Amost Friends: The South Louisiana High Series, #2

By Paula L. Jones

Mia Winston Reeves, the most popular girl at South Louisiana High, has it all, and she knows it.
Everyone at school envies her perfect car, perfect clothes, perfect boyfriend, and sickeningly perfect family.
But what her friends and frenemies can't see are the cracks beneath the surface.
No one sees Mia use her perfect car to escape from her perfectly abusive father.
And no matter how hard she tries, Mia can't seem to capture her perfect boyfriend's heart.
Mia's hidden life of chaos only gets worse when she suddenly develops a strange ability.
Lonely and afraid, she wants to turn to her besties, Kyle and Elizabeth, for help. But her two closest friends are dealing with life-altering secrets of their own.
Meet Mia, Kyle, and Elizabeth in, 'Almost Friends,' the second book in the South Louisiana High Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paula L. Jones
• Release date: Dec 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223279013

Book preview

Prologue

August, 2014

There’s nothing suckier than spending the last moments of your summer vacation inside of a classroom.

And here I sit in a musty classroom listening to our drama teacher ramble about how excited she is to become our new cheerleading coach.

Sigh…

Ms. Karin Greenich is head of South Louisiana High’s Drama Department and I actually heart her. She’s a nice enough woman. But nice or not, she’s tap dancing on my last nerve and I’m, hand to God, seconds away from strangling her.

She’s perched on top of her large desk at the front of the classroom, just yapping away. Meanwhile, my best friend Kyle and I sit across from her. We’re sharing the top of one of the student desks.

As you girls know, I’m not from here and when I moved to Louisiana, I, um … Ms. Karin’s voice trails off and she frowns.

OMG. Can she quit with the pausing and get to her point?

The pause continues while Ms. Karin tucks a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear. My gaze goes to the messy bun on top of her head.

Why does she always wear her hair like this? Even a ponytail would be cuter. And why, for God’s sake, are we still in here?! She promised she’d only keep us for fifteen minutes.

Beyond annoyed, I reach into my purse and send my boyfriend a quick text.

Mia: Hey, wanna ride to school together tomorrow?

I drop my phone back into my purse. He won’t text me back for at least a half hour. That’s a guy for you… well, that’s my guy. Sometimes it takes him a full day to text back. I swear, if he weren’t hot and rich, I wouldn’t put up with him.

I sigh and make myself tune in to what Ms. Karin’s saying. … and I have to admit that I expected Louisiana to be a carbon copy of every other state in the south. But it isn’t! When I moved to Swamp Rose I found a town so rich in culture and diversity that it was like stepping into another country. Not only do we have a strong Italian community, Vietnamese community, and rich Afro-Caribbean heritage, but …

Oh.My.Gwwaaad! What is she even talking about?! I literally cannot take this.

For the sake of my own sanity, I give up listening to Ms. Karin’s Colors of the Wind rant and grab a lollipop from my purse. As I unwrap it, Kyle glances at me out of the corner of her eye.

I stick my hand in my purse, grab a second lollipop and shove it under Kyle’s nose. I don’t know why I’m even offering, she’s just going to shake her head.

Kyle shakes her head no.

Called it.

I haven’t seen Kyle eat a single bite in, like, two months. Not to mention that she’s gotten so skinny she’d make a skeleton look healthy.

I shrug and throw the candy back in my purse. Eventually, I’m going to make Kyle talk to me about this whole not eating anything besides air shtick she’s suddenly into. It’s not that I’m not down with dieting-  who in their right mind isn’t on a diet? But eating nothing at all and not even hiding the fact that you’re eating nothing? That’s just dumb.

But Kyle’s drama is going to have to wait a sec - right now I need to make a final decision on what I’m going to wear tomorrow.

I go to town on my lollipop and consider the two killer outfits I bought this morning. One is a silver and white dress that is so Beyoncé it will literally send every guy who sees me into cardiac arrest. My only issue is that it’s tight and uncomfortable.

