Chapter 3

Esined.

"This is just some stuff," our landlord, Russell, said. He looked at me. "Do you like it?"

I nodded.

Russell was bringing over his daughters' clothes for me to wear.

"I've got more pairs of shoes from her too. She's off to college and she left everything she didn't want behind. You are free to come over and get whatever you want from her room,"

"Thank you," I smiled.

He smiled back. "No problem. I'll see y'all later,"

"Bye," we waved.

I hugged my mama and kissed her cheek. "Thank you,"

"Anything for my baby,"

I was in my room, writing and my dad stood at my door.

"Hi, Dad," I looked up at him and gave him a smile.

"What's this?" He questioned, showing me a card in his hand.

"A card," I said, continuing to write after glancing up at him.

"Look at me when I'm talkin' to you,"

I sat down my notebook and looked up at him.

"Why did I find this in your jean pocket, Ned?" He stood up straight and walked up to me.

I cleared my throat. "This girl gave it to me,"

He reached down and snatched me up from my mattress. "You tellin' our business again?!" He raised his voice.

"No," I shook my head quickly.

"Then why she give you this damn card?"

"I don't know,"

He stared at me. "You were runnin' your damn mouth again!"

"I wasn't!" I cried.

"Who the hell you think you yellin' at?" He shook me.

I stayed silent.

He stared at me before dropping me. "Ain't even gonna waste my time on your stupid ass tonight," he gave me a dirty look. "Go to bed and be up early tomorrow," he left my room.

I rubbed shoulders and sniffed. A few tears fell down my cheeks and I laid down on my mattress. My tears fell onto my paper. I wiped my tear stained cheeks and put my head down. I went to sleep like he told me to.

"Wake up," today it wasn't my mama's beautiful voice waking me up. It was my dad's cruel and rough voice.

I sat up and began to get up. I guess I was moving too slow because he snatched me up and pushed me to the door.

"Hurry the fuck up!" He snapped.

"Sorry," I mumbled and went to the bathroom. I took a quick shower and dried off.

My mama came into the bathroom and gave me an outfit that I had got yesterday. I put on my shoes and went to sit at the table. I stared at my mama as she cut me up an apple.

She was so beautiful. I wish I looked like her. I wished I was as dark as her so I didn't have my skin to remind me that I had much of my white father in my skin. I was sketching a picture of her.

"What's all this new shit you got on?" Dad asked me.

I stayed silent as I closed my notebook.

"Ain't I talkin' to you?" He pushed my head.

I looked up at him.

"I told you where she got the clothes from," Mama said.

"I asked you?"

"Eric,"

"Eiram, shut up," he said.

She stayed silent.

"Where you get all this stuff from?" He asked me, staring at me.

I glanced at my mama and she mouthed Leftovers from check.

"Mama said there was leftovers from the check,"

"Mhm," he sat down.

I opened up my notebook and began to sketch out my mama again. I was erasing a mistake I made when my dad spoke up.

"I'm tryna eat and you gon' getcha fuckin' eraser pieces in my food. Stop writing and drawing at the damn table," he took my pencil from me.

I kept my head down as he stared at me. I closed my notebook and stared at the cover of it.

My mama put my apple that she cut up in front of me.

"Thank you," I began to eat it.

"I don't know why you still cut up her food," my dad said.

"I don't know why you feel the need to comment on everything," she mumbled.

He stood up, towering over her. There was a long pause before he slapped her to the ground. "You watch yo mouth when you talkin' to me!"

She held her face and looked up at him as she backed away.

"You heard me?"

She nodded quickly. "I'm sorry,"

"C'mon Ned," he said, leaving the kitchen.

I stood up and went to help her up. "You okay, Mama?"

"I'm fine baby," she pressed her tongue at her cheek. "Have a good day at school, okay?" She smiled, trying not to cry in front of me.

"I love you, Mama,"

"I love you too,"

I hugged her and kissed her cheek.

She kissed mines back and patted my butt. "Go on now,"

I left the house and went to get into the truck with my dad.

As always, he had a cigarette pinched between his lips and his white hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.

The ride was silent and awkward.

"I'm picking you up today," he told me when he pulled up in front of the school.

"Okay," I said.

"Go on and get to class,"

I got out the truck and closed the door. I went up to the door and showed the security guards my ID. I was let in and I went to my home room.

August walked in and sat next to me. "Hey," he smiled.

"Hi," I mumbled.

"You look nice,"

I've never heard that being said to me before and it gave me this weird feeling in my stomach to hear it said. I'm not sure if it's just because he said it or not.

"Thank you,"

"How come you never look at me when we talk?" He chuckled.

I shrugged. "I don't know. Just awkward,"

"Whatchu drawin'?" He leaned a little to look.

"My mama," I said, closing my notebook.

"Why you close it?"

"I don't like people lookin',"

"My bad," he said. "I draw too. Maybe we can draw togetha one day?"

"I doubt it,"

"Why not?"

"I can't be around boys like that,"

"I ain't tryna be yo man. I'm just tryna be friends," he laughed.

