Fair-Weather Friends by Reshonda Tate Billingsley

cut her eyes at us. “Boy, they got you all brainwashed already. They’re like a gang or something.”
    I was just about to say something when Alexis stopped me. She motioned toward the empty seat where Angel had previously sat. “Guys …”
    In the midst of our arguing, we hadn’t even noticed that Angel had slipped out of the room.
    â€œShe probably couldn’t stand listening to you guys take up for those clowns,” Jasmine said. “And I’m beginning to know just how she feels. It’s bad enough they have you stabbing your friends in the back.” She narrowed her eyes at Alexis. “Now you find out they’re racists and you’re okay with that?”
    â€œIt’s not okay,” I said, massaging my forehead. I was still trying to digest everything Jasmine said. If it was true, did I really want to be associated with a group like that?
    â€œShould we go and try and find Angel?” Alexis asked after a few seconds of silence.
    Before we could answer, Rachel appeared in the doorway. She had a concerned look across her face. “Does somebody want to tell me why Angel just tore out of here in tears?”
    Jasmine pursed her lips and turned toward me. “Well?”
    I blew out a deep breath and said, “Angel just found out that she didn’t make it into the Theta Ladies because she’s Hispanic.”
    â€œWhat?” Rachel said.
    â€œYeah, those grimy snobs said my girl was the wrong race to be a Theta.”
    Jasmine’s nasty comments were getting to me, and I was getting worried about Angel.
    â€œThat’s why I told them they didn’t need to be Thetas,” Jasmine continued.
    â€œJasmine, that’s enough,” Rachel said. “I get the picture.” She sighed heavily. “All this sorority stuff is proving to be more trouble than it’s worth.”
    â€œTell me about it,” Jasmine muttered.
    â€œJasmine, I told you, that’s enough,” Rachel replied. “How do you all know that’s why Angel didn’t make it?”
    I looked at Jasmine and waited for her to answer. “Tell her about Tori,” I finally said.
    Jasmine shook her head and stuck out her lips. “Uh-uh. She told me to be quiet.”
    Rachel shook her head. “Quit being silly and tell me what happened.”
    Jasmine huffed, then recapped her story. While she was filling Rachel in, my mind replayed all the times we’d been around the Thetas. They had barely acknowledged Angel, and when they did, they’d treated her like crap. I guess they never had any intention of letting her in.
    â€œWell, I can see why Angel is upset,” Rachel said after Jasmine finished her story. “It’s hard to believe that in 2008, there is still prejudice like this, especially among young people.”
    â€œJasmine, you know you don’t like the Thetas anyway. Maybe they were just messing with you and you took them seriously,” Tameka interjected.
    â€œAnd maybe I’m America’s Next Top Model,” Jasmine shot back.
    Rachel looked sadly at us. “Girls, this just breaks myheart. You all have formed a wonderful bond over the years. You can’t control other people’s prejudices, but you can control your own. I sure hope you don’t condone this behavior.”
    â€œThey might as well,” Jasmine snapped. “And that’s really jacked up.”
    I finally spoke up. “Miss Rachel, it’s not fair. Jasmine wants us to drop out of the Thetas, but why should we be penalized because of someone else’s prejudices? It’s like you said, we can’t control what other people think or the way they act.”
    â€œBut why would you even want to be associated with them? And does that mean you’re going to stop being friends with Angel? Because it’s obvious the Thetas don’t want anyone in their little circle that’s not like them,” Jasmine said