Game On by Calvin Slater Page B

said Tracy.
    â€œJen, sweetie, thank you, but I don’t need your help,” said Samantha, becoming a little heated. She looked at Tracy. “Let me straighten you out: I’m not thirsty for a man like you. Last but not least, Miss Thang, Xavier has more charm, personality, swag, and intelligence than anything you’ve ever dated.”
    â€œOkay,” said Jennifer, with a silly look on her face. She said to Samantha, “Guess you don’t need my help.”
    â€œDon’t get mad at me, boo-boo,” Tracy said, trying to play it down with a smile. “I’m just keeping it one hundred. And for somebody who claims to be over her ex, you sure don’t sound like it.”
    Jennifer tried to squash it. “Guys? What are we doing? Remember we’re the Three Musketeers—all for one and one for all.”
    â€œNo, Jen, we’re still family, but I’m just trying to look out,” Tracy reassured her. “Sam, did you know that London Curry is going around sneak dissin’ you? Tellin’ suckas that you’re jealous of her because she’s the new it girl in Xavier’s life.”
    â€œSeriously, Tracy, do you think I care about the girl’s insecurities?” asked Samantha. “If she thinks that she has to step on me to improve her chances with him, then God bless her.”
    â€œYou mean you’re not gonna step to her?” Tracy asked.
    â€œWhy should I? She’s Dumpster diving for my leftovers.”
    Jennifer looked at Samantha. “Good point.”
    Tracy smacked her lips and rolled her eyes at Jennifer.
    Jennifer said, changing the subject, “I can’t wait until the icebreaker. It’s going to be off the chain at the Northland Skating Rink with cute ballers all over the place.”
    As usual, Tracy jumped in with her negativity. “ ‘Ballers’? Those immature little high school boys don’t have no money. Many of them will stand on a chair, put a noose around their necks, and jump off if you asked them for five dollars.”
    Jennifer had grown weary of Tracy’s tired tirade. She held up a bebe shopping bag—“Just like you, and me, sponging off Sam, huh. We’re just as flat busted as the rest of the students. I’m just saying: When you live in a glass house, don’t start shooting at it, sweetie.”
    Samantha laughed and high-fived Jennifer.
    â€œForget you, Jen,” said a bitter Tracy.
    Samantha explained, “This is our senior year, ladies, and we’re going to have the best time ever.” She smiled at Tracy’s direction. “If Miss Sour Puss over there can get her behind off her shoulders, she’d enjoy it with us.”
    Tracy said, “I just don’t want you to make a mistake and let a good guy get away.”
    Samantha was up on her girl’s game. “Girl, bye—Tracy, you know this is not about me. This is about you wanting to use me as a doorway to get into Sean’s circle, so you can”—Samantha used finger quotes—“find a baller and get chauffeured around in his expensive car.”
    â€œSo what’s wrong with that?” she asked.
    â€œFor you . . . nothing,” Samantha said. “Just don’t make this all about me, you social climber.”
    â€œThat was really low, Samantha,” Tracy said, knowing that her card had been pulled.
    This time Jennifer gave Samantha a high five.
    Samantha grabbed her drink off the table and raised it in the air, inviting her girls to do the same.
    She said, “This is for our last year of high school, ladies. We are going to have a fabulous time. The icebreaker at Northland Skating Rink will be the beginning of a great school year.”
    Jennifer added, “We’re the Three Musketeers—all for one.”
    Samantha and Tracy smiled at each other and finished the other half of the credo in unison, “And one for all.”

6
    DAKOTA
    MONDAY,