Chapter 2

Esined.

When the bell rung I left the classroom.

August was standing there just like he said he would be. "How was class?" He smiled.

"It was okay," I said. "I didn't actually think you'd be here like you said you would,"

"Why would you think that?"

"I don't know. You aren't messing with me, are you?"

"Whatchu mean?"

"Like, you aren't just trying to play me or nothing?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Look at you, then me," I said. "I mean, come on. People like me shouldn't even have the privilege of looking at someone like you,"

He stopped walking and stared at me. "You think I should only talk ta my social class?"

"It's where you fit in,"

"I don't like ta fit in,"

We continued to walk and I thought it was awkward.

"I can walk alone," I said. "You don't have to walk me to my class,"

"Nah, it's cool," he licked his lips.

"Aren't your friends gonna mess with you if they see us walking together?"

"I don't care what they think," he chuckled. "You shouldn't care eitha,"

"Hey, baby," Chantelle walked over to us.

"Esined, this is my girlfriend, Chantelle," August introduced us.

I felt a little saddened by the fact that he had a girlfriend, especially with her being his girlfriend. She's so opposite of him. I heard opposites attract though. I snapped back to reality, knowing he'd never date someone like me. Chantelle was just as wealthy as him, by the look of her clothes.

"Chantelle this is the new student he-"

"I met her earlier," she cut him off. "Why are you walking with her?"

"I'm helpin' her around the school,"

"You were assigned to?"

"No,"

"Then you don't have to walk her to class,"

"Watch the way you speak ta me. You don't control me. If I want ta walk her ta class, I will. I'm just bein' nice. You should try dat sometime,"

She folded her arms. "I'm your girlfriend. You should be walking me to class,"

"It's not dat deep,"

"It is. You never walk me to class," she poked out her bottom lip.

"I never walk you ta class? You trippin' ma,"

The way his tone with her was different than from his tone with me. His tone with me was more soft and gentle. He looked annoyed as soon as she walked over to us.

I began to walk away as they argued back and forth.

August had caught up with me when they were finished arguing. He grabbed my hand. "Esined,"

I snatched my hand away from him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean ta scare you. You okay?"

"I'm fine. I think it's best if we don't talk. I don't want to cause you any problems," I tried to walk away from him.

"It's not you. She's just controllin'," he said.

I just didn't want to be his friend or anything. He's being too nice and it makes me a little uncomfortable when people are too nice to me. I was getting mixed emotions from him. I didn't want him to be another person that came into my life and was just messing with me. That's how almost everyone I came across was. Be nice to my face and talk behind my back.

"Esined," he said.

I continued walking and he followed. "Can you stop following me please?"

"I'm not followin' you. We got the same class,"

"Oh, sorry," I mumbled, embarrassed by the fact that I assumed he was following me.

I was ready for this class to be over as soon as I walked in. Chantelle was in there and people were laughing when I walked in.

August had took his seat and shook hands with a boy.

"Whatchu doin' walkin' with that poor girl, bro?" The boy questioned him.

"Chill out," he said. "Don't talk about her like that,"

"Calm down bruh. I was just asking,"

"She has a name,"

"I ain't know it,"

August shook his head and Chantelle walked over to him. She looked at me and smiled before kissing him.

"Excuse me, Mr. Togel... Where do I sit?" I asked the teacher.

He looked up at me and smiled. Mr. Togel was a tall white man with dark hair and a nice beard. His teeth were straight and white. His biceps looked as if they'd bust his shirt open at any moment. His eyes were a sparkly blue. "Hi. Esined, correct?"

No one ever pronounces my name right on the first try, but he did.

I nodded, holding onto my books that were slipping. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to nod. Yes, sir. Esined is my name,"

"Nice accent," he complimented as he checked his clipboard. "I've never heard of a name like yours,"

"I haven't either,"

He chuckled, glancing up at me. "You okay?"

"Yes," truthfully, these books were heavy and my arms felt like noodles.

"You sit next to August,"

Great.

I walked to my seat quiet and awkwardly as people stared at me. I sat down and I could feel August looking at me. I ignored it and paid attention.

By time lunch came around, I discovered that I couldn't eat because I couldn't afford it.

August sat across from me and I stood up. "Sit down," he said.

I sat down and he stared at me. "What do you want?"

"How come you ain't eatin'?"

"Not hungry," I lied through my teeth. I know my stomach had growled at least ten times in class.

"Gotta eat somethin'. Lunch is actually good hea. Gotcha Subway, Taco Bell, and mo'. You want somethin'? I'll pay,"

"Why are you being nice to me?"

He smiled. "I'm just a nice guy,"

I looked off to the side and I could feel him staring at me. "Why are you always staring at me?"

He shrugged and bit into his sub. "Want some?"

"I ain't eatin' offa you," I covered my mouth. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound as rude as it did,"

"Damn," he laughed. "I ain't got no cooties or nun. It's cool ma,"

I looked down at my hands.

He pushed the other half of his sub over to me. "It's just a basic sub. You allergic to tomatoes?"

"No," I said quietly.

"Good. You can have that,"

"Thanks," I looked up at him.

August wiped his mouth with a napkin before smiling. "No problem,"

"What time is it?"

"Twelve-fifteen,"

"What time do we get out of school?"

"Two,"

I should be home by three-thirty then.

"Thanks,"

He nodded. "Lunch ova in fifteen,"

"Why aren't you sitting with your girlfriend?"

"She has first lunch," he shrugged. "I don't like sittin' with her anyway,"

"Why not?"

He gave me this look as if I should already know why. "She just... She's not the nicest,"

Trust me, I know.

