The Vato and I (interracial/urban)

Corina

"He's coming." I said rubbing my sides from all the laughing I had been doing. I spun around to a piss looking Eli, I swear he is one weird dude, cool but weird. Eli always made a face when I talked about Henry or anyone of his friends. He also had a bad habit of appearing and reappearing.

After Henry leaving me to go to his "meeting" Eli pulled up in his car, a very expensive one I should add, and decided to take me home. Eli and I have gotten kinda close consider our only encounters are detention, it's crazy but this nigga and I talk about a lot of shit. I wouldn't call him a friend just as yet or maybe I should.

"I can't believe you said that to him!" I yelled while busting out a laugh.

"He answered me as if I owe him some shit. Nah, seriously what y'all about anyway, are you his shawty or nah?" Eli pressed while stepping towards me.

I can't even front Eli and his dry twist was attractive, thot like but attractive. His mocha color skin was flawless and his eyes always looked like he was always looking for something to do. I put both my hands on his shoulders bending forward a little to catch my breath. Eli put his hands on my hips.

"Vato and I have something to figure out that's all. Damn! Why everybody worried about us?" I said standing up-Eli still had his hands on my hips.

Eli gave me a look.

"Ain't no one worried at least not me. I just want to know why you messing with a gang-banger much less a non-black one?" Eli said gripping me close as hell to him.

I would love to tell the world that I'm pregnant someone anyone but Vato would've been good even the bitch Jasmine but I couldn't. I was sure how I felt about having a baby, in fact I have one more week before I can terminate it. I couldn't afford my business all around school. The world don't need to know the Henry Chavez got me Corina Jones seeded! Me, Corina the nobody in school, the "good one" out of the duo of Jasmine and I; pregnancy would be irony, and hypocritical. I always use to tell Jasmine don't get pregnant in high school but look at me!

"I had no idea that you were prejudice." I said but at the same time asked.

Eli laughed without humor. "Prejudice against what ma?"

"Hispanics." I said.

"Did you know that over a thousand people day a year over gang violence and activity, drugs. . ." He trailed.

"No..." I trailed backed.

"Well yeah, and all of those involve people like him. He is also a thot." Eli said while looking down at me with this look of disgust, like he tasted something nasty and wanted to spit it out.

"All his boys do is high and trap. Plus, many people are in gangs for various reasons, one of them being a sense of family. Shit if I didn't have to take care of my mother all the time I would be in one too. I mean we all know the things you just said but that can't be the only reason why you hate them all so much." I explained.

" I just got a hutch, being involved with him is a disaster. From what's been going on with the gangs in school hearing the stories of people dying and shit, I only assume that you would have enough sense to run while you can." Eli countered.

"Trust me, I know that this is not a match mad in heaven but he's gonna help me find my mom, I'm two months behind rent , and I have no best friend anymore so he is my replacement. He might be a banger but there is more to him then that, he helps his mama, and he actually isn't just a thot. He wasn't always a gang banger, or that dickhead popular guy in school." I said defending Henry. Henry and I use to be kinda close to Jasmine and I when we were younger, it was until that nigga became more attractive and decided to go to juvie that he became who he is today. He forgot everyone he use to be cool with and only stayed close to his homies that also went to juvie. He didn't even look my way for the past six years up until now of course.

Eli gave me this look, I knew this guy was holding back from something I just couldn't figure out what.

"Say, Eli." I said suspiciously.

"Why can't I remember you from any of the schools we went to?" I said pushing him back it's now my time to ask questions.

"I just moved here this year." He said way to fast.

"From?" I pushed.

"Rockland." He replied.

"Never heard of it, is that even in Maryland?" I asked.

"It's towards the west of Maryland." He said.

"You and ya mom moved to this hood for what purpose?" I kept digging. I don't know why but for some reason I feel like Eli holds back from a lot when we talk. I'm surprised I'm making it this far with him, normally any question I have about him don't get answered  cause he changes the subject.

"Charlamaigne gotta lot of business that I need to handle out here." Eli said pushing away from me. I would be lying if I said I didn't miss the heat his hands had on my hips.

"Well you picked the perfect year to come, niggas is getting killed out here and people are popping up dead." I shook my head, feeling that fright inside me again thinking of my Mom and Henry.

Eli just starred at me and smiled. His white teeth went nice against his mocha skin, that was a little lighter than mine.

"I know you don't gang band Eli but make sure you are safe." I said while cupping his face. Eli's company has been one of the only things this school year that has been keeping me sane. My life was changing, and I don't know if it's gonna be for he better or worse.

Eli's gazed shifted from me to behind me and pass. "What yah lookin at dude?"

Eli pushed away from me and tilted his chin in the opposite direction of what I was facing. I spun around only for my breath to stop.

There stood Vato at my doorway and boy was he mad as hell.