Together From the Start

ONE

Chapter One| Destiny

"Hello, my love." I scare my best friend, Jayda who is buried in moving boxes.

She jumps, then clutches her chest to catch her breath, before speaking up. "Hey babe, you ready for senior year."

Jayda and I first met freshmen year when we were dormmates. With her being a D.C. native and myself being from South Carolina, our friendship quickly evolved. Showing me all of the tourist attractions, hitting up all of the fun party spots. Our connection was everything.

Now, our little dynamic duo was headed off into the real world. Buying our first apartment together, for our last year in college.

Howard University, a very well-known H.B.C.U.

"Yeah, I can't believe it's our last year already." Not too long ago, we were partying it up during freshmen week.

"Right," she responds, shuffling through some of her clothes.

I take a look around the box-filled apartment, the kitchen is basically complete. And living some of the living room decors. Jayda moved her stuff in two days ago, just to get a start on things. Plus, her parents lived close so it was super convenient.

Speaking of parents, "Hey Des, where do you want me to start putting your boxes?" My stepfather asked holding one of my heavier boxes in his hand.

"Just over there," I pointed to my room. My older brother follows after him with a box in his hands as well. Both of them said 'hi' to Jayda before, going back downstairs to get more stuff.

Then, my mother walked into the apartment with her phone held up, showing whoever was on the other end of her call, my entire apartment.

"Isn't it so cute? Brings me back to when you and I got our first apartment back in college."

"Mom, what are you doing?"

"I'm showing Diana your apartment," she then, points the camera at me. "Wave, honey."

"Hi, Diana," I wave to the camera.

"Hi, sweetie," I hear her voice from the phone speaker.

My mom and Diana are best friends, she is basically my second mom. She and my mom met in college and have been basically joined by the hip since then. They laugh at the same things, bond over horrible soap operas, and sometimes dress the same when they want to embarrass their kids. Practically twins, except my mom, is black and Diana is white.

And did I mention that our houses are next door from each other?

They have made sure both families spend holidays, birthdays, and vacations all together ever since we moved in next door.

The Thompson and Walker Family.

Everyone gets along pretty well, except for me and one other person.

"Omg, Dahlia, our children are growing up." she sniffles through the phone.

Then, all of a sudden my mom's eyes start to water. Here, they go with the waterworks.

"Can you guys please, not start with the momma bird tears. I'm twenty-two, these tears don't work on me anymore."

They do this after every kid completes a big life milestone.

All of us kids are pretty used to it by now.

It's their way into trying to guilt-trip us into staying close to home. But, so far it never works.

"Well, at least we tried," Their dramatic tears quickly went away.

Jayda walks from out of her room, "Hey, Ms. Dahlia."

My mom squeals hugging her, "Hey, girl. What have I said about using 'Ms.', we are practically family now."

"Sorry, I'm working on it, don't worry."

Jayda says her hello's to Diana as well. My step-dad and brother come up with my bed set.

"Why didn't you guys say you were bringing this up, I would've helped," I say.

"It's fine, we got it."

I swear the men in our family, never let any of the women lift a finger. I'm not complaining or anything, But sometimes I feel bad. After they go to set up the bed, My mom, Jayda, Diana, and I chat for a little while.

"So, how are things in Ohio with Trevor?" my mother asked.

Ugh, Trevor.

"Everything is good, beautiful weather. Trevor, of course, had to move into the nicest house he could find out here."

TREVOR. Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback, now starting his second season with the team. The first person on my personal murder list and Diana's son.

"Lily and I have been chilling in the backyard pool for the day, while Dan went with Trev to the training facility," Diana continued.

"Well, that's nice," my mom said. "Remember, send me the season schedule for this year. So I could get all of us to go to one of his games."

"Mom, didn't you all go to most of his game from last season?" I asked.

"Yes, everyone went accept you." she points her index finger up at me.

"Yeah, Destiny, you were the only one of us not there. Trevor asked for you every time." Diana says through the phone.

I give them an unimpressed look, "Really, Trevor wanted me there. So, he could antagonize me the entire time, I think not."

Before anyone else spoke up, my phone rang on the countertop. It was Brandon, my boyfriend. I excuse myself from the conversation, walking into the bathroom for some privacy.

"Hey, Brandon," I spoke into the phone.

"Hey, sweetness," that's his nickname for me. I've never really liked it, but he always says it, so I've just got used to hearing it. "How's the move-in process?"

"It's going pretty smoothly, my brother, mom, and step-dad are all here helping."

"Well, that's good. Sorry I couldn't help out. You know my Nana has been really sick lately, just trying to spend as much time with her as I can."

His grandmother has been in and out of the hospital for the past couple of weeks, she has diabetes. Recently, she has just been so sick. "Yeah, it's fine. I totally understand, maybe I could come and visit her with you sometime."

"Oh Nah, babe. I don't want you to worry," he speaks. "Enjoy your time with your family, okay sweetness gotta go, bye."

He hangs up before I can even say goodbye. I stare at the phone for a second, maybe I'm paranoid, I push all of my crazy thoughts aside. Trying to keep myself collected, staring into the mirror.

Des, you've just moved into your first apartment.

You are in your senior year about to get that degree.

Stay focused, babe. 

God, please let this year be amazing.

...

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