Playing With Fire

f o u r

•🌺 4 🌺•

It's been two weeks since the fight and Anthony hadn't spoken to Arnell since. By the time she wakes up for school, he's already gone. He's rarely at home, mostly staying at Jays house. And when he was home, he usually locks himself in his room.

Today was Saturday, nobody was home so Arnell decided to go to the library to work on a project she had been assigned.

It wasn't until she reached the last block before she realized she had to pass the barber shop Damitri usually chills at. She had no run ins with him since the fight and she'd like to keep it that way.

When she passed the barber shop, she saw Damitri laughing with one of the barbers. She quickly ran by and continued to the library. She let out a huge sigh of relief when she made it.

She texted Jada where she was. Sure enough five minutes later, Jada comes busting into the building. Jada lived right across the street from the library.

"Girl, you doing school work on your own time?" Jada teased. "Please, when I get an assignment, I don't look at it until the day before it's due."

"That's why your grades look like that." Arnell shot back.

Jada sat and talked Arnell's war off as she worked. They stayed for a few more hours until the library closed.

"You coming over?" Arnell asked her friend.

"Shit, I ain't got nothing else to do."

When they got outside it was raining. Arnell sighed at the fact she knew her hair would be ruined.

"How you get her?" Jada questioned.

"Walked."

Jada scoffed.

They got to the end of the block when a car pulled up to them.

"Y'all girls needa ride?" It was a guy who seemed to be in his late thirties early fourties.

Without hesitation, Jada began walking up to the car. Arnell quickly pulled her friends' arm so she couldn't go any further.

"No, thanks. We're fine."

Jada nudged Arnell in her side.

"You sure? I have plenty of room."

Before she could reply a deep voice stepped in. "Get you perverted ass from 'round here Clyde." Arnell turned around to see Damitri walking their direction.

"Hey, Meech." The man replied nervously.

"Don't "hey, Meech" me. And the next time I see yo old ass and you don't have my money, Ima fuck you up."

The man didn't reply, just rolled up his window and sped off.

"What the hell y'all two doing outside wit Clyde the creep?!" Damitri asked. Arnell was now face to face with him.

She was too scared to answer him.

He snapped his fingers in Arnell's face. "Hello? You stupid or somn'?"