Chapter 18

1 Week Later, August

Here I was, back in school. I didn't mind comin' back, but I was bothered. I felt like everyone was looking at me differently. I went ta my locker, walkin' by Esined, who was wit Keenon.

He was holdin' her books and they were laughin'.

She doesn't even wanna be friends wit me, but they actin' like besties. Must be nice.

I looked up and Viola was approachin' me. I sighed, gettin' ready ta deal wit her.

"Um," she started off.

"If you tryna tell me how much you hate me some mo', just leave me alone," I said.

"No. I was going to tell you that I'm proud of you..."

"Fa what?"

"Standing up for yourself. I knew you had it in you, Aug. I knew you'd see the light one day,"

I looked at her and shook my head. "Why are you talkin' ta me like we just supposed ta be best friends again? Gone somewhea wit allat, V. I'm not wit it,"

"Who said I would ever want to be your best friend again?" she laughed. "You'd be out of your damn mind. You decided where our friendship stood when you started dating Chantelle knowing that-"

"Shut up," I sighed.

I was tryin' my best ta be rude ta Viola. Truthfully, after not speakin' ta her fa three years, I missed her. I felt stupid fa choosin' Chantelle ova my twelve year friendship wit Viola.

"You shut up,"

I looked up and saw a smile on her face. I shook my head at her before pretendin' ta look fa somethin' in my locker.

"You know I meant it when I said I wouldn't talk to you again until you broke up with her, Nola,"

I tried ta refrain from smilin'.

Viola always called me Nola instead of my name when we were friends. Simply because dats whea I'm from and my accent is thick. I called her Brooklyn sometimes because dats whea she's from.

"Whateva, Brooklyn," I said, not bein' able ta pretend angry wit her.

"I knew you missed me," she teased. "I can't believe you stayed with her for almost two years. You dirty for that,"

I started laughin'. "You dirty fa-"

"Uh-Uh! Don't remind me of that," she raised her hand, silencin' me.

"You was gon' say it, why can't I?"

She cringed at the thought of it. "Because,"

"You did it,"

"Nola, shut up," she laughed.

I chuckled and looked at her. "We good?" I held out my hand.

"No. I still hate yo ass," she joked before we did our handshake that we made up in elementary school. "You too bougie for the last part now?"

"You ain't 'bout ta scuff my Giuseppe's, plus I ain't 'bout ta do the damn Kid N' Play routine witcho ass in dis hallway,"

We both started laughin'. "Bougie," we said togetha.

I closed my locker. Viola and I began ta walk togetha down the hall.

I looked up and saw Esined walkin' with Keenon. "I'm surprised you ain't runnin' ova dea ta break them apart," I chuckled.

"I warned her," she said.

I continued ta stare at Esined and Keenon.

"If you want the plug, let me know," Viola mumbled, noticing I was starin'.

"I don't,"

"Why not?"

"I'on like her like dat and I'm done wit relationships. You know what you can do doe?"

"What's that?"

"Get her ta be cool wit me,"

"For what?"

"Why you gotta know allat? Just get us ta be friends,"

"I swear if you're trying-"

"I'm just curious 'bout her. Dats all,"

"Curious for what?"

"She's mysterious,"

"You are so nosey,"

"Bro, just do it. Please,"

"Fine. Sit with us at lunch,"

"Aiight," I said.

"How Mel doin'?" Viola smiled.

"Aren't you a lesbian?"

"Chill,"

I started laughin'. "He good. Still got kids,"

"I'd be a good step-mom,"

"Chandra," I said.

"I'm just saying. Your brother is the only guy I've ever had a crush on," she started laughin'.

"Stop bein' weird,"

"Don't tell me to stop being myself,"

I started laughin'. "Brooklyn, go ta class, bro,"

"You go to class Nola,"

"You just walked wit me ta my class," I said.

The second bell rung and she looked alert.

"Damn. Imma be late, might as well be hella late and go to the vending machine," she shrugged. "See you later, bro,"

"See ya," I waved and she walked away.

I really missed her being my friend, my best friend at dat. I was glad dat we were good again.

I sat in class quietly and Esined came in.

She sat beside me and I tried not ta look at her.

I ended up lookin' and I knew she could feel me starin' at her. I didn't care eitha. I don't look away when people catch me starin'.

Esined glanced at me and continued ta write notes.

She seemed different. She seemed happy and I usually get this sad vibe from her.

Most of my classes were okay and when lunch had came around, I had ta find Viola. When I found her, she showed me where we were sittin'.

"Hey," I said to everyone at the table.

"Hey," they all said back.

Esined came ova wit Viola and they sat down.

"You've met August, right?" Viola asked Esined.

"Yeah," Esined said, lookin' at me. "I thought you didn't like him," she whispered, but I heard her.

"We're good now," she gave me a smile. "Are you and August cool?"

I was listening ta their conversation without seemin' like I was.

"We don't talk,"

"Why not? August is cool,"

"I don't know,"

"Trust me. Aug isn't a bad guy. Give him a chance," Viola smiled.

"I feel like I've been mean to him too much to just start being nice to him,"

"He's forgiving,"

Esined glanced at me and I quickly tried ta pretend I wasn't listenin'.