I didn't know what to say back so I just looked down.

"You ain't gon' eat?"

I shook my head and pushed the sub back over to him. "Not hungry,"

"We just went from almost at step three back ta step one,"

"What do you mean?" I looked up at him.

"Step one wit me offerin' it ta you. Step two of you takin' it. Step three was s'pose ta be you eatin'," he chuckled. "I ain't bite off dat half,"

"I know. I just don't want it,"

"Just take it,"

"Are you seriously gonna force this on me?"

"If you take it, it'a make me feel betta," he chuckled.

"What? I'm too skinny or something?"

"You see me? I can't call nobody skinny," he laughed.

I looked at him.

He was rather skinny.

"We both skin and bones," he shrugged. "Nun wrong with dat,"

I looked down.

"I hope you ain't insecure about'cha size," he gave me this look when I looked up at him.

"No," I lied.

He stared at me and then the bell rang.

I was quick, but careful getting up so I wouldn't rip my jeans more. I rushed away from August.

I didn't want to be around him anymore. He was too nice and it was weird. No one is nice to me and I push away people that are too nice. It's strange.

I was laughed at most of the time during my classes and I was so happy when the last bell rung. I didn't care about walking. I just wanted to make it home on time.

I had been walking for about thirty minutes and a car drove slowly next to me. I picked up my speed and kept my head forward.

"Need a ride?" I heard August's voice.

"No. No thank you," I said politely.

Boy, he's weird.

"You sure?"

"I like walking," I glanced up at his car.

His car looked so expensive and brand new. I wish my Dad had that instead of that screeching, old, and loud Lauren. I don't know why he named his truck Lauren.

"How far do you have to walk?"

I shrugged.

I knew how far I had to walk, I just wasn't gonna tell him.

"You sure you don't want a ride? It seem like you gotta long way ta go,"

"I don't want a ride, August. Thank you," I said sternly.

"Alright. Be safe," he said. "I'll see you at school tomorrow,"

I waved and he drove off. Finally. I continued walking and when I got home I rushed in. I was twenty minutes late.

"Esined? Baby is that you?" My mama's sweet southern voice called.

"Yes, Mama. It's me," I said and went into the kitchen.

She was peeling potatoes. "How was school?"

"It was fine," I smiled at her.

I adored my mama. Her beautiful brown skin and her brown eyes to match. Her long, curly, 4a hair pulled up into a bun. Her lips matched her face. They were plump and pink.

"Mama, you're so pretty," I told her.

She smiled. "Thank you. You're beautiful my baby," she said. "Anyone pick on you at school?"

I thought about lying to her, but I decided against it.

"Yeah,"

She looked at me. "What did they say?" She began to soak the potatoes.

"Just talked about my clothes. That's all,"

"You gotta stick up for yourself, okay? Mama ain't gon' always be there to fight off them bullies,"

"I know, mama. This boy and girl stood up for me. And my teacher kicked the person who was being mean to me out of class,"

"Who stood up for you?"

"This boy named August and this girl named Viola. Viola got kicked out for standing up for me and the teacher laughed at me,"

"Your teacher laughed at you? Do I need to come up there?"

I shook my head. "No mama. I'll be fine,"

"You ignore them people, okay?"

"Okay,"

"Come on and help mama cook," she smiled. She kissed my forehead and I washed my hands before helping her.

"When's Dad coming back?"

"Soon," she sighed.

"Mama..." I said.

"Yes?"

"That boy offered to buy me lunch,"

"And what'd you say to him?"

"I told him no thanks,"

"Did he want anything in return? Like a sexual favor or anything?"

"Ew. No,"

"I think you should let him get you lunch,"

"Dad's gon' hit me,"

"No he won't. Not if he doesn't know," she gave me a smile.

"I'on like goin' behind Dad's back. He always finds out when I do bad,"

"He ain't gonna find out about this. Baby, if you're hungry and a boy is offering you some food, take it. Y'know we ain't got nothin' here,"

"What about you, Mama? I don't wanna eat while y'all starvin',"

"Oh baby, we'll be fine. Accept his offer next time,"

It was quiet for a while.

"I still need that tape on my shoe," I mumbled, causing us both to laugh.

"Guess what I did?" She smiled.

"What'd you do Mama?"

"I got the bills paid and I gotchu something," she turned and picked up a box from under the table. She sat it on the table and smiled. "Go on, open it," she smiled big.

I opened up the box and there were a pair of shoes in there.

These shoes were new with nothing wrong with them. No holes, no tape, and they had shoelaces.

I hugged her tightly and I tried to hold back my tears. "Thank you, Mama," I kissed her cheek.

"Bet them kids won't be talkin' 'bout my baby shoes tomorrow," she said proudly. "And that ain't all I gotcha,"

"There's more? Mama these shoes are more than enough," I tried them on and they fit perfectly.

"I gotchu some jeans with a belt," she said.

"Mama, how are you affording all of this?"

"Mama got her ways. Talked to the landlord and he felt bad. He paid our bills himself and told me his daughter had some new things she didn't want. He said she was about your size. And he's bringing more stuff before ya dad gets home. You don't mind the hand-me-downs, do you?"

"I don't. Thank you so much, Mama," I hugged her again. "What are we gonna tell Dad when he seems me in my new stuff?"

"Imma tell'em we had leftovers from the check,"

"Okay," I couldn't stop hugging her. "I love you so much,"

"I love you too, baby," she hugged me back.

-

That was the end of chapter two. How are y'all liking it so far?

Excuse typos please.

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Much love, Shia. Xoxo.