Tulip read the text beaming on her iPhone 3. Her older brother, William, had been text spamming her like a bill collector. Since his break-up, he'd been needy and nosey. A combination that was beginning to annoy the young girl that rather be focusing on the reality she was in. However, she wasn't complaining as she sat at the corner table at off-campus Starbucks. She was waiting for her friend who was running late and instead of partaking in people-watching in the buzzy cafe she'd gladly chat with him.

The young man that was starting his senior year at Stanford University with a soccer scholarship and just so happened to be one of her favorite people in the world. It was why she still put up with his nightly check-in calls. They'd been through so much in their journey as siblings that she owed him that. He was always worrying about her. At first, she thought it was because she was a girl but then learned it was because at the age of nineteen she was his only living known relative. It was a daunting label to carry but she wore it with pride and grace.   

She wouldn't admit it to him but she missed being able to skip down the hall, knock on his door, and spill all her doubts, dreams, and hopes as he played Assassin's Creed. He was a listener and she was a talker so they were a match made in sibling heaven.

Tulip kept pulling on the straw, the creamy hazelnut frappuccino chilled the back of her throat as her hot pink nails danced over the screen then tap send.

Tulip: I'm going to set you up on Tinder.

She smiled thinking about the stunned looked on his face when he read it. His response came back before she even swallowed.

Will: You better not

Will: I don't need your help getting lad.

Tulip: Eww, don't give me that image.

Tulip: I'm trying to get you a soulmate, loser.

Will: Soulmates aren't real, Cinderella.

She rolled her eyes at his words then typed.

Tulip: Are too, Grinch.

He was turning into a love-hater since his breakup and she wasn't going to let him convince her otherwise.  Fairy Tales may not have existed or even Happily Ever Afters but she did believe that everyone had that one person that spoke to their heart and soul, loving them without condition and free of fault. William's person was out there and so was hers.

Will: Wrong holiday. Grinch is a Christmas villain.

She peeked up from her phone catching a form approaching the table. A happy smile spread across her face as a woman the same age as her but a couple of inches shorter and a shade lighter claimed the chair across from her.

"I'm late. Sorry, girl. My Lit professor went on a rant about Keats." The copper-hued beauty dropped in the wooden chair with a huff that was no doubt from the thick summer humidity hovering outside.

Tulip squinted at Brianna. She didn't know what she was talking about but didn't want to admit to not knowing what a 'Keats' was. It was probably something or someone she should have known since she was now a sophomore but English lit wasn't her strong subject. She was a reader but just hated being told what to read especially if it was on a topic she didn't have a liking for.

"It's all good," Tulip assured, sitting her phone face down so her brother's text wouldn't yank her attention away from the occasion at hand. "I got your fave but it's probably cold, now." She carefully pushed the cream mug towards her as she hung her tote bag on the back of her chair.

"It's fine," Brianna wrapped her hand around the handle with a sigh then took a sip of the americano, "I'll pay you back."

"It's just five bucks." She swatted the kind gesture away.

Brianna lowered the mug back to the table as a pop song wafted in the java scented atmosphere. "What's up with the impromptu meeting. I thought you had to be at the library during this hour." She looked down at her silver link watch to remind herself of the time.

It was one and usually, Tulip would be on the top floor of the library working her way through her trigonometry course load or studying the required chapters for philosophy but today was different. Today was a special day.

"I have a surprise." Tulip beamed as she reached in the front pocket of her Jansport backpack.

Brianna's hazel eyes widened as she caught sight of the pair of rectangular pieces of thickly cut papers. "You got Trey Songz tickets!" She squealed, her shoulders dancing to the tone of Neighbors Know My Name no doubt. "Yes, Lord. I finally get to meet my husband."

"Naw. Not exactly. They are guys, though." Tulip held up the tickets. "One Republic and Foster the People."

Brianna's excitement dampened, "Bitch, what." She leaned over reading the bolden names to be sure it exactly read the names her friend and roommate proclaimed. "Tulip." She dropped back against the seat. "I don't know who these people are."

"I play them all the time," Tulip set the tickets on the table not faltering under her side-eye. "Apologize. Stop and Stare. Good Life. Secrets." She lists the songs housed in her iPod but the Communications major continued to blankly stare back at her. "Bri, really. Come on."

"I'm not." She shook her head like a defiant toddler.

"Please." She begged.

"Nope. I'm not standing in the Pavillion to listen to some people I don't even know." She shook her head. "You know how much gas that is?"

"Bri." She whined her name reaching across the miniature table. "I already bought the tickets. Plus, I'll be there, too. Come on. It'll be an adventure. We'll make priceless memories."

Brianna brought the mug to her lips but stopped short. "We can make the same memories at a Trey Songz Concert." She took a sip of warm coffee. "I'm sure there's someone that has the same strange taste in music on this campus. Post something on FaceBook."

Tulip peered at here, "Are you serious."

"Yes, you can't be the only one on-campus listening to white people music."

Tulip rolled her eyes, "Music is universal."

"See, there you go." She gestured to her with a smirk. "Go find a universal person at this university. I have faith you'll find some offbeat soul." She sincerely patted Tulip's hand. "You're a go-getter."

"Fine." Tulip nodded with a grin at her  friend as she grabbed her phone, "I'mma do just that."

"Good." She quipped. "Cause I just want you to have fun with someone who'll enjoy it as much as you because..." Her hand went to her chest. "I'm going to be a buzz-kill."

"Really, bitch?" Tulip jokingly said tapping the passcode on her phone.

"Really." She pushed back her chair and rose, "You want a muffin or something?"

"Yeah, you know what I like." She went to the Prairie View FaceBook page and composed a post.

Do you think Tulip's friend should've gone with her to the concert?

What's an artist you like that no one else in your circle of friends liked?