James
We all hopped in Asher's car after diving out of the bathroom window to go to Harper's party. He didn't take any time starting up the car and heading over to Harper's house, a place I haven't been in a while. I was honestly kind of surprised she was throwing a party, to say the least. Her parents were kind of strict I would say... I mean, my house wasn't any better. When she came over my house, my papa would force us to let Julia in my bedroom with the door open the whole time. It was really fucking annoying.
At Harper's house, her mom would sit in the room with us the whole time pretending to clean her room... and we both know she was just doing that because I was there. We never got alone time, besides the times she would text me and say her parents weren't home.
''You guys excited?'' Felix asked the four of us. Malachi shrugged his shoulders, his face growing a red tint as he gazed down at his hands.
''I heard Isaac was going to be there. I wanted to spend some time with him, I guess. That's the only reason why I'm going.'' He admitted. I watched as Asher's smile left his lips, gazing up in the mirror at his brother.
''You gotta be respectful, my dude. He has a boyfriend, a scary one at that.'' Asher said to him. Malachi nodded his head, letting out a deep sigh before looking out the window. I couldn't help but laugh at Asher's words, my mind wandering off to Chaquille. He was far from scary, to say the least. The last time I spoke to him, he was talking to me about how he was planning on buying an anniversary gift for Isaac and how adorable he was. He never shuts up about him.
''Chad is far from scary, unless you mess with Isaac. Then he'll beat your motherfuckin' ass until you can't sit.'' Amber said. I nodded my head in agreement, earning a sigh from Malachi again.
''Why don't you try talking to that girl Fatima? You said you wanted to get to know her more.'' Amber asked him.
''What a bi icon...'' Felix mumbled to himself, leaving the four of us in laughter. Malachi's face grew bright red as he gazed over with Felix with a big smile on his face, shaking his head in disbelief.
We arrived at Harper's house a few minutes later, the sound of music blaring from inside the house immediately filling my ears as we pulled in.
''Oh god, I'm already getting nervous. I feel like I'm gonna throw up...'' Malachi groaned. Asher immediately pulled himself out of the car afterward, slamming the car door and leaving the four of us here. I watched as he approached the house, earning a round of cheers from the people that sat outside with drinks in their hands.
''They playin' Pop Smoke James. You already know what kind of party this is.'' Amber said to me. I couldn't help but laugh at her words- but I knew exactly what she was talking about.
''Come on Malachi, let's go find ourselves boyfriends.'' Felix said nonchalantly, leaning over him to open the door and push him out. He let out a squeal as he fell out of the car, eyes immediately landing on him as he pulled himself up from the ground. Felix waved goodbye to Amber and I as he grasped onto his brother, pulling him into the party with Malachi basically scraping the ground behind him.
Amber and I finally walked into the house to find Avery, Billy, and Ayran. I figured Harper was with Sapphire and her boyfriend... so we are definitely going to stay clear of them.
''You sure you want to hang out with us? You can hang out with Sapphire and Harper...'' I said to Amber. She scoffed at my words as we walked into the living room, my vision being met with people sitting on the couch with red cups in their hands. The house was dark besides the blinking party lights that lit different colors.
''I don't want to be around Harper's boyfriend, to be honest. Please don't tell her that.'' She said to me. I nodded my head at her words, my eyes furrowing at her response.
''Why don't you wanna be around him? Who is she even dating?'' I asked her. I didn't know they were official, to be honest. I don't really care or anything... She deserves somebody who is gonna take care of her. Not somebody who is so depressed they can't even brush their teeth daily.
''She's dating that white dude Connor from the football team. I don't even know why she's dating him! First of all, he's ugly. Two, he hates your guts. And if he hates my family, I don't want to be around someone who wants to beat up my family.'' She said through angry teeth. I couldn't help but sigh at her words, thinking back to Connor. Harper must have told him about how I didn't take care of her and all that shit.
She knows it wasn't my fault though, so he must be just trying to find a reason to hate me.
''Why is Sapphire with her then? Does she know?''
''No. The second he starts talking shit about you she'll be looking for us.''
We found Avery, Ayran, and Billy alone outside on the balcony. They looked extremely distraught for some reason... and awkward. They all stood there with soda in their hands as they gazed out at the night's sky, mumbling quietly amongst themselves.
''Hey, what's going on you guys?'' I asked. Avery's eyes immediately lightened up at the sight of me, a big smile lingering on his lips as he opened his arms for a hug. I pulled him in for a hug immediately as Ayran and Billy greeted Amber.
