A Quiet Place

1.

Kha'mazi Noelle Carter

10 Years Ago..

"I told yo ass to wash them dishes and mop the whole house befo I got home!" My dad yelled at me while holding a belt in his hand.

I walk backwards fearfully. He was totally being unfair, He left the house 30 minutes ago and expects the house to be cleaned in such a short time. Plus, I have to watch out for my younger twin brother.

"But-"

"No I don't want to hear that shit, strip!" He demanded.

I whimper and pull my pants down. Anytime I try to say anything, he shuts me down. There's no point in me talking at this point. I turn around, whimpering quietly. He forcefully brings the belt down on my back end.

I scream.

"Shut the fuck up!" He yelled before hitting me again.

I'm glad I told Carson to stay upstairs.

He hasn't been the same since mom died. This goes on for 15 more minutes until there is a banging at the door.

"ITS THE POLICE, OPEN UP!" The policeman yelled while banging on the door.

My "dad" looks at me wide eyed and grabs my arm tight, "You called them?!"

I whimper at the harsh contact, "No, I was he-"

"NO SHUT UP!" He yelled before shoving me into a wall.

The police busts into the house, "PUT YOUR HANDS UP WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!" The policeman yelled.

"I WILL GET YOU BITCH!"

I gasp for air, breathing heavily. I touch my face for it to be wet.

I was crying.

I get my breathing together before checking the time on my phone. It reads 4:45 AM. I sigh and lay back down looking at the ceiling- too scared to go back to sleep. I turn on my LED lights and grab my Mac book. I open my notes and start typing.

This is my venting system. I can't cut since I almost died twice and if I almost die again, I have to go to a mental hospital. I can't leave my twin like that so I just write in my notes.

I clearly didn't keep up with the time since the lady that adopted me and my brother walked into my room with a smile on her face.

"Oh, you're already up. Good, start getting ready so you can eat before you leave." She said gently but assertively.

I sign, "I'm not hungry."

She sighs, "You're eating something before you leave hun." She pats my back before leaving and shutting my door.

She is probably the nicest person who has taken care of me and my brother. We've jumped from foster home to foster home but Grace finally had adopted us- even after she heard about my attempts. I can tell she genuinely cares so I abide by her rules.

I get up from my desk and go towards one of the boxes with my clothes in them. Oh yeah, me and Carson used to live in St Louis but she moved us all the way to California. I'm not mad but it's something I'm not used to.

I put on camouflage pants and a brown essentials hoodie. I put on my gold jewelry and my smell good. I slip on my birkenstock clogs then let my locs down, so they can be in my face. Don't get me wrong, I'm not ugly- it's a comfort thing.

I make my way downstairs to see Carson stuffing his face with waffles. It low key looks good.

"Wassup Mazi." Carson said, greeting me.

I nod my head at him while grabbing a plate.

I sign to Grace, "Thank you."

"You're welcome sweetie. I have to go, I will cash app you guys money for dinner and whatever. If you're not coming straight home, just let me know. Make sure you get to school on time, Bye guys." She kisses our heads before leaving.

He nods, "I like ha."

I chuckle and sign, "I bet." before eating my food.

"Yo car or mine?"

I point at myself.

He nods, "Aii bet. When we leaving?"

I look at my apple watch and it reads 7:00 AM. The school 20 minutes away and the bell wrong at 7:45.

I sign, "Be at the car in 10 minutes, no later or I will leave you."

He mugs me, "Aii dyke.'

I pull him back by his hood and sign, "Pussy bitch." with a mug on my face.

He chuckles and goes upstairs with me behind him.

I go in my room to grab my spray ground book bag and my apple headphones. I get in my car and honk the horn, telling him to hurry up.

I'm really about to leave this nigga, I thought while shaking my head. I tap my fingers on the steering wheel, getting impatient.

He finally comes out of the house rushingly. I hold back a laugh when he almost trips on a crack. He opens the door and throws his stuff in the back, when he looks at me, he mugs me.

"Don't look like that, ain't shit funny." He said, before putting his seat belt on.

I make a confused face while backing out the driveway.

"Nah cus' you know you was finna laugh." He said, messing with the aux.

I quickly sign, "Anyways." Before putting my hand back on the steering wheel.

When we make it to school, he quickly gets out and uses the window as a mirror to fix his hair. I shake my head out of amusement.

I tap him and sign, "Come on bruh, we gon' be late."

"Chill, we new hea, we not gon' be late either way."

I nod, this nigga dumb. I start walking away, thinking he won't follow but I hear his foot steps. I walk in and find the office. Once we found it, we asked for our schedules but the sent us to the principal.

All this for what?

"Ahhh you must be Kha'Mazi and Carson. Welcome to East High. Did they give y'all your schedules?" She asked.

"No ma'am" Carson answered.

"Okay then I will print them out for you. To save you guys the hassle of finding your classes, I will assign y'all a senior to show you the way. Y'all are juniors correct?"

I nod.

"Alright, I'm just going to call her up." She said with a polite smile. She scrolls on her computer before dialing a number, "Can you send Jor..."

I didn't hear the rest due to me putting on my headphones. I occupy myself on my phone. I look up-mugging- when Carson hits my arm.