Am I Settling?

2005

The air was humid as usual for Miami in late August. It was the first day of school and everyone was running around looking for their friends. Thats when she spotted him.

Xolani (Zo-la-knee) was crushing on a boy she'd never spoken to besides hi and bye. It was probably the last time she'd see him because she was transferring schools. Her father and grandmother agreed with her teachers from the previous years, she wouldnt be pushed to her fullest potential at this school.

She was being forced to attend some white / hispanic magnet school 20 mins away. It was away from her friends, too far to get a school bus to get her and away from him. She didn't want to go because her friends were here. This would be her second school in 3 years after a much needed move from Memphis, Tennessee. She didn't want to start over, she was shy and soft spoken.

Lani was a cute light brown (the color of cornbread browned to perfection), chubby faced, skinny girl who's head was too big for her body. She had long, dark hair done in small ponytails twisted down with knockers. She was mostly legs and those were skinny underneath her pleated uniform dress.

She kept looking at him. He was so cute to her. A chocolate brown boy with cute dimples. He had a round head (A/N this is the actual description of both characters as kids 😂😂 n his head was round as shit but somehow still square 😭) and was kind of tall considering it was only 3rd grade. He wore a forest green shirt with khaki bottoms and some shoes she didn't know the name of.

Oblivious to him seeing her stare, she began to day dream as she leaned on a wall. Her day dream was interrupted by someone standing directly in front of her. Him. He wasnt smiling which caused her to frown.

"Why you keep starring at me?" She was embarrassed and immediately apologized. He laughed and said she was pretty. She blushed and asked him his name. "I'm Sonde (sown-day). What's yo name?" Before she could answer her nickname is called. It was her Papa and she knew it was time to go. "Sorry I gotta go. "

She ran to her dad and he told her she was staying the full day because she wasn't transferred yet. She was so happy but only to have it crushed. The boy was gone from where she left him and she couldnt spot him anywhere.

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As the school days progressed she caught glimpses of him. If he saw her, he'd wave but he never came to her. She was disappointed but what could she do? She was too shy to approach him, especially with his friends around.

Its was the middle of September, nearing the end, and Xolanis' friend was having a boy girl birthday party. Xolani wondered if he would be there, she hoped and prayed he would. She wanted his attention.

Sonde knew the girl he met on the first day of school was going to the party, he specifically asked Devinity (D-vin-eh-tea). He wanted to talk to her but she would never approach him in school and she was always gone after school, which is where he waited on his mother to pick him up from after care.

His mom was always busy with work or caring for his older siblings. He was one of seven and often felt like his mom didnt notice him. He knew she loved him but she was always so busy and sometimes he wished his dad was still alive so his mom could spend more time with him.

All that aside he knew his mom was a blessing and he didn't want for much because somehow she always came through.

Back to the topic at hand, the party that could make the difference. See Sonde was beyond excited because he was gonna make his move. He was tired of seeing glimpses of her and her being too shy to approach him. He was gonna ask her to be his friend.