Flipping the Script by Paula Chase

whatever.” JZ raised it out of her reach. A flood of warmth in his chest betrayed him. He was secretly pleased that Jacinta cared about him calling another girl. Still he kept his guard up. “I might dip instead of chilling with y’all all night long.”
    â€œYou’re foul, Jay.” Jacinta folded her arms against her chest. “You can do your little creep-creep later. Everybody know Erica all on your tip.”
    JZ grinned. “You’re all in my business.” He stuck the cell in his hoodie pocket, as it vibrated, ignoring Erica’s reply.
    Jacinta’s eyes rolled. She held her hand up to JZ’s face. “Only ’cause me and her have gym together and she always asking about you, making it my business.”
    â€œAnd what you tell her?” JZ imitated a girl’s voice. “Jason is the man, girl. Everybody want him, so stand in line.”
    â€œUmm-hmm, something like that,” Jacinta said. She scowled, as if concentrating, then her eyes lit up suddenly. “Only I said ... Jay is a mo, girl, a male ho, so don’t even let him put his mack down.”
    JZ sucked his teeth. “Man, go head with that. I can’t help it if the girls love them some JZ.”
    Jacinta shooed him. “Whatever, Mo, do you.” She hollered toward the projection room, “Today, Kelly.”
    â€œFor real,” Mina echoed from the lower row.
    â€œWe want a movie. We want it now,” Todd chanted.
    Lizzie and Mina joined in.
    Greg stood up, swinging an invisible sword at the chanters to fend off an attack. “I got your back, Kelly,” he said. “If it gets nasty, lock yourself in the room. I’ll hold ’em off till your grandmother comes home.”
    On cue, the movie previews popped on the screen, quieting the friendly riot. The sound overpowered the room, blaring from every corner.
    Greg and Kelly sat down and everyone was quiet for the first time all evening.
    Jacinta leaned in, whispering loud to be heard above the preview’s racket, “What are we watching anyway?”
    â€œEither Saw Two Hundred or Prom Night ,” JZ said.
    Jacinta laughed. “Not two hundred though.”
    She rested her elbow on their shared arm rest, nudging JZ’s aside.
    â€œDag, so what, you gon’ take up the whole spot?” he said.
    Jacinta frowned. “Use the other one.”
    â€œYou use the other one,” JZ said, narrowing his eyes for effect.
    Jacinta held fast to her spot.
    He hissed dramatically, shifted, and placed his left elbow on the outer armrest. Seconds later, her hand guided his right elbow to the armrest, so they were sharing. The last of his annoyance and frustration shattered with the gentle gesture. Thoughts of hooking up with Erica fled, gone in the comfortable ease and the way Jacinta boldly kept it real with him.
    He wanted to put his arm around her, but settled for their elbows touching.
    Jacinta stuck her tongue out at him. “See, I can be nice even when you being King Asshole.”
    JZ propped himself up an inch, so his mouth was level with Jacinta’s ear. He spoke normal, since no one could hear them over the movie’s screaming.
    â€œWhy I gotta be an asshole?”
    Jacinta’s lips pursed. She pulled her head away for a second and gave him a look as if to assess if he was serious. She shook her head as she leaned in to answer in his ear.
    â€œDon’t even trip and deny it.You get pissy every time Raheem dips by.”
    JZ was glad the shadows of the movie made it dark enough so she couldn’t see his openmouthed surprise. He put his game face back on and played nonchalant. His lips grazed her ear as he answered, “Nah, that’s your boy, so I ain’t rummin. Besides, I know you be thinking of me when you with him anyway.” He licked her ear, lightly, then pulled back and faced the screen. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
    A shot of warmth went straight