"Maybe I'll apologize for my rudeness and try to be his friend,"

"I think he'd like that,"

There was an awkward silence between them.

"You should do that now," Viola said.

"Now?" Esined asked.

Viola nodded before lookin' at me.

I looked up and Esined had moved ta sit in front of me. "Hey," I said.

"Hi, August," she said. "I just wanted to apologize for how rude-"

"You don't have to apologize. It's good," I smiled.

She looked up at me and gave me a small smile.

I looked up and Keenon was walkin' up ta us.

"Hey," he kissed her cheek.

"Hi," she smiled.

He gave me a head nod and I gave one back.

I was hopin' he wasn't tryna sit ova hea. Not dat I ain't like him or nothin', but I was tryna talk ta her and find out some stuff.

"I just bame to say hi and make sure you gotchu somethin' to eat, that's all. I'm sittin' wit my boys today. You good with that?"

Did he just say bame? I knew he was a blood.

"Yeah. That's okay," she looked up at him.

"Aiight. I'll see you after,"

"Okay," she smiled again before he left.

I sipped my water as he walked away. "Dats yo boyfriend?"

"Just friends," she said.

I nodded. "Can I ask why you didn't want ta be friends wit me at first?"

"I thought I told you why," she said, but there was no attitude in her voice. "My dad doesn't like people, especially boys around me,"

I nodded, understandin', but at the same time, I didn't.

Her father can't control who she's around. What was her sudden change fa? I wondered if she tryna rebel against her father or just stopped carin' ta respect his wishes of her stayin' away from guys.

When the bell rang, we stood up. Keenon showed up like he said he would and Esined said goodbye ta me.

I waved and kept walkin' ta my next class.

"How'd it go?" Viola came up besides me.

"We good so far. Thanks," I said.

"Good. Let me know when you want the plug,"

"Bro," I started laughin'. "I don't want the plug. Besides, if I wanted it, I would have been got it," I said, becomin' slightly conceited.

What girl in dis school didn't want or wanted me before?

"How? She wasn't even tryna associate with you," Viola laughed.

I smacked my teeth. "It was 'cause of her dad. She woulda already been cool wit me if it wasn't fa him,"

"Is dat right?" she mimicked my voice.

"Dats right,"

"Bet,"

"Bet because dats what she told me a few minutes ago," I chuckled. "Bye,"

"Bye," she laughed and I walked into my class.

I sat down and Chantelle walked in. I studied her. It was obvious that Ms. Brown had smacked her up. Her lip was busted and she had a lump on her forehead. She looked like how she was befo' I got wit her. Broke and bummy. I assumed that Ms. Brown took her clothes that I bought her away from her. Damn.

She realized dat her seat was behind mine and requested fa it ta be moved.

Good. I didn't want her next ta me anyway.

She went ta sit down in the front of the class. She sat down slowly and seemed relieved when she finally did. She got her ass whooped.

I know dat slow sit down far too well.

Class went by and I was just done wit today. I'm ready ta go home and I had one mo class ta go.

Luckily, dat class seemed ta zoom by. I grabbed my bag and left the classroom. I made sure I didn't have homework before leavin' straight out of the school. I went ta my car and got in. I started it up after puttin' on my seatbelt. I drove home and went into the house. I went straight ta Mel's room.

"Guess what?" I danced a lil.

"Please stop dancin'. You makin' my eyes hurt," he said as he played a video game. "And what?"

I chuckled. "Guess who I talked to today?"

"Who?"

"Esined,"

"AKA Denise," he said.

"Shut up," I laughed.

"You a lil hype, considerin' that you claim you don't like her,"

"I don't,"

"Lies,"

"I'm serious. You and Viola sayin' the same thing,"

"I ain't heard dat name in a while. How my lil boo doin'?"

"Well, we good now and she actually asked about'chu today. You'll be seein' her around again,"

"Is dat right?"

"Yup,"

"Good. I missed y'all bein' cool,"

"Me too,"

"I know. So what does this Denise girl look like?"

I shook my head. "Beautiful," I didn't know ta really describe her. "Real nice and long hair, down her back. Her smile makes me wanna make her smile all the time. She's the perfect height. She's has the cutest nose. Her skin looks so soft. She's mad skinny, but she look good. Sh-"

"And you don't like her?"

"I don't," I was startin' ta think I was lyin' ta myself too. "Maybe I'm feelin' her a lil. I'm just attracted ta her looks right now, honestly,"

"Not her personality?"

"I don't know her enough ta like her personality,"

"Well, what is she like? How does her voice sound?"

"She's really polite. She's got dis soft spoken voice like she's afraid ta speak. She's country. She's from Texas,"

"A lil Texas shawty," he smirked. "Betta get her bro,"

I shook my head. "Keenon already got her. Besides, I don't want ta be wit nobody. I ain't wit relationships no mo',"

"Eh. Shut dat shit up,"

"I'm serious. I ain't playin' wit love. It's not fa me,"

"You'll change your mind,"

"No I won't. I'm curvin' every chick dat try ta get wit me,"

"You can only curve girls fa so long. When winter and fall hit, you gon' want somebody ta love and spoil,"

"Nah. Mo' money in my pockets, plus I got family. Dats all I need,"

"We can't netflix and chill wit you doe. Getchu a girl, man,"

"No. I don't need dat anyway,"

"Lyin',"

"I'm not lyin',"

"Whateva. Just like you said you ain't like Denise,"

"Her name is Esined," I sighed.

