It Ain't Black And White

11

Jake.

"hey cora" "hey want to come in a minute?" "Yeah alright" looking around inside the house it was small and looked awful. "don't be judging my home Jake" "this is tiny" "it's cosy" "a nice way of saying small".
"you deserve better than this". Cora never said anything just walked to the kitchen. Reading a note on the bench, I internally cursed. I need to contact James.
"I will be back in a minute then we can go"

- your daughter is living in an old shack and is being left at home alone. We will be at the cafe on forth in thirty minutes.

"Ready?" "Ahh yeah" following cora out, she locked the door then walked towards the car. "Why the meet up Jake?" "I wanted to speak with you" "can't do it on the phone?" "I didn't want to talk just on the phone" getting in the car, the car ride was silent. "You aren't much of a talker are you?" "No" "gathered that". Arriving at the cafe we both got out. "Here?" "Yes" cora didn't say anything just walked in.
"A table?" "Yes for two" "let's get a bigger one. More room" "okay then".
Following the attendant to the table we sat down opposite each other.
"How's the two weeks been?" "Amazing actually. Met a good bunch of people at school. Concentrated on my studies. Been to the gym. Ran and went out" "eventful" "yeah I like it" "that house though.." "theres nothing wrong with it. It feels like a home unlike that large plain white boring two story house" "what can I get for you?" "A latte two sugars" "a water thank you" "don't want a coffee?" "I don't drink coffee" "what would you like to eat?" "I will have the quiche" "a salad roll with beef thanks" "no problem I will bring them out to you shortly".
"Why don't you drink it?" "It's not healthy and I don't really like the taste" "so just water?" "Occasionally I will have a tea but water and juice are my go to" "has it always been this way or just when you started dropping weight" "always" I nodded.
"No troubles at the new school?" "Nothing I can't handle but I fit in with quite a few" "your friends from school have been looking for you" "well someone should set them straight" "what about you?" "I don't have their numbers" "what?" Cora shrugged "never asked".

Cora.

"Cora and Jake" 'i should've fucking known' "dad" "James" "hi Jake" "I think I will head off" "cora sit" "I'm not a puppy" "I want to speak with you" "and of course ya brought smashed face princess" "you are not nice" "not to you. It's sucks being on the other end huh" standing up I looked at Jake "thanks for the lift" walking out of the cafe my arm was grabbed. Looking at who grabbed me it was Jake "you need to speak to him" "why" "he's your dad" "so when did he ever give a shit". "cora" 'oh for fuck sake' "what?" "Come back inside" "I'm not sitting there with miss fucking know-it-all" "she's your sister" "you don't get it do you. I hate her, I don't want anything to do with her" "Jake go inside".
Leaning against the wall with my foot up and my arms crossed dad spoke "you are to come home. You have been staying in a small run down house and being left alone" "tell me what the damn difference is?" "I was always home" "and I was still alone. Actually I had Marybeth, she is a very good woman and wasn't oblivious to the bullshit that was going on. Other than that you didn't care, she was running her mouth making up bullshit to cover her own ass.." "stop speaking this way" "then I won't speak" "get in the car cora. I'm taking you home" "I'm not going anywhere with you or that..." "Cora" I rolled my eyes "I'm not going back to that boring plain walled white house that you call a home. Do you know where a home is? It's where your heart is. Do you know what makes a family rich? Love. That house hasnt got it. You kicked me out remember. Who the hell kicks out their daughter when she did nothing wrong and leaves the one that causes all the trouble at the house with all the luxuries she has got" "I did. I love you both, but this act you have got going on it's not appropriate. I don't know how to deal with you this way" "you just don't accept me for who I am" "I accepted the person you were" "that wasnt me. I hate the private school, I hate the stupid posh dancing, I hate all of that but you still pushed me into it" "there is no discussion you are coming home cora" "I'm going home" walking away, dad grabbed me "let me go" "get in the car" dad pushed me in the car then walked around the front. Fuck this shit, I can't even get out.
"Cora I'm doing this for your own good" I'm not even going to speak to him. "Answer me" staying silent dad drove back to the house then opened my door. "Get out" staying put, dad grabbed me and pushed me into the house. "You want to be treated like shit, I will do it" "James" looking at Mary Beth she had a sad look in her eyes. Getting pushed up stairs, dad pushed me inside the room and slammed the door. Oh I'm not fucking staying here. Opening the window, I climbed out and down the wall. Running down the road, I seen Jakes car but I didn't give a shit.
Grabbing out my phone as I ran, I ran through different streets so I'm not on the direct path.
"Cora didn't expect a call" "hey are you home?" "Yeah why?" "Can ya put anele on for me?" "What's wrong?" "I need to speak with her" "sure".
"Momma Cora's on the phone she wants to speak with you" "give me the damn phone".
"Cora need a lift?" "Yeah and maybe a place to hide" "where are ya?" "Running along east street towards our end" "stay on the phone, just Incase you change roads" "okay".
"Momma what's going on?" "We are going to pick cora up. She's running" "running?, what happened?" "Dont care" I chuckled "good to hear you laugh cora. Keep running" "I am. Still on east about to turn to ninth" "losing a tail?" "staying hidden" "from who?" "My dad" "mom put it on loud speaker" "you put it on loud speaker".
"Who are you running from?" "My dad" "wait didn't you have some meet up with white boy?" "Yep he obviously contacted my dad. My dad forced me into the car, pushed me up stairs in the house and locked me in my room. Climbed out the window and ran" anele and Emmanuel both laughed "he better not have hurt you" "probably a few bruises but hey I'm not stuck there" "turning down eighth" "we aren't too far. Mommas put her foot down" "I like a woman who has drive" Emmanuel laughed "nice pun" "doing what I can. Oh fuck" "what?" "Jakes car. I'm jumping back to ninth" "CORA" jumping fence after fence, I knew Jake wouldn't chase me "you good?" "Yep. Won't need to run later" "you won't be running cora" "yes momma" Emmanuel chuckled "we are on ninth, remember our car?" "Yep, I think I'm..yep five more houses" "ay get out of my yard" "sorry ma'am" anele and Emmanuel both laughed. jumping fence after fence, when I got to ninth, I looked around "which end?" "Towards home" "coming your way". running up the road, as soon as I seen aneles car, I jumped in the back. "thanks anele" "girl you can run" "got to keep fit".
"We need to collect your things" "I'm only hiding" "yeah at our place" "anele I.." "no. Come on" "you good?" "Yeah I am thanks".

Jake

Fuck. All I tried to do was help and now she's running. I never expected James to grab her and force her in the car the way he did. Seeing her take off running from James's house, I kicked Amelia out of my car and started looking for her. She's not safe down there and yet she doesn't care. How can her mom just leave her at home on her own. I know she's seventeen but that place is awful. Small, not much in the house, in a neighborhood full of black people that could possibly hurt her. Finding her on eighth as soon as I called her name she jumped the fence. Fucking hell, what am I going to do? There's no way I am jumping fences and who knows where she will go. Driving around the city for another couple of hours, I couldn't spot her anywhere. "FUCK" slamming my hands on the steering wheel in frustration, I didn't know what to do.