𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇.

twenty-one.

𝐤𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞 𝐣. 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐬
𝙳𝙴𝙲𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 || 𝙱𝙰𝚃𝙾𝙽 𝚁𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙴, 𝙻𝙰.
-

        Twas was three days before Christmas yet it felt nothing like it.

While everyone was out on winter break, Neno and I, were sat in a conference room with our school's board of directors. There were twelve people in here willing to give their opinions on Neno regarding the situation, and by the look on their faces I knew they weren't willing to believe his side.

As his tutor, I was allowed to be here and speak on his behalf since his own coach wouldn't. So here we were, hearts beating out of our chests, knowing that no matter what we said the outcome was already decided.

"Emanuel Jones, you are aware that recreational possession of marijuana is illegal in the state of Louisiana, correct?" Some white lady with a business suit and glasses spoke.

Neno cleared his throat, "I am aware."

"So what leads you to believe that you can possess two bags of marijuana, especially on school grounds?"

"I stand on my case that it is not mine, ma'am. I don't smoke or sell marijuana. I also wouldn't be dumb enough to leave it on school grounds. Why would I willingly risk my future like that?" He stated.

"That's the question that we're all asking."

It was easier said than done to argue that it wasn't his because there was no proof. There were no security cameras in the locker room and they knew better than to just take his word for it. But with a kid whose record is as clean as his, I don't see why not.

An older black lady stepped in, "If it were not to be yours then whose could it have been? And who would have been able to get into your locker?"

"I do not get along with majority of the team. Most, if not all, of them dislike me for reasons that I do not know. Any one of them could have planted that in my locker. I made a dumb mistake of leaving it unlocked on accident after a game." He explained.

They all just looked at one another before writing something down in their little notepads.

"I don't think any of them would hate you enough to sabotage your entire high school basketball career."

I raised my hand to speak and they allowed me to do so, "I'm Emanuel's tutor and I spend most of my time after school catering to his need to understand a specific subject that he is struggling in."

"Throughout my months with him, I know that he would not throw away his opportunity like this. He would not even make the mistake of leaving the substance at school. He wants nothing but success for himself and he's not dumb enough to believe that this would be okay. You should be looking into, questioning, and drug testing, the rest of the team before immediately placing blame upon him. Thank you."

I sat back in my seat after closing my argument as Neno just looked at me as if he wanted to just give me the tightest hug ever right now.

"We will review everything and perform drug tests on every member of the team. Emanuel, we will need you to come in tomorrow for yours." The older black lady spoke. "Meeting dismissed."

Neno and I grabbed our things as we walked out of the conference room. We were quiet until we made it into my car where we could freely talk shit, not having to worry who hears what.

"Dumbass board of directors." He sighed as I pulled off.

"It may be too early but it's not looking like they're going to kick you out. I think you may just get off with a suspension." I said.

"I'll take the best that I can get but that's bad too. If recruiters hear about this my offers may stop coming in. I might even lose the ones I have."

"You may lose some. But you're not going to lose everything over a little bit of weed, trust me. I think you'll end up being okay."

"I hope so. You finna drop me off at home now?" He asked.

"Do you want to go home?"

"I want to stay with you but I don't know what all you have planned for today, or if you're going to see your mom or anything. How is she doing actually?"

I shrugged, "She's on life support. I don't know how to feel like obviously I'm sad and upset but I have known this was going to happen for the longest. I think my family is going to keep her here through the holidays then you know.."

He held my free hand, "I'm sorry to hear that, Cici."

"Like I said, it's okay. I've sadly prepared for this." I frowned. "I would love to spend the day with you but I have a few errands to run."

I needed to find him a new Christmas gift ASAP. I had spent the last week conflicted between keeping the shoes or returning them and I just decided on returning them and using that money to buy him some clothes that he had been talking about. A part of me wanted to hang onto the shoes but if all things ended up turning out well then I would just buy them for him again.

"Imma miss you. When I can see you again?"

"You can come over Christmas Eve. I always have a small get together with Kha and whatever girl he has for the year. But this year you and Lani can come."

"That's cool with me." He looked out the window as I drove. "You can let me out here."

"A man usually walks a lady to her door." I mocked his voice, since that was what he had told me when he dropped me off one time.

"You're not funny." He straight faced me.

"Fine," I laughed and pulled over. "Bye, my love."

...

"You're back." Amani spoke as soon as I walked into the foot locker causing me to mentally roll my eyes and mess with the bracelet I had on.

"Yes, I need to make a return." I laughed awkwardly, holding up the shoes I had just bought previously, less than seven days ago.

"What was wrong wit' em?"

I scratched my head thinking about how I wanted to answer his question, "The person they were for wants something different. Something like that.."

He just nodded and tucked his bottom lip into his mouth, grabbing the shoes from me and placing them to the side on the cash register before walking back to me.

"I don't want this to come off as weird or unprofessional but you're really pretty and I was hoping that I would see you again after seeing you the other day.." Amani smiled causing me to smile back out of awkwardness and uncertainty on what else to do.

Help.

"Can I get your number or Instagram or something?"

I have a man, I have a man, I have a man. Wait, I don't have a man. Kacie, you don't have a man. But you have a man that likes you. But that doesn't make him your man technically. Amani is fine though.

Lord.

"Yeah," I agreed without even thinking as he handed me his phone, allowing me to place my number into it.

"I'll call you when I get off.. What's your name?" He asked.

"Kacie, people call me Cici though."

Yeah, my man calls me Cici. Fuck.

"Imma come up with some unique shit for you."

Okay dude.

I smiled and laughed before awkwardly walking out of the store. In reality, I felt like smashing my head into the wall or bursting out and doing the Jojo Siwa dance but no. I would look entirely crazy.

So instead I just took my friendly ass home.

...