Then again, if I wear it, even my boyfriend’s going to notice me.

A smile forms on my lips.

Yeah, I should totally wear it.

On second thought, outfit option number two is hella cute and a thousand times more comfy. But cute isn’t the same thing as killer. I mean it’s literally a thousand times tamer than option one. I don’t know .... I want to be comfortable, but when it’s your first day as a senior you have to look exquisite.

… so my hope, Mia and Kyle, Ms. Karin says, is that as Head Cheerleader and Co-Captain, you’ll help me add more diversity to our squad this year. Let’s make the South Louisiana High Animals a true reflection of our school’s diverse student population! What do you say, girls? Ms. Karin pumps her fist into the air and it is so not a cute move.

I bust out laughing. My lollipop falls out of my mouth, but I manage to catch it before it hits the classroom’s nasty floor.

Kyle elbows me. Be nice, Mia.

Ow! Don’t touch me, slut, I shove her and reposition myself on the desk we share. I can laugh if I want.

Mia! Ms. Karin frowns. Watch your language.

I roll my eyes. That wasn't even language. It was just, like, a word.

Mia-

I hold up a hand to shush Ms. Karin because God knows that if I don’t apologize to the woman she’ll go on and on for another fifteen minutes. Fine, I get it. I’m sorry.

Geez Louise. Ms. Karin shakes her head.

I take the lollipop out of my mouth and clear my throat. So, basically you want us to make sure there’s a black chick on the cheerleading team this year? That’s what all this is about?

Ms. Karin’s eyes narrow and she just looks at me. In my peripheral I see Kyle turn to me. Now, she’s staring at me too, her mouth open and a look of disbelief in her eyes.

What? I glance at Ms. Karin. Why are y’all staring at me like I have three heads?

Because you sound like a racist hick, Kyle slowly replies.

"You’re my best friend. I point to Kyle. How can I be racist when my best friend’s Chinese?" I bite the insides of my cheeks to keep from laughing.

Kyle isn’t Chinese. She’s Vietnamese-American and she hates it when I assume all Asian people are Chinese. Fact: I've never actually assumed that, I just pretend I do because it annoys Kyle so much.

And on that note, it’s time for me to go, Kyle says, her tone deadpan. She slides off the desk and grabs her purse. Ms. Karin, I like your idea about more diversity on the team and I’ll help however I can. See you at school tomorrow.

Thank you, Kyle, Ms. Karin quietly replies. See you tomorrow.

Hey, wait. I stand and accidentally drop my lollipop. Kyle, I was kidding. I-

Ignoring me, she stalks out of the room and slams the classroom door behind her. I jump, startled by the noise.

My heart sinks as I stare at the closed door.

Kyle’s smart. She has to know that I was joking. So, why is she being so sensitive about a stupid joke?

I can feel Ms. Karin watching me. She’s probably expecting me to crumble and start crying or something. 

Well, too bad because I am so not that chick.

I lift my chin and shout at the closed door, I’m your ride, Kyle. You’re not going to get very far without me.

Even though I know she can hear me from the other side of the door, she says nothing.

Great, I grab my purse and start after her.

Mia, hold on a minute, Ms. Karin says.

I need to go apologize.

"Yeah, you do. But do you even understand why you need to apologize?"

Ms. Karin looks at me expectantly.

I stare at my fallen lollipop. It’s got a strand of hair stuck to it.

The ticking of the classroom clock is the only sound in the room.

Honestly, I don’t know why I should apologize. It's not like I did anything wrong.

I sigh. Because that’s what white people have to do when other people …um, I pause, grasping for the right words, when they choose to be offended. We end up having to apologize for, like, everything. That’s just the way it is.

Nope. Ms. Karin shakes her head and points to the desk. Sit.

Ms. Karin, I don’t-

Sit!

Startled, I sit. I’ve never actually heard Ms. Karin shout.

I cross my arms. I can’t stay long, I really need to go.

