#Beyond Filter

1: Word around the table

"What about them? They're kinda cute." Shawna nods toward a nearby table.

Amiyah rolls her eyes, flipping the menu in front of her. "We just got here. Can we at least eat first?" she sighs, exasperated.

Shawna, however, doesn't pull her gaze from the group sitting a few feet away—five grown men in odd but attention-grabbing outfits. She's right about one thing—they are attractive. Some of them even look like they've got money, but what Amiyah really wants to do is eat before entertaining Shawna's shenanigans.

"There's one for each of us," Jasmin pipes up, brimming with excitement as she peeks over her menu, stealing glances at the men.

"Hell yeah. I think I want that one," Shawna says with a subtle nod toward a brunette sporting a five o'clock shadow. He's laughing obnoxiously with his friends, arms lazily sprawled over the booth. The biggest guy at the table keeps throwing him irritated looks, as if his friend's arm has personally offended him.

"He looks broke," Amiyah comments dryly, eyes still on her menu. "I'm getting a regular cheeseburger."

"No fries?" Darla asks, a bit concerned.

"I don't think our scheme's gonna work this time." Amiyah shakes her head. "Seriously, the ones who look rich also look like they'd tear our heads off, and the others are obviously a pain in the ass." She glances at Shawna, who's still busy ogling the men. "Personally, I think we've had far better options before."

"Yeah, I think so too," Darla agrees, sipping her ice water.

This is exactly why Amiyah appreciates her the most. In moments like these, they're the only two in the group who always keep their heads on straight.

There are five of them, including Amiyah herself: Shawna Johnson, Starfire Anderson (who's currently tuning her guitar in the middle of the diner), Darla Thompson, and Jasmin Nelson. It's the last names ending in "—son" that brought them together back when they were grad students, all sharing an evening class. Their first hangout was at a diner to celebrate surviving midterms, and that night a group of men approached them, offering to pay for their meals—"Beautiful women like you deserve to eat free."

That motto stuck with them, turning into a game. How many men could they charm into paying for their lunch or handing over some cash? The tallies are well into the tens by now, so they've done pretty well for themselves.

Of course, there are days when it doesn't work—when no one gives them a second glance and they end up paying for their own meals. But the game has been going on long enough that Shawna, Jasmin, and Starfire have started showing up to these outings without even bringing wallets. Their confidence has skyrocketed, unlike Amiyah's—and she'd say the same for Darla. They just weren't risk-takers like the others. Thrill seekers. Amiyah, especially, couldn't fully rely on men to cover her bills. Sure, she'd take whatever nice things they offered, but she wasn't about to walk around without her own money, just in case. She wished her friends thought the same way, but—

"Aight. I'm goin' over there." Shawna abruptly rises from her seat and strides over before anyone can fully register what's happening.

"Oh my god," Amiyah sighs.

"Wait for me, Shawna!" Jasmin squeals, her grin widening as she stands from her seat and hurriedly flings her purse over her shoulder to tail after Shawna.

"Y'all comin'?" Starfire asks, halfway out of her own chair, raising an eyebrow at the remaining two.

Darla looks at Amiyah, who stares right back. They mentally read each other's minds for a brief second before reaching a decision.