Trouble Follows

My head bounced against the leather seat, the headphones of my iPod on my ears, the latest copy of Vibe magazine facedown in my lap, and a little bit of drool crept down the side of my mouth. When I felt a little turbulence, I sat straight up, looking around to grasp my surroundings. We were still in the air. Had to be. Because when I peered out of the small porthole window, I saw nothing but white clouds all fluffy and smooth, like huge pillows in the sky.

My mind wandered back to the scene at the airport. My mother was trying to be all hard, but I knew she wanted to cry because I did. This would be the first time in all of my fifteen years that we'd be separated—forever. Or, as she put it, at least until I got my stuff together. She had to feel it. But she just stood there, with that goofy look on her face, holding on to my little sister's hand for dear life, so Mattie wouldn't run off and get lost. She hugged me, but then pulled away quickly, turning her face from me. My mother was never the mushy, kissing-and-hugging type. She hardly ever even told me she loved me. Only in conversation. Like she might say, "Jade, I'm only whipping your behind because I ... read full excerpt from Trouble Follows ebook