On the Flip Side by Nikki Carter Page A

believe what I’m hearing. Sam dropped out of school? Why didn’t he tell me this before now?
    â€œAre you back in Atlanta then?” Dilly asks.
    â€œNah, I’m still in New York. Zac wants me there more than here, so I’m keeping my apartment there. Zac says I can just crash here when I’m in Atlanta.”
    Big D walks into the VIP area with Dreya on his arm. Somebody told them there was going to be a party. Dreya has on a black shorts jumpsuit that’s sheer at the top, and she’s wearing a red lace bra underneath. Her red heels look like they hurt, but they are no doubt the business. She’s got in a new weave too, but hers is a gigantic, red curly afro that’s pinned up on the sides. Her fire-engine-red lipstick is exactly the same shade as the hair.
    She is dressed to impress. I feel like I need to go and change.
    â€œHey, Sunday. I would congratulate you on your nomination, but since we’re competing for the same award, I’m just gonna say good luck.”
    I smile. “Well, I’m gonna be gracious and congratulate you, cousin. May the best chick win.”
    Dreya laughs out loud. “All right, Sunday. I see you.”
    Big D gives Sam a fist bump that turns into a hug and he kisses me on the cheek. “Y’all both are a sight for sore eyes. Sunday, you been ghost for a few days. We been missing you down at the studio.”
    I scrunch my eyebrows together. “I was just there a couple of nights ago.”
    â€œIt’s getting to be that we could use you there every day. Your touch is on just about everyone’s album coming out of this camp.”
    â€œIt is, but I’ve got school, so I can’t be there every day. You know that, D!”
    Big D gives me a look that I can’t decipher. It’s a mixture of puzzlement and irritation.
    â€œYou are still cool with me being in college, right? Seems like everybody is tripping on me being at Spelman all of a sudden.”
    â€œNah, I ain’t tripping,” Big D says. “But everybody’s money is riding on you.”
    Mystique interjects, as she air kisses Big D. “Everyone’s money is not riding on Sunday, Darius. We talked about this. Epsilon likes the fact that she’s in school. It’s positive publicity for the label.”
    Bethany comes into the VIP suite, and she looks totally different from the last time I saw her. She looks like she’s aged five years. Her long hair is flat-ironed pin straight, and she’s got a tattoo of some pattern going all the way down her arm to her hand. She’s also lost weight—at least twenty pounds. That badonkadonk she used to have has totally disappeared.
    â€œHey, everybody. Congratulations, everybody,” she says before sliding onto one of the couches. She seems totally out of it as she stares at Dilly. He fidgets uncomfortably, but doesn’t make an effort to go anywhere near Bethany.
    Zac’s assistant comes into the VIP suite and announces, “The Epsilon executives are ready to meet now.”
    We all file out of the room as if we’re on our way to see the President of the United States or something. I wonder if it’s going to be a good meeting. If the smile plastered on Mystique’s face is any indicator, I’m thinking we should be straight.
    There are two men and a woman already seated at the boardroom table when we walk in. I notice that the black guy with the crisp gray suit, pink tie, and huge diamond-encrusted watch is sitting at the head of the table. The power seat.
    Neither man stands up from the table as we enter, and I don’t care who they are, I think this is pretty rude. They must’ve been raised up north, because no Southern man would stay seated when women enter the room.
    â€œLook at Epsilon’s rising stars!” the guy with the diamond watch says. “Y’all so bright, I should’ve worn my Chanel shades. UV rays popping off