So What?

Chapter 7: White.

Christopher enters my street and I direct him to my house. He's the first person I've shown my real house apart from Aaliyah.

"Thank you." I tell him, touching his forearm.

He unlocks the door and I open my door.

"You should probably leave quickly before you get robbed. The people here are not used to seeing nice cars like this." I tell him, before I step out of the car, closing the door behind me.

Christopher gets out immediately and comes to my side and pulls me into a warm hug.

He smells sooooo good.

"Good night." He says before he pulls away and gets into his car. I watch him drive off before I get into my house.

"Where are you coming from?" My mother asks me, turning the lights on. She is sitting on the sofa in the living room with a mug in her hand.

I gulp as I stare at her trying to think of a quick lie.

"I had study group." I tell her.

"Till 3 am?" She questions.

"You didn't let me finish, ma. I had study group and that ended by 10 pm. Then I had to work my shift at the diner which ended at 2 am." I say, trying my hardest not to yell.

"Okay. Who was that man that dropped you off?" She asks me.

"He's a friend." I mutter.

"What was that?" She asks, standing up from the sofa, and walking towards me.

"He's a friend, Mom." I scream.

"He's white." She points out.

"And?" I ask her, rolling my eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at me, young lady. You know white men are not allowed on this property. They are the reason we're in this mess." She says, yelling in my face.

"Mom, every white guy isn't Dad." I tell her, walking to my room.

"Oh really?" She says following me. "Are you fucking him?" She asks me and I scoff.

"I'm not you, Mom. I don't throw my cat at the first white man that pays attention to me." I quip.

My mother doesn't say anything she just walks to where I'm standing and slaps me across the face. She leaves the room immediately after. Massaging my cheek, I place my backpack on the floor and get into bed.

I can't wait to move out of here.

***

"Aggh." Aaron groans, finishing on my bare back. He gets off the bed and heads for the shower.

He was rougher than usual today. He seems upset.

I grab the toilet paper roll and cut some, using it to wipe my soiled back. Walking to the bathroom, I sit on the toilet and pee. When I'm done, I get in the shower with Aaron.

The shower was relaxing and now Aaron and I are just laying on his bed. His hands make small circles around the small of my back and I snuggle into him.

"Someone sent me a picture of you and some nerd. Who is that guy?" He says and I freeze.

Huh?

"What are you talking about?" I ask him and he pulls out his phone and shows me a picture.

"I don't know him. He just started talking to me out of nowhere." I lie.

"Bullshit." Aaron says, pulling away from me as he sits up.

"I swear. Why would I lie?" I ask him. "I have no reason to." I add.

"Because you're fucking him." He accuses and I laugh.

"You're fucking ridiculous." I tell him. "You think I'm sleeping with some dude I barely know?" I ask and he doesn't reply. I get off the bed and I start grabbing my things.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asks me.

"Home." I tell him.

"Which one? The one you showed me or the abandoned shack on Skid Row." He says and my blood runs cold.

He knows where I live.

Shit.

"Yeah, Aaliyah showed me your real house." He tells me. "I can't believe you would lie to me." He says, getting up from the bed.

"The same Aaliyah you've been screwing behind my back." I say, letting him know that I was aware of his affair.

"What the fuck did you just say?" He says, yelling in my face.

"I know you're fucking Aaliyah, Aaron." I say with a smile on my face. He looks confused at first but fixes his face quickly.

"Don't ever say that again." He warns, coming close to me.

"Oh, so you can accuse me of infidelity and I can't?" I ask him. He doesn't reply instead he starts choking me.

"After everything I've done for you." He says, through gritted teeth as he squeezes my neck. I struggle to breathe as I claw at his buff arm.

"S-top." I manage to say, looking into his eyes that are clouded with rage. He lets go of my neck and I try my best to catch my breath. His left arm connects with my face the next second and I fall to the floor. I let out a loud scream as I touch my face. My nose is bleeding and my lip feels swollen. I start crying before I close my eyes and become unconscious.