Everything Is Not What It Seems

IV

Getting off the train I smiled at the little girl dancing with her brother. 'If only I had that type of relationship with anybody. Hell I'd even take a cousin' I thought to myself.

Catching up to them I saw them going into Rainbow. Walking in I saw Amiera by some pencil skirts. I went over to go talk to her.

"I never asked how old y'all were" I said looking at some of the the shirts that go with it.

"Oh, I'm 20, Rocky is 19, Ferg is 20 but about to be 21" she answered shrugging "how old are you" she continued.

"I'm 18 , I was gonna go to college to get away but plans change " I shrugged pushing a red shirt out the way to get the white one.

"Anyways , I think this is a good professional shirt, right?" I asked holding up the white shirt and she nodded picking up the black pencil skirt.

"Okay let's get you some shoes" she said walking over to the section as I followed

"Hey Lona" I heard and looked back to see someone I never wanted to see again. I sped up ahead of the group acting like I didn't hear him only for him to say it louder.

"No" I said skipping away as he followed behind and they started to notice. 'Please God , no' I thought as we all stopped walking and they looked at me.

"Is he talking to you" Ferg asked as he tried to catch up. I nodded and folded my arms not ready for this conversation as my ex stepped directly in front of me.

"Hey lona-" "Don't call me that , demajai" I cut him off backing up from him a little. Ferg and Amiera walked into a pizza place behind us as Rakim stood outside and picked up a phone call.

"I missed you " Demajai said and I rolled my eyes. "Missed me? Are you fucking serious?" I said getting angrier than what I already was.

"Demajai.... the whole time we were in a relationship you treated melike shit, you made my life even more worse than what it already was" I started but he cut me off "No I didn't, I treated like a girlfriend with respect". "Respect ?" I laughed.

" There was no respect coming from your end. You made me feel like absolute trash. Every single time I would ask you a simple question you were annoyed. YOU HATED ME . And for what? HUH? I already had enough hate in my life you were just the fucking cherry on top. I told you what was happening to ME, I TOLD YOU - and you ....... you just shrugged it off " I said feeling rage filled tears coming down my face as he stepped closer.

"Some days I would ask you how I looked and you would say 'I think you should try another outfit , that one isn't cute' AND I TOLERATED IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT ONE DAY YOU WERE GONNA CHANGE...... You may have as well been just as abusive as my fucking parents, the emotional pain you put me through from cheating to just making me feel like absolute garbage...... there's no way I'm getting back with you, hell, I fucking HATE YOU..... Oh and God , I hope you don't treat the next girl like me because I was really close to killing myself or even killing you AND my parents because I COULDN'T TAKE IT.. I don't even know why you came to talk to me , why ? Why did you follow me? Your presence just brings back some many painful memories " I said as the tears streamed down my face , looking up at him , he had a shocked reaction as he looked everywhere else but at me.

"Look at me" I said and he ignored me. "LOOK AT ME" he slowly looked over biting his lip nervously. "I  hate you , I never want to see you again....... do you see my pain? Well I wish you could feel it because the words I've said doesn't even compare to what you said and done , please don't ever come near me again" I said leaning against the pizzeria wall and slid down as he slowly walked away.

"Aye, you alright?" Rakim walked over and asked as I shook my head no. " Need some time before going in?" I shook my head yes and he sat down on the ground next to me. Counting to sixty I inhaled and exhaled until I felt better as he stared at me.

"Ready?" He said getting up and offering his hand to pull me up. I used my arms to wipe my tears before taking it and dusting myself off.

"Thanks" I said before walking in and sitting with Ferg and Amiera.

They looked like they wanted to ask about what happened but decided against which made me appreciate them even more.

"So y'all ready to head back after this" Amiera asked smiling and we all nodded getting up .

A few hours later

I sat in "my" room texting Amiera who was sending me funny videos and I heard the front door slam shut as foot steps rushed in. Getting up completely I ran to the closet and slowly closed the door.

Rakim left out a hour ago to hangout with his friends. I immediately texted him and asked was that him but I know that it wasn't. Two sets of footsteps searched the house , they were still in the kitchen/ living room area. I quietly ran to the window to see if it had bars on them. After figuring out they didn't I slowly slid it up trying to be quiet as they searched Rakim's room slipping onto the fire escape, I pulled the curtains back and let the window down as far as it could go without squishing my hands. As I ran down the first couple of steps I heard the door to "my" room bust open. My phone buzzed in my pocket so I took it out and answered it.

"What happened" I heard Rakim say over the phone and it sounded like he was running.

"there are people in the house" he cursed under his breath before saying something to someone in the background.

"Did you get out" he asked still running, I said yes seeing three figures run around the corner towards the apartments.

"I'm almost there hold on" He said hanging up .

I ran down the fire escape meeting them at the bottom. "They still up there" Rakim asked approaching with Jordan and Ferg. I nodded and they bolted up the main stairs trying to catch the intruders.

I started hearing footsteps running down the fire escape stairs and peeked around the corner only to have the wind knocked out of me.

"Ahhhhh" I screamed in pain as a man with a bag of stuff fell on top of me.

'my pour ankle' I thought before passing out.