#3 Lost in You (fan fic - in progress)

Chapter Two

"Awww! My baby! You're a whole grown woman now!" Tika's hazel eyes widened with excitement after I revealed it was my birthday a few weeks later.

I shook my head and laughed. Tika was younger than me but no one was telling her that. Kayla of course was already nineteen since she was a sophomore.  My birthday was on one of the most awkward dates possible being the second day of September. So in some school systems I was shuffled up a grade and would have been the youngest kid in the grade. But in Atlanta since the cut off was September first, I was shuffled down a grade and was always the oldest kid in my class.

"Well we're definitely celebrating," Kayla wiggled her eyebrows.

"What are we doing??" Tika looked between the two of us.  "I could ask my brother if it's ok to use our place for a little get together. We have to celebrate."

"Really? Do you think he's gonna go for that?" Kayla looked skeptical.

Tika shrugged. "Can't hurt to ask.  Maybe tomorrow though.  He cant say no to a Friday night kickback.  We'll make it small. Who do you want to invite? Of course Denise and Char. What about those guys we met yesterday?"

"The Cali boys? Sure. They seem cool." I nodded. I had to invite Ashley. I'd feel bad if I didn't. "Ashley?"

Tika's face fell. Besides the fact that her long time crush had not wasted any time making his romantic interest in Ashley clear, Tika and Ashley were also like oil and water. They didn't mix at all. But Tika waved at me nonchalantly. "It's your birthday and unfortunately for you that's your roommate, so I guess I can stomach her."

She pulled out her phone. "Well let me ask my brother."

We all watched as she dialed and he finally picked up. "Hey Kev. I gotta fav to ask."

He definitely said something slick back. She rolled her eyes. "Whatever.."

"It's Jay's birthday today and I wanted to see if we could use the place for a kickback tomorrow night... Jay... you know... She rode home with me you and Lo from that beginning of the summer party. Jay! She's on the soccer team! I can't believe you don't know my friends by now. She's always at our place dummy."

This wasn't going well. I could hear some shuffling on the other end and it sounded like he was speaking to another guy.  Tika's phone wasn't loud enough to tell who.  Apparently the other guy was explaining who I was because Tika finally replied,  "Yea.. that's her. That's Jay."

We could hear Kev say something else slick. It didn't sound positive. Annoyed, Tika rolled her eyes again and stood up to walk away so she could tell him off properly.

"I told her." Kayla raised an eyebrow. "Maybe we can use my place."

"Sure." I shrugged.  I didn't care where we had it.  I just wondered who the other guy was who finally explained who I was to Kev.

Several minutes later Tika came back with a smile on her face. "Let's plan a party!"

"Really??" Kayla and I responded in unison.

Tika shrugged. "Lo got Kev to change his mind."

"Wait.. really?" I was shocked. Lo seemed more annoyed by us than Kev. He was always either rudely ignoring me or throwing irritated looks my direction whenever we both happened to be at Kev and Tika's apartment. He definitely never bothered to speak again.

"Yea. And of course that means we have to invite Lo too."

"Why so he can flirt with Ashley all night while you pout?" Kayla laughed.

Tika looked at me and pouted.  "Do we have to invite Ashley??"

I was starting to think it would be easier not to. Maybe she'll be busy.  But if Lo was coming. She was definitely coming. They'd been attached at the hip as of late.  Apparently she finally got him to settle down.  I supposed that's why he helped me out.  This morning Ashley made a big deal of wishing happy birthday to me while he was standing next to her.  He just kind of half looked at me and then mumbled happy birthday unenthusiastically, but he was always trying to play fake nice when she was around since I was her roommate and one of her friends. Ashley also seemed extra pressed to include me whenever Lo was around like she was trying to prove to him she actually had black friends... or a black friend. That was the main reason I stopped hanging around her so much.