Caught Up in the Drama by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Page A

crash.
    â€œBoy, you know better than running around this place like you ain’t got no home training!”
    Jasmine groaned, and I immediately recognized her mother’s voice.
    â€œIs that your mom?” Alexis asked, peering toward the commotion.
    â€œYes,” Jasmine moaned. The expression on her face said she was about to die of embarrassment. Jasmine’s little brother Jalen was getting loudly chastised by his mother. They had been running by the buffet table and had knocked over the trays on the end. A couple of waiters were now hurriedly trying to clean up the mess.
    â€œMan, why did they have to come?” Jasmine groaned. “It’s bad enough my mom is working as a waitress here.”
    When we’d arrived at Dave & Buster’s—with Jasmine’s two little brothers in tow—Jasmine had nearly had a heart attack when she’d realized the restaurant was the same place her mom worked her second job.
    â€œWhere’s your grandmother?” Angel asked.
    â€œShe had to visit a sick friend at the hospital tonight. So if my brothers didn’t come, I couldn’t come. Maybe I should’ve just stayed at home.”
    If I hadn’t been so worried about the video, I would’ve been just as upset as Jasmine. It was bad enough we’d had to bring her brothers along, but now people were looking at her whole family with disgust, especially when her mother started yelling, “Jasmine, get over here and mind these boys! You’re supposed to be watching them!”
    â€œOh, my God, I’m going to die for real,” Jasmine said, trying to hide her face, which wasn’t easy, since she was so tall. Jasmine didn’t usually get too bothered aboutwhat people thought about her, but anyone in their right mind would be embarrassed at the scene that was unfolding here.
    â€œJasmine!” Ms. Jones called when Jasmine didn’t move fast enough. Several people started snickering as Jasmine scurried toward her mother.
    â€œJust ridiculous,” Taraji hissed. I didn’t even realize she had walked over to me. Before I could come to Jasmine’s defense, she broke out in a big fake smile and pointed at the two people next to her.
    â€œCamille, sweetie, I need you. These reporters want to talk to you. I told you you were gonna be a star!” she exclaimed. “This is Erin from the
Defender
and Isiah from one of Houston’s most popular blog websites and the
Insite Entertainment
magazine.”
    All my excitement had waned with all the drama that was unfolding around me, but I tried my best to fake the funk as I talked with the reporters. My friends backed away to give me the limelight.
    They asked me a bunch of questions, which were all easy stuff like “how did I feel about this opportunity?” But the last question threw me for a loop.
    â€œSo, tell us,” Erin said, a mischievous grin across her face, “what’s really going on with you and Sisco?”
    â€œHuh?” I said, looking at Taraji. She had a big, goofy grin on her face.
    â€œCome on, give me an exclusive for the magazine,” Isiah urged.
    â€œThere’s nothing to give,” I said in confusion. “I’m just in his video.”
    Erin turned up her lips. “Umm-hmmm. The way you twowere heating up the screen, I know there’s something going on. How does it feel to be Sisco’s new girl?”
    â€œBut I’m n—”
    â€œOkay, that’s enough,” Taraji said, stepping in and cutting me off. “We have to go. She has to talk with some more people. Thank you guys so much.” She eased me away.
    Part of me wanted to protest some more, but the other was grateful that Taraji had saved me. I was beginning to feel more and more like maybe I wasn’t cut out for this lifestyle at all. I looked around for my girls, but they were gone. I couldn’t even go look for them, because I was surrounded by all my