Ms. Karin stands and walks towards me. She’s looking me dead in the eye and it's kind of freaking me out. I tense.

I look at you, Ms. Karin speaks quietly. And I know exactly what you are.

My mouth goes dry. W-what?

You heard me, Mia. She scowls. I. know. What. You. Are.

My stomach turns.

OK, so there are certain things about me, things I’ve done, that no one except Kyle knows…. at least I think no one but Kyle knows. But it's beginning to sound like Ms. Karin somehow found out.

I open my mouth to speak, but I’m so unnerved that no words come out.

The perfectly cut hair, the expensive clothes, your last name, Ms. Karin continues. That’s all I need to see to know what you are.

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding and instantly relax.

I nod. Oh. Okay. 

Ms. Karin doesn’t know. She’s talking about something else. Thank God.

I chuckle and reach into my purse, grabbing my other lollipop. Whatever.

You’re not the kind of student I need to waste my time getting to know. Your whole life you’ve had everything handed to you and that’s the way you like it. That’s also why you’ll never amount to anything.

Ouch.

I hide my hurt feelings by maintaining a smile and keeping my focus on the lollipop while I unwrap it.

You’ll grow up to be just like your parents.

I look up sharply.

The clock in the front of the classroom falls off the wall and lands on the floor with a thud.

Ms. Karin jumps, startled. She turns around, looking at the clock but I stare at her, my every breath coming quickly and my fists clenched.

No, I won’t, I say.

Ms. Karin shifts her attention to me and I see that her eyes have softened. Of course you won’t. She shakes her head. And I didn’t mean any of that. I just wanted you to understand how it feels.

What?!

She takes a step back and returns to her perch on top of her desk. Prejudice. How it feels. We’ve all experienced it. Even you. But some of us don’t experience it as frequently as others and we forget how awful it feels. Mia, we live in a small, southern town.

I take a deep breath and try to dismiss the anger that had just, kind of like, ripped through me. I hate it when people compare me to my stupid parents.

Duh. I know where I live, I mutter.

Around here, Ms. Karin acts as if she hasn’t heard me, if you’re the wrong color you’re an outsider. Even if your family’s been here for generations. You’re still a them and every time you walk into a grocery store, the mall, or even when you walk down the hallways of your school you’re classified by the color of your skin. And that can make you feel pretty lousy.

I stick the lollipop in my mouth and glance back at the fallen clock. Let's be real. We’re talking about Kyle. She’s almost prettier than me. I’m pretty sure her self-esteem is just fine.

Then why’d she get upset a few minutes ago?

I suck on the lollipop, considering this.

Ms. Karin might have a point.

She got upset because you, out of all people, just implied that when you look at Kyle, you see her as a them, not as a best friend, not as an us, Ms. Karin says. You told your best friend that her race makes her an outsider. Do you know how hurtful that is?

Suddenly, my lollipop doesn’t taste as good as it did a second ago.

I take it out and clear my throat. Yeah, alright. So, I’ll go apologize. Which is what I was going to do anyway. I grab my purse and stand.

Hang on for just another minute.

I start to protest that Kyle’s likely to ditch me and take the town bus home, but Ms. Karin’s talking before I can even get my words out, Kyle won’t leave. She’ll wait for you in the parking lot. Ms. Karin nods to the desk I’d been in earlier. Have a seat, this won’t take long.

How do you know Kyle’s not going to leave? She might.

I can see her in the parking lot from the window, Ms. Karin says, sounding weary. She’s waiting. Would you please just have a seat?

I glance at the drama classroom’s window. The blinds are closed and not one iota of the parking lot is visible. I frown. You can’t see-

Mia, would you just sit down for five more minutes? Kyle’s not going to leave. Ms. Karin tone has gone from annoyed to stern.

Jesus. Fine. Fuming, I plop back down on the desk and glare at her.

