Poetic Justice & the Truth About Love

Chapter 2

"Hey HG." Justice greeted me. His brown eyes bright as he smiled at me. It was Thursday so it was getting close to the weekend. I was really looking forward to going to the movies with him.

"Hey Justice." I said back as I took my seat next to him. My god he was such a dream boat he was all I could ever think about but all we could ever be were friends.

Since Justice and I became friends people started talking like what we were doing was wrong or weird.

"Ugh... can you believe it they keep talking shit about us you mainly. Why is it such a big deal that we're cool with each other?" Justice said sounding annoyed.

I shrugged, "I don't care what people think we're friends and that's all that matters."

He nudged me and smiled down at me. "What would I do without you HG?"

"Probably die." I chuckled.

"I highly doubt that." He grinned.

"If you say so." I teased.

He laughed as he ran his hands through his long dreads.

He cleared his throat, I had never seen him look so awkward.

"Are you okay justice. You look a little stiff."

"Yeah I'm fine. I just wanted to say you look nice today." He said it so awkwardly like he had been trying to tell me this for a while or he had practiced it in the mirror.

I looked at him funny. "Are you sure you're okay? You never compliment me." He let out a huff.

"Yeah I'm fine." His tone had changed he snapped at me in a way he had never done before.

I opened my mouth to say something but I didn't I didn't want to cause an argument and make a seen and get him kicked off the bus so I stayed quiet.

When we had gotten to school and we were getting off the bus he stopped me. "I'm sorry I snapped at you. I just don't know how to talk to you sometimes."

I felt my face get hot so I knew it was turning red. "I don't know why. It's just lil ole me. I ain't nothing special. I'm not like you."

A smile spread across his face almost as if what I said made his day.

"Oh but you are special HG you ain't like any girl I've ever met. You're definitely something else."

"If you say so Justice." I called after him as I started walking towards my first period.

He caught up to me. "But I know so. And I'll see you at lunch." He told me before pulling me into a warm inviting hug.

I froze I had never been hugged by a boy before that wasn't family. It was nice.

He smelled nice too as I felt the muscles on his back contract when he squeezed me.

"What was that for?" I said looking probably confused and shocked.

He shrugged not saying anything as he walked off looking happier than ever.

That was weird he had never hugged me before it was always fist bumps or a handshake but a hug was something new.

"Is that you're boyfriend?" Some guy in my class asked.

"No he's my best friend."

Then a bunch of guys behind me started laughing. "Ni**er lover!" The boy behind me said.

I took a deep breath trying to stay calm but that was so uncalled for. I didn't do anything to them and I wasn't doing anything wrong.

The pretty dark skinned black girl who sat next me smiled at me. "Don't listen to them. They're stupid."

"Yeah they are but they shouldn't say things like that."

When lunch rolled around I met up with justice at our usual spot. "What's cooking good looking." He greeted me.

"Hey..." I said barely above a whisper.

"What's wrong HG? You always laugh when I say that."

"It's nothing." I said looking away from him.

"It must be something cuz you ain't acting like your self. Did somebody say something to you or something?"

I nodded my head yes looking away from him.

"Who did? What did they say?"

"If I tell you will you promise not to start a fight with them."

"Damn it Hazel Grace just tell me I wanna help."

"The boy who sits behind me in first period called me a- I can't even say it I hate that word."

"He called you a n***er lover didn't he?"

"Yeah he did all because I said you and I were friends."

I looked up at him and saw his chaw clinch. I saw the heat of anger in his dark eyes that scared me.

"Please don't do anything they were just talking shit." I begged him.

"HG what am I supposed to do then?" His eyes softened as he looked at me.

"Ignore them. Silence is louder than words."

"If they touch you I'm kicking their asses I don't give a fuck. They mess with you they mess with me."

I don't know why but him wanting to be protective over me gave me the strongest urge to kiss him but I knew that was a bad idea.

Instead I grabbed his hand letting him know I was there and that I understood.

He looked up at me deep into my eyes as a small smile spread across his beautiful lips. "You know I'm always gonna protect you and I'm always gonna be here for you."

"And I'll do the same for you we're friends for life." I smiled back at him.

I saw a flash of disappointment on his face at my words which puzzled me.

"Yeah friends for life." He said as he attempted to give me a small smile.

If I didn't know any better he liked me the way I liked him. I hope he knew how bad of an idea it was.

"Are you okay?" I asked looking puzzled

"Yeah, I'm just mad about what that boy said to you. I swear to god if he touches you and I hear about it I'm kicking his ass. You shouldn't go through this just because you saw past the color of my skin."

"I know but I also don't want you getting hurt defending me. I can defend myself you know."

He gave me a genuine smile. "I know HG."

The bell rang for the last period of the day. Justice and I walked side by side to our English class.

"Welcome class." Our English teacher said.

"What's with Mr. Parker wearing bow ties." Justice whispered in my ear.

I couldn't hold back my giggle. I felt the whole classrooms eyes on me I knew they were starting at us.

As the class started I noticed that our teacher looked overly excited which meant a group project was in the works.

"Next week we will be starting our new unit on English literature. We will start by reading the play Romeo and Juliet. You then will pair up with your assigned partner for this year which means you will have to spend time with that person and work together with that person. I want your point of views on the play and you're interpretation of what you think the whole point of the play was."

I was kinda excited this meant I'd get a lot more time with him outside of school.

I looked over at Justice and he flashed a smile for me.

Damn he was such a dream boat, I couldn't get over how fine he was and the slightest chance that he liked me in any way made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.