Pharaoh kicked it with his boys all night while Ka'Miko stayed upstairs. He brought her some pizza and that was the last they saw or spoke to each other for the night. He didn't feel like babying her everytime she got upset. He did wake her up the next morning for school, but there was a clear disconnect between the two. He decided that he'd pick out what she would wear, as he brought out some black jeans, red sweater and matching red converse. Ka'Miko felt like he was her owner or something but didn't say anything out of fear that she'd upset him. She felt that he was only trying to be nice, and the outfit was nice anyways. She cleaned up, got dressed and met him downstairs. He had made breakfast, but only for himself.
"Ready?" He said as he ate the last of his eggs.
She nodded and they left. The drive was silent, no one spoke until they arrived in front of the school. Kids were already staring at the expensive car, wondering who was inside, because of the deep tint no one could tell.
"You good?" He asked as she hesistated to get out of the car. She frowned and looked down at the hands.
"I don't want to go." She pouted.
"Well that's too bad. You don't have a choice. Stop being a little bitch and go." He barked at her, he was trying to toughen her up.
"But what if they jump me again?" She asked him.
"Then fight back." He shrugged.
She rolled her eyes, he didn't understand. She stepped out of the car and everyone stared at the new and improved Ka'Miko. Pharaoh watched as evil grins spread across some faces. Ka'Miko sighed and began to walk towards the school. Some guys whistled at her, while the girls just mugged her all the way in. She hurried to her locker and got into class. She sat all the way in the back in the far corner. She waited for the bell to ring as she tapped her pen on the desk. She knew that in a few minutes every person she hated would come through that door. Just as the thought crossed her mind, the bell rang. They all strolled in one by one:
Victoria, Helen, Nicholas, Briyana, Melvin and lastly, Jason. The people who terrorized her the most. Although other kids would tease her and talk crap, they never actually put their hands on her to do physical harm; A push or shove here and there, but never a full on beating. Melvin, Jason and Nicholas have all beat her up before. They didn't care that she was a female, they wanted respect and what better way then to reinforce the rule that 'Snitches get Stitches'. The rest of the class piled in after words, loud chatter about Ka'Miko being in attendance carried on throughout the room.
'I'm just the highlight of everybody's day.' She thought to herself as she drew circle in her note book.
"Ka'Miiiikoooo." Victoria sang her name. She didn't look up, she just ignored her. The room fell silent as they waited for her to say something. The whole class turned in their seats and watched the show that was about to go down.
"Huh. Y'all I think she thinks she too good to talk now." Helen said loudly, everybody knew that Ka'Miko never spoke. Ever since she was a freshmen she was always very quiet.
"What you think cause you Pharaoh's groupie you too good for us now? Where's Pharaoh at now?" Victoria said as she stood up and got in Ka'Miko's face.
"She got some new clothes, some new shoes..I like those...Give them to me." Briyana said as she joined Victoria in Ka'Miko's space. She still didn't reply.
"OMG! You know what I hate?" Briyana said in a high preppy voice.
"Oh my gosh, whaat?" Victoria mocked, playing along.
"Being like ignored." Briyana said before raining blows down on Ka'Miko's head. Ka'Miko, for the first time, swung hard and hit Briyana in the face. She fell to the ground and stumbled a bit before falling to the ground and snoring.
"That bitch sleep!" A guy yelled and the class erupted with laughter.
"Oh hell nah." Victoria said before jumping at Ka'Miko with Helen, Jason, Nicholas and Melvin. They hit her over and over, she fell to the ground and they started stomping on her. She used her arms to cover her head.
"Hey! Hey!" She heard her teacher yell as he pulled them off her.
"All of you to the office NOW! And take your friend with you!" Mr.Wilson yelled at them as he helped Ka'Miko up. They gathered up Briyana's limp body and dragged her to the office with them.
"Snitch!" Helen yelled before slamming the classroom door shut.
"Are you okay?" Mr. Wilson asked. He was a tall white man who looked a lot like Patrick Dempsey. Ka'Miko nodded. He grabbed tissue and handed to her. She wasn't crying, it was for her bloody nose. She put it to her nose and he continued to hand her some.
"Do you want to press charges?"
"No." She said softly.
"You have to go to the principal Ka'Miko and tell her what's been going on." Mr. Wilson said. He geuinely cared for Ka'Miko, he watched her get bothered for the last two years, he was aware of the story behind her father and the whole snitch thing.
