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2

"You're going to homecoming...in that?" Milan and dad looked at me from head to toe as I entered the living room in my sparkling dress.

"Yes." I answered curtly ignoring their stares. "Can you guys be a little more excited?"

"Where's my baby girl?" My mom ran out of the kitchen and squealed when she saw me. "My baby girl. You look so beautiful, mi amor."

"Pudding, are you going to let your daughter out like that?" My dad asked as he eyed the dress disapprovingly. "Isn't it a little bit too... revealing?"

"Of course not, let her wear whatever she wants for once. She's not eight anymore." My mom walked over towards me and hugged me tightly. "You're really beautiful."

"I still do not approve of the dress." Milan said stubbornly and crossed his hand across his chest.

"Shut up, Millie Billie."

Milan glared at me. He didn't like it when I call him Millie Billie.

"Gather around." My mom pushed us all together. "Let's take some pictures. This is Amari's last homecoming before she is heading to Harvard next year."

After the pictures, Zane came to pick me up. My best friend was hands down the most handsome guy I have ever seen. His hair was midnight black and his eyes were dark brown, framed by graceful brows. His skin was tanned. He had prominent cheekbones and a well-defined chin and nose. He was the dream guy of every girl in school. Including mine.

Yes, I do like my boy best friend. And yes, I know I cannot like him. Because like will lead to love and love will lead to heartbreak and I don't need that negativity right now.

"Wow, you look beautiful as always." Zane said, smiling at me. His smile made my heart melt like a popsicle in the sun.

"You don't look bad yourself." I said, smiling back at him. "Where's Savannah?"

"Oh, she's in the car. Are you ready to go?"

I nodded my head. "Mom, Dad, Milan. I'm going."

"Have fun, darling." Mom said, standing next to dad. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

My dad narrowed her eyes at her and said, "You should be more specific pudding. Don't do drugs or one night stands, Amari. God is watching you."

"Dad!" I yelled out embarrassed. I can't believe he just said that.

Milan chuckled and hugged me. "Have fun, little sister."

Zane and I waved one last time at them before we walked towards the limousine. I could see Savannah already waiting for us in her blue dress. She looked annoyed and pissed.

Unlike Savannah, who had straight black hair and grey eyes, I had wavy brown hair and ocean blue eyes. Savannah was African-American. Her hair was naturally curly, but for as long as I know her she wore weave.

I, on the other hand, am a mix of Jordanian, Caucasian, and Greek. That's how I got my natural tan skin and thick eyelashes and eyebrows. My eyebrows were really bushy when I was younger, but now that I'm older I get them done regularly.

Savannah is a beautiful girl, but only from the outside though, because I think that she's rotten from the inside.

When I stepped in the car Savannah gave me a dirty look. I just rolled my eyes at her and heaved a sigh. I knew it was not a good idea to go to homecoming with them. Staying home, watching netflix was far more better than being stuck with a girl who was constantly glaring at me.

This is going to be one hell of a long night.

"Zane, I'm so tired of your girlfriend." I said annoyed as I gulped down another glass of champagne. It was against the rules to drink alcohol at homecoming, but rules are meant to be broken anyways. "She's ruining my night!"

Savannah was glaring and snapping at me the entire night. Wherever I go, I somehow cross path with her. It's like she was following me the entire night. I was so tired of it.

"What do you mean?" Zane asked puzzled. "What did she do?"

"Well, first of all since you guys started dating the girl hates me." I huffed annoyed as I placed the glass down.

"Hate is a strong word." Zane said calmly.

"It is the right word to describe how she feels about me. Can you not see? She is trying to tear us apart!"

"You're delusional Amari." He chuckled as he brushed a strand of hair out of my face. "She's so nice to all of you."

"It's just a façade Zane." I threw my hands in the air out of frustration. "Can't you see?"

"No." Zane laughed and threw his hand over my shoulder. "Come on Amari, are you jealous?"

"Jealous?" I seethed angrily as I slapped his hand away. "Of course not. Savannah does not like me. I just want to tell you that."

"Savannah likes you. You should stop being so dramatic."

"Really, I am the one being dramatic? How about you? You lied to me for the past couple of weeks, Zane. Is that what you call a best friend?"

Zane raised his eyebrows up at me. "What?"

"Where were you last Friday? Friday's are for us. It's our movie night."

"I was studying with Ivan."

"You were not." I yelled out above the music. We were standing outside on the balcony, far away from the crowd. "You were on a dinner date with Savannah. Ivan told me."

Zane raised his hands up in surrender. "Okay, I admit. I lied once."

"Why did you do that? We haven't spent any time together during summer and now we only talk during lunch. Why?"

Zane stayed silent for a while as he stared at the ground.

"I'm asking you a question Zane?" I was tapping impatiently with my heels on the floor.

"I... Well I...You're right. Savannah does not like our friendship." He confessed quietly, almost in a whisper.

I laughed and shook my head. I knew it. "So, you're going to break up with her right? Like how you did with all your past girlfriends who hated me."

He stayed silent and I suddenly felt something heavy in my chest. "Zane?"

"I'm not going to break up with her." Zane said and went with his hand through his thick lustrous hair. "I, uhm..."

Suddenly it hit me what he wanted to say. The burning feeling in my chest started to get worse. "Zane, I will tell you." I said, trying to blink the tears away. "If you break off our friendship. It is over. Please don't tell me you're breaking off our friendship because of a girl."

He took a deep breath. "It's a tough choice."

"It is not a tough choice, baby." I heard another voice say behind him. It was Savannah. Was she eavesdropping on us the entire time? Bitch. She smiled at me and then looked back at Zane. "Baby, who's it going to be? Me or her?"

I stared at Zane. "If you break off our friendship, Zane Shaw, you don't exist to me anymore." I said in a sharp voice as I narrowed my eyes at him. "Do you hear me? I've known you for more than seven years. Are you going to throw that away for someone you have only known for...what... four months?"

Savannah let out a long disapproving sound. "Baby, is it me or her? You're not going to let the love of your life go only for your best friend. Think about yourself for once."

Zane raised his hand up and Savannah stopped talking. He looked up at me and gave me a sad smile. I could see the pain flicker in his eyes when he finally said: "I don't think I can be friends with you anymore, Amari."

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