"Asha, did something happen?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You don't come visit me anymore. I don't see you with your friends at all, did something happen?" Mrs. Brown asked me.

"No," I said curtly. I looked around her office to avoid her intense gaze. I didn't want to be here, but she insisted. She even took me out of class and everything.

"I talked to Briana, April, and Ashanti. They all seem worried about you."

"I'm fine Mrs. Brown. I'm just more focused on school and work. That's all."

"Are you sure there's nothing going on at home, maybe-"

"No. Can I go?" I asked standing up.

"Asha?"

"Goodbye Mrs. Brown. I'll see you later." I walked out of the front office and went straight back to class. I tried my best to continue to distance myself from everyone. It's been like this for weeks. When I got home from the carnival, my mom practically destroyed my room looking for "her" money. The same money Kennedy took from me saying that she was collecting it for her. Apparently, my momma ain't get the money. When I tried to tell her that I had already gave it to Kennedy, she spat in my face and called me a liar. I ain't ever felt so disrespected. And I can't seem to forget the look in her eye, the look of pure hatred. She hates me for reasons I can't fathom. She hates everything about me, that's why she's always trynna change me. On top of that, it would kill her to see me succeed, so she'd rather take the little I have and knock me down a few pegs until I feel worse than shit. I don't know what happened to the money I gave Kennedy, but I bet she spent it. So because of her, I also had to give up ALL of my last paycheck. One good thing though, was that my mom didn't stumble upon anything important while she was destroying my room.

But, to be completely honest, I haven't felt the same since that night. I feel dead inside. Now, the only thing still driving me to keep going is the thought of getting as far away from here as possible.

It was the end of the day, and I was getting ready to leave. I was at my locker when I saw Cairo across the hall with some girl. It was the same girl that was all over him awhile back at Brandon's kickback. They seemed to be real close, but I couldn't tell if they were together or not. I quickly looked away when I accidentally locked eyes with him. I panicked when he started walking towards me. I slammed my locker closed and stormed down the hall towards the front of the school. I exited the building and started heading for the buses when I felt a hand go around my arm. Cairo tugged harshly as he dragged me over to his car across the parking lot. I tore away from him and stood as far from him as I could.

"What do you want?" I asked wrapping my arms around myself.

"Look at me."

I shook my head. "What do you want?" I kept my head down as I fiddled with the material of my sweatshirt.

"I'll take you home, I need to talk to you." I shook my head no.

He started walking towards me, trapping me between him and his car. "Are you on drugs?" At his bold revelation, I stormed away. Well, I tried to, but he grabbed me again.

"I know what it looks like when someone's on drugs," he whispered.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I tried to force my way past him again, but he only got closer. He gently pushed me against his car. He was so close that I bet people were staring at us. Luckily, I couldn't see around his huge frame. Did I even care anymore?

"What do you want from me?"

"I care about you," he said.

"Don't say that. No you don't," I said pushing at his chest.

"I do."

I shook my head. "Lies." He looked hurt at my words, but he played it off.

"I care enough to see that something ain't right."

"You know nothing. We are not close. I do not know you and you do not know me enough to care. No one cares and that is fine. I don't need anyone's pity, especially yours. I am only trying to save up as much money as I can and graduate so that I can get the hell out of here," I stated.

"You never let anyone in, and it's selfish of you to assume that ain't nobody care when you don't allow anyone to. The shit you doing, you think you hide it well, but you don't. You killing yo self."

I refused to look at him as I wiped my lone tear. I wasn't sad but frustrated.

"I'm fine."

"You not Asha, damn."

"Well, then I'll be fine. If you don't move, I will scream."

He smacked his teeth and was about to protest when my heated gaze looked up at him. "You are not okay," he mumbled.

"Move Cairo." When he didn't move, I shoved him in the chest as hard as I could, catching him off guard. He stumbled back a step and I took the opportunity to leave. I stormed past him, ignoring the many gazes including those from Briana, April, Ashanti, Brandon, and Derek. They were far enough away that I was sure they didn't hear our conversation. I stopped in my tracks as Kennedy stepped out in front of me, her clan of bitches not far behind her.

"I thought I told you to stay away from him." I was so fed up with everything.

"You can have him."

"Of course I can," she smirked. It took everything in me not to give her a piece of my mind. I just brushed past her, walking away from everyone. I took a few shallow breaths as I got further from the school. I felt weak, as if I couldn't catch my breath. I walked to the metro bus stop that wasn't too far away. When I got there, I plopped down on the side walk and held my head in my hands.

.....

After work, I just sat on the curb by the bus stop. The bus ran about every ten minutes or so. Whenever one would stop in front of me and no one got off, I would wave the bus on. This went on for about thirty minutes. It was completely dark out, and I was drained. I didn't want to go home. I just wanted to sit on the curb and breathe. That was one of the only things that I could do without anyone's opinion-just breathe. No one had to force me to breathe, it was automatic. So I just sat there. Some cars honked at me, and niggas even tried that catcalling shit. I just ignored everyone. I pulled out my phone and called the last person that probably wanted to talk to me. The phone just rang. I didn't think he would pick up, but he did at the last second.

"Wassup Asha."

"Hey," I said with a shaky breath.

"Whatchu need?"

"Ummm, a friend," my voice cracked.

"Where you at?"

"Uh...I-I'm at the bus stop by my job. Can you come get me, please?"

I heard him sigh. "Unless your busy. Then I'll just go home," I bounced my knee anxiously waiting on him to respond.

"Give me 20 mins aight."

"Ok, thanks."

He hung up and I waited. I knew no one would look for me. If my mom ain't complaining about something, then she barely says anything to me let alone acknowledge my existence. Kennedy's head was probably still gassed up since she felt like she did something today by telling me to stay away from Cairo. So, neither of them would be looking for me anytime soon.

15 minutes went by and he showed up early. He pulled up to the curb and I got in. He gave me a once over and shook his head.

"You want me to take you home?" Dashawn asked. I shook my head no and he pulled off. After some time, we pulled up at a house.

"This your house?" I asked unbuckling my seatbelt.

"Yea." He parked the car and I got out. I had never been to his house, only the strip club a few times and his other joint. His house was hella nice. We went in through the garage. I looked around and was surprised by how clean everything was, no bitches or anything. D wasn't a messy person, but it seemed as if he didn't even live here.

"Whatchu want?" He asked.

I turned to him and frowned. "I just wanted to apologize. Also, I don't want to go home. I've been having a lot of bad days and I just wanted to see a familiar face, that's all," I said swallowing past the lump in my throat.

"But yes, I want to apologize for-"

"You ain't got to apologize to me. I was only lookin out for you."

"Yes, and I took that for granted." He shrugged. I could tell he was hurt by how we left things. If