SAM's POV

When I came back home, my mom was sitting on the floor leaning against the couch with a whole bunch of magazines and paper spread out in front of her. She was holding a black sharpie between her fingers as she flipped through some magazines. She had the television on -- it was Family Feud. Steve Harvey asked: "What kind of animal noise would you not want your husband to make while in the bedroom?" Some black lady with curly hair and a pink dress hit her buzzer and yelled: "LION!" Steve looked scared and stepped away from the loud mouth woman. My mother looked up and laughed.

"Mom!"

She jumped and turned her attention to me. "Ah! Girl, you scared me. When did you get here?"

"Just now," I replied.

"Did you have fun with Jake?"

"Yep." I hold back my blush as I remember our long make-out session. Ahh... the memories.

"That's good." She begins doing what she was doing and circles something with the sharpie.

"What are you doing?" I ask, keeping my stance at the doorway.

"Oh, I'm looking through magazines to find some wedding dresses... and shoes, and other accessories. You wanna help me?"

"Mm... no thanks." I start to leave.

"Hold up." - I turn back around - "Antonio is upstairs. He's setting things up with the wedding planner and making a list for guests and stuff. Why don't you help him? I'm sure he'd appreciate it." She grins. I scrunch up my face.

"Mama G, don't you think you're moving too fast? I mean, are you ready to give up your freedom to have some guy live in your house and eat up all your food for the rest of your life?"

"Sam, I know how you may feel right now, but--"

"No, you don't. How could you possibly know how I feel? Did you ever ask me?!"

"Hey, now, don't raise your voice with me. Alright? Now I know that this is hard for you--"

"Ha!--"

"BUT, I'm the parent and I can make my own decisions and you're just gonna have to deal with it," she says in a stern tone.

"So that's it? I'm gonna have to deal with it?"

"Yes! You are going to deal with it. And watch your mouth, young lady. I don't have time for your attitude."

"Whatever," I groan and walk upstairs. 

I hear someone talking in my mom's bedroom. I creep down the hall to her room and slowly crack open the door. Antonio was sitting at her desk talking on the phone. He had a pencil and notepad in front of him as he jotted down whatever the person on the phone was telling him. I open the door all the way and enter the bedroom, leaving the door open. He looks up and mouths "Hey" with a friendly grin. I nod my head at him with a fake grin on my face. I walk over to the bed which is right next to the desk, and look through the wedding magazines that are spread out over the comforter. What the heck is all this stuff?

"Alright. Sounds good. Thank you very much, ma'am... have a great holiday... thank you. Bye." He hangs up the phone.

"This is a lot of stuff..." I say.

"No kidding." He swivels around in the desk chair to face me and rubs his head.

I turn around to face him; he looks stressed. That's what you get for asking someone to marry you when you ain't ready, buddy boy.

"My mom told me to see if you needed help." I sigh and cross my arms over my warm sweatshirt.

"That would be great. I just called the wedding planner to set a meeting time to talk about the wedding. Your mom wants me to come up with some ideas of where we should have the wedding - and the reception - and then make a list of some of my friends and family that I'm going to invite. Do you have any ideas for the location?"

"Well, most people get married in church so..." I say, not really wanting to participate in this whole planning thing. I lean my butt back against the bed and try not to look bored.

"Right!" He writes something in his notepad then turns his attention to me again.

"Have you ever been to a wedding?" I ask.

"Yes, I have. Why?" He scrunches up his face like he doesn't understand the question.

"It doesn't seem like you know much about them."

"Well, this is my first time actually planning my own wedding. It's a lot of hard work and planning ahead and I want everything to be perfect for your mother. I mean... do you know something I don't know?" He raises an eyebrow.

"Well, I've watched a lot of movies so I know a thing or two," I shrug. "I bet you've never watched a Lifetime or Hallmark movie in your whole life."

"Lifetime?"

"See? Unfortunately, my mom makes me watch television with her. If I had it my way, I would watch BET all day."

Antonio chuckles then says, "Is that right?"

I nod my head. There is a pause.

"So, the church is one idea for a location. Any other ideas?" He asks.

"Well, when it's warmer, you could have it outside. Like maybe a park or something... as long as it's not near water. My mama is afraid of water."

"Really?" He asks, sounding interested.

"Yep. I mean she's a Black woman; most of us can't swim and we dare not get our hair wet!"

He chuckles again. I grin a little and look down at the floor.

"A park might be cool. Hopefully the weather will cooperate." He writes a note down in his notepad.

"The reception is indoors, and there's usually a lot of food and cake and music and soul train lines and dancing. And there has to be a head table for the bride and groom and their friends... and a whole bunch of round tables with white tablecloths and balloons and streamers..."

"Whoa, whoa! Slow down." He scribbles a bit faster in the notepad. "Say it again but slower so I can catch everything you say." He holds his pencil in ready position and nods at me. I take a deep breath and proceed.

