Chapter Text
“Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me!.” Beka sang to herself quietly. Today is going to be an amazing day. After many months of having my roommate bug me, I finally broke down and bought myself some sparkle shoes.
Today is a celebration of both my graduation from college as well as my birthday. I look at my dresser with my diploma holders. Education is the only thing that has gone well recently and even that came with struggles. Welcome to college. “I finally got it, grandma!” I say holding my locket.
I had worked very hard and after my grandma passed away, I was put into the New York system. I was able to apply for a scholarship and moved into a dual credit program where I was able to get my associate degree completed while in high school from CUNY, and then was able to transfer to NYU. I got my bachelor's and just finished my master’s degree, hoping to complete my Ph.D.
Luckily as a ward of the state, I was able to have the college paid for by the state and scholarships. I just had to pay for room and board and books. I have a job at a local gym as an assistant in aerobics classes and I am able in my off time to sneak into dance classes. My favorite dancing is shuffling. But I do also like Shaabi dance and belly dancing.
My roommate is Kiara O’Conner. I adore her and she is a goddess among women. We have been roommates in the same dorm at NYU for 2 years now. While I am a Psychology major, she is in Construction. Her family is big in development. We both bonded over being Irish American on campus. We both met at an Irish festival on campus, and we changed rooms in Palladium Hall, with our other roommates and have been best friends ever since. I am so jealous of her hair she has amazing ebony hair that is in long dreads. My hair is a matted mess of brown curls that never seem to be able to be tamed.
Looking at the shoes they fit perfectly and cycle through colors. I love them. They are the one thing I have saved up for aside from having to pay for my phone and my laptop.
“Girl, they aren’t going to get any shiner – move your booty we need to party!” Kiara has popped into the bedroom.
“I’m totally doing your hair. – Come to my lair.” She grabs my hand and pulls me to her room.
“Where are we going to go tonight? I'll get the Uber.” I pull my phone out as Kiara starts curling and braiding my hair.
“Coyote Ugly as if we would go anywhere else!” Kiara says as she holds a comb in her teeth as she is braiding my hair.
-------Time Skip-----------
The bar is noisy and we waited a while to get in. the bar looks almost identical to the movie. The movie is one of our favorites.
“You should try some Ole Smokey Apple Pie to start.” Kiara has been of drinking age for a year and her brothers introduced her to drinking for her birthday when she turned 21.
“I leave myself in your capable hands!” I shout at her over the noise of everyone. The music playing tonight is a Latin theme.
There is salsa music playing. I start doing a combination of cumbia moves and kizomba moves. I look around and there is a large crush, and it is hard to move everyone seems to be laughing and having fun. Everyone is on top of each other. I laugh getting into the music while also being nervous when Kiara is not here. There is a girl next to me holding a beer bottle and she is watching me and is trying to copy my movements. My gym class sessions kick in I grab her hips and smile and help her hips move in time to the music. A man behind her looks up squints and looks like he’s not sure if he should be mad or not. I move to him and grab his hands and put them on the other side of her hips and push her into him while moving both in time. He then moves his eyes from a squint into a crinkle and smiles and me. He leans down and kisses the woman on the side of the neck, and she laughs. She takes a drink and turns around and moves closer to him starting to dance. I smile still dancing next to him.
“Here have an Apple Pie – drink this.” Kiara gives me a glass. It really does taste like an apple pie!
As I drink, I start to dance with Kiara. Kiara moves into me and starts dancing back. A man moves up behind Kiara and starts to dance with her. I smile she winks at me and turns around and starts to dance with him.
Suddenly, there was a loud screeching sound like feedback on a microphone but louder and worse. I hold my drink to my ears as the sound makes me dizzy and I start to sway and I fall down as I pass out........
This is the Locket cover.
Bekas Hair (But Brown)
Kiara's Hair
