Woke

16.)

Chris:

I was restlessly waiting outside the girl's bathroom, when Tiana and Monica ran up to me.

"She's still in there?" Tiana asked. I nodded and the both of them went in. I exhaled deeply, leaning my head against the wall.

The second our AP U.S. History class ended, Kiara had packed up her belongings and rushed out of the classroom. She practically ran into the library, dropped her bag at our usual table, then walked right out. I quickly put my stuff down too and followed her. She pushed past students as I had kept calling her name, but it wasn't until I'd caught up to her outside of the bathrooms that she stopped to face me.

"I don't mean to sound rude, but can you please give me a few minutes to myself?"

I nodded, not being able to speak. She didn't come off rude at all, but seeing the tears rapidly running down her face had me taken aback. I'd never seen her look so hurt before. Kiara didn't seem angry or irritated, but boy did she seem broken. I wanted to punch everybody in that classroom.

I had waited for her to come out of the bathroom for nearly twenty minutes before texting Monica and Tiana that something was wrong. I didn't like the thought of her crying alone in a school bathroom-- she didn't deserve to go through that. I personally would've had no problem going in there myself to check on her, but I didn't know if I was someone she wanted to see in the moment.

Monica came out of the bathroom and looked at me with a worried expression. "What happened?"

I kept my voice as low as hers. "We had a debate about the pre and post Civil War era in APUSH." Monica groaned, immediately understanding. "Couple of pricks were spewing their ignorant opinions."

"Did she lash out or anything?"

I shook my head. "Not at all. She even tried to stay out of it, but Mrs. Chambers practically forced her to talk. She was very eloquent the entire time, but that kindness wasn't reciprocated. The way they came for her... it was ugly."

"What did they say?"

I paused to try and remember. "Uhm... Danny was spouting some bull about how Black people hold themselves back and pull the victim card. He was talking a lot of nonsense. Wesley said something about relations being bad between the two races because Black people don't want to let go of the past, but I think Kathy got to her when she asked Kiara what she'd personally gone through to feel oppressed. They were kinda implying she doesn't really have a say."

Monica took a step back from me with a horrified facial expression. "Kathy, Wes, and Danny said that? To Kiara? What the hell..."

"What?"

Before Monica could respond, Tiana came out of the bathroom. She was followed by Kiara. I stood up straighter as our eyes met. "Hey..."

"Hey..." she quickly wiped her eyes. "I'm... I'm gonna skip the rest of the day. I'll be back for cheer practice, so you don't have to worry about finding another ride home."

I nodded, resisting the urge to hold her in my arms. "That's totally understandable. If anything changes, I can just ask Devon to drop me. Let me know if you need anything."

Kiara gave me a small smile before letting out a shaky exhale. She walked past me towards the library to get her things. I didn't like the thought of her driving and sitting home alone while upset, so I couldn't help the next words that left my mouth.

"Or I could just come with you."

Tiana and Monica glanced at each other as Kiara stopped to turn around and face me. "Can't you be benched for Friday's game if your Coach finds out?"