𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐍' 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑

ZERO / THE SANDLOT

[ZERO] — THE SANDLOT
MARIAH IYANNI BUCKLES
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

— SIXTEEN YEAR OLD MARIAH SAT at her desk, more focused on the song lyrics than the lesson that her teacher was wrapping up. Just going through a break-up, Mariah found writing to be helpful, and she could easily write her emotions out instead of communicating them. She sucked at communication.

Lust and desire. You lure to me your flame then you fire. You call me Miss Mariah then say, with your last name it might sound a little nicer.

"Miss Buckles!" She glanced up, snapping out of her own world as she looked to see all the students staring at her, her teacher sitting on the edge of the desk in anticipation.

"Um—" Mariah cleared her throat before moving her notebook on top of her song journal, "Yes? Sorry."

"They need you up at the office."

Mariah rolled her eyes and stood up, already knowing what she was needed for. She made sure her journal was safe before she pulled her pants up a bit on her hips and made her way out of the classroom.

Walking down the cold halls, a part of her prayed she wouldn't run into her ex-boyfriend. They seemed to see one another everywhere and it was annoying as hell.

Mariah arrived at the office rather quickly, walking in and holding the door for a random student behind her.

"He's waiting for you in there," The receptionist spoke, not even looking up.

This was the third time in a two week span, and the umpteenth time in the whole school year. It didn't take a genius to know who was walking in.

"Thank you," Mariah mumbled before she made her way down the office hallway and into the conference room, her best-friend Kahari sitting there with a scowl on his face, her ex-boyfriend across from him, a bruised lip and red-bruised nose, and the principle sitting at the head of the table.

Mariah made her way beside Kahari, ignoring the eyes felt from across the table. "Really? Again, Hari? I told you stop defending me."

"Girl, gone," Kahari waved her off, "Ion care bout nunadat. This bitch ass nigga needa' keep yo name out his name. Bitch not tired of getting his ones up wimme and losing?"

"Man fuck you, you snuck me!" Rashaun stood up, Kahari glancing up at him with a bored expression.

"That's enough," Principle Richardson called, "Kahari stop taunting him. Rashaun, sit down."

Mariah felt her anxiety raising as her eyes connected with Rashaun. They were just in love two months ago.
How someone could cheat on you, post your nudes, and then have the audacity to be mad at you—it never made sense to her.

"Dis bitch ass nigga posting her nudes fa' da whole school ta see, n' den still speaking on her ass ain't gon fly by me. Not da slime," Kahari spat, his left leg jumping up and down under the table, "Ion even play bout her like dat—and his bitch ass know dat."

"I ain't gon be too many more bitches."

"Bitch!" Kahari spat, "Fuck you, bitch ass."