10% Chance of Thunderstorms:

As I stared at Jim, I began plotting. I must be easy to read with your grandfather. Because, he gave me a puzzled look and asked, �What are you thinking, baby?� I smirked at him.

�I want to be Jive!� I announced. �Teach me how!� Jim smiled and shook his head.

�Sorry,� he said. �It can�t be taught!�

�Sure it can,� I insisted. Jim shook his head again.

�This can�t,� he said. �You either have it or you don�t. You don�t.� I leaned in close to your grandfather�s face. I could tell my grin was freaking him out. I saw it on his face.

�How would you know unless you look into it?� I asked. �So what do you say?� There was a moment of silence. Ha, I had your grandfather there. But then, he smirked at me and gave off a little snicker. He looked me dead-on in the eye.

�Alright,� he said. �I�ll teach you to be Jive if you agree to be seen in public with me.� I nodded at him.

�Sure,� I said.

�Not just at school,� he pointed out. �Everywhere in town!�

�Fine!� I pressed.

�And your folks!� he finished. That hurt. But, I was determined to be in the gang. If that meant sending daddy to the hospital, so be it. I tried to not to show my hesitation. I swallowed hard and nodded.

�Sure,� I said. �Whatever you like!� Jim smirked at me. I waited for your grandfather to say I wouldn�t do it. I knew he was going to do it. But instead, he only smiled at me.

�Fine,� he said. I blinked at him.

�Really?� I asked. Jim took another puff of his cigarette.

�Yeah,� he said. I sat back in thought. Wow. That�s all it took? I looked up at him and nodded.

�Okay,� I said.

�Remember the bargain,� he said./

�Sure, sure,� I said. Your grandfather held out his hand.

�Shake to seal it,� he said. I raised an eyebrow at him.

�Really now?� I asked. �Isn�t my word enough? Do we have to do the shake?�

�Aw, getting second thoughts?� your grandfather mocked.

�No!� I said. �Here!� I held out my hand to him. Jim took it and shook it as he gave off that goofy grin. I sneered and gritted my teeth to keep from screaming at him. Jim finally let go of my hand.

�We cool?� he asked. I nodded at him as I calmed down.

�Yeah,� I said. �We cool.� Jim finished up his cigarette before throwing away the butt.

Three days later, I found your grandfather waiting for me at the end of my driveway as I was heading to school. A puzzled look came onto my face.

�What are you doing here?� I asked. He gave me a little smile.

�Walking to school with my boo,� he said. �Remember?� I blinked for a moment. I was about to say no when it hit me. Naturally, I tried to play it down. I gave off a nervous little laugh. Jim raised an eyebrow at me.

�You forgot, didn�t you?� he asked.

�No, no!� I cried. �Of course I remembered.� I tried to laugh to off again. Your grandfather smiled and shook his head at me. Aw crap. I�ve screwed up and it�s only the first day. I had to fix this right now. I drew in a hard breath.

�Maybe a little,� I mumbled. �Look, can we just go?� Jim shrugged at me.

�Fine, fine,� he brushed off.

�Thank you,� I said, sternly. Then, I began my walk to school. Your grandfather followed behind. I cut a sharp glare at him.

�Rub it in my face and I�ll kill you!� I hissed. He playfully put up his hands at me.

�Right,� he said, smoothly. I whipped my head around to the front. We didn�t talk for the rest of the walk to school.

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