Karen walked up to the front of the class. "Can I go to the bathroom?"
"Wait for 5 minutes. You have to wait til we've been in class for 15 minutes after the bell." Pauletta said
"This bitch trippin." Karen said
Taraji turned around, "this who?!"
"You're new. Her ass is weird."
"That's my mother. You might want to watch your mouth around me before I flip this whole classroom upside down"
"And if my sister gon rumble, I'm gon tussle." Fatima said
"Wait. Just let her be." Pauletta said. "Can't have both of my daughters getting suspended right before Christmas break."
"Don't nobody care about that" Karen said
Taraji got up. Brandee grabbed her "no"
"Let me go. She got all that mouth. It's only right that I pop her in it, so she can know who not to play with." Taraji said
"Nah. We ain't doing that" Brandee said, "catch her in the streets."
"T, come here." Pauletta said
Brandee let her go so that she can go talk to Pauletta. "I'm trying mom. Believe me."
"I know you are, but you have to control that shit. You can't let everything that she says make you mad."
"It's the principal and the disrespect. I would've let it slide if she was just talking about me, but she's talking about you."
"I know. She's actually saying shit to get Fatima's attention. Fatima did the same shit 2 days ago with her. She knows that talking about me will get y'all to pipe up. Turn that down."
"Only for you mom. Only for you. If she even remotely walks past me, I might backhand her."
"Please don't."
"You know who coming behind me if I do. She better be careful."
"I'm sick of both of y'all right now" Pauletta laughed, "is the girl that grabbed you the new friend that you were talking about?"
"Uh yeah."
"Oh okay. That's cool. Why do you hesitate?"
"I'll text you. I can't say it right now."
"Okay."
Taraji walked back to her seat. She decided that she wasn't going to text her, but she was going to talk to her during lunch time. She walked back up and told her that she was going to talk to her.
*lunch time (2 hours later)*
Everybody went to the gym while Taraji went upstairs to room 211.
"Hi"
"Why you so nervous? What's going on?" Pauletta asked
"Um. I don't know how you would feel so I'm kind of nervous."
"How I would feel about what?"
"Me liking girls."
"Huh? Everybody likes girls. I'm confused."
"No, I can see myself marrying a girl. Being in a relationship with a girl. Kissing a girl."
"Why were you nervous to tell me that? I'm always open. I'm happy that you figured out what you like."
