“This is crazy,” Nish said, as she posed for the cameramen that kept the bulbs flashing as Morgan’s guests walked the red carpet and took pictures in front of a step and repeat. Morgan and Nish posed for over an hour, before moving inside where a huge crowd was congregated in the great room. Morgan looked around in amazement. Ethic hugged the corner of the room, clad in a simple, black, Tom Ford suit with Dolce, gleefully, on his arm. Anyone who was anyone and lived on the Northside was present - from Morgan’s age to Ethic’s. It was a turnout of epic proportions. The city’s biggest D.J. kept the atmosphere jovial. Morgan was delighted. Ethic had pulled off a celebration for her, every year, to honor the tradition that her father had started; but this year, he had outdone himself. She felt slightly guilty for giving him a hard time. Morgan knew that her growing pains caused him great concern, but she just wanted to live life fully, without the childish rules Ethic smothered her with. She smiled, as guests greeted her, but when he walked through the door her face fell in disappointment. She had been, silently, searching the crowd, discreetly looking for him, hoping to drift through a waft of his cologne, but she hadn’t seen him. Now that her eyes were on him, she wished he would just leave.

He brought that tacky, beauty-supply-store-weave-buying-ass bitch to my party, she thought. She felt like a brat, as she balled her fists at her sides. Morgan could have thrown a tantrum on the spot, but instead, she took a deep breath to qualm the sick feeling that was invading her stomach as they approached.

“There go your boy,” Nish signed. “His girlfriend is cute. Cheap dress, but she’s straight.” Morgan and Nish went back to elementary school. While other girls used secret codes like Pig Latin, Nish and Morgan talked shit using sign language. They were their own, little club and had remained close throughout the years. Morgan had taught Nish how to sign over the years. At that moment, she wished she hadn’t taught her at all. Morgan was jealous enough, without Nish rubbing it in.