ASHLEY

6💎

After talking a while longer I find out Isaiah has four little sisters and an older one in college, his dad was never around. He supports his family and I think that's sweet. I fill him in on little details about me, like how I'll be eighteen in a few months. I plan on throwing a huge party. Kayla rented the place months ago. Her parents are filthy rich and she doesn't mind. She's also taking me to get another tattoo, she treats.

Now don't get the wrong idea and start thinking I'm only friends with Kayla because of her money because I'm not. We were friends since we were little and it's not like I haven't gone all out for her. We do things like that for each other because we love each other. She's my first love, not like that of course.

I haven't even found my dress yet. I know I have to look better than everyone else. It is my party after all. I have to stand out. Stephanie suggested a color theme. I could have everyone wear a certain color and I come out with a different color. It's my birthday so of course, I have to stand out.

"So how come you're single?" Oh boy, the question just about every guy wants to know. Okay maybe I'm being a little melodramatic but we've all been asked that question.

"I'm just chilling on the whole dating thing you know?"

"Yeah. I totally understand."

Angela and Erica finish ringing up our things. Erica pays for hers and of course, I pay for ours. I give Isaiah a quick hug before leaving and promising to call or text him later. Our conversation was nice and he seems really cool but I'm not sure where this could go. He knows I don't want to jump into a relationship and he says he understands that so we'll see.

The three of us meet up with the rest of the girls at the food court. I order a coke and a sub drenched in honey mustard. It tastes delicious. Angela is quick to tell the other girls all about Isaiah. "Let me tell y'all 'bout y'all nasty friend. We came here to get some stuff. Her thirsty a-behind came here to get some numbers. She met this boy Isaiah and they started talking to him for a while. But he was really cute. I won't lie."

"Angela shut up." I cut into her ranting.

"No-"

"What does he look like?" Stephanie ask.

I text Isaiah and ask him to send me a picture of him. I tell him it's to save it in my contacts so I won't sound creepy or anything of that nature. He sends it and let me tell you he looks sexy as hell. It's a nice simple pic. Nothing too extra. I show it to the girls and immediately start with the inappropriate jokes. Lira and Erica get up and start dry jumping each other, pretending like they're me and Isaiah. People look at the strange but they just brush it off.

How in the world did we ever become friends? These girls are crazy. Lira leans on my shoulder laughing, Her big curly blonde weave gets all in my face and her purple lips stretch into a wide smile but all I can do is laugh.

"You guys are so childish," I complain. Erica sashays over to me and wraps her arms around my neck.

"You love us stinky girl." I laugh at Erica's nickname for me. Since we didn't like each other when we first met she used to always come up with these strange names to call me. Erica really hated me. I'm glad we got past that.

"Just a little bit," I joke.

After we finish eating Kayla drops us off home. I unlock my phone to find two missed calls from Kenneth. I don't even bother to check the voicemail. I delete it. I have no idea what he thinks he's doing just calling me and leaving voicemails on my phone. Thank God I didn't open my phone up around the girls, Kayla in particular. She would have freaked out.

I place my dirty clothes in their rightful place, a tall white basket. I usually let it fill up before I wash clothes. In not about to put two pieces of clothing in the washer like that. Besides I need my work clothes washed for tomorrow. I already don't even feel like going to work but if I have to I have to.

Once I get my clothes in the washer I finish some cleaning. After that, I head to my closet and pull a chair up to grab a familiar large black book. I sit on the chair and begin flipping through it. I smile at the pictures of me and Kenneth. We were so young and so happy together.

There's one on my tenth birthday. Kenneth I poking his finger in my cake-covered face.

Another includes my mom holding us in her arms at the beach and Dad in the background desperately trying to prepare hamburgers. Mom was obviously the cook in the family but if course Dad wanted to prove her wrong. If there was ever a thing he couldn't do he would try until he could. Unfortunately cooking just wasn't one of those things he eventually picked up.

I feel tears well up behind my eyes. They glaze over.

"Bria-"

"Hold on." I put the album book back in its rightful place and close the chair up before opening the door.

"Uh, I thought you were going to wash my clothes too." She says in a matter-of-fact voice.

I roll my eyes. "Go wash your own clothes. I'm not your maid."

"You find a new man and now you don't even know how to act."

Believe me when I say it takes everything in me not to grab her by her hair and drag her up and down the length of this house. She needs to learn how to talk to people. I'm definitely not washing her clothes now. No way.