Ms. Karin clasps her hands together and straightens her posture. Between the ugly bun on top of her head and her picture perfect posture, I guess I can sort of understand why she was asked to coach our cheerleading team. But her dancer-vibe is totally ruined by what she’s wearing. Based on her drab, oversized clothes you’d think she’s in training to be a nun.

I’m usually very good at reading people, including you, she says, and though her tone’s softened, she’s still scowling. But lately, you’re different. You’re harder to read.

What does this have to do with cheerleading? I ask.

Nothing, or maybe everything, she says, her expression pensive. It’s the same look she has when she’s blocking an especially difficult scene for one of our school plays. I honestly don’t know. I’m just a little worried about you, Mia.

Oh, God, this is going to be one of those conversations. I look down at my nails.

Even though you’re … somewhat harder to read these days, I can see that you’re going through a lot and I’d like to help. Would you at least look at me?

Believe it or not, I’m fine. And I’d prefer it if you’d stay out of my- I look up and the kindness in Ms. Karin’s eyes stops me from telling her to stay out of my business. Instead, I sigh and mumble, Well, you’ve met my parents, so you should have a pretty good idea of why I’m not the happiest person in the world, or whatever.

There. That should get her off my back. Anyone who’s met my parents knows to give me a break every now and then.

Ms. Karin nods, but stares at me like she’s trying to see the inside of my freaking skull. I shift in my seat, uncomfortable. It’s almost like she can see right through my use the dysfunctional parent as an excuse trick.

I’m sorry if your parents are making life difficult for you, she finally says. But if there’s something else that’s happened, I hope you know you don’t have to deal with it all by yourself. You’re not alone, Mia.

I know.

Do you?

Yes!

In any case, this is your senior year, the beginning of a fresh start. And the choices you make now can virtually erase any bad decision you made last year.

I groan and toy with the tiny jewels on my flip flops. I don’t need a pep talk. I need to go apologize to my best friend before she, like, gets on the town bus and has to sit next to some perv. So, can this conversation be over now?

Mia, I know you’ve been hiding something, Ms. Karin says. A wave of fear sends chills to my arms and I freeze.

I meet Ms. Karin’s eyes. What?

Something happened and you’re ashamed. You wish you could take it back. Unfortunately, that’s not the way life works. We can’t change the past.

Panic twists at my gut. She knows.

H-how do you know? I stammer.

Ms. Karin unclasps her hands and glances down at them. I follow her line of vision to the funky-looking cat’s eye ring on her right hand. She stares at it, a strand of her dark hair falling out of that dumb bun on top of her head and landing on her forehead as she says, I know a lot of things about my students. I know, for example, that you haven’t felt good about yourself for a very long time and you’ve been using false bravado to mask your pain. She tears her gaze away from the ring and returns her attention to me. But it’s dangerous to bury your feelings. Keep doing that and one day you’ll implode.

My heart pounding, I wipe my clammy palms on my jeans.

How did she find out? And more importantly, is she going to tell on me? I open my mouth to ask Ms. Karin who she’s going to tell, but once again, the words are stuck in my throat.

Ms. Karin’s expression is solemn as she sits there, perched on top of her stupid desk, watching me squirm.

This is so bad.

I take a deep breath and try to slow my pounding heart.

Mia, she finally says, her tone gentle. "I don’t know the details about whatever it is that’s happened. But I need you to understand that whatever it was, even though you can’t change the past, you can control your future. This is where your choices come into play …"

So, she doesn’t know. Thank God.

I exhale in relief, my muscles automatically unclenching.

… the decisions you make now will define the next few years of your life. That’s why you’ve got to choose wisely.

I nod, barely hearing a word she’s saying.

You’re a good person. I know you don’t always see that about yourself, but you are. Ms. Karin’s words pierce through my thoughts, forcing my attention. I glance at her and she’s watching me carefully. "You are."

Every muscle in my body tenses and I run a hand through my hair as I avert my eyes. 

If she had any idea what I’ve done, she wouldn’t call me a good person.

