Miss Sacrifice

Jaaliyah

"How are you?" I held my hand out for her and she took it.

"Good." She answered. She approached me and shook my hand, studying each nail and each finger.

I noticed when she looked up and studied my face, I suddenly became self conscious and tried to put my head back down but it was too late.

"Hey what happened to your face?" Her little child like eyes were curious as she asked me.

"Uh, I was playing around with my friend and she hit me too hard. I'm fine though." I looked to the side as I spoke turning my better cheek to her.

Tay didn't respond but she just looked back at Malik as if he would tell her the truth later. I knew what Malik was going to ask when when Tay walked over, and I was glad that she cut him off. It seemed much easier telling a little kid rather telling someone older because they didn't know any better and could not put pieces together. There was a slight relief when Tay looked at Malik, knowing that he had nothing to say about it.

"Jaaliyah, we just about to leave. Want us to walk you home?"Malik asked.

"Uhm you don't have to do that. Tay probably wants to get home." I looked up at him.  "Its not that far of a walk."

"No, no I want to and I will." His tone wasn't demanding but instead it was smooth and playful. He smirked when he spoke and it was hard not to look and smile as well.

"OK." I agreed.

When we began to walk Tay ran and walked farther than we did and stopped at every corner not knowing if she should turn or keep going. My house was about 3 blocks away from the library and I was afraid of my father driving around and seeing my with Malik. He had a way of assuming that whenever I was with a boy it was someone new that I was fucking.

"So, tell me bout' yourself." Malik said. He turned his head to look at me but still keeping an eye on Tay.

"My name is Jaaliyah, I'm 19 years old and I like to read." I replied. I put a fake smile on my face and broke the trance that I fell into when I looked into his eyes.

"What, c'mon. Tell me your thoughts, your dreams." Malik, walked closer to me as if he couldn't hear me. "Wait before you tell me anything, tell me what happened to your face."

Oh no, the one thing I was hoping he didn't want to know about. "You heard me when I told your sister."

"That was what you told her, now tell me." He nudged.

I didn't answer, but I just kept walking until we turned a corner coming closer to my house. I didn't want to have to explain myself to him, who was he to have the right to know what happened to me.

"Please." He begged. Malik looked at me with the most pleading puppy eyes ever. He didn't even have to change his facial expression I could see it in his eyes that he really was dying to know, for a reason I didn't understand.

"I was play fighting with my friend Tanya yesterday and she hit me too hard and too fast."

"That looks fresh, not a few hours since it happened."  He detected.

"Why do you care anyways?" My voice came out as irritated.

"Cause', I want to know why the girl I like has a bad bruise on her face." Suddenly Malik stopped walking. He folded his arm across his chest and looked at me, with an adjured look on his face.

I looked over to Tay to find an excuse to tell him, but Malik had already built four walls around me and now there was no getting out.

"How do you know that its fresh?" I asked.

"Never mind how I know, just tell me why you have one." His voice was stern and his eyes held mine.

"Look, my house is down this street and I cant be seen with you. I have to go now." I walked away before he had a chance to respond but he was clearly faster than I was.

Malik grabbed my arm."I'm not letting this go you know." I wasn't a question.

I shrugged out of his grasp not because I wanted to go but because it hurt when he grabbed me. I walked away not saying bye to Tay and something was burning in my chest to tell him but I just couldnt bring my lips and my voice to say it. I hated walking away without an answer but it was better that way. I walked down the street alone and sad, but not all of my was sad. I was happy that I spent some time with Malik.