The Word

Chapter 1

"Wake up!", my mom yells at me as I pull my head under the covers. The blanket feels too comfortable for me to move even the smallest muscle. I can hear sleep beckoning me to join her again and I'm tempted to take the offer.
"I'm not telling you again. You got 3.5 seconds before I drag you down the stairs to eat breakfast."
"Well look at that it's a beautiful day why should I spend it in here.", I respond sarcastically. I slowly sit up and look around my room. There is trash littering the entire floor and clothes strewn everywhere. My book bag is slumped against my wall spilling papers and pencils I should've trashed a long time ago. My desk is no better than my floor and there's still clothes from laundry last week sitting on my bed. I'll deal with that later. I kick the piles of clothes out of my path and make my way to the bathroom to start getting ready. Satisfied, mom walks away mumbling," Yeah that's what I thought."

As I get ready I think about what this school year will be like. Summer was long enough that I actually had time to miss school. The random run-ins with old friends and teachers. The funny incidents that students cause for no reason at all and the drama that I will only ever watch from the sidelines. It feels like the perfect time for school. It should be the best year yet. Nobody would dare try to get in my way and my teachers love me. My grades are always amazing and my friends are all still at the school this year. Feeling oddly optimistic, I make my way to my bedroom and comb through my hair. It's a little more coarse than usual and its decided to make an uneven afro today. I grab my spray bottle and work magic until I've created a ponytail. I look in the mirror and primp myself a little. Great now all I have to do is go downstairs to make sure I don't get dragged.

"Janiyah! Don't forget to pack your lunch! I didn't last night." She always forgets to pack my lunch. I always make myself some the night before just in case.
"Got it mom!"

I get on the bus eager for the first day. Crazy right, nobody likes school. Well you do when your mom owns it and pretty much no one fucks with you, not the daughter of the principal and owner. I do a quick self prep in the bus window. I know what you're thinking, "If you're so rich why do you ride the bus?" I choose to because I like to ride with my boyfriend. Speaking of... "Excuse me, Mrs.Patterson, I can't find Zion, have you seen him yet?"
"I'm sorry honey I haven't, but if I see him I'll most definitely tell him you're looking for him."
"Thanks!"
"Trouble in paradise?", Kaliph Anderson slides into my seat with an arrogant smile.
"There is now, you're in the wrong seat.", I give him a pointed look. I give him a quick once over and realize he's changed over summer. His eyes are still a light shade of hazel brown but he's gotten taller and slightly more muscular. His hair is a little longer and he's gotten about half a shade darker. His mocha colored skin gives away the fact that he's been in the sun. His eyebrows are slightly bushy and he has a scar above his left one. His style has changed too. Instead of wearing his usual matching Nike sweatshirt and pants, he has on jeans and a graphic tee. I'd be lying if I said it didn't suit him.
"Sorry princess but I don't remember your mom owning the bus too.", he gives me a look when I don't answer and moves to his seat in the back of the bus. Him being an asshole hasn't changed.
"What was that about?", Zion slides into my seat with a smile on his face. He sits beside me and I look him over. He's 5 foot 11 inches of gorgeous. His charcoal hair glistens like silk in the sunlight. He got locs last year and they look impossibly good on him. His skin glows. His deep brown completion pairs perfectly with his eyes. They're a perfect shade of deep brown. The kind of brown you have to shine a light to when you want to truly marvel at its beauty. His smile is slightly crooked in the best way and he always wears one diamond earring which looks so good you'd think he was born with it.
"Where were you?", I ask him with a slight attitude.
"I'm sorry. I missed my stop and had to catch the bus at Dahlyia's stop."
"Why didn't you text me?"