New Native Land (The Blossoming)

Chapter 27 (The Battles We Fight)

           

          I didn't get home until late and I barely snuck in. I was flustered and all kinds of confused, but it's Monday now and I had to get my life together. I hoped I didn't have to see Ahm today but I knew it was coming, I just hoped very hard I didn't have to. I sighed as I looked into the mirror and fixed my ponytail. I sprayed myself with my Chanel perfume and I put on the school sweater we could wear instead of the vest and blazer when it got cold.

          I sighed looking at myself. I said to myself "You can do this." I nodded in agreement with myself. "I'm out." I shouted and I walked out the house. "Good morning." Cecil said to me and I nodded back and got into the car. "Ce's do you think I could skip school today?" I asked him "hypothetically" and he laughed. "I don't think so, no." He answered me amused. I wish he said otherwise, I couldn't help the pout on my face. "Is it getting colder to you?" I asked him and he said "It's a cold front coming in today." I sighed. "I miss Texas." He looked in the rearview and sighed silently.

          When we made it to the usual spot I got out the car and he said "Your brother's said they'd pick you up today." And my eyes got wide "What? Why? No!" I whinned and he laughed he explained "I have prior engagements." I pouted but nodded "Okay." I said defeated, he gave me a half smile, I could tell he hated disappointing me. "Have a good day." I waved at him and walked off.

          I pulled out my book that I'm supposed to be reading and I began reading while walking down the street. I turned the corner and I didn't notice at first but someone had an eye out for me and I didn't know who but they did. I kept walking and I didn't notice I was about to run into Ahm. I stopped before I could and I looked up at him and he raised an eyebrow to me. "I thought you were going to run into me." He said amused, with a little smirk on his face. I shook my head no.

          "I'm careful now, because last time I got called out for being flat chested." I said remembering back when Scrap said I didn't have and boobs. Ahm's face changed to humor. "It's getting colder you need to wear a thicker jacket or something." He pinched my sweater testing out the fabric. I watched him and then went back to his face when he released my sweater, I nodded. "Have a good day." He finished off, I smiled and said "Thank you." I started to walk away but he pulled me back and he hugged me? I don't ever remember hugging him and yet... He hugged me?

          I don't exactly like contact like that and especially in public so it definitely shocked me. He let me go and stared at my shocked face with amusement. I collected myself fairly quickly but I was still shocked. I didn't know what else to do so I began walking away.

          I made it to almost the corner when I felt something not right and I was right because some dude walked up to me and stopped me in my tracks. I looked at him like he was crazy and he looked at me maliciously. Only then did I realize who he was, it was Trell. I looked at him amused but he didn't give me the common courtesy back.

          "Watch out." I said to him and I tried to walk around him but he punched me in the face, like legit popped me in the face, and really hard, it threw me off for a second, he was so bold. I hurried and collected myself because he was reaching for something and I knew it was either his life or mine. I reached too and I pulled out the knife my brother gave me, I flicked it out really quickly and before ol dude could even blink, I cut a straight line across his chest which stunned him.

          I returned with a left hook and he stepped back in shock holding his chest. I felt a pull on me and I saw him getting further from me because I think someone is pulling me back. I closed my eyes and breathed to relax myself because my adrenaline was pumping and I needed to calm down cause my heart was doing the thing it does when I get excited like this. I blinked myself back into reality and I heard the commotion finally because everything started to set in.

          Smokey and Ahm were standing over Trell and Shad was holding me back. Some other guys walked over and were inspecting the situation. Ahm turned around and he was furious. "What the fuck is this? Shad? Scrap? What the fuck? I told you to keep an eye on this nigga. Why did he reappear? He almost shot her." Ahm yelled at Shad and Scrap.

          Shad let me go. "I mean, when we whoop a niggas ass they don't usually act tough again Ahm." Shad told Ahm but he ignored him. "So, now niggas wanna be bold and shit huh?" Ahm said out loud but not to anyone specifically.

          He turned and asked "Do I looked like a fuckin clown to you niggas? You see anything funny?" Everyone immediately became scared and shook their heads no. Ahm spit venom through his teeth saying "I don't play this shit. If a nigga wanna get bold, get bold with me, not my woman. I dare one of you niggas to try her again." He turned back around and looked at Shad and demanded "Get on the bus and tell your cousin what the fuck just happened." Shad nodded. "Scrap follow him in your car so you can pick him up before he gets to the school." Scrap nodded too.

          I adverted my eyes from his gaze. He walked up to me and put his hand under my chin and lifted up my face to examine it. He turned my face to the left where Trell hit me and he stopped. He looked at it and my eyes grew wide "Is there something on my face?" I asked him worried, he looked like he didn't even want to answer me. My whole face crept with horror, the second my brothers saw my face someone was going to die, it was a given.

          "I'm taking you to school." He simply said and I shook my head no. He turned around and looked at Smokey "Smokey, what he lookin like?" Smokey let out a impressed whistle "He breathing she ain't kill em. But she got his ass though." His response was full of humor, vey Smokey like. Ahm kept his patented blank face simply telling Smokey "Take care of it." He took my hand and he practically dragged me to his car and forced me in.

          When he got into the car he looked at me and sighed but his face remained stone cold, how in the world could he do that? He started his car up and he pulled out driving extra fast.

          It was silent, not a word was said between us, I mean how could it be. I tried to look out the window into the mirror so I could see the damage but I couldn't and it was trying. "Just take me to the subway." I simply said and he didn't respond, I didn't know if he would or not. I looked back out the window and I thought about the first thing my brothers would say to me the second they saw my face.

          Maybe I could ask Draya for some make-up at school and I'd cover it up until it heals. I pouted because my face is just one of my shortcomings since being here. I cannot catch a break no matter what. I don't understand.

          I saw the subway stop coming up and I sat up and said "The stop is right there." He ignored me and my words. Ahm kept on and drove past the stop. I turned and looked at him and his eyes stayed focused on the road, he was fighting showing emotion but I could see he was super angry. I decided to not talk anymore, what good was it going to do anyway?