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Aunt Dani talked her into it, telling her I was only going to be young once. I still had to be home by ten-thirty, but I decided not to push my luck. Although I wanted to stay out longer, I couldn’t complain because the year before she had barely allowed me to go out.
    Candy was driving, so I went and said goodbye to Momma and Cory.
    â€œYou sure you don’t want me to drive you?” Momma asked, looking worried.
    â€œMomma,” I said, dragging out her name like it had ten syllables. “I’m almost seventeen. Candy’s a good driver.”
    She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Cory said, “You’re treating her like a baby.”
    I smiled my thanks.
    â€œWell,” Momma said, still looking unsure. “You have your cell phone, right?”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” I said, wondering why she had even bothered to get me one. I begged and begged, and finally she had gotten me one of those prepaid ones. Half the time I couldn’t get a signal and sometimes I would check the voice mail and discover I had three or four messages, although the phone never alerted me they had come in.
    She reached into her purse and pulled out twenty dollars and handed it to me. “Call me if you have any problems, and here’s some money to call a cab if you can’t get in touch with me.”
    I reached for the money, and she snatched it back, forcing me to look at her. “This money is for emergencies only, Courtland. Keep it in a safe place.”
    â€œOkay.” I wanted to remind her Birmingham didn’t have a lot of cabs, and even if it did, it wasn’t like twenty dollars could get me home—at least I didn’t think it would.
    â€œTen-thirty, Courtland. Not a minute later,” she warned.
    I nodded then turned to head into the locker room. When I got to the door, Momma and Cory were still standing there waiting to make sure I made it in safely, just like I knew they would be.
    I took a shower and threw on the sweats that matched our uniforms and my Air Force Ones.
    About ten of us piled in Candy’s Hyundai Sorrento SUV, and we headed to Ruby Tuesday’s in Five Points South. As usual it was packed.
    I went to the bathroom, and on the way out, I ran into this guy who had wanted to get with me last year. He was fine and all, but every time I talked to him, he was only interested in coming to my house, which wasn’t happening.
    â€œSo when can I come over?” Noah asked.
    I rolled my eyes. “Don’t start,” I said, trying to get past him.
    â€œI see you’re still as stuck-up as ever,” he said. “You ain’t all that.”
    I tried to pretend his words didn’t hurt, but they did. I decided to ignore him and went back to my friends.
    We had just finished eating and were hanging out by the fountain when my phone beeped, letting me know I had a text message. I wondered if it was Momma, but I realized she would call since she didn’t know how to send texts.
    You’re looking sexy in those sweats, the message read.
    I laughed, thinking it was one of my teammates being silly. Then I saw Allen’s number, which I had programmed in my phone after he called the first time. I looked around and spotted him across the street at Starbucks. He said something to his boys, which included Noah, then headed my way.
    â€œHey,” he said.
    â€œHey.” I pushed my hair behind my ear and started playing with my purity necklace, until I realized what I was doing. I stuck my hands in the pocket of my sweatshirt.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” I asked.
    He shrugged. “The same thing as you, I guess, just hanging out. You want to go get some coffee or something?”
    I wanted to say yes, but I caught a glimpse of the big clock near the fountain and realized if I went with Allen I’d miss curfew. I had just decided I would take my chances when Candy walked up.
    â€œYou ready?” she