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Onika Maraj March 14
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"Oh, bitch, it's really cute in here," Cassie said as I closed the door behind her. She hadn't seen the finishing touches on my apartment since the day we picked it out.
"Isn't it?" I replied.
"You really are talented. I'm gonna need you to come redecorate my apartment," she said.
"I damn sure will," I answered, going back to the kitchen to finish cooking. I invited her over after class tonight—I didn't have to work, and Beyoncé was busy. But I knew, as soon as she called or wanted to come over, I'd kick Cassie out in a heartbeat.
"So, you wanna tell me why you're in a new apartment all of a sudden? What happened to you and Lauren?"
"It's complicated," I said, though it wasn't really. I just didn't want to tell her.
"Well, shit, things have been weird between her and I, too. I thought we were working on rebuilding our friendship, but when I see her, she's off..."
I turned around from the stove. "Off as in?"
"Always jumpy now, like someone's watching her or some shit, and her eyes always wander. Never stays still... I think, um..." She trailed off.
"Think what?" I asked.
"I think she might be getting hurt, but she won't talk to me long enough for me to figure it out or help," Cassie said.
I sighed. "I didn't want to spill her business, but that boyfriend of hers ain't shit. He put his hands on me last week, and I told her, but she didn't give a fuck."
"Wait a minute, what the fuck?" Cassie said, her voice full of disbelief.
"Yeah, her boyfriend was kind of involved with my sister before, and he did the same to her. Honestly, Cassie, there's only so much you can do. But if a person doesn't want help, then you gotta let them be and back off," I said.
