Chapter 7: Friday

[Her] I swear I want to quit choir. I come and sing at every single concert and for what? We just sing the same songs all the time. My mom doesn't even come to support anymore because she already knows what to expect.

It was hot as hell in the swat room, also known as the choir room, and Mr. Walker is always choosing old ass songs for us to perform while yelling "sing with feeling!” To top it off, RaShawn is in choir practice just staring at me. What the heck does he want?

"Alright y'all, next week is our last concert of the school year so let's not slack off anymore during practice. Jade, you've got the lead of Luther and Beyoncé's " Closer I Get to You" with RaShawn and you two need to sing that song like it was written for you, you understand?"

Hell to the no! I don't know what possessed Mr. Walker into thinking that I was going to do a duet with this nigga, especially not since RaShawn's been cruising the campus with that hoe Kyra all week long with that busted lip that I gave her. I looked up and saw RaShawn giving me this "begging look" like he wanted me to be okay with this. Was this fool the one who put Mr. Walker up to this?

"Yes, Mr. Walker. I hear you," I said. But what was I really saying yes to? Was I really going to sing a love duet with a guy that's been dogging me out for the longest?

[Him] It's been a long week. I guess I've just been so anxious to see Jade ever since we hung out the other day. When Kyra's weird ass called me, I didn't know what to say. I hadn't talked to her since her scuffle at the prom. She hit me up saying how she ain't messing with me anymore and how I didn't stick up for her. What? Last I checked I wasn't her man. I didn't care about what she was talking so I dismissed that conversation. I had Jade on my mind.

After school today, my cousin Nico took me to this auto lot in Gardena to pick out my whip. I chose a freshly painted black 1997 Chevy Tahoe with chrome on the rims. I was happy as hell and my ride was clean! After that, I went to the Lakewood Mall for some new clothes and I even picked up a few things for Jade. I didn't know what size she wore, but she had a similar build to my little sister so I took a guess at it. If I was going to be kicking it with her, then she couldn't be looking any kind of way. I mean, I think she's gorgeous, but to keep people from looking at me crazy, I had to make sure she was right. Plus, I needed her to know that I was really feeling her.

[Her] Cori had just called and said he was coming to pick me up in ten minutes so we could go to the studio. I was so nervous. I had a huge journal of songs that I'd been writing since the 5th grade that I was taking with me tonight just in case.

Cori and I have been on the phone every night since Norm's. He seems to be so into me. He is the first guy to ever ask me about my home life, my interests, or anything like that! Surprisingly, he hasn't brought up sex or getting physical at all. Maybe he just sees me as a friend, but until I know for sure, I will just keep fantasizing.

If I had one wish

We would be best friends

Love would never end

It would just begin

Ray J's song "One Wish" played on my iPod while I got myself dressed. Tonight, I had my hair in my typical bun with black jeans, a navy blue Hollister hoodie, and all black chucks. I looked at myself in the mirror. "Ugh, you really are a bum," I said to myself. Just as went to put on my silver hoop earrings and grab my purse, my phone started chirping. He was here.