Monica
The wind blew my hair every which way as I sat outside catching up on homework that I forgot to do.
It was my lunch period but I didn't bother eating that cafeteria food.
I bit on the end of my pen thinking about this complicated math problem I was trying to solve.
"The answer is 177." A voice said.
I looked up and saw that Romeo was there.
"How do you know?"
"I'm smart like that." He smirked and popped the collar of his shirt.
"Boy please."
"Hey, don't get me wrong, I may act dumb but I'm smart. Very smart."
I laughed. "Thanks." I told him as I wrote the answer down.
"No problem. If you ever need tutoring hit me up."
"I'll think about it." I said and continued to do my work.
Romeo still stood there. "I almost didn't recognize you."
"And why is that?"
"You went from being red-headed and cute to being black-headed and fine as hell."
"Well thank you." I said amused by his compliment. It made my cheeks get hot a little.
The bell rung signaling my lunch period was over and I needed to get to 6th hour.
"Well that's my bell." I stood up from the bench and collected my books and pencils.
"Can I walk you to class?"
"Sure."
Romeo and I walked back inside the building. We turned on my hallway. I looked up and saw Noel and King holding hands and walking.
As they passed me Noel bumped my shoulder roughly causing me to shift back.
"Aye Noel watch where yo' ass going." Romeo said.
"Strike three." I said under my breath and dropped my books in the middle of the hallway.
I turned around heading straight for Noel.
"Mo where you going? Yo' class this way." I heard Romeo say.
I grabbed the back of Noel's shirt and turned her around so that she was facing me.
"Do you have a problem with me or something? If you do you need to solve it." I asked all in her face.
"Oh I'm sorry. Let me solve the problem real fast." She spit in my face. "You had a lil' something right there. Problem solved." She smiled and started walking back with King.
I wiped my face and cracked my knuckles. I charged at her pushing her into the lockers.
I put my hand on the back of head and slammed her face into the lockers repeatedly. There was now a dent in the locker and blood covered her face.
She grabbed a handful of my hair and started pulling it.
I sent my fist into her face punching her with all I had.
"Break it up ladies, break it up." A teacher said trying to stop us.
I was able to get my hair out of her hands. I pushed Noel on the ground and started kicking her with my Timberland boot.
"Chill out." King grabbed my arm.
I was still kicking. Noel grabbed my leg and bit it.
I knew her ass was a dog.
Now Romeo, King, Nick, and a teacher were pulling me off of Noel.
I surrendered due to me being tired of beating her ass.
"Go straight to the principal's office young lady!" A teacher yelled and pointed.
I've only been here for a month and I'm already in trouble.
*
*
*
"Thank you sir. Have a nice day." Sheri said walking out of the principle's office.
"Come on." Sheri said sternly.
I stood up and followed her outside to the car.
We got inside and she began driving.
"Your suspended for a week."
I sighed.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked Sheri.
"Mad?" She laughed. "Hell no baby. I hated that Noel girl. I'm glad somebody finally beat her bougie ass. I just don't like the girl, and I hate the fact that King continues to stay with her gold digging behind."
"You want some ice cream?" Sheri asked me.
I was in total shock. "Yea sure." I answered her question.
Now that I know Sheri isn't mad at me I kinda felt better about the whole situation.
She drove to the nearest place that sold ice cream.
"Come on sweet pea." Sheri said as she parked the car and got out.
I got out and looked up at the sign. The Creamery, the sign read.
When we walked inside I walked up to the glass and looked at all the different ice cream flavors.
"Which one do you want Mo?" Sheri asked.
"Umm. I will have the cotton candy swirl." I told the lady behind the counter.
Sheri ordered the same. The girl fixed our ice cream then we sat down at one of the many tables.
"What time do you have to be at work?" Sheri asked taking a spoon full of ice cream and putting it into her mouth.
"Four-thirty."
She looked down at her diamond Rolex watch. "Okay then we've got some time."
"Sooooo Valentine's Day is coming up. You got a special someone?" Sheri asked.
"Not really." I said and licked the ice cream off my spoon.
"Come on Mo. There has to be someone you like or got your eyes on."
"Nope. Not at all."
Sheri laughed. We talked and talked until the time got close to 4.
Sheri dropped me off at McDonald's. I walked inside and clocked in.
"Monica, your a little early." Mr. Mac said.
"Yea I know." I put my hair into a Chinese bun.
I went to the drive thru window and started taking orders.
"Would you like fries with that?" I asked the lady.
"Yes."
"Okay so I got a 6 piece McNugget, a Big Mac with extra pickles and extra cheese, a large coke, and fries. Would that be all?" I asked her.
"Yeah."
"Okay. Your total will be $13.35. Please pull up to the first window."
As the lady pulled up and handed me her cash I heard King's voice.
I turned around and saw him walk back to the stove.
"Hey King." I smiled at him.
He didn't speak back.
"I guess he's not in the mood." I said to myself.
"Hellooooo?" I heard someone over the speaker.
I sighed. "Welcome to McDonald's may I take your order?"
*
*
*
The time was getting closer and closer to 10 pm.
"Here you go ma'am." I handed the lady her happy meal.
"Thanks. Have a nice night."
"You too." I said as she walked out of the fast food chain.
"You ready?" King asked pulling off his apron.
"Yep." I said and took off my head set.
King and I walked outside to his car. After he unlocked it we both got in.
He turned the ignition on and smoothly pulled out the parking lot.
The vibe was kinda uncomfortable. I decided to break the tension and say something.
"So how's Noel?"
He looked at me then back at the dark highway.
"She's in the hospital."
"Oh." I said feeling guilty but I quickly shook that guilty feeling. "Well she shouldn't have messed with me."
"You could have been more mature about the situation." King said.
"Mature? Really? I wasn't just going to keep letting her bully me."
"You almost killed the girl! She has a concussion."
"I'm sorry that I gave your girl friend a concussion."
"Whatever Mo."
He turned on the block and parked by this abandoned building.
He reached under the seat and pulled out a gun. He stuck it into his pants and grabbed something from the back seat.
"Stay in the car." He said to me before getting out the car.
I sighed and put my elbow on the door. While I was staring out the window I saw a girl pass. She had a hood on her head and shades on her face. She looked familiar from behind.
King came back to the car and placed the gun back under his seat.
"Why do you have that?" I asked as he started driving.
"Protection."
"I hope that's the only thing you do with it."
"Girl be quiet it is."
A couple of minutes later we arrived at home.
As we opened the door the smell of food filled our noses.
"About time y'all got home. How was work?" Sheri said in the kitchen.
"Fine." I answered but King didn't.
Instead he just started walking upstairs.
"What's his problem?"
"Who knows."