Free Time to Shine by Nikki Carter

with us, because I didn’t have my own space. I never once thought about how they felt having to live with us.
    â€œDreya, my mother would’ve never let y’all go without.”
    â€œI know, but I wanted her to be my mother. I wished like crazy that Auntie Shawn would just adopt me. My mom just wanted to have fun, and she still does. That gets old.”
    I inhale a deep breath and then release it. “So, I guess I have to forgive you, huh?”
    Dreya bursts into laughter. “I mean, it would probably be the right thing to do. I am your only girl cousin.”
    â€œI’ll think about it.”
    â€œWow, Sunday. I see why Sam can’t get back with you. You are hardcore.”
    I chuckle. “No, Sam can’t get back with me because he’s scum. But, I’m done thinking about forgiving you. I forgive you, girl.”
    â€œYou do?”
    I nod and give her a small hug. “That’s how Tollivers roll.”
    â€œAnd you know this!” Dreya says with one hand in the air. “So now that we have that out of the way, what are you wearing to the Grammys?”
    â€œI don’t even know. Haven’t had time to think about it.” This I can answer honestly, because it is the truth.
    â€œI’ll have Evan send a designer to the Spelman campus. You need to look good representing Reign Records.”
    â€œNo, ma’am. I don’t even think so. I will go to the mall and find something. I’m not buying any thousand-dollar gowns.”
    Dreya laughs. “I don’t pay for anything anymore! The designers want us to wear their stuff to the awards shows. As long as you remember to say their name on the red carpet. Trust me, I know how stingy you are with your money. I wouldn’t even suggest it if it wasn’t free.”
    â€œOh, okay. Text me a time and date then, and it’s on.”
    â€œOkay.”
    I pick up my backpack and sling it over my shoulder. “I’ve got to go and write this paper, Dreya. For real.”
    â€œDid you ever think of hiring someone to do that for you?”
    I look at her like she’s lost her mind. “What? My homework? No. That’s called cheating.”
    â€œOh, come on! It’s just a homework assignment. You’re going to take the exams, right? It’s like when we used to work together on our assignments. You could just have a study buddy . . . who writes papers.”
    â€œGirl, let me get away from you before I change my mind about forgiving you.”
    Dreya laughs out loud. “I’m just trying to help you out!”
    â€œYou’re trying to make sure I have time to work on your album.”
    â€œThat too, but you are definitely stressed to the limit. I don’t want to see you burn out, cuzzo.”
    â€œLet me be the one to worry about my stress level, okay? I’m straight.”
    â€œYou’re saying that now. But if you keep writing hit songs, you won’t need a law degree or a degree in anything for that matter. You could just live life, and live it up.”
    â€œI’m out, Dreya.” I take the stairs like Sam, two at a time.
    I think I’m done trying to convince everyone about my choices for my life. I want to enjoy college, and not just get a degree. I want to do music that I feel deep down in my soul. And, I want to have study dates with cute guys.
    I just hope that I can have it all without losing myself in the process.

8
    I just got my paper back from composition class. Another C. I slump down in my chair, totally feeling dejected.
    Gia pokes me in the side. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œI got a C on my paper.”
    â€œOh.”
    I watch Gia try to stealthily slip her paper in her binder without me seeing the gigantic A+ on top of it. I’m so not used to being average. I’ve always been stellar in everything I do, so I can’t get with these middle-of-the-road grades.
    Professor Due gives us yet another