New Native Land (The Next Step) (Book II)

Chapter 19 (Rollercoasters)

I was in my room jamming to some tunes and waiting to hear more about Rodney King's trial on the news. Honestly, that is such a sad story, it doesn't matter what he did, he didn't deserve to get beat up by the cops like that, no one does.

I was flat ironing my hair too so I was preoccupying myself today. I had to get myself ready for tomorrow, Draya and I are going to the mall and to look fashion forward while there is a must. I was nearly finished when I got a call on the phone. I picked it up and said "Yeah." There was silence and I put my phone on speaker and continued to straighten my hair. "Ahm?" I asked because he's the only one who says nothing after you answer the damn phone.

"Yeah." He said and I shook my head. I remained silent, it has been extremely awkward between us, I keep my talking with him to a minimum and he's picked up on my apprehension.

It was still quiet and I picked up the last strand of hair that needed straightening and I ran my flat iron over it. I looked in the mirror and smiled. My hair got longer. I wrapped it, sprayed some olive oil all over and put a silk wrap over it.

"How long are you going to punish me?" Ahm spoke up and I forgot I was on the phone honestly.

I went back to the phone, took it off speaker and said, "I'm punishing you?" He sighed simply saying, "Yeah."

I asked, "How?" As if I didn't know "You ain't talking to me like you normally do, you been... Distant." I knew I was. I remained quiet and he sighed again asking, "You wanna talk about it?" I was too scared to do that so instead I ran away.

"No... I gotta go." I told him quickly and hung up the phone and held my chest. My heart was beating so hard, so fast, the way he has me feeling right now.

My phone rang again and I jumped, I sighed and let it ring, I knew it was Ahm, and I couldn't do it, I couldn't talk to him. Call me immature, call me whatever, but I just could not do it.

The next day I was admiring myself in the mirror. My outfit for the day was awesome and my hair was looking like straight se appeal, or at least trying. I was rocking high waited acid washed shorts, leather belt, with a white button up shirt and a pink blazer.

I walked downstairs and saw the little badass running around. I played with him some, but it was clear he was hungry. I put some food and water into his separate bowls and he went to go eat. I sighed at him, he's so cute.

I heard the horn honk and I pet him some more and I left out the house. I got in the car and Draya was fixing her lips stick. "You look adorable." I said to her and she smiled "You do too; I love this blazer can I have it?" I laughed. And we drove off to the mall.

I guess the mall is the scene and it was live, we saw everyone there. There were MC's on the Mic battling and a DJ who was playing some live music, it was insane. I felt someone behind me and I turned around and it was Caz. "Hey!" I said excited and I hugged him "What's up?" He asked and Draya finally noticed him and she hugged him too. "Y'all look good." He complimented and I said "You look good too." He beamed.

"I gotta look good if my girl looks good." Caz joked and I laughed with him. "Shall we?" He asked and we followed him.

Later, when I got home I was outside in the backyard trying to teach Pete how to sit. "Pete, sit." He just wagged his tail and started running around. I grabbed him again and I put him down and I pressed on his butt and he sat down. "Stay, don't move." I told him. I let him go and he started to run around again. I sighed and I ran to pick him up again.

"He thinks you playing a game, you need to be more assertive." I heard behind me and I stood straight up quickly at the sound of his voice. He's always sneaking up on me. Why does he do that?

I turned around and I stared at Ahm and he stared at me. Pete ran up to Ahm and started jumping on him. Ahm looked down at him and he bent down. He popped his back and said "Sit." Pete whimpered but obliged and Ahm tapped his head which made Pete's tail start to wag. And then Pete went to run around again.

Ahm walked up to me and he looked at me funny, he reached for me and I flinched just a tad which he noticed, but he kept reaching and then his hand went through my hair and he brush his fingers all the way throughout it. "You cute." He said and I just stared at him, as if the smallest move would make him snap on me.

"Why are you here?" I got out silently avoiding eye contact. He sighed as he retracted his hand. "You thought I was going to let you not speak to me for a week and not come see you?" He asked me and I looked away, but he took his hand and placed it under my chin, I flinched again at the touch. I could only think about what evil these hands could've done today to someone.

He didn't stop though, he placed his hand under my chin and he made me face him. His eyes as lifeless and dull as ever "What's wrong?" He asked me and I broke free from him. "I think you should go." I told him while looking away. "Come here Pete." I tried to walk away from Ahm and towards Pete. I picked him up and he wagged his tail and I smiled at him. Ahm walked up to me and took Pete out my arms and he put him down.

To add on to the nature that is Ahm he gave me and ultimatum "If I go, I ain't coming back." I was at a standstill. "If you wanna leave and never come back that's all you." I bluffed still not looking him in the face. He took both his hands and he cupped my cheeks softly and forced me to look at him.

"Why can't you just say what's on your mind ma? Why can't you tell me that I scared you and that you're uncomfortable? Why can't you talk to me?" He asked desperately, the look in his eye was one I don't think I've ever seen before. He looked like something important was taken from him and he wasn't sure he'd ever get it back.

Of course, that look got to me, and like the sucker I am I hugged him and he hugged me back. This hug was not like the ones he usually gave me. He realized something, and the deep exhale he released made him more relaxed causing him to melt more into the embrace.

My voice muffled because I spoke into his chest, "Why did you do that?" His chest moved up as he began speaking, "He fucked with you and I was already pissed, but I promise I won't do that while you're around anymore." I let out my own sigh of relief and held on to him. "Next time, talk to me. I'm not going to tell you that anymore." He lectured and I nodded against his chest. "I missed you." His voice low but meaningful while stroking my hair.

Pete came running up to us and jumped up on his back legs and climbed up our legs. "You turned him into a friendly ass nigga." Ahm said disappointedly. "But he's so cute." I defended Pete. "I think I'm falling for you." Ahm let out to easily and I remember him saying that before. "You better be." He pulled away from me and lifted my chin and he kissed me. "I'm going to be busy tomorrow, and I want you to hang at your house and wait for me, okay?" He asked me. I made a face, I thought that was weird.

"Why?" I asked him confused "Cause it's what I asked you to do, and I don't ask for much. So, do it for me ma." His answer was poor, so I furrowed my brows at him. He tapped my forehead and said "Fix yo face." I pouted. "And hang up on me again and see what I do, I'm not playing with you, I'll come over here and fuck your whole life up." He said sternly and I smiled. He kissed the corner of my mouth and I blushed.

"You must've went crazy huh?" I playfully moved my eyebrows to the question. His face showed conflict and his eyes had that look once again. "Nah..." He tried to play it off, but for the first time ever his face betrayed his words. "Sure." I smiled slyly because I knew. He smirked and he shook his head at me "I don't think I you should leave me ma. It's hard without you by my side."

I looked up at him but he was already walking towards Pete, trying to see what he was up to. I was confused at first, but I decided to let it go, that was a conversation for later, and right now I was just happy we were in a better place, even if I was still sort of scared of what he could do.