"Jelani stop!" I yelled hoping it was loud enough for my mom to hear.
He was blocking the door so that I couldn't leave.
"Nah, man. Who was you talking to?" He asked curiously.
I rolled my eyes frustrated. Jelani is my oldest brother and also my most protective. If he ever seen me even converse with a boy, he questioned it. I don't know why. I'm damn near grown. I'm 17 now and my birthday lands in December; only 2 more months.
He felt the need to protect me for some reason. Yes, I understood but sometimes he went too far.
"Nobody Jelani!" I yelled and tried with all my might to push him. He didn't even budge.
"Nah, it was somebody. Whose ass do I have to beat over my baby sister?" He asked loudly.
"Nobody's! I'm fine. It was nothing." I said for a second time.
"Yeah, Aight." He said and eventually moved out my way.
"Thank you." I said sarcastically followed by a fake smile.
He shook his head. "I'm serious. I don't want you fucking with these nothin ass niggas out here, Onika." Jelani said sternly.
"Mom!" I yelled so that she could get Jelani to leave me alone. He never takes my word on these kinds of things. I don't know why I even try. If I say it's nothing, that's what it is. Nothing.
"Jelani leave your sister alone!" She yelled from the kitchen.
I giggled. Without another word, he walked past me and into where Ma and Caiah was waiting.
I followed suit quietly. Sitting down in my chair, I picked at the spaghetti with my fork since I really wasn't that hungry.
"Nobody is going to talk?" She asked.
I stayed quiet. "Alright. Caiah how was school?" Caiah looked up in the midst of devouring his food completely.
"It was good. I didn't leave the color Green today." He said proudly.
I giggled. "Onika what about you?" She asked.
"I told you earlier, ma." I said quickly.
"No you didn't." She said back. "I want to know more."
I sighed and sat down my fork. "It was good. I have to start tutoring this one kid in my class starting Saturday."
I said quickly.
"Yeah, her lil' boyfriend." Jelani teased and I cut my eyes to him quickly.
"What Jelani?" Ma asked confused.
"Nothing. I'm just helping somebody in my class. That's it." I said while still looking at Jelani.
"Oh. That's nice of you. She in the same grade?" She asked.
She?
"Uh, yeah." I said nervously. "She is."
We'll just go with Meek being a girl for now. I don't know how my mom would act if she found out it is a boy's house
I'm going over Saturday.
"Okay. I'm proud-" we all stopped and looked up to see dad walking through the door, late as usual.
I rolled my eyes.
He looked us over and then to Ma. "What's there to eat?" He asked.
"Spaghetti." She said. "I'll fix you a plate." She got up quickly.
Dad came over and kissed my forehead. His shirt smelled strongly of a perfume that wasn't mom's. I let it go but I did cringe a little.
I smiled up at him with the fakest smile possible. I wanted to tell mom so bad but She would never listen.
Saturday
2:30 P.M
I knocked on the door of the address Meek sent. I waited silently until a short woman answered the door.
"Hi, Onika right?" The woman asked.
"Yes ma'am. Is Meek here?" I asked.
"Just call me Mrs. Kathy, and yes he is. C'mon I'll take you." I smiled and followed her in.
It was a small but spacious home. It was neat.
I followed her up the steps and to a room that was on the left. She knocked and yelled. "Meek, Onika is here! Open the door."
I heard the bed move and before I knew it, a shirtless Meek answered.
I looked him over.
He had on a pair of grey sweats and some socks. His body was nice for someone whose never played sports in his life.
"Wassup, Onika." I smiled a little and looked down.
"I got it, Ma." Mrs. Kathy nodded and walked back downstairs.
He gently grabbed my arm and pulled me in. For a boy, he room was nice and clean. He flopped down on his bed lazily with one leg hanging off. I swear you could see his dick print but I quickly looked away.
"Come sit." He patted the bed.
I did and got comfortable against his headboard.
I sat the Physics book down in front of us both.
"So what's your weakest lesson in Physics?" I asked him.
"Shit all of it. I never got this shit. I don't know how you do it."
He responded with a shrug.
"Because I study. Something you obviously don't do."
I said matter of factly.
"Look, I already got my moms on my ass about this shit. The last thing I need is a bitch telling me what I need to do."
My eyes widened at his words. "Excuse me? Bitch?"
"Yeah, man. You think you better than me? Just because you get this physics shit don't mean shit. You never had to go through what I have."
He said angrily.
I felt my blood boil. "You know what? If you want to be an ignorant dumb ass all your life then okay. But Im not helping you with anything."
"Matter of fact, go get those little hoes who you fuck everyday to teach you. I'm sure they will."
"'Man, get out." He said simply with no emotion.
I grabbed my book and walked out embarrassed. Here I am trying to help and I get disrespected.
I walked out quickly, ignoring the sound of Mrs. Kathy calling my name.
"Onika." She grabbed my arm. She had followed me out the door.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Kathy. But I can't tutor your son. I'm sorry, I really am. I just can't do it."
I left her grip and got in my car that was on the curb, driving off.