''Hey Mami, what you doin' with us? Can't find Harper and Sapphire?'' Billy asked Amber playfully. She immediately scoffed at his words, sending a slap across his shoulder in response.
''I don't want to be around Connor. I was just explaining that to James.'' She said. I pulled myself out of Avery's embrace, being met with his concerned gaze. I'd imagine they knew about him hating my guts too... I mean, they had to know.
''I think we should just head out, honestly. Everyone is just smoking and drinking and all that shit, I don't want to get caught up with the cops. I heard rumors that the neighbors called the police.''
Fuck.
''Did you guys drive here? I don't want to be around if they do show up. You know that I don't.'' I mumbled out. Avery nodded his head, holding up his car keys and motioning towards Amber.
''You want to come with us?'' He asked. She hesitated at first, only to begin nodding her head with her hair following her movements.
''I mind as well... We shouldn't be here anyway. I don't want to get in too much trouble.''
We made our way back into the house after agreeing on leaving the party. I really didn't want to deal with the cops again, especially at a party with drugs and alcohol. I have no problem with any of it, I smoke myself...
But I'm definitely not in a safe place to do that.
We made our way into the living room, my eyes widening at the sight of Harper looking at me with wide eyes. Connor stood beside her with his fists clenched in my direction, easily standing over me with at least five inches in height. I couldn't help but let out a shaky sigh as Avery put a hand out in front of me, looking at Connor with anger in his eyes.
''We were just leaving, dude. Don't start anything with him.''
''I thought I told you not to invite these dipshits?'' Connor said to Harper, looking back at her with complete anger in his eyes. She looked down at the ground, beginning to play with her smaller hands to avoid answering him.
''I'm talking to you, Harper.'' He said viciously to her.
''You better not be talking to her like that! I'll fuckin' throw you through the goddamn wall!'' Amber suddenly yelled out, reaching up towards her ears and beginning to unclasp the hoops she wore. Billy immediately grasped onto her, pulling her back from Connor and Harper.
''I don't like her either. You know that! I tell you to do one goddamn thing and you can't fucking do it!'' Connor screamed at her. I saw the tears welling up in her eyes as she flinched at his voice, crossing her smaller arms across her chest to protect herself in some way.
He's not going to fucking talk to her like that.
''If you have a goddamn problem with me, say it to my fucking face!'' I said, pushing past Avery's protective arm and pushing up the sleeves to my hoodie. I stood face to face with him... He definitely was a lot taller now that I was closer. Oh god.
''James, don't bother with him! It's really not a big deal!''
''It is a big deal! He's being a fucking little bitch!''
Everyone was crowding around us now in the house, cheering both of us on to fight each other. Connor looked at me with a look of complete utter hatred pained on his face as he shoved me back as hard as he could, forcing me to fall back on the ground below him.
I smashed my head off the tiled floor, my eyes immediately tearing up from the impact and sending my vision blurry.
TW: PTSD attack, black brutality
''PAPA!''
''JAMES? COME ON, TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE!''
All I could do was scream out for him again as I heard the cop's shoes making a click against the concrete. I couldn't stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks as he got closer and closer- I tried everything in my power to just crawl away from him. I just wanted him to get away from me! I didn't want to die! He was going to kill me!
He grabbed me by the head, pulling me up to meet the gun that he had in his free hand.
''DAD!''
''They aren't coming. It's just me and you.''
I was pulled out of the nightmare with the sight of Avery swinging his fists directly into Connor's nose, knocking him unconscious onto the floor. Harper let out a scream as he watched her boyfriend fall down onto the ground, the only other sound present in the room was my hyperventilating and crying. I felt so fucking embarrassed.
Why can't I fucking stand up for myself? Why am I so weak?
Avery reached down, picking me up by the waist and pulled me up into his arms, carrying me out of the house without another word. All I did was cry into his shoulders as I shook, the feeling of his hand rubbing my back up and down was the only thing that was keeping me from falling back into another attack. I hated it so much.
I hate myself.
He walked me over to Asher's car, opening up the passenger's side and placing me down gently. He kneeled down beside me, taking his hand and rubbing my arm gently. I couldn't see him through the tears.
''Do you need me to keep doing this? Are you here?'' He asked me. I shrugged my shoulders, whimpers of pain escaping my throat as I broke my gaze away from him. He let out a shaky sigh as he pulled me into a tight hug, murmuring comforting words to me as I cried into his shoulder.