"You thought you could hide from me?" Oscar asked. Candice backed into the couch and stumbled around trying to keep her distance. Oscar followed her not missing a beat.
"I told you to leave me alone...why can't you do that?" She cried. When she not...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"So, are you going to the dance?" Candice sat at the table. Monse and their new friend Olivia were sitting on one side and the boys were sitting on the other. The tension was high and she received stares from both parties. "Yes," she looked at Monse's long face, "err...n-no?" "No, the girls are not going. Let's go. Candice. Olivia!" Monse stood and grabbed Candice's arm. The girls sat down at another table and sighed. Candice opened her boxed apple juice. "Why aren't we going to the dance?" Candice asked. "It's only a time for guys to objectify our bodies and hope to sleep with us later on," Olivia said before tossing a fry in her mouth. Monse looked around nervously. "You know what...w-we should go," Monse said quickly. Olivia looked over shocked. "I'm confused," Candice laughed. The group of Santo seniors came strolling up to their table. Monse tensed up and looked over her shoulder. Candice narrowed her eyes. They were the guys from the other day that she ran into. They walked by and Candice let out the breath that she hadn't noticed that she had been holding. Arms wrapped around her body and heat radiated on the side of her cheek. "Mami, about this dance tonight?" The guy whispered. Candice elbowed him in the chest sending him back. She got up and pushed him back further. "Don't you ever touch me again!" She yelled. The guy nodded his head and pulled a gun from out of his pants. Candice paused. All the air seeping out of her slowly. Fear prickled down her spine and her eyes began to burn with tears. She stared down the barrel of the silver pistol. Shouting erupted from the cafeteria. "No—," Candice whimpered. "Now, let me ask you again bitch," he walked closer and Candice backed up into the chair. Monse and Olivia had moved away. "I-I'm Sorry, please don't shoot me," she cried with her hands held up. He leaned down his lips brushing against her ear. "I know you were Oscars bitch...but I claim you now," he whispered and put the gun away. "I was never." Candice said. The guy walked up to her slowly his hand sneaking around to her backside. "I better to see you tonight," he gripped her ass causing her to jump, "wear something sexy and easy to take off." He laughed and walked away. His crew high fived him. Monse, Olivia, Cesar, Ruby, and Jamal all ran over to her. "Are you alright?" Jamal asked. Candice just stared blankly and at nothing in particular. Cesar stepped up and touched Candice's shoulder. "Don't worry about it Candice...I'll handle him for you," Cesar said. Candice didn't respond just stared. How did he know? Candice thought. How did that guy know that I was seeing Oscar last year? She blinked the thought back and snapped back into reality. "I'm fine guys, see you at the party?" Candice asked walking away.
When Candice got home a pink bag was sitting on her bed with a note. Candice let a smile sneak onto her lips even though it pained her. She released her hair from its high puff and sighed. Inside the bag was a cute off the shoulder black dress and strapped heels that wrapped around the ankle. "Wow," Candice said. She picked up the note and the smile that had appeared disappeared quickly.
Hey Candice,
Craig surprised me with a three day trip to New Jersey. We can hang out next week just you and me. In the meantime, I bought you a dress and some heels. Take pictures.
Love, Mom
Candice balled up the note, picked up the bag, and threw it on her dresser knocking over her lamp and alarm clock. Heavy feet boomed up the steps and her door swung open. Craig stood angry and annoyed. "You up here fucking shit up?" He yelled. Candice shrugged her shoulders. Craig walked around her bed to her fallen things and picked up the bag. "Did you pay for this?" "No." Candice said curtly. Craig raised his hand and Candice shielded her face. He chuckled shaking his head. "Pick this shit up," he said. He dropped the bag and walked out. When she heard his heavy footsteps going back down the stairs she shrunk to the floor. Her heart thumped in her chest. Why would she just drop our plans like that? She's hardly ever home and I haven't talked to her in person for two weeks. Candice gathered her things slowly and her phone buzzed lightly. Monse: Are you going?
Candice stared at herself in the mirror. Her hair was braided into a crown around her head. Her eyelids colored powder pink and her lips a dark shade of red. She pulled down at the black dress that her mom bought her. "Damn, it's not even Halloween yet and you're wearing your costume!" Craig howled on the couch. He held a beer in his hand. A couple of prophets were sitting at the dining room table playing spades. Things had been off balance since Latrell left for juvie. Momma hadn't been home in weeks. He got busted along with three other prophets for petty theft and tagging. Her mind flashed back to the gun that had sat pointed in her face earlier today. That Santo was probably just joking...right?
