Read Online On the Flip Side by Nikki Carter - Free Book Online

“She was mad that I had better hair.” She punctuates this with a hair flip.
    â€œI had not embraced my fro yet,” Gia explains. “But now, I like mine better than yours.”
    â€œTo each her own,” Hope says.
    Gia says, “At some point, you and Dreya will probably be really cool. Once she stops hating on your shine.”
    â€œYou watched the reality show?” I ask.
    Hope replies, “We watched every episode. She needs to get over herself.”
    This is true. Dreya does need to get over herself. I just hope her new rap career is what puts her on the map. I would hate to see her crash and burn doing this.
    â€œShe’s going to put out a rap album,” I say.
    Gia frowns. “Not a fan of rap. At all.”
    â€œMe either,” Hope says. “But I will listen to some of it.”
    My phone buzzes on the bed, and I pick it up. It’s a text from Sam. Miss u. I frown and throw it down. Feeling real ambivalent toward him right now. Haven’t talked to him since I was over Big D’s.
    I do not want to break up with him! Not at all. I really care about him, maybe I even love him. I’m not sure about that. But he keeps making me cry. I don’t like crying at all. Aren’t you supposed to smile uncontrollably when you’re in love?
    â€œWho is that?” Gia asks. “Because you’ve got a stanky look on your face all of a sudden.”
    â€œNobody.”
    â€œYikes. It must be Sam. You should forgive him, Sunday. What happened to him could’ve happened to any guy.”
    â€œWould you forgive Ricky if he did the same thing?”
    Gia pauses for an extended moment. “I. Don’t. Know.”
    â€œExactly!”
    â€œClue me in,” Hope says.
    â€œMy boyfriend, maybe soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend went to a club and he says someone slipped something in his drink.”
    â€œOh my!” Hope says. “Did anything happen to him?”
    â€œYeah, another girl’s tongue ended up down his throat.”
    â€œOuchie! I don’t know what I would do in that scenario either,” Hope says. “I don’t have a boyfriend right now, but still. I’d probably be really angry.”
    â€œI’m beyond angry. But he keeps apologizing.”
    Luckily the bloggers didn’t get a hold of the picture. That would’ve made everything worse. But it’s been a few days and the story hasn’t surfaced yet. Maybe Zac threatened some people. He’s good at that. His threats got Truth’s record deal with Epsilon Records deep-sixed when Truth put his hands on Dreya. I thought it was kind of gangsta of Zac to do that, but if he did the same thing for Sam, then I actually appreciate it.
    My phone buzzes again. I ignore it, because I know it’s Sam.
    Gia asks, “Are you going to check that?”
    When I shake my head, she jumps up and snatches my phone off the bed before I can stop her.
    â€œHe says he’s downstairs,” she says after reading my text.
    â€œWhat?”
    I grab the phone so I can see for myself. When I see that Gia wasn’t playing, I text him back. Why and how are u here?
    I tap my foot on the floor as I wait for his reply. I don’t even know if I want to see him right now. I want to hug him, but I want to kick him at the same time. See, I said I was ambivalent!
    He texts back. Zac bought me a ticket. I fly back on Friday. Will only miss one class.
    I text: Oh.
    R u comin’ down? Or am I coming up?
    I tap my foot again, and then walk over to the wall mirror to check myself out. I’m borderline raggedy in my sweatpants and baby tee. Plus my hair is everywhere. I could really use a scrunchy right about now.
    â€œYou should probably comb your hair if your boyfriend is here,” Hope says.
    Gia gives her the eye and Hope says, “What? I’m just saying.”
    I grab a ponytail holder from my dresser and finger comb my thick hair into a high ponytail. If