At the end of the day Star and Sara went to the detention room , the teacher was already there and three other students Two black boys and a white girl , Star walked across the room and took a seat with sara . a moments later the door opened and Harry came in
" you're late again Harry" the teacher said
" am sorry " he apologized and walked in he looked at Star and Smiled then took a seat behind her ..
Hours passed and it seemed like days the class was quite and the teacher was reading a book .
Sara was playing with her hair .
Star felt something poking her back she slowly turned around to see Harry smiling , he gave her a paper she took it and turned back in front of her , She unfolded it the first thing she noticed is that his handwriting was really bad
- I heard about the fight in the cafeteria , can I know the reason?
She read the letter then folded it back and said nothing she didn't reply , he poked her again with his pen and gave her another paper
- it's boring here I could use some company and I'll appreciate it if you atleast replied
She took out her pen and wrote down .
- why are you talking to me?!!
She passed him the note .
and he passed it back quickly he circled the sentence ' I could use some company '
- you know what I mean she wrote to him and she heard him laugh
- what time is it ?
He asked
- 2:30
- we'll be free 2 go , by 3 , meet me at the parking .
- No !
- you can bring a friend if you're afraid .
- why?
She asked him but he didn't reply back she turned and found him laying back to his chair smiling .
She looked at Sara she was at another dimension with her thoughts .
After the half hour the teacher stood and asked them to go home Star didn't move until she saw harry walking out of the class .
" come on" Sara said
They got up and walked out the school
" am so hungry let's go to your place " Sara said
" okay but first come with me " Star said
" where ?" Sara asked but star already started walking so she had to follow .
They went behind the school where the parking was .
" where are we going star! We'll miss the bus " sara said
The parking was empty only Harry's black car was there and he was sitting on it
" I thought you'll never come " he said standing up .
" is he talking to you!!" Sara whispered but Star still didn't respond they stood near him waiting for him to say something " so ?" Star asked
" aren't you gonna answer my question about the fight?" He asked
" no not really it's a girl thing " Star said
" okay I see , sorry then "
" so you asked me to come here just to tell you a story! " Star said .
" No not at all " he said then he looked at sara " I see you brought your friend , you're not really afraid , aren't you? " he said smiling and lowering his eyebrow .
But Star said nothing she just looked at him
" ookay .. I think you like being formal.. I need your help in history if you won't mind" he said putting his hands in his pockets
" my help?!" Star asked
" Yes .. Mr . Smith talked to me after the class and he told me that I need to pass history to graduate high school and as u know the assignment have marks you may help me in the assignment and in memorizing the names and the actions " he said
" why me ?" Star asked
" you've the highest marks in the subject "
" no really why me ?" Star asked again
" why are you making this so hard I just asked for your help " harry said
" okay " she said
" listen I can.. ... wait. . Is that a yes?" He asked
" yup " she said and sara was gazing at her .
" and you don't want anything back?" He asked
" not for now , I'll help you now and you'll owe me one" Star explained
" cool ..I like that .. so when is your free time then?" He asked
" am available tomorrow at 5 " she said
" and where can I meet you ?"
" meet me?!" She asked
" yes that's how people work together" he said
" I know but aren't you afraid to be seen with me?" She asked
" I know a place , it's in the eastern side of the park , it's quite and no one actually goes there , we can use it " he said.
" okay it's your choice" star said
" so I'll meet you there ?" He asked
" sure " she said
" great " he smiled and got into his car and drove away . Star turned to see Sara looking at her awkwardly!
" What?"
" where you just talking to THE Harry!" She said
" clearly yes " star answered
" no one has ever seen him talking to a black girl!" Sara said as they walked to Star house
" I know " Star said
" okay you've to tell me the whole story from the beginning " she said
" there's no story it's just what you heard now" Star said
And sara was just staring so Star hit her in the shoulder.
They walked all the way to Star's house since they missed the bus , the front door was open , they walked in and threw there bags beside the door her brother and his best friend Drew were watching football , so they walked straight to the kitchen and searched for something to eat but there was nothing in the fridge but some vegetables and milk ,
" do you have any money left?" Star asked sara
" No not really" sara answered
" then we either wait for dad to come home or ask Travis for money" Star said
" asking Travis will be better" sara said
Star walked to the living room
" hey Drew " she said as she took a seat and Drew nodded his head smiling
" Travis I need some money we're starving but nothing to eat " Star said
" I can't help , didn't work today" he said
" how much do you need ?" Drew asked
" no it's okay thanks we'll figure out something" Star said
" really Star! ! am not a stranger! Just tell me how much you need " he said
" anything will be fine " she said
So he took out some cash and gave it to her " thanks " she said
" anytime sis " Drew said
She took the money and went back to the kitchen and gave the money to Sara " wow Travis is playing hard" sara said counting the money
" it's from Drew " Star said
" ooooh " Sara said giving Star the devil look
" it's because am a sister to him as he says.. move it " she said as she walked out of the house followed by Sara .
They walked to the burger restaurant it had an indoor tables for the white and an outdoor tables for the black they had to order through a window in the parking
They stood in the line and waited until it was there turn they ordered two burgers with some fries. They took a table of two .
" isn't that Harry's car ?" Sara asked and Star turned to see a black car parking behind her it was Harry's he got out with another boy and Tiffany.
Harry saw them and smiled at them and Tiffany noticed that so she held his arm and walked away , Star turned back to find Sara looking at her .
" eat your burger" Star said .
The next morning Star woke up early she got dressed quickly , she wore her dark blue pants with her jeans shirt with white sneakers , she went down and had breakfast with her father and brother, this time they were in a good mood .
