OFFENDED

1.

To find real true love is within yourselves. You have to love yourself before implementing any ounce of love onto somebody else. You see, the word love rolls off the tongue so smoothly, you'd think it's easy. Wait till you realize some people think that it comes from verbal abuse, hitting, or sex. However, some of them think love comes from just being

around with no extra necessities. Just a kiss here and there, maybe some intimacy, but no true connection.

See where I come from: love was only for grown-ups. Children couldn't possibly know a damn thing about love. It either makes you too "fast" or too slow to realize how the heart can fall deep. Most can't even explain what love is or how it works. As time flies, it can either stay the same, grow stronger, or fade. And in my opinion, I couldn't give less of a fuck where it came from, how it came, and how we can use it.

As sophomore year rolls around, I figure why not focus on myself since all the other guys I've dated have turned out to be a waste of time. I've got new books and new pencils to become some motivation to keep this education thing going.

"Well, well, well", says Nani.

Nani is my long-time best friend from middle school. She has pretty long curly hair, and a smile to knock you over. When we were younger, we would always get in trouble with our parents for trying to be "grown". For example, buying vapes for forty bucks at this old smoke shop on the corner of Gavin Street. The owner was somehow convinced we were over twenty-one. Even seeing our 4'9, glasses-wearing, braces-having asses standing at the glass counter full of bongs. A couple of weeks later, after getting caught, they shut that store down; they're lucky they didn't get arrested. I can say me and Nani are interlinked, and the universe may have brought us together for some purpose.

"Did you fill out the form yet?"

"Now, would you think I'd forget?" Nani questions.

She hands me a white sheeted form for our rooming permission so we can be together for our sophomore year. This girl has the neatest handwriting; they should've let her sign the Declaration of Independence. So, I have no choice but to match her perfectionist behavior and sign the paper in sleek black pen next to hers.

"This year needs to be our year and NO distractions, Eloria Rose," she says very sternly.

"Now why would I get distracted? And when was the last time you've seen me distracted?" I say cautiously.

Now I didn't want her to answer because I know exactly what she'll say. She starts to spill about Freshman year, when I met this boy in my college success class. He had blue eyes, brown hair, and skin that was tan and golden as the sun. As an African American girl, there is no way in hell that any white boy would be interested in all this chocolate! So I had a little secret crush that all. Well, apparently it cost me my credits. I would spend all day staring at him but always fail to spark any sort of conversation, or even a "hi". Then she goes on to say how much time I've wasted over a boy who didn't even know who I was. I'm very shy, and in the shadows, so I'm not sure what she expected of me. TO DATE?! Oh no.. I'm a circle who doesn't fit into that square, trust me. And like I said, love sounds way too easy than what it is.

"Nans, I promise I won't get distracted; I actually want to lock in and hit the books", I say very confidently.

"You better be; meanwhile, I'll be hosing down a white claw, see ya!" She says as she skips away with her pink suitcase with N engraved into the middle. I tread behind her with my bags, thinking of what could come next in this new semester of bullshit. But as long as I had her by my side, I should be alright.