My mom dropped me off at the center. An old run down building where a church used to stand. Not very bright of the constuctors or whoever decided to make this the place for the meetings. Seeing as it just looks depressing and in fact is very stupid.
I began walking up the small stairs leading to the door.
Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right.
My head was down. Watching every coblestone step as I walked. Finally I made it to the door. I reached my arm out and fumbled with the handle. Pushing down then forward. It was extremely heavy.
I felt the wieght lifted from me and I didnt have the time to tell my feet to move. I stumbled clumsily forward.
Right into someones arms.
I find strong, soft, slender arms around me. I look up to find a girl. A very pretty girl.
She is extremely tall. And by her looks Id guess around 20 or 21. Her hair is thrown messily to one side in a frenzy of brown curls. Her skin showed she wasnt a pure american. Tongan Im guessing. She had lovely brown eyes and beauitful pure lips. She was wearing a pair of sweats and a plain t-shirt. Along with a beat up jacket.
Nothing at all fancy. Not that I could say the same. This morning I had lazily thrown on the first things I could actually get my hands on. Which resulted in a shirt expousing my 8-pack, some dark jeans, and plain old boots. Even though it was summer it didnt feel like it. Too dam cold! More like September or November!
"Hi." I said sheepishly.
"Hey." She replied with a grin. "Who are you? I havnt seen you around here."
Before I could answer a bell chimed. Everyone began moving toward the center of the room. I now notcied it was pretty bland. A few pillars surroundint the center because of the once church. A snack table to the left of the entrance. Lots and lots of boxes. And quite a few chairs in a circle at the center.
I went over and sat in one of them. I saw lots of people with cancer. It was pretty obvious. But for me, no one would guess that I had been whipped, forced to take a drug that was suppose to kill me, but took it so much my system thrives on it and I will only live if I keep taking it.
A guy stood. Probably 21 with blond hair and dark eyes. He began telling his story of losing an arm and yatta yatta yatta...
"My name is Patrick. And now its time for you guys to introduce yourselves." He said taking his own seat.
I heard a lot of names but when the girl stood my attention snapped toward her. "Im Dinah Jane. I am a survivor of cancer. Lost a leg but still here." She chuckled. Knocking on her fake leg.
"And how are you?" Patrick asked.
"Im on a rollarcoaster that only goes up my friend." She said with a beautiful smile. Then she sat back down.
The room made a big circle until it stopped on me. I stood shakily. "Im Normani. I survived a fire when I was little but it affected me dearly." Those are the words I always said even though it wasnt true. Telling people what I had been through wasnt something I did. And not to strangers. I usually just didnt say the full truth.
Patrick raised an eyebrow but had no comment. "And how are you?"
I shurgged. "Okay." And then sat back down.
The rest was fairly boring. When we were dismissed with a prayer I went over to the snack table. I found Dinah walking toward me. She was taller than me but not by a lot. She stood fairly close but not enough so I would have to look up at her.
"Hi." She said.
"Hi." I said my tone a little questionative.
"Whats your name?"
"Normani."
"Whats your full name?"
"Umm... Normani Kordei Hamilton."
She smiled as someone made their way over. I recongized her. Lauren Jauregui. She wore dark glasses and had on a leather jacket and white skinny jeans.
"Ahhh Lauren Jaurgeui." Dinah said giving her, Im assuming friend, a pat on the back. "I was just talking to the wonderful Normani Kordei Hamilton."
I gave her an eyeroll. "What is it with you and full names?"
Dinah tapped her chin. "I have a bad memory."
"Suuuurrrreee..." Lauren said facing me.
Dinah turned her to face her. "Im right here sweatheart."
"Well I wouldve known that if I could see!" Lauren snapped.
She laughed. "I know I know. How about we go to that ice cream place? My treat. Just lead the way."
Im pretty sure Lauren wouldve glared if she could.
"Im just joking." Dinah said. "Calm down."
Lauren smiled. "I have to go Boo, the bae is waiting."
I watched Lauren find her way over to a short brunette.
"Whos that?" I asked.
"Her girlfriend." Dinah responded.
I looked at her. "And your okay with that? Someone who is bi? Or lesbian?"
She furrowed her brow. "Why wouldnt I? You dont get to chose who you love, Normani Kordei. You simply love them, no matter who they are or what gender."
I hesitated. She was right but I just never imagined being public with it. My parents always had looked down on people like that. Saying god had made the other gender for a reason. So we didnt have to love someone like us, but someone who was different. In more ways possible.
Then I noticed Dinah was still staring at me.
"What?" I asked.
She shrugged. "Nothing." But her eyes held me.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
She smiled. "Because your beautiful. And I enjoy looking at beautiful people. I decided not to deny myself the simpliest of pleasures. Like this. I mean we only live so long. So we have to make sure we enjoy our time before the oblivion hits."
I took a minute to let her words sink in.
"Well Im sorry but Im not..."
She nodded. "I know."
"Then you might as well give up."
She raised an eyebrow. "Giving up is a sign of defeat and weakness. That is something I dont do."
"Okay... I have to go wait outside for my mom."
She nodded. "I'll walk you."
Before I could object she opened the huge door for me. I stumbled out. She held me tight and led me to the bottom step. Then proceeded to take out a cigar and put it in her mouth. On instinct I yanked it from her teeth.
Dinah gave me a puzzeled look.
"Smoking isnt good!"
"I wasnt smoking." She said plainly.
"But-"
"Yes I had it. Yes it was in my mouth. But that is all. Its a metaphor Normani Kordei. You put the killing thing in between your teeth but dont give it the power to do its killing. I have never lit one and never given it the power. In other words I inable it to harm me."
I laugh a little. "Your crazy."
She gave me a goofy wide grin. "Maybe so."
Before I could say another word my mom pulled up. I waved to Dinah as I got in.
"That was fun!" She called. "Maybe sometime we should do it again."
I couldnt help but grin. "Maybe."
