Kia had heard about America. She had heard about how ruthless the people could be there, about how her deep ebony skin could get her in trouble, about how there were some people who had a hatred for it.
She had known only a bit about it before her arrival back.
She was born in America but at the age of 3 brought to Ethiopia to spend time with her family, who was struggling to survive after the recent droughts.
She stayed for a while but once she was old enough to go to high school there was no hesitation to send her back to the states.
She attended 9th grade in a small school in Alabama before transfer next door to a school in Georgia for her 10th and 11th grade year.
She hasn't realized the deep tension built in race until her 11th grade year when the other teenagers told her to get her "negro ass out of their white school".
She wished nothing more than to leave and which she was granted this and shipped off up to her Aunt in New York to finish her senior year.
So that intense feeling of fear washing over her was reasonable.
She had only known America for its worst at the moment, so when she physically shook as she entered her new high school, she let herself release any embarrassment.
She shuffled into the main office with her aunt behind her.
With a keen eye, she observed her aunt as she had a conversation with the schools secretary. It ended without a smile and Kia's aunt turning to her.
She moved her hands in a fluid motion to say goodbye and good luck before gliding out the door.
Kia directed her attention to the secretary, whos smile was still evident in her face.
She begin writing something down so Kia spoke up.
"I can read lips" she said, catching the secretary by surprise.
"Sorry I didn't realize." She replied, handing Kia a schedule.
"This is yours, I have you a very similar schedule to our top office assistant so she could help you." The secretary's lips moved slower than what Kia knew they could move at but she couldn't be angry.
The secretary turned and after a second or so a Vietnamese girl walked from behind the counter.
Kia felt a push against the back of her and out of instinct turned towards it quickly.
A boy smirked and winked at her before talking.
"Hey cutie, how about we hang out tonight, get to know each other."
Kia stared in disgust and rolled her eyes, turning back around to look at the Vietnamese girl once more.
She looked with irritated eyes at Kia before walking away.
Kia simply followed quietly, grasping the fact that she was definitely the officer assistant assigned to help her.
The pair walked together for a minute and the girl looked back at Kia, her eyes twitched slightly.
Kia caught sight of the girl's name tag and without realizing said her name aloud.
"Sawyer". Sawyer only stared at Kia, waiting for her to continue.
"What, what do you want." She hissed. Kia frowned and answered carefully.
"I said it out loud?" Sawyer rose and eyebrow and nodded, earning a smile from Kia.
"Sorry." She replied. Sawyer only rolled her eyes and turned around. Kia saw her move her lips but at the angle they stood from each other, she couldn't understand a word.
Instead of stressing herself out, Kia just walked along with Sawyer. Kia felt a mild vibration through her feet and looked up at Sawyer.
"Lunch." Was the only word she could make out.
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General Fiction"What do you mean she can't hear me, we just had a full blown conversation" "I mean she's really good at reading lips" -------------------------- Sawyer had always been top dog of the school. She was well known by all and no one bothered her. So whe...