***

~One hour later~

An hour passes and we came up with several ideas -- well mostly my ideas. Antonio wrote down everything I said and didn't have any negative thing to say. It felt really good sharing my ideas and having someone listening to me instead of scolding me for having a big mouth. I got a lot to say and I'm not ashamed of it one bit.

"We have enough ideas to plan two weddings! Good job, Sam!" He holds his hand up above his head, I guess to high-five me. I just stare at him. He then holds his hand like a fist and brings it down to my level. I stare at it for a few seconds, then fist bump him and fold my arms again. He smiles.

"When are you guys... um, planning the wedding?" I ask.

"February 14th."

"Valentine's Day. How ironic," I respond.

"My mother married my father on Valentine's Day. It's very special..."

"Oh..."

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I take it out and see that Becca sent me a text. Antonio notices my phone and says, "Well, thank you for the help. I guess I'll let you go now."

"Thanks," I say, and walk out of the room and answer the text.

BECCA: Hey chica! You wanna hang with me and Khalil tonight? We're gonna go to Dave & Busters.

ME: Sure, what time?

BECCA: 7pm

I check the time on my phone. It's 6:15.

ME: Ok I'll be there. Is it only us 3?

BECCA: Well... Khalil invited Diggy too. pls don't be mad

I think it over for a second, then reply:

ME: I'm not mad. That's okay. He's grown he can invite whoever he wants

BECCA: Ok :/ just don't start anything because it's really not worth it

ME: See ya :)

I put my phone away and run down the stairs when I almost bump into my mom who is carrying a stack of magazines in her hands.

"Where you going?"

"Gonna hang with Becca and a few friends at Dave & Busters."

"That sounds fun, but did you help Antonio like I told you to?--"

"Yes."

"You still got other chores to do. I don't mind that you have fun with your friends, but I don't want you out too late, especially since it's Christmas. People are crazy these days."

"Mama, I won't be out late!"

"Martha, let her go have fun with her friends. She helped me with ideas, really good ideas. Let her go have some fun... then we can have the house all to ourselves." Antonio appears behind me while talking. I look up at his tall frame. He winks at my mom and I swear I almost throw up in my mouth.

"Alright... Samantha, don't be out all late." Mama says.

"Promise." I smile big and run past her down the stairs and out the door.

***

~Dave & Buster's, 7pm~

The four of us were looking through our menus at our table. Me and Becca sat side by side in the booth while Khalil and Diggy sat across from us. Becca and Khalil were by the window; unfortunately, I had the aisle seat directly across from Diggy. I just saw him today when he came over Jake's house to talk and I didn't plan on seeing him again. 

Jake told me that him and Diggy were cool again and he convinced me to become cool with Diggy again too. I'll try my nice act again like I did for Christmas, but I can't promise that everything will be peachy.

The waitress came over and she looked very familiar. Her jet black hair was slicked back into a high ponytail, her nails were long and painted green and red, I'm guessing for the season, and she wore the restaurant Dave & Buster shirt with black slacks.

"Hello, how may I take your order?" She asked while smacking some gum.

"Dana?" Becca squinted her eyes at her cheer teammate.

"Oh, hey. I didn't even see you." Dana acts surprised, then glances at the guys with a smile. "Hey, Diggy and Khalil."

"Wassup?" Diggy nods.

"Hey," Khalil simply replies.

"How was your Christmas?" The question seems to be general but she only looks at the guys.

"It was good. How about you?" Diggy asks.

"It was great, but it woulda been better if I had a special someone to spend it with," Dana replies.

Me and Becca exchange looks. If she don't stop trying to flirt and take our orders... smh.

"That's too bad," Diggy says.

"I know. I still need to try on my new lingerie outfit I got for Christmas. I have a picture of it on my phone. Wanna see it?" She asks, about to take her phone out of her pocket.

"No, no. I'm... sure it looks great," Diggy smiles.

I clear my throat. Dana turns her attention to me.

"Samantha. Wow... I didn't even notice you there, but I thought I smelled something funky."

She tried it, I think. It's probably your upper lip.

"Nice to see you too," I say with a forced smile. Diggy and Khalil tilted their heads to the side; I felt their surprised stares, surprised that I had the opportunity to go off on this chick and didn't take it.

Dana smirks and shifts her weight to one side, holding up her notepad to write. "Diggy, what would you like to eat?"

"I'll take a thickburger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and a little mayo."

"And to drink? Maybe a tall glass of sex on the beach?"

Khalil coughed and hit his chest as he attempted not to laugh.

Diggy, looking taken by surprise, replied with: "Uh... isn't that an alcoholic drink?"

"Only if you want it to be," Dana says in a seductive soft voice as she winks at him.

Khalil coughs again, more obnoxious this time. Becca kicks his leg under the table.

"Ow," Khalil laughs.

"I think she's the one who needs a drink... the thirst is real," I mumble to Becca as we both giggle.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" Dana returns her attention to me with her eyebrow raised and her lips in a pout.

I laugh and smile and say, "Yes, I would like some chicken parmesan alfredo, please... and thank you." She writes it down and asks Becca what she wants.

