Forever

Chapter XXI

Hazel’s Point of View

 It’s been four long months since Chresanto went on tour. My birthday was a regular day, Chresanto, Jas’mariee, Princeton, and I hung out the whole day. It’s near Christmas Break meaning another rally. I’m still on the step team and I’m doing while in school--all A’s to be precise. I was in my last class of the day--AP Honors Math. I seen Chance, Michael, and Jackson. The bell rung and we grabbed our things and walked out.

 I walked down the hallway to my locker. These kids were pretty big and rough. Jas’mariee walked over to me with her black duffle bag on her arm. I put in my combination and opened my locker. I sat down my mocha Michael Kors JetSet tote. I grabbed my black Inverted cross bookbag. I tossed it over my shoulder and closed my locker door.

 ‘’Hey best friend.’’ She said smiling.

 ‘’Hey Princeton texted you yet?’’ I asked.

 ‘’Nope, what about Roc?’’ She asked.

 ‘’No, let’s go get changed for this step.’’ I said. We walked down the stairs to Mrs. Jackson’s room. Our step team was present. We walked down to the bathroom and changed. Jas’mariee and I step uniform--white Adidas crop top, black Adidas Originals tracksuit bottoms, with black Doc Martens. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail.

 ‘’Come on ladies!’’ She shouted. We walked out and walked back down with her room. We put our bags on her floor and we put made our finishing touches.

 ‘’I want you to get out there and perform the best to your ability. Remember we are the Lady Cougars!’’ She said. We did our pre-show handshake and walked down to the gym. I was a little bit pissed because he hasn’t called me but it’s ight. We walked in and everyone was roaring.

 ‘’Let give it up for our Lady Cougar step team!’’ Our assistant principal, Ms. Grier shouted into the microphone. We got into our stances and the music dropped. I held up a sign saying ‘’Watch’’. I dropped the sign and we started our step. We got into our rows, I was in the back. RIP by Young Jeezy blasted and we started our dance. I was getting it. We all got into a line and I was in the front. We was dropping it low and shit.

 We all ran into another line, facing the crowd. I was the third one. Poetic Justice started and we were rolling our hips and the boys went crazy. They was recording and shit. They got hyped when Bugatti started playing. We all flocked the the center and I was in the middle of everyone. We got into twerking position and dipped from side to side.

 I put my hand on Jas’mariee, who was in front of me. We leaned to the left, then to the right, then back. We came up and did our routine perfectly. After a while, a new song came on and we got in a line. I was behind Marie, who was first in line.

We went from side to side. We stepped then turned from the left to the right side. We stepped then dropped. I looked to the left. We hopped up and I jumped up and my arms made the wheelchair motion. We put our right arm up then walked away.

They clapped and cheered for us. We sat down on the bleachers and Ke’Shawn came and sat behind me.

 ‘’You did good.’’ He said showing his smile.

 ‘’Thank you, Ke’Shawn.’’ I said turning back around.

 ‘’Hazel, I was wondering if you wanna to go out?’’ He asked.

 ‘’I’m sorry I have a boyfriend.’’ I said smiling genuinely and turning back around. Jas’mariee nudged my shoulder.

 ‘’Come on, we gotta go.’’ She said getting up and rushing off. I got up and walked out. I walked upstairs to Mrs. Jackson’s room and grabbed my bookbag. I walked downstairs and out the double doors to Marie’s car. She was sitting down with the car running. I got in and closed the door. She pulled off quickly.

 ‘’What’s wrong?’’ I asked.

 ‘’My mom is at the hospital because of something.’’ She said.

 ‘’Who picking up Naomi?’’ I asked.

 ‘’We are. Can you go in and get her?’’ She asked. I nodded and she pulled into the elementary school parking lot. I got out of the car and jogged up to the building. I walked inside to the front desk.

 ‘’Hello, how may I help you?’’ A elderly woman asked.

 ‘’I’m here to get Naomi Aiko, it’s an emergency.’’ I said.

 ‘’Okay.’’ She said picking up the phone. I stood patiently waiting for Naomi. She can walking down the hallway. She ran to me and hugged my leg. She is such a cute five-year-old.

 ‘’Hazy!’’ She said, loudly.

 ‘’Come on.’’ I said grabbing her hand. We walked out of the building to Marie’s car. I opened the door and put Naomi into the backseat. She buckled her seatbelt and I pushed the seat back. I got in and closed the door. Marie pulled off and Naomi was playing with something in her bookbag.  Marie pulled up to the hospital and hopped out. I grabbed Naomi out of the back and walked inside. Naomi was playing with the loose strands of my hair.

 ‘’Come on.’’ She said. I followed her door to a room. She opened the door and walked inside. Ms. Aiko was hooked up to machines and was watching the 70’s Show.

 ‘’Mama.’’ Naomi said.

 ‘’Mimi, sweetheart.’’ She said. I put Naomi down and she ran over to Ms. Aiko. She grabbed her hand and looked up at her.

 ‘’Girls, I’mma be in for a couple of days. Can you take Naomi to my mom’s house?’’ She asked.

 ‘’Yes mom, what happened?’’ Marie asked.

 ‘’I remember being in the house and passing out.’’ She said.

 ‘’Mama are you okay?’’ Naomi asked.

 ‘’Yes pumpkin, mom’s okay.’’ She said. My phone rang loudly. I walked out of the room and out of the hospital building. I took it out of my pocket and seen Chresanto’s name. I accepted the call.

 ‘’Baby!’’ I shouted.

 ‘’Babe.’’ He said.

 ‘’I miss you so much.’’ I said.

 ‘’I do too, did you kill em’ when you were stepping?’’ He asked.

 ‘’Yeah, what about at them concerts?’’ I asked.

 ‘’I am, I have some news.’’ He said.

 ‘’What is it?’’ I asked.

 ‘’I might not be able to make it home for Christmas.’’ He said.

 ‘’Are you serious?! I brought your gifts already. Chresanto it’s like six to seven days away from Christmas.’’ I said. I heard my voice crack a little bit.

 ‘’Don’t cry baby girl. I’m sorry, it’s just that we have shows and recording sessions.’’ He said.

 ‘’I don’t care, Roc. Bye.’’ I said bluntly, hanging up the phone. I walked back inside, into Ms. Aiko’s room. Naomi was crying hard.

 ‘’Come here Mimi.’’ I said crouching down. She ran into my arms and cried.

 ‘’What’s wrong?’’ I asked.

‘’Mommy not going to be home for Christmas.’’ She said through her cries.

 ‘’You gotta be a strong girl for Mommy. She needs your support.’’ I said.

 ‘’But I want her home for Christmas.’’ She said. It reminded me of the Chresanto’s situation. Tears streamed down my cheeks.

 ‘’Honey what’s wrong?’’ Ms. Aiko asked.

 ‘’Our boyfriends might not be home for Christmas.’’ I said. Jas’mariee looked at me and put her hands up to her face.

 ‘’Hazy don’t cry.’’ Naomi said. She wrapped her hands around me. This might not be a joyful Christmas after all.

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