"I'm fine." She said softly. She told him the same thing everytime. He had reported it, but the pricipal never did much. Rumour had it, that Principal Jenkins was a good friend of Kalicoe's and that's why he'd never suspend the kids who tormented the girl. Mr.Wilson sighed and went to his desk. Ka'Miko went to the washroom and cleaned herself up before returning to class. She took her seat, and people stared at her. She just kept her head down for the rest of class. The bell rang to dismiss the class and Mr.Wilson called her up to his desk.
"You're falling behind, Kam. You have got to get it together. I understand if you don't want to attend class, I'll request that all your teachers give you the rest of your work for the week and you can do it at home, would you prefer that?" Mr. Wilson asked.
"Yeah, that would be great." She smiled weakly.
"Alright. He put together a package for her with instructions of her assignments.
"Thank you." She said softly.
"Go home. Come back at the end of the day and I'll have all the work from all your classes." He told her. She nodded and left the school.
"Ka'Miko." She heard someone calling her. She turned and saw some girl from her class. She stopped, but was still a bit frightened. She had blonde hair, and warm honey eyes, that complimented her mahogony skin tone.
"Where are you headed?" The girl asked.
"Uhm, Big Burrito." She answered softly.
"Can I come?" She smiled.
"Sure." Ka'Miko was confused as to why she was being so nice to her but she was bound to find out. They walked quietly to the Big Burrito and Ka'Miko ordered 3 churros and a beef burrito using the 2 Pharaoh had given her. The girl got 2 burritos and a sprite. They sat down at a table and the girl finally spoke with her mouth full.
"I'm Delilah by the way." She said.
"Nice to meet you." Ka'Miko said softly and nodded.
"Look, I know Victoria and them are a pain in the ass. I feel so bad for you. You seemed like you needed a friend so, I just wanted to....extend an olive branch." She smiled.
"Well, thank you." Ka'Miko still found it odd that she wanted to be friends 'all of a sudden'.
"So what's up with you and Pharaoh?" Delilah asked. Now she was talking, Ka'Miko sighed realizing the girl just wanted to be nosy.
"He's nice." She said simply.
"What's his sex game like?" Delilah asked eagerly as her eyes got wide.
"I wouldn't know." Ka'Miko answered truthfully. Delilah frowned.
"What are you two, I mean to each other?" She asked.
"Friends. I guess." She shrugged.
"I don't understand, your dad and his dad have beef and yet you two are still kicking it." Delilah said, sounding disappointed that she didn't get the information she wanted.
"Some people see past the mistakes others make." Ka'Miko said and ate her food. Delilah did the same and they sat in silence.
"So where are you going now?" Delilah asked.
"Library, probably. I have to wait til 3pm."
"For Pharaoh?" She lit up.
"Mhm." Ka'Miko nodded. If this is what having 'friends' was like, she didn't want 'em.
"Can I meet him?" She asked.
"I guess." She shrugged. Delilah followed Ka'Miko to the library. Ka'Miko took out some Urban novels, sat on a beanbag and read. While Delilah went on a computer and went on her facebook. They didn't speak until it was 2:55pm.
"Alright," Delilah hopped up, "Time to meet Pharaoh." She giggled. She was damn near bouncing off the walls. Ka'Miko shook her head and walekd back to school with Delilah. Pharaoh wasn't there when they arrived at 3.
"Where is he?" Delilah asked with slight panic. Ka'Miko shrugged and went to get her work from Mr.Wilson. He had it all prepared and sealed in a big envelope. He handed it to her.
"Thank you, Mr.Wilson." She smiled.
"You're welcome. Bring it back next Monday." He told her. She nodded and walked out with Delilah following close behind. Pharaoh's range rover was parked out front. Girls were around his car doing the most as they spoke loudly, other twerked and shook their ass. None of it impressed him, it just displayed their immaturity. Ka'Miko got in the car, leaving the door open because and Delilah stood inside. Before Ka'Miko could explain Delilah spoke.
"Hi Pharaoh." Delilah giggled. He nodded in response.
"We got things to do. Tell your little friend bye." Pharaoh said to Ka'Miko. Delilah furrowed her eyebrows because Pharaoh was giving her the attention she had hoped for.
"Thanks for hanging out with me today." Ka'Miko said politely.
"Yeah, later." Delilah said dryly before slamming the door shut. Pharaoh sped off.
