Nina & Dee

Two

"You think Dee would like this one?" Christina asked me, taking a shirt off of the rack and holding it up in front of her. It was a peach button up tee with small palm trees covering it.

I twisted my mouth to the side and giggled.

"Um.. I don't know about that one."

"What?" She asked, flipping the shirt around repeatedly to get a better view of it.

"It's so cute. You and your man are so bouji. I don't even know why I try with you guys."

She placed the shirt back on the rack and stuck her bottom lip out. She folded her arms and watched as I stood over the panel of different colored tee shirts. I picked up a black, white, and gray one and decided that that would be enough to replenish his collection, considering the fact that he often wore them to death.

Dee wasn't the type to go all out when it came to fashion and that's where we shared common similarities. The usual attire of a tee shirt with a pair of jeans and easy shoes were all that we needed to get through the day. On occasion when it was a special event of some sort, we'd dress up and receive oohs and aws for our creativity. I had to admit, I didn't mind throwing on a pair of heels every now and then. I was starting my own heel collection anyway.

"Get him this olive one," Christina picked up a mud green tee and held it out towards me. Her dark blue eyes looked hopeful and I'm sure all she wanted was an okay from me. She had been trying to help me pick out clothes for Dee's upcoming birthday all morning and although it wasn't my intent, I'd been shutting down her ideas and suggestions repeatedly. I knew that she had to be on the verge of frustration, but in reality, I just knew him all too well. He wasn't picky, but at the same time it was me who would still stare and admire him each day and I needed his clothes to look somewhat attractive as well.

I smirked and took the shirt from her hand. It was pretty cute and I could see him in it. Maybe with some kind of jacket to accent it or something. I'm pretty sure he could make it work.

"It'll do." I said through giggles and that only made Christina throw her short arms into the air with victory.

Christina Barlo, although I sometimes called her Chrissi, was my very first friend in a long time. After the incident with my mother, I met her soon after and we clicked almost immediately. Her persona quickly caught my attention — the way she was so humble and nonchalant. She was extremely down to the earth and super easy to talk to. We easily related to each other about the situation which caught me off guard because she had been through the same exact thing and during the same exact time as me.

She understood my pain and complete shock that I felt when I found out about my mother's plans for murdering not only myself, but those around me who I cared so dearly about. She could relate to the embarrassment and humiliation I felt when I walked through the school halls again and how much of a burden was lifted from my shoulders when I graduated.

She understood because her father was Chad.

Initially, when I found this out, it was not only my first instinct but in my best interest to distrust her and keep my distance. I wanted no ties with his side of the family or anyone that had anything to do with him. I did not want to take the chance of putting everyone around me through something as horrific and unbelievable as that again.

But Christina broke down. She cried and cried some more when she found out that she wasn't the only one affected by something like that. The situation was not entirely terrible or worth the trauma, but the fact that it was your parent, the one you've known to trust and love unconditionally, depend and run to all your life, that's what hurts the most.

My mother nor her father will be there when we marry the man of our dreams, nor get to have a relationship with their grandchildren or experience the peaceful, gracious life of an individual who's satisfied with life. Just the thought of it all bugged me.

I looked to Christina who began to search through more clothing racks. She was no taller than me and she had dark brown hair that ended at her mid back. It was usually pulled back into a ponytail or wrapped on top of her head when she didn't want to feel the strands brushing against her face. Her skin was a soft, sandy brown so her deep blue eyes really made her face pop, unless you took into account her big, lush pink lips and few freckles on her cheeks.

I also found out that Chad was from the Dominican descent, so my best friend was not only Hispanic, but she had a touch of Black to her. The same as me.

She also had an older brother who became attached to Dee as well. It was such a coincidence that once the perpetrators in our lives were finally put behind bars, we united with these two and instantly meshed.

In all honesty, there's always been good vibes with them around. I never would have thought that I would have a close friend again, but she's been hanging in there with me for two years, so I think that she's a keeper.

"I'm hungry, can we cut this short?" She folded her arms once more and gazed at the few tee shirts that I held in my hands.

"I am too, actually," I turned around and looked out of the side paned windows of the store. My eyes scanned the strip for a restaurant worth my few dollars.

It was bright and windy out. People were walking all down the sidewalks enjoying the day and it was almost contagious.

"I feel like.." I trailed on, my mouth watering before I could even get the words out.

"Panda Express?" Christina asked, finishing my sentence and plastering a smirk across her face.

She was right.

She grabbed my wrist into her hands and pulled me towards the check out counter.

It was almost like I had a mini me by my side.

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