The Up Hill Battle

10. 5 PM - Karen's Café - Mia POV

Halloween was great. It wasn't amazing or anything like it is in New York. Its was good though. We went around the neighborhood and I hung out with some friends who are also in the early college program.

However, now it's time to buckle down. The semester is almost over and I just finished mid-terms. I need to write a great essay for English. We read the book A Raisin In The Sun. I have many articles with me on housing discrimination, and I don't mean like discrimination in today's world. I mean that people who sold their houses in North Carolina, in other southern states, but also in California and New York sold their houses with the intent of never having an African American own it. It would even state it on the deed of the house. That the property should not be sold to any person who is of African-American descent. It's crazy, it's insane, but I shouldn't be surprised that this is actually something people did.

"Hello," I looked up from my computer. He was sitting right across from me.

"Mr. Scott," I said and continued reading through another article.

"You look very busy," he said.

"I am." I sighed and put the article down. "What can I help you with, Mr. Scott."

"Well, for starters you can stop calling Mr. Scott," he said, "Call me Lucas or dad, if you want to."

"No thanks, I've had two of those and only one of them could actually be called Dad," I said. "What do you really want?"

"He wants to get to know you," I turned my head and saw his wife who pulled up a chair. I sighed and put my papers together in order. "He is your father. He has that right."

"Not really," I said. "My mom has full custody and because I am 16 years old, I have a say in whether I want to even speak to him." I then looked at Mr. Scott, "No offense."

"Look, I just want to get to know you, maybe go out for a coffee or..." he started and grabbed one of the articles, "Help you write an essay on Racist Restrictions Linger on Property Deeds."

"Racial Covenants, they were legal contracts that were embedded into the property deed of a house to keep non-whites from buying or occupying land or property," I explained. "My English class read A Raisin in The Sun and I decided to write my essay on Racial Covenants."

"Haley must be going hard this year, Jesus," Mrs. Scott said.

"I don't attend Tree Hill anymore. I go to Cape Fear Community, I'm in the Early College program," I stated and took my article back. I grabbed all my articles and put them in my backpack.

"I thought you're schedule was changed, why would you leave," Mr. Scott asked.

"I'm too smart and I didn't want to be bothered by you," I said. Mrs. Scott looked taken aback.

"Look, I know this is hard, but you can be a little nice," Mrs. Scott said, "I know you're masking your fear and insecurities with sarcasm, but we just want to get to know you. And maybe you can get to know Sawyer. You both already have basketball and having the same father in common."

"That thing is your daughter," I said and smiled. "God, do I feel bad for you."

"Okay, look just give me a chance," Mr. Scott said.

"Why should I?" I asked loudly not caring if anyone heard. "You've had plenty of chances."

"That's not fair, he didn't know," Mrs. Scott stated. I looked at both of them, then to Mrs. Scott the teacher who was behind the counter along with some guy who I can only assume is her husband. I put my laptop in my backpack and grabbed it. "You can't punish him for not knowing." I saw the mic and I went up to it.