The Glow Up

Chapter 1.

"Ayo ma!" a voice calls

I keep my head down while clutching the strap of my rucksack tighter. 

"Ayo" the voice calls again.

I pick my speed up almost buckling over the poorly tied laces on my baby pink converses.

"What that mouth do?" they shout.

I'm already in a bad mood this morning because my little sister took my edge control cream, so I now I've got on a woolly hat during Spring and I'm beginning to sweat. 

"Call the police" I shout back.

I hear the sound of running footsteps, followed by breathing not too far behind me. If I  start running now whoever it is will catch up to me, I turn around and lay my eyes on a tall dark-skinned guy with messy cornrows. He's wearing blue and white tracksuit bottoms with a tight short sleeved plain white top. He grins before looking me up and down with his dark brown eyes.

"So what's your name stranger?" he asks.

I roll my eyes before answering "Tameka."

"You got an attitude on you" he says.

I shrug.

"I like that" he says.

I roll my eyes again.

"Where you goin?" he asks,

I look down at my watch and the time is 7:42am

"College, but imma be late if I keep talking to you" I reply bluntly.

He stroked his beard before asking "Aight, can I get your digits?"

I shake my head slowly.

"Why not b?" he asks.

"I've got a boyfriend" I lie.

In my head I'm giving him five more minutes of my time to waste before I snap.

"Alright cool, have a nice day." he says calmly.

I breathe a sigh of relief before walking away.

"Ugly bitch!" he shouts, once my back is turned.

I know the words shouldn't bother me but inside I begin to relive emotions I thought I had buried away, then I spot Tameka.

"Bitch!!!" she screams excitedly while running to give me a hug.

 I get a good whiff of her lavender perfume and feel her curls stroke my cheek.

"You excited?" she asks. Her pink lipstick had smudged from the hug she gave me, leaving a weird gap on her plump bottom lip.

"Yes!!" I exclaim.

Tameka smiled revealing her crooked bottom row of white teeth and deepening her faint wrinkles underneath her olive shaped warm brown eyes.

"What's up with that hat though?" she inquires while reaching forward trying to take it off.

Predicting she was going to do this I took a step backwards and watch her stumble, almost hitting the floor.

"We don't have time for this c'mon let's go" I voice.

She gives me a playful side-eye before locking her arm into mine as we make our way to college.