New Girl

Chapter 10

The first 3 months at a new school went by super quick. Detention wasn't that bad and because Zae was with me the minutes went by super quick. I've made a couple more friends but I only hang out with them in class. I'm doing well in all my classes too. A's and B's in all of them.

I've been out of trouble too. Yes me and my friends do rambunctious things in the city but no fights, no cursing out teachers, no street beef. Life is good.

I finally made a girl friend too. Her name is Tayana but she said to call her Yaya or Tiny. I met her during one of my class periods and we've been hanging out a lot. I was so happy when I met her because I didn't know how much longer I was going to be able to be friends with just guys.

It's cool but it drives me crazy. I can't even dress cute without them throwing a jacket over me or scaring the hoes away. I can't even talk to a boy without him thinking one of them is my boyfriend. So just having her around has been great.

Last week I found out Sam got back together with Anna. I haven't been talking to him as much and the guys talked me out of cursing him out.

They didn't tell me why but apparently he has a lot on his plate so they would rather him with her than him alone. "A mans gotta do what he's gotta do" that's what Manny said, I don't understand it cause why does he gotta do racist and ugly. I also found out that Sam's not white, he's Puerto Rican. We were driving one day and he started playing Bad Bunny and singing along like he co-wrote the song.

Things have been weird between me and Zae too. We've gotten a lot closer because of detention but it seems like he's been distant at the same time. Like he's fine when we're around other people and when we're in the group but when he's walking me home he's always so quiet.

I feel like he's hiding something from me but I don't want to ask him what. It feels like he's gotten a lot more protective over me since he saved me and it's starting to get annoying. They all have my location but he constantly insists that at least one of them come with me. He's gotten super close with my mom too and today she wanted me to invite him over for dinner. I think she thinks we're together but that's not the case at all.

I hear a knock on my bedroom door. "Come in." I say. It's gotta be my mom cause none of my other friends respect the house rules. The door opens and it's Zae. He's wearing a Grey Nike Techsuit and he finally remembered to take his shoes off at the door.

I let out a gasp "He knocks??" I say sarcastically. He just rolls his eyes and walks over to sit on my bed. He's gotten comfortable with my sarcasm and I think it's nice that I can be myself.

"Shut up bozo," he smiles as he sprawls out, his eyes are closed now but it looks like somethings wrong.

"Have you tried talking to Sam?" He asks me. I just shake my head. He continues

"He's been in a bad space lately. He knows the source is Anna but he refuses to believe it. We keep telling him, "Bro it's time to drop the toxic baggage and move on" but he continues to be with her. It's almost impossible for him to follow through with it, but he knows he deserves better." He stops venting and pauses. He thinks about his next sentence and whispers something to himself before continuing.

"She abuses him Mar, and even though it's not physically... mental, emotional and verbal abuse is still abuse." He lets out the longest sigh and wipes his face.

"I came over here because the guys and I agree you and Yanna or just you need to talk to him. Get over this stupid beef you have with him and make him listen, if you have to drag Anna so be it just make sure you drag her for the rest of us." He looks at me and I know that he's been thinking about this for a while.

He's been worried about his friend this entire time. I sigh and nod grabbing my phone out of his hand. I text Sam.

Hey Sam I know it's been a while but can we talk?

Samwise: Hey, yeah I get off work in about 20 minutes meet me at Prospect Park.

Okay bet I'll be there in a little 😁

"Hey Siri call Princess Tiny"

"Hellooo it's me" Tiny sings like she does everytime she answers the phone.

I smile cause it never gets old. I put my phone down on Zaes stomach and start putting my braids up in a ponytail.

"Yanna, Mari about to go talk to Sam and she wants to know if you wanna come with her just in case she needs to beat a bitch up." Zae speaks for me and I just stare at him. This is becoming way too normal my bodyguard and my vocal box.

"Oop" is all I hear but it didn't sound like her voice "As much as I would love to I'm bout to munch on some coochie so I can't be safe though okay love you byeeeee!" she hangs up.

Me and Zae look at each other and bust out laughing. As much as this girl talks about being gay I always forget she's the biggest lesbian I know. At this point I'm laughing so hard it hurts to stand. I clutch my stomach and sit on the floor and wait for me to catch my breath.

I put my shoes on. I'm already wearing sweat-shorts and a T-shirt I got from Shein so I slip on some socks and my crocs throw on a jacket and I head for the door. Zae follows me down the stairs and slips his shoes back on.

At this point it's normal for us to talk about anything and everything from the funniest Tik Toks we've seen recently to school drama. Sometimes he even tells me about his whore adventures and I always stop him before he gets too graphic.

Today though we just walked in silence. Its nice but I keep trying to peek at him to make sure he's good. We walk to the station and get on the train headed towards the park. It doesn't take long and when we get there we take a seat on the outside of the park and wait for Sam to come.

"I wonder where Sam works?" I ask

"Target unless he got fired then he works at Foot Locker."

"How long have you two been friends?" I ask again. We have time to spare so I might as well get information out of him.

"I met him in middle school. Our schools played basketball against each other but we didn't become friends till sophomore year. I met him through Manny." He constantly looks around looking for who knows what but it keeps him calm I guess.

"Do you know why he won't leave Anna?"

Zae shifts in his seat and sighs "You need to ask him that yourself" That's such a weird answer and it reminds me of what Manny said when I asked him why they got back together in the first place. I roll my eyes because that's not the answer I wanted to hear.

"Okay well do you honestly think that this talk is gonna work?" I was asking myself that but it just so happened to slip out. I look down the street and see Sam in that overly loud striped shirt.

"I hope so if we can't change his mind hopefully a woman's perspective can."