Tainted Innocence

C H A P T E R 1

"We must understand that sadness is an ocean, and sometimes we drown, while other days we are forced to swim."
- R.M Drake

Leilani

I wake up to my alarm blasting in my ears. Today was the last day of school. Online school that is.

I have never been to an actual public school, and I'm not sure if I ever wanted to go to one at all. Matteo, my older brother told me horrendous stories about public school. I even snuck and saw a few movies about public school, backstabber friends who make you wear pink on Wednesday, no thank you. So, I never really mind being schooled online. However, I did mind the loneliness.

During class I always found myself longing for a friend to talk and laugh with. Like now, I'm sitting here on a stupid Zoom, with a boring teacher and nothing to distract me, nobody to talk to. My parents had everything blocked on this computer, which only enabled me to do schoolwork. I couldn't even make online friends if I wanted to.

I wonder where Matteo is and what he's doing. He's been somewhere called college for a couple of months now and mamá told me that he should be home tomorrow. I was never allowed to go to college, I didn't even know what college was  I heard teachers mentioning it a lot though, something about scholarships and applications. Anytime I asked Mamá or Papá about it though they just told me not to worry about it, so I didn't. I always obey the rules

"And that is the end of class, enjoy your summer and your diplomas will be mailed to y'all seniors, in 4 weeks." Exclaimed my teacher, Ms.Smith. I exited the class and closed my laptop with a smile. I graduated. I'm finally done with school.

I put my dark curly hair in a ponytail and walk into the kitchen to make me glass of water. I look at the clock on the wall. 4:36, it read.

Mamá should be getting off of work soon, as soon as that thought crossed my mind the door opened, to reveal mamá. "Ahh Leilani, my beautiful girl how are you? Have you eaten? How was school?" She immediately engulfs me in a hug and bombards me with questions.

"School was fine thanks for asking and I'm okay mamà," I laughed before adding "You should relax, you know I'm a big girl now." A smile paints her golden brown skin before she kisses me on the cheek. "I know, I just worry about you. You're my only daughter." She laughs before pinching my cheeks.

"Yeah I kno-"

I'm cut off by papá entering the house. His presence immediately dominates the room and creates tension. He closes the door behind him before walking to mamá and kissing her on her cheek. He looks at me and gives me a nod in acknowledgment before sitting down in his chair in the living room.

Mamá gives me a tight-lipped smile before saying, " Well let me get started on dinner, I'll talk to you later. Also Leilani you should go talk to your father." She pats me on the back before scurrying away. She comes back as quickly as she left saying " Leilani Tanesha Giovolvi, didn't I tell you to take out the chicken for dinner?" I looked at her with wide eyes.

I knew I was forgetting something "Yes you did mamá, I'm sorry." I said she gives me a pointed look before disappearing into the kitchen again. I sigh before I start hesitantly approaching my dad. He looks at me from the corner of his eye watching my every move, before I sit on the chair across from him. "Leilani," he says in a gruff voice before rubbing his hand on his stubble.

"Papá" I repeated back in the same tone before continuing, " I finished school today," I added with a small smile. "Yes, I'm aware Leilani you don't need to tell me simple things that I already know." He said in a controlled voice. My father was a strange man, with his piercing brown eyes and salt and pepper hair. He never seemed to like me, even when I was younger, he never spent time with me or anything. He always would disappear and come back days later. He was a work acholic he was always engrossed in his work, never in his children, well at least never in me.

He spent time with Matteo. He would take him on his work trips with him and watch movies with him. I was jealous. I could never understand how he and mamá came to be a couple. They were complete opposites.

Papá cleared his throat, taking me away from my little rant, before speaking "Heard anything from Matteo?" He asked.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Of course, he's asking about Matteo right now. It seems that even when Matteo isn't here, he's on papà's mind. "No, but I'm sure mamà has," I responded before pushing myself out of the chair and making the way to my room. As I walk to our carpeted stairs I hear papà call out my name.

"Leilani." His voice boomed. I looked at him in acknowledgment, "Fix your hair, it looks a mess."

I just looked at him in bewilderment before nodding. As I make my way up the stairs I could hear mamá yelling at him. "You will not shame our daughter about her hair, she is a strong black woman in the making.." She went on to fuss at him, but I wasn't listening.

I opened the door to my clean room before crawling into my bed. I pulled the covers over my head before slowly falling asleep.

♪

"Wake up sleepy head " I hear in my ear. My eyes snap open instantly and my head flies forward connecting to something hard. "Ouch" the voice whispers in pain.

I rub my head and grab my glasses, only to see Matteo standing on the side of my bed with a goofy smile on his face. "What the heck Matteo, you nearly gave me a heart attack," I exclaimed while glaring at him.

"Stop being so dramatic." He said while rolling his eyes playfully. I didn't find anything playful about this behavior. I look over to my clock only for it to read 3:27 am. That just made me even more mad.

I sit up before glaring at him. "What are you doing back so early?" I grumbled wiping the sleep from my eye. Matteo looks at me through his green eyes. He was a spitting image of father.
He got his curly hair and plump lips from mamá though.

His lips stretched into a smile before saying " Is that how you greet your brother after not seeing him for months?" He hugged me before adding "I missed you sister."

My plump lips smiled back at him before returning the hug. "I missed you too brother."

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1078 words

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ik the song ain't got nun to do w the chapter so ntm 😭I js love LUCKI 🤗😞

so what y'all think about the first chapter? gimme yall honest opinions.

I really hope y'all enjoyed it.

And yes ik this book is off to slow start don't worry this is just the beginning :)

don't forget to vote or wtv🤭 I love y'all