Majesty A. Collins
"Ford!" I called as I searched my apartment.
I've been home for five minutes and haven't seen him. Usually when I come through the door he's right there waiting for me. Today was different, and I had a bad feeling about it.
Searching my apartment, I felt my eyes burn with tears. My apartment is always locked up how could he have left? Sighing quietly, I smothered my face in the couch cushion. As soon as I felt myself dozing off my phone chimed loudly on the coffee table. I slid my phone unlock and stared at the message that appeared on my screen. It was just my dad checking on me. After telling him I was fine, I placed my phone back on the coffee table and attempted to take a nap.
Of course that didn't go as planned. I only napped for fifteen minutes until my phone dinged from an email from Ms. Bennet. She sent the outline of our research paper and reminded us when it's due. I made sure to email her back as soon as I got the email so I could be sure no one would pick the author I want. If I didn't get the author I wanted then I would be in a bad mood until October 28th.
I chose F. Scott Fitzgerald because he was my absolutely favorite author. His soul was released into his writing. His words can make one rethink their whole life. His work almost never ended as a happy ending, and that's something I admire about him. Happy endings aren't promised in life and he brought realization to that.
I settled on a bowl of cereal and fruit for dinner since my cooking isn't the best. I nearly burned my apartment down trying to bake chicken once. I forgot the chicken was in there while I took a long shower.
After finishing my dinner I sauntered to my bedroom, feeling a bit empty that my childhood friend is gone. He could be dead for all I know.
"Positive thinking Majesty." I reminded myself.
My eyes landed on the black leather jacket that was carelessly placed on the chair in the corner of my room. I chuckled just thinking about the embarrassing encounter that took place earlier today.
I would get out of bed and dig around the pockets to see if I could find anything that would help me learn something about the man, but I'm far too lazy and comfortable to get up.
A heavy breath escaped my lips as I examined the paper in front of me. I've been around several neighborhoods hanging lost dog papers. I still don't completely comprehend how Ford could've gone missing. My door remains locked at all times. Unless someone climbed the fire escape and lifted my window, but who would go through all of that trouble for a dog? How would the person know what window to choose?
New York people are weird though.
I decided to take the short cut back to my neighborhood, which included cutting through the hood. I kept my head straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with everyone I passed. I hate making eye contact with people who were begging for money. It made me feel bad although I knew they were just going to spend my hard earned money on drugs or alcohol.
Leafs crumbled under my feet as I sped up my pace. The sun was starting to set and I really didn't need to be out once night falls.
"Wassup mami?" A white man asked as he leaned against the brick wall of a liquor store.
I ignored him and minded my business. He needs to mind his business also.
"I know you heard me bitch." He spat.
I stopped in my tracks and chuckled quietly. Guys are quick to call a female a bitch or hoe when she doesn't give him the time of day.
"Oh now you hear me?" The guy snickered.
I turned around, now standing a few feet away from the pale man. He was covered in colorful tattoos, even his face had tattoos on them. I slightly cringed at the sight of him. Colorful ink doesn't go well on white people in my opinion. Especially the extremely pale ones.
"So I'm a bitch because I didn't speak back to you?" I rhetorically asked. "Sorry but I don't talk to random guys. Especially ones who're tipsy and standing in front of a liquor store."
He laughed as if the words I said brought him amusement. He took a cigarette out of his pocket and stuck it between his lips, but didn't light it.
"Y'all hoes just crack me up, wanna act all smart and shit." He shook his head with a sly grin on his face.
My eyes rolled to the back of my head at his idiotic statement. "You're funny, you really are." I began to leave but his hand grabbed my arm tightly. "Let go of me now." I demanded.
He pulled me closer to his body. My face scrunched up at the smell of his now lit cigarette.
"C'mon baby, stop frontin'." He mumbled in my ear. "How much I gotta give you?"
I pulled my arm, trying to get away from his grasp, but I just couldn't.
"I'm not a damn prostitute." I spat.
I pinched the skin on his hands and hoped that he would let go, but he didn't. Just my luck. He continued to grumble coquettish things in my ear as I struggled to get away.
"Yo," a guy called out. My head snapped up and my eyes locked with the guy I've seen two times yesterday. His eyes were blood shot red again. "Bryce we gotta go bro."
The guy, who I assume is Bryce, grumbled a few profanities under his breath before roughly pushing me forward. I stumbled but caught myself before I could embarrass myself.
For some reason I found myself interested in their conversation.
"Aye, get this bitch outta here or I'll get her outta here myself." Bryce sneered.
Rolling my eyes, I escorted myself back to the sidewalk and continued my walk back home.
"New York niggas crazy." Keiara scoffed through the phone.
I picked at my nails, holding my phone between my ear and shoulder. "He was white."
"Then white nigga." She spoke in a duh tone. I chuckled and rolled my eyes at her, although she couldn't see me. "Anyways, what're you wearing to the party?"
I shrugged as if she could see me. "Something that's me."
"You are not showing up in ripped jeans and a shirt Majesty." Keiara complained.
I listened to her go on and on about how she's going to choose my outfit and everything.
If it was up to me I'd honestly stay home. With Ford wandering around, or worse... dead, I don't want to go anywhere. If he's out there somewhere I hope someone returns him. I offered a $150 reward even though I don't have money to just throw around like that. That's how bad I want him back.
I constantly tossed and turned in bed. I couldn't get comfortable at all because I was so used to having Ford's thick fur coat right beside me. He's helped me through a lot, from arguments with my mom to bad breakups.
My mom's and I relationship used to be almost perfect until I became a teenager. She pushed me so hard to try and be perfect. She wanted me to dress to impress and cake my face in makeup. That just isn't me though. She has called me ugly so many times without actually saying the word 'ugly'.
That killed my self esteem so much, and since I was just a dumb adolescent I relied on a guy to make me feel pretty. That guy was my first and only boyfriend in high school. But what really pushed my mom over the edge was when she found out her daughter was only sixteen and sleeping with an eighteen year old.
She of course put me out for my 'grown antics'. I didn't have a care in the world because I was with the guy I thought I loved. We even talked about marriage, but once my mom threatened to turn him in to the police for rape he dropped me quicker than a New York minute. It was then that I realized he never had love for me, and I never had love for him.
Sadly, he loved the fast life and ended up being murdered a few months later.
If we were still together there's a ninety-five percent chance that I would be six feet under also. I'm happy I got out before my life was on the line. I'd never admit that to my mom though. I wouldn't be able to because I haven't spoken to her since I was seventeen. Now I'm twenty one going on twenty two in January. It's sad to say that I haven't spoken to my mom in almost five years.
Rolling out of bed the next morning was terrible. My body wanted to stay tied in my sheets, but my mind knew I had to get to class.
School will be the death of me.
•••
What do y'all think of Majesty so far? What about her mom?
This chapter is boring and ended kinda bad. But they'll get more interesting and longer soon.
Comment & vote. 💕