ᏟᎾᏒᏒuᏢᏆᎬᎠ ᎠᎬᏟᎥsᎥᎾᏁs

ChApTeR - 1 pT. 2

"There's no need for me to say it again when you clearly heard me the first time." She took a step back. "And your moms a bitch, bitch." And with that she began to walk away, making her way towards her job, before her break was over. "Fucking hate kids, I swear."

And that was a fact. She never got along with children. They hated her and she hated them, it was a mutual arrangement.

"Aye Mami, wait up!" She heard an annoying voice call from behind her. "Stop walking so fast, give a nigga some time to catch up."

Zadia instantly stopped walking at the sound of the n-word. She turned around slowly, both her eyebrows raised. She chuckled humorlessly. "Are you anywhere near black?" She asked annoyed.

The boy looked at her like she was stupid. He waved his hands up and down, pointing at himself. "Clearly I'm not." He said while smirking. "That was a dumbass question."

Zadia hummed. "So your not black, yet you just said a word that's only for black people to use."

"I'm a person of color, therefore I automatically have a pass to say it. Besides, it's not like I said the version that ends with er. Now that's offensive."

Zadia scoffed, crossing her hands together. "Yeah, offensive towards black folks. Tell me, kid, do you go through black folks struggle? Do you understand what it means to be black and live in a world like this one?"

"No, but..."

"But nothing." She said cutting him off. "We invented that word to wash away the ones that they used against us. If you so badly want to be like us, then make up a word of your own, it's not that hard. How would you like it if black folks started walking around here calling themselves esé or whatever else slang you guys use to express yourself?"

"Umm uncomfortable I guess." He stated.

"Yeah, and you wanna know why?" She asked. "It's because it's your word." She glanced down at her watch and took in a sharp breath. "I've got to go, kid, before I'm late. Stop following me."

"Wait, I didn't even get your name." He said, running to her side. "My name is Abel, but the ladies call me Abe." He said, following her steps.

"I really don't care and I really don't need to know that. You don't need to know my name, but you do need to leave me alone." She nudges her head to the side. "Go back to your other little friends."

Abel shook his head quickly. "I can't." He looked down at her apron and secretly read her name tag. "Za—di—ah." He sounded out. "What kind of name is Zadia?"

Zadia groaned, seeing that he really wasn't going to leave her alone. She decided to give in... but only a little. "I've got no clue, but I know in South Africa it means both, "To become the greatest" and "God's gift" which I find ironic." She looked over at Abel. "What do you mean you can't?"

"They're robbing that store. The one I met you at." He confessed, which caused Zadia to shake her head. "I didn't want to do it, so I confronted you. And when you pissed off Rodney, I took that as my chance to leave. Told them that I was gonna go rough you up a bit, for talking to us like that." He licked his lips as they continued to walk. "How come you find your name meaning ironic?"

"Because I'm neither of those meanings." She explained. "And my parents are Haitians, yet they named me an African name. You and your friends are idiots, by the way. I hope you know that."

Abel sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah... I know. Trust me, I do." He said. "They've been planning to do it for days, as a way in joining Los Ánarquistas, the local gang."