After dropping my mom at her place we get home around 3. The whole ride, there were too many thoughts circulating in my head so I decided to just sleep the whole time. My head fell on Vince's shoulder again and he surprisingly didn't push it off instead he just looked through his texts. I warned him that mom went through his phone and he immediately started going through it while my mom gave him side looks from the front seat.
Normally I would be wondering about what's on Vince's phone, but all I can think about the rest of the day is my mom's words. Like I said she would have a completely different perspective from Tara.
Before I brush my teeth I do the dramatic thing of just staring at myself in the mirror. My braids are the same, the way I tuck in my Stankonia tee is the same, but I still know I'm different and I have yet to decide if it's for better or worse.
Sure I'm the same on the outside, but really if my phone rings with Ziyah's name giddiness will run through me and I'll like it. I lost a bit of me, but I believe that part was just the part of me that was honestly bitter and hated couples.
Interrupting my deep train of thought and staring session Vince barges into the bathroom.
"Vince," I shout and step back. The first rule of sharing a bathroom with a sibling of the opposite sex is always knock before entry even if there is no sound coming from the other side of the door.
"Oh please your decent in fact fully dressed so chill. Matter of fact what the fuck are you doing in here staring at yourself?" He casually walks over to the sink and starts applying Cantu conditioner into his curls.
"You're so annoying."
"You know what's annoying mom saw my conversations with Darian that woman is so damn slick." I was about to leave the bathroom but now I'm a bit curious.
"How bad were they?" Darian can easily clean up his language around my dad, but I've been around some of Vince and his conversations and there not anything I want my mom to hear. Long story short Darian is a ladies man and takes kissing and telling to another level.
"Let's just say in some of our texts Darian goes into detail about some of his encounters which might involve girls and other things." Vince stops looking at his reflection and gives me a look that finishes his story.
"Yikes."
"Yes yikes, did she find those texts from Ziyah?" I let out a little sigh and Vince shakes his head while checking himself out in the mirror.
"Change his name that's what I did with Jessica," he says so easily. Easy for him because he didn't promise to remain 100% honest with mom, and probably just changed Jessica's name to Jesse.
"I thought you didn't like Me and Ziyah together?"
Vince and I exit the bathroom and continue our conversation in his room.
While Vince's room does smell like a gym it's way cleaner than me and Dani's room with all of this weights lined up against the wall. His blue themed bed is also somewhat made. He has a neat study desk and mirror built into the doors of his closet, this is going to be a nice room to have next year.
"I don't, but I got too much going on to worry about him. Plus you're happy right?" He asks and plops on his bed with his phone.
"Yes I am when I'm with him, but when I'm not-"
Vince stops me by putting his hand up. "Don't give me that romantic you can't live without him shit."
"It's not romantic shit I'm not saying I miss him when I'm not with him. I'm saying I feel bad because I feel like I'm changing really fast." I slide next to Vince on his bed, and he puts his phone down between us.
"That's part of being in a relationship. You've changed you have a smile on your face more and you don't stare at Laia as much. Now I'm not about to have a sappy ass conversation with you so help me decide what to get Vicki."
I have been looking at Laia less, or in better terms I have not been taking long envious glances at Laia. I give Vince a nod so he knows I digestic his monologue, and he gets up to search through his dresser.
After closing and opening 3 drawers he yells, "Yes," and pulls out a small little photo. He sits back down and puts the photo of him and Vicki between us.
Vince is a lot skinnier and the football jersey he's wearing is dark blue indicating that in the photo he's on the freshmen team. His arm is wrapped around Vicki's shoulder who's in a simple leggings and t shirt ensemble with a smile on her face.
"You giving her a photo?"
"No dummy I'm going to give her one of those heart necklaces with this photo in it." That's kind of cute not exactly original, but cute.
"Good she'll love it, she'll have a piece of you everywhere she goes."
"What did I tell you about having a sappy ass conversation". Vince gets up and puts the picture back in the same drawer that I'm hoping doesn't contain his underwear.
"I told you I'm changing and I kind of like sappy ass conversations now." I imitate one of Vince's classic shrugs.
"You need to cut that shit out I love Vicki she loves me that's it." Vince goes to pick up one of his weights and does arm reps in front of his mirror.
"So you approve of the gift?" He asks.
"Yup."
"Cool I'm going to get it Wednesday or-" Vince stops speaking and puts one of his hands to his head. His face scrunches up and he starts taking deep breaths.
"Vince are you ok?" I rush to his side.
