Free Caught Up in the Drama by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Page A

Walter and every other boy you claimed to love?”
    â€œAnd you’ve been there for us,” Angel added. “Angelica loves you. We just don’t want you to lose sight of our friendship.”
    Camille started tearing up. “You guys,” she sniffed, “I will never forget that you’re my true friends. Why can’t you understand that?”
    â€œBecause actions speak louder than words,” Jasmine said, a lot more gently than I’d ever expected.
    Once Camille stopped being so defensive, we were actually able to have a productive conversation. I was happy to see we’d stopped fighting and were just talking right now. After fifteen minutes, Camille finally said, “Just so you guys know, I’ll do better.”
    Just then Miss Rachel poked her head back in the door. “Are you girls good?”
    I waited on someone else to answer, since I was always positive. Tyeesha was the first one. “I’m good!” she exclaimed.
    Rachel smiled. “We know you’re good. What about the rest of you?”
    Still no one spoke. “I’m good,” I finally said.
    â€œMe, too,” Angel added.
    Jasmine shrugged like she didn’t really care. I knew that was just her putting her wall up. Jasmine didn’t like people treating her wrong, so she was going to carry an attitude a little longer than everyone else.
    â€œI’m good,” Camille said, finally breaking out into a wide smile. “And I promise I won’t get the big head.”
    â€œAgain?” Jasmine asked.
    â€œAgain,” Camille answered. I relaxed as everyone broke out in a smile . . . including Jasmine.

14
    Alexis
    â€œSo what do you think, Alexis?”
    â€œHuh?” I said, snapping out of my thoughts. Camille had been going on and on for what seemed like an hour now. We were sitting at our regular table in the cafeteria. Camille had started talking right after the bell had rung, and she hadn’t shut up since.
    I glanced down at my watch. It actually had been only twenty minutes. But my mind definitely wasn’t on her drama right now. Granted, I understood that she was going through some things, but so was I. My dad hadn’t come home last night, which was pretty major. When I’d asked my mom if he was out of town—the only time he spent the night away from home—she’d simply run into her room crying.
    My home life was so miserable. And Camille was going on and on about Xavier.
    â€œÂ . . . I mean, I know why he was mad about the kiss, so I’ll give him that, but he didn’t have to go talking like I could never measure up to Beyoncé.”
    â€œYeah,” I mumbled halfheartedly.
    â€œWhat is wrong with you?” Camille finally asked.
    â€œI’m sorry, I’m just kinda out of it,” I replied. I looked around the cafeteria. “Where’s Jasmine and Angel?”
    â€œJasmine had study hall. Angel had to leave early because Angelica is sick,” she said.
    â€œOh,” I sighed heavily. “Where’s Tyeesha?”
    Camille shrugged and gave me a look like she couldn’t care less.
    â€œCamille, you really should give Tyeesha a chance. She’s cool.”
    â€œShe’s all right, especially since I know she wasn’t trying to talk to Xavier. I’m just not as tight with her as you guys are.”
    â€œMaybe we’re tight with her because we’re giving her a chance.” I wanted to remind Camille that she also didn’t know Tyeesha because she was never around, but I didn’t feel like going there. “Speak of the devil,” I said as Tyeesha walked toward us, carrying her lunch tray.
    â€œHey, hey, hey,” she sang. “What’s up?” For all the drama she went through at home, she sure had a good attitude. I made a mental note to ask her about it later.
    â€œHey, girl. Where were you?” I asked.
    â€œI had to take