Salted Wound

Chapter 3 Zamari- Aug 23, 2018

My alarm blares from my phone, making me jerk awake. I grope for my phone to shut the damn thing off before closing my eyes for one more minute of peace. I hear Amari laughing in the hallway and Jade calling him to eat his breakfast. I sigh as I finally drag myself out of bed and stumble to my closet to find something semi-clean. In the bathroom, I inspect the bruises on my face. There's no way I can get away with people thinking I fell or some other bullshit story. It looked like I got jumped. I shake my head as I turn away from the mirror. That's a later problem, I'm not going to bother worrying about it when I can't change it now. In the hall, Amari sits outside his room struggling into his sneakers, his backpack open and splayed out on the floor.

"You need some help?" I ask, trying not to grin at his struggles

"No, I'm good," he replies, jamming his toes in the shoe and stands up.

He runs out of his room and zooms to the kitchen. I find Jade pouring cheerios in three plastic bowls and handing Amari the milk. We eat breakfast fast, all three of us running late. Once our plates are empty Jade snatches them back and throws the spoons in the sink and I put the milk away. Amari starts skipping around grabbing some things and throwing them into his backpack.

I open the closet next to the door and grab my black backpack and sling it over my shoulder and my sister calls out for Amari while grabbing her bag. I look over to her, a bit confused to why she's coming with us. She decided to take the online program with the school which meant she was going to be "homeschooled."

"Changed your mind already?" I ask, eying her bag.

She looks down and shakes her head. "I have to talk to a couple of the teachers and get some things fixed with the materials. I'm walking my ass back home and hop into my sweats the second I finish." She mentions while walking out of the door.

I wait for Amari and once he was outside we start speed walking down the driveway. Jade and I walk Amari to his bus stop before continuing on to our own school. The high school is close to our neighborhood so there's no point in us taking the school bus. Near the front of the school, Jade asks, "How are you gonna explain the bruises here?" I shrug, unconcerned.

"It's not like anyone here pays any more attention than mom does."

Her mouth twists up like she wants to say something, or argue with my statement, but she stays quiet, keeping the thought to herself. At the front doors of the school, I find my closest friend, Marcus, who says bye to Jade as she keeps walking without us. She waves behind her before continuing to her class.

"What the hell happened to you?" He asks, finally seeing my whole face. My skin may be dark, but not dark enough to hide this.

I shrug again, hoping not too many people will question me about this.

"You know how I am, trouble lusts after me," Marcus rolls his eyes and slaps my shoulder as we turn to enter the building.

"Good luck keeping the truth out of Ms. Hayes' hands,"

"Oh, shit," I breathe. I hadn't thought of that. Ms. Hayes is by far the best teacher here, but also the most involved with the kids. No way in hell will I be able to keep this from her.

I groan in pretend frustration, holding a hand dramatically to my forehead and wilting, making Marcus laugh.

    Marcus has been my friend since the beginning of eighth grade. We met in our art class where we were obligated to work together but we ended up just giving the art teacher a headache. I was there for him when his own mother walked out on him and he was there when my father walked out on me. Not to get into some deep shit, but he's my brother for life.