"She was using me to meet you." Ka'Miko informed him.
"I can tell." He said simply. He took in her face and noticed the small bruise on her cheek bone.
"Who hit you?" He asked her.
"Hm, Uhm, just the same ole people." She shrugged.
"Which is who?" He asked, getting irritated.
"It doesn't matter." She sighed.
He left it there, he drove to the house and parked. Ka'Miko hopped out quickly and waited for him to unlock the door. He took his time approaching the door.
"I don't like secretive people." He said randomly before unlocking the door, letting himself in and slamming it in her face. Ka'Miko sat confused, but Pharaoh was pissed off, he hated that she felt like she couldn't tell him anything. If she was going to keep simple things like who beat her up on the hush, when it came to bigger things she might do the same, he took that as disrespect. Ka'Miko didn't understand as tears filled her eyes. She knocked on the door.
"Pharaoh, what the hell?" She said as her voice cracked.
"Who is it?" He said, teasingly. She sighed and he opened the door.
"How may I help you?" He smirked.
"Are you going to let me in?" She asked.
"Nah, you can stay out there until you answer my question." He told her.
"I don't want to be a snitch." She told him.
He huffed as the word was getting tired.
"I'll let you back in,"
She smiled.
"After you learn your lesson." He barked, slamming the door in her face. Her frown returned, at first she sat on the door step, but after an hour passed, she decided to leave. She wasn't going to allow him to walk all over her, she could've stayed at school for that. She walked the streets until it got dark. It was cold and the streets were quiet. She had re-entered the hood, but it was the place she was most familiar with. She got kind of scared and regretted walking away, but there wasn't much she could do now because she had no idea how to get back. She walked down an alleyway and heard deep laughter. She had no idea which direction it was coming from as she held sweater tight to her body. She looked up as the sound of dripping water echoed. She could hear a rumble of thunder as rain began to drizzle from the dark skies. She picked up her pace with her head down.
"Boo!" Someone stood in front of her interrupting her stride. She jumped a few steps back, she looked up and saw Carlos. Fear immediately took over her emotions as she looked into his dark eyes that stared at her with hatred.
"Why you lookin' scared, ma?" He smirked.
She shrugged, "N-No reason."
"I can take you home, want me to take you to Pharaoh?" He asked.
"No, I'm okay." She said as she tried to away, he grabbed her arm and slammed her into the wall. She hit her head hard and felt dizzy for a moment.
"I see right through your bullshit." He barked at her. It began pouring as lightning lit up the sky and the sound of thunder drowned out her screams.
"Somebody help!" She yelled before he grabbed her throat. He tightly squeezed and she struggled for air.
"I'll kill you right here, bitch." He said as he watched her squirm. He reached for his pocket knife and put it to her throat. She panicked, moved her leg up and kicked him in balls. He doubled over and released her neck. She fell to the ground and quickly scrambled off the ground. She ran down the street and saw him following her. He kept getting closer and closer and it seemed as though she wasn't getting anywhere. The streets were empty and no one was around to help. She doubted they'd help her even if they saw what was going on. She turned the corner and crashed hard into someone exiting the corner store. She looked up in a panic and saw KJ.
"Y-You have to help me. He's coming! He's trying to kill me." She cried as she stood up and talked fast. KJ looked down at her in confusion. She was soaking wet as if she had been standing out in the rain, her hair fell messily over her face.
"What? Who?" He asked her. She looked back and saw Carlos, but when she pointed to show KJ, he was gone.
"Ka'Miko there's nobody there." She turned and looked.
"Yes, he was, he was there! I swear." She yelled, she was a nervous wreck at this point as she cried hard.
"Relax." KJ said as he wrapped his arms around her. She was shaking and he could tell she was frightened. He led her to his car and drove back to his place. He gave her one of his shirts and a towel.
"You can kick it here til tomorrow morning. Pharaoh will come pick you up." KJ told her. He knew Pharaoh was irritated with her for leaving because he called going off about how dumb she was. He decided it would be best if she stayed here because she was already traumatized and dealing with Pharaoh wouldn't help her at all. KJ only had one bedroom in his house, it was just him after all.
"You can sleep in my bed, I'll hit the couch." He told her, she nodded silently as she dried her hair. She was already changed into his shirt, and just had her underwear on underneath it. No feeling is worse then wet jeans.
"Thank you." She said softly.
