Chapter 1: Get Ready

3 Years Later...

July 4th,2013, 11:23am

Cleo's Crib.

Cleopatra

I squinted my eyes and moaned from the tapping California sunlight against my face. Thoughts instantly bit at my brain of my birthday bash. Tonight ya girl turning the big 21 y'all! I'm too excited! Finally I’ll be old enough to get into the club. Yessss! I don't know what ol’ crazy Kandice got in store because she’s the type of friend that goes all out. She will buy you an elephant and say Happy Birthday just to say she did it; you just never know with her. Good thing I scheduled off from work. Shoot, I did that two weeks prior. Oh before I forget, yes I am a baby that was painted with my red, white and blue stripes at birth. Shout-out to all the Independence Day babies out there.

My phone was singing out sweet melodies by my baby Jacquees. Me, U and Hennessy filled the air indicating that I had text messages and social media notifications. I clicked on my messages. There were three from my migga, jigga nigga Kandice, one from my brother Josh and a few more from other people. Then I went to my Instagram and my notifications were on fye. I had 1,000 happy birthday shout-outs and one was from nobody other than Messiah!

I read it out loud to myself. @Qveen_Cleopatra Happy 21st birthday bby girl. I can not believe we went so long without seeing each other. I remember you was the quiet girl in the back of the class with braces and binoculars. Lol look at chu, a beautiful woman!! I hope you enjoy it, and in fact, I know you will. I'll be seeing you beautiful! <3 P.S. you will always be my little nerd. :).

OH MY FREAKING GOSH! Messiah! I haven't seen him in ages. I had a mega-crush on him ever since we were shorties on the sidewalk eating seeds and pickles together. I remember the first day we had officially met.