Love in New York [Under Construction].

X.

Adam and I sat in our favorite deli shop. I poked at my food. He had been on my mind the whole day. He stopped eating. "Aaliyah, is everything okay?, You've barely eaten today." I decided now was the best time to ask. "Adam, can I ask you something?" "Sure, anything." "Why didn't you tell me you had a brother?" "Who told you that?" "Mr. Thompson, your old art teacher, who is now my fashion director." He didn't said anything. I got up and sat next to him in the booth. "You know you can tell me anything." He didn't even look at me. 

"...I never told you about him, because I don't like talking about him.."

"Well, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I just don't want you to hold things in." "We should get going." I got up and threw the rest of my trash away. Now he was the one that was silent. He walked me back to the Institute. "I'll see you later" he whispered, before walking off. I sighed and went back inside to the studio. I sat down and and tried to focus on my designs. I wanted to do an African themed clothing line, but my brain is mush.

I always do African themes for shows like this. Maybe I should try something new. I flipped to a new piece of paper in my sketchbook.

What's another culture that I'm familiar with?

I thought about all the Mexican books in Adam's house and started sketching out outfits left and right.

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I opened the door to the Institute and Adam wasn't there. I frowned and started walking to the subway. Halfway there, it started raining. I had no umbrella and no jacket. Fuck my life. I got to the subway, soaking wet and boarded the train only to find that there were no seats. I grabbed onto a pole and held on. My hair was already becoming frizzy and nappy from all the humidity and rain. The train came to a stop and I got off, legs aching and all.

"Long day?" an elderly, black woman asked me. "You have no idea" I replied. As I walked home the sun began to come out, providing me with some warmth to counter the cold from the air conditioner on the train. I saw Adam walking with Priscilla to the apartment building. "Aaliyah!" she ran over and hugged me. "Hey Priscilla." "Will you PLEASE help me with my math today? Please, please, please!" "Priscilla, what did I tell you about begging?" Adam asked.

"To not do it." I need to do a few more sketches, but I hated to see her upset. I saw Priscilla as the little sister I never had. "Let me get out of these clothes first. And then I'll come right over." "Yay!" she hugged me again. I hugged her back, despite my soaked clothes. We went into the apartment building and went our separate ways. When I opened my apartment door I saw noone to see no one. I placed my bag on the couch and saw a note on the coffee table.

Mom and dad wanted to stay in a hotel. Here's the address-

I put the paper down before I could read the address. I went into the bathroom, took my shower and washed my hair. I wasn't going to have time to fully dry it so I braided it into two thick braids. I grabbed my sketch book and a pencil just in case I got any ideas. I locked my door and went down the hallway to Adam's apartment. I knocked on the door and Adam opened it. "Priscilla is getting changed" he told me as he went into the kitchen. "Adam, Are you mad at me?" "No, I could never be mad at you..what happened wasn't your fault." I walked up to him and hugged him.

"I'm here if you want to talk" I reminded him. Priscilla skipped into the living room with her math book. "Adam, can we go to park when I finish my homework?" "Yeah, let me go call dad to let him know." "Is mommy coming?" Adam shook his head and walked out room. "She never comes with us anywhere.." she muttered. Every since I asked Adam about his brother he hasn't been acting like him self. Now I reject asking about it.

"Is your mother okay? Maybe she's just a little under the weather." Priscilla shook her head. "She's sick all the time. When she comes home at night she can't talk really good and Adam always has to help her into bed. And she can't talk really good." Is their mom an alcoholic? How much am I going to learn about Adam's family today? She continued doing her math and Adam walked back into the room. "We have to be back at six" Adam announced. "Yay!" Priscilla cheered, doing a little dance. 

I continued helping Priscilla with her homework, but she became visibly frustrated with a harder problem. "Mierda (Shit)" she cursed. Adam's eyes widened. "Don't you ever say those words again." "But mommy says them" she frowned. "Our mother is an adult! You're only a child!" he snapped angrily. Priscilla started bawling her eyes out and then ran out the room. "You didn't have to snap at her like that" I told him, standing up. "She's seven years old!" he replied. "Yes, she is seven years old! And children copy what that hear! There was no need to blow up like that.." His face softened, and walked out onto the balcony. I leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.

Jesus Christ.

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