anything in return | frank ocean [+18] complete

white

Last night was eventful, but I didn't have much time to dwell before news got around that I was back on regularly scheduled programming. After an early morning three way phone call between my mom and sister – I was still trying to figure out who snitched on me, probably Tyler – basically insisting I go through with throwing my 21st birthday party that had already been canceled, resumed, and canceled again, I finally caved...but only after they promised to stop bothering me about it. With less than a month to scramble around and finalize plans, September around the corner, I mentally prepared myself for a fluctuation in stress levels upon saying yes. But that was okay. Freelancing gave me more than enough connections to be able to pull it off, so that wasn't my worry. I just hoped I didn't drive myself crazy in the meantime.

Today was an office day. I had to make the most of it if I didn't plan on being here long. I had a lunch date with Kacie.

I missed her.

I met her at my first job within my major, editing pictures for the magazine company that she was interning for at the time – VIBE. I stuck out like a sore thumb being so young-minded around her and her friends even after she left the company, but they realized quickly I had more sense than my age could give me credit for.

Kacie was the impulsive ball of fire, Alex, Kacie's best friend – the completion to our trio – the soft spoken southern belle, then Chris, goofy, lighthearted yellow motherfucker that always calls me youngin' and ruffles my hair up, and Barry, Chris's chill and beefy brother from another mother.

Kace and Chris had a pretty complicated relationship that ended up with them being the parents of the cutest one year old I'd ever seen in my life – Celeste.

Barry and Alex, well, they met through those two – going from fans of each other's music to partners to husband and wife.

Being friends with well-known slash famous people came with repercussions. I didn't like the attention – I never thought it was healthy the way people that didn't even know me felt they could judge me based on the company I kept (which was great company, btw) – and it seemed like no matter how lowkey I tried to be, I still managed to be a target. You get used to shit like that, though. I like to think it toughened me up before my internship at Two Strikes.

They never hesitated to make me feel like family, even when things got kinda tense between Chris and OF, especially Tyler & Lonny. Hell, things between Lonny and Chris were still tense. I made a mental note to work on that before my party.

Sipping a venti Strawberry Frappe, I scrolled through my email, replying to price inquiries, questions, conducting online consultations while looking up some good venues simultaneously. Naturally I ended up on Twitter but it was for a good reason; scrolling down my following list to see who might have some suggestions on places to rent. I almost freaked out when I saw Lonny on my timeline. He was forfeiting his ban on social networks?

Since when?

I was one of the people adamantly opposed to him saying fuck it and deleting virtually everything his fans (and I) used to connect with him. I could make it sound as detrimental to his career as my vocabulary would allow but mostly, my opposition was for my own selfish reasons.

"Summer just started and you're already doing crazy shit. I can't even tag you in this picture! You suck." I said, pouting as I tried to decide between filters. Nashville was winning so far. But this border had to go.

We were currently in a hotel room, sitting opposite each other in bed with our legs intertwined, waiting for the rain to let up so we could explore the city more.