Never the Black Girl

Chapter 11

Tabitha broke down and cried, slipping the ring on her finger and reminiscing.

"Dear heart, are you feeling okay?" her mother said, peeking her head through the crack in the door.

" I'm doing okay... " She said, truthfully.

"Well, pack your bags, you're going to Denver!" Her mom shouted, busting through the door.

"What?" Tabitha asked, utterly confused.

"I'm sending you to go stay with your grandmother for the summer." Her mother said, excitedly.

"Mom...I don't want t-"

"You want your grandma to cry?" Her mother threatened, twitching an eye.

"No.." Tabitha said, frowning.

"Well, then PACK YOUR BAGS, cuz I already paid for your ticket..." She said, smiling.

"Wha- okay..." She said, accepting it.

"Good because you leave in hour."

"Bye, Sweetie." She said, leaving the room.

After 30 minutes, Tabitha had packed everything she'd need for a summer in Denver. She trudged downstairs, lugging her bags.

"Ready to go?" Her mother asked, smiling.

"Yes." Tabitha replied.

                 ~               ~

"Take care of yourself." Her mother said, smiling and trying not to cry.

"I will." Tabitha said, stepping out of the car.

"And get better..." Her mother pleaded, letting a tear fall down her cheek.

Tabitha felt bad that she worried her mother so much. So, she decided that she would try hard to get better.

                ~               ~

She had dozed off on the plane ride.

"Peanuts?" The flight attendant asked, offering Tabitha some. "They're garlic flavored."

"No thanks. I hate garlic." She said, turning her nose up at the peanuts.

"Me too!" The man next to her exclaimed. "It burns my throat, so I can't even go near them."

This man was gorgeous. He had sickly pale skin, dark, rich brown hair that covered his face, and long, strong arms.

"Hi! I'm Tabitha." She said, reaching out to shake his hand.

"Oh, what a beautiful name! I'm Caspar." He said, shaking her hand.

"So, where are you going?" Tabitha asked, politely.

"Denver. I'm going to see if I can't find a job there." He said.

"Well, best of luck. I'm visiting my grandma for the summer." She said, smiling.

"Oh, nice!" He said, smiling.

Tabitha noticed that his teeth were pure white and sharp.

He chuckled. "I get my teeth cleaned weekly. It's like my obsession..."

"Ah." She said, wondering how he knew what she was thinking.

He chuckled, but said nothing. He looked her in her eyes and all her sadness faded away. Nothing else filled her thoughts other than Caspar.

"Well, good luck, Tabitha." He said, winking.

"Thanks?" She said, confused. When he broke the gaze, she noticed that a long time had passed since she sat down.

                    ~              ~

"Grandma!!" She shouted, smiling.