Domonique
It felt good that I had someone that cared about me. Someone that actually worried about what I was doing, how I was feeling, all that. The complete opposite of Ashanti. In the beginning we tolerated each other. She was bearable up until she started using.
I swatted away the hands that tried to grab me and hurriedly walked inside and up the stairs. The door was always unlocked at this time. It was my job to come in and lock it because I knew Ashanti wouldn't. However, today the door wasn't open. I dug my keys out of the bottom of my bag and let myself in.
On the couch was a sober Ashanti, someone I've never seen before. She sat quietly on the couch and stared at absolutely nothing. There was no tv because we couldn't afford one so it was dead silent in the small apartment.
"Come sit with me," she patted the area next to her. With her, you could never tell if she was in the right state of mind. I ignored her and went to my room, shutting the door behind me. I kicked my black Timbs off and searched my drawers for something to change into. While I was bent over, Shanti stormed through the door and grabbed a fistful of my hair.
"I fucking told you to come sit next to me, so come on," she said in the calmest voice. Yanking my hair harder, she dragged me to the couch. She pushed me down and sat next to me.
"You think you so much better than me, huh?" She started laughing hysterically. This went on for about ten minutes. I thought she was done so I stood up to go to my room. I was pulled back down roughly and she grabbed a fistful of my shirt.
"I don't want to have to come up to your school and make a damn scene. Get your ass back here early tomorrow, okay? I will fuck you up if I don't see you." Her grasp loosened and I wiggled out of it and quickly walked to my room. I needed to leave.
Sure, I knew I had to come back, but a couple of days anywhere but here would maybe calm her down. With Jay and his game coming up, I didn't want him to have any distractions. Speaking of which, there was something I had to get together before I left for good.
All I wanted to do was support him, and call my little idea extra, it absolutely was. But I had no problem doing it. I dumped out the contents of my bag. I didn't want him to know about this project because it was gonna be a surprise. The shirt I bought was going to say something real corny when I was done with it. I had things to iron on it but I don't think it will take a long time. I finished it within an hour and it looked pretty good. The shirt had the number 32 on the back and the front said "You can't get past my best friend," and had a picture of us on the front.
My alarm went off waking me out of my sleep. I rolled out of bed and straightened out the sheets. I liked setting my clothes out before I took a shower and brushed my teeth. I didn't want to wear the shirt and have him see it; it would ruin the element of surprise. I brought out some black jeans that were ripped at the knee from my drawer. I liked to buy a lot of clothes but I'm not really a shoe hoarder. When it got cold I only had a couple of choices for shoes. My timbs were most comfortable so that's what I went with.
I hopped in the shower and the cold water stung my skin. If we didn't have hot water it was because the other tenants used it up too quickly. My breathing hitched while I got adjusted to the water. I lathered my body with soap and washed my face quickly then slipped out. If I stayed naked for too long I would keep shivering. I put on my clothes but not before putting on lotion. My bonnet and scarf were still on my head and I rushed back to the bathroom to care for my face. I rubbed coconut oil for moisture then misted with rose water. I didn't like a lot of make up except for a little highlighter. The last thing to do was drown my lips in clear lip gloss.
I removed my scarf and bonnet, revealing my slicked back puff. After lacing my shoes I grabbed my phone and charger and put them both in my shoulder bag. Outside of my room it was quiet and there was no sign of Ashanti. Luckily I had some mangoes left from the other day. I grabbed one and closed the refrigerator. I was ahead of schedule today and could take my time walking to the bus stop. The air outside was colder than expected, causing me to put on my jacket.
I sat and gnawed at the mango, its sweetness dripped down my mouth. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw a man sitting on the same bench as me scoot closer. "Let me do you like that, girl. I'll lick you right," he whispered in my ear. His breath smelled of liquor and he looked to be a little older than me. The guy looked dirty and smelled that way too. He almost ruined my morning when the bus pulled up. It was as if God sent Kirby my way. I quickly got up and rushed inside of the bus an greeted Him.