"No problem. Good night, ma." He said before exiting the room. He grabbed a blanket and headed to the couch. It was real uncomfortable for him because he was so tall, but he would have to make due for tonight.
Pharaoh woke up in the morning and Ka'Miko still hadn't returned. He was worried where she could be. He felt bad for leaving her out there last night, but felt like it was the only way she would learn that honesty was needed in his home. He never expected her to leave, when he came back to get her 4 hours later she was gone. To him, Ka'Miko was an obedient dog, but like any animal she had a wild side that took over at certain times. Like when she caught an attitude with him. He got himself together and headed over to KJ's to smoke up before he handled business. He looked for Ka'Miko on his way there but there was no sight of her. He really needed a blunt now.
He knocked on the door hard.
"Man, what the hell?" KJ answered, already smoking. He knew it was Pharaoh.
"Bitch ass nigga." He mumbled walking away from the door and plopped back down on the couch.
"Whatever nigga. That mouth gon' get you in trouble." He warned him, in a serious yet joking manner.
"Aye, I gotta tell you -"
"Man, Ka'Miko's ass didn't come back last night."
"Yeah, that's what I wanted to tell you." Before KJ could explain a sleepy Ka'Miko walked down the stairs. Her hair was a mess and she wore KJ's white -T. She had looked for her pants but KJ had put them in the dryer early this morning. Pharaoh didn't let either one of them explain as Ka'Miko's eyes got wide when she saw him. She reached the bottom of the stairs and he stormed towards her.
"Pharaoh, it's not what it looks like." She said before he grabbed her throat and slammed her into the wall leaving a whole from her head hitting it so hard. He lifted her off the ground and she struggled against him. The only thing he saw was rage as he black out.
"You fucking around on me, bitch, after all I've done for you!" He yelled.
"Ayo, Pharaoh-"
"Shut the fuck up!" He yelled at KJ who was only trying to explain. He continued to hold Ka'Miko there as she began to feel dizzy. She heard her heart pumping loudly in her ears.
KJ got up and pushed Pharaoh who then dropped Ka'Miko. That didn't stop Pharaoh from backhanding her. She whimpered as she held the stinging side of her face.
"Man, she was scared. I didn't fuck her, it was raining and I took her home with me cause you was already on 10 with her." KJ explained.
Pharaoh paused as he looked from Ka'Miko to KJ and back.
"Yeah nigga, I did not have sex with her. Her clothes were wet so I gave her my shirt. I ain't even look twice at the girl." KJ yelled. Pharaoh felt real stupid and regretted putting his hands on Ka'Miko. KJ sighed and helped her up.
"Go get dressed." Pharaoh demanded. Ka'Miko didn't move as she continued to cry.
"Now!" He yelled at her and she scurried away. KJ brought her dry clothes up to her and she put them on.
"You know I wouldn't do that shit to you, man." KJ said to Pharaoh once he returned downstairs.
"I know." Pharaoh sighed and put his head in his hands.
"You got a lot of making up to do..Ion think she gon' trust you after that shit." He said.
Pharaoh just nodded, Ka'Miko slowly descended from the stairs with a pink bruise now on the right side of her face. He approached her and she flinched away.
"Ka'Miko-"
"Can we just go home?" She asked softly. Her voice cracked. She had respect for Pharaoh but he had hit her and that made him just as bad as everyone else. She gave KJ a weak smile as a thank you before she left with Pharaoh. He let her walk in first and she went straight upstairs. She took a shower and changed into leggings and a sweatshirt. She grabbed her duffle bag, and headed downstairs.
"Where are you going?" Pharaoh asked her as she got to the door.
"I'm leaving." She said softly.
"I'm sorry that I hit you. I was wrong." He told her.
She nodded, "I forgive you, but I still want to go. I don't trust you and who's to say you won't hit me again."
It saddened her to leave, but this was something she felt was necessary. She wasn't about to be his punching bag, and if that's what he intended to do, she didn't want to stick around for it to progress.
"I'm sorry, Ka'Miko. Please don't leave." He said as he approached her. Her back was against the wall as he got up in her face.
"I have to go, Pharaoh." She said softly.
He grabbed her face and kissed her. She closed her eyes and allowed him to. Hot tears fell from her eyes, she reached for the doorknob with her eyes still closed. Once she turned the lock, she dragged the door open and ran out of the house. She didn't know where she was going, but she wanted to get far away.
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