A Necessary Struggle: Spring Semester

Chapter 21: Are You For Real?

Valentine's Day came and went. Harmony and Alyssa treated it like any other day in the week. Nothing special. No big fuss. Trevor took Lela to a dinner at a snazzy French restaurant in the Congress District then went to the opening of a new art gallery while Safiya and her new beau (whose name the girls still didn't know) went to see "An Affair to Remember" being played in Zilker Park.

Two days later, Harmony sat in a booth at Dawn Ryse with earbuds stuffed in her ears drowning out the buzz from the lunch rush. Her chipped pale green nails reminded her that she missed her manicure last week as she tapped on her laptop trying to formulate a thesis statement. She scanned her eyes over a paragraph in one of the many books she checked out of the library drawing more information on voting blocks.

A balled-up napkin fell by her hands and she looked up, "What are you doing here?" She asked taking out her earbuds.

"Advice." Samuel ogled Harmony's cold plate of cod nuggets and spicy fries. "Which color do you like?" He dug in the pocket of his pants and held up two wimpy balloons—one coral and the other yellow.

Harmony paused her tunes then glared at her brother strangely, "I ask again....what are you doing?" She gestured at the balloons. "Throwing a birthday party for a second grader."

Samuel threw his head back with a deep, fake laugh drawing the eyes from the dinners around them. "Not funny." He hit his foot against hers, accidentally. "Sorry." He tossed the balloons on the laptop keys. "I'm throwing an I Heart U party. I mean Valentine's Day is so overplayed and for undying Romeo and Juliet kinda love."

"So..." Harmony gestured for him to say more.

"So..." Samuel slapped his hands on the table. "There needs to be a day people who aren't in a situation but you know feeling each other, kinda like you and Cairo."

Harmony shook her head quickly; "Don't use me as an example to have a party." She tossed the balloons back to him, "Just have one."

"But...sis." His eyes searched her plate again. "I'm trying to help you out. Get you a man."

She started to talk but he jumped in as he dipped a fry in a glob of tarter sauce, "And don't start with that cleanse nonsense. Cause we both know it's just an excuse to not go after what you want."

Harmony dug in her backpack pocket and pulled out her beeping cell phone, "He's with Heaven. I don't go after guys that are in relationships. That's not me."

"Screw that." Samuel waved off her words then plucked another fry off the plate. "Cairo is your dude but..." He threw the fry in his mouth and swallowed it after two quick munches. "I ain't even come here for that. Pick a color." He held up the balloons.

"That one." Harmony pointed at the one in his left hand.

"Thanks, big head." He pulled the plate in front of him and hovered his hand over the cod nuggets, "So...when can I come to your place and set up."

"Huh?" Harmony lifted her eyes from the text on her phone.

"I still live in the dorm." He told with his mouth full. "I can't invite all 'em people in my jail cell of a room."

Harmony rolled her eyes, "Sure but you gotta ask the girls before—"

"Already did." He stuck a new straw in her cup of cherry soda and took a big gulp. "Their down."

"Fine...but I won't be there." Harmony lifted her eyes from the text and showed it to Samuel.

"Is it mandatory."

Harmony nodded with an upturned nose, "I guess it's Laurent's way of keeping in touch."

"Family dinner." Samuel fell back against the booth. "Hey, at least you get a home-cooked meal." He winked. "Brightside."

What do you think about the I Heart U party? Good idea or bad idea.

Should Harmony go to the O'Connor family dinner or blow it off?

What color should the ballons be: coral or yellow?