I bit my lip, repeatedly hitting the tip of the photograph against my temple, thinking about the places I could go. Where would they do this? My pacing and train of thought came to a halt at the sound of my buzzing phone. I placed the picture of Zach's grandfather's dog tag edged into the mirror and went over to my phone on the bed.
I picked up, once I noticed it was Zach calling me. "Hello?"
"Aliyah," he breathed and I had to force myself from making any embarrassing noises into the phone. "Um, I forgot to mention that the dinner is at eight." I looked over the digital alarm clock on the nightstand and nodded. I have five hours.
"Okay."
"I'll see you then."
Waking from the hour nap I had decided to take, I woke up to the sight of my sister watching me. I made a face, "Creep." She heard me and made the move to slap the back of my head. I groaned rubbing the hardly sore part. "Why are you abusing me on my birthday?" She plopped down nexrpt to me on the bed when I sat up, and shrugged. "What's the matter?"
She bit her lip, avoiding my eyes for a second. She held out her hand to me, "I want you to meet someone." Raising an eyebrow, I took her hand and she pulled me off my bed and out the room. We descended the stairs to find a guy shuffling on his feet, looking nervous as he spoke to my parents. Hmm.
His profile was of a short, neatly kept box-afro, light brown skin tone and hazel eyes. He was tall, taller then me and my sister, but not around the height of Zach.
"Derek," Diana smiled, "this is my sister, Aliyah. Aliyah, meet Derek... my boyfriend." My eyebrow raised even higher before my eyes narrowed.
Derek held out his hand, a smile nervous on his lips, showcasing a set of dimples on his cheeks. "Nice to meet you Aliyah."
My narrowed eyes zoned onto his hand. I surveyed him, up and down, before letting down the hard expression. Instead, the thin line of lips was replaced with a smile and I shook his hand. "You too." His nervous smile was washed away and a more confident, relaxed one appeared.
The next three hours was spent watching a movie and getting to know Derek better while also enjoying my birthday with the rest of the family. I had to endure watching also as Diana and Derek act all couple-like while here I was kind of like a third wheel. I'm happy for them - honestly, I am - I just want to act like that with someone too - with Zach.
I want to be in a relationship with Zach. I want to sneak in quick kisses when I think no one's looking, have him look at me in a loving way - like I meant the world to him.
I want Zach to be in love with me, like I am with him.
Re-entering my bedroom, I smiled at the clothes my sister had laid out for the dinner with the others. Closing my door and dropping the towel, I put on my my undergarments, lotion and deodorant first. Then came the green high-low chifon laced dress, the red long-sleeve blazer, and the red high-ankle platform pumps. I decided a black clutch would do as something to carry around. I applied a bit of mascara and black lipstick, deciding red was already used too much. I sprit on some perfume and let down my natural curls, the way Zach likes it. I sighed, shaking my head.
