Bastiana has a loving family, two amazing best friends, and a secret.
Over summer vacation, Bastiana and her besties do their best to focus on their bucket list in order to distract them from all the secrets they're keeping from one another. When a...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"So, how many items are left on our list, Doll?" I ask after we order our food at Benny's.
"Hmm, I'm not sure. Let me check." Tiana says as she begins to reach for her phone before she remembers she doesn't have pockets. "Oh. Ry, you still have my phone, right?"
"Shit. Yeah. I forgot." He says as he pulls it from his pocket and hands it to her.
"Thanks." She smiles at him before unlocking her screen and pulling up the bucket list. "We have... two more to do before I leave for camp and one when I get back." She says as she reads the list. "Which means we're actually ahead of schedule."
"Yeah, I think those 2-in-1 days changed the game a bit." I laugh. "We should spread out the last two a bit, then. One next weekend and the last one right before you leave."
"That's smart. I totally agree." Tiana nods. "Probably smart with the Torch Ceremony this week anyway, right? Things are about to pick up for you guys."
"Yeah, it's on Monday." Ry says. "Coach will announce the new first-string team and they'll take over practices and training for the rest of the summer."
"Which means you guys, obviously." Tiana rolls her eyes sarcastically. "We all know you two are still going to be first-string. You guys are so good on the field!" She smiles at each of us.
"Thanks, Doll." I grin down at her and playfully nudge her shoulder. "How's Riggy holding up? Sad to see the end or glad to get rid of us?" I ask.
"I think she's a little bummed, actually." Tiana sighs and looks back down at the table as she fidgets with her fork. "She talks a big game but I think she's sad that her football career is over. Since she's not playing in college this summer session is the last time she'll be on the field with a team like this."
"She's been an amazing leader and a great player. I'm sure that will translate into whatever she chooses to do next." I tell her. She looks sad too, as if she's the one leaving the game she loves behind. She's so empathetic that she feels other people's emotions so strongly sometimes, especially people she cares about. It's one of the things I love about her, but I hate to see her sad for any reason.
"She'll definitely be missed, B." Ry adds, placing a gentle hand over one of Tiana's where it rests on the table.
"She's going to miss you guys, too. You know that, right?" Tiana looks at each of us again. "I know she teases you a lot, but you guys and that team have been like a family to her the last four years."
"We're gonna miss her too, Doll." I say softly.
Our waitress comes over just then to drop off our plates and we're all quiet for a moment as we start eating. Ry is the first to say something.
"Why do you always do that, anyway, B?" He asks, looking down at Tiana's plate.
I follow his gaze and see that Tiana has made a little pile of salt and pepper on her plate and is dipping her fries into it before she dips them in the ketchup next to it. Tiana's done this for as long as I've known her, but I've never thought to question it.
