Street Cred |On My Block|

19. Unacceptable

"Hey, wake your ass up" Oscar pulled me up, "yo chill out" I groaned pushing myself back onto the bed "you don't wanna be late, get ready" he shook me some more, "can I stay, just for today" I asked "nope, get out, I'm dropping you off in ten minutes" he told me. I sat in bed for a while staring at the ceiling, we learned how to bond outside without Olivia but what about school, when she's not sitting across from me at lunch, or when I don't pass her in the halls after fourth block, not waiting on her slow ass after school so we can walk together. Every moment of the day reminding me she's not coming back. I felt a tremor in my heart, like a cool spiked brisk cutting through.

I stepped out the house, staring down at the group of good for nothing santos sipping beer and 7am. My eyes connected with Jaime, who was buttoning up his white shirt that he wore along with khakis and dress shoes. Although he had very grown features I could still tell he couldn't have been much older than me, so why wasn't he in school. The loud pop of the car horn broke my trance, I looked up to Oscar watching me, I slowly started to walk.

"Spooky's taking his hyna to school" mocked one of the men "so that I don't end up like you" I spat. I swung the door open and sat in, "stop letting them get to you" Oscar mumbled "I'm not" I folded my arms and leaned back as he took off.

~

Finally being able to get back on track in my life, school is organized, yeah it's going to be different without Olivia but I'll be okay and I'll just get into a routine, no distractions. I walked in between Ruby and Jamal as we walked down the stairs as a squad, being with them was fulfilling, like we were almost getting back to where we needed to be. "Jamal" I heard a loud voice, I looked over to see the football coach staring Jamal down trying to seem intimidating, "good luck with that" I chuckled. As he stopped to talk to couch the rest of us took a right.

Cesar and Monse holding hand finally together like I knew they would and there's nothing to stop that. Ruby, well I don't know, he just walking around like he's okay, or like we didn't even fight. Maybe I should ask him if we're good or would that just ruin things, I don't want to make a good situation bad by opening my mouth, let me just be cool. "Hey Ruby" I heard a couple voice from across the quad area, a girl towered over us with a big accepting grin on her face and a couple of friends followed her and asked "can we see the scar", her blunt statement shocked me "did you even know him before he got shot" I asked "did you even ask if he was okay" there was a pause from her not being able to answer my question "you didn't, but he's a person not a damn zoo animal so you can look the other way" I snapped. Ruby unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it down to show the still raw wound near his shoulder, undermining my entire interlude that was set up to protect him. "Calm down mama bear" Monse joked. There I go, ruining things with my mouth.

-

I sat down at the lunch table next to Monse "oh is Cesar sitting here" I questioned "no you can stay" she told me, "I don't wanna take his spot, I'll move" after remembering that's not the first time those words came out my mouth I rearranged myself. "You okay Liyah" Monse asked, I parted my lips to speak, "wassup guys" Cesar interrupted and squished himself next to Monse, Jamal sat across from me and Ruby sat on the other side, he shifted his body about 60 degrees so he wouldn't have to face me all the way. "So how's classes for you guys" I asked "why are you talking about class, we gotta figured how we're gonna move the cheddar, cause when people start sniffing around, it won't be Gouda" Jamal spoke as frantic as he always was.

"Hey Chicos" Jasmine yelled squatting down next to Ruby "hi Jasmine" Monse hesitantly said through clenched teeth, "hey I forgot my dessert, can you get it" Ruby asked "of course, let me get a super sweet treat for my super sweet treat" she aggressively shouted before skipping away. "What was that" Monse asked "I'm trying to get rid of my bad karma, ya know so things won't go so sideways" Ruby explained. "Back to the cheese" Jamal yelled "let's talk about it tonight, my house" Ruby said "no way, your mom doesn't want me around" Cesar disagreed "let's do it at Liyah's studio" Jamal asked. "Oh, trust me, it's way too small" I tried pushing that idea to the side, "oh my god, you don't really have it do you" Ruby asked "I thought that was a one time thing but you live there don't you" he continued "Ruby please stop" I asked "what is he talking about" Monse asked "she's sleeping with Oscar" he let escape, Cesar chuckled a little, then after staring at my blank expression he stopped. "Tell us he's joking" Cesar asked "it's not like that" I mumbled "are you serious Aaliyah" Cesar stood up and yelled "I have no where else to go" I defended myself "neither do I, Ruby's mom took you in, meanwhile I've been sleeping on the street, benches, in cars, and you just thot your way out of it" he yelled at me "okay don't call her a thot" Monse debated "are you really gonna take her side" he asked "of course not, Liyah that's vile" she told me pushing the knife farther in my head, "and you lied to us" Jamal mumbled, throwing a little salt on the wound to top it off, I looked down from all their faces of anger, resent and disappointment, the truth always finds its way out, "guys lets go" Ruby said leading them away from the table.