(Crossroads) a point at which crucial decisions must be made that will have far-reaching consequences.
Kai has done his time now he wants to be left alone. Ajah can't escape the raptures of slut shaming. Elizabeth feels like she's drowning as her wo...
"Are you sure?" I asked watching her peel the strap of her dress down over her shoulder, the moonlight reflected off her skin in a way that made her look like she was dipped in gold. I sucked in a breath as it dawned on me all at once she wanted me. In a way that I'd never actually seen someone want me. Her brown eyes scanned over my torso, shirtless and barely able to breath I starred back at her.
I clutched my heart, still in my chest but beating as if it were ready to burst. My eyes drifted away but only for a second and in such little time I took in everything at once. The football themed bedding, walls painted blue covered in posters of all the best players, shelves stacked with old Black Panther comics, a hoop hung over the bed missing most of the netting around the rim. Back to her with all the innocence a person could possibly possess.
I was nervous because I told her I'd done it before but truth was I didn't know anything about sex. Liz asked me about my paintings while she undid my pants, giggling as they dropped to the floor at my feet with a thump.
"I want this," she said.
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KAI
Letters. People don't write letters anymore, being from the electronic age I guess there was no point to it, we were all looking for something faster. More efficient but back when I was locked in a room of four brick walls and a tiny window, letters were much appreciated. For starters, I ain't ever have a phone call or text make me feel the way a letter did, there was something both terrifying and beautiful about someone's hand written notes. Though I didn't get many letters, I did receive a few from Theo who was too far away to visit and couldn't call because his mama was always on about the phone bill. Out of all the letters I received nothing could be more disheartening than what Elizabeth sent.
The first time I just ignored it, didn't even open it just kept it under my mattress. The second one I opened and skimmed, found nothing but excuses and apologies, begging me to reply. Say something, anything. But I couldn't. What the fuck could I say? I had been so angry for so long, so hurt I decided that I wasn't going to feel anything anymore. No matter what happened I wouldn't feel because I couldn't handle the weight of a betrayal that got me sentenced for something I didn't do.
By the third time, I gave in. Told her to never reach me again, that I didn't have anything to say but really at the end of it I asked her to just move on with her life, forget about me. Just let me do my time in peace.
Its stupid.
You might be wondering why I didn't just ask her to tell the truth...honestly, I didn't want to beg anymore. I'd done that before and it never worked.
I think she took my response as me being protective of her rather than me just being stubborn.
But in a way I was doing both, I knew what telling the truth meant to her. The media would eat her alive, twist a screw her story and she'd be stuck with that forever. That, I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy...
"No rapists in our schools! No rapists in our schools!" voices flew into the classroom window, everyone turned rushing to the window. I didn't need to look. I already knew, they found out I was here.
Malia Campbell straightened her blouse and smiled, wind brushing through her freshly straightened hair, "this is Malia Campbell and today we are here at Crossroads Academy. A protest is underway following the release and re-admittance of student, Kai Parker. Who only last year was arrested for the sexual assault of Elizabeth Sharp, who is also a student here at Crossroads." The camera panned over a vast crowd armed with signs and bullhorns, "as you can see there are quite a few people out here today asking that Kai Parker be removed from the same school as their children."
Reporter Malia Campbell- "I am here with Judilyn Beyer at the moment to hear what she has to say about this whole ordeal--Judilyn you said that your son attend Crossroads, what is your opinion on the return of Mr. Parker?"
Judilyn Beyer- "It's crazy how many people have come out today, considering that not even this many parents show up to PTSA meetings. It's truly sad that this young man is still being persecuted for a crime he obviously did not commit. People need to go home and leave the poor boy alone!"
Reporter Malia Campbell- "And why are you here today, Ms. Beyer? If you are not here for the protest?"
Judilyn Beyer- "It's Mrs. Beyer, but I am here to pick up my son but I can't even get through into the office to pick him up."
Reporter Malia Campbell- Do you have any further comments, Ms. Beyer?
Judilyn Beyer- "Ma'am, it's Mrs. Beyer and yes I do (inaudible)...should be focused on more important things like how Trump is in the white house fu--"
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Text from Theo to Kai:
Theo- wya?
Kai- n class dummy
Theo- U c all those ppl outside?
Kai- How cud I not, I saw dem setting up wen I got here, Mr. Ramsey had 2 walk me n thru the gym.
Theo- they wildin don't they kno she lied on u
Kai- they think dad paid her 2 do it
Theo- word? ppl reachin outchea
Kai- it's a possibility
Theo- r u sayin u did it
Kai- nah jus dad wud do sum like that...I didn't c u n the hall earlier
Theo- I was n the office
Kai- fr? how u get in trouble already
Theo- y u assume i was in trouble I was gettin a schedule
