Were Just Friends

A Fresh Start

Hey, I'm Asia I'm from Alabama but when I was ten my parents moved us to Atlanta. Most people tell me my story is one for the books. My childhood wasn't the best. I was raped by my step brother but my dad and his wife dont believe me because the next day when i told them he was shot and was left for dead in the streets. My mother was a coke head and overdosed when I was 12 years old. I found her laid face down in the bathroom. My dad and I have somewhat of an okay relationship. A Year after my mom died we went to his mother's house (I say his mother cuz she hates me) and left me there to run off and "figure" things out. When he came back a year later he was married to this women Caroline (she don't like me either). They moved me in with them and her son when I was 14. I was 16 when my step brother raped me. Later that Year I got emancipated from my dad, found a couple of teenager programs and got on my feet. I'm 17 years movin into a new apartment away from my dad and his wife and transferring to another high school. After I moved into my apartment on Mableton parkway I went to register for school. When I walked in the building people was standin around talkin and playin. "I know y'all should be in class." This tall lanky women came out of a room. "Are you a student here?" She put her hand on her hip and looked in my direction. "No ma'am. I'm actually lookin for the front office" She pointed to the left of her and walked away. I walked in the office and to the front desk. "Hey can I help you?" This girl asked me. She had thirty inch weave with green and blue tips. Her outfit was cute too. She had on a sheer pink top with a white tank top under it. She had some light colored blue jeans with some cute sandals on. "I'm here to register for school" "Ok girl hold on let me get Mrs. Pepper" She picked up the phone and dialed to Mrs. Pepper office. About ten minutes later she came thru a side door. "How can I help you" "I'm Asia Houston and I'm tryin to register for school" "Ok you have all your information? And what grade are you in?" "Yes I do and ima senoir" I handed her my folder and she motioned for me to come to the back with her. It took about an hour to get me registered and for me to choose my classes and for her to schedule them. She introduced me to all my teachers and my homeroom teacher. When we were finished a bell rung and all the students came out of the classrooms. The girl from the front desk came up to me "Asia right?" "Yea" She pinned her hair up. "Kelsey and don't let the name fool ya" laughing "What is that suppose to mean?" She grabbed my arm "You'll find out" some boy ran passed us and slapped her ass "Aye Kelsey you need to stop playin" "Fux you Sneak" Kelsey stopped and turned around. "Y'all still comin tonight" Sneak stopped "C'mon you kno we ain't missin no party baybeh" "Bye boy see ya lata" We walked out the door. "Asia how old are you?" "17" she looked me up and down then shook her head "You cute and fine" "Um thank you" "You got a number" I stood still and pushed away from her "I'm strictly dickly hun" Kelsey put her hands on her hips then threw her hands up "You stand up for yourself that's good you'll survive" "Wait survive what?" "This school girl they hell" "It can't be that bad" She grabbed my arm again "You ain't just see Sneak dumb ass? Where's your car?" I pointed to the red Toyota Camry she clapped her hands "Yess boo nice whip" I laughed "Thanks" "Well that's my ride" She point over to where Sneak and two other guys and a female was standing. "Come on ima introduce you to my friends" "I guess" We walked over to her car which was a blue Toyota Camry. Kelsey stopped and pointed at my car "Look we twinin' it y'all" Sneak walked over to her and picked her up then put her on the trunk of her car "You always think somebody yo dayum twin" She gave him a kiss "Anyway Asia this my baby Sneak..." "Or you can call me Corey if you want" I waved "Don't interrupt my introduction... Anyway Asia this his brother Teke or Torey and this Yung or August" I smiled "Hey y'all it's nice meetin y'all but I gotta go" Kelsey jumped off the car "Ok ima walk you back over there" "You good you don't have to" "Ok well let me invite you to my party tonight" The girl that was hugged up with Yung looked up in my direction then at Kelsey. "Damn where my introduction?" Kelsey put her hand up to her mouth "We don't like her ass" The guys laughed and the girl hit Yung. "Fux you. I'm Crystal Yung girl" I laughed a little "Nice to meet you and Kelsey I would come but I just got settled in to my apartment and I..." "You got yo own apartment" "Yea I do" Yung nodded his head at me "Ballin ain't ya" "Somethin like that but I gotta go to work so I'll catch y'all later" Kelsey pulled out her phone "Put yo number in my phone so I can call you to change yo mind" I laughed and grabbed the phone "I doubt if you'll do that but give it a try" I put my number in her phone and waved at everybody then walked away I over heard Teke say "Dayum she bad" I smiled Yung agreed then I heard Crystal hit him again "Oh for real August" I walked on to my car got in and pulled off. When I got to my apartment I went in and put down my purse and keys on the counter. The way it was set up you walk in to the right of you is a coat closet you walk a little further and to your left is a counter and opening to the kitchen. To the right is the living room and a sunroom and in front of the kitchen is the dining room. Walkin pass that in a smaller little hallway to the right is the bathroom and straight ahead is my room. I kicked off my shoes. I already had my work clothes laid out so I turned on some music, wrapped up my hair and got in the shower. When I got out someone knocked on the door. I wrapped a towel around me and turned off my music then walked to the door. I peeped out the peep hole and saw my social worker "Hold on Mrs. Mason" I ran to my room put on some shorts and a crop top. I opened the door "You must have been in the shower" "Yea I was. You can sit down" "No I just came over to do a walk through." "Again?" "Yea bosses orders" She walked around then went in the kitchen. I started putting my lotion and perfume on. She opened the refrigerator "When you goin grocery shoppin?" "After I get off tonight" "Right. Did you register for school?" I put on my black jeans, took of my crop top and walked into the kitchen and handed her my paperwork "Where your shirt?" "On my bed I'm gettin ready for work" "Ok where yo bathroom?" I went in my room and pointed at the bathroom. She walked in and looked around "You got everything you need in here?" "I gotta get some towels and rags when I go to Walmart tonight" "Ok well I think I'm done here" I put on my black promotional shirt then my black vans "Ok cool... Mrs. Mason are these visits gone be like the last time?" "Acually" She paused for a minute "This is my last visit" I stopped doin my make up and peeked out the bathroom "For real?" "Yes ma'am you'll be 18 before our next visit will come up" "Oh I didn't think about that" She laughed "You ain't forget your birthday did you?" "Oh never that" I finish puttin on my make up then walked her to the door. She hugged me tight "Ima miss you baby girl. Keep in touch okay" "Yes ma'am you kno I will" She left I closed and locked my door. I went back to the bathroom combed and brushed my hair and pinned it up in a messy bun. When I was finish with my hair I grabbed my wallet and my phone out my purse. I looked at my phone and had a missed call from my dad and Kelsey and a few text from her. She sent me her address and the party info then another sayin I kno I wanna come. I replied and told her maybe next time. On my way out I grabbed my keys off the counter and called my dad back.

