One Foot In & One Foot Out

Chapter 22.1

*Author's Note: We got a bit of spicy content for this chapter beautiful people; this serves as a warning.

"BIHH WE DID IT! YA'LL, WE OUT THIS BITCH!!" Jael yells when she finally finds her group of friends after her college graduation. There was a line of her fellow graduates near her who she high fived and hugged as she ran past them to get to her friends. She didn't know these people, but she felt a connection to them because they all struggled the same struggle.

Bruce, Lucia, Byron, and Kostas were standing together smiling and laughing and talking excitedly when they spotted their friend. Lucia ran the rest of the distance to her best friend, grabbed her, and practically squeezed the life out of her in a congratulatory hug.

"Girl I'm so happy! You looked so good struttin' across that stage! Yo makeup on point and you are killin' that outfit!" Lucia said complimenting her friend and motioning for her to do a 360 turn so she can see the entirety of the outfit.

"No hoe, you out here lookin' like you about to steal somebody's cheatin' ass husband!"

Girls compliment each other in such a strange way. It's a true conundrum. A riddle of the sphinx some may say.

They stopped to take a quick picture with each other for the "gram" before walking over to the rest of their friends. Jael hugged each one of them and congratulated them on their accomplishment.

"Aye yo, let's take some pictures!" Byron said as the group headed outside to meet up with their families and other friends.

They found a good spot with great lighting and took some group photos that they will likely treasure for the rest of their lives.

"Jay!" A familiar voice calls Jael's name.

Ezra and Genesis walk up to their sister and her group of friends to give each of them a congratulatory hug as well, hyping them up like good friends and siblings do.

"Ugh, I am so proud of ya'll!" Genesis tells them.

"Yeah congrats big sis. I can't wait for this to be me in a few years," Ezra says.

"Thanks guys. Where's mom and dad?" Jael inquires.

"They're on their way. It was so many people that by the time we arrived, here we couldn't find them and had to sit in a different area than them," Ezra fills her in.

Just then, Lucia and Byron's parents and their three other siblings walk up to them. Mr. and Mrs. Flowers had always been like a second set of parents to Jael and her siblings. Their home was the Carter kids' home away from home whenever they wanted a change in scenery, or just wanted to hang out.

While exchanging hugs and greetings with them, Kostas' family also appeared. Gabby, Kostas' older sister, was with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. D'Amore. His family was also like a second family to Jael. She just wished she looked half as good as they do. His father was a handsome salt and pepper older version of Kostas.

Her friend was given his Greek and Italian roots from his father's side, and his Spanish and black Brazilian roots from his stunning mother who looked like she could grace the cover of any magazine she wanted. Age somehow did not seem to even touch these two beautiful people.

"AHHH!! Jael my magnificent second daughter! You looked so gorgeous walking across that stage sweetie!" Mrs. D'Amore said in her South American accent while squeezing Jael in a hug.

"Dang mom, thanks. Just bypass your son. It's not like I graduated on that same stage," Kostas says feigning hurt.

"Oh, baby you looked good too," his mother says nonchalantly, "I'm just kidding baby boy come here and give your mãe a big hug!" Kostas' mom walks over to her son and kisses his cheeks and hugs him while the rest of the group laughs.