Free Spin it Like That by Chandra Sparks Taylor Page A

spending time with her.
    â€œYou want to hang out with me instead?” Derrick asked. “We can go to the movies.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” I said. “There’s nothing I wanna see. Why don’t we get something to eat, then practice for All-City? We can be as loud as we want since Mama and Daddy aren’t here.”
    â€œOkay,” Derrick agreed.
    We decided to order pizza, and by the time it arrived we had already been working for almost an hour. I peeled a hundred off the wad DC had given me the night before and waited while the delivery guy gave me change.
    Derrick and I settled down to eat. As he chewed thoughtfully on his third slice of ham and pineapple pizza, he looked at me.
    â€œWhat?” I said, reaching for a napkin to wipe the cheesy goo off my face.
    â€œYou really gon’ go back and work for DC?”
    I frowned at him. “Yeah,” I said. “What part of ‘fifteen hundred dollars’ didn’t you understand?”
    Derrick just shook his head.
    â€œWhat?” I asked, really getting annoyed.
    â€œI can’t believe you.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Like you wouldn’t take the money if it was offered to you. You’re just jealous that you weren’t given the chance to make it.”
    As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I regretted saying them. “I’m sorry,” I said quickly.
    Derrick just looked at me and gave this dry laugh. “You really think I’m jealous of you?” he asked.
    I didn’t respond, although I was thinking, Who wouldn’t be jealous?
    â€œGirl, you’re going to learn that money isn’t everything. You’ve heard the horror stories about DC just like I have. Don’t sell your soul just to make a quick dollar,” he said, sounding like Daddy.
    â€œWhatever,” I said. I headed to my room and decided to call Loretta.
    â€œHow was your job interview?” I asked.
    â€œI got it!” she said, and I hadn’t heard her sound so excited in a long time.
    â€œCongratulations,” I said. “You never did tell me what the position is for.”
    â€œOh, that’s the great part,” she said. “I’m going to be working for Hot .”
    â€œYou mean that magazine with the half-naked women on the cover?”
    â€œYeah,” she said excitedly. “I’m going to be a photo assistant, so I’ll get to go to the shoots and everything. This should be great for my modeling career.”
    I wondered about Loretta’s sudden fascination with being half-naked, but before I could say anything else, she started talking again.
    â€œI found out Madd Dogg is casting for his video next week. Do you think you could loan me five hundred dollars so that I can get my new pictures done? I promise I’ll pay you back.”
    â€œSure,” I said without hesitation. What good was earning extra money if I couldn’t help my friends?
    â€œCool. I’ll come get it tomorrow.”
    â€œOkay,” I agreed. “Well, I guess I’ll chill for a little while before bed. See you tomorrow.”
    â€œBye,” she said, and we hung up.

    DC’s assistant, Jessica, called me first thing Monday morning. I didn’t even hear the phone ring. It wasn’t until Derrick came and tossed the cordless onto my chest that I jumped up, trying to figure out what was going on.
    â€œJasmine, I just wanted to give you the information for the new venue,” Jessica said.
    â€œOkay,” I said, knowing I sounded like I was still asleep. I cleared my throat as I grabbed my notebook and a pen from my nightstand. “I’m ready.”
    â€œIt’s Club Horizon on Merrick Boulevard in Laurelton.”
    â€œOh, yeah, I know where that is. It’s not too far from my mom’s job. It just opened, right?”
    â€œYes,” Jessica said. “I think you’re really going to like the place.”
    â€œI hope