Why Can't We Be Friends

"Why can't we be friends
Why can't we be friends
Why can't we be friends
Why can't we be friends" Why Can't We Be Friends by War

"So how did it go with Megan?" Rocky asked me as we got ready to go out and meet up with some friends Friday night.

"It was interesting..." I shrugged. 

 "What did that crazy bitch do now?" Sammy exclaimed. She was already dressed in a red mini dress, full make-up and her hair bone straight. She was putting curls in my hair while I finished my make-up.

I shook my head recalling my encounter with Megan. EJ and I had a great time. He caught me up on his school, teachers, friends and games he liked to play. We were playing Minion Rush on my phone when she arrived. She came early so I didn't have EJ ready to go. She gathered his things, complaining about traffic. I studied her for a moment as she rushed around, wondering what attracted Ethan to her. She looked completely the same. She was still wearing her hair long and auburn, her slim figure displayed in black slacks and a low cut blouse. The only thing that changed was her demeanor. Before, she had an air of superiority and arrogance. Now, she seemed uncomfortable as she hurried to get out of my presence.

"Hmm." Rocky said, when I finished explaining her behavior.

"What?" I asked, looking over at her. She was wearing a beige cut out dress with a navy blazer. It enhanced the red tone in her brown skin. Her hair was pulled up in a bun and she finished her look with gold hoops and nude heels.

"That doesn't sound crazy..." Rocky commented.

"Oh, she's up to something. This is the calm before the storm especially once she sees Lily and Ethan hanging out again." Sammy declared, finishing up my hair. It was in waves falling past my shoulders. I was wearing a white, sheer, 3/4 sleeve blouse and dark floral shorts that Sammy helped me pick out.

"I'm just saying, they've both moved on. They both dated. Their focus is co-parenting." Rocky stated.

"I hope so, for E.J's sake." I said, sincerely, before grabbing my bag. Rocky looked me over critically.

"What?" I asked, checking my make-up. I had on mascara, eye liner, gold shimmer on my lids, and pink gloss. It looked simple, but pretty.

"Nothing. You look hot girl."

I blushed and grinned, latching on to her and Sammy. "We look hot!" I corrected her, as we headed out.


We headed to a lounge in downtown Dallas, one of the many restaurants/bars in the area. This one was a favorite of Rocky's. This one boasted a minimal Caribbean theme menu and reggae music before 10pm and a dj after 11pm. And signature cocktails all evening long. We got there at 9pm, right when it was transitioning so we could secure a table, food and drinks before the partying started.

When we arrived, Rocky led us to the line at the host stand. Amber; who used to work at Dave and Buster's with me, Peyton and Jackie; who are good friends of Rocky, were already there. I scanned the room. The DJ was setting up, but the room was still dim. I smiled as my search stopped at the bar. Even with the low lighting, his tall and lean frame is like home to me. I can spot him anywhere. I broke away from the line and headed to the bar. I immediately wrapped my arms around his waist in a hug. He turned around, surprised, but after a second, he was hugging me back.

"Hey Lilypad. Geez, you look good!" he grinned down at me.

"T-Rev!" I smiled back. "What happened to your hair man?" I said while rubbing his buzz cut. I knew Trevor cut his shaggy mop of curls; I just didn't realize how grown and sexy he looks now.

"I had to. Freakin' boy bands were jacking my style. Ruining my street cred"

I laughed. Trevor is the goofiest kid I ever met. The thought of him having street cred is ridiculous- maybe with the lollipop guild. "Did you lose all your strength?" I teased.

I shrieked as he lifted me by the waist and sat me down, still holding me. "What do you think?" He asked back, cocking an eyebrow at me.

"Good thing we lost that bet!" Sammy exclaimed from behind me before I could answer.

"What bet?" I asked, confused, turning away from Trevor.

"You don't remember Trevor? When you came back from Cali, we bet that you were going to gain all the weight back." Sammy answered, smiling sweetly.

