Chapter 3 - Four Months
Jasmine arrived the next morning at nine twenty.
Lauren Price remained in the car.
Nia watched through the kitchen window as Jasmine walked toward the house.
She wore gray sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt. Her eyes were swollen.
Nia opened the door before Jasmine knocked.
Neither girl spoke.
They had never needed formal greetings before.
Today they felt like strangers negotiating territory.
Ms. Bennett remained in the kitchen.
Nia said, “Living room.”
Jasmine followed.
The graduation decorations were still there.
The banner hung over them.
CONGRATS NIA.
Jasmine looked away from it.
Nia remained standing.
“How far along?”
“About seven weeks.”
“When did you find out?”
“Three days ago.”
“And Malik knew?”
“Since yesterday morning.”
Nia’s jaw tightened.
“So both of you came to my graduation knowing.”
“Yes.”
“You hugged me.”
Jasmine cried immediately.
“I know.”
“Don’t.”
Jasmine wiped her face.
“I’m trying to tell you the truth.”
“Then start.”
Jasmine took a breath.
“It started in February.”
Nia went still.
Four months.
Not one drunken mistake.
Not graduation-night panic.
Four months.
“What happened in February?”
“The night you went to Raleigh for your Hawthorne scholarship interview.”
Nia’s hand tightened around the chair.
“You told me you had a migraine.”
“I lied.”
“Where were you?”
“With Malik.”
The answer landed like a physical blow.
“At first we just talked.”
“Don’t insult me.”
“I’m not.”
“Did you sleep with him?”
Jasmine lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
“How many times?”
“I don’t know.”
Nia laughed bitterly.
“You know.”
“Three.”
Nia stared.
Jasmine corrected herself.
“Four.”
Nia turned away.
“Four times.”
“I hated myself every time.”
“Apparently not enough.”
Jasmine flinched.
Nia looked through the window because looking at her hurt too much.
“Why?”
Jasmine struggled for words.
“He kept telling me you were leaving.”
“I was leaving for college.”
“He said you were leaving everything.”
Nia turned.
“And you believed that?”
Jasmine’s shame turned briefly defensive.
“You were changing.”
“I was succeeding.”
“I know.”
“No. Say it.”
Jasmine looked at her.
“You were succeeding.”
“And that made you sleep with my boyfriend?”
“No!”
“Then explain it.”
Jasmine stood.
“For years, everyone compared me to you.”
“I never did.”
“Your mother did without meaning to. Teachers did. My mother did.”
Nia stared.
“You were Nia Bennett, scholarship girl, honor society, perfect grades, perfect future. And I was Jasmine, your best friend.”
“So this was revenge?”
“No.”
“What was it?”
Jasmine began crying again.
“Malik made me feel like I mattered separately.”
Nia’s face hardened.
“He cheated with you, Jasmine. He didn’t liberate you.”
Jasmine looked ashamed.
“I know that now.”
“Convenient timing.”
Ms. Bennett appeared at the living-room entrance but did not interrupt.
Nia reached into her pocket.
She unfolded Malik’s note.
“What is this?”
Jasmine saw the numbers.
Her face drained.
Nia noticed immediately.
“You know.”
Jasmine shook her head.
“You know.”
“I didn’t write it.”
“I didn’t ask who wrote it.”
Jasmine sat again.
“Malik asked me questions.”
“What questions?”
“About your trust.”
Nia’s pulse quickened.
“When?”
“Before February.”
“How long before?”
“December.”
The affair suddenly had a prehistory.
Nia felt cold.
“What did you tell him?”
“That it came from your dad.”
“What else?”
“He wanted to know when you could access it.”
“And you told him?”
“I said eighteen.”
Nia stared at her.
“The amount?”
Jasmine hesitated.
“I saw one of your statements last summer.”
“You went through my things?”
“It was on your desk.”
“And you memorized seventy-two thousand dollars?”
Jasmine’s silence answered.
Ms. Bennett stepped forward.
“Why did Malik care about her trust?”
Jasmine rubbed her palms against her knees.
“His uncle’s gym is in trouble.”
“What gym?” Nia asked.
“Turner Performance.”
Nia knew it.
Malik trained there.
His uncle Darnell owned it.
Jasmine continued.
“Malik said if he could invest, his uncle would give him equity.”
“With my money.”
“He said you would invest eventually.”
“I told him no in January.”
Jasmine looked up.
“I know.”
“How?”
“He told me.”
Nia’s stomach sank.
Malik had discussed their private conversations with Jasmine before they ever admitted sleeping together.
“He said you didn’t understand business.”
Nia almost laughed.
“And he did?”
“He said once you turned eighteen, he could convince you.”
Nia looked at the note again.
If she stays here, everything becomes easier.
“What does Hawthorne have to do with it?”
Jasmine’s breathing changed.
That was when Nia understood.
The “something else” from last night.
“What did he do?”
Jasmine whispered, “I don’t know everything.”
“What did he do?”
“He knew your college password.”
Nia’s heart slammed.
“He watched you type it once.”
Ms. Bennett stepped forward.
“Jasmine.”
Jasmine began trembling.
“Two weeks ago, Malik told me Hawthorne had emailed you about housing.”
Nia frowned.
“They did.”
“You were supposed to accept Honors Hall by June first.”
“I did.”
Jasmine slowly shook her head.
Nia stared at her.
“What?”
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Jasmine’s eyes filled.
“Malik said you wouldn’t be living there.”
