SONDER

𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯

"I just want to feel around the water a little bit. Not necessarily test them." I opened up my water bottle, drinking some.

"Don't dig yourself into a hole that you can't get out of. Just try to follow their rules for a while and I'm sure they'll give you some more freedom."

"When I'm thirty." I mumbled.

"You just have to go with the flow. You did sneak a boy in—"

"It's only Mekhi!"

"So. He's still a boy and you know your parents better than anyone so you should've known how they'd react."

"I didn't expect to be called a slut by my mother, though."

"..."

"..."

"Is that why you just don't care anymore about breaking the rules? Because she called you a slut?"

"Little bit. Now I know how she really feels. Nine times out of ten she isn't going to change her mind anytime soon so I might as well do it like it's my b-day since she already thinks I'm having sex."

"Well?" Zion raised her eyebrow.

"I'm not. The most we've done is kiss. It never goes past that because he doesn't try to do anything more than that."

"Maybe she's more upset because you didn't tell her straight up. I don't know. I cant say much, I don't even know your mother."

"It's whatever. I'm over it. I just don't want to go home right after school, so I'll let you know if I'm going to come over."

"Okay."

"Alright, I'll talk to you later." I hung up the phone before gathering all of my things. Lunch was ending in about ten minutes, so I was going to occupy myself before heading back.

Zion wasn't here, obviously, and Mekhi had to stay back to retake a test that he missed in this class, so of course, I ate alone.

Making my way out of the cafeteria, I headed straight for one of the bathrooms. Class was in session for the most part, and majority of people who were in lunch used the bathroom down by the cafeteria, so I knew this one was borderline empty.

I walked in and almost walked immediately out but decided against it once I heard light cries coming from one of the stalls. I sat my things down and made my way to the stall, knocking on it lightly.

"Hey? Are you okay?" I spoke softly.

"N-no." She stuttered, crying immediately after.

"We can talk about it, if you're comfortable with that." I leaned against the wall. "Or I can leave. I just don't want you to be in here alone and sad when I could try to help."

"We can talk, I guess." The person spoke. "I'm not getting out the stall right now though."

"That's fine. I'm Saida."

"Salome."

"You're a junior?"

"No."