They made it to the community center after a thirty-minute walk. The trim on the modest building glowed in green, red, and gold Christmas lights. A Happy New Year's banner spread across the double doors.
Trey patted her loose curls. "Make sure to catch a ride home."

Trechial nodded, giving him a wry smile. "I will. Promise."

He was just about to leave when he turned to her, worry wrinkling his expression, his eyes beating down a message that his lips were about to speak. "Do not go anywhere at night by yourself anymore. Do you understand me? Too many damn perverts out here, Trechial."

The serious side of Trey scared her, but it also let her know their friendship had grown a lot closer tonight. Before she could answer him, he pulled her into a constricting hug. "You're the only sister I have."

She wrapped her arms around him and gave him the tightest hug she could offer. "I won't. I promise."

"Good."

Trechial waved goodbye to Trey and entered the warm building. The foyer was empty of people but buzzed with loud music and chattering down the main hall in the back of the building. She made her way down the hall when she remembered she was wearing Trey's jacket. She jogged back in the direction of the entrance doors cracking open the door.

Devin paced back and forth in front of Trey with tight balls at his sides. Trey's eyes followed Devin like a creepy clock cat on the wall with his eyebrows drawn together and his hands buried deep in his pockets.

Devin paused, impassioned rage twisted his cute face. "I knew he was up to something."

"Yeah, man," Trey said. "I reached her just in time. He was right on her. Shoot, I almost got hit by a car trying to protect her nugget-head. Got me out in the freezing cold chasing behind your girl."

Devin grinned, and Trechial gripped her heart, her eyes darting from side to side then up at Devin. He saw her being chased?

His lips curled upward. "She's not my girl, yet. Thanks, man."

Yet?

Trey smacked his teeth. "If you want to thank me, loan me a hundred dollars out that massive allowance of yours. Who the hell gives their kid a hundred dollars a week for an allowance?"

Devin laughed. "I work hard for that money." He reached in his pocket and pulled out his wallet and opened it.

"Whatever, silver spoon." Said Trey slapping his offering away. "That girl is like a younger sister to me and I would do anything for her so keep your change. Besides, I'll take it from you when I whoop you next Saturday in Twenty-one."

Devin chuckled returning his wallet into his pocket.

Their tones lowered. "Are you going to tell her?" Trey asked.

Devin exhaled a cloud of white smoke. "I mean, if we get a moment to ourselves, I will."

Trey nodded shivering for the umpteenth time. "Create a moment. Anyway, I'm about to bounce. It's cold out here, and if my dad pulls up and I'm not at the house, he's going shatter my rib cage. I'm out." They dapped each other off and Trey jogged in the direction of the roaring highway.

A moment to themselves? Create a moment? Trechial thought back to Devin's words. A flashback of the kiss they shared at prom made her gulp, and a tingle of excitement covered her skin.

Trechial shut the door and rushed down the hall, entering the party as Devin walked into the building.

A tall man dressed in a black suit with a purple tie coupled with a long ponytail greeted her. "Age?"

"Fifteen."

He hiked a brow judging her from head to toe then handed her a Happy New Year's headband and stepped to the side.

Purple and silver lights zigzagged along the brick walls. Happy New Year' triangular signs, silver, purple, and black balloons dangled from the ceilings throughout the room. Glow in the dark confetti was sprinkled along the dance floor. The concession standoff to the far left held a variety of snacks and drinks on top of purple, black, and gold table cloths. Disco party lights swiveled around the dance floor while a sea of teenagers pumped fists and recited the lyrics to The Ruff Riders Anthem.

Mr. Martinez, the owner of the organization, stood along the back wall, conversing with two security officers whose eyes scanned the crowd, looking for their kind of action.

On Trechial's way to the refreshment table, she spotted Maylee and Leandro talking together along the backwall by the pool table, so she shoved her way through the dancefloor to them.
Leandro lifted his blue gaze to her as she approached them, his lips curling into a half-smile. His dark purple, button-down shirt was tucked nicely into his black slacks.

"Hey, guys," Trechial said.

Maylee's red sequence jumpsuit matched the party hat that held back her side-ponytail. She beamed, pulling Trechial into a hug.

"Hey, girl." She gave her a once-over frowned when she spotted the run in Trechial's stocking.

"I was chased by a pervert and fell." She dusted at her knees, remembering the horrific scene.

Leandro touched her shoulder, and Maylee said, "Did you get a look at the person?"

