No Better Heaven Than You.

Airionna Lynch.

I used that hate that name growing up. Kids gave me hell about my last name growing up. They swore I was twisted and sick for a name I had no control over having. Kids would plaster pictures of slaves who had been lynched everywhere they could. It didn't matter who else saw it, as long as I did. It was humiliating and it broke my heart into a million pieces. But my Mother never let me transfer, was never soft on me and never let me quit. I caught a break the older I got and with the few friends I accumulated. But my elementary, middle school and early high school days still refused to fully let me live that down.

"Airi!!" Jumping I swore under my breath. Everything on my desk went fluttering to the ground around me and heads turned into my direction.

"Is there a problem?" Lifting my head to see the Teacher approaching me, I finished picking my work up.

"No there's no-"

"Good, then stop interrupting my class." My cheeks burned hot with embarrassment, listening to everyone laugh. But I kept my head down and finished the homework assigned for us tonight. I always did it during the lectures, We had the notes and this was easy to me. I had straight A's that hard work better work for something.

Ring. Ring

"Thank god." I sighed, rushing into the hallway where my friend group were awaiting me. They had yet to notice me as they talked and laughed. I didn't blame them, it was Friday and we all had saved for over a year to go on a trip during spring break.

"Airiiiii!!" Shaking my head with a large smile, I opened my arms for Chris & Tray.

"Damn, we'd love some loving to?" Feeling my jacket get pulled, my face was smashed into the chest of Mariah, followed by Chanel. Laughing softly, I hugged them back watching them go fall into the embrace of Chris & Tray. I turned away from the scene, feeling a burning sensation run through my body. I hated it, I did. But I just couldn't let go of what happened last year. No one knew about it except the banana crew, and we wanted to keep it that way.

"You ready Airi? You told your Mom we were leaving straight from school right?" Sucking in a sharp breath when I felt warmth on my forearm, I turned to Nique to see her smiling down at me. I was fairly short compared to everyone else, aside from Carmen standing at 5'3. Carmen was even shorter standing at 5'0 even.

"O-oh.. yeah I have all my stuff in your trunk ready to go." Nodding, she looped her arm with mine and pulled me along to stand outside with them in the beaming sun. Texas was always blazing like this, so even Spring felt like Summer. Unlike my friends I would miss highschool despite the trauma it forced me to endure. Somethings even they weren't aware of. And I wanted to keep it that way. They didn't need to know just how broken I was inside. Stretching my arms above my head with a loud yawn, I skipped down the steps after the girls as the boys pulled up. Corey was driving his truck, so Carmen would ride with him and majority of our things. Chris and Mariah climbed in with them, leaving Nique, King, Tray, Chanel and myself to climb into her 2019 Chevy 300. Her parents had just gifted this to her, for successfully raising her grades. I myself didn't own a car just yet. I had just conquered my fears last summer of driving, so this was all new to me.

"Let's hit the road bitches!!!" Rolling my eyes as Corey sped out the parking lot, I buckled up as King did the same behind him.

"Splaine! Don't drive stupid in my fucking car!"

"Chill out Maine! I got this." Smacking her teeth, she turned the radio up as Jacquees's voice blared throughout the car. I closed my eyes feeling the warmth of the springs wind flare against my skin.