Cruel Summer

Chapter 24

Monday, December 3, 2018

~Ryan~

"So, the party is this Saturday, right?" Victoria asked as she popped her gum. Victoria is one of Reddy's best friends. I don't like her. I think she's getting a little too close to my man.

Yes, I said my man.

He's feeling me and I'm feeling him. Why not become a good couple?

"Yes, V. It's this Friday. My baby is going to be Santa's lil helper. Ain't that right?" Reddy said as he passed me the blunt.

"Of course, bab—"

"This is it! Ryan?"

We turned around to see Stacee and Toni running up to me.

"Who the hell are they?" Victoria asked as she made a stank face.

"Some people that I used to know. Don't worry about them."

"Ryan, why the hell haven't you been showing up to your class? We ran into Professor Weathers today. You haven't been to class since before Thanksgiving break! If you don't get your act together, you are going to fail and be behind." Toni said as she folded her arms.

"Yeah. Let's not forget that you haven't shown up to literature, Spanish, or communication skills class. You're falling behind!" Stacee said as she shook her head.

"And how the hell would you know her business?" Reddy said as he stood up.

"Maybe because her other classmates have been concerned and worried about her. They've been asking us if she was okay or not. Hell, we wouldn't know. She hasn't returned our calls. Matter of fact, she is our business. Who the hell do you think you are?" Toni asked as she got closer to Reddy.

"Hey, don't start nothing! Why don't you two just leave?"

"Ryan, you have a full scholarship! You are a smart girl. Why are you getting tied up with this boy? He's a dummy." Stacee said as she pointed to Reddy.

Reddy grabbed her finger and started to twist it, but Toni jumped on him.

"STOP, TONI!" I said yelling as I tried to get her off him.

All of a sudden, I fell backwards into the grass. Everything I once had in my coat pocket laid in the grass next to me.

"Ryan, what the hell?" Stacee asked as she quickly grabbed a bag that contained a white substance.

"What the hell is that, Ryan? Don't lie to us!"

"Give it back! Leave!" I said as I quickly grabbed the bag and hid behind Reddy.

"My girl and I want you to leave. If you don't, I'll stab the fuck out of both of y'all. Try me." Reddy said as he whipped out his knife.

"Ryan, we are your friends! What is wrong with you? You would let him stab us? We didn't do anything, but love you!" Stacee said as she started crying.

"It's okay. It's clearly we aren't loved back. She'll see she's making the biggest mistake ever. Let's go, Stacee." Toni said as she wiped her eyes and quickly grabbed Stacee's hand.

Before Toni got into the driver's side, she threw an envelope at me. It instantly fell to the ground.

"What the hell is this?" Reddy asked as I quickly picked up the envelope.

"She knows what it is."

Toni reversed her car quickly and drove away as Reddy put his knife in his back pocket.