It All Started Here

Kara:

            “Shirelle, hurry up or we’ll be late,” Kara warned.

            Usually those were Shirelle’s words to her, but tonight it was the other way around. The busses for the first football game of the season would be leaving in fifteen minutes, and Shirelle still hadn’t bothered to get ready.

            “She’s right, girl,” Rochelle said, staring at her reflection in the mirror as she brushed on her lip gloss.

            “I don’t think I’m going,” Shirelle announced.

            “What?” Kara gasped. “Why not?”

            “Because Jax will be there, and he’ll want to hang out with me,” Shirelle answered.

            “So, what?” Kara challenged.

            “So, Camryn will probably be there too, and she’ll figure out Jax and I are going out,” Shirelle explained.

            “You and Jax are going out?” Rochelle repeated.

            “I don’t mean we’re boyfriend-girlfriend,” Shirelle corrected. “I told him I’d go on a date with him so he’ll probably be hanging all over me tonight and reminding me of it.”

            “Maybe not,” Kara countered. “You told him on Tuesday you’d go out with him. Today’s Friday, and he hasn’t even talked to you since then, has he?”

            “That’s true,” Shirelle said.

            “Are you guys ready?” Allison asked as she rushed into their room. “We gotta get going, or we’ll miss the bus.”

            “We’re ready, but we still have to talk Shirelle in to going with us,” Rochelle answered.

            Allison frowned. “Why do we have to do that?”

            “Because she’s worried about seeing that sophomore there,” Rochelle said.

            “His name is Jax,” Shirelle said.

            “Whatever,” Rochelle said. “Who says you’ll see him there anyway? He might not even show up.”

            “If Ethan’s there, he’ll be there too,” Shirelle said.

            “Why? Are they best friends or something?” Rochelle asked.

            “They’re cousins,” Allison answered before Kara could.

            “They are?” Rochelle said.  

            “Yeah, everyone knows that,” Allison said.

            “Look, who cares if they’re cousins, and who cares if he’ll be there?” Rochelle said. “And who cares if Camryn is there? They broke up. That makes him fair game. Now come on, girl. Let’s go get your man.”

            “Don’t you mean her boy?” Allison giggled.

            “That’s it, I’m calling off my date with Jax,” Shirelle said. “I can’t go out with him if even my closest friends are going to make fun of me.”

            “She was kidding,” Kara assured her. “Besides, if you really want to break your date, you have to see him to do it. So, let’s go.”