Faith

•29•

Jayda

"Hey, you going to the senior picnic down by the pier this weekend?"

"Y'all do know its winter right. Don't nobody got time for that coldness."

Walking with Monica to the cafeteria, I shook my head. She was on the committee for all these senior activities and each one she tried to drag me too.

"Yea but its gonna be lit anyway."

"I don't know. I'll think about it."

"Please do because you know you my support system." She nudged me.

"For someone so popular in here, why you stressing me." I laughed.

"Because you are the only honest one in this school. Like look around us Jay. Everyone in her used to be cool, now look, we're all divided."

"Hey people grow." I shrugged.

"You grew but you kept it real."

"I got too much shit in my life to stress over minor shit."

"You keep saying that yet you don't seem like it." She laughed.

I was over thus conversation at this point.

"Because I don't show it don't mean its not there but anyway, I'm hungry and could do with two slices of those pizzas."

Walking away from her, I sighed. Monica was cool but she was a bit too much at times. Even though she was the only person I chilled with, I still preferred to be by myself.

"Thanks Ms. G." I smiled as I took my tray.

"You're welcome Jayda and I put a little something extra for you too." She smiled.

Bringing my tray to my eye sight, I smiled seeing the extra cupcake. Ignoring everyone, I spotted an empty table and sat there.

"Now you know I don't like seeing my girl sitting by herself."

Scoffing at his statement, I didn't even bother to look up.

"Keep rolling them eyes, they gon stick one day."

"What do you want LJ?"

Breaking piece of my pizza I placed it in my mouth and ate when I finally looked at him.

"Bout time you looked at me."

Just staring at him, I chewed.

"Why you gotta make this shit feel so awkward?"

I still didn't respond.

"Look I just wanted to let you know that I got a job."

My eyebrows rose slowly when I heard that.

"Its not anything big, I got through with one of the internship the school do and lucky for me, mine pays."

"Ok. And when do you start?"

"I started last Tuesday."

"Ok." I nodded. "Well that's good and congrats."

"That's it?" He looked at me.

"What else do you want me to say?"

"It ain't a matter of what you say, its how you say it. I just told you I got a job and you just brush it off like its nothing. Like I'm trying here Jayda and its like you don't care."

"Because I don't." I looked at him. "We in December LJ. Malik is going to be a year next month and now you want to try. What happened to all those past months and don't tell me he lives with you because honestly, that's all he does. I'm the one who bought everything he needed up to this point but don't worry, that will change soon enough."