Dig A Little Deeper

Sonny

I pulled my box braids into a low bun as I slipped my black hoodie on.

"Are you sure you want to go to school today?" said Papa as he picked up my hand and squeezed it tightly. "You could always stay home you know. We could watch a movie. You could get extra sleep. We could talk about what happened to your friend."

I huffed in and pulled my hand from his. 

"Look, Papa. I'm sad about what happened to Alia but you know..life moves on." I slung my hot pink backpack onto my right shoulder while trying to balance my  ebony red knock-off Marc Jacobs purse. "And plus whatever happened to her....she did it to herself."

I tried to hold my tears in as the lie slipped through my lips. my group  of friends and I knew so damn well the reason behind Alia's death.  According to the news report on television this morning, the police had found Alia's body struck between the engine of the car from last night and a tree. Although it was clear she was mostly likely killed from the impact of the accident, there was still going to be an autopsy done due to orders from Alia's parents meaning  the case was still going to be under investigation. They even announced that there was a possibility Alia was with other people during the accident who most likely fled the scene due to some footprints found. I hoped to dear lord no one find out the truth.

Papa gave me a sad smile. 

"Girl, come on. I know how it feels to lose someone who was close to you..someone who means a lot to you. You don't have to pretend like your not sad."

All of a sudden, a surge of anger fled up my veins. What we did to Alia may have been wrong, but in all honesty, she was a glorious bitch who was known for backstabbing and harassing innocent people.

"She wasn't really my friend, okay!" I hissed irritably.

Papa put his hands up in defense. 

"Sonny, I was only trying to help."

"Well your not helping, Papa. Alia Whitaker wasn't a friend. And I think you and everyone else should get that through your head." I got out of the car and slammed the door a little harder then necessary. 

                                                                                   _____

As I put my  books in my locker, I could feel the stares of the students around me. Throughout the day, people pounded me with questions about Alia and how I felt about her death. I tried my best to act sorrowful about Alia, but I just couldn't bring myself to pretend I cared about a 'friend' who didn't even act like friend. I guess what really got me worried was public finding out about what did....about how we left Alia stranded in that accident...about how we didn't even bother to save her. 

I pulled out my text book for AP Psych as I felt someone approach behind me, wrapping me in a tight bear hug. 

"I was looking for you," dripped a deep husky voice that usually warmed my insides when I heard it. Danny spun me around and looked down at me. His facial expression conveyed worry and concern. "How are you holding up?"

I slammed my locker shut and hugged my textbook towards my chest.

"I mean what can I say, Danny? People are already coming up with assumptions of what happened last night. They're saying that we probably were in the car with Alia during the accident since our clique is literally glued to her twenty-four seven. They're saying we probably drugged Alia  and left her in the accident. They're saying so many horrible things."

I wiped away the strands of tears that began falling down the sides of my cheeks. Danny pulled me to the corner of the hall and gave me another tight embrace. 

"They shouldn't be speaking on things they don't know shit about," said Danny as he checked my face and wiped away the stray remains of tears. 

"But Danny some of those things that they're speaking on are true," I sniffled. 

"Look, Sonny. I know that you're scared right now and we all are...and I know that what we did to Alia last night was extreme...but sometimes you just have to let things go...for the best," said Danny as he pulled my hoodie down from my head. I almost forgot I was wearing a hoodie. Was I wearing it all day?

''Alia wasn't the greatest person...we can all agree on that but I know that still won't justify for just...leaving her there. But at the same time we can't tell anybody what happened. This could ruin us and our reputations. And the last thing I want to see is you getting handcuffed and thrown in prison out of anybody," said Danny, as he looked off for a minute, probably thinking about the daunting memories of Alia. I shrugged my shoulders, wanting to melt into his arms even more before hearing the interncom make a crackling noise.

"All students should report to the auditorium," said Mr. Sanders, the principle of South Central High.

Danny took my hand and squeezed it tight as he gave me a warm, sympathetic smile. I gulped, my heart thumping in my chest.

"It's clear what this assembly is going to be about," I said as I took a deep breath.

Danny gave me another hug and pecked me on the cheek.

"Come on...let's get this assembly over with so we can go somewhere," said Danny as he wrapped one arm around my slender shoulders. I smiled for what seemed like the first time today because I actually liked the sound of that.