"My dad doesn't like me havin' friends,"

"Even girls?"

I shook my head. "He doesn't like people,"

"So you ain't got no friends?"

"No,"

It was true. I didn't have any friends. I only talked to my mama.

"C'mon. Everybody got a friend or a best friend,"

"I guess I ain't everybody,"

"I'm yo friend,"

"No you ain't,"

"What? You don't wanna be friends?"

"No,"

"Damn," he laughed. "Why not?"

"I just don't wanna be friends... I don't have to explain myself to you," I mumbled the end.

"You right," he glanced at me. "I ain't gon' force a friendship on you. Just know, if you need a friend... I'm hea', aiight?"

I nodded and opened my notebook back up. When he stopped staring at me, I started drawing again.

My classes with August seemed to go so slow. I was irritated because he kept on looking at me. I'd look up and he'd be staring at me. I just wanted to know why he kept on looking at me.

I was about to tap his shoulder, but I pulled my hand back. I turned and walked in the other direction. I bumped into a girl and fell to the floor immediately.

"I-I'm-" I started to stand and she pushed me back down.

"Awe. You got new clothes," Chantelle teased. "You think you cute now?"

Her friends laughed.

I shook my head no.

"Let me tell you something," she said, becoming serious. "Stay away from my boyfriend, okay? Because I'm getting real tired of seeing y'all around each other,"

"He's trying to be my friend, so I think you should address him about that," I stood and dusted myself off.

"He doesn't want to be friends with yo poor ass," she laughed.

"Listen, I don't want any trouble and I don't want your boyfriend,"

"No, you listen. If I see y'all together again, we're gonna have problems, Brokey," she smiled.

"Tell him to stay away from me,"

Chantelle grabbed me by my shirt and yanked me towards her.

"Chan, not today girl," her friends got her off of me.

I fixed my shirt and she smiled.

"C'mon," her friends said.

They began to walk away and Chantelle bumped my shoulder roughly.

I hate this school already.

"You aiight?" A boys voice asked me.

I looked up and saw a tall black boy. I hated to stereotype people, but I just knew he was in a gang. All those tattoos and all that red he had on.

"I'm fine. Thank you,"

"Damn," he chuckled.

"What?"

"That accent, baby,"

"What about it?"

"I like it," he gave me a smile.

"Thank you,"

"I'm Keenon," he put out his hand.

"Esined," I shook his hand.

"I ain't heard no name like that befo',"

"Me neither,"

"You cute,"

I looked at him then looked down. I knew I was blushing. "Thank you," I mumbled.

"You gotta number or something?"

"I don't. Sorry,"

"For real?"

"I don't have a phone," I glanced up at him.

"Damn," he said. He licked his lips and looked at me. "Well uh... I guess I'll see you around," he smiled.

"Okay," I said shyly.

He walked away and went into the senior hall.

I went to my next class and August's friend was sitting on my desk. I walked over with a sanitized wipe.

"Excuse me," I said quietly.

August hit his friends leg and he got off of my desk.

I wiped my desk before sitting down.

"Bro, she tryna say yo ass dirty," a boy said, causing everyone to laugh.

"Damn. That's how you feel, lil mama?" His friend asked me while laughing.

"N-No," I said. "I was just wiping it off, that's all,"

"She does that everyday," August said, chuckling.

"Oh, I was just askin'," his friend gave me a smile.

I took my seat and looked up.

Mr. Togel came into the classroom with a smile on his face. "Hello class," he said.

Everyone said hello back to him and all I could do is stare at him. Mr. Togel was a very nice looking man.

He explained today's lesson and began to pass out the worksheets for them.

"Hi, Esined," he gave me a smile.

"Hi, Mr. Togel," I said.

"Am I going to get a smile out of you today?"

I shrugged shyly. "I don't know,"

Just then Keenon walked into our class.

"What's brackin', Mr. T?" He said to Mr. Togel with a smile.

"Keenon, get out of my blass," he said, replacing the 'c' with a 'b'.

The whole class began to laugh.

"Why you always tryna put a brotha out?" Keenon laughed.

"Because, you are disrupting my students,"

"Awe. That's bough. I ain't got a third hour no mo'. Lemme stay in here,"

"Don't disrupt my students," he said.

"Aye," he patted Mr. Togel's chest then whispered something in his ear.

Mr. Togel nodded and Keenon sat behind me.

"Wassup Esined?" He said to me.

"Hi," I said.

Keenon passed me a note and I opened it. Surprisingly, his grammar with how he wrote was nothing like how he speaks, except that he changed his C's to B's.

How old are you?

I wrote back, Sixteen

Bool. You got a man?

I wrote back, No. Not allowed to date

Him and I were writing back and forth and I saw August look at us.

Keenon and I passed notes that whole class period. When the bell rung I stood up and so did he. He waited on me to gather my things and we walked out of the class together.

"You like it here so far?"

"Yes," I lied. I wanted to leave this school and never come back.

"That's good. It's alright here,"

It was awkward.

"Yup," I nodded.

"I really like yo accent," he chuckled.

