Woke

15.)

Kiara:

"C'mon, Kiara, we're not skipping APUSH." Chris said as we got closer to the classroom. "We have an exam coming up."

I didn't know why, but I had a bad feeling about going to AP US History. It was usually an uneventful class, but I really wasn't feeling it.

"Chris, let's just go get some coffee or something. We can ask someone for the packet answers later."

"As much as I'd love to go on a coffee date with you," he gave me a cheeky grin when I rolled my eyes, "the class is only 45 minutes. You'll be okay."

"But--"

"If you don't get your fine ass in that classroom, I'll kiss you." He threatened.

I crossed my arms. "And you think I'll mind that... why?"

He stared at me for a second, clearly debating on whether or not to actually do it. On the low, I wanted him to. We hadn't kissed since after our tryouts, which was a couple weeks ago at this point. I couldn't stop thinking about it, and I wanted nothing more than to give in to that craving.

"Come on, Ki." He pulled me into the classroom, and we were both greeted by a few people. I nodded and said hey to them with a smile. It was weird to have people actually talking to me, but I didn't hate it. I kind of liked not having people uncomfortable or afraid of me.

Even if they were descended from colonizers.

"Okay class," our teacher said once the bell rang, "since we're wrapping up our unit on Slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction Period, I figured that instead of giving you all a study guide for the exam, we could have a class debate."

The reactions were mixed. Some were excited because the study packets were pointless, but others were upset because they hated debates. "Get with your debate partner and start gathering information to answer the questions I'm putting up on the board. Divide the work how you want. You both don't have to speak."

Everybody began to move around, but Chris and I stayed in place since we were partners. I sighed heavily. I was good at debates, but I really wasn't feeling up to it. I may have reached the point where I could hold casual conversations with my schoolmates, but I didn't know if I was comfortable debating with them about this specific era in American History. The public school system didn't teach even a tenth of Black History-- it was just "we had slaves but decided it was bad. The South wanted to be separated from the North for economic reasons, but Abraham Lincoln helped keep the US together and now everyone is free! Then there was that awkward time where we said Black people couldn't hang out with us in certain places, but we realized that was kind of mean too. Now, everyone is equal and living happily ever after! Thanks, Obama!"

I knew better, but I also knew what would happen if I got too emotional during the debate. I'd be deemed aggressive and get sent straight to Principal Karr. I couldn't afford that; I'd been doing too well with all of my teachers.

"Hey, Chris?" I asked, as he got out pencil and paper.

"Wassup?"

I pulled out my history book and notes. "Can I do the research and you talk?"

"Kiara, are you sure?" He frowned at me. "You killed it when we had the debate about Colonialism. You didn't even let me do anything and still demolished everyone."

I chuckled. "I'm just gonna try and take a backseat on this one."

"Okay... if you're sure. Just tap me if you have anything you wanna say."

I smiled and thanked him. We looked to the board for the questions:

Were members of the Underground Railroad in the right for working to help escaped slaves travel North?