“Oh my god Isis, look at you!” Jackie’s green eyes glittered as she admired her best friend’s birthday outfit.
Isis and a few friends were going to a fancy restaurant and then the skating rink to celebrate. Jackie came over so they could get ready together, and Roman and Austin were meeting them at the restaurant.
Austin was Jackie’s newest fling. He was one grade higher and went to a different school. Jackie started hanging out with him after Miles broke things off with her, which she didn’t seem too upset over.
“Are you sure I don’t look too boring?” Isis asked. She wanted to look grown up and mature but wasn’t sure the pants suit looked good on her. Jackie playfully smacked her butt and assured her she looked hot, then went to touch up her eyeliner in the mirror.
Isis’s mom, Trella, knocked on the door and told them it was time to go. They giggled with happiness as they walked to Trella’s car.
Trella dropped the girls off, wishing Isis a happy birthday for the twentieth time and sternly telling them NO DRINKING. Trella was also picking them up from the skating rink because Isis was still on a tight leash after getting caught over the summer.
The boys were already standing out front waiting for them. Roman greeted Isis, complimented her outfit, and gave her a polite kiss. Isis couldn’t help but notice Austin and Jackie’s kiss lasted longer than theirs.
The four of them weren’t sitting at the table long when their waitress walked up. Isis’s jaw almost hit the floor.
It was Ava! As Ava approached, you could see the absolute horror on her face. She struggled to wipe it off as she greeted them flatly “Welcome to Chez Lama, what can I get you to drink?”
Jackie let out a sarcastic giggle and said, “Oh hi, server lady.” emphasizing the word server.
Isis kicked her under the table and glared at her best friend. This was not the time or place, even though Isis couldn’t deny that she took pleasure in seeing Ava so uncomfortable.
Jackie continued “I’ll have a sparkling cider, in a flute.”
They all ordered the same, but before Ava left, she looked directly at Roman and smiled sweetly, saying “Nice to see you again, Roman.” Then walked away.
Isis looked at Roman and asked what Ava meant by that. Was there a slight flush on his face? A feeling of nervousness swept over her that she didn’t understand.
He nonchalantly said, “She lives across the street from me, yeah I see her coming and going sometimes.”
Jackie chimed in “The bitch is probably trying to get under your skin.” And added, too loudly “Fuck her.”
Isis figured they were right and said “I can’t believe Ava works here. I still never found out why exactly she blew me off last year but she’s constantly giving me weird looks at school.”
When the drinks were delivered by a silent Ava, they all held up their glasses and cheered “Happy Birthday Isis!”
Thankfully, the rest of the dinner went without any incidents.
Isis almost peed her pants as she watched Austin pick Jackie up after she fell on her skates. The boys gallantly led the girls around, although none of them were good at skating. They laughed and giggled as they went around and around under the neon lights.
For those few moments, Isis forgot about her problems with Roman.
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