Stay For Awhile

McKenna

     I yawned and stretched at my desk, glancing at the clock hanging on the wall across from where I was sitting. The time read 12:00 p.m., and it was almost time for lunch. My homegirl, Keke, was supposed to meet me for brunch at The Majestic Grille, one spot that Mikel would always take me to. When my thoughts fluttered over to Mikel, I couldn't help but frown. What the fuck was he doing last night that was so important that he stayed out all night? Of course he came up with some bullshit excuse about having to help Money with something going on at the club. I wasn't born yesterday, but I also didn't have any solid evidence to accuse him on. I could only believe his word, and hope he wouldn't fuck up a good thing. 

    Seven years earlier... 

    "Ms. Julie, you promised to take me hooome," a 17-year-old me whined as I followed my track coach around like a lost puppy. It was 5 p.m., and only a few students were lagging around in the hallways afterschool. 

    Ms. Julie chuckled and kept walking as I kept my arm locked with hers. She didn't mind though, I was one of her good track students, unlike the smart-mouthed knuckleheads she had to keep in check more times than she can count. 

    "Yes I did, but my husband is in dire need of me to come home right away. Your house is going out of the way, just this one time I gotta let you down pooh-pooh." 

    I rolled my eyes at my coach's nickname for me. I loved Ms. Julie like a second mom, but right now I didn't wanna hear affectionate pet names. I was trying to rack my brain on how the hell I was getting home. With both of my parents working all day, Ms. Julie always took me home after a long day of practice. This type of shit is why I couldn't wait till daddy bought me a car. 

    Ms. Julie stopped one of the young boys that walked past us and nagged at him for skipping class in the hallway a few hours earlier. "Ooh, McKenna, how about you ride home with Mikel?" The woman smirked playfully as she lightly shoved me towards him. 

    I protested, "Unh unh I don't know this mane like that! He could be a whole kidnapper." 

    Mikel frowned and looked down on me. "Girl don't nobody wanna kidnap your basic ass in the first--" 

    "Watch your mouth!" Ms. Julie snapped at Mikel before digging in her Coach purse and digging out a $20 bill. "Here, this should cover gas cause this child lives absolutely too far." The coach walked off afterwards, having full confidence that Mikel would do what she asked. Most of the students around here loved her and would do anything she said. 

    I slumped my shoulders in defeat as Mikel watched me with a smirk. I didn't find anything funny. He was one of the many niggas at this school I could care less about. He had his ways of dogging females out left and right...and these dummies still be lining up to get a chance with him. I said nothing as I walked past him to the parking lot, already knowing which of the few cars were his. Mikel had a thing for speeding out of the parking lot after school everyday, so damn near the entire school knew his whip. 

    The entire ride across town had me mean-mugging without even knowing. Some girl had been blowing up Mikel's phone since I slid in the passenger seat, and it agitated me even more when he answered her FaceTime call. He could do that shit on his own time. 

    Once his female hung up, Mikel glanced over at me before smiling to himself. I knew I looked good in my purple tracksuit, with my box braids wrapped in a ponytail behind me. I couldn't stand to wear my relaxer out while running; it was just a waste of money. The honey-blonde braids looked good against my golden skin. 

    "Which way I go from here?" Mikel was turning off of Germantown Parkway and onto a street I could he wasn't familiar with. His territory was back in Frayser, from what I heard, and it was nothing like this prissy ass neighborhood.