𝐈'𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐞

𝒕 𝒘 𝒆 𝒏 𝒕 𝒚 𝒆 𝒊 𝒈 𝒉 𝒕

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to LAX airport..."

"The local time is twelve twenty one am..."

"The temperature is ninety five degrees. For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until the captain turns on the off the fasten seatbelt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate that is safe for you to move about."

I sighed and felt my stomach go uneasy. I don't even know why. It's not like I haven't seen Hailey in that long, and we weren't on bad terms the last time we talked. Maybe it's her being in her natural area, and the fact that I haven't seen her in almost a month. I am excited though. I just wanna give her a hug and stare at her pretty face.

A couple minutes later the captain was speaking threw the intercom again, telling us that it was time to get off, and remember to bring our carry on bags with us. One of the flight attendants had to help me get mine, but I was off the flight and that was all that really mattered.

It's hot.

It's so hot, they say California is hot, I just didn't expect it to be this hot. I feel all this sweat, and it's only been like ten seconds.  The air is a little thick. I heard the air was a bit polluted, but this is ridiculous. Maybe I shouldn't judge so quick, I'm just gonna hurrying into this airport, meet up with Hailey, and get in the hotel.

I walked in the airport, it was packed, and I couldn't really make out Hailey from here, so I just decided to go over to the baggage claim. My suitcase was red, and the other was black and grey. Both were one of a kind considering Henry had spray painted it, so I wouldn't be able to be confused with some other suitcase. I had been standing there for ten minutes until I saw both, I reached forward and took hold of both of them. I pulled out my phone to call and see where Hailey was at, if she even had made it...

"Excuse me, miss?" I heard from behind me. It was a voice I wasn't very familiar with, it was small and squeaky too. I turned around and there stood a light skinned boy, blonde dreadlocks, and a freckled covered face. Not to be more or anything but he looked a little dirty. Like his face had a lot of an unnecessary amount of dirt on it. His clothes were a bit oversized, and he smelled a little funny. I mumbled a curious yes and he spoke.

"Do you have anything you can spare, I'm a little hungry." He replied with sad eyes.

Oh...

Why am I just standing here? I'm pretty sure I have something to give in my purse. "Um, I think I have something..." I dug around in my purse. I had a ten. I handed it to him, and he snatched it with a look of disgust.

"Ten dollars? I know damn sure you got more than that. Black people swear they be broke. Where all the damn businesses y'all swear y'all be owning?"

I looked behind me, and around for a moment before looking back at him. "Um, who are you talking to?" I asked.

"You, who else?" He asked, with a whole lot of attitude.

"No, the hell you ain't." I told him, with just as much attitude. 

"Yes, I am. I'm talking bout you and this stingy ass ten dollar bill." He waved the ten dollar bill in my face. "Do you know how much money I make a day ripping people off? This ain't nothing." He shrugged.

"So you not hungry?" I asked, and he looked at me like I was dumb.

I promise I'm not, just completely thrown off.

"No, I'm out here trying to finesse these white ass fuckers. First day trying a black person and I get ten dollars? I don't even know what I expected, seeing the way you dress you probably need this way more than I do." He told me frowning, looking me and down.

Oh, hell nah...

"I don't what you think this is but yo snotty, rat faced, big headed ass-"

"Cassandra!"

The boy smirked and I turned around to see Hailey looking at me with wide eyes.

"What the fuck going threw ya head?" She asked rushing to the boy's side, and his smirk was replaced with a frown. "How could you speak to a kid that way?"

"I-It's not my fault-" I tried to explain myself but the boy cut me off.

"I didn't mean to upset the pretty lady." He looked down at his feet. "I was just super hungry, my uncle can't feed us because he likes to set spoons on fire."

"That's terrible," Hailey cooed giving him a hug, so now her back was turned and the boy was staring at me. He stuck his tongue out, and made a face at me. Hailey pulled away from the hug and gave me a look. "Have you no shame?"

"Are you really gonna let this boy play you like that?" I groaned.

"Excuse her, she's just a mean head." Hailey apologized pulling her backpack off her back.

"I can see that," He nodded sadly in agreement.

When I was nine I was obsessed with  playdough tutorials, listening to gangnam style, trying to have a viral YouTube video, and reading chapter books.

Not scamming random people at the airport.

What has the world come to?

Where are his parents?

"A hundred bucks enough?" Hailey asked pulling five twenty dollar bills out of a stack of twenties. There was no doubt in my mind that her backpack was full of stacks.

"Of course it is!" The kid jumped up in excitement. 'Thank you, thank you, I really appreciate this." He smiled and Hailey handed over the money, the boy jumped on her giving her a hug.

Maybe it wouldn't be disgusting and if I didn't know he was lying, two faced...

"Fasho." Hailey mumbled and her eyes went over to me. "Cassandra, you really need to say sorry, bro." She told me.

"I ain't saying sorry to nobody. You really just sat up here and gave this scammer a hundred dollars. He should be saying sorry to you-"

"He's literally nine!" Hailey groaned.

"So?" I asked and she shook her.

"It's alright, pretty lady." The kid muttered patting her head. "My aunt used to always say, y'know when she was alive," He mumbled, he just had to add that deceased aunt part. "That thou should not wish no wrong doing upon those who wrong do you, just pray for them and let jesus take over." He looked over at me, and touched my hand. "I hope jesus takes over for you."

"You are so full of shit-"

"Alright, let's go." Hailey said jumping up, grabbing her backpack, and pulling my hand. "Be safe, kid."

"Stay pretty, ladies!" He smiled, and when Hailey's back was turned stuck up his middle finger.

"Go to hell!"