𝐒𝐓. 𝐆𝐄𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄 𝐈𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃, b.

𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍

❝𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞❞

𝐢 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐚 hand through my hair as i make my way through the hallway, passing a kid here and there.

i decided to skip my first couple of classes today and go on a walk, i need time to clear my head. being in california i was so used to going outside and staying outside all day, every day, so to be cooped up in st. george this past week has really taken a toll on me, and i have to get out. i was going to ask xyla to come with me but i thought not, she has work to catch up on and she's practically been living in the library these past few days.

the chains on my neck clink as i walk. i like to think of it as kind of a calling card, alerting other people of my presence. i'm dressed casual, just another t-shirt / cargo shorts combo, my same attire since i got here. my uniform if you will.

"where are you heading, bunny?"

jahseh's voice cuts through the soft buzz of kids' chatter just as i'm about to reach the front desk. i do a 180 and see him leaning against a wall with a raised eyebrow, about to light a cigarette.

"out."

"all by yourself? let me come with you."

"no," i say, still kind of bitter about the fight that him and i got into the other day. he apologized, yes, but apologies don't fix bruises and a sore body.

jahseh raises an eyebrow and i suddenly realized why he offered to come with me; as this is my first time anywhere outside california and i'm in unknown territory, it isn't exactly smart for me to be wandering out all alone, not knowing anything about this state or its layout. it would be better for someone that was raised here to come along with me, just so i don't get lost or caught up in any bullshit.

i sigh and roll my eyes. "fine."

jahseh's face lights up slightly and he kicks himself off the wall. "off we go then."

"no funny shit, jasheh. you're accompanying me on a walk, that's it."

"that's it." he repeats, nodding his head.

we walk right past the lady at the front desk - the lady i first encountered when i came here - and out the front doors, the hot florida air smacking us in the face.

"bunny, sounds familiar," i say of the pet name jahseh called me just a moment ago. "for some reason i feel like someone used to call me that. someone close to me."

"maybe in a past life or something?" jahseh suggests.

"yeah, maybe in a past life." i shrug.

"it's so fucking hot, oh my god," i blurt out, wiping a thin film of sweat from my forehead. we've only been out here for a minute and i'm already sweating. "thank god i wasn't a bitch from up north or i'd never be able to survive here."

"you're from cali right?"

i nod. "it's just as hot there as it is there. cali is just one giant fucking oven, and living in la, i was right in the center." i sigh. "cali and florida are literally the same place, just on opposite ends of the country. heat, palm trees, beaches, hella tourist attractions and celebrities."