"I'll have... can I have the 'Lawnmower salad' without the eggs, bacon bits, and bleu cheese?"

"So you just want lettuce?" Dana scrunches up her face.

"Yes, and no dressing. And also some, uh... shrimp skewers."

"Is that all?" Dana asks with obvious disgust.

"I have to stay fit - we're cheerleaders! How do you think I became second to captain?"

"I don't know, "Dana mumbles. Becca didn't catch it though.

"By eating healthy and exercising every day! AND staying hydrated."

"Well, aren't you Miss Perfect Figure. No offense, Becca, but you're acting as white as your name," Dana exclaims.

"What are you talking about?" Becca is clearly insulted.

"You barely eat anything because you're worried about your figure, but you need to put more meat on your bones! Ain't Mexicans supposed to have full figures? You don't even got a booty--"

"I'm not Mexican, I'm Puerto Rican!--"

"Yeah, whatever. You're the only cheerleader who's on a diet. Julie is skinnier than you and she's been eating more than you!--"

"That's because she's pr--" I put my hand on my friend's thigh, signaling her to stop it before she reveals something that people don't need to know, especially Dana. Becca glances at me, gulps, and understands the message.

"She probably has high metabolism, that's why she can eat a lot of food and not gain weight," Becca explains.

"Yeah, well you won't be catching a man looking like a toothpick." Dana rolls her neck and her eyes.

I wanna say something so rude to her right now!!

"You're wrong. She has a man that likes her regardless of what shape her body is, and regardless of what you may think of it," Khalil says to her.

Yesss Khalil, let her know, I think.

"Well, excuuusssseeee me." 

Becca blushes at Khalil's comment; he winks at her and rubs her hand that's resting on the table.

"Look, are we gonna argue about stupid things or can you get us our food?" Diggy asks Dana with much attitude.

She catches his attitude and scoops up all of our menus. "Sure." Then, she walks away.

"Aye, I didn't even get to order!" Khalil realizes.

"It's okay, babe. You can share my food," Becca smiles.

"No offense, but I eat real food. You know, like meat."

"I'll get another waiter over here," Diggy says, and gets up from the table and walks away.

"Hopefully it ain't another cheerleader. I only have room for one." Khalil reaches his arm across the table to caress Becca's chin, then they both lean in and share a smooch.

"Get a room." I roll my eyes and look across the restaurant for Diggy. I spot him talking with a waitress. He says something and she laughs, tucking a loose hair behind her ear. Ugh, why do guys always have to flirt?

"Oh, girl! How did the meet with Jake go?" Becca secretively asks me. I glance at Khalil who is checking his phone.

"It was fun."

"You use the gift I gave you?" She nudges my arm.

"Yes, Becca." I nudge her back.

"Ahhhhh!!"

"Why are you screaming?" Khalil asks Becca.

"I'm excited because Sam has a new man!" She raises her hands in the air and starts to dance in her seat. This girl is something else...

"Who has a new man?" Diggy arrives and sits in his seat, looking between me and Becca.

"No one," I quickly reply.

"Sam does!"

"Oh... do I know him?" Diggy asks me.

"Why would you?" I look up at him.

The waitress that Diggy was flirting with walks to our table. She was a white girl, possibly in college, with brown hair pulled into a ponytail except for one strand of hair that she kept tucking behind her ear. All her attention was toward Diggy.

"Who needed to order over here?"

"Me!" Khalil raises a quick hand. "I'd like a steak with extra fries please."

"Alright, and did Dana give you your drinks?" The waitress asks.

"Nah, she didn't even ask us," Khalil replies.

"How about free drinks on me? Just tell me what you want and I'll bring it out," the waitress says with a smile.

"Aww, you don't have to do that," Becca says.

"But thank you anyway... Meagan." Diggy smiles at her and she smiles back, walking away. "So, what were we talking about?"

"Sam's man!" Becca cheers.

"Becca, please... shut up." I rest my elbows on the table and hold my head up.

"You're gonna try that again? Ha." Diggy chuckles.

"Maybe I will," I retort.

'Meagan' delivered our drinks and walked back into the restaurant kitchen area.

"You saw how the last guy you went out with turned out. I think that's a sign," Diggy further runs his mouth.

"That was fake, remember?" I sip my lemonade.

"Oh, right! My bad..." He says with a smirk.

I glared at Diggy who was sipping his Dr. Pepper. Our first conversation of the night and he's trying it. My patience is only so thin, but I don't want my big mouth to cause trouble.

"I don't think it's any of your business who I date anyway."

"Okay, okay," Diggy replies, "But I'm just saying, you should just stay single for now. You just got out of a lousy relationship if you wanna call it that."

"And what kind of relationship were you in?" I ask him. I tilt my head to the side waiting for his answer.

"Hey! Look, the food is here!" Becca yells diverting our attention to the waitress that sets our meal down in front of us.

"Enjoy!" the waitress says.

We ate in silence for the next 30 minutes...