January of 11th Grade

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’ Was my only thought as I watched behind my hiding spot with Trisha. We were all just partying about how FCAT was finally over at the warehouse that we rented when this gang showed up. They were pissed, drunk, and dangerous, but well out numbered.

 

Our guys were bigger and tougher, but these guys had weapons.

 

Class A weapons.

 

Every girl had flipped over the tables and was cowering. Everyone but Trisha and I of course.

 

We don’t cower.

 

We shiver and curl into a ball.

 

In the head line of the guys protecting us were, Julio, Jason, Rasheed, Shaq, Aaron, Keith and Nathan.

 

If anything, Nathan, Shaq, and Jason were renowned for being good fighters, but again, those guys had weapons.

 

“What do you want?” Nathan asked.

 

The leader, a big tattooed Spanish boy staggered forward.

 

“Aye Man, -hic- this is our territory!” He yelled out completely drunk.

Jason and Shaq, two twin Jamaican brothers, bumped elbows and chuckled silently.

 

Behind me, Jason’s girlfriend, Brianna, was near tears and silently calling the cops. Shaq’s girlfriend, Angelica was praying with Trisha, Trinity, Katelyn and Sammy. Every other girl was hiding by the walls holding their purses and other valuables.

‘

How could a simple party go downwards? We were just having fun dancing and playing truth or dare seconds ago.’

 

BANG!

 

After that, all I heard was a Trisha scream:

 

“My baby!” and jump up.

 

Sirens were heard in the distance and the gang members tried to escape.

 

Shaq and Jason were being held back by their girlfriends to keep from murdering the Spanish leader. Every other guy had tackled the few members to the floor and kept them there till the cops came in.

 

I watched Trisha cry over Nathan’s cold lifeless form. It took all my strength not to cry with her. Nathan was like my other brother. And here he was, bleeding to death on a cold floor with Trisha crying over him.

 

I held Trisha’s crying form with Brianna as she cried and hollered. When the cops covered his body in an orange plastic, Trisha fainted.

 

Rasheed came to my side looking pained and rueful.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

All I remember after that was crying my heart out.

 

Four months after the incident

 

“We should break up, Rasheed.” I said silently.

 

He could only nod. We both knew this was going to happen. After Nathan’s death, no one had been the same. Especially Trisha. She never left her house, hardly answered her phone, and from what I heard from her mother, she hardly ate. In fact, the last we all saw of her was when she spoke at Nathan’s funeral.

 

“I guess I’ll see you.” Rasheed said. I didn’t look at him. Instead, I watched an elderly couple walk around with their grandchild. The boy looked to be around seven and he was grinning.

 

The sight made me smile, How cute. I wonder if I’ll have grandchildren…

 

“Call me when you get home, ok?” He asked before he kissed my head and walked out of the little café.

 

He left a crisp twenty dollar bill on the table for the bill.

 

Hey sista, go sista,
Soul sista, flow sista.
Hey sista, go sista,
Soul sista, flow sista.

 

He met marmalade down
In old Moulin Rouge
Strutting on the street
She said Hell-

 

“Trisha? Oh gosh! Why haven’t you-?”

 

“They charged him!”

 

“Charged who?”

 

“The b*****d who shot Nathan girl!!” Her voice yelled through the phone.

 

“… For real!? How long?”

 

“50 to life!” she exclaimed.

 

A grin exploded on my face. I stood up and put a five on the table for a tip and ran

outside. The sun was bright and the birds were singing.

 

“I broke up with Rasheed.”

 

“Oh honey! It’s my fault isn’t it? I’m so sorr-”

 

“Don’t apologize. We had been growing apart for a while now. It’s not your fault.” I took out my keys and unlocked my car, “You know how it is. He’s a senior going to college. He’s looking for better things. I can’t be the thing holding him back.” I put the car in reverse and adjusted my phone on the speaker above my stereo.

 

Hey, it wasn’t texting and driving.

 

“Whatever… Lei…”

 

I furrowed my brows, “What?...”

 

She sighed, “I’ve decided I’m going to attend Kirin Dance Academy in South Korea.”

 

“… What!?!?!?” I yelled. I accidently swerved the car and honks were heard all around.

 

“I just… I think Kirin will be good for me. I’ve always want to further my career in dance. You know this.”

