West Brooke High

21

"A whore" they said
My heels click against the ground

"A mentally disturbed mans daughter" they said
My heels click again

"The devil in human form" they said
And again

"A bitch" they said
And again

My short black leather skirt just about covers my butt. My white T shirt is tight around my body, showing my belly button and tied in the corner. My signature leather jacket is on and my hair is in a high pony tail. My high heeled ankle  boots exaggerate my long legs and my glasses are no longer.
Today I put in some effort and put on some eyeliner and bright red lipstick.

As I walk through the school halls I can hear boys whistling and girls talking behind books whilst looking at me. Everyone eyeing me up and down

Ashley and Grace join me by my side as we walk towards our lockers.

"Hey, you look... wow" Ashley says in a hushed tone

"We're always by your side. If someone says something or does something and you need back up, bitch were here" Grace says

I turn and smile. How did I end up with these amazing people.

"Guys, Thank you so much for understanding. For always having my back. I don't deserve you" I say with a tear in my eye

"Awwweee, stoooppp ittt you're making me blush" they say in sync

I chuckle and carry on walking

Once we reach our locker, I'm met with Chris

"Hey guys. WOAH. Maya, you look... different"

"Well thank you" I say whilst giving a curtsy

"CALEB SMITH! COME BACK HERE! HOW DARE YOU!" We hear from the floor above

Caleb runs through the corridor until he reached us

He puts his hands on his knees and pants before looking up to say

"I was in the middle of getting a detention when I heard a group of people saying something about Maya. I came... (pant) running but I was being chased by Miss W and you know she's a PE teacher so she's really good at running and.."

"CALEB COME BACK HERE"

"I need to go" and like that he's off but he turns around and yells

"MAYA, YOU LISTENED FOR ONCE. YOU SLAAAYYY GIIRRLLL"

Arron is no where to be seen and I feel a pain in my heart. I don't feel right trying to be someone I was hiding for so long. Aaron helped me see how I didn't need to be someone I wanted to conceal because it hurt knowing I was my fathers daughter and he raised me to be tough and strong in a negative way. He made me the drug dealer I am. He made me the criminal I am. Yes, he don't physically force me but what else was I to do. My sisters were in danger.
Arron made me, me. The goofy person I am. Tough and strong in a positive way but my past, my fathers past, haunts me and creeps up on me like a shadow.
—
It's Lunch right now and I am sitting under the old oak tree. I am nibbling on the sandwich I bought from the cafeteria. I am also scrolling through my instagram feed.

"Hey" I hear a gentle voice from behind me

I look up to see Arron with a box of doughnuts in his hands

"I thought you might wanted a bit of company and I bought doughnuts. There's only one person I can think of who i want to share these with" he says smiling

"What you waiting for boy? I need my sugar rush for the day" I say

He chuckles and sits beside me.
I offer him my other half of the sandwich to which he gladly takes.

He sighs before asking, "Is everything ok? Like really ok?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Maya, I've know you since you were born. I've grown up with you. I've sent you at your best and worst. I know you better than I know my self. Maya, what's up?"

"I'm sick and tired of all these people judging me. I'm showing them who they want to see. Arron, this is who we are. We didn't grow up in the rich areas. We grew up where gun shots used to be our lullabies. We grew up with physical fights being our entertainment. We grew up with criminals as parents. That's who we are. It's in our blood, it's engraved on our skin. Generations of our families lived there. We tried. We did. We tried to move to the other side of town but we were knocked down. It's the same with us. Look at me. I came here to run away and the past followed me. I don't belong here, I don't belong there but I would rather be here but I need to embrace who I am to survive"

"You're right but don't do something you're not comfortable with. Make a decision that will make you happy. I'm always here for you. Being you're guardian angel. You're the sister I never had and you were the family I chose and I will always protect you. I only care for your happiness. Be you. Be who you are. You may come from the other side of town but that doesn't mean you're like them. Hey, I'm cool but nerdy"

"And has a huge ego" I say muttering under my breathe

"What was that?"

"Hmmm"

I look down at the box of doughnuts and there appears to be none left.