Boy Trouble by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Page A

and I could tell she was getting really mad. “They don’t mess with him because he’s nothing but trouble, but if you look closer, he has streaks in his hair. Javier doesn’t.”
    I stared at the picture on my phone for a few minutes. He looked just like Javier! But there were streaks in his hair, and now that I was looking closer, I saw this guy was a little stockier than Javier. Oh, no. What had I done?
    â€œSheridan, I . . . I—”
    She held up her hand. “Save it,” she replied. “You are trippin’ for real and I don’t get why. But I’m real sick and tired of it.” She headed to her front door, then swung it open. “And I’m sick and tired of you, so please exit to the left.” She motioned out her front door.
    I didn’t know what to say or do, so I did the only thing I could. I walked out.

Chapter 13
    W hen Sheridan and I had agreed to put our lockers next to each other freshman year, I’d thought it was a really good idea. But this past year, I’d had more times than not that I regretted that decision.
    Today was one of those times.
    I just was not in the mood. She was going to mess around and say the wrong thing to me and I might snap. I took my time approaching my locker. Sheridan was digging for something inside of hers.
    â€œSo, you’re not speaking?” I said, opening my locker up and tossing my binder inside.
    â€œI was here first. Seems like you should be speaking to me,” she said all nonchalantly.
    I really didn’t feel like fighting with her anymore. “Look, Sheridan,” I said, deciding to take the high road. “I’m sorry if I made you mad about Javier. I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”
    Sheridan shut her locker and glared at me. “I told you, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”
    â€œWhatever you say.” I held my hands up in defense.
    She stepped in my face. I couldn’t tell if she was trying to jump bad or make her point. “You think I’ve liked every guy you’ve dated? I think Bryce is a snob, J. Love is an arrogant jerk, and you’re sleeping on Alvin. But I didn’t try and tell you what you should and shouldn’t do with them. I minded my business and let you love who you wanted to love. And I don’t understand why it’s so hard for you to give me that same respect.”
    Wow. I had no idea that she felt that way. “As a friend, you should’ve told me if you didn’t like my boyfriends.”
    â€œNo, as a friend, I let you do you. No, they weren’t my cup of tea—including Bryce, because you know that whole mess with him was because I was mad. But they weren’t for me to like. If you liked them, I loved them.”
    I stood speechless for a minute, before finally throwing my hands up and saying, “Okay, fine.”
    â€œFine. Hopefully we don’t have this discussion anymore. I gotta get to class.” She spun around and bumped right into Shay, Bali, and Evian. They traveled like a pack of wolves now.
    â€œWhat’s up, Sheridan?” Bali said.
    â€œHey, girl,” Evian added.
    â€œDid you get your invitation to Bali’s birthday bash?” Shay asked.
    I couldn’t make out what Sheridan said, but she was smiling, which I guess meant that she had.
    Then, they completely ignored me as they brushed past me. I wondered if they really thought they were hurting my feelings by not speaking to me and not inviting me to a lame high school party. I partied with superstars. They could keep their little busted parties.
    Evian actually stopped and ran back over to me. “Hey,” she whispered, “you might want to go check on your girl.”
    â€œCheck on who?” I asked. Evian hadn’t said much to me over the past few weeks. I really think she was ashamed because she’d sunk to an all-time low over spring