Page 8 of Pride High 2: Orange

"You allknowwho I’m voting for,” Anthony said. “I’ve gotta represent my best friend.”

“You mean Omar?” Ricky asked before grinning enthusiastically.

Mindy tensed. “What aboutmybest friend?”

“You can’t have one without the other these days,” Anthony replied.

“Then it sounds like we have our lucky winners,” Cameron said as he started the engine.

Soon the station wagon would be nearly as crowded as the house they pulled away from, but that was fine with Anthony. The quality of company made all the difference, and he couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather spend the holiday with than his friends.

CHAPTER 3

November 26th, 1992

Omar Jafari loved Thanksgiving so freaking much! He felt like a prince sitting at a long table covered in food, his extended family all around him. Everyone was dressed so sharply. Most of the women were wearing hijabs, including his mother Anja, who had beautiful arching eyebrows that made her look wise, like a queen presiding over her court. And next to her was his father the king, Yousef, whose bronze skin and thick black hair matched his own, despite being shorter and swept back. Omar sometimes hoped he would look like his dad when he grew up. Maybe not the stylish glasses and carefully trimmed goatee, but the man knew how to fill out a suit. The other guys at the table were dressed just as snazzily. Omar was wearing a black button-up shirt and a white tie that his mother had helped him knot.

They had already stuffed themselves but continued to chill around the table while snacking and sharing their news. Omar’s cousin was talking about the colleges he’d applied to, and even though it was way too early to have gotten results, he seemed to be building up to something major. Omar leaned to one side and grabbed the camcorder under his chair, hoping there was still room on the tape, because he’d already filmed a ton today.

“I only wanted to make a good impression, so they’d remember me when I sent in my application,” his cousin said, already beaming. “I never expected them to offer me a scholarship.”

The table erupted in surprised sounds before people began applauding.

“They recognized how much effort you’ve put into your academic career,” Omar’s uncle said proudly. “You’re exactly the kind of student they want, and they were smart enough to secure you now.”

“I’ve never heard of Chapel Hill,” Omar said from behind the camera. “It must be a good school though, right?”

“One of the best for pharmacology,” his cousin replied.

“Awesome, dude!” Omar enthused. “You’re the man!”

His cousin flashed a smile. “You should apply there too. We could share a dorm room.”

“That depends on what other programs they have,” Omar replied. “I’m way more into—”

He remembered who else was at the table, his arm jerking so the camera focused on his father, who was already smirking. “Girls?” Yousef asked.

Omar was thinking of the film industry. He lowered the camera and grinned. “I mean, you’re not wrong. Idohave news of my own.”

His relatives murmured in interest. They loved this kind of thing.

“Can I show them the photo?” his mother asked. Anja stood, not waiting for permission.

“Oh man,” Omar said, his cheeks flushing, but only because she had framed the photo, which seemed a bit much. Then again, Silvia might be her future daughter-in-law.

“Aren’t they beautiful?” Anja said when returning. She handed the photo to her sister, who said flattering things before passing it down the line.

“It’s nothing compared to a scholarship,” Omar said, giving his cousin a thumbs up. “Just imagine the babes of North Carolina!”

“Believe me, I have,” his cousin replied before withering under his mother’s intense stare.

“I’m very proud of you both,” their grandmother said. The framed photo had just reached her. Mamani only glanced at it before passing it along, because she had already met Silvia. “She’s a fine girl, and it’s a fine school. Good decisions lead to a happy life, as you are both learning.”

“Thanks, Mamani,” Omar and his cousin said in unison.

They laughed and the conversation moved on. When the framed photo reached him, he smiled at it before passing it down the row, remembering how epic his birthday had been. He was slow dancing with Silvia when they’d posed for the photo. Just seeing her, even in two dimensions, stirred serious feelings inside him. Silvia was such a cool chick! He could actually talk to her. And they had things in common, like their love for fishing, or hell, even crazy shows likeTwin Peaks.

Of course his birthday hadn’t been perfect. That was when they had found out Ricky was in the hospital. And at the end of the day, when almost everyone had gone home…