Upgrade U Read Online Free Page B

“Looking all strong like he can handle a girl with a lil meat on her bones … and yeah, he looks the exact way that I envisioned my baby daddy. But that doesn’t mean, we just gon’ take anything off of him. Oh hell nawl. We ‘bout to shut Soulja Boy down!”
    “Don’t worry,” I said, successfully putting my hurt feeling at bay. “I got this.”
    I arched my back, patted the sides of my fitted Juicy Couture jeans that were glued to my thick hips just right. My hair bounced to the small of my back as I stepped along side of Josiah and said, “Wow, you like what you see?” I looked the girl over. “I give her about a three.”
    Josiah was clearly in shock and caught so far off guard that he took a step back and then two steps forward toward me. “I thought you weren’t coming until next week?”
    “Oh really?” I batted my eyes. “Perhaps had you checked the zillion text messages I sent you, you would’ve seen that we were able to get housing a week before classes started.”
    “Who is this, Josiah?” the girl questioned him.
    “I’m wifey and you are—”
    “Some lil greasy Wing Shack ho.” Khya looked the girl over. “Yup, I said it—and what?”
    “Oh, I know y’all ain’t bringing no smack to me?” The girl looked at each of us and rolled her eyes.
    “Oh, word?” Shae smirked. “Let me put you on notice real quick. I don’t do a buncha chitchattin', I straight pimpsmack. Now look at me like that again!” She turned to Josiah and pointed into his face. “And when I’m done with her, you know I’m comin’ for you!”
    “Chill,” Josiah said. “It ain’t even like that.” He reached for my hand and I snatched it back. “Seven, listen to me.”
    “Oh you don’t owe me any explanation,” I said. “It’s cool. Your message is loud and clear, son.”
    “What?” He frowned. “What are you saying?”
    “Listen, boo.” I gave him a fake smile. “I gotta go, now.”
    “Seven—” Josiah called behind me. “Sev!”
    I didn’t even turn around; instead I kept walking down the hall and out of the building.
    Shae and Khya walked in silence with me. Once we reached our dorm, Shae said, “I’m sorry that happened to you, Seven. Like, I don’t even believe this.”
    “We shoulda just lumped him up, and then we would feel better,” Khya said. “But you know what, Seven, don’t even sweat that. Tomorrow, I’ma introduce you to somebody else.”
    “Okay, enough of the pity party. For real.” I looked at them like they were losing it. “Do you see me sweatin’ it? I don’t care. I’m cool. I prefer to know the truth.”
    Shae looked at me strangely. “You can keep it funky with me, Seven.”
    I hated that she knew me so well.
    “Shae—” I quickly looked her in the eyes and then looked away. “I’m fine. I wanted to chill in our room anyway. So listen, you and Khya go back to the party and have a good time. You got a boo that loves you to death; and Khya, you had a cutie who was all up on you. So for-real, for-real, I’m straight. I’m ‘bout to wrap my doobie up, put on me some pajamas, and get some serious sleep on.”
    “You sure?” Khya asked, concerned. “ ‘Cause cuties come a dime a dozen. And if I leave, trust and believe you won’t be seeing ya girl ‘til the morning.” She laughed a little. “I’m just saying, one of us has to tour campus.”
    I laughed. “It’s cool, Khya. Now you and Shae go back to the party. I promise you, I’m okay.”
    “All right.” Shae looked at me with reluctance in her eyes. “Call me if you need anything.”
    “Okay, but I won’t be calling you,” I said as I watched them walk away.
    By the time I stepped into our room I felt like I was going to break down at any moment. My eyes scanned the stacked boxes and for the first time since I’d arrived here this morning, I wanted my mother. I picked up the phone to call her and quickly changed my mind. The last thing I needed was to confess to her in my moment