The drama classroom is suddenly stifling hot and I want to bolt. I start to say something about needing to get Kyle home when a knock on the classroom door saves the day. Thank God!

I hop to my feet, desperate to get as far away from this conversation as possible. I’ve got to get Kyle home, thanks for the talk, I say, grabbing my purse.

Mia?

At the sound of my name, I turn to the doorway and Elizabeth O’Neal is the welcomed intruder.

What up, E? I grin at my second best friend, another one of our cheerleaders. E’s only a junior, but she looks and acts like she could be in college, which is how she earned a spot in my friend trifecta. Today she’s cute as usual, except for her eyes. They’re redder than my cousin’s after he’s spent an entire day holed up in his room smoking. I frown at her. Your eyes look terrible. You need eye drops s.t.a.t.

E wipes her eyes with the back of her hand and takes a hesitant step back. What are you doing here?

Leaving. Later, Ms. Karin. I rush past E, pausing only to give her left butt cheek a slap. She jumps and winces as I say, Text me later, slut.

Language! Ms. Karin calls after me while I run into SLH’s empty hallway. Ms. Karin lowers her voice and says, Elizabeth? What’s wrong? Have you been crying?

Startled, I spin around, but Ms. Karin’s classroom door has already closed.

Wait a second, there’s no way those were tears- Elizabeth O’Neal doesn’t cry.

E and crying are like south Louisiana and ice storms. They don’t go together. For God’s sake, the first time I met E she was decking some dude for catcalling her.

I try the classroom door, but it’s locked. So I knock.

Not now! E shouts. I’ll call you later, Mia.

I start to yell something back and then stop myself. E probably doesn’t want me to see her cry. I can understand that.

I set my purse on the hallway floor and lean against the classroom door, trying to hear what she and Ms. Karin are saying. Unfortunately, E’s speaking in between sobs and I can barely understand her.

I grab my phone and text Kyle.

Mia: 9-1-1. Something MAJOR is going on with E. She bust into Ms. Karin’s classroom CRYING.

Am I the good person that Ms. Karin thinks I am? Nah. Good isn’t exactly in my DNA. Just look at my parents and you'll see that. But am I a jerk who’ll to turn her back on a crying friend? Never.

I slip my phone into my purse and press my ear to the door, straining to hear their conversation.

I may not be the queen of peace, love, and political correctness, but I am the queen of South Louisiana High, and when one of my best friends has a problem, who better to fix it than the queen? 

Chapter 1- Mia

Kyle, I’ve already apologized to you, like, ten times! I punch my steering wheel for emphasis. Even this doesn’t elicit a response. Kyle just keeps staring out of the passenger window, a sullen expression on her face. Are you seriously just going to sit there and pretend you’re deaf?

She doesn’t say a word.

Whatever. Annoyed, I turn up the AC. Be a silent turd. I don’t care. I’m all about helping E right now, anyway.

With this, I clamp my mouth shut and return my concentration to following the town bus E hopped on after her meeting with Ms. Karin.

Kyle listened when I told her everything I’d overheard E tearfully admit to Ms. Karin and as soon as I was done with the story, Kyle was all like, Let’s go meet with E’s Mom and fix this. When she said that, I thought we were good. I joked that maybe we’d finally get to see E’s house, and we both laughed when I called E weird for never inviting us over. But as soon as I pulled out of our school’s parking lot and started apologizing for sounding racist earlier, Kyle resorted to the silent treatment. She still won’t even look at me.

Like I said earlier- whatever.

The dark blue bus labeled Swamp Rose Transit eases into the distance and Kyle shifts in the passenger seat of my SUV. She doesn’t need to say a word for me to know what she’s thinking. She’s probably fuming to herself: Not only is Mia a racist hick, but she’s the world’s worst stalker; she’s totally losing the bus. Who loses a giant blue bus?

We’ll catch up with the bus again, I blurt. I know what I’m doing.

Kyle says nothing.

Annoyed, I shake my head.

Actually, I should be used to