Sidney Berry had her life planned out: after high school go to culinary school, become a world-renowned chef and marry her childhood sweetheart, Aiden. But after a tragic incident that shakes her world at the end of her senior year, her plans derail...
"We were just in the kitchen." Sid raised an eyebrow. Tomi stopped swaying like a tree momentarily.
"The kitchen where our food is made? You have no chill." She tried to feign disgust but she really looked giddy. Sid hugged her friend. Grateful to have someone that could revel in the joy of her getting laid in the dining hall kitchen. As Tomi grabbed her hands and pulled her into her offbeat swaying motion, Sid glanced over at the bar. Her eyes narrowed.
Aiden was waiting in a short line but he wasn't alone. He was now flanked by Aubrey. Her hand resting comfortably on his arm. She didn't like it. Over the past year, she learned to put up with Aubrey's presence but she always got the feeling that the girl tensed up around her. Like she was on edge, making sure she didn't cross some line. That made Sid wonder had she crossed the line before. Her and Aiden even went on double dates with Jamal and Aubrey but no matter how buddy buddy they acted Sid never forgot that girl hanging on her man like more than a buddy. She suspected Aubrey was using Jamal to get closer to Aiden on the low.
"Look, he's here. Oh my, God." Tomi all of a sudden went rigid and grabbed Sid's chin, turning it away from Aiden and Aubrey and toward the entrance where the six foot three guy with startling hazel eyes and a surprisingly nice handlebar mustache that she had been obsessing over for the past three months walked in. Tomi was typically all confidence and be yourself vibes but around this guy, she turned into an idiot. Sidney grabbed her shoulders.
"He's already looking over here, girl. You look beautiful! You are smart. He'd be fucking lucky to have you. Don't go dumb on me, champ."
"I won't go dumb. I will not go dumb."
"OK, let's keep dancing. He's coming over." Tomi nodded and started moving again but her sway was replaced a robotic version of the floss. Lord help her, Sid sent up a prayer for her friend. The guy obviously liked her and she wasn't sure why Tomi couldn't see that.
"Is he still looking?"
"Nope." Sid told her. Tomi's face dropped. "Because he's almost over here. Hiii, Sean."
"Yo, Sid! You look amazing." They exchanged a brief hug before Sean's attention turned completely to Tomi. "And you. You are radiant." Sid watched Tomi beam and throw him a sly smile. Thank god, she's not going dumb, Sid sighed with relief. Just as a smile was spreading across her face watching the two flirt, a roar erupted from the other side of the dining hall. Sid tried to find Aiden again in the last spot she saw him but all she found was Aubrey's angry and terrified face. She looked like she was debating whether to throw herself into between the shoving match that Aiden and Jamal were in the middle of. Sid's feet took off before her brain could catch up and her heels wobbled beneath her threatening to throw her to the floor. But like a determined baby giraffe she got her shit together and she made her way over to space where Jamal had a finger pointed no more than a quarter-inch away from Aiden's face. Just before Aiden could release his clenched jaw and react, Sid stepped between them.
"What the hell?" Sid asked, seemingly to herself, because neither party answered. Even Aubrey remained a hushed figure off to the side. Sid's eyes skated between Jamal and Aiden.
"Nothing." Aiden finally said.
"You fucking serious, man?" Jamal shouted and stepped toward Aiden, but Aubrey was in front him in a flash, blocking his death glare. After a few moments, she was able to lace her fingers between Jamal's and whisper something into his ear that made him settle down. Calm enough so that she was able to usher his tall figure through the gawking crowd toward the exit. The DJ put on an old school reggae joint and as quickly as the uproar gained attention it lost it to grinding pelvises and twisting hips.
"What happened?"Sid asked. Aiden was stock still. Like he was trying his best to regain his composure but Sid knew better than anyone when he was shocked and that — whatever just happened — had unnerved him. She could feel her insecurity jumping up. That same feeling returned again. The one that made her feel like an outsider with a person she had known her whole life. It caused anxiety to spill down to her belly. She grabbed his arm. The same one that Aubrey had held a moment ago. Sid held tight.
"Aiden?" He finally looked at her with eyes that were filled with sadness.
"Can we go?" He asked. Sidney didn't want to go. She wanted to stay and dance with her friend and her boyfriend. But she knew that if she didn't leave, Aiden would surely leave on his own and it worried her where he might end up. If she left with him she could at least make sure that he ended up with her. Wrapped in her arms. Physically close even thought she felt like he was slipping farther and farther away from her. Away from them.
"Yeah. Let's go."
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