Holding Onto You

Chapter 13 - "Where's Stephon?"

I woke up in bed to my alarm clock playing Wait No More by Jhene Aiko. I hit it hard to make it stop and grabbed my phone. I looked thru my notifications and seen nothing from Stephon, annoyed I put it down and went to take a shower, I did my hygiene thing, and picked out an outfit. I angrily looked thru my closet searching for something to where desperately. I really wanted to go in a Hollister sweat suit (or not go at all) but i knew that wouldn't look right. So after angrily complaining to myself and becoming more frustrated. I chose a white skater skirt with a tropical tight fitting top, and Toms. I put my hair into a bun and got my diamond stud earrings.

After I got ready I sat down on my bed for about 20 minutes and just thought about last night. I recalled the way Stephon touched me and how it was 9 times out of 10 over between us. I tried to figure out what I had done and where I had messed up at to make him break up with me. For a minute I wanted to cry but I had never cried over a boy before. Would it be cliché or just straight up pathetic?

I stared at the ground and prayed that no one would bother me today because I really wasn't in the mood. I wanted to blow up his phone but then punch a hole in the wall. I tried telling myself it wasn't my fault but he just seemed so disappointed. And what did he mean by "I can't give you everything you want." And "I'm not good for you!" I didn't know but thinking about it made everything worse.

Afterwards I stood up and began to walk out of my room. Today I hadn't fixed my bed, turned off the lights, or bothered to even check if the flatten iron was off I just didn't care.

At 7:55 I walked down stairs and opened the door ready to leave to find my car not there. Furious for 2 reasons (1.Because I didn't have my carand 2.Because I forgot I didn't have my car) I went into the bathroom across the hall and closed the door. I didn't want my mom to see me. I didn't feel like hearing anything from anybody at all especially not her. So I called Aliyah and asked her if she could give me a ride. She said yes and that she'd be at my house in 5 minutes but I wasn't just gonna sit in the bathroom waiting on her for that long. So I tried to sneak into the kitchen even though I wasn't hungry but after a while I just told myself screw it. If they see me, they see me. But they didn't.

Aliyah honked outside and I grabbed my purse and walked to the door. I opened it and got a burst of last nights rain. It didn't bother me though. It just reminded me of last night and made me more tired then I already was. I walked to the car, got in the front seats, and put my hand over my head. "Thanks for picking me up. I should be getting my car back later today. " She smacked her teeth "Bruh you don't owe me a thank you but your welcome."

We drove to school in silence that wasn't awkward. When we got in the parking lot Zoel seen us and got in the back seat. "Hey Mani!" She exclaimed "Hey." I responded nonchalantly. "So what's wrong with you?" Aliyah asked. "Nun Bruh." I shook my head "I'm tired." "If you don't stop lying like a Lil bitch Imani. What is wrong with you?" Zoel said "If I talk about it. Its gone make it worse. " "Okay, okay so we'll guess ... Right Zoe?" "Yeah. Okay so... Umm... Your mom?" I shook my head "Lela and Riley?" I turned around and looked at her like those bitches don't faze me. "Ok damn you not playing !"

All of a sudden Aliyah realized what was wrong and gasped "Imani... Is it..." I looked at her look at me and immediately burst into tears. "What happened?" She asked showing pity. I told them about last night and how i was ready to see him today but I wasn't ready to and they listened. I had to fix my face from crying so much. They comforted me by saying their for sure it wasn't me and other stuff.

A while later we all got out and I didn't even look at the table Stephon, Isaiah, and Calvin usually sit at. "He's not there... " Zoel said "Is it okay of we go over there?" "Yeah. " when we got to the table Isaiah was about to ask what was wrong but Zoel gave him a don't ask, its about Stephon look. While they were all talking I started looking around for him but he wasn't there.

"Where's Stephon?" I asked the guys. But they just shrugged.

*****

During 3rd period after another senior assembly I texted Calvin to see if he had heard something from him. He responded no and that's when I started to worry. I hope he hadn't dome anything stupid...