Cover up

The fight

SHANTE
Its been a week since the Orlando incident. I still feel as if we should call the police. Mama told us not to. I wonder why. Why does she let daddy do this to her? Its not fair. She doesn't deserve this at all. Mama has done everything right. She cooks cleans takes care of us and still works. She still manages to find time to bond with my sister and I. Tears rolled down my cheeks as the flashback of the altercation invaded my thoughts. I can still picture all of the blood shed and I can still here mama screaming. I cried into my pillow. Why is everything falling a part in my family all of a sudden? I dug through a drawer on my vanity in search of my metal container. When I found it I took out my already rolled blunt and my lighter. Thank God the a/c isn't on today. I opened my window and lit the blunt. I took a few hits before my phone rang.
"Hello?" I answered as I slowly mellowed out.
"Baby what's up?" Michael said.
"Chill as fuck."
"You wanna hang out?"
"Sure pick me up now."
"Okay I will be there soon."
I ended and continued to smoke.

DEREK
I adjusted my tie around my neck and headed downstairs to the kitchen. I saw Summer making breakfast. Its the first time I've seen her make breakfast since she fractured her leg. Its good to see her back at her duties again. I sat at the table and waited for my food. Summer took the plate and sat it in front of and empty chair. She sat in the chair and ate. "What happened to my food baby?" I asked.
"Don't call me baby. And of you want food go make your own." She sassed. I wanted to slap her teeth out of her mouth. How can she disrespect me like that?
"Never mind, I will ask Jasmine to get me some breakfast from McDonalds." I mumbled as I began to text Jasmine. Summer rolled her eyes at me. I know she still loves me despite everything. I see it in her eyes every day. But I still manage to do her dirty. I really want to be with Jasmine. I love Jasmine. I have no idea why I'm so fucked up. Jasmine and I started as a casual fling because Summer was busy all the time. I am a man with needs. Eventually we grew to love each other. Every time I came home Summer always had paperwork in front of her or making calls to her client. Thats why Jasmine and I started seeing each other last year. I don't want to be with Summer anymore. I don't feel the spark we used to have anymore.
I got up from the table and headed to work.

SHANTE
Michael finally arrived after 30 minutes. I had already showered and fixed my hair. I walked downstairs and saw mama on her phone.
"Mama, Michael and I are going to the mall." I said, lying through my teeth.
"Okay be back in two hours." She replied.
I walked out of the front door and headed to Michael's truck.
"Whats up beautiful?" He said.
"Hungry as fuck." I said. I'm still high as fuck. Now I'm really hungry.
Michael smiled at me and pulled out of the driveway. He drove to Chipotle. We both sat inside and ate.
After we ate we went to his place.
"Ma?" He yelled as we entered the living room. No answer. I guess we have the house to ourselves. We walked into his bedroom and I sat on his bed. "You want anything?" He asked.
"You have any rum?" I replied.
He smiled and walked out of the room. After about 5 minuted he came back with a bottle of coconut rum and pineapple rum. A smile came over my face. He handed me the bottle of pineapple rum. He knows that pineapple is one of my favorites. I opened the bottle and drank from it. I drank about half of it. And I drank it a bit too fast. Eventually my head will start swinging.
Michael and I spent the rest of the day drinking.

DAWN
I sat on the floor in my room and the flashbacks haunted me. I got my scissors and slit my arm. I watched the blood slowly flow out of my skin. Tears cascaded down my face as I tried to erase the bad memories from my mind.
"Dawny!" Mama yelled.
"Yes?" I replied.
"Come inside of my office!"
I got up and walked into the bathroom. I cleaned up my arm and covered it up with some makeup. I washed my face and headed to mama's "office".
Her room is basically her office too she has a computer and a mini filing cabinet. I sat down next to her on her bed.
"How do you feel?" She asked.
"About?" I replied.
"The Trevor incident?"
"I rather not talk about it."
"If you don't you're going to drive yourself crazy."
"Okay. Well I feel as if its my fault. Maddie and Jonathan told me to break up with hime because he is known for dating girls just to get some and leave. I should have listened but I liked him so much I just didn't think it was true."
"Baby its never your fault. You didn't ask to be raped. Trevor just can't control his hormones. I'm pretty sure he has done this to many girls."
"How can you say its not my fault? I didn't listen."
"Dawn you saw the good in him. You saw something in him that nobody else saw. Sometimes when you see the good in people its hard to believe the bad things others say about them."
"You're right."
"Now stop blaming yourself and stop cutting yourself."
I looked down at my arm and noticed that I didn't cover all of the cuts properly. I looked up at mama and say her crying. I opened my arms and hugged her. I cried with my head on her chest.
"Is there anything else you wanna talk about?" She asked.
"Why was daddy hitting you in Orlando ?" I asked.
"Baby girl your daddy and I are having some problems. And things just escalated too quickly for him to gain self control." She replied.
"Did daddy do something wrong? Or did you do something wrong?"
"Don't hurt your head about it."
"Okay mama."
We both wiped our tears. "When ever you need to talk to me just let me know. I am always here to listen. Don't be afraid to talk to me." Mama said.
I nodded my head.