1969 | a.u. a.i

28

Grace's P.O.V

It's finally December. The weather is finally cooling down. Today is my birthday. I'm finally 18. I'm walking through the hallway with Mary Lou and Tom beside me. We're on our way to our final class for the day. Then, Melissa walks up to us, "Hey. Oh Happy birthday Grace." I smile at her and gave her a nod. She looks between us, "I'm having a Christmas party tomorrow. Y'all are invited. Wear something cute."

Melissa sends us a wink but then Mary Lou stops her, "Can we invite some people?" She nods with a toothy smile. We walk away from her. We walk to our last class, "Alright. I'll see y'all in three hours." They nod. Bell rings and we went our separate ways.

~~~~

Mary Lou, Tom, and I are walking to Tom's car since we rode with him this morning. We get in his car. All three of us in the front. He starts up the car and leaves the student parking lot. We cruise around town, just us talking about what we're going to do after school.

Tom wants to go straight to work, so he can save up and have Shelby move in with him while she goes through her senior year next year. I think it's pretty cute to see him be in awe about Shelby. He even confessed that he was in love with her. But he's too scared to tell her.

Mary Lou wants to be a RN. She loves helping people. Since Marco is always traveling with his work, her going to college will keep her occupied until he gets a different job.

And for me. I have no idea what I want my future to be. I just want to be my own boss. I might go to school for Business and Management. I want others to have a chance to be authors. Not just Caucasian and African Americans. That's my biggest dream. To have my own publishing company.

~~~~

We didn't do much for my 18th birthday. I had my friends over and we had cake. I really didn't want to do anything for it but my mom insisted I had them come over. We lounged around the house until late at night. Then everybody went home.

*SATURDAY*

All the girls are at my house getting ready. We're scattered all over my room. Mary Lou is at my vanity fixing her make up, Shelby is fixing her hair in my full length mirror, Felicia is fixing her shirt in the mirror standing behind Shelby, who was sitting on the floor in front of her.

I checked out Felicia. She looks uncomfortable in her outfit. I hate seeing her like that. What I think she's wearing is cute on her. She's wearing dark high waist bellbottom jeans, with a dark red long sleeve blouse that's tucked in to show off her curves. She's wearing black flats and her hair is her natural curls. I think she looks beautiful. I think once she sees Luke her worries will go away.

Tonight is going to be a cool night. Most of us are wearing dresses. Besides Felicia and Shelby. They're both wearing bellbottoms. I put on some white flats to match my dress. I'm wearing a white cotton dress with buttons in the front, with long sleeves. I get off my bed and looked at my clock. 8:37p.m. The party already started.

"Y'all ready?" I ask. They looked at me and nod. We all walked out of my room and to Mary Lou's brothers car. Mary Lou and I are in the front as Felicia and Shelby are in the backseat. We rode around for a little bit before we arrived at Melissa's.

We pile out of the car. We had to park a block away from her house. This is the biggest party she ever throws. Mary Lou and I are talking about the night that's to come. Felicia and Shelby are behind us with their arms linked, laughing at something that was said between the two.