CHAPTER THREE
point of view | yasmine alaoui
...
my eyes watched the tall boy, zayne walk away from me. i smiled to myself placing my binder into my book bag. i barely had enough time to review my notes, but im glad i decide to come to the library anyway and talk to the quiet boy.
"i wonder why people call him weird." i questioned myself "he seems chill. jus minds his own business. plus hes ... respectfully one of the most attractive guys that go here. its rare to find a north african when white men and their short shorts are crawling everywhere."
with my phone in my hand i awkwardly flipped my book bag onto my back, fitting my arms through the straps; adjusting them onto my shoulders. i followed after in zaynes direction, the exit of the library. billie bossa nova now playing through my air pods.
"love when it comes without a warning," i murmured to myself pushing open the exit doors and taking a left down the hallway "cause waiting for it gets so boring."
"hi, yasmine!" valeria said from across the hall. i lifted my hand up waving hi to her, smiling. i turned the corner ready to for to my third block honors chemistry, mrs. luccia was my teacher.
...
"whole lotta sticks in the house, it's a gun show," nles voice rapped through my air pods. my head nodding to the beat, a smile wide on my face "bullets get him wet like a motherfuckin poncho."
"ion think none of yall want gun smoke," i sang aloud earning a few glances as i walked through the sea of sweaty students in the bus port. "dont second guess this shit, im gon blow."
now the end of the day students were shoving through standing students to get on their buses to get homes. a familiar jacket caught my attention, zaynes jacket. he was taller than everyone around him. he tripped over a freshmen who squeaked cuss words at him. he walked past them quickly onto the black top heading for lane 6. i walked past the freshmen he trampled. the back of his shoe was under his heel, zayne had flat tired him.
i giggled to myself and walked past him towards my bus lane, lane 3. the higher the bus lane, the farther you lived from the school. my hands swayed and i felt a small tug on the loop of my book bag, glancing over my shoulder meeting eyes with valeria.
"hiiii," she said throwing her arms around her shoulder. i hugged her side and laughed
"hey," i greeted back, the both of us dropping our arms as we approached the bus, "how do you think you did on the math test?" i asked as i stepped onto the bus, she was behind me. i smiled at our bus driver and walked past the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to the very back seats.
"i think i did good," valeria called out from behind me "either got an A or i choked."
i crackled a laugh taking my seat, she took the seat directly across from mine. she pulled out her phone after she set her book bag to her side. her acrylic nails tapping her phone.
"i heard there was a fight in the locker room," i said pulling out my phone as marc posted it on his private story. i tapped his story and flipped my phone showing valeria my screen. her jaw dropped watching the video.
"he got rocked," she observed, "damn. got his ass kicked by lewis? that was lewis, right?"
i nodded my head re watching the video again.
"never knew he had it in him," i stated shaking my head, "i heard he was talkin mess about his mom."
valeria gasped. the grade collectively knew his mom had passed away.
"thats fucked up," she muttered disgusted, "im glad he stood up for himself. usually he takes the piss."
we stayed silent until the bus began moving.
"how are you and devin?" i questioned and valeria smiled at me, "hes doing better. grief is hard to watch, but hes been looking happier recently. ive been going to his house everyday. it hurts seeing someone i love in so much pain, ya know?"
i nodded my head at her. she did a great job at giving the affection her boy friend needed after loosing his older brother. we shared another lengthy silence.
"what about you?" valerias voice asked up, "talking to anyone?"
i shook my head, understanding what she was asking, "nah, im not talking to anyone."
she sighed at my answer before asking, "well is there anyone youve got your eye on?"
zayne sitting diagonally in the library flashed into my head. i was slightly baffled that, that was my first thought.
"theres this guy," i started slowly, contemplating whether or not i should put it into the universe "he sits alone at lunch and i started like sitting near him ... and stuff."
valeria nodded her head encouragingly, but frowned once she realized that was it.
"girl-" she scoffed, laughing, "that cant be it."
i flared my nostrils at her and she laughed even harder.
"i thought you were gonna say you guys made out or something," she said throwing her hands up. i scrunched my face at her, "him existing is enough for you to say his name when i ask if youre talking to someone?"
i felt slightly embarrassed and flipped her off.
"we talked to each other and stuff," i argued, defending myself, "and hes really handsome. his eyes are so pretty."
she smiled a little at me, "well you should have said that! i thought the eye contact was enough to get your heart racing."
"it is," i thought ashamed
"nah pfft," i scoffed lying confidently, "but yeah i dont know ill see where this goes, ya know?"
she smiled at me and nodded excitedly.
...
"umi!" i called out stepping through the front door "mom?"
( umi translation : mom, mother in moroccan arabic )
i shut the door behind me and sighed before walking towards the upstairs stair case to change. my shoes didnt make a sound going up the stairs due to the carpeted floors we had in the house.
"since im home that means i can blast my music full volume! " i thought to myself excitedly. un connecting my air pods i hit shuffle on my vibin playlist, shoota by playboi cart ft uzi began playing. i smiled widely pushing open my bedroom door, tossing my book bag on my bed.
...
authors note: its gonna be two chapter for each pov before i switch.
