I let her go, and said, “Thank you for being honest. I know it must’ve been hard to say such harsh things to me.”

“It wasn’t hard. I told you, post-baby, no filter.” Her face softened. “But I’m glad we’re still friends.”

Next stop, midday, Jameer. I caught him by the school library, pulled him inside. He looked skittish, like I might beat him up. I said, “Relax. I want to tell you to do what you can to get to a computer tonight. I know you’re not going to be able to watch at home, so maybe the library. I don’t know.”

“What am I going to be looking for?”

“Help. I hope. I’ll text you later.”

Finally, at the end of the day, after gym was done, while everyone filed into the cold, happy to be done with school for this calendar year, I caught up to Kiera as she exited the girls’ locker room.

“Hey,” I said. “I need to say something.”

The hostility was immediate. “Is it like what you said last time? Because you can keep it to yourself.”

“No. Not at all. I want to say I’m sorry.”

“For?”

“All of it. I never came at you honestly.”

She backed up, taking it wrong.

I waved the last statement off. “This isn’t me trying to holler or anything. I know there’s nothing between us. I’m not trying to change that.”

She didn’t relax. That was okay. I was almost done.

“You weren’t wrong to be wary of me in the beginning, Kiera. I’ve earned whatever distasteful things you feel about me now. Whatever happens this weekend, please understand it’s all part of my apology to you and the rest of the Pledgers. Okay?”

The corners of Kiera’s mouth turned down. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yo, is there a problem here?” Mason sidled up next to her, close enough for their shoulders to touch.

“No. No problem at all. Enjoy your holidays.”

In my car, my tasks complete, I gripped my steering wheel, ratcheting my hands around it. Deep breath. Deep breath.

Then, I sent my sister a single-word text.

Me: Now

We would see.

FemFam Presents Episode 15: Bare Your Soul w/ Special Guest My Baby Bro

CRESSIE

Hey, FemFam! It’s me, Cressie, and I interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to present a special episode. As you can see, we’re in my bedroom back home, it’s late, so my hair’s wrapped and I’m rocking my silk bonnet—black hair, don’t care. Okay, that’s a lie, I do care a little, but I didn’t get all camera official because I’m not going to be doing the talking this time. This episode’s going to be my brother’s show. At his request. You see, he’s recently turned the corner on some very Boy-ish Things. If you’ve been following the channel, you know Boy-ish Things refer to some of the sillier ideas boys get in their heads about what we like, and don’t like. What they need to do to impress us. How they respond when they don’t like what we say or do. He’s got things to tell you. Thank you for listening. Del, it’s all you.