Zara
Zara entered the lunch room the next day anticipating what Leah had to say to her about DJ. The hundreds of multihued round tables and the ceiling adorned with festive jar lights hurt her eyes. She got in line at the vegetarian station and picked up a plastic silver tray. She thought about how DJ didn’t appear to first period and she was hoping that she’ll see him last period. As she approached the salad bar at the buffet styled vegetarian station, she piled lettuce, tomatoes, olives, croutons, and carrots onto her plate. She grabbed two italian dressing packets and headed towards the table she always sits at with her crew Michaela, Leah, and Victoria.
“The gang’s all here!” Leah squealed in her high pitched voice.
“Yeah!” Zara’s faced glowed with happiness.
“So are you ready to hear the news about DJ?” Leah asked wide eyed. “It’s not good news either.”
“Let me take a few bites of my salad first then we can discuss this bad news of yours,” Zara responded while drizzling italian dressing over her salad.
“You’ve stalled too long darling! This is really important! I care about your safety you know,” Leah replied looking at her perfect french manicured nails.
“Okay,” Zara sighed. “Spill.”
“So you know how my uncle is a detective right? Well I asked him to do some research on Demetrius and---”
“How do you know his real name?” Zara interrupted.
“I have gym with him. Anyways, before you so rudely interrupted me, like I was saying I asked my uncle to do research on him and he found out that Demetrius has once been arrested for weed possession. I’m telling you this because I care for you a lot and that boy sounds like bad news. He’s a drug dealer! Why else would he be carrying weed?”
“You sound like my mother right now. So what are you getting at?” Zara asked.
“If you are considering dating Demetrius I don’t think we can no longer be friends.” Leah replied.
“Agreed,” Victoria said quickly.
“But we’ve been friends since freshman year. The four of us. We’re supposed to have an unbreakable bond.” Zara’s shoulders drooped. She stared directly into Leah’s eyes.
“And we can keep that unbreakable bond as long as you promise me you won’t be seeing that Demetrius guy. As your friend, your best friend at that, I only want the best for you. Hanging out with drug dealers is not a good influence. And he lives in Harlem? Do you know how dangerous Harlem is?” Leah clutched her chest. “I would never dare to enter that part of Manhattan and you shouldn’t risk it either.”
Zara looked down at her plate of salad, moving the croutons all over the plate. Michaela distracted herself by reapplying her mascara. She wanted to stick up for Zara and tell Leah to stop bossing her around but she also didn’t want for her group of best friends to split ways.
“I understand,” Zara mumbled.
“Great!” Leah perked up. “So there’s this new shop in soho…”
Leah continued to talk but Zara tuned her out. At that moment, Zara wanted to talk to DJ more than anything. She wondered how DJ would react when she tells him what Leah said and the decision she will make. If all goes well, he will respect her decision and not storm off like he did yesterday when she told him her mom doesn’t like black guys. Why is everyone so against DJ? They don’t even know him. From what I know, he seems like a very cool down to earth guy. And he’s a great kisser. Zara smirked to herself. Ugh.
“...and I walked out of that store with nearly 100 bags I kid you not! We should all go shopping there like next month when they get some new stuff!” Leah continued.
“Totes.” Victoria agreed nodding her head.
“I have to go to the bathroom. Zara can you come with me?” Michaela asked.
“Sure,” Zara said.
Zara and Michaela both got up and went to the bathroom. Michaela checked to see if all of the stalls were empty and the coast was clear. She then pulled Zara into the stall farthest from the bathroom entrance and locked it shut. Michaela moved the hair in front of Zara’s face and smiled.
“I hope you aren’t too bummed out about what Leah said. I just wanted to let you know that even if you decide to date DJ, I will still be your friend. We all know Leah is a nice girl, but she’s so sheltered. It’s truly annoying sometimes.” Michaela said.
Zara giggled. “I know! And things are already getting good with DJ. We kissed yesterday!”
Michaela squealed. “Ooooo! Tell me the deets!”
“I’ve kissed other guys before but out of all of those other guys, DJ gave me the best kiss I’ve ever had! Even though, he breath was garlicky from the pizza he ate.” Zara scrunched up her nose. “Other than that it was perfect. I wanted to hang out with him again after school today but I don’t think that’s happening.”
“So you’re really not going to date DJ because of Leah and Victoria?” Michaela asked.
“Maybe.”
***
DJ
DJ sat in the back of his astronomy class next to Zara taking down the notes on the board. He hasn’t had the time to talk to her about his actions yesterday because Mr. Phillips wasn’t in a good mood that day and wanted the class the be silent as soon as everyone walked in. As he scribbled down the notes in his spiral notebook, Zara passed him a note on a pink flower sticky. DJ looked down at the sticky and read:
Are you still mad at me? I’m sorry if my mom offended you. I’m also sorry for having to write this all on a sticky note. We can’t talk outside of this class. Or in school period. Why? Because my friend told me that you were a drug dealer. Is that true? She doesn’t want me being around you because she thinks you’re a bad influence. In the sake of saving my friendship with her, I’m going to make her think that we aren’t talking. But we can still talk outside of school and hang out places that I know my friends don’t go, like Brooklyn. Will you be okay with that?
DJ tore out a piece of paper out of his notebook and replied:
Wow, so you really let your friends decide how you run your life ma? Can you please explain to me why you value her friendship so much? And yea, I am a drug dealer. ‘member when I told you I have to do what I have to do to make this cash? Well, that’s it. I’m living with my younger brother in the projects and our dad is dead and we haven’t seen our mom in over a year. We don’t know where she is. So as the big brother I am stepping up to the plate and providing for me and my brother. Maybe if your little friend understood my struggles she could stop being an uptight bitch.
DJ flung his note on Zara’s desk. Zara looked at him and raised an eyebrow. She then unfolded the note and began to read it. After she was done she took out another sticky and began writing. When she was done she passed her new note to DJ. DJ received the note and read:
I’ve been friends with Leah for a long time. I would be a horrible friend if I choose you over her. Have you heard of sisters before misters? But I want to see you and I also want to keep my friend. I understand where you’re coming from and I don’t mind you being a drug dealer as long as you have no weed around me, lol. So...will you be my secret lover? ;p
DJ smiled at her last sentence and replied:
You’re really lucky you’re cute and I like you grey eyes. I’ll sneak with you behind your friends back just for you, iight? If that’s what makes you happy.
Zara lit up when she read DJ’s note. She was so happy that she wiggled her butt in her seat and did a little happy dance. It seemed like everything will work out in her favor after all.
A/N: Sorry this chapter is really short compared to the last two!
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The Path You Choose
Teen FictionDemetrius Johnson (DJ) gives Zara Moretti something that her absent father and snobby mother rarely gives her, love and acceptance. Besides art and her friends, that is all that she needs. Zara doesn't like being told what to do but she also cares a...
