Shanti shot me a flat look. “No shit. Also, the plan was kind of genius. And it technically worked.”
Aminah nodded. “Yeah, before . . . everything . . . we were up by sixty percent.” She patted her own shoulder elegantly in congratulations.
“Plus,” Shanti continued, “you fucked Zack up. Thinking about it, Zit wouldn’t have done all this if he wasn’t intimidated by you. He’s literally printed out his face on flyers with a caption that says You know what to do. Dude is terrified.”
Chioma nodded gravely. “Shook. Your power is potent, queen.”
I felt myself returning to myself a little, the brightness of my friends forcing some perspective, easing the clouds. The self-pity was receding to reveal a gleaming fury that was primarily for Zack and his audacity.
Aminah scrutinized my face. “Okay. I see some color coming back to you.” She paused. “Metaphorically. Good. Because AfroWinter Ball is next Saturday and I’m going to need you to be ready for it. Kofi is still giving us his hotel room so . . .”
The mention of the ball gave me a genuine, hearty laugh that I was grateful for. “Oh. I’m not going to that.”
Aminah’s brow arched. “Are you joking?”
I smiled and my chin jutted out incredulously. “Are you joking? Going to the ball was something I was doing because I was with Malakai and it was part of the whole deal. Going to it now would just be humiliating.”
Aminah flipped both her palms up. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Um . . .” Chioma’s voice was quiet and tentative. “What’s going on?”
Shanti gently reached over for the ice cream tub I was holding, grabbed a spoon, and returned to her chair. “I think they’re having a domestic?”
I shuffled a little further from Aminah to assess her. “Meenz, what’s wrong, because I feel like you have something to get off your chest.”
Aminah sat very still and then started blinking rapidly at me in a very alarming manner, as if she was malfunctioning. Then she raised a hand and through her long, extended lashes she pincered me with eyes hard with love. “Kiki, this is not okay. First you shut me out for a week and now this? Why is Malakai the only reason you want to socialize? Was I not enough? You didn’t come to the AfroWinter Ball last year, and even though I went with some girls from my course it was shit without you! It’s a pattern! You bail on the most fun stuff in uni because you get shook! And I get it, but it’s time you let it go, okay? I am tired! ó ti su mi. Sis, I am not going to let you miss out on this. Fuck, I am not gonna let myself miss out on a good time with my best friend. Which, by the way, I have. So many times for you.”
I blinked, stunned, her words sitting cool within me, sending up spindles of shame. “What? I never asked you not to go to events.”
Aminah rolled her eyes. “No, you never did. Of course, you never did, you would never do that, but you think it’s fun for me going out without my main? Most of these bitches are dull as hell.”
Her eyes drifted to Chioma and Shanti and she flashed them a quick, dazzling smile and rose a pacifying hand. “Not you guys, obviously. Other bitches.”
Shanti was texting with one hand and had a spoon in the other. She didn’t look up from her screen. “If I thought you were talking about me, this spoon would be shoved down your throat, my darling.”
Chioma flicked her wrist in a rolling motion. “This dialogue is healthy. Continue.”
“I love how much you’ve grown, Keeks.” Aminah’s voice was gentler now. “And I love that everyone gets to see the Kiki I adore. Your real nature has shone through; you bring people together. Look at Brown Sugar, FreakyFridayz! The elections that are happening! Blackwell is so much closer because of that. So, be part of what you bring together. Stop fighting it.”
I nodded, feeling my nerves soften, my edges curve, my breathing slow. She was right. I could do this. I was also being selfish—it was just cowardice. I wasn’t someone who hid anymore.
I poked her shoulder. “Hi. Have I ever told you that you’re the love of my life?”
Aminah beamed and wiggled on the bed before pulling me into a tight hug. “Yes, but it’s good to hear it again. Sorry I had to go savage on you.”
I laughed. “Please. I needed it.”
“Alright.” Aminah sat up, tone brisk. “Lovefest done. Now that I feel like you’re getting back to normal, I’m gonna need Killa Keeks to awaken.” She clicked her fingers in my face before picking up my phone from the bed and unlocking it with the passcode I didn’t know she knew.