It was my first Homecoming as a college student. It was my first Homecoming at Mizzou and I knew it was about to be crazy wild. There was so much to do and we would not be able to do it all.

Fresh, I'm sure your boy got some things planned with ABC, right?

That was a text from King Friday morning in our English class. We never hung out anymore, but still texted often. I was trying to be a good girlfriend and not flaunt another hottie on my arm. That would be disrespectful to Diallo. Long as I kept it as friends with King and me, there would be no problem.

Yes. ABC party Friday night U should come. My friends from home r coming down

Coo. I might see ya there

I smiled and was about to put my phone away when he sent another text to me.

U look cute today

I blushed, and put my phone away. He sat near the middle of class, I sat in the back with my roommates, Donell and Rich. We always had a blast in that class, cracking jokes and mocking the teacher. I sat at the end of the row, Allura next to me, then Twyla, of course next to Donnell, and then Rich.

Things were messy with Twyla and Donell, but I continue to stay out of it.

"Do we have to go to the ABC party?" Twyla said after we left class. "I heard the Tri-Delts are having a big party."

A white sorority. I had never gone to any of the non-Black parties on campus. They partied on a different type of level than we did. Not knocking it at all, I heard their parties are always fun, but I had to support my boyfriend.

"Girls, this is a big deal for Diallo and ABC. It's Homecoming and they are throwing one of the bigger parties for the African American students and Alumnae. We have to go."

"Yeah, I'm with lil Rave on this one," Allura stated. "I gotta be with my people tonight. Even John understands that and he's coming with me. Isn't he the greatest?"

Twyla turned to Donell. "Sweetie, are you going to the ABC party?"

Donell stopped looking at his phone. "Ugh! Did you just call me sweetie? Don't do that."

"Sorry. Just that, Rayvn is going with Diallo, Allura with John, we should go together too."

"Naaa!" he said, brushing her off. "Come on bro, let's leave the girls."

I felt low-key shame for Twyla, trying to catch a guy that had no interest in her other than a smash-and-dash. Again, I'm staying out of it.

My friends were scheduled to come around three that day and I would be done with my classes. The whole campus was abuzz over Homecoming activities. More people were walking around. Little pop-up stands were handing out souvenirs. And I was still under pressure about meeting Diallo's mother.

She was not coming till Saturday morning so that Diallo could enjoy the ABC party before his mother arrived. Let's just hope the party was not too wild that I woke up the next day in a funk.

I met my Uncle Jared and my friends downstairs in the lobby.

"Girl, you are getting too ca-yute!" Jared said when he hugged me. "I see why Hook always worried about you up here."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not his little girl anymore. Little Rayvn is all grown up. Angel told me you have a boyfriend and everything. Do I get to meet him?"

"Jared, no. My father hasn't even met him...and I am trying to keep it that way."

"Mmm-hmm, he won't pass the daddy inspection is what you're saying."

"No! Diallo is great, perfect. Daddy will love him."

"Then I advise you to have your father meet him, and soon."

He probably was right. But after I met Diallo's mom and everything went smoothly. Parents sometimes just didn't understand. I knew my dad would like Diallo, because what's not to like? Smart, with good grades, a perfect gentleman, and a virgin also like me.

Jared left but said he would be checking in with me tomorrow for the tailgate activities. That would be interesting.

"Girl, I love Jared, he's so cool," JuJu said. "Explained to me how he came out in college and how it was different times than now. Said this school already was racist and they didn't care for the LGBTQ either."

"Old people just did things differently back then. Come on, let's go on up so we can get ready for this party tonight."

Yes, we needed all those hours before the party to get ready. Five females with one bathroom?

Allura and Twyla treated them as old friends when they saw them. I wondered if Allura and Twyla had their own friends they would ever invite to visit. Of course, they lived further away from Columbia, Missouri and maybe their friends all went far away to college. I never asked.

All I cared about was that my two besties were there now.

"Girl, I can't wait to see Donell. Is he in his room now?" Chantel asked when we were in my room chatting it up.

"Shhh," I said, jumped from my bed, and closed the door. "You know he's also messing with Twyla."

Here I was getting in the middle. Maybe I shouldn't have told her that.

"Well, he said he just hit it a couple of times and he was done with her. That she keeps trying to act like they are together." Chantel smiled. "I'm his girl."

Oh, Lord! This was not going to be good.

"Chantel, you know he sleeps around. He bragged about it. Said he was only looking for link-ups."

"Yeah, till he met me."

This was my friend, and maybe I knew nothing about this subject, but I had to make her see the light. "How are you going to manage a relationship while you're in St. Louis and he's here? And when he is not here, he is home in Kansas City."

"I'm saving up money from my job to get a car and then I will be up here more."

