After school I grabbed some food, hopped on the bus and headed home, like I always do. My cell phone had been ringing nonstop, but I hadn’t bothered to look at the caller ID, until now. It was Gina. I knew what she was calling about and she’d keep calling until I answered the phone. We had planned on seeing the Monet exhibit at the art museum. I hadn’t confirmed whether or not I was going. The phone rang again.
“Well, I’m glad I caught you, since you don’t seem to know how to return phone calls.”
“I’m sorry. Are we on for tomorrow?”
“Yes, of course we’re on, Michelle. That’s why I’m calling. Why don’t we do lunch at that cute little French restaurant before we see the exhibit?”
Oh great, I thought, another fro fro restaurant to waste my money on. I wish, just once, that Gina would choose a place less fancy.
“They’ve got really good hamburgers at that spot on the corner. That might be fun.”
“Hamburgers? You know, you really should work on your diet. It’s embarrassing. I’ll see you at the French restaurant at one o’clock.”
We hung up as I stared at the hotdog I was holding.
Then my cell phone rang again. It wasn’t Gina calling back and I didn’t recognize the number. I decided to answer it anyway.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Michelle! It’s Jacqui.”
Jacqui? How did she get my number? I had never given it to her.
“You comin’ with me tonight?” she continued.
“Coming with you where?”
“The club?”
“What club? What are you talking about?”
“Surrender. You comin’ out with me?”
I don’t know what made Jacqui think I’d go with her. “No, I’m staying home tonight.”
“Why you want to do that?”
“Why? Because I’m tired. How did you get my number?”
“Don’t worry about it. Why won’t you come out tonight?”
“I already told you. I’m tired.”
“You need some excitement in your life, and then you won’t be so tired. What time you want me to pick you up?”
I couldn’t believe her persistence, even though she was right. I did need some excitement in my life.
“Jacqui, I’m going to hang up now. I’ll see you Monday.” I don’t like to cut people off, but I knew Jacqui wouldn’t let it go.
I’m certain that she looked over Regina’s shoulder and got my number from Regina’s records. That annoyed me. Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking about the club and the fact that Jacqui was on the pursuit.
How pathetic was my life? If I admitted it to myself, Jacqui was right about a lot of things. My hair sucked, my clothes sucked even more, and even though I had Gina, that relationship was fizzling fast. For a long time, I’d been feeling like I was on a treadmill that I couldn’t get off.
I really couldn’t picture myself with Jacqui, but it certainly couldn’t hurt to get the hell out of the house and go to a club for a change. So I looked for Jacqui’s number on my cell phone and I called her back. I’d have to watch how late I stayed out. Gina would hate it if I was yawning on her all day.
“Now you’re getting some sense in your head. I’ll get you at ten. Cool?”
“Yes, Jacqui. That’s cool.”