Hopes Of Anna

Chapter Twenty: We up!!

I ran to Caldwell's house after getting that great news. What Mark had told me was the best news ever. It helped a whole lot and even gave us a story for this whole "stuff". Although I saw Caldwell everyday after the group's break-up and we spoke a little, mostly about my brother, I still felt distant from him.
'Hi.' I said as he opened the door.
'Hey.' He said staring at me like we had never met. 'So why are you here? To see me?' Was he flirting? He had a mocking smirk on his face.
'Yeah.' Excitement was getting the better of me. 'but I came because I have a new clue.' I said. I was not stammering because I was so excited, I wish I was excited all the time but my life was complicated; half of these complications came "naturally".
Caldwell was not interested.
'I thought we were done with that shit.'
'No we're not done with that shit.' I cut in.
'Anna, you're sweet and hopeful for this group but I gotta tell you, it's only you who has that hope.' Caldwell gave me, the touch. You know that touch on your shoulder when you are told: "Sorry it's not happening."
I had to do what everyone who is slowly failing to convince the toucher does. 'The principal sells the drugs to kids at the school's backyard.' I said. Caldwell immediately made "the turn". He placed his hands on my shoulders.
'How'd you know this?' He asked
'Andre's friends from the streets told him of the new drug. They said it was so good it put the seller in trouble.'
'What! Your brother does drugs?'
'No, I don't know why he hangs out with people who do but..my brother has never done drugs. Anyway, Andre found out some of his friends helped the principal in selling the drugs. He had asked them to get him some and he found out they went straight to our school but no one to get it from because__'
'The principal's out recovering. Wow Anna.' Caldwell gave me a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek. Though they said to give him some they had left. I didn't tell Caldwell this, just this news got me a great hug and a beautiful smile on his face.
**********
Dad was in a fit of sheer rage, with the pacing and the fuming but Andre did not mind him but prepared for school. Standing in front of the mirror between the kitchen and the living room walls.
'I swear I will lock you in cell.' Dad said. Mom and I did not mind what was going on. We had pretty much gotten used to it but I don't think that's why mom was not getting involved. She was not involved because she supported Andre. 'Why the hell would you do that?' Dad asked.
'Yo got nothing to pin on me.' Andre said sounding like a black ghetto kid. That was what he was, a rich popular ghetto kid.
'You won't speak like a...' Dad paused.
'Like a black kid? No probs. I want ya to know your woman made all that clear as day, amma black kid.' Andre said.
'Is that why you would attack her and my children in he car?' What! Andre did what?
'Andre is that true?' Mom supported him but not this.
'I ain't letting no bitch insult my mama.'
'Your "mama" tell you she had any problems with that?' Dad argued, sounding insensitive and annoying.
'The white people I see sometimes just set a wrong view of every white person to me. You guys always think you can get whatever you want, whenever you want it. I refuse to be like you.'
'Face it boy, you're white.' Dad was changing the argument into something more complex and discomforting.
'No, I'm half black....but I'm gonna keep hating the other half.' Andre said. Andre threw something to me, Dad and Mom were absent minded then. I observed it. Drugs. I quickly hid them under my clothes.
'Mom, I'm gonna go read.' I said sneaking out. What was Andre thinking? Though, it was good I was given before he left for college again.
*********
After pacing on my bed for a really long time and it was getting dark, I reached for my phone. I went to our group chat, I had to do this. They were my friends and we were a team...No matter how cheesy I sound.
I sent a text:
You up?
I put off my phone, I had so much doubt on getting a reply. I slept off. I dreamt of Caldwell falling in love with me and I dreamt of the group finally solving our mystery. Then I dreamt about my family__falling apart. I woke up with a jolt.
My mind was wrapped around the flashes of my breaking family. Then I realized we were not even a family. I buried my head into my pillow trying to shake the thought off but I knew we were not okay. Mom and Dad were far from okay...Still they would never let me know. I had to be the middle man. I would never disagree on being white or black. I was both. I'm a beautiful blend and I hoped would remain that way.
A girl like me had to find happiness in a far harder way than most girls. Nothing came easy for me, not even love. Caldwell did not show any signs in loving memory or not loving me. It was crazy that we always ended up bringing up my brother in our conversations; nothing about "us". I felt silly. Some months ago, I never had someone to think about as "us". I only had Andre and was forced to kill any crushes. I did not want to keep doing this to myself. My eyes went to the packs of drugs my brother threw to me. There were two packs; one which had K.L on it, but the other without the name. I had a gut feeling this meant something but I could not place my finger on it. I was tempted to place my finger in the pack and I did. I put my finger onto the powdered drugs. My finger had the white color of it's particles. I did not know what drove me to it but I put it to my nose. I felt it go through my body sharply. I could feel it push me off balance so rapidly and then I was on. I wanted more. My phone beeped and I reached for it, still with my finger in the pack.
'13 messages!' I exclaimed. My group had replied my text severally. The one that just came in was from Marie.
The text said:
Girl! We up!!