I looked to JuJu for some help on this and she only shrugged. What was it about Donell that made these girls go crazy? He was a nice-looking guy, and I was so glad he had no interest in me and I had better options. Diallo was not that type of guy. Even King did not seem to be. Nor did Todd seem that way. I could be wrong, I know nothing about boys.

I did know Donell was not the one to try and make your boyfriend.

How could I stay out of this mess?

I started to feel a tightness in my chest. I almost did not want to go out and party tonight. I made a mad dash to the shower so I could be first, then quickly dressed. I left my friends in my room and went down the hall to see Diallo.

He opened his door and he was already dressed for the party as well. Dark slacks, and a black shirt. His curly fro braided down. He looked hot, but I could not focus on that right now.

"Hey Rave, what's up?"

I did not realize I was trembling and shaking, but I managed to get the words out. "Twyla and Chantel are seeing the same guy, Donell, and what am I supposed to do with that?"

Diallo pulled me in his arms and held me to calm me down. "Nothing. It's not your business, stay out of it."

"How can I? I've known Chantel since we were little kids. I can't do that to her."

"It is still not your business. They are adults...well, young adults. You can't jump into your friend's business."

The problem was, I was already in it.

"Listen, I have to get to the arena and set up for the party early. Want to ride over with me?"

"I can't leave Chantel and Juju."

"Ask them if they want to come."

"I'm not sure they are ready, but I will see."

They were not ready and far from it, but when I asked them they said they would be fine leaving with Allura and Twyla and that I should go with Diallo.

Silly me.

Diallo and I leave for the party venue. The other ABC officers, whom I've gotten to know well, were there already. I helped them move tables and chairs for the welcome and pay table. Since I was part of ABC now and I was helping, I was comped and did not have to pay the fifteen-dollar cover fee. The DJ came and I also helped her set up. She started playing music and I was ready to party.

"I don't have to work the front tables tonight, so I get to enjoy the party." Diallo pulled me in his arms and danced with me. "I need some fun tonight before my mother comes and nitpicks on everything I do."

"Why would she do that? You're like, the mold all other college kids should aspire to be."

"Stop it! I don't like when you think I'm perfect, because I'm not. No one is. I try to be a good person, but I have my faults."

None I could see. Or at least, none I wanted to see.

Pretty soon, party-goers were filling the place. I was in my element, with Diallo and meeting people as they came in and said hi to him. Didn't this make me popular, dating one of the popular guys on campus? Well, I was popular adjacent.

I texted JuJu and Chantel to make sure they were getting a ride over with Allura and Twyla. The party was on campus, but it was too far to walk when trying to be cute. I waited for their reply for at least five minutes and then nothing. I texted them again.

Yo, the party is getting packed, when are you guys coming?

Maybe they were on their way now. I went back to partying and dancing with Diallo who was a great dancer. After a few songs, we headed to the front tables to check if they needed help. There was a line wrapped down the side of the building. It was indeed the party of the year.

"If you need to stay here and make sure everything runs smoothly-"

"Nonsense, your roomies and friends aren't here yet. I don't want you standing around all alone."

That worked for me. I helped Diallo and his team keep the line moving. I was at the welcome table since I could not handle the money. Diallo was at the pay table since he could.

"Hey, Fresh."

I looked up to see King standing at the table.

"Hey! You made it."

"Yeah, me and my boys."

I looked around to see he was with three other guys. I didn't even know he had friends, he never talked about them.

"Well, welcome to the ABC party, glad you chose to be here." I smiled and greeted him just as I would any other guest at the party. Never mind the fact I still thought King was a hottie.

"Maybe save me a dance?"

Now why would he ask that? "King, sorry, I can't. You know...Diallo and everything."

"I wasn't trying to push up on you, my bad. I'll see you in there."

I watched him and his friends walk to the next table to pay their entry fee. Diallo barely acknowledged him, so that was good. There was no need for him to be jealous.

When I turned back to the line in front of me, I saw JuJu and Chantel.

"Guys! You made it!" I was so happy to see them I left behind the table to give them hugs. "Hey, where are Allura and Twyla? Didn't you come with them?"

"Fuck them hoes!" JuJu said.

"What?"

"They left without us. Didn't say a word, just left," Chantel said.

"We had to walk here."

I grabbed my phone and texted Twyla and Allura.

Guys, What happened? I thought you were coming to the party and bringing my friends.

Allura texted back: Decided to go to the Tri-Delt party. Didn't think they would want to come.

You could have told them and still offer to drop them off. Not cool.

Allura texted back: Not our problem

I was so upset with them. This was inexcusable.

A/N: Yes, this is going to be a long, long Homecoming weekend.