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KJ's POV
The bell rung, signaling the end of class. Students flooded the hallway, I threw my bag over my shoulder and started to walk to my next class. I'm pretty tall so I can see over a lot of students head but there was one girl in particular that stood out to me. She looked lost and it looked nobody cared. So I crossed through the crowds and made my way to her, I approached her and I looked up.
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|Ava|
"Hey, you look a little lost. Need some help?"
""Oh, hi! Yeah, I'm new here and can't seem to find my next class."
"I'm KJ. I can show you around if you want."
"That would be great, thanks! I'm Ava."
"Nice to meet you, Can I see your class schedule? So I can navigate you to your class"
"Yeah"
She handed me her schedule and I read it. Tracing my finger down to the time and ran my finger across to the class.
"Oh you have Ms Marvel's class next, That's my class. Come on I'll walk you"
We start walking down the hallway together.
"So, where are you from?"
"I just moved here from Arkansas. My dad got a new job, so here I am."
"Arkansas, huh? Must be a big change."
"Yeah, it's different, but I'm getting used to it. How about you? How's senior year treating you?"
"Not great, to be honest.."
"Really? Why not?"
"I don't know. School just isn't my thing. But enough about me. What about you? What do you like to do?"
"Oh, I have my interests. You'll find out soon enough."
We walked into class and I sat down, Ava sat down next to me and smile.
"If you need anything else, just let me know."
"Thanks, KJ. I appreciate it."
Class started and the teacher noticed that Ava was new and called her up. Class went by fast and Ava made me lose focus the whole time. She was so pretty.
>>>
It was finally lunch and they had the outside patio open. I seen Tatianna outside sitting on her phone so I grabbed my food and went outside. I sat down from across her and took her phone out her hand.
"Tati, we need to talk. Now."
"What?"
"You need to stop taking money from mom."
"Don't tell me what to do"
"Alright so I'll tell mom and Dad"
"No because if you do I'm telling them you asked me to hold a stack so you can buy stuff too and I'll tell them your smoking weed"
"I just wanted to help my dad KJ. That's all. He's having a hard time right now."
"I get it, Tati. But Mom and Dad worked hard for that money and you know it mom isn't so working right now so her budget is tight for now. If she finds out, it'll break her heart and make things even worse."
"I just... I don't know what else to do. He needs me, and I feel so helpless if I don't help him"
"I know you care about him, but we have to think about Mom and our family too. "
"You don't understand how much he needs this though"
"Stealing from Mom is not the answer. Do you know how much trouble you could get into?"
"It's not stealing! I'm just borrowing it to help my dad. I'll pay it back somehow."
"Borrowing? Really? And how exactly are you going to pay it back? You don't even have a job, Tati!"
"I don't know, okay? I just... I feel so helpless. He's my dad, KJ. I can't just do nothing."
"I know you care about him, but we have to think about Mom and our family too. Maybe we can find another way to help him that doesn't put us at risk."
"Oh, like what? You have all the answers now?"
"You're being so selfish, Tati! You're only thinking about yourself and Dad, not about how this affects everyone else!"
"I'm selfish? You're the one who doesn't care about anybody else besides yourself.
The argument got heated and Tatianna started to yell at me. She threw her juice at me and I cussed her The freak out. The principal was passing by and saw us arguing and the principal came out to our table.
"Both of you, to my office. Now."
>>>
Tatianna and I sat in chairs, fuming and avoiding eye contact. The Principal was on the phone.
"Yes, Mrs. Edmonds, I need you to come to the school immediately. Please as It's about your children. Thank you..Yes they're safe. Okay, I'll let the secretary know we'll be expecting Mr Edmonds"
He hangs up and turns to face Tatianna and I.
"I don't know what's going on between you two, but this behavior is unacceptable. We'll wait for your parents to arrive and sort this out together."
We sat in tense silence, the weight of our argument and its consequences hanging heavily in the room. I knew mom and Dad would find out what she's been doing and I didn't wanna stick around to find out.
