The Kids In Gold

Empty

A Few Weeks Later

I check my phone to see if there would be anything from her, but nothing. My mind is constantly on her.

Is she okay?

Has she been eating?

Has she been caught?

Does she have a place to sleep?

These questions with no way for them to be answered. My headache has grown many times worse and I just want to be gone. I cause trouble.

The alarm on my phone goes off as I beat it to wake and I look at it just go crazy. After a few minutes I turn it off and lay back down, looking up at the ceiling.

"Just gonna lay down all day?" I hear her voice echo. I sit up quickly and look to the chair and see her body leaned forward, smiling at me. "Hey" she adds, her braces showing on her teeth as she winks at me.

My heart beat shoots through the roof as I run and jump on her lap and she catches me. She laughs and holds onto me tight. "I couldn't stay away from my Baby"

I look into her green eyes and start to cry tears of joy as I embrace her warmth. Her lips find their way to mine and repeatedly press against them.

I lift away and smack her arm hard as I can. "Don't fucking leave me again. I don't care what happens"

She looks at me in my eyes and flashes that perfect smile I can't get enough of. I collapse my body into her arms and she squeezes me tightly.

My alarm goes off

My body jumps and I shoot up.... No Zamani...

There's a knock on my door and I don't even care. I get back under my covers and sigh to myself. A few moments later my door creaks open.

"Hey, your mom let me in" Kay says putting her backpack down. "You okay?"

I nod my head yes and stay quiet.

She sits on the edge of my bed and stretches her long legs out. "Thinking about her?" she asks looking at a picture of me and Zamani on my home screen. "Me too"

I shrug and try to avoid the questions, grabbing my phone.

"Don't want to talk? Fine, I'll vent. Me and Tee broke up. She moved out this morning"

"Wait, what? What did she do?"

"Nothing" she says laying back against my headboard. "It genuinely didn't work out. I love the girl but two damaged people can either be amazing or disastrous. Shit happens"

I frown even more and she folds her arms. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I don't like to dwell on things. Honestly think I'm taking Zamani leaving harder than Tee"

"Really?"

"Yeah. That's been my homie for years and years. Can't just get over that. I was just getting to know her in person you know? Thats a whole other level"

"I understand. She's so great.."

Kay looks over at me.

"Do you think she's okay? You think she's been taking her medicine? Been eating?" I ask all in one breath.

"Listen to me, I'm sure she's okay. She's strong. She's smart. She always has a plan, you know? Just think positively. She'll be back"

I lay my head on her shoulder and start to cry. "I miss her so much"

She rubs my back as I continue to cry.

———————

The Next Day

"You hungry?" Ashley asks me as I sit on her couch.

"No"

"Oh okay" she sits close by me and I look down at her legs touching mine. I scoot over a bit to give me space. "I'm glad you finally came over" she says, smiling to me.

"Why?"

"Because I like you"

"No. You don't. You barely know me"

"Fine, then I'm crushing. Better?"

I roll my eyes and get on my phone.

"It's like that?" she asks, irritated.

"Like what?"

"You just going to be cold? Like I'm trying right now"

"I know. But you're trying for the wrong things. I don't want you in that way. I just got out of something very serious and I'm good on whatever it is you want. I just want to be friends, okay?"

Ashley raises both her eyebrows in a shocked look. "Fair enough"

I get back on my phone and I feel her inch closer. I roll my eyes and she puts her arm around me. I look over at her and stand up.

She grabs my arm and I yank it away. She stands up and snatches my phone from my hand. "Stop Ashley"

"You playing" she tosses my phone on the couch and pushes me against the wall. I squirm from her grasp and grab my phone.

"Goodbye" I say before storming out of her house.