Salted Wound

Chapter 18 Zamari- Sep 19, 2018

Anastacia tries. She really does, she tries so hard to teach me the things I still don't understand, especially in math, but the mental equivalent of Trump's wall keeps me from understanding the concept she's been trying to describe for the past 20 minutes. No matter how many different ways she describes it, I still don't get it, until she leaves me to my own devices, in hopes I'll stumble upon an answer eventually. As hard as the work can be sometimes though, I've started enjoying myself at these study sessions. Ana's friends all work together to help each other with every subject. So far I haven't been on the helping end, I've mainly dragged time from them studying, but nobody seems to mind the detriment. They always make time for me, and never get impatient. Ana on the other hand, at times, gets frustrated with my lack of knowledge, but Freddie always manages to lighten the mood.

I stare at the math textbook open next to me long enough for my eyes to go fuzzy with lack of focus. I rub a hand over my face tiredly and look up, seeing Ana who sits across the wide table from me, a piece of her thick hair falling into her eyes and with the intense focus she had on her paper I'm not sure she knows. I wave a hand over the table to test her, but she doesn't notice. I'm preparing to slingshot a rubber band at her when she looks up from her work and pushing the wayward hair back. I quickly lower the rubber band and pick up a pencil, pretending to write numbers down. She stands up to stretch as she says, "I'm gonna have to leave pretty quick today guys, I have a doctors appointment." She looks to me and I do a double-take at the regret in her eyes.

"I don't think I can drive you home today, Zamari, but Freddie is able to though."

I nod, looking to Freddie, who grins a little too wide to be considered innocent. "Alright, thanks, man."

Ana gives me a guilty look as she gathers her books, stepping away from the others and says quietly, "I'm really sorry about this Zam."

"It's okay, Freddie is willing to take me so it's fine."

She scratches her head, hesitating before going out of the room.

"No, it's not. I'm apologizing because you have to be in a car with Freddie. He's not exactly what you would call a safe driver, he can be a little wild on the road."

"Awe, little Annie all worried about me." I tease.

She grimaces, which is not exactly the reaction I had expected.

"Don't call me that, and I'm only worried because you don't have the sense to be worried on your own."

I shrug, unconcerned. "It's seriously not a big deal, I promise to survive. Go to your sister."

_________

Freddie leads me to a mildly beat up Altima that obviously has seen some hard times, but also a lot of love. I get in the passenger seat, barely registering the nonstop chatter from the driver's seat. That is until he actually puts his foot on the gas. The car lurched forward, almost hitting a parked car. He somehow made it out of the parking lot by swerving wildly anytime a car came within 100 yards of us. He pulled out of the school driveway and right in front of an eighteen-wheeler truck, which laid on the horn, while Freddie talked about a jazz band he liked and pulled out his phone to show me a song on Spotify, while simultaneously asking directions to my house.

"Freddie, don't get me wrong, I appreciate the ride, but how the hell do you have a license?"

He looks at me apologetically for a long enough time for me to gesture to the road emphatically. Once his eyes are back on the road I make the sign of the cross.

"Sorry man, I know I'm not the best behind the wheel, I failed the drivers test a lot before they finally got sick of seeing me. I heard the word 'abomination' once or twice in reference to my parking but hey, I got it eventually. Left here?" He asks, swerving in front of a minivan.

I grab the 'oh shit' bar as he switches lanes, barely missing an SUV already in that lane and takes a corner hard enough for both of us to be thrown sideways momentarily, whilst Freddie cackles maniacally. I send a mental prayer to the man upstairs that Amari won't have to grow up visiting me in a cemetery after this. I'm mildly surprised to realize Freddie is still bantering about a jazz singer; something about the shampoo he uses. The car clips the curb as I direct him to turn into my neighborhood and I bite my tongue to keep from yelping as he narrowly misses a stray cat. I point to my house and Freddie parks haphazardly across my driveway, I blow out a relieved breath that I'm home in one piece.

Freddie peers out the passenger window at my lumpy house, the peeling paint, and a stench of desperation coating the neighborhood would make anyone want to get out as fast as possible - I know it has that effect on me - but he doesn't say a word about the sad state of my home.

"Thanks for the ride man, it was interesting," I say, grabbing my backpack off the floorboards and glancing out the window to see Jade opening the front door.

"No problemo." He replies.

I open the passenger door, and suddenly Freddie grabs my arm, stopping me. I look at him in confusion, to see his rapt attention on my twin.

"Who is that angel." He breathes, his attention more focused than I had ever seen it before. I glance back at my sister, standing at the mailbox and looking at me, half in and half out of the car, with curiosity. Her closely clipped hair is as mussed enough for me to make the assumption she had been lounging on the couch or in bed, loose sweatpants hanging off her hips, an oversized t-shirt showing only the tip of her collarbone. I look back at Freddie who appears to have seen the face of God, and gag.

"That's Jade, my sister." I finally say, trying not to shudder at the images his fascination brings to mind.

"Older?" He asks, his eyes not meeting mine as he reaches up to smooth his hair.

"Uh, twin actually," I say.

"Dude..." he says breathlessly, still staring while Jade finally notices us and is watching the car with uncertainty.

"I found the song, and I think its fate." He taps the song, and Careless Whisper by George Michael floods the speakers.

"Oh, God," I mutter, as he mouths along with the lyrics, obviously in a spiritual place.

I finally have had enough and stand, shutting the passenger door behind me, not at all surprised when he turns the car off and gets out as well.

I give Jade an apologetic look as Freddie approaches her. She glances at me before Freddie holds out his hand, appearing in awe.

"Hey, my name is Fredrick Alfonso Chapman the third, but you can call me Freddie. And who might you be?"

"I already told you," I call, lounging against the closed car door. Freddie gives me a 'cut it out' look, while Jade just looks confused.

"Hi? Um, I'm Jade, Zamari's sister." She holds out the hand not holding the mail as well to shake Freddie's, but when he takes her hand, he brings it to his lips, kissing her knuckles.

"Freddie, don't you have somewhere to be?" I say, rolling my eyes.

He hesitates a moment. "Yeah, I should probably go." He turns back to Jade, still holding her hand. "It was very nice to meet you, Jade, I hope to see you again soon."

"Yeah uh, you too." She says awkwardly, looking at me and raising her eyebrow, silently asking what the hell was that?

I give a small shake of my head, AKA I'll explain later.

Freddie finally gets in his car and leaves, leading Jade to turn to me and ask,

"What the hell was that?"

I shudder, turning to go into the house. "I'm not entirely sure. He can't drive for shit either."