Trechial shook her head.

"No, ma'am," Maylee said shaking her ponytail side to side. "We got a pervert running around our neighborhood? I'm gonna have to tell Momma to make sure her gun has bullets in it ready to go."

Leandro scanned her for signs of injury. "Are you okay, Mamacita?" he asked.

"Besides being scared out of my wits, I'm fine. Trey got there just in time."

Maylee tilted her head. "Trey? I thought that dude was grounded."

"He is, but somehow––" Her words trailed off with a shrug. "I don't know. Thank God he made it there or that pervert would have definitely dragged me into the woods."

"Guess I owe him one," Maylee said, hugging her friend.

"Make it two," Leandro added. His blue gaze shimmered beneath the strobe light that sprayed them in multiple colors.

Trechial smiled, letting herself envelope in their shared love for each other.

Fifteen minutes after Trechial's arrival, Jared showed up to the party along with Maylee's date, and they all hit the dance floor. Dancing and laughing living in the precious last moments of 1998. Devin was absent, not that he didn't attend the shindig, he just opted to hang with Candice and her group instead. Maybe it was for the best, at least she would be able to focus on Jared.

Jared was charismatic despite his rough-around-the-edges attitude. He dazzled her with attention, not taking his prominent eyes off her for one second. He reminded her of Dev––
She ceased the thought. It wasn't fair to compare Jared to Devin because she was sure Devin wasn't comparing Candice to her.

They stood in the middle of the crowded dance floor waiting for the next tune to play. He eyed the party, probably searching his brain for conversation as Trechial didn't have much to say either. A slow ballad, Last Night Letter by KC and Jojo began to play. He found her gaze, Jared tilting his head to the side, holding a hand out to her, and displaying a dimpled smile on his caramel skin. A gold chain hung around his neck, contrasting against a dark purple, long-sleeve shirt. Trechial placed a hand in his, smiling up at him.

He swayed her to the music. "I thought you would ditch tonight," he said.

Her lips curved into a fox grin, "Why?"

"Honesty?"

"Always," she said.

"Liao."

Her face construed, their pace slowing to almost a halt. "What?"

"He likes you, and I think you like him. So, I thought the two of you would go hang somewhere else tonight."

A soft laugh escaped her, a defense mechanism. "Devin and I are just friends. Besides, he has a girlfriend."

"And if he didn't?"

"Then we would still be just friends." Her gaze sifted through the crowd, finding Devin engulfed in a flirtatious gaze with Candice. He tapped her on the nose, breaking into a smile, and pulled her to him. Candice wrapped her hands around his waist, laying her head on his chest.
It was clear they liked each other, maybe even more than Devin let on.

"Earth to Trechial," Jared taunted.

"Sorry, what did you say?"

He lifted his brows but didn't push any further and instead became a bumbling fool.
"Um––so––so, would you?"

Trechial snickered at his sudden nervousness. If Jared asked her out, she would say yes without a doubt even if to escape what she just witnessed. Cute. Hilarious. Smelled like an ocean breeze on a sunny day. And looked at her like she was the prettiest girl on the block. What girl wouldn't want to be with a guy like him? Although there was the question of how would this work given her friendship with Devin. There was no compromising when it came to him, she needed him like the ocean needed salt.

Jared cleared his throat. "Would you go out with me?"

"Before I give you my answer, there's something I need to say," she said turning the moment into a serious discussion.

He gave a short nod.

"I know that you and Devin don't get along, and I still don't really understand why. But Devin is non-negotiable in my life. He's my friend, and the only time I'll take his side is if you make me choose between the two of you." She stared deep into his eyes to drive this next point across.
"He will always win."

His jaw clenched and his expression closed up. "What if the shoe is on the other foot and he makes you choose––"

"I'm not so dumb to fall for that idiot's ploys. Besides, look behind you," she said throwing a chin in the direction of the cringe-infestation couple.

Jared glanced over his shoulder. Behind him on the dance floor, Devin and Candice slobbered each other down, swinging to the slow song. "Do you think Devin is interested in me?" Trechial asked slipping him a grin to lighten the mood.

Jared's features softened. "Does it hurt?"

She shook her head. "I'm happy for him. Nothing more." Then added a quick giggle.

He studied her a bit longer then a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, "So how about my answer, my lady? Go out with me?"

She bit her lip, still smiling. "I guess I can take a chance on us."

Jared pulled her into his arm and squeezed her tightly.

***