Love Is Complicated

Chapter 21

Zuri (the moment has come!)

I'm finally graduating! My high school is having it at UMBC stadium. I can't wait. My dinner dress is so cute too. Hopefully, I can go to UMD. I put on my white dress and royal blue gown and cap. At 11:00, the graduation starts. I got in the car with Anthony since his parents couldn't make it. I invited my mom and dad two days ago. Hopefully, they make it. I get my spot in alphabetical order. I wait for the graduation to start. After a long 45 minutes...

"Safari Johnson!... Oh, we seem to have another?.. Zuri Johnson!" The guy says.

I smile and walk up on stage. I shake my teacher's hand and smile at them.

I get off and wait for Anthony to come off too. When I spot him in the big crowd, I jump up on him and kiss him. He smiles at me. I squeal. His face goes down.

"Are you ok?" I ask him pushing his curls behind his ears.

"Uh- yeah, I'm good. Did your parents come?" Anthony asks me. I look down at my phone.

Messages

Me and your father cannot make it. I'm proud of you though.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I sigh. "No, they couldn't," I say disappointed. Me and Anthony leave and go inside his car.

My phone rings as he starts to drive on the freeway. I look at my phone. A message from UMD? I look at the message and it says "Hello Zuri, you have been accepted into UMD." I gasped as I didn't expect to get in. Anthony looks at me confused.

"I GOT INTO UMD!" I say yelling. Anthony looks at me and smiles.

"I'm so proud of you! Speaking about UMD, I have to tell you something." Anthony says while switching lanes. I look at him with all ears. 

"You can't go to UMD," Anthony says with a raspy voice. I look at him.

"That's not something to play about." He doesn't respond. "You kidding right? Anthony, please tell me you're kidding! This isn't funny!" I said about to break down.

He doesn't answer.

"I'm so sorry, Zuri. There's nothing I can do about it. I tried to change my parent's mind but they don't listen at all." Anthony says trying to cry. I don't talk the entire car ride. We get home and we stay in the parking lot.

"So that means you're not going to college too right?" I ask.

"No. I am. I'm sorry." Anthony says while trying to put his hand on my face.

I slap his hand off. My hand stays up. I look at my hand and immediately put it down. 

I sniffle. "I-I-I-I'm sorry," I said shaking. I remember what we were talking about.

"No! You don't get to do something I always dreamed of! I deserve my own future too! I don't want to be a stay-at-home mom. Speaking about Myla, where the fuck is she?" I say pissed.

Anthony tries to calm me down but I start to yell. I get out of the car and slam the door. After a few minutes, Anthony doesn't come out of his car. I go look out the window and his car is gone. Great. I go back up to the bedroom and after 10 minutes I hear a knock. Hopefully, it's not Anthony.

"Come in!" I say while on my phone. The door swings open. It's Anthony's dad. Wait his dad?

"You mind if I sit?" He asks. I nod confused. He touches my thigh.  I slide over

"Mr.Smith, No." I say terrified.

"Call me Drew." He says seductively. I get up but he pulls me down. I start to breathe hard. I try to move but he pins me down. He attempts to pull down my pants until Anthony opens the door.

"Hey babe. I wanna say I'm so-" Anthony attempts to say. He starts to breathe heavily. He starts to punch his dad until he comes off of me. I start to cry. I shake my hands as I get my phone. I call 911.

I started to gasp as I had the weirdest dream. (yall thought lmao) 

I notice Anthony isn't in bed like usual. I go downstairs to eat. I see balloons and breakfast pancakes that say "I'm sorry." I look up at Anthony who looks nervous. I hug Anthony so hard that he squeals.

"Why are you just so perfect!" I say while smiling hard. Anthony laughs at my smile.

"I'm gonna go get Myla! She would love this food!" I say cheerfully.