"Thank you,"

"Who you sit with at lunch?"

"Nobody,"

"People don't flock to yo pretty ass?"

"No. I'm not pretty,"

"Girl, you brazy,"

"How?"

"You fine as hell. You trippin'," he chuckled.

My face was hot and I looked down.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

"Imma sit witchu,"

"Okay,"

Keenon and I sat together at lunch. He noticed I wasn't eating and offered me some food. I declined.

"No thank you,"

"Girl, you betta put some meat on them bones,"

I twisted my lips to the side.

"I ain't mean to offend you,"

"You didn't," I mumbled.

"I did. I'm sorry,"

"It's fine,"

He sighed.

"Yo, Keenon!" His friends called, walking up to the table.

"Wassup?" He shook hands with most of them.

The whole time at lunch his friends surrounded him and I.

"Y'all, this the new girl, Esined," he introduced me to them.

I really wish he didn't do that.

They all said hi and introduced theirselves to me.

"You feelin' her, bro?" One of his friends asked him.

"I just met shawty today," Keenon laughed. "She fine tho," he glanced at me.

"Blood got her blushin'!" Another called out and they started laughing.

When the bell rang we all stood up. Keenon walked me to my next class.

"I'll see you around," he smiled.

"Okay," I said before walking into class.

My last three classes seemed to fly by quickly. I was happy about that but I wasn't happy about the long walk.

At the end of the day I was leaving school and Keenon caught up to me.

"Hey," he grabbed my hand.

"I have to go," I said.

"This won't take long," he said. "Party at my place on Saturday. You tryna swing by?"

"I can't,"

"Just think about it," he slipped a paper in my pocket. "See you tomorrow," he smiled and walked away from me.

I looked up and saw my dad in his truck. I forgot he was picking me up.

My heart raced as I approached the truck. My palms were sweating. I cleared the lump in my throat and opened the squeaky truck door.

"Hi Dad," I said shyly.

His cigarette was pinched in between his lips. "I thought I told you I don't want you talkin' to no boys,"

I stayed quiet as he drove.

"Did I not tell you that?"

"You did,"

"Why were you talkin' to him them?"

"He invited me to a party,"

"You ain't goin',"

"I told him I couldn't go,"

"Gimme that paper,"

I dug into my pocket and gave it to him.

He crumbled it up and tossed it onto the road. He continued driving until we got home. He stood outside his truck and lit a cigarette.

I walked inside the trailer and saw my mama sleeping on the couch. I let her be and went to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and picked an apple to eat.

"Hi baby," my mama said.

"Hi mama,"

"You're home early,"

"Dad came to get me,"

She sighed.

"Mama, I drew you," I opened my notebook and flipped to the page. "I'm not done, but I almost am,"

She looked amazed.

"You like it?"

"This looks amazing. I've never been drawn before," she smiled. "I didn't know you could draw so good,"

"I try,"

"Hey, I finished supper early. Do you have homework?"

"No,"

"You wanna go outside?"

I nodded. "And do what?"

"What we always do. Write some poetry and you can draw,"

"Okay," I smiled.

"I'll get some snacks for us,"

"I'll get your notebook,"

"Okay,"

We went our separate ways. I went to get our poetry book and pencils. I grabbed a pencil sharpener and met my mama outside.

We walked to the farm and sat down.

I finished my sketch of my mama and started another. I faced her while she wrote poetry. I sketched her out and included the background. We stayed outside until my dad called us back in. We were out there for a good five hours.

The dinner table was quiet. I felt like dad was about to start with us.

"Don is gonna come stay with us for a little while," dad announced.

"Uncle Don?" I smiled.

He nodded. "He's in a bad place and I want y'all to welcome him,"

Uncle Don was my favorite uncle. He was my dad's brother. Surprisingly him and my dad were nothing a like. Uncle Don loves me and my dad doesn't. I think that was the biggest difference between them.

Mama had this look on her face as if she wanted to say something, but she kept quiet.

"How long is he stayin'?" I asked.

"Few weeks, but he may stay longer. He'll be helping out with groceries and such things,"

"When is he coming?"

"Friday,"

I smiled.

"Where is he going to sleep?" Mama asked.

"Ned's bed," he looked at her.

"What?"

"Ned's bed. She'll be on the couch," he ate some of his greens.

"You're not about to put my baby on a couch for your brother. He can sleep on the couch. I'm sure he won't mind," she never talks to him like this.

Dad put down his silverware and chewed his food while looking down at his plate. "Go to your room, Ned,"

"Dad,"

"Go to your room now," He looked at me and I stood up.

I gave my mom a soft look and she nodded for me to leave.

As I walked to my room I could hear them fussing at each other. I heard a slap and I cringed from it. I bit my lip as I blinked away my tears. All I could hear was their fighting and I had no way to stop it or escape the sound.

-End of chapter 3.

I'm so happy that y'all are enjoying this story. This is one of my favorites that I've wrote. Thank y'all so much for reading.

Excuse typos please.

Comments & votes are appreciated.

Much love, Shia. Xoxo.