They Don't Know (BOOK TWO)

Chapter 39

"I really hope the power goes out or something." Ty says, staring out the window with his feet kicked up on the desk. He's in History class and today they wer lucky to start the morning with a substitue, along with a few snow flurries outside.

"Why are you so anxious for a snow storm? The more days we miss the longer we have until graduation." Talia points out.

Malcolm lets out a snort, "Ty will be lucky if he even sees graduation."

"Hey," Ty exclaims, "My grades are actually on point. No way in hell am I staying at this school for another year."

"Aww, you've come so far since freshman year. I remember when you didn't give a shit and almost got kicked off the basketball team. I'm so proud of you," Talia gushes, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the cheek. He gives Malcolm a smug smile making him roll his eyes. Just then the door opens and Shaun strolls in with a happy glow. He takes a seat in front of Ty, sitting beside Malcolm.

They give him a weird look, waiting for him to explain the grin on his face. "What's wrong with your goofy ass?" Ty asks.

"I'm clean niggas!" He says in a low voice.

"No more GO?" Malcolm raises his eyebrows.

Shaun shakes his head, "Nope, I'm as a clean as a whistle."

"When did you find out?" Ty wonders.

"Yesterday evening, I had a doctors appointment last week and they ran some tests. My doctor called with the results when I got home, Im clear bro." His friends applaud him and give him a round of dap.

"Lemme guess, you celebrated between some girls legs right?" Talia asks with a sly look.

Shaun looks at her and chuckles, "Actually I didn't. That GO thing scared the shit out of me, I'm trying to ease up on sleeping around. But I did treat myself to some adult movies."

Malcolm scoots back in his chair, "Don't touch me." They all laugh as Shaun playfully nudges Malcolm's shoulder.

"So are we supposed to be doing something right now?" Shaun asks, glancing at the lady who's supposed to be filling in for their teacher. She's old with dark grey hair, sloppy lipstick and a wrinkling skin. It's not clear whether she's sleeping or reading a news paper.

"Well Mrs.Peake left some handouts for us to do but, as you can see," Ty motions around the classroom where students are either on their phones, talking or sleeping. "No ones doing that shit."

"We'll do it with Corey, DoughBoy got all the answers." Shaun says shrugging and his friend laugh.

Talia rolls her eyes, "Y'all do Corey so wrong."

"No we don't. That's the homie forever, we just like messing with him." Ty responds, mindlessly playing with a strand of her curly hair.

"Mhm," Talia takes out her phone and starts swiping through it.

The rest of the class is filled with the boys just talking and laughing. Malcolm feels relieved that everything is right in the world again. It's times like this that he's gonna miss when they're all away at college next year.

"Guys...we graduate in a few months." Malcolm points out. "Time flies."

"I know right, just yesterday we were freshman with our pants down to our knees and our over sized shirts and durags. Now we're seniors, college bound man." Ty has a dreamy far off gaze in his eyes.

"Speaking of college, what are y'all gonna do when we graduate?" Shaun asks, looking at the couple in front of him.

Ty suddenly stops playing with Talia's hair and she lifts her head, looking at Shaun then at Ty like she's in shock. Ty can't look at her, knowing a wave of nervousness will wash over him if he looks into her eyes. They never discussed what they're plans for college are. Ty knows he wants to get out of state just to see another part of the U.S, but what about Talia? He doesn't know what she wants to do yet and the thought that they might have to separate soon scares both of them.