"I'm ... I'm fine," he struggles to say and puts his weight down. I've never seen Vince with a critical injury, but he has the same facial expressions as my mom and this expression is similar to when my mom has a hot flash. "Go get an Advil," he yells and what I thought was his pain transforms into anger. I still want to make sure he's ok, but he gives me the meanest glance and I scurry into the kitchen.
...
Vince popped an Advil and it made all of his pain go away last night. He argues that it was just a brain rush and because it's his senior year I forced myself to believe him.
Aside from that the first thing I do Monday morning is turn in my application for the short film competition to the office. This doesn't mean I entered it, it solely means that the office has another paper with all of my information, and I'm eligible to enter.
It's not my priority this week because my teachers love to give numerous tests the second we get excited about the holidays.
Madame is one of these teachers and she announces we have a test two days from now on Thursday right before the bell rings. This signals Ziyah to look over to me and we both exchange a smirk.
Since my crying session we've been talking at nutrition before I head to the library. These talks are about little things we have in common like our older siblings ruining Santa for us. We also share a common dislike for people who constantly ask us to take our glasses off to see the differences in our appearances.
I would love to continue that one, but I quickly rush out of the room similar to everyone else, and I make it a few feet before the tennis court when Vicki stops me.
"Hey Daya do you have a 6th period today?" She asks and we move aside to the fence by the basketball court.
"No I think the tennis girls have a banquet." I believe she already knows this though I'm on my way to the courts just to check in.
"Well it doesn't really matter this won't be long. I just wanted to say I know you like to stay home on Friday nights, but there's no game this Friday. I want you at my birthday get together."
Her smile gets bigger which is unnecessary because Vince already told me about the get together and I agreed to go. Heck I helped him pick out his outfit and the jewelry box for her necklace. I do have to say I feel some kind of special that she is "inviting," me instead of me just tagging along with Vince.
"Of course I'll be there," I smile. At the sight of my smile Vicki embraces me in a quick hug.
"Umm also Daya I always saw you as my little sister and I know you probably don't want to hear this." She takes a deep breath. Oh boy is she going to come out too. "Don't rush into things with Ziyah I'm sorry Daya but you're such an amazing person I don't want to see you get hurt." If I knew she was going to go into some deep Segway I would've advised us to move away from the basketball courts. This was what I expected to hear from my mom.
"Thanks." Vicki gives me another hug and a look of sympathy before rushing besides Jada. I wish I didn't have to go to the tennis courts just so Vicki could elaborate and tell me how not to get hurt. The simple online won't do.
After all of the kids leave the afterschool program I finally build up the courage to propose my film idea to Astrid. I'm aware that filming kids permission slips and the parent's consent so im completely prepared for a hard no. I walk over to Astrid as she sits at the sign out table on her phone. "Umm Astrid," I mumble and fiddle with the paper in my hand that has my proposal on it.
"Yes Daya," she says and looks up at me.
"Umm I'm entering a short film competition and I was wondering if I could use the kids in a part on my film. I know it's risky and involves parental consent, but here's my idea." I hand the paper to her and she begins to scan it.
My Idea evolved over the last few weeks, and the title is now Remember Childhood. On the paper that is 100% filled with my writing I explain my idea and how I'm going to execute it using my biggest words to make me look more professional. I don't think it's the best idea but it's a start.
I believe Astrid is reading the paper thoroughly the way she is squinting her eyes, and does an approving nod.
"No," she says with an extreme amount of harshness as she looks at me. Hmm at least I saw it coming. Astrid stops scolding me and burst into laughter, " I'm kidding Daya I'm not that mean I'll ask my boss who says yes to anything and I can have the permission slips done by Friday." She hands me back the paper and before I can say thank you butterflies rush through my stomach.
"Oh and Daya," Astrid calls out when I'm about to walk away. I give her my attention and she walks around the table to face me.
"Are you dating Sofia's uncle?" Ahh Uncle makes Ziyah sound like he's 60 years old.
"Umm-" she puts her hand up and continues to speak.
"I don't care, all I'm saying is be careful with boys and relationships. You seem like an amazing girl who's going to do great things don't let this boy distract you."
"Thanks."
From Tara to my mom to Vicki and Astrid, when is someone going to give me some advice I can actually use.
When I get home and flop on my bed I'm surprised my dad, Dani, and Sawyer haven't decided to join the movement of giving me advice on my relationship. It's as if all of this advice is coming because each of them know i'm going to get hurt. Maybe this is my "Beware of the ides of March," and instead of getting stabbed my inevitable punishment is heartbreak or loneliness. If this is the case it's working because I'm not throwing them out of Lupercalia or in other words disregarding their advice. Matter of fact I don't bother picking up my phone and starting my usual late night conversation with Ziyah.