Love Me for Me

Chapter One

I hurried out of school and caught the bus just in time to get to work. It’s important I catch the bus on time or I will be late and if I’m late I will get fired. And since my job is the sole provider, I have to be on time. I work at this restaurant called Torso that is very popular in town. I live in downtown Atlanta and it’s not the easy thing to do. Atlanta can be a rough place to live in especially with barely above minimum wage income on top of taking care of a sixteen year old and an eight year old. I go to the back of the restaurant and put on my uniform.

Finally my shift is through and I can head home. Since my condo is just two blocks away, I just walk home. By the time I get home I expect to see Ciara watching TV as usual while Rico hides out in his room. Instead I come home to a living room filled with guys. I’m in complete shock as I stand watching strange people eat our food and fill my living room. “Hey sis,” Rico said coming up to me with a chip his hand. “What the hell is going on,” I asked sounding a little upset. “Oh see I made the basketball team and they suggested that they come home with me so we could get to know each other better as a team.”

“So you decided to invite a whole team into our home to eat our food, the food I work hard for to provide for us, so that you can be on some damn team.” By this time everyone had turned to look at me, just what I needed. The team that constantly made my life hell was in my living room looking at me. “This yo sister little slick,” one dude said standing up. He was six feet tall with dark skin; he had been the main one that called me names. “Yea.”

“Man you didn’t tell me Ms. Piggy was your sister,” he said with a smirk. Great now I have to deal with this shit at home too. Everyone started laughing which only made it worse, I looked at Rico and he was laughing too. Some brother I had. “Rico get these people out of our home and if you want to kiss their ass some more how about you go get a job and by your own place to invite them to,” I said putting my things down. “Look I know you are mad but I need this.”

“No what you need is to get a grip on reality if they don’t want to be your friend without you doing this then obviously they aren’t gonna be good friends in the first place. And where is Ciara?”

“I don’t know she wasn’t home when I got here.”

“So you just said to hell with her, I have a basketball team to kiss up to? I can’t believe you Rico I give you one damn job, to watch your sister until I get home and you can’t even do that,” I said getting my purse and keys. “Now I gotta go and search for her because you are too irresponsible to give a damn.”

“I’ll help you,” I heard someone say and turned around it was Hayden. “I got it,” I said heading to the door. He grabbed my arm, “I never said you didn’t but it would be quicker if you take my truck.” I sighed and nodded.

The whole ride I was silent trying not to spark any conversation, I had never been so close to Hayden and frankly it was intimidating. “Why you so quiet?” guess my plan didn’t work. “Just thinking.”

“About what?”

“Why do you care,” I snapped. He looked shock and then recovered, “I knew you weren’t as fragile as you seemed.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means when I look at you at school you seem shy and closed off,” he said shrugging. “I am.”

“You have any idea where your sister might be?”

“No, she doesn’t do this type of stuff but ever since our mom left she has been distant and lonely. Whenever she had a bad day my mom used to take her to the….” I trailed off getting an idea. “Take her where,” he asked confused. “The park.”