New Native Land (The Blossoming)

Chapter 11 (What's Done in the Dark

           

As Monday came around yet again, I was carrying a book in my hand. The first book we had to start reading. I was going to read it on the bus. Cecil dropped me off and I waved at him as he said his usual "Have a good day." I walked and I turned the corner and I looked up from my book and saw the crew sitting there talking. I sighed and as always had my plan to avoid them if possible and keep going on with my day.

          I looked back down at my book using it as a distractor and it was working until Scrap took the book out my hands "What's this?" He asked and I looked at him like he was stupid "A book." I said to him like he was dumb. I reached for it but he yanked it away every time I got close to getting it back. "Can I have my book back please?" I asked him and he looked at it weird again.

          "I'll give it back when you come back from school this evening." He told me and I looked at him like he was crazy. "I need my book today." He shrugged his shoulders "I don't care." He joked and I glared at him and I stopped reaching for the book. "Give me my book, or I'm going to kick you in the nuts." I gave him options and he laughed because he thought I was playing. "Kick me then."  I nodded saying "Okay." And right when I was about to kick him he stopped me and looked at me with wide open eyes.

          "You were gonna kick me?" He asked shocked, I looked at him like of course "I said I was going to. I'm not playing with you." His mouth opened like he was hurt. "Wow, that's how you treat yo man?" He asked me and I mugged him and flicked him on his head again "We are not together." I told him and I took the moment that he was discombobulated to take my book back and continue walking to the bus stop.

          I got there and the bus started to pull up. I was so happy I made it in time because if Scrap would've made me miss the bus I would've kicked his ass. I climbed on the bus and it was packed. I walked to the back with everyone and they were reading the book too. "What page are y'all on?" I asked and Caz snickers and said "'Y'all'." I hit him with the book and everyone laughed. "I just started." Drew said and PB said "68." "I just started too." Caz said and Draya sighed "I did too." I nodded.

          When we got to school, me and Dray went to the athletic department to see if we made the team or not. We waded through the crowd to see the list and we both actually made it which is surprising but we celebrated and hugged each other. "I can't believe we made it!" Draya said and I had to agree with her on that one. I'm shocked too.

          After school practice was ending for both Volleyball and Football. We met up with Drew and he was with Chuck. I'm so glad I showered and freshened up because one of my biggest things is smelling good. I had to smell good at all times. I brought along my own perfume and deodorant because of this.

          Chuck smiled at me and I smiled back "Hey you." He said and he reached for a hug. I hugged him back and then pulled apart from him. "Hey, how was practice?" I asked him and he sighed "It doesn't get easier." He admitted and I nodded understanding because my body was so sore after today's practice. "And you? How was practice?" He asked me sweetly. "I'm out of shape." I admitted and he laughed. "You'll bounce back soon. Don't worry about it." He reassured me and I nodded my head and he winked at me.

          We said our good byes because Draya, Drew and I had to head to the subway. "You two are getting along." Draya said and I tried to rub it off. "He's a nice friend." I told her and both her and Drew said "Yeah, right." I opened my mouth and I looked shocked. "You're all like 'Oh Chuck! You're so amazing! You're just so wonderful!'" Draya over dramatized. "Yeah and Chuck's like 'I can make you smile. I dig you'." Drew continued on after Draya, I just rolled my eyes.

          "Better be careful though." Drew slipped out and I looked at him weird. "Careful of what?" I asked him and he laughed. "Don't forget who claims you in the hood. If Ahm finds out, Chuck's done." Drew joked and I hit him. "Ahm and I aren't together." We stepped out the subway having made it to our destination. "Yeah, so you think." Drew said slickly and I just breathed out.

          We walked up the stairs and walked to the bus stop. "I say don't even worry about it. Ahm probably doesn't even like you like that." Draya said and I agreed. "You only say that cause you don't know him like I do. Ahm isn't going to tell the whole hood not to mess with one person just cause he feels like it. He clearly has some sort of feelings towards her, I just don't know what kind it is." Drew let be known and I tried not to even think about it, I mean why would he even like me? He doesn't know me, he barely talks to me and I only see him once or twice a day for a maximum of 10 minutes. How do you decide you like someone like that, right?

          When it finally got to my stop I bid my friends good bye. I got off. I was tired, I just wanted to get home. I sighed out loud and I pulled out my book and I started reading and when I turned the corner it was like an almost party scene. Music was blasting out of people's windows and people were outside dancing. I ignored the festivities and I kept walking.

          I walked until I ran into someone, I looked up and it was Scrap. I held my chest because I bumped my chest first into him and he was pretty muscular which impressed me because he didn't look like it. "So, you don't watch where you go? Or you thought I was a ghost or sum and you could walk right through me?" Scrap said with humor in his tone. I popped my gum and I rolled my eyes at him. "And I don't know why you holdin yo chest, you ain't got nothing up there." He added and then I gave him my death glare. I took off my backpack and put my book in it.

          He watched me and I looked at him and said "Now we gotta fight, square up." I threw my backpack down and he looked amused and wanted to entertain me so he put up his fist. "Why we fightin'?" He asked trying to clarify. I put my fist down and said "You talked about my chest, so now we gotta fight. It's a principal. I don't make the rules, square up." He laughed at me and he squared up.

          But just then I felt someone walk up behind me and I turned around and saw Ahm standing there with his usual facial expression. I looked annoyed and I picked up my backpack, I turned back around and said "We'll do this again later." He laughed again "Ion know what you trippin' about, you got a fat ass." I shook my head at him.