On The Block // Jamie

02

Abuela wanted some alone time so I went over to Jordan's. Well, Jordan told me to come round but she did want some alone time, and she didn't like having him round.

I got on the bus and arrived at his estate. I knocked on his door and he took my wrist, quickly bringing me inside before I could utter a simple hello. He looked left and right outside before shutting the door. "Hey, ba-" I tried to greet him when I got inside but he cut me off instantly.

"Where the fuck have you been?" He spat, "You haven't been round in a minute and have been ignoring my rass clart messages,"

"Càlmante, cariño, my Abuela-" I tried to explain but he cut me off.

"Speak fucking english," He raised his voice.

I sighed. I was used to this by now. "I said, calm down, my Grandma had back to back appointments and I had to talk to this guy abo-" But I got cut off again.

"Guy? What guy?" He asked, immediately and I huffed, looking away. He grabbed my cheek and turned my face to face his, "What guy, huh?"

"Jordan, bro, chill," I said, swatting his hand away and walking down the hall. But this seemed to piss him off even more.

"Don't call me bro," He snapped, grabbing my wrist tightly and pulling me back. My breathing hitched and I just stared at him, becoming fearful of him. "What guy?"

"This guy called Peter, he's old and wanted me to babysit his daughter," I lied, if I told him the truth he would continue interrogating me. His grip on my wrist got loose so I snatched my arm away, screwing my face up at him.

•

I left Jordan's yard pretty late, around 8/9. I rang my Abuela and she said she was watching her show and that she managed to do her own insulin today, which made me very proud. So, when I got home I just had to put her to bed.

I hung up the phone and shoved an AirPod in my left ear, listening to Dave as I walked. I looked ahead and saw two figures sat on a bicycle rack smoking weed. They were dressed in all black with their hoods up. I quickened my pace slightly.

"Yo, miss?" One of them called, I glanced at him but didn't go over, "Yo?"

"Ay, Femi?" A familiar voice said, making me stop walking. I turned around and saw Jamie approaching me, blowing smoke from his lips.

"Oh, hey," I replied, slightly awkwardly. I rubbed the fabric inside my pocket between my index finger and thumb.

"You alright? Why you out so late?" He asked, "It's dark as fuck, it ain't safe," He said and I smiled on the inside.

"I was coming back from my boyfriends," I told him and I clocked slight disappointment on his face, "What you doin' out then, huh? If it ain't safe?"

"I'm just that guy, innit," He joked, making me roll my eyes, "Come, lemme walk you home," He offered and I hesitated, "You got fuckers like Kit around here, ya'know," Persuading me. Kit being his friend who catcalled me.

"Oi!" Kit called, taking offence.

I laughed, "We live on opposite sides of the block, Jamie, it don't make sense," I told him and he shrugged.

"It's cool, man, trust," He said, "Lemme walk you home, yeah? C'mon, please," He begged, noticing that I was still hesitant, "I don't want nothing to happen to you,"