Kiara and I used to be cool and even had plans to go to Spelman together. But for some reason she changed her mind and stayed home to attend Maryland University. I didn’t want to go to Atlanta without her, so when I heard that some classmates were headed to FAMU, I applied, and you know the rest. Kiara never told me why she no longer wanted to attend, I always assumed she was scared to leave home.
“Is everything okay?” I asked her again.
“It’s just the overwhelmingness of work and school.”
“I get it. This semester was a lot for me, too, since I’m a part of so much. At least you’re graduating in December.” I said. Kiara ended up taking off a semester last year and was supposed to be graduating this year. However, she got back on track and would be done with school in December.
“I know. I’m so over school. I wish I would’ve just taken my ass to Spelman.”
“Why didn’t you?” I asked.
“I fell in love.” She admitted and shocked me. Kiara never really shared shit like that or acted like love was something she wanted. After her heartbreak from Demi, one of Wayne’s friends, she vowed to never fall in love again. I definitely understood because he did her dirty, and he was like four years older than her. She was sixteen at the time, probably shouldn’t have been talking to him at first, but nobody could tell her anything. I didn’t realize it was a bad thing for a twenty-year-old to be talking to a sixteen-year-old because, honestly, he had the mentality of a teenager. Demi was very childish, but he manipulated girls like a grown man. Wayne tried to stop them, but they just went behind his back, and by the time he found out, Kiara’s poor heart had already been broken. Kiara never really explained what happened, and I never really asked because she seemed really torn about it. And as far as Demi, he ended up getting arrested for a drug-related crime a year after they broke up. We never brought him back up.
“I’m going to get another drink, want anything?” She said, taking me out of my thoughts. I was about to reply, but I felt my phone vibrating in my purse.
“No, I’m fine. I need to take this.” I said as I got up from our table and quickly tried to find an area that wasn’t as loud to talk in.
“Hello,” I said, putting a finger on my ear to block out the background noise.
“Raquel?” He said, unsure.
“Did you mean to call someone else?” I joked.
“Of course not. It’s just very loud, and I didn’t take you for a clubber.”
“I’m really not, but I’m out with my cousins.”
“Well I won’t hold you, I just wanted to let you know that I booked the room for our Cancun trip.”
“You could’ve texted that.”
“I know, but I kind of wanted to hear your voice.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet. I’m not going to be long, I’ll call you when I get home. We’re still on for coffee in the morning, right?”
“Yes, we are, and I’ll look forward to your call. Talk to you in a few, Raquel.”
“Okay, Antonio.” I blushed. I know I said I probably wouldn’t see him again, but during our first night together, we shared a lot of chemistry, and I really liked him. Although it was against the rules, we communicated outside of the agency and he even came to visit me while I was in Florida. I honestly don’t know where this was going, but I enjoyed his company.
When I made my way back to our table, Kiara was finally coming back with a drink in her hand.
“You just now coming back?” I asked after I sat back down.
“Yeah. Wayne and Roon got a section in here. I saw them and told him we were here, and he said to come to join them.” Kiara said. I instantly rolled my eyes because I wasn’t trying to be around Roon. Ever since I broke up with him almost three years ago, he always wanted to get me back. We were in love, but when I decided to work for the agency, I knew I couldn’t continue to date him. I was afraid of his disapproval and judgment; he was my first love, and I cared a lot about what he thought. However, making money, my own money was necessary at the time. I didn’t want him to eventually find out and break his heart.
“Come on, they have bottles and weed over there,” Kiara said, not really giving us a choice to object. We gathered our things and made our way to Wayne’s section. The music wasn’t as loud over there, and they had more space to move around. My eyes instantly roamed around to find Roon, who was entertaining some bitch. My body immediately started to tense up, and I thought I was somewhat jealous. Even though I was the one to end things, I still cared about him.
“What’s up, sis!” Wayne said as he got up to hug me. I missed his ass and was happy to hang with him for the night. “Roon, look who’s here.” He said. Roon took his eyes off the girl
