true gangster. Mickey and Nigel have quickly become South Bay High’s newest couple.

Jeremy

A first for Jayd, Jeremy is her white ex-boyfriend who also happens to be the most popular cat at South Bay. Rich, tall, and extremely handsome, Jeremy’s witty personality and good conversation keep Jayd on her toes and give Rah a run for his money—literally.

Mickey’s Man

Never using his name, Mickey’s original boyfriend is a troublemaker and always hot on Mickey’s trail. Always in and out of jail, Mickey’s man is notorious in her hood for being a coldhearted gangster, and loves to be in control. He also has a thing for Jayd, but Jayd can’t stand to be anywhere near him.

Nigel

The new quarterback on the block, Nigel is a friend of Jayd’s from junior high and also Rah’s best friend, making Jayd’s world even smaller at South Bay High. Nigel is the star football player and dumped his ex-girlfriend at Westingle (Tasha) to be with his new baby-mama-to-be, Mickey. Jayd is caught up in the mix as a friend to them both, but her loyalty lies with Nigel because she’s known him longer and he’s always had her back.

Chance

The rich, white hip-hop kid of the crew, Chance is Jayd’s drama homie and Nellie’s boyfriend, if you let him tell it. He used to have a crush on Jayd and now has turned his attention to Nellie.

Bryan

The youngest of Mama’s children and Jayd’s favorite uncle, Bryan is a dj by night and works at the local grocery store during the day. He’s also an acquaintance of both Rah and KJ from playing ball around the hood. Bryan often gives Jayd helpful advice about her problems with boys and hating girls alike. Out of all of Jayd’s uncles, Bryan gives her grandparents the least amount of trouble.

Jay

Jay is more like an older brother to Jayd than her cousin. Like Jayd, he lives with Mama but his mother (Mama’s youngest daughter) left him when he was a baby and never returned. He doesn’t know his father and attends Compton High. He and Jayd often cook together and help Mama around the house.

The 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 couldn’t 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 too 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 on attack mode.

“And you probably would, too,” I say, kissing Jeremy on his neck. 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 I know I’m not ready for. I’ll be seventeen in a couple weeks, and all my friends are waiting on me to lose my virginity because I’m the last one in our crew and probably the whole damn school. But I’m not going out like that—not yet. Jeremy continues, “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 out from under him and sitting up straight on the small couch that doubles as my weekend bed at my mother’s apartment. 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 I, 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 voodoo priestess is a big adjustment for Jeremy, I know. But it’s a nonnegotiable part of my life that all 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, 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 my 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 my grandmother’s house in Compton this evening, but all that can wait if he’ll stay.

“Ah, baby, I wish I could stay and hang, but we have a surf 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 that he and Chance drag raced 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 on 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, tan 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 before 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, too. 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 lost complete 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 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.

“Yuh need fi check yuhself before yuh start kiss yuh teeth / Caw yuh nuh ready fi this yet, bwoy.”

—TANYA STEPHENS

Once all my chores were done at my mom’s apartment, I gave my hair a quick wash and dry before flatironing 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 in Lafayette Square, a stone’s throw away from Crenshaw Blvd, I see all 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 mom’s 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. 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 living room. They all look distracted by whatever’s on the flat-screen television. I’m surprised Nigel’s girlfriend, 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 is ever an eternal optimist in 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. Nellie and I are almost done with the registry and guest list,” Mickey says, flipping through baby catalogs, which has been her and Nellie’s favorite pastime lately. I’ll be so glad when this baby is born, I don’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 floating high 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 mesmerizes 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 Rah’s ex-heffas sniffing around him on the regular. Jeremy and I actually have a future together, unlike Rah and me.

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

“Then what is he, Jayd?” Rah asks, turning his body to face me completely. “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.

“Oooo, a midafternoon make-out session. I love it,” Nellie says, taking her hands out of Chance’s head 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 encounter, kiss by kiss, 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, with the way he carries on with his daughter’s mother.

“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 Jeremy’s 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. . . .