cheerleading practice on Monday, and together they had gone to the student union and grabbed a snack.
Just before she entered the building, she heard Asia’s voice shouting her name. Afrika turned in Asia’s direction, guarding her eyes from the sun. “What’s up, Asia?”
“Let me catch my breath.”
“This better be good. I only have three minutes before I’m late to class, and I’m never late.”
“Girl, you won’t guess who asked me for my phone number.”
“You’re right; I don’t have a clue.”
“Deon!”
“You mean that fine, juicy lip, I-wish-I-could-squeeze-him-forever Eagles quarterback, Deon?”
“Yes, Nikki. He’s the one.” Asia and Afrika began to jump around and slap each other’s hand.
“I say, go for yours, girl. Maybe you can ask him to meet us on Friday night.”
“Been thinking about it ever since he asked me for my number ten minutes ago.”
“Didn’t know you were giving him the eye.”
“The eye and everything else.”
The girls laughed.
“I’ve got to go, Asia. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, but did you know that our mothers were meeting for lunch today?”
“Really? I can’t say that I did.”
“You need to talk to your mother more often.”
“You’re right. I owe her a phone call. We’ll talk later, Asia. Gotta run.”
Asia smiled as Nikki turned and went into the building. Asia held her hand by her mouth with her thumb and pinky finger sticking out. “Call me.”
VICTOR STOOD BACK AMONG THE CLUSTER OF TREES AND WATCHED Asia and Afrika from a distance. They were laughing and seemed to be sharing a best friends’ moment. It was only a matter of time, if he didn’t take matters into his hands, before one or the other would stumble upon his secret and discover they were more than friends… sisters. But Victor resolved within himself that he’d go to whatever lengths necessary to make sure they never did.
He moved quickly from out of the shadows and headed for his office. It was clear now to Victor that he had to take immediate action to force Mimi’s hand.
11
Victor looked like an ostrich in his gold blazer, white short-sleeved dress shirt, tie of many colors, and black slacks as he high-tailed it back to his office. Sheila, his secretary, was busy on the telephone upon his return, but she looked up when she heard the door slam.
As soon as Victor sat down, he immediately unlocked his computer, entered his password, and began to search for Afrika’s profile in the student records. Finding her history, he examined several different pages, entered some information, clicked save, sat back, and smiled. The smug look became a nasty laugh and he jumped up from his chair for a premature celebration. He kissed his index and middle finger and tapped the computer screen. “Ms. Afrika Bailey, your tail is out of here. And I’ve got something for you, Mimi. I’ve got something for you.”
ASIA WENT TO THE LIBRARY, FOUND A STUDY ROOM, PLOPPED HER books and cell phone on the table, and sat down. Only one other person inhabited the room, and she was lost in the pages of her American History textbook. Asia had an hour before her critical thinking class—enough time to brush over some notes. This was the class she enjoyed the most; it pushed her to think in ways that were well beyond the norm. She hadn’t declared her major yet, but Political Science was definitely an option.
Her cell phone began to vibrate and do a slow tango on the table. Asia recognized her mother’s number and immediately answered it, whispering into the phone.
“Hey, Mom. What…Who’s this?” Asia asked, a crease forming across her face, her voice raised. Jerking her head, Asia jumped up from her chair. “My mother…what? Accident? Oh my God. What hospital? Thank you, thank you.”
Asia hung up the phone and began to pant, pulling at her ponytail. “Oh my God, my mother.”
The other occupant in the room pulled her head from the pages of the textbook she was reading and looked at Asia in alarm. She threw the book down and got up and went to a tearful Asia, who paced the floor while punching numbers in her cell phone.
“Are you all right?” the girl asked. “Can I help you?”
For the first time, Asia noticed the other person in the room. She was tall with even brown skin, and her braided hair was pulled back from her face and pinned into some type of ball. She was very attractive but much older than the average student.
“Thanks, but no thanks. I just found out that my mother was