Down Below (S4S)

Chapter 11

Asia POV

It's morning again, the early sun rays seep through the tinted windows. I slowly walk down the stairs, head down, just lost in my thoughts.

Several days have passed and so far, we have been going through the same routine everyday. To School, then to work, then to the house - and also including ending each day with an awkward dinner, since Jazz wants to ignore me every time I'm near. The atmosphere is always uncomfortable when she's around me, it's absurd.

At the end of the stairs, I stop walking as I notice Jazz and Mrs. Greene having a conversation. It seems to be more like an argument though. I could make out the words, "Nah Auntie why would I bring her?" coming from Jazz's mouth. Mrs. Greene notices me staring and points at me, whilst still facing Jazz, "Look she's right there, let's ask her if she wants to."

"Auntiee no don't ask her." Jazz pleads as Mrs. Greene signals me to walk towards them. I awkwardly make my way there and utter a slight 'Good Morning'.

Mrs. Greene looks at me and begins speaking, "Good Morning!" I nodded.

"Okay Asia, so Jazz is planning on going to New Orleans to meet one of her old friends."

I notice Jazz with an upset look on her face. I quickly look back at Mrs. Greene.

"Now I'm her aunt, and I know Jazz better than anyone. I can tell she is a little uncomfortable around you, and since you are going to stay here for a little, I want you guys to at least become friendly with each other." Mrs. Greene says while looking at both of us, mainly focusing on me.

"I won't let her go unless you go with her, so it's up to you if you want to go or not."

"But Auntiee!" Jazz yells, annoyed.

"Uh uh, ain't no yelling in this house." Mrs. Greene says to Jazz, "Give Asia the rest of the day to choose, if you don't take her with you then you are not going." I hear Jazz huff and Mrs. Greene tells me that I can go now.

As I'm walking back to my room, I go back to thinking to myself.

Does she not realize the pressure she is putting on me? Jazz is scary as hell, but she really seems like she wants to go. Just not with me. But if I don't go, then she'll be pissed. It's a lose-lose situation! And I can't even say anything to Mrs. Greene, because she was kind enough to let me stay in her home. Shit.

As the day goes on, Jazz becomes even more distant from me than she was before. I didn't even know that was possible. I really don't know what is up with her or why she hates me so much. At this point, it's just irritating.

Around this time it was lunch, and I was just walking around the school as usual.

Ashanti comes out of nowhere from behind and jumps using my shoulders, "Asiaaaa!" I turn around a little irritated, "Aye! My shoulders fam!"

She quickly replies with a genuine sense of concern on her face, "Ou I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I won't do that again."

I laughed, "Nah is alright." I continue walking as she follows me.

"Soo why you always walking around during lunch? You don't eat?" She asks enthusiastically. "I meaaaan, I don't really like eating at this time. It just don't feel right, ya know am sayin'?" I reply.

"Oh." She looks down at the floor, trying to come up with something to talk about. "Ou! I heard you going to Louisiana with Jazz. You excited?"

I look at her a little puzzled, "Who told you that?"

"My auntie did."

I look down and chuckle a little nervously, "I mean iono if ima go yet. Mrs. Greene says if ion go, then Jazz ain't goin' either."

"Then why don't you wanna go?" Ashanti asks. "Cus Jazz don't look like she want me to go wid ha." I reply while looking in the distance, noticing Jazz smoking in the corner. Ashanti begins yelling, "Mann fuck that! If she don't want you there, act like she ain't there!" I look at her bewildered, "Hm?"

"Just ignore her while you there the same way she ignores you." she tells me as my eyes light up. "Shoot good idea friend. You needa give out more advice."

"Aww I'm your friend?" Ashanti asks sarcastically. "Girl quit playing!" I yell as the bell rings and we went our separate ways.

I let Mrs. Greene know that I was planning on going with Jazz. She told me when we were going and a few other things I needed to know.

A few days later..

I place my backpack into her trunk and take a seat in the front. As I'm chilling on my phone waiting for Jazz, my car door opens abruptly. "Move yo bag out the trunk." Jazz mildly yells as she holds onto a luggage. "Hurry up b I ain't got all day." She repeats herself and I look at her confused. I look behind her to see a few other bags lying on the ground around the car. Damn, how many bags does this girl need. I get up and take my bag out the trunk and put it on the back seat. As I was about to sit in the front, Jazz said I had to sit in the back because she "needed her personal space". She is rude as hell. But whatever. It's cool, the backseat is more comfortable anyways.

The road trip was quiet. I had my headphones in and Jazz was focused on the road. We switched turns driving when one of us got tired, even though I don't have a driver's license. I would catch her staring through the mirror from time to time, but she acted as if she didn't..

When we parked in front of the hotel, Jazz set the car on parking and turned around facing me with her arm over the seat. She tapped my shoulder to switch my attention from my music to her.

"Aye."

"What? I asked. "Do you snore?" She asked me in a raspy voice, since we both were tired from being in the car for so long. "What thats gots to do wid anything?" I replied. "Do. you. snore?" She repeated herself. "No." "Do you talk in your sleep?" "No." She got out of the car, "Good."

We walked into the hotel and ended up booking a room with two beds and a bathroom. When we got into the room, I dropped my backpack and passed out on the bed. I was tired. No that's an understatement. But at this point, even these hotel beds seemed to be the comfiest thing in the world.

I wake up in the evening to the smell of her cologne. But she wasn't anywhere in sight. I wonder where she went off to?

I looked out the window to see that the sun had just set, I also noticed that the car wasn't there anymore. I checked the time and it was 8:30 p.m.. It's not safe to go outside right now, so I got me some change and made my way down to the vending machine. I got me a twix bar and then some coffee from the coffee machine. I went upstairs to work on my laptop. Mrs. Greene taught me how to order things for inventory for the first restaurant. So I guess that's what I'll do until Jazz comes back, since I really have nothing else to do right now.

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What's going to happen in Louisiana?

Also what character in this story (Asia, Ny, Jazz, Ace, Ashanti) seems the most interesting to you?

Stay safe y'all🧡