My phone vibrated and I took it out.

"What's poppin', Brooklyn?" I answered.

"Can I come over?" she sniffed.

"Of course. You know where I stay. You need me ta come getchu?"

"Nah. I'll drive," she sighed. "I'm on my way,"

Her voice sounded so drained and sad. It bothered me dat she was cryin', I could hear it in her voice.

"Who was dat?" Mel asked.

"V,"

"My lil girlfriend comin' ova. Ooowee," he danced a lil.

I chuckled. "Chill out. She's not in a good mood,"

"What's wrong wit my baybeh?" he frowned.

"I don't know yet,"

I chilled wit Mel until the doorbell rang. I stood up and went downstairs. I went ta the livin' room and opened the door.

Viola was sniffin' and tryna get herself togetha before she spoke. "Thanks for letting me come over,"

I closed the door after she came in. I opened my arms and she hugged me tightly.

"C'mon. You wanna see Mel?"

She nodded.

We went up ta Mel's room and he hugged her immediately.

"What's wrong lil baybeh?" he rubbed her back.

"My guardians," she said. She sat in the middle of us and Mel began ta roll a blunt.

He swear weed and a good conversation can solve everything.

"What they do?" I asked.

"Put me out,"

"Fa what?"

"For being gay,"

"I thought they already knew,"

She looked at me and sighed. "They did, but they swore it was just a phase. When they found out, they tried to get me a boyfriend that whole year..."

I shook my head. "Why do parents do dat? Dats stupid,"

"They aren't my parents. I can't wait until I turn eighteen. I'll be out of the system and I'll be done with them. You know what they told me when I said I had a girlfriend?"

I looked at her. "What they say?"

"They said they wish they'd never adopted me. They said my mom didn't want me because she knew I was gay," she broke down into tears. "They said they should have sent me back to foster care when they had the chance. That if they'd known I was like this, they would have picked a different child,"

I rubbed her back.

"It hurts so bad to know that I'll never be accepted in this world, especially by people who were supposed to love me. Who adopts a child and abuses them?" she shook her head. "I bet being with my crackhead, prostitute of a mother would have been better than being with them,"

I gave her some tissues and she blew her nose. "Did anything else happen when you told them you had a girlfriend? How did you tell them?"

"We were having dinner and I told them that I wanted to tell them something. I said that I was dating someone and they were so happy," a tear fell down her cheek. "They said 'What's his name?' and their smiles dropped when I said 'her name is Porscha'... Carla said 'That's a weird name for a boy' and they began to laugh..." she sniffed, ready ta cry again. "I told them 'Porscha is a girl...' and they just stared at me before telling Mira to go to her room,"

"Cedric held me down and Carla threw holy water on me while they read scriptures from the bible. Leviticus 20:13 and 18:22. Romans 1:26-27... They told me God would never love me because I'm gay. They said that I was going to hell,"

"That's not right," I shook my head.

"I said that Christians shouldn't judge others' sins because that's a sin. She said that being gay was the biggest sin. I said that sins didn't have an order. I also said that Cedric having an affair with the neighbor next door for five years must have been close of a sin to being gay then I quoted the bible about cheating,"

"How did they respond ta dat?" Mel asked as he started the blunt.

We started the rotation with him passin' it ta me. I passed it ta Viola and she passed it ta Mel before she spoke again.

"He slapped me and told me to get out... He gave me thirty minutes to pack my stuff and leave," She sniffed. "I don't have anywhere to stay,"

"You can stay hea," Mel said. "We all love you and we won't judge you,"

"Really?"

He nodded. "You ain't gotta go back there,"

"Thank you,"

"You always welcome hea,"

"I really appreciate it,"

"C'mon. We gon' go getcho stuff," I said.

I felt horrible dat she had been through dat within only hours of bein' home. I knew that her adopted parents, Cedric and Carla, weren't the best, but I didn't think they'd be like this. Especially ta go as far as puttin' their hands on her and kickin' her out. It made me curious of what other things they'd done ta her.

-hey. I kinda wrote that to give y'all more info on Viola. I've spilled some tea about her.

do y'all remember a few chapters ago when Viola got uncomfortable talking to Esined about her parents? that's why. it's because she's adopted and they don't get along.

I hope y'all caught that big ol hint I dropped in the chapter lol. all this tea is going to turn into Hennessy and 1800 real quick. did y'all? just say yes or no, don't say nothing about it lmao.

random questions; how old do y'all think I am?

do y'all actually think about how weird smirking is? like how do you even smirk? my smirks come out as a creepy grin lol!

did y'all enjoy this chapter?

thoughts on Mel?

thoughts on Viola?

thoughts on her situation?

comments & votes are appreciated.

much love, Shia. xoxo.