As I threw in my yellow crew neck sweater into my box, my euphoric mood fazed away as I did a little thinking. I and my cousin Daphne just finished having a zoom call were she helped me calm my nerves down. "It's just been 9 years" I said to myself trying my best to calm down my beating heart from going haywire, but that just worsened it. It's been 9 years a lot would have changed in them, a lot has changed in me, rounder hips, more ass and boobs, longer curls, taller, prettier I got the most wanted glow up any black girl can ask for. "Neo dinner!" My mum yelled from downstairs while I answered with an ok.
Most might be asking why I'm so nervous and about what? I, Neolani, but my friends call me Lani, Kiaria, Jarvis and Teeqo were all close friends since we were like 2 or something, we even lived next to each other. Jarvis and Teeqo are unidentical twin brothers and I had a huge crush on Teeqo but never told him and Kiaria always teased me on it every time we were on the basketball pitch. Teeqo had big dreams of being in the NBA, Jarvis wanted to be an astronaut even at young ages they had their life set for themselves but we separated after Kiaria's death. She died of bladder cancer at 7, guess she wasn't that lucky. 8 months after her death I saw moving cars at Jarvis and Teeqo's house and ran out to know what was wrong, but I just saw Jarvis walk into a black car and Teeqo follow and that was the last time seeing them, no goodbyes, no letters, nothing.
3 months after that my family had a reunion/cookout at Southern Texas where my grandma stays and I met up with my cousin Daphne, were she ranted on and on about her new neighbors that just moved in. After some more descriptions I found that she had been talking about Jarvis and Teeqo all this while. Ever since then whenever we get the chance to speak she always updates me on Jarvis and Teeqo. She gave me their Instagram handles 3 weeks ago but I've been scared to stare at their changes knowing that I'm moving there a few weeks from now and it'll just make me even more nervous to go.
I sat on a couch in the sitting room with my plate of Saganaki in my left hand. "Done packing?" My mum said through the sound of the TV. "Almost" I replied
"Nervous?" She asked after staring at me for a couple of minutes
"Yeah" I said
"Don't be, the kids there might be cruel at first but just show them who the real Neolani Bennett is and you'll find your friends, but for now just fill your head with some good vibes maybe listen to Summer Walker, heard you once saying she gets you in a good mood"
I sighed at the fact that my mum was thinking of the wrong reason for my nervousness.
After dinner I returned to my room and continued packing. Why am I this nervous? I asked myself. I wasn't meant to be, I mean they're normal people they don't bite so why all these fear. And besides I'm a beautiful, smart, talented black girl, they'll beg to talk to me one day.
Clearing out my jewelry box I stared at the heart necklace my dad gave me on my 5th birthday and forcefully stopped my glossed eyes from tearing up. My dad; the main reason why we're moving. He died 5 months ago, I'm still in grief. My mum and my aunt made plans for us to move near Daphne's house, which is happening in like a week or two from now.
I heard my phone ring as I looked at the caller ID it was a joint call with my 3 best friends Willow, Kimani and Alya. I wiped my tears that I didn't know where even falling and answered the call.
"Hold on why're you crying" Alya asked seeing my puffed face
"My dad" I said "But I'm okay now"
"Sorry" they said in unison
"Thanks" I appreciated their sympathy "So what's up?"
"Needed to say hello before you left" Kimani said
"And a goodbye" Willow said
"Done packing?" Kimani asked
"No but I'm almost done" I stared at my scattered closet leading a trail of clothes to my open boxes.
"Good luck in your new neighborhood" Alya said
"Yeah it might be hard to fit in but you'll get there" Willow said seeing that she was a transfer student
"Thanks guys love you all" I said
"Love you too" They said
"Need to get some sleep" I yawned "Thanks for calling, love you"
"Bye!" I ended the call.
I stared at the ceiling for a moment and sighed. I was really going to leave my friends and everyone, then I felt sad. I got up and played I'll Kill You by Summer Walker and Jhene Aiko and changed into my pajamas and laid in my bed and slowly my eyes closed.