On the Flip Side Read Free Page B

Sam says.
    â€œFunny! I was meeting with Mystique and Big D,” I say as I get into my car. I can’t help but smile at the sound of his voice. It seems like I haven’t heard it in forever.
    â€œEverything going good so far? Your roommate sounds cool from your texts.”
    â€œYes! Gia is really nice. I like her a lot. I met two other girls, Meagan and Piper. The jury is still out on both of them though.”
    Sam laughs that husky, delicious-sounding laugh. “Why is the jury out?”
    â€œMeagan is the rich, summers-in-the-Hamptons type, and Piper is ... well ... she’s cool, but she reminds me of Bethany.”
    â€œShe’s white?”
    â€œYeah ...”
    â€œSo, you gonna hold Bethany’s craziness against every white girl that tries to be your friend?”
    I guess it does sound kind of silly now that I have it repeated back to me. “No. She’s cool. We’re all in the same dorm.”
    â€œMy roommate is really smart. He was some kind of prodigy at his school or something. He said he’d help me with my homework and exams and stuff, if I’d let him hang out with me.”
    I laugh out loud as I step into my car. “That’s funny!”
    â€œNaw, that’s fortunate!”
    Hearing Sam’s voice on the phone makes me miss him more. “When are you coming home for a visit?”
    â€œI just left Atlanta three weeks ago.”
    â€œWow.”
    â€œBut of course, I wish I was there with you.” Immediately, he’s apologetic. I ice him with silence as I pull away from Zac’s mansion and drive down the street.
    â€œIt’s cool. I’m doing a video shoot this weekend, and Mystique has promised that there would be lots of hot boys there to keep me company. So you don’t have to wish anything.”
    â€œDang, why it gotta be all like that?”
    â€œHumph.”
    â€œYou might as well stop, Sunday. You ain’t about to play me, and you know it. I have you on lock.”
    I absolutely don’t give him satisfaction that would come from me agreeing with him, but what he says is completely and totally true. He’s got me on lock—and there’s no one else I’d give the key to my heart.

3
    W hen I walk back into my dorm, Gia has clothes strewn across both our beds. All types of eclectic, bright-colored pieces that I would never wear, shoes and handbags to match. She’s standing there, with her long legs in tiny shorts and with her afro somehow expanded into big crinkled sections, held back with a headband.
    â€œHow’d you do that to your hair?”
    â€œOh, that’s nothing. It’s a braidout. Gel, water, oil, braids. Plah-dow! Twist out.”
    â€œIt’s pretty.”
    â€œThank you. We’re invited to a party, so you might as well pick something out.”
    â€œIt’s Wednesday. We have class tomorrow.”
    Gia drops the yellow Tweety T-shirt, on which Tweety has bedazzled rhinestone eyes, onto the bed in front of her.
    â€œYou’re not going to be that roommate are you? For real? We’re in Atlanta, Sunday! And we don’t have to stay out all night.”
    â€œI grew up in Atlanta! A party doesn’t even sound that enticing to me right now. I’d much rather be going to bed.”
    Gia slides across the floor in her Tweety slippers (something about this chick and Tweety) and grabs me by both arms. “You have to go, Sunday! I don’t want to walk up in there alone.”
    â€œWhat about your trio of besties? Your boyfriend? Why can’t any of them go with you?”
    â€œThey can, but they can’t walk up in the spot with me. That has to be one of my Spelman sisters.”
    â€œAnd why is that?”
    â€œBecause, that’s how we roll.”
    I laugh out loud at Gia’s gangstaness. “Okay. I will go with you, but I’m not staying out all night. I’ve got a morning class.”
    â€œYour bad! My first