SWING MY WAY :: ORIGINAL

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"And if you haven't taken the LSAT yet, I suggest you hurry up."

Aliya was only half paying attention to her professor; she had taken a small nap during the fifty minute lecture and texted her group of friends also. She was only in this class for attendance now, far ahead of the syllabus because she often focused on finishing everything before the weekend hit. Whether she went out or not, finishing her work was an incentive and a priority.

"There's a good amount of grad schools that will take late test submissions," Dr. Iyiba told the class. He had about two minutes to wrap it up before the class started packing and leaving. "Including this school."

Aliya closed her laptop and looked at her professor as he spoke. She had no idea what he was saying, still thinking about the other night, which was only about a week ago.

She did not know who that boy was, but she remembered his face. She'd never seen him here before, and if she did she was pretty sure she would remember a darkskin boy with one blue eye. Someone that fine? Sheesh.

And she had kissed him, kissed him as if they were involved romantically before this, as if she even knew who he was. That was out of character for her; she was outgoing when she wanted, but she wasn't that wild or open to other people.

Her phone buzzed on the desk and she quickly unlocked it, receiving a text from Tiffany.

Tiffaknee🍀

girl what is you staring at
get up yo class over

Aliya frowned, looking up and facing her professor, who was trying not to laugh at her.

"You haven't been listening huh?" Dr. Iyiba smirked, putting his things in a briefcase. He was a tall darkskin man in his early forties, a lawyer who was very well respected by politicians in the area and had bank.

"No," Aliya admitted sheepishly, putting her laptop in her denim bag, "thinking about the conference tonight."

"So you are coming?" he asked, sitting on the large desk.

"Of course," she confirmed while putting her bag on her shoukder, "did you get my email? Is the PowerPoint okay?"

"More than fine, Ms. Okrah," he nodded, "very thorough."

"Also, thank you for the rec' letters—"

"Can't say I'm not a good mentor, huh?" he replied smugly, standing to his feet, "anytime, Aliya. I'll see you at the future black lawyers conference tonight."

"Totally," she backed up closer to the door, "business pro?"

"Yes ma'am," he nodded.

"Cool," she smiled before meeting Tiffany in the hallway. Her friend was dressed in business professional attire, her bundles slicked back into a low ponytail. "How'd your presentation go?"

"It went great!" she said happily, "I got my grade at the end and made a ninety seven."

"Ayyy!"

"Girl, thank you for helping me last night. Whew chilay, I woulda' been a mess without you."

"No problem, man," they walked out of the political science building and towards Tiffany's car, "are you coming to see me speak?"

"Of fucking course, sis! I love listening to your motivational shit. I feel like an actual lawyer or a lobbyist, loving my job and married with my senator husband. And affordable health insurance!"

Aliya laughed loudly, crossing the street with Tiffany and ignoring a car that honked at them. "I'm glad I could help. So, are you going to be a lawyer?"

"I'm leaning towards it, but hopefully after I start this lobbying internship I'll know."

"Of course," they got in Tiffany's Nissan and drove down the block to their shared apartment. They were like, a three minute walk from school—depending on what class they were coming from—but these girls were running late today, so they needed to drive.

"So..." Tiffany began as she went over speed bumps in the apartment complex, "heard anything from the party?"

"Nothing," Aliya replied with a sigh, "you mean to tell me....out of all of us at that party not one person knew who he was?"

"We didn't even ask other people though," Tiffany parked the car and turned it off, "I asked Manny to ask the others and they know who he is."

"What did he say?"

"I asked while I was in class this morning but you know...he be sleep," she rolled her eyes, getting out of the car. Aliya met her at the front of the car, adjusting her bag as they began walking up the steps. "You know Uzi?"

"Yeah?" lots of people knew Uzi at this school. His full name was Uziah Hicks, a senior biology student. He was an Alpha, super humble, outgoing, and helpful to many people. Uzi was Manny's best friend.

"Well, his girlfriend Raychelle saw the guy you kissed at the party and said his name was Mekhi," they stopped at one flight and Tiffany took a deep breath, "I'm tired as fuck."

"Is that all she said?" Aliya pressed, ignoring her friend's dramatic breathing and putting a hand on her hip.

"Nah..." Tiffany gulped, standing up straight, "whew. He's in our class. Transferred from North Carolina like, last year, and he's...I can't remember his major. Apparently, many people know him because he's fine and has a blue eye. The only way you'd forget who he was was if you got trashed at a party and kissed him without warning."

"You make me fucking sick!" Aliya rolled her eyes and walked to their door, "bitch."

"I'm just saying!" she shrugged, getting the apartment key out, "Manny hangs with him sometimes when he tags along with his friends but he never actually knew him."

"Men," Aliya rolled her eyes and stepped inside their apartment once it was unlocked, taking her coat off and hanging it on a rack.

"Exactly, you've seen this nigga in ya group and barely said anything? He was like, 'he just seemed cool as fuck. No further questions.'"

"Stop talking shit!" Manny came out of his apartment while Aliya went into theirs, ignoring him on purpose just to make him more riled up, "Aliya!"

"No!" she giggled, "close the door, Tiffany!"

"Babe, stop, I'm coming back," Tiffany kissed him and closed the door to their apartment, "sheesh. The fact that we've been living across from him and Uzi for the past two years—"

"And somehow we still tolerate him," Aliya chuckled, kicking her shoes off in her room and setting her bag down, "is he making dinner tonight or us?"

"Supposed to be," Tiffany came from her room, lying on the couch, "my nigga."

"What?"

"Liya!"

"What?" she yelled again.

"Come here!" Tiffany ran towards her anyway, showing her what was on her phone, "he's over at Manny's."

"Huh?" Aliya looked at Manny's text that said Mekhi was in his apartment, "bitch."

"Come on," she whisper-shouted, running to the door, "Manny!"

"Wait, wait wait," Aliya put on some slippers and a super fluffy cardigan, taking her apartment keys—she knew Tiffany didn't have hers—and heading for the door, "Tiff, did you—" she bumped into the doorframe, hitting her kneecap and her eye, "what the fuck?"

"Saw that."

She looked up, covering her right eye and squinting to see who it was.

Of course it was Mekhi, of freaking course.

~•~

bitch this is so corny I'm screaming I'm so sorry sweeties

how are we feeling abt this? lmao