CLIQUE

TIANNA II

"Everyone pull out your papers from last week and get ready to present."

I sat in the back of the lecture hall, punching my right cheek as I stared off into the distance. I was a little tired from last night because it took me a minute to fall asleep. Everybody took turns presenting there papers. We had to write about the Incline of Gentrification and how it has affected many of our neighborhoods.

I did mine earlier, when class first started. I know I scored low. I didn't even make eye contact. Just ran though it to get it over with.

I still can't believe me and Bria fought.

It wasn't even the fight, I just new she had something deeper against me that she wasn't telling me.

The class dismissed and I got a notification from the group chat. It was Dre, asking if we were meeting in the cafe. I responded,"yeah", and kept walking down the hall.

Usually school is calm. Everybody getting to class and just minding their business. But today all you could hear was people talking about the fight.
"Bria beat her ass!"
"Bruh nah, I think Tianna won that one."
I rolled my eyes, keeping my focus on my phone. Once I got to the Cafe I searched the room for Dre. "Where the fuck is he?" People stared me down, wondering if I was "The girl". Like damn. You get in one fight and everybody on yo' ass, waiting for your next move.

I still didn't see Dre and was honestly not about to wait. But then I felt an arm come around my shoulder, cuffing my neck, pulling me in for a hug.
"You good?" Dre asked, hugging me. I wasn't worried about anything until he said that. Then out of nowhere, I stared crying into his chest.
"Woah, what happened?" He asked concerned.
As I cried, his warm arms sheltered me as he walked me outside to the benches.

"I thought you said you was good. What happened in there?" He asked, wiping my face.
"Dre I don't know." I sniffed, looking down.
"It's been a lot this week. My grades, my confidence, my friends, it's just a lot."