Chasing Butterflies Read Online Free Page A

amazingly cute eyes of his. “Feel free to chime in, Nia-pooh.”
    “All boys aren’t jerks,” I say, eyeing Crystal, who’s sitting across from me with her arms folded over her chest and staring at me with her puppy-dog eyes. “Some are actually really nice, if you just give them a chance.” I gesture with my eyes from Crystal to Cameron.
    She frowns. “Oh, puh-lease. Try nice and horny.”
    Cameron rolls his eyes up to the ceiling. “You know this angry black girl syndrome you’re struggling with has to stop. You sound real bitter.”
    “I’m not bitter .”
    “Okay, then. Try sour. You’re real tart, Crystal. You need Jesus. And you still need a breath mint.”
    I chuckle, shaking my head. “Crystal, ignore his silly butt.” I bring my attention to Cameron. “I agree with you, though. Most boys are guided by their hormones, but not all of them act on them. There are some who know how to exercise restraint.”
    I am simply regurgitating what Daddy once told me during one of our many talks. And I believe him. And I trust him.
    Because he said I could.
    Because he promised to always give me the best advice he possibly could.
    Crystal grunts. “ Mmph . When? Where? And who? Because I haven’t met one boy yet who isn’t trying to hump and grind up on something.”
    Cameron waves his hand as if he’s trying to get her attention. “Umm, hello. I’m right here.”
    She scowls. “Yeah, okay. And you’re still ugly as ever.”
    Cameron rolls his eyes up in his head, flicking a thumb over at Crystal. “See. Angry .” Yeah, she should be, I think. Angry with herself for not seeing what a great catch Cameron is.
    I sigh inwardly. “Crystal’s entitled to her opinion,” I offer, glancing over at her. “That doesn’t mean she’s right. Or I’m right. Or you’re right. It simply means we all have differences of opinion.”
    “Exactly,” Crystal says, shifting in her seat. “Didn’t you read that book, Boys Are Martians, and Girls Are —”
    “It’s Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus ,” Cameron says, cutting her off. “She’s such a bubblehead. And, by the way, good book.”
    “And I saw the movie,” Crystal retorts.
    Cameron laughs. “No you didn’t. That isn’t even a movie. See. I keep telling you to work on your lies.”
    She snorts. “Boy, I did see it. So now. I saw it with Nia. Isn’t that right, Nia?”
    Wrong. “That was He’s Just Not That into You with Scarlett Johansson.” I tilt my head at her. “ You wanted to see it, remember?”
    She shrugs. “Oops. As you were saying?”
    I wave her on dismissively.
    “Yeah, Nia,” Cameron repeats. “As you were saying. Please and thank you.”
    “Well, I was getting ready to say that girls just think differently than boys,” I reason, spearing a cherry tomato from my salad with a fork.
    Cameron takes a bite of his sandwich. “True. But that doesn’t mean he can’t have boundaries. Take me for instance. I’m friends with two of the”—he looks over at Crystal and frowns—“on second thought. One of the prettiest girls, and one of the ugliest . . .”
    I chuckle to myself.
    Cameron loves instigating Crystal.
    She hits him. “Boy, whatever. The only ugly one in the room is you. ”
    “Yeah, okay. But you don’t see me trying to hammer either of you. Do you?” He glances over at Crystal. “Well, I’d have to put a bag over your face to even consider it. Sorry.”
    “Ohmygod, Cameron. Stop!” I say, trying to hold back a laugh. “That’s so not nice. I told you to play nice.”
    “I am playing nice,” he insists, grinning sheepishly. “Being ugly and having bad breath is a bad combination.” He places a hand over Crystal’s. “My heart goes out to you, Dragon Girl.”
    Crystal sucks her teeth, snatching her hand from beneath his. “Forget you, boy. I can’t stand you.”
    “Stop lying,” he says.
    I sigh, shaking my head. “Cam, you wouldn’t try anything with Crystal or me because you were taught