"Morning, Kirby." I gave him a fist bump with m and walked to my usual spot. I sat my bag next to me and pulled out some earbuds so I could listen to music. I was in the mood for some Tupac.
Two stops later it was my turn to get off. I skipped down the steps and began the short journey to Monroe. I spotted Jay parking his car and sped up to catch him.
"Good morning, Domonique." I hooked my arm around his and we walked in together.
"You know you can't call me that, Jaylen." I loved my name but saying the full thing reminded me of the family I used to have but not anymore. Raheem always said my full name when he talked to me, he hated nicknames. We haven't done that in a while and every day it was getting harder to not miss them.
"I sincerely apologize, ma'am," we walked up the steps and into the brown building of hell. When I saw a trash can I threw the pit of the mango inside.
"It's game day, boy. How you feeling?" We walked to his first class since everyone was already dismissed. He took me to my first class last week, so I wanted to do the same.
"I'm ready to rock some niggas, that's how I'm feeling. And of course now I know I gotta show out since you finna be there," he looked down at me as we neared a Coach G's government class.
"Don't hurt yourself trying to be clean. Go out there and win, I hate them damn Vikings," I said referring to the rivaling team. I let go of his arm so he could walk into class. "I'll see you at lunch, D."
I turned and proceeded to my first period, across the hall from his. It felt more like a free period to me. The teacher was chill and everyone in here knew they material, or at least claimed to. I got in and sat at my usual seat, next to Trey and some other girls. I chatted with them a little bit but him and I never talked, only exchanging small glances.
That was, until last week when he started exchanging words with me. He'd say things like "How is your morning going, beautiful?" And I would reply with short answers. I'm trying to let him know I don't want to talk to him indirectly. It was nothing against him, I just didn't like his crowd or what he was about.
"Wassup, ma?" I took my earbuds out and turned to face him. "Nothing, Trey. It ain't nothing special going on over here." I put both of them back in and played soft R&B music. I laid my head down on the desk and kept my self half awake, half asleep. I heard various conversations throughout the classroom. Including talks about college applications, food, and random ass tea.
Ahead of me, Mr.Brown was sitting with his bald head leaned back in the office chair. Light snores escaped his mouth as he slept. I always left this class ten minutes before the bell just because it got really busy around this part of the hallway. I was cool with Brown so he didn't care when I left and wrote a pass for me everyday before he fell asleep. I grabbed it off his desk and slipped out, walking to the nearby restroom. After pulling out my lip gloss I drowned my lips with it and left.
I grabbed a quick drink and turned the corner only to meet Trey. "I'm always trying to talk to you, but you straight curving a nigga," he said, pinning me into the secluded wall. His arm were next to my face. "And for what? Jaylen bitch ass? Let me show you what a real nigga about," his hands roamed my body as I swatted him away.
"Jay and I not even like that. And don't you fuck with Sierra?" I was tired of him being all up on me so I tried pushing past him, which did not work.
"The fuck does that mean? I don't care about her, I wanna see what you got going on though," Trey started unbuckling my pants when I grabbed his hand, yanking it away.
"Leave me the fuck alone, can't you tell I don't want you?" I used the wall to launch myself on him, making his stumble back. He quickly got up and grabbed my neck and shoved my neck against the wall. Pain erupted from the impact and the bruises Ashanti left.
"I don't give a fuck what you want. What matters is-" Students flooded out of the classroom due to the bell ringing.
I pushed him off me and quickly buckled my pants back up. Using long strides I rushed away from him, hating the situation I was just put in. I held myself together because I hated people seeing me cry. That, and I needed to for Jaylen. He wouldn't focus if I wasn't okay and it could possibly kick the team out of the road for state.
Another thing to think about was not telling him anytime soon. So despite my hammering heart, the shakiness in my body, I stuffed it all down and pretended as if nothing ever happened.