Unfazed

Twenty-Nine

There was a knock on the front door that made me rise out of bed. It wasn't a regular knock either. It was a long pounding knock. I slowly walked down the squeaky stairs trying not to make much of a sound. After all, it was past midnight.

"Yes?," I called after opening the door. No one was there. All I saw was the street lights glowing and an empty lawn. All I heard were crickets and some cars in the distance. While closing the door, I felt a hand gripping on my shoulder which made me jump.

"You really thought you were gonna get away from me?," his sinister voice said toying with my mind. I turned around squinting trying to make out his face. Darkness swallowed him and all I saw were his light colored eyes. Gino.

I backed up until I felt my back pressing against the door. He started to get closer but with all my might, I couldn't move. It was like my hands were glued to my sides.

He slowly wrapped his large hands around my neck applying pressure. As I stared into his eyes they started turning brown and slanted. They weren't his own. They were some one else's.

"I love you," he said as he slowly formed into somebody I used to know. My face twisted in emotion as I saw Jackson towering over me.

"Leave me alone!," I yelled as he continued to stare. He twisted his lips and his mouth feces landed in between my eyes. I dared myself to look up even though I didn't want to and saw my mother.

"Never," she said as sweetly as ever.

"Help me!," I screamed blooding murder until my screams were drowned out by an alarm.

I gasped rising up in a cold sweat. I quickly looked around as my eyes were adjusting. Reluctantly, I swung my legs around and wiggled my toes to regain feeling. My mouth felt like it was full of cotton and my head was pounding like a snare drum.

I exhaled sharply while looking down at my feet. Unlocking my phone, I checked the time and realized I needed to get up immediately.

Staring coldly in the mirror, I slowly examined the deep purple bruise that sat on my neck. I watched as my eyes watered at the thought of yesterday but I quickly dismissed it knowing I had other things to deal with today.

The weekend was an interesting one, considering the fact that I gave Ta'Shay a promise that I was going to beat her face in, she continued to talk shit. Then, on top of that, Chanel promised me that she had "something coming for me." Whatever that meant.

I shook my head smearing some toothpaste on my electric toothbrush. After I touched up on my personal hygiene, I slipped on a pair of black Fila leggings and a matching halter top before putting on my black and white Disruptor 2's. I scratched my loosely done braids and shrugged not giving a care to take them down or redo them.

My phone rang and Julian's caller ID flashed across the dim screen. I weakly smiled and put the phone up to my left ear.

"Yes baby?," I answered in a low voice.

"I'm about to swing over there and get my school ID. I left it over there Friday," he replied through the other side of the receiver.

"No! I mean nah baby. I got it. I'm gonna give it to you when I get to school," I stammered removing the phone from my ear swearing that I heard footsteps.

There was a pause before he said "What you mean 'no'? I'm already on the way, Lo."

"Park around the corner. I need to talk to you anyway," I demanded, hanging up quickly. I sighed deeply, smoothing my hands over my frizzy hair.