HEIGHTS

six

I tossed my bag on the couch and took my Parker off. I had to rewind the moment Harry talked to me in my head. "Leticia what is this?" She appeared with a letter in front of me. "I.. I don't know." I did know. Josephine's dad sued us. "You got fucking sued Leticia! Do you know what it means?" I shook my head. I knew what it meant, I had to go jail. I cried in my mind. Mom I'm sorry. It's Tyrese's fault. He told me to run." Her anger was written in her face. She took a deep breath, before she began to talk. "Run? So if he tells you to jump from a cliff you would do it?" It wasn't the best idea to blame my brother for everything, I mean he didn't force me to do it. "I'm sorry. I couldn't think. I-" She cut me off with a hand sign. "I ain't gonna get you out of jail." I took a look at the letter. Jail? I didn't see jail written on it. I panicked. "Mom! Please I don't wanna go to jail. It was just a stupid mistake. You know that I'm a good person! I would even donate my money to homeless puppies! Mom! Please help me." I cried and she shook her head. "I ain't gonna save your ass." I cried even louder. "Stop." She ordered. I tried to take a deep breath, but it came out shaky. "I don't wanna go to jail." I sobbed, my eyes were probably puffy now. "I was just kidding. You're going to pay. But I ain't gonna do that." Great, I just got pranked by mother. My heart had to settle down, before I could respond normally. I was shaking like crazy. "How much?" A little sob escaped my mouth. "1k." She coldly replied. "I ain't gonna pay that though." I nodded. "I will." I would even work more than I was already doing. "You have to pay it within than fourteen days." My jaw dropped. "Fourteen-" I stopped, when her eyes got a shade darker. "But how?" I already knew what she was going to say. "The money you've been saving for College." My jaw dropped. Everything I saved? This would mean, that I would give up my dream. Tears were already burning in my eyes. "You will." She told, before she went to the kitchen.

I dropped myself on the ground, I needed time to realize, what would happen, if would give all my money. It took me two years, to even get to a thousand dollars. This all would've not happen, if I didn't listen to my stupid, selfish, useless, lazy and ghetto brother. For the rest of the day, I wouldn't get out of my room. I wouldn't eat or even answer calls. I unlocked my phone; a call from Jess. I was sorry, for not responding, but I knew, that she would ask me a bunch of question. It also was somehow, her fault, my brother, wouldn't have to pick me up, if Jess was still talking to me on that day. Why was I even blaming her? I sounded a lot like my mother, she always blamed someone for her mistakes.

"Open the door." Tyrese's voice was very low. "Leave me alone." I pressed my body against the door, but he was stronger. "So.. each one is paying? Or do we have to put money together." I shook my head, "And even if we had to put our money together, you wouldn't have an opportunity to pay it. You're broke!" He crossed his arms in front of his chest, only now, I recognized his black eye. "Who did it to you?" I whispered. He was quiet. His Silence already gave out, that my father did it. He didn't mind, if his own child, had to walk around with this. I reached my finger out for his eye, but he jerked away, "Don't touch me." His eyes became teary, now I felt sorry for him. "He will always do it, no matter what we say to him." He walked out, leaving me speechless.

I woke up with a headache in the next morning. I cried my self to sleep, making it impossible for my little sister to fall asleep. She asked me what happened, but I never told her. She was so sweet, she slept on my bed with me, because she thought I was having nightmares. "Mommy told me to give this to you." She brought me a cup of tea. "Thank you." I thanked her with my raspy morning voice. "How are you feeling Tish?" I gave her a smile, "I'm fine thanks." Her eyes scanned me for a moment, I took a sip from my tea. "You were scared of the monsters right? You wear scared, they were following you in your dreams. I know them." She sat down on my bed, and stroke my cheek. Her sweet gesture was messing with my emotions again. I laughed, but realized that this was just a laugh, to conceal my tears. I couldn't hide them forever. "You're just too cute Rue." I gently squeezed her hand. "What happened to Tyrese's eye?" Her face looked concerned, but I quickly shrugged it off. "He fell." I lied.

I looked at my phone, when when it vibrated on my side table. It was an unknown number, which worried me. What if this was an agent or something? I thought to myself. "Hello?" I answered with a shaky voice. "Leticia? Is it you?" I recognized, the deep voice, which once told me to wear his shirt. "Harry." My face lit up, I cleared my voice. "Are you alright?" I nodded, even though he couldn't see it. "Yeah, how did you got my number?" I looked to my sister and gave her a sign to leave. "I'm sorry." I whispered to her and went back to the phone call. "Your friend Jess gave it. I met her today. Is it okay?" I ran my fingers through my messy hair, "Yeah it's okay."

"She was concerned, you weren't answering her calls." He mentioned. Oh yeah, the calls. "I was asleep you know." I lied, to Harry. Should I tell him about everything? No, better not, why would he even bother. "Okay.. can I do anything for you?" I was surprised. He could do anything for me, just laying in his arms would be comforting. "No I'm fine thanks." I sighed, "I'm kind of worried about you." His voice, sounded different now. "Why? I'm okay." It was silent for a little moment. "I wanna see you. I don't believe what you're saying." I gasped, looking at my reflection. A tall and slender girl, with untamed hair and big eyes was starring back. "You really mean it?" I asked more to myself. "Yeah." I covered the microphone, and freaked out. "Leticia? Are you screaming?" Harry asked. Holy shit, I just embarrassed myself. "No, my little sister, just saw a spider." I casually lied, still trying to manage my excitement. "Okay, see you in thirty minutes in Dixon's Diner." He told. I knew where it was! It was where I worked. Okay I needed to calm myself down, before I would get an heart attack. "Okay." After he said goodbye, we hung up. I waited for him to do it first. I admit. "Oh my god, Leticia, you are going to meet Harry Styles in about.." I looked at my alarm clock, "twenty eight minutes."

I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth and ate a toast. "Where are you going?" My mother asked, looking all tired in her bathrobe. "I'm about to meet Jess." I lied. How often did I lied for today? She shrugged me off and headed to the kitchen yawning.

What was I supposed to do with my hair, they were sticking out in every direction. Would Harry like me more with straight or curly hair. Well he had curls himself, but if he preferred it on a girl was another story. What was I actually thinking? He was engaged for god's sake. I pulled a hair tie out of my drawer, and put my hair into a high ponytail. Plain and simple. What would he want from me? Why did he want to see me? I asked myself, when I rummaged my closet. Now what was I going to wear? This wasn't a date or? No it wasn't that being said, I could wear something plain, but I was going to see Harry Styles! I didn't want to be overdressed, I mean, we were going to a diner. I pulled out one of my old black Jeans, which still looked new and a basic white shirt. I put my Parker on and dressed my feet with thick socks. I decided to go for the white Converse, no high heels for me.

When I drew closer to the Diner, my heart began to race. I looked at my watch, I was ten minutes to early. Damn it. The workers greeted me and I already ordered my milkshake. "What are you doing here all alone?" Brenda one of my co workers asked me. "I am going to meet.. a friend." I hid the truth. Harry and I met as, friends didn't we? "Oh okay."

"Leticia?" I turned my head to the entrance and found Harry. "Harry." I softly spoke, Brenda's jaw dropped next to me.