As Above and So Below

10; Realization

I can almost feel the atmospheric changes between my home and my school. It's like home holds me with my consent and showers me in love and kisses. Here, I love it, but it feels forced sometimes. I miss the comfort of my papa and my bed and my grandmaman. It's all so different, yet familiar.

I return my bags to me, Koza, Cachiche and Najila's sleeping quarters. I pushed my beautiful deep orange, forest green and warm red curtain out of my sight, plopped my suitcase and large tote bag onto the floor and proceeded to flop ever so loudly onto the surprisingly comfortable bed the school provided.

"How was home, Capucine?" Asked the beautiful, Najila. She proceeded to fix her hijab, showing her face a little more.

I shrugged, "seeing my papa, cousin, grandmaman was great, but now that I'm back I just miss home even more, but at least I got you, Koza, Cachiche, Vanni..." I replied in a tone that reeked of exhaustion.

Najila sad grinned. "You'll get used to it, I mean, all the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students here have..." she said, "I think you'll be fine, I mean, you can always use the phones in the office," she told me attempting to be reassuring. It kinda helped, I guess.

After a few seconds, Najila simply just stared into my eyes, they were sharp and eyecatching... it was like something came over me. Like a wave of confidence poured a bucket of ice water onto my head that splashed to the remainder of me. Within a moment, my mind went blank, then, once I came back, I felt new. Once the feeling was over, I stood up off the bed, moving towards Najila.

"What did you just do?" I asked, worried, confused. I moved my long, silver box braids out of my face.

Najila bit her lip, almost mad at herself. She sighed. "You looked into my eyes, and I made you feel how I wanted you to feel." She said in a whisper, quieter as she moved towards me.

I took a big, angry, scared, deep breath. "Aye," I said moving back, "don't be using that mess on me, I ain't bring your dead cat back to life, you don't use your wild hypnotist powers on me. Deal?" I asked her, until I smiled, "unless you ask me..." I said, moving closer to her so no one could hear.

Najila nodded slowly, her eyes wide with nervousness, but they soon began to appear calm. "Sorry, I can't control myself sometimes... I felt bad." She told me, moving her long wavy hair behind her ear. She glanced up at me with pleading eyes. She was much shorter than me, probably 4'11. I'm 5'6 so I felt like a tower looking down at a puppy. "Don't be mad, it won't happen again," she asked me with such a puppy dog eyes look it made me wanna listen.

I nodded slowly, tilting my chin away, "aye, aye, you not doin' that again, right?" I asked, putting my hands in front of me, asking for reasurrance.

"Nuh, uh," she replied, giggling a little.

"Hey! This ain't funny! Now you got me shook. You could go tell me to go make you a rotisserie chicken and I would!" I told her, being totally dramatic.

Najila smiled, "I wouldn't do that, Capucine. I'm not selfish."

I raised my brows, still suspicious of her intents. "Mhmmm, pretty eyes, as long as you don't do it again, I'll believe you." I told her as I slowly got into bed and she got into hers, not taking my eyes off her.

—-
It was around midnight Koza and Cachiche got back. They were wearing body con dresses. I know what they was up to already. "Hoes" I jokingly thought to myself.

I sat up in bed as they snuck back in. They ain't know I was awaken by them, but I was, and they're gonna feel the not so scary wrath of Ms. Capucine Eloise Laveau.

I flicked on the lamp on my night stand. "Y'all up late." I told em. Cachiche jumped like a scared mouse, trying not to laugh. She seemed drunk. Definitely wine drunk. Maybe sangria or something. I got outta bed, moving towards her.

"What y'all do tonight?" I asked Koza and Cachiche, pointing at a hickey on Koza's light brown neck. She blushed.

"Ahhh nothing, totally didn't get laid or anything..." she giggled, twirling her hair like a dumb bitch... no offence. Not like I woulda been any different.

I sighed, nodding. "Without me?" I asked, fake hurt, holding my chest. "Y'all evil!"

Koza grabbed my face lovingly, pulling me into her chest for a sloppy hug. "We love you Uci, you were just so tired!" She cried in a whisper, kissing the top of my head.

I smiled in her tiddy filled hug. "Y'all don't love me y'all just like me a whole lot," I joked, moving out of the hug.

Cachiche rolled her eyes, "quit actin' like that and maybe you'll be in the mood to go tomorrow night!" She chuckled, quiet dancing.

"Where'd y'all even go?" I asked curiously, raising my brows.

Cachiche smiled, waving her hands. "Okay, SO, there's this guy that this guy here; Kai, is friends with. He lives like a 10 minute walk away and he has get togethers every night. Or the school goes and parties in the woods or the beach... basically anywhere." She told me, raising her eyebrows.

I nodded, "ahhh, okay... so who gave you that?" I asked pointing at the hickey on her neck. Cachiche automatically blushed as her eyes widened. She covered it with her jean jacket and laughed nervously. "Ohhh, nooo one."

I snorted, "ok, sis, I believe you. Just get to bed, I got class in the AM." I said, getting under the covers and closing my eyes. I felt that wave, again. Everytime I close my eyes. It felt bonkers. I ain't never looking in Najila's eyes again, period... after that, suspicion about the snake eyed witch, and what she actually is capable of...