Make Me Hate

Testing limits

The kitchen was empty when I got downstairs. There were no complaints on my end, when it involved evading awkward family encounters. Plus, there was no time for conversation when I was rushing. After the morning I had, my mood was sour.

It was probably fate that Trisha was gone. Even though it hasn't been long since I last saw her, the energy was better without her. I was always grateful I could discern things like that, it saves you from the pain of getting hurt. Two days. When I last saw her, it wasn't a spectacular encounter. She was the type of woman to leave you high and dry when things got sticky.

She was on some trip with some of her girlfriends for two weeks. I was just happy there was one less person I wouldn't have to deal with in the house. The other two were at least bearable to be around. Melody and I had a mutual understanding, respect in simple terms. In other regards, my and father and I were floating on water when it came to our father-daughter relationship. There's work to be done. Trust to be built from the years of never knowing he existed. It would take steps. Maybe years before we built a bond but I'm realizing family is the most important thing. Regardless of the circumstances I have to try.

I take a bite from the banana I found lingering on the table. Savoring the sweetness of the fruit, my phone dinged from the table. A text message from Sav glowed from the screen, saying she was outside. My fingers tapped across the keyboard before the swoosh sound sent my response. My phone clapped on table as I took another bite of my breakfast.

Me: Be out in a sec, getting breakfast

The three dots appeared on my screen. I gathered my things and trotted towards the door.

I trudge outside into the cool morning air. A mixture of pinks and blues paint the sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight. I pull my eyes from the beaming sun and march to her Jeep. I open the door; Savannah turns my way and smiles. I plop into the seat and get comfortable.

The truck ignited with a grumble. We took off down the gravel. Music consumed any room for small talk. The short drive was blissful with continuous streams of indie music playing from the speakers. It was the perfect playlist to get lost in, as the blurry picturesque scenery flickered past me.

Savannah pulled her vehicle into an empty space and shut the truck off. Sliding from the car, my eyes bounced to a few people strolling past us. Most of them wore casual apparel over their uniforms, showcasing the school colors. From jackets to hats, there were only a handful that were absent of the color.

Savannah opted for a baseball cap with the school emblem stitched in the center. I give her a once over when she asked me why I wasn't wearing anything red.

"I'm really not into this kind of thing."

When we enter the building, she removes the hat from her head. Hats were prohibited inside the building even though most people didn't abide by the rule. The lobby echoed with countless chatter that boomed around the walls. People flooded past me, linking with their friends. Being in a huge crowd made me nervous. You never knew what to expect when it involved big crowds. One guy rushed by me, pausing in my front as he chattered with some friends. I sighed deeply, moving around the two dudes that blocked my path. With rapid steps, I took the normal route to my first period. A blurry figure caught my eye a second too late. An Asian girl rushed into me, roughly shoving into my shoulder. A growl left my lips from the hit.

I glance back, spotting the girl speeding down the hall. I brush off the anger and move along. Screams and laughter reverberated through the building. When more people began to gather, I pick up my pace. First period was shelter away from the boisterous swarm of people.

Apparently, it was spirit week. A week filled with students showing their pride for their undefeated football team. Only, they took school pride to another level. The only pride that found its way into my old school back home was when someone died. Rowdy crowds would fill the halls. Mostly rival gangs fighting their silent war. Some students even carried guns for protection.