The Untelling of Love & Happiness

Like Reconstructive Surgery

Chp. 1: Let Me Explain

"You used to come keep me company/ Tell me you love me and just me/ Oh and it took a while to trust me/ Girl, I had to work for it/ Still you don't judge me..."
-Bryson Tiller

Blah, blah, blah, blasé, blah, blah, blah! Dang, my mama was getting on my last fucking nerve! She insisted on reminding me of things I didn't need to be reminded of. An example? Like making sure I had my MATRA card just in case I needed to catch the bus after school. Why would I need to catch the bus when my man has a goddamn car? Lord!

"Hōkago wa kanarazu ie ni kaette kudasai!" My mom yelled from the back of the house. She rarely speaks English at home. Japanese is the number one language in our household. By now, even my dad was somewhat fluent. "Oboete oite, watashitachi wa anata no otōsan no tanjōbi o iwatte iru."

I rolled my eyes. I didn't want to come straight home after school and I didn't want to be forced into celebrating my dad's birthday tonight. My mom yelled another demand as I grabbed my backpack and iPhone.

"Ashton!" My mom fussed.

I pouted, "Okay! I heard you."

Rushing from my bedroom, I went to kiss my mom's cheek so that a clear escape could be made with no extra delay.

"Hey boo!" I grinned, climbing into Ken's car.

He pecked my forehead. I blushed and pulled on my seatbelt. I don't know why but here we were, four days into senior year and I'm stuck on day one. I'm still excited like it's the first day of school.

"Why you all teeth this morning?" Kenneth laughed.

"I don't know. I'm just happy. I talked to Kandy last night, she's in a good place. Yas and Briana are good... my girls all got me happy, I guess." I mentioned, still blushing.

"Okay. I feel that... I need you to do something for me, though. I hate to ask this but it came up this morning and it needs to be taken care of today." Kenneth stated. His voice sounded shady. "I gotta take something to Tallahassee."

I frowned a bit. Lately, Kenneth has become less studious and more gangsta. I didn't like that reality. This is our last year of school and I desperately need his ass to redirect and focus on graduation.

"Florida?"

"Yeah. It's like four hours, give or take. We'll be back before you gotta be home. Yo' people won't even realize you're gone."

"I think you need to get yo' ass to school. That shit can wait, boo. Who's callin' the shots now... because Toryn locked up but y'all niggas still doing the most. Baby, I need you to slow it down, okay? For serious!"

Kenneth laughed off my concern. That pissed me off.

"Aight!" I smacked. "Gone and take me to school."

"Naw. I told you I need you today. I mean, you can say 'no' but I know you wouldn't leave yo' man hanging. Just this one thing and I won't ask you for nothing else." Kenneth sighed. "It ain't like you haven't rode out with me before."