Hope We'll Meet Again

8

September 7th, 1990

"So what are you wearing to school tomorrow Ronnie?" I asked walking into her and Adonis' room.

"I don't know, jeans and a shirt." she replied with her face in a magazine. I stared at her before grabbing the magazine from her.

"Ronnie, go pick an outfit right now." I demanded pointing to her closet. She squinted at me with crossed arms before getting up.

"You were a lot nicer back when we were hotel hopping. You're really starting to become my mother." Ronnie said glancing over her shoulder as she looked through her side of the closet which was quite barren.

"Ronnie don't start please, just find something to wear." I sighed sitting on her bed. She pulled a skirt down and a crop top making me look her over.

"Ronnie, were you not listening when your principal went over the dress code?"

She started at me before putting the shirt back.

"What about this?" she asked pulling down a yellow and black long-sleeved striped shirt.

I nodded seeing that it went well with her jean skirt.

"Then you can wear your black boots with them. Do you want me to paint your nails?" I asked. She shook her head no, "Adonis is gonna paint them before I go to bed."

I nodded looking at her and Adonis' closet. I felt terrible, they hardly had any clothes.

"After we get more groceries I'm buying you two more clothes. I don't want kids picking on you because you don't have a lot of clothes."

Ronnie waved me off, "I planned on get a job anyway. A part time-"

I cut her off immediately, "Focus on school. Don't worry about working,just focus on your schoolwork and Gemini and I will handle the rest. If I have enough money I want you to go to college and do what I couldn't."

Ronnie stared at me with a blank expression before her face fell into a sad one, "But... that's not... that's not what I want Hope."

I could feel my heart drop before I slowly nodded, "Okay...I think you'll look great tomorrow." I gave her a smile before getting up and leaving her room.

I let out a breath as I went into the kitchen whispering to myself, "Is this how my mom felt with me?"

I could feel my eyes beginning to water before I quickly blinked the tears away.

Sighing to myself I immediately jumped from the phone line ringing.

"I got it!" I shouted going over to it in the kitchen. Pulling the receiver down to my ear I answered.

"Hello?"

"Ah, Hope. How are you?" Ezekiel asked.

"I'm good, did you need to see me?" I asked knitting my brows. He cleared his throat before answering, "I needed a quick fix right now. Work was a little hectic."

Thinking about the small baggie of coke I had hidden away in my purse I folded my lips in.

I was trying to ween off of it and temptation was the last thing I needed right now.

"Maybe some other time? I can't... I'm sorry."

There was a slight pause before he responded, "That's okay. Proud of you for trying to clean yourself up. Can I still stop by?" he asked. Looking at the time it was three-thirty.

"Sure."

"See you in fifteen." he sounded as if he were smiling then proceeded to hang up. Putting the phone on the hook I walked into Gemini and I's room.