 

“Yeah, but Kirin? I just got my best friend back!”

 

“I’m sorry. But the whole incident left a sour taste in my mouth. Plus, Nathan would want me to go. He wouldn’t want me to brood about his death and forget about my dreams. So I won’t. You go on to become a Physician girl! I’ll be sure to only get my medicine from you.”

 

I rubbed my nose and rubbed my eyes to stop from crying, “I’ll be the one making the drugs Trish. Not prescribing them…”

“

Oh…” Laughter was heard on the other end.

 

“Stop crying *sniff*.”

 

“I’m not crying…” I mumbled, “I’m sweating through my eyes…”

 

She scoffed, “Yeah sure.”

 

“Trisha!”

 

“Gotta go Lei. Mama’s calling!”

 

“Yeah I hear her. Bye bye.”

 

“I’m leaving July 16.” She said quietly.

 

I almost choked on a sob, Their anniversary date… How romantic.

 

“Ok. I’ll be there.”

 

On my way home, I passed an old park. There on the bench, a hunched over body was sitting on the bench. It had black hair and the shoulders were broad. I could make out a slight blue hue to the shirt.

 

“Julio?” I whispered to myself.

 

Instead of taking the street to my neighborhood entrance I turned towards the park’s entrance.

 

I confidently walked toward his hunched figure. My high tops making very little sounds. A light breeze came by and swayed my dress. I clutched my sweater closer to myself.

 

For April in Miami, it’s damn cool. I mused looking around the park. This was the same park I last punched Julio in. He had had the nerve to insult my short hair which I had had to cut because my brother thought I would have been funny to stick gum in it.

 

I quietly sat down on the wooden bench next to him and stretched. I gently pushed a strand of my hair behind my ears and waited for him to say something.

 

“I love you.”

 

I immediately stumbled out of my seat. On the floor, I looked back up at him. His oceanic green blue eyes were looking at me intently.

 

Just like eighth grade, I thought to myself.

 

“I-I love you too.” I stuttered.

 

“No. Let me rephrase. I’m in love with you.” Again, his eyes were looking directly at me.

 

I felt a hot blush creep up my neck.

“H-how long…?” I mumbled.

 

“Since the moment you punched me in the face at this park. I thought you were so braze and courageous. You were the only girl to proudly wear your hair short after I had openly declared I only liked girls with long hair. Minus, Jong of course.”

 

I chuckled, “Oh… that was because my brother stuck gum in it so I had to cut it. But I was going to cut it anyways.”

 

He smiled sadly, “I can see that possibly happening...”

 

“Why are you telling me now?” I asked.

 

“Because I’m going to try and forget you starting now. You’ve moved on with Indian boy so I guess it’s my turn to.”

 

I gaped at him, “I just broke up with him. Like thirty minutes ago…”

 

It was his turn to gape, “Why?”

 

Shrugging I glanced at the swings. Usually, two or three kids would be fighting over it by now.

 

“I don’t really know. We’ve just grown apart I suppose…”

 

He nodded, “So?”

 

“So what?” I asked looking at him.

 

“Your feelings.”

 

“Oh… since eighth grade. But then I met Rasheed and my feeling got a bit confusing….” I groaned.

 

“So how about now?...”

 

“Sure. Now that you bring it up. The feeling never really went away…”

 

“So we can…”

 

I scoffed, “No. I’m not going back into a relationship for a while.”

 

He smirked, “I doubt that. Now that I know, I won’t stop bugging you.”

 

I rolled my eyes and smirked back at him, “Challenge accepted.”

 

I stretched out my hand, “Deal?”

 

He grasped my own. I took that short moment to admire his soft olive tone skin. It was completely larger than mine own. I never really noticed when It came to

Rasheed’s …

 

“Trato.” With that, he pulled me closer kissed me on the lips. For once, I finally understood what romance novelists always wrote about. My lips didn’t tingle, they exploded. “Now, our deal is formal.”

 

I watched half dazed as Julio’s swag walked toward his hummer.

 

“… You Jerk!!” I stood up and chased him. My ink black locks flowing in the wind.

 

When I caught him, I did something, I hadn’t done in under 10 years.

 

I wacked him upside the head.

 

“Ow!”

 

I stuck my tongue out and hopped in my car and drove off before he could catch up to me.