When she reached the school she walked to her math class and counted the hours waiting for the history class , she has met Sara and she asked her to give her every single detail about her little meeting with Harry .
Finally the classes were over and she walked to her history class. She took her seat she can see Harry talking with a group of boys then Mr . Smith came in .
After the class was over Mr . Smith asked Star to stay he locked the door after the students left. And sat on his chair .
" I have gone through your file , and I have noticed that you're doing good, well actually excellent in most of your classes .. but I've noticed that you're paying extra attention to the history class. Can I know what are you planning to study in college?" He asked
" Law sir " she answered
" very good you'll do well in that.. is that why you care alot about the history class ?" He asked
" no sir not actually"
" why then?"
" I think am interested in the characters and the actions I guess" she answered
He paused for a while
" you know Star when I was your age my father didn't have the money to sign me in a school I had to work hard, my teachers were the characters you're studying about now , I learned from them through the books , but I had something that pushed me further and further into history books , the world wars , the laders the kings and everything . I wanted to see the difference between the centuries , what went wrong ? , and why we live in such a society now? , what made the people difference between the black and the white?" he stopped and looked at Star ,
" that's what I wanted to talk about , i know you're interested in finding out why .. and I noticed that there's a sparkle in you but that sparkle is dangerous I know you don't like the way it is now ..but what you've in mind Star, that sparkle might set you in fire .." he said but Star interrupted him
" sorry sir ..but you're just afraid and am not planning to get myself in troubles I have a future to worry about.." she said
" Star am warning you .. I noticed that you have a serious mind and the way you think and all it wont do you any good .. you have to live with it if you want to reach the law university..it's the way of life nowadays" he said .
"but it's not my way " she said " can I go now?" She added
" you may go .. but we shall have another talk " he said
" thank you sir " she said as she carried her bag and walked out.
At the end of the day she met Sara at the school gate and they walked together to Sara's place, Sara lives with her Sick mother , her Aunt Rachel and her Grandma , Sara's grandma was like a grandmother to Star too , they call her Momo.
" Momo we're home" Sara said as they walked in .
They went to the living room and found her watching TV . Sara hugged her . And walked to the kitchen.
" hi Momo" Star said
" hey sweety , it's been so long since your last visit" Momo said as she occupied Star into a hug
" I know am sorry"
" good to finally see you " Momo said
Sara came back from the kitchen with a glass of water for Star
" am going upstairs" Sara said
" am coming with ya" Star said.
Then they ran upstairs to Mrs.Reid's room ' Sara's mother ' .
Sara knocked on the door and walked in followed by Star
" Hi Mom" Sara said
Mrs.Reid sat on the bed hardly " hi girls come in" she said .
Sara sat beside her in bed while Star took the chair
" how are you now?" Star asked
" am better , a lot better actually thanks" she smiled , Mrs.Reid was so young but her face was pale and her body was weak. She coughed all the time and sometimes blood comes out, they are trying hardly to find medicines for her but it's so hard especially after the father died , now only her Aunt is working and the money she gains isn't enough or even close to enough , Sara sometimes works on the weekends and holidays to help a little , and Star works with her and helps with money from time to time whenever she could.
" how are you girls doing with the studies and school? " she asked
" we're doing fine , we're almost done with high school" Star said
" yeah and then we can think of the jobs" Sara continued.
" jobs?! What about the university? "Mrs.Reid asked
" I don't need it mom , instead of studying more years in a far away uni. And then come back here to work in the shop , I can just start working it's like a shortcut" sara said
" we've talked about this million times sara " Mrs.Reid
" I know what you're going to say but I know what I want" Sara said
" that's not what you want , that's what you think you have to do" Mrs.Reid
" it's all the same anyway , we'll be in my room" Sara said as she kissed her Mom's forehead and walked out
" have a nap Mrs.Reid" Star said and she kissed her head
" thank you Star , and please talk to her She listens to you not me" Mrs.Reid said
" yup I will , don't worry " Star said then she went to Sara's room she opened the door and found Sara laying on her bed , Star threw her bag on the floor and layed beside her.
Sara looked at her and said " you're meeting Harry today right?"
" yup after 2 hours" Star said
" did he talk to you at school?" Sara asked
" no he didn't and I don't think he'll ever will"
" will you?" Sara asked.
" will me what?"
" try and talk to him"
" if I needed I will I don't care what people will say but.."
" but what?"
" I don't need to, and it may cause troubles like Mr.Smith said" Star explained.
" the history teacher told you not to talk to him!"sara exclaimed
" no silly, he said that I have a serious mind and that i might cuz troubles to myself , he thinks am trying to make a revolution or something" Star explained
" history teachers" Sara said shaking her head" but he's right we should not cross the line.. did you hear what happened to James!" Sara added
" your neighbor? No , what happened" Star answered as she sat straight
" yesterday white cops came to his house and arrested him , they say he was seen with Ema , Miller's daughter many times and her father called the police and as you know his position and so on gave him the power to drag james to prison" sara said
" but why was he seeing her?" Star asked
" his sister said that Ema asked him to bring her drugs and she'll pay him as much as he wants and when her father knew about the drugs she just said that James was the one who made her addicted to it and he gave her samples and so on , her father of course believed her and jailed james for it" Sara said
" poor james , I didn't know Ema was like that, I thought she was an innocent girl" Star said
" you can expect anything in this world , the angels are the real demons they say" . Sara said
And they sat there quite each on her own thoughts, Star was thinking should she be extra careful with Harry ? He's known in the school as the bad boy but why didn't he ask his friends to help him in his lessons? He can get any white girl to help him without any payback ? Why her?
" hey lunch is ready get up" Sara said bringing Star back from her thoughts. Then They both ran downstairs to the living room .