Unbelievable

18

I remained in the bathroom. I didn't know if the fight was over, or the police showed up. All I knew was that I couldn't watch that any longer. The fight had gone too far on both ends, but Antonio was the one who initiated it. His temper was no joke. He released every bit of it on Devin. I didn't want him to be so battered that he needed a trip to the hospital. My main concern now was the aftermath of this fight. Antonio beat Devin up because of me. That meant Devin could come after me. He bruised my eye already. It was no telling what other damages he could do. I could be the one in the hospital.

"Miesha, are you in there?"  Malesha asked outside the door.

"Y-yeah," I stammered.

She burst into the bathroom. "We have to go. The manager broke up the fight and threatened to call the police if we didn't leave."

"How is Antonio?" I asked.

"Still heated. Melina is trying to calm him down now, so he can drive."

"Okay." When I came out of the restaurant, it was just Melina and Antonio. Everyone else seemed to have left.

"That should teach his ass a lesson. The same will happen again the next time he tries to mess with any of you again."  Antonio was going off while Melina was massaging his knuckles, which were red and swollen.

"Hey Antonio. I found Miesha."

His fury eyes looked into mine. I took a few steps not wanting to be too close. "Are you alright, Miesha?"

"We need to go. I don't want that stupid manager calling the police on us." Melina spoke up and saved me from answering him. I just wanted to go home. Not only did I have fear in me, but I felt unsafe as well.

"Are you calm enough to drive Antonio. We don't need you driving like a maniac," Malesha said.

"I'm mad, but I will get you all home safely."

I was quiet in the car. Melina, Malesha, and Antonio talked. Antonio was still raging throughout the whole ride. I was over it. This was too much. Antonio took me home first, and I quickly got out of his car without a goodbye.

Strangely, the lights weren't on in the living room. Usually, I expected my dad to be waiting at the door for me. Bridget was probably occupying his time. I was right when I saw them in the den.

"Are you okay? You look spooked," Bridget asked.

"I'm okay. I'm going to get ready for bed."

"Hey, that boy didn't do anything to you? Did he?"

I had the urge to tell my dad about how Antonio has serious problems, and he shouldn't ever allow me around him again, but I didn't do it.

"No dad, not at all. He was good to me."

"Alright."

I spent the night thinking about what Devin said. He was saying that Antonio is no better than he is. There was also some information that I didn't know about Antonio. Devin knew more than I did because they knew each other.

When Devin and I went to the gym, he rushed out while Antonio was there. Then, he had been upset when I was around Antonio. Then, Malesha and Antonio were talking about him in class. On top of that, Melina did something to Antonio that he must not be dealing with. So many secrets. Troublesome secrets. After tonight, I couldn't do it anymore. Antonio's anger was out of control.

I crept into Theater without Antonio or Malesha seeing me. I didn't want to sit anywhere near him, so that automatically meant that I couldn't sit with Malesha either. She didn't say anything to me the whole time.

I dashed out the class. "Miesha, what is your problem? Why don't you want to sit with us?" Malesha caught up with me.

"I don't know. So much went on last night."

She stepped back and crossed her arms. "Is that why you didn't bother saying anything to us? Because of Saturaday."

"Antonio scares me. He could've killed Devin."

She scoffed. "I thought you were past that."

"I was until I saw that."

"Who cares about Devin? This is the same guy who slapped you and played with your feelings. He got what he deserved. Hopefully, he learned his lesson."

"I'm not trying to defend Devin. I just never seen something like that."

She held a finger up. "Of course you don't understand. Antonio has been through a lot. He has emotions too. But that doesn't make him a bad guy."

"I'm sorry. I can't be around him."

"You are no different than anyone else who looks at him like he's a monster. It's wrong of you to judge him before you get to know him. But since you can't be around him, then you can't be around me either."

Just like that our friendship was over. I had no one now.

I saw Tony across the campus after school, but there was no Devin, which meant no Ranea either. He was standing by himself. It stunned me when we made eye contact. I turned around and walked away.

His footsteps were behind a few minutes later.

"Wait." I stopped walking. "What's up Miesha? Haven't seen you in awhile. I miss you."

"I'm okay."

He spun me around to face him. He lifted my chin up, so that our eyes aligned. "Are you still mad?"

"I'm okay," I repeated.

"I'm sorry about what Devin did. If I was there, I would have stopped him. That would've never happened."

"Don't lie. That's your friend."

"That doesn't mean he can hit a woman especially one who's as beautiful as you are."

His charm worked cause I cracked a smile. It was a much needed compliment with all drama surrounding me.

"Thank you Tony," I whispered.

"Come on let me give you a ride home." He wrapped an arm around me.

Maybe I did have someone after all.