Put Your Diamonds Up! by Ni-Ni Simone Page A

you playin’ me, yo! You gonna have me eff you up, for real for real, yo! Keep playin’ me for some sucka, Rich—”
    I was light on my heels, swift in my hips, heavy in my swing when I pounced up on him and conked him in the center of his pumpkin.
    He dropped.
    â€œAaaaaah! Clutching pearls!” Rich screamed. “Aaaaah! Martian gone wild! Somebody help! There’s a killer in a space suit on the loose!”
    I yanked my mask down. “Rich, shut it! It’s me! Now, what the hell on fire are you doing out here?” I stamped my foot. “And why did that animal have his goddang hands on you, huh?”
    Rich’s eyes popped open. “Spencer, what the hell is wrong with you? Why aren’t you in school? You have no business being in my damn business! You effen trickazoid! I’m sick of you all up in my business! I had this! I was handling it! I didn’t need you all up in my mix somewhere, tryna save somebody! Don’t nobody need you tryna save them! I’m a grown woman!”
    I blinked. I just saved this roadside hooker from getting pimp-stomped and this was the thanks I got. Another thing I couldn’t stand was an ungrateful trick!
    I blinked again.
    â€œI don’t even like you, Spencer! I can’t stand you! You effen intruder! You two-faced snake! You had no business coming over here after you tried to ruin me! This is illegal, Spencer!”
    I narrowed my eyes. Tilted my head. Contemplated hitting her across her teeth with my metal friends. Counted to fifty instead.
    â€œStalking me! Tryna live through me! Everywhere I go, there you go! Get your own life, Spencer! And stay the hell outta mine! I’ll have you arrested. You murderer! You’re so jealous and pathetic. You didn’t have to kill him! Oh, you’re going to pay for this! I’m going to make sure you get put away for the rest of—”
    Slap!
    I took my hand to Rich’s face, causing her to stumble backward. “That’s for slapping me in class, Jell-O guts! You thought I forgot, huh, stankalanka?!” I hit her again. “You want to be out here letting boys put their hands on you, huh?”
    Rich charged me, swinging punches. “You dirty skank! You backstabbing—”
    â€œScrew you, you slop mop!” I punched her back. “You adulteress!”
    We wrestled. Yanked and pulled each other’s hair. Swung fists.
    â€œI’m going to kill you, Spencer!”
    â€œNot if I kill you first!”
    We tripped over Justice’s body, crashing down on top of him then rolling over him. We rolled around on the ground, clawing and punching and choking each other until we heard the faint noise of what sounded like sirens in the distance.
    â€œTramp, you hear that? Is that the cops coming?”
    Rich was breathing all heavy and hard, practically sounding like a grizzly. Her hot breath was curling my nose hairs. I held my breath for as long as I could.
    We froze. Listened. It was.
    I exhaled, gasping. “I think they’re coming for us.”
    â€œOh no, bish !” Rich yelled, hopping up off the ground. “I am not going to jail! Not this time! Not for murder! You’re on your own with this one!”
    Justice was there on the ground, stone still.
    â€œJeezushavemercyonmysoul! I didn’t mean to kill that boy! But he shouldn’t be hitting on no girl!” Tears sprang from my eyes. “I can’t go to jail! And be chained in a cage! Become some chick daddy’s sex kitten! We gotta get out of here!”
    We both started scurrying, grabbing up our broken heels.
    I yanked her by the arm and ran-hopped in my one good pump, dragging Rich behind me. I yanked my keys out of my pocket, disarming the alarm.
    â€œHurry! Get in!”
    I hopped behind the wheel, drenched. I glanced up in the rearview mirror and screamed. Steam was seeping from around my collar. I was on fire in this hazmat suit! I started the engine