"BABY GIRL" "Dad stop yelling" "You never answer yo phone no mo" "I was gettin ready for work and Mrs. Mason came by" I walked downstairs to my car. My dad went silent. I opened the door then stopped. "What dad?" "Let me borrow some money" I got in the car and slammed my door. He coughed "You mad?" "Yes cuz you only call me when you want somethin" "So you not gone let me borrow it?" "No dad I.." He hung up the phone and I tossed mine on the seat and headed to work. I work as a waitress at the Porter Beer Bar in Northwest Atlanta so it takes me about and hour to get there. When I arrived I walked in. I'm a new employee but this old man always hits on me when I first get there. "OH baby girl... you look like you hurtin for somethin'" I stopped and stared at him "Old man" He put his hands on his head "Ima leave you alone... TODAY" I shook my head then walked into the building. One of the older lady bartenders took me in. She said it was cuz was a baby but everybody else say she does it all the time. Her name Elise. "You on time today" I laughed "I told you I was moving out of my dad's house this weekend" I walked to the back and put my purse in my locker. She followed me "So when you gone let me come see yo apartment?" She slapped my ass "Are you comin on to me cuz if you are...?" She helped me tie on my apron "Child please I don't want you" she laughed and smacked my ass a cupped it "But I would turn you out little girl" I turned around and she made kissy faces at me and walked out the locker room. I was a little shocked but I ignored her and went to work. From 5 at night to 1 in the morning I worked my ass off. When I left I was so tired I went to the wrong car. When I realized it I laughed, went to my car and headed to Walmart. I got out and the stench of bleach hit my nose. Which was odd cuz Walmart never smells like bleach. I grabbed a buggie and started my shopping. It's 2 in the morning and you would think no one would be here but not Walmart people stay in Walmart. I walked down the cereal isle with a cart full of stuff and got like three boxes of cereal. I heard somebody call my name. "Aye Asia... Asia" I turned around it was Torey. Yung, Sneak and Kelsey were with him. "Hey"