Issues

Issues - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

"Kaya!" Jaida, Jen, and Nikki yelled running to me as I stepped over the curb and onto the sidewalk in front of the mall doors.

"Hey y'all," I said slapping a smile on my face.

"Good thing you came, we would have dragged you here anyway. Good thing we didn't have to resort to that," Jen giggled.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I rolled my eyes smiling.

"We haven't done a full JJNK hangout in forever!" Jaida said referring to the four of us and our stupid little nickname that stuck. J (Jaida) J (Jen) N (Nikki) K (Kaya).

"Where were you anyway?" Jaida piped up.

"Me? Oh I was just hanging with Taylor," I said indifferently but of course this sparked a whole new conversation.

"Oh my god, so hot," Jaida chimed.

"Agreed," said the other two.

"Yeah, but that's not why I hang out with him. I think that would get my boyfriend pissed off."

"Well he's pissed about it anyway," Jaida said rolling her eyes.

"He's getting better," I defended Nick.

"So what do y'all do when you hang?" Nikki asked trying to be indifferent as she checked out some shirts in the first store we entered; curiosity and concern burning visibly in her eyes.

"Not much, we just sit there and talk and hang out in his backyard. Sometimes we go get something to eat," I said and added seeing Jaida's skeptical face, "Do stuff as just friends!"

"Do you like him?" Jaida blurted out. Leave it to Jaida.

"Jaida!" Nikki and Jen said in surprise.

"He's one of my best friends," I stated simply.

"And so are we so let's focus on us," Nikki said putting her arms around Jaida's shoulders along with mine.

I smiled gratefully at Nikki from saving me from my own best friend. How horrible was that? I loved Jaida, I truly did, and she was the first person I told when something happened, but lately she had been wanting to hear nothing other than Taylor and it was unsettling. Afraid that she would swoop in with her gorgeous looks and flirty personality and take Taylor - one of my best friends - made me give her only certain details. Not the full blown report I would have normally given her.

Soon, Taylor was out of the conversations and we immersed ourselves in girl time. It turned out to be exactly what I needed. The last week, I had hung out with Sam because I felt we needed more time together. I also hung out with Taylor, and of course Nick. I had hung out with Nikki and Jaida occasionally, but of course it wasn't enough to satiate my need for an estrogen rush.

I walked away from the mall with two full bags and my pocket a little lighter. I knew I was going to have to stop spending a lot of my money, otherwise I would never be able to pay for the gas that my little red car needed constantly.

"Hi Ma," I said as I walked into the kitchen setting my bags down on the table while I went to go get a drink of water. The heat was unbelievable today.

"Oh, hello darling," she said obviously distraught.

"What's wrong, mom," I said walking over to her.

"Oh, nothing honey," she said attempting to smile. I obviously did not get my trait of being able to hide my emotions from her.

"Come on mom, do you think I'm stupid?" I asked sitting down at the table next to her.