I laughed off Sammy's comment. You have to have a sense of humor hanging with my friends. We joke about everything. I've been told I use it as a defense mechanism, but regardless, nothing was off limits, except for my weight. Just the mention of pounds or diets or elephants would completely shut me down. But not anymore; I'm comfortable with my body and food now, thanks, a lot, to Trevor. Trevor saw what state I was in when he came to visit me in California. I was depressed and turned to food again. I probably would have gained it back. I didn't take the bet offensively from him. I was sure Sammy's comment was just a testament to how good she thought I looked if she thought it was okay to joke about my weight.

Even after I laughed off the joke, Trevor glared at Sammy. The mood between them for the rest of the night was just weird. We joined our friends at the table. We all ordered cocktails (I got a mango caipirissima, It was dangerously good), and we snacked on tacos, fried plantains and ceviche. We were all laughing and catching up and, of course, joking with each other. Everytime Sammy would tease Trevor, he didn't respond. Trevor's wit is just as fast as Rocky's, his humor more corny than her biting style, but he literally ignored her. It made for a few awkward moments.

Awkward turned to hostile when we decided to hit the dance floor. The DJ was playing a mixture of pop and hip-hop from the 90s and 2000s. Trevor offered to hang out at the table with me. That's what the old self-conscious me would have done but I surprised him by wanting to dance too.

"Since when do you dance?" He asked, incredulously.

"I have moves you've never seen before." I smiled. winking at him playfully. 

The smile fell off his face when Sammy snorted, "I bet you do."

Trevor avoided her eyes before grabbing my hand. "Prove it" he said, pulling me up and leading me to the dance floor.

We spent the rest of the night dancing with everyone. It was a fun time, excluding Sammy and Trevor's behavior towards each other.


             ----------------                  


"Did something seem off about Sammy Friday night?" I asked Rocky today when I joined her on her lunch break at Braums, an Ice cream and dairy store/restaurant. I had one more week of freedom before I started working, and I was spending it gorging on food I missed in California. Yesterday it was Whataburger with Trevor. I asked him the same question, hoping to get some insight to what happened when they were hooking up. Typical guy, he had no idea what I was talking about.

Rocky scoffed over the table at me. "Yeah, but my lunch break is only an hour. Can you be more specific?"

I cocked my head at her. She and Sammy are cool at best. When I first started hanging with Sammy, Rocky didn't think much of her. She decided that Sammy wasn't on our level. I pointed out that might be important in a relationship, but not a friendship. She threatened if I kept up with that kind of thinking, I would be downgraded from her level.

"Her and Trevor..." I said, while digging into my birthday cake sundae.

"Yeah, I noticed that too. I'm pretty sure it had to do with the fact Trevor couldn't keep his eyes off you." Rocky said, matter of factly, while taking a bite of her black forest sundae.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. You know it's not like that."

"Maybe not for you." She countered.

"Ok. Even if it is, which I don't believe, why would Trevor be so defensive?"

"Besides the fact that he's trying to protect his precious Lilypad?" She teased me. I stuck out my ice cream covered tongue at her.

"Nasty!" She said, throwing a crumpled napkin at me. "But honestly, I don't know. Trevor wouldn't tell me what all happened, just that they weren't seeing each other anymore. When I tried to reach out to Sammy to get the information, she ignored me." Rocky finished, with a huff.

I could tell she was getting irritated. Rocky was used to getting her way, so not getting the information from Trevor probably annoyed her. Sammy blowing her off most likely infuriated her.

I changed the subject. "How about spicy lo mien for dinner tonight? Do you still have the recipe?"

"Yes, it was on Pinterest. If you just pick up the ingredients, I'll cook when I get home." She responded as we gathered up our trash to leave.

"You know I can cook. I don't mind." I said, throwing the trash away.

"I mind. I'm taking back my throne in the kitchen."

"It was one dinner" I laughed at her.

Brandon was bragging Friday night how he had the perfect set up. Trevor had joked that he always thought the two of us combined would make the perfect woman. Brandon countered that perfection was having us both.

"One Brandon can't shut up about." She countered as we reached our cars. "I'll send you a list of what I need. I'm gonna blow his mind tonight!" She schemed, smiling.

"Wouldn't it be easier to just, you know, blow him?" I joke.

"Oh, I'm doing that too..."

I groaned. "Ewww, t.m.i."

"You asked. Perfection, all in one woman" She announced, gesturing up and down her body. I laughed at her, before we got into our cars and head our separate ways.