elude // jahseh onfroy

7 - date

me: do u think i could pay u back?

Ski 🙏: Jah man u know i cant keep doing u these favours...

me: i know man. i just gotta get this off my chest

Ski 🙏: ight but u owe me one.

me: $200 yea

Sighing, I toss my phone back in the passenger seat before gazing at the road again. I grip the wheel tightly, hoping it can help me release some anger.

The truth is, Arya is still torturing me in my dreams.

By the time I get home, the sky has turned an orange-pink colour and the humid breeze starts to sweep the streets of Broward County. I try to unlock the door silently, but my mom has heard me come in anyway. She's kneeling down next to the coffee table, wiping dust from the surface of it.

"Hey, what took you so long?" she says, brushing her sleeve against her forehead.

"Went for a drive," I reply, leaving the car keys on the couch.

"How was school?" she asks, spraying the table with some product. I dump my bag on the floor, grabbing a set of latex gloves from the floor.

"It was fine," I exhale, kneeling down beside her as I start to clean the table. "Why's the table sticky?"

"Aiden spilled chocolate milk again," my mom rolls her eyes, giving it a final wipe. We rise from the ground, glancing at each other for a few seconds.

"Why are you staring at me?" I chuckle.

"I still can't believe you're back home," she beams, suddenly enveloping me into a hug. I can't help but smile back at her, but the joy of being in her arms dissipates the second I meet her worried expression. "Jah, I need to be honest with you."

"What is it?" I ask as I help her pack away the cleaning equipment.

"We're in need for money. I'm not saying you should drop out of school, because that is completely unacceptable."

"What are you saying, mom?"

"I've... I've met a man," she starts. Oh, God. I really fucking hope she's not gonna tell me... "It's the only way I can get you out of school and into college," she continues, but my throat has closed up.

"MOM?!" I yell, failing to conceal my disappointment.

"It's just for a couple of months. I'll pay it back to him as soon as possible."

"Wait, what?"

"I met a stockbroker at work. He said if I could babysit his children while he's away, he'll pay for our rent," she explains.

"Oh, thank God." I can't help but chuckle at my mom's words. My mom's brows furrow.

"Jahseh, did you think I turned into a hooker?!" she exclaims, a mix of disappointment and surprise in her tone. I can't help but laugh at the situation, because I was already fearing the worst.

"Lowkey," I reply in between laughter.

"If I weren't so happy about this man doing us a favour, I'd kick your ass right now!" she yells, crossing her arms. Her expression reads anger, but my laughs soften her disappointment.

My laughter continues to fill the air until my stomach begins to cramp, wondering when was the last time I laughed this hard. Usually, I'm numb. Detached. Nothing ever catches my attention and nothing ever surprises me.