Epiphany

EP:18

Chapter 18

Tiana's Perspective

"There is a life and there is a death, and there are beauty and melancholy between."-Albert Camus

•••••

I played with the soft fabric of my sundress while my toes clenched and unclenched bits of sand on the ground. The sun had set as trap music boomed and young adults got wasted and talked amongst one another. This wasn't really my crowd, but Ally wanted to go so I came along. Plus anything was better than staying at that shelter, I was beyond ready to move out. I thought finding a place to stay would be easier, but saving up these little checks with my fucked up credit made it a challenge. I stood lost in my thoughts with a red solo cup in my hand barely sipping the alcohol observing the girls in front of me. Ally's friends were very pretty and incredibly outgoing. Where would I fit in? They bomb rushed me with smiles and southern accents. We were all gathered in a circle as people I didn't know passed by either buzzed or completely drunk. Ally had introduced me to all the girls within a matter of seconds before I could comprehend what was going on.

"So Tiana what made you move way out here girl?" Cierra asked swaying her hips to a Migos song.

"Oh, I just wanted a new start."

"Tsk well, you definitely gon get that with these hoes."

"Girl be quiet we are not that wild," Ally said laughing.

"But we are though," Kasey whispered laughing hysterically.

"Its okay Tiana you're safe with me I don't know about these other bitches." Faith said to me smiling.

"Do yall want Pizza? That's the simplest shit I can get for this large of a crowd." Sixty appeared holding a phone in her hand.

She was really nice but easily distracted. I could tell that she and Owen were siblings their humor was almost identical, although they looked nothing alike. Every now and then I looked over and watched Owen talking with his friends smiling and greeting other dudes. He was a naturally happy person, I admired his aura and found it attractive. He saw the good in any situation and tried to make the best of it. He caught me red-handed watching his every move sending a smile my way. It was evident I was developing a crush, but I just couldn't admit it.

"This bitch always eatin' pizza you gon turn into one." Kacey joked.

"Well then bitch what do you want to eat?" Sixty replied.

"I'll get something else later on tonight." Her attention seemed distraught.

"Have yall seen Twon anywhere tonight?" She asked gathering everyone's attention.

"Speaking of Twon I heard about yo little lemonade moment," Ally said sipping from her party cup.

"Girl that nigga deserved it then wanna play innocent about what happened." She crossed her arms causing everyone to erupt in laughter.

"What went down? I mean I heard his side of the story, but I wanna hear yours," Faith asked.

"Girl you know we had been staying together for the past three months. He was already treading on thin ice because my sister told me she caught his ass at a strip club one night feelin' up on some groupie, and one of my girls saw his ass at the bar with some random chick a couple of weeks ago. I brought it up to him and he tried dismissing the situation saying that I shouldn't be listening to what everybody got to say about our relationship."