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TRAUMA
ADRIANNA ARLETTE CARVALHO
tuesday, june 23rd
harlem high school ━━ 10:55 am
in the dimly lit classroom of their tenth grade american history class, adrianna and notti found themselves nestled in the back row, a cozy corner they often claimed as their own.
adrianna, always the nurturing type, sat comfortably on notti's lap, her textbook balanced precariously on her knees as she listened intently to the teacher's lecture.
meanwhile, notti, with his head resting gently against adrianna's chest, struggled to keep his eyes open. the rhythmic cadence of the teacher's voice had lulled him into a state of drowsiness, and try as he might, he found himself slipping further into sleep with each passing moment.
" ethan, baby, are you even awake?" adrianna whispered, poking him gently in the side.
notti stirred slightly, his eyelids fluttering as he tried to focus. " mmm... yeah, i'm awake," he murmured, his voice muffled by adrianna's chest.
adrianna couldn't help but chuckle softly at notti's predicament, her fingers absentmindedly tracing soothing circles on his back.
" you're so sleepy, ethan," she teased, leaning in close to him. " did you not sleep well last night?" she asked, hints of concern laced in her voice.
notti let out a sheepish chuckle, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. " nah, i slept like a baby," he told her. " it's prolly because i went to sleep late," he admitted, a hint of guilt in his voice.
adrianna rolled her eyes playfully. " because you were up playing video games," she added, giving him a playful nudge. " next time, try to get some sleep, okay? you'll never make it through the day like this,"
notti only subtly nodded his head. " yeah, you right, addy," he admitted. " i can sleep, doe?" he inquired, looking up at her.
" mhm," she hummed, nodding her head.
she watched as notti drifted off into a peaceful slumber. adrianna glanced down at him, a fond smile tugging at her lips as she watched him sleep.
she knew he had been up late playing video games, and she couldn't bring herself to wake him again, not when he looked so peaceful.
as the lecture continued, the teacher's voice growing louder and more animated, adrianna felt a tap on her shoulder. she turned to see the teacher glaring down at them, a disapproving frown etched on his face.
" miss carvalho, mr. reyes, this is a classroom, not a nap room," the teacher scolded, his voice sharp with irritation. " i won't tolerate such behavior in my class. either sit properly and listen or leave,"
adrianna opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, the teacher cut her off.
" no excuses, miss carvalho. you know the rules," the teacher snapped, his patience wearing thin.
adrianna felt a surge of frustration welling up inside her. she knew she shouldn't have let notti sleep, but she couldn't bear to wake him, not when he looked so peaceful and content.
" but he's just tired," adrianna protested, her voice trembling with emotion. " he was up late studying last night. please, just let him sleep a little longer," she lied on his behalf.
the teacher's expression softened slightly, but his resolve remained firm. " i'm sorry, miss carvalho, but rules are rules. if you can't follow them, then i have no choice but to ask you to leave,"
adrianna felt her heart sink as the reality of the situation sank in. she knew she couldn't argue with the teacher any longer. with a heavy sigh, she gently shook notti awake, his eyes fluttering open as he blinked up at her in confusion.
" come on, ethan," adrianna whispered, her voice choked with emotion. " we have to go,"
as they gathered their belongings and made their way out of the classroom, adrianna couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that weighed heavily on her heart.
she had only wanted to protect notti, to let him rest for just a little while longer. but now, as they walked silently through the empty hallway, she couldn't help but feel like she had let him down.
as they stepped out of the classroom, adrianna felt a mix of frustration and sadness swirling inside her. notti, still groggy from his interrupted nap, rubbed his eyes sleepily, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
" why we hadda leave," notti mumbled, his voice thick with sleep, as he trudged behind adrianna.
adrianna sighed, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her emotions. "mr mason didn't like the fact that you were sleeping or the fact tht i was sitting on your lap," she explained, her voice trembling slightly.
adrianna sighed loudly. " mr mason didn't like the fact that you were sleeping or the fact that i was sitting on your lap," she explained softly.
notti's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. " but i was just... tryna sleep," he protested weakly, his words trailing off as he struggled to fully awaken.
adrianna bit her lip, her heart aching for him. " i know, ethan, i know," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting embrace. " it's not your fault. i should have told you to go to sleep earlier,"
notti leaned into her embrace, grateful for her warmth and understanding. " don't sweat it, addy," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. " let's just go somewhere quiet, aii?"
together, they made their way to a secluded spot in the school courtyard, miles away from the school building. sitting side by side on a bench, they allowed themselves to breathe and process the events of the morning.
