' GLIMPSE OF US ' - vinnie hacker (sequel)

7; the return of lola aldana

we make our way to larri's car, him turning on his camera as we planned to vlog our day.

"so, we retrieved bad bitch number 4, and now we're heading to this super underground indie diner, that like, only hipsters go to." larri explains to the camera as he drives.

"bitch, we're going to taco bell..." i looked at him from the passengers seat, making nailea and veondre laugh from behind us.

"we're going to a party with white people tonight!" larri exclaimed to his camera.

"nigga, i'm scared, what if they like make us clean up after or something..." i trail off, obviously being satirical although i know some entitled white male will lose his shit after this video is posted.

"no, deadass, what if one day we get into a fight with, like, bryce hall and he calls us slurs." nailea gasped from the backseat, making me let out a laugh cause i had imagined the same scenario many times before.

avani and nailea are the only non-black girls in our group, but seeing as avani is biracial and nailea is mexican, them experiencing discrimination online is common as well.

"anyway, we going to taco bell, then we gonna go back home and get ready." larri explained our plans to the camera.

"i'm so excited, we're gonna look so good like," nailea squealed from behind me.

"well, i don't know about all of us..." i jokingly said, side eying larri.

larri chuckled but shook his head, "lola, bae, you just got back and i'm already bouta kick you out this damn car."

♤♤♤

"i'm so nervous," i mumbled, running my hands over my dress as me and veondre pull up to avani's house.

nailea and larri arrived earlier, as we figured it may seem suspicious if all three of them were missing.

"hey," veondre spoke softly and grabbed my hand, "i'm right beside you, okay? if you aren't ready, we can go home. but, know that there's a room full of people who adore you behind those doors, and that we wouldn't let anything happen to you. it's your call, my love."

she gave me a sincere smile, and i kiss her hand in return. "let's go, ve." i smile at her, before getting out of the car.

we intertwine our fingers again when we're back next to each other, and walk towards the door hand in hand.

i take a deep breath as we stand in front of it.

this is it. there's so many faces behind that door, ones i haven't seen in months, and i have to face them all at the same time. but, it's crazy, cause i know none of them are gonna scare me the way he is. dozens of people, and he's still the first one i think of.

but, it's now or never, isn't?

speak now, or forever hold my peace.

i knock on the door, and it's answered almost immediately. nailea grins when she sees me, "vani! guess who's here!"

i immediately hear footsteps running towards me, as eyes look at me and widen.