Read Online On the Flip Side by Nikki Carter - Free Book Online Page B

that I see him, and I can tell that he really cares about me, I think maybe I can forget about it all.
    Maybe.
    As long as he doesn’t do any other stupid things.

8

    N ewcomer Sunday Tolliver continues to impress with each single off her album. “The Highlight” is her first ballad to get radio play and it truly displays her vocal gifts. The song left me with chills, and I don’t get chills easily. I’m looking forward to the video, which, I’m told, was filmed at Zillionaire’s Atlanta mansion to accommodate Sunday’s full-time schedule as a freshman at Spelman. With yet another reality show about to debut, and an album full of single-worthy hits, is there any way Sunday can top her success? Award season is coming up. Expect to see Sunday represented heavily at the AMAs, the Grammys, and the VMAs.
    Oh, and by the way, her new single debuted at number one on the Billboard Pop and R & B charts. Sunday Tolliver seems unstoppable.

    â€œThe blogs just love you, don’t they?” Piper asks as she finishes reading the Sandra Rose post about me.
    I finish folding the last of my laundry and put it in my dresser drawers while I ponder an answer to this question. The blogs do seem to love me—now. But I know that could change in an instant. All I have to do is say one wrong thing to a fan on a bad day, or cross paths with a person who has something to gain by dissing me. It’s a scary place to be. Mystique tells me to live in the moment. She says if I worry about what could happen, then I’ll never enjoy what’s actually happening.
    â€œI just take it for what it is,” I reply. “Free publicity for the record. The single making it to number one is important to me, because that means ring-tone money and downloads on iTunes and Amazon.com .”
    Piper stretches out on my bed and continues to play with her phone. “Girl, I wish I had a talent that could make me lots of money. Then, I wouldn’t have to worry about all this financial aid and what not. I’m only in school now because my foster parents pulled some strings. I don’t know what I’m going to do at the end of the semester.”
    â€œWhat’s the problem?”
    â€œTechnically, I can’t be listed on my financial aid paperwork as an independent adult, because I’m not twenty-three. I have no idea where my mother is to get her to sign off on anything. My foster mom is trying to talk to the financial office to get a waiver for me, but they may not be able to do it by the end of the semester.”
    â€œSo you might miss half of the year?”
    Piper nods. “I should be able to come back next year, but it would really annoy me if I got behind in my studies just because my mom is holed up in a crack house somewhere.”
    Long pause, because I have no idea how to respond to this. I couldn’t imagine what I’d do or how I’d be if my mom was a drug addict. Piper even being in college is probably incredible. I bet no one thought she’d make it this far.
    â€œDid you talk to them about work study? I think Gia is supposed to be doing that next year.”
    â€œI did speak with them about that, but work study is a part of the financial aid program. I can’t do any of that until I’ve got all the forms completed. But I’m not gonna worry about it now. My foster parents paid half of my tuition this semester and got me a scholarship for the other half from Gamma Phi Gamma.”
    â€œMaybe you do have a talent that can make money. Your nails always look really good. Do you do them yourself?”
    Piper looks down at her set of acrylics. “Yes, I do them myself. I used to charge girls in the foster home, for little designs and stuff. I also do tattoos, but I probably wouldn’t be able to do that on campus.”
    â€œUm, no to the tats, but yes to the nails! Mostly everyone on campus is half broke. How much would you charge to do a full