" i'm sorry, notti," adrianna said softly, her voice heavy with guilt. " i didn't mean for any of this to happen. i just wanted to let you sleep,"
notti reached out and took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. " chill, mama, don't een trip," he reassured her, his eyes full of warmth and understanding. " it's ain't yo fault, aii?"
adrianna nodded, smiling gratefully at him, feeling a sense of reassurance wash over her. " there's still twenty minutes 'till next period. what do you wanna do?" she iquired, checking the time on her apple watch.
notti slid a sleek pouch from his backpack, a smirk playing on his lips as he withdrew a neatly rolled joint. " you wanna smoke?" he whispered, extending the joint toward her.
adrianna's pulse quickened with a mix of thrill and hesitation. she'd never smoked before, but the idea intrigued her, especially with notti by her side. "um... i dunno, notti," she murmured, eyeing the joint cautiously. " i've never smoked before,"
" wouldn't we get in trouble? i mean, we are still on school property,"
sensing her uncertainty, notti flashed her an encouraging grin. "chill, addy, i got you," he reassured, his tone low and soothing. " just sumn new ta try, aii?"
with a tentative nod, adrianna accepted the joint, her fingers trembling slightly. notti guided her through the process, demonstrating how to inhale slowly and exhale smoothly.
as adrianna took her first drag, a rush of adrenaline flooded her veins. the smoke tickled her throat, and she coughed softly, a mixture of nerves and exhilaration.
notti chuckled, his arm slipping around her shoulders in a reassuring embrace. " you good, addy," he murmured, planting a gentle kiss on her temple. " just take it easy. you good,"
together, they passed the blunt back and forth, their laughter mingling with the faint scent of smoke in the air. adrianna felt a sense of freedom wash over her, the weight of the day lifting with each exhale.
- 15 MINUTES LATER, 11:15 AM
adrianna was lost in a haze, the sunlight filtering through the leaves overhead casting dappled patterns on the courtyard pavement. surrounded by the chatter of fellow students, she found solace in the warmth of notti's embrace.
they stood together in a quiet corner of the courtyard, a sanctuary amidst the bustling school life, their senses heightened by the intoxicating scent of spring in the air.
it was time to switch periods, and if they stayed like this any longer, they'd be late.
" ethan," adrianna murmured, her words a soft whisper against the backdrop of student voices. they had finished two blunts, and to say adrianna was as high as a kite was an understament. espescially since she was a light weight.
" you're like... the only calm in this chaos," she spoke softly, looking up at him. she didn't even know what she was saying rightnow. just whatever came to mind.
notti's eyes, glazed with the same intoxication as hers, sparkled with amusement. " nd you, adrianna, you da highlight of ma day,"
adrianna's laughter danced through the courtyard, a melody of joy in the midst of the school's bustling energy. with a boldness born of their shared high, she reached out to him, her fingers tangling in the fabric of his shirt.
" we're like... two rebels in this sea of conformity," she mused, her words barely audible over the sounds of passing students. " whatever that means,"
notti's grin widened as he leaned in closer, the rhythm of their hearts syncing in the quiet corner they had claimed as their own.
with a rush of excitement, adrianna closed the distance between them, her lips meeting his in a tender kiss. it was a kiss fueled by the thrill of rebellion, a moment of defiance amidst the structured chaos of school life.
notti's hands trailed down to her ass, squeezing it softly as he shoved his tongue into her mouth. both of their them fought for dominance, but adrianna eventually gave up, letting him have it.
as they lost themselves in the intoxicating embrace, the world faded away, leaving only the warmth of the sun on their skin and the echo of their love in the air. in that moment, nothing else mattered but the electric connection they shared.
" you're a good kisser, e," she smiled at him.
as they lingered in their embrace, the sounds of the bustling courtyard seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the rhythmic beating of their hearts.
adrianna rested her head against notti's chest, feeling the steady rise and fall as he breathed in time with her.
" let's skip next period, mama," notti suggested, his voice low and enticing.
adrianna hesitated, her mind clouded with uncertainty as notti's suggestion hung in the air. skipping class felt daring, reckless even, and the thought made her pulse quicken with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
" i dunno, ethan," she murmured, chewing on her bottom lip as she glanced around the courtyard, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on her.
notti's eyes softened as he took her hand in his, his touch grounding her amidst the swirling doubts in her mind. " c'mon, adrianna," he urged, his voice gentle yet persuasive, " you always tryna follow da rules, try sumn new, baby,"
she stole a glance at the classroom door, feeling the pull of obligation tugging at her heartstrings. but then she looked back at notti, his eyes filled with an infectious sense of adventure, and she felt something stir within her.
" okay," she said finally, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she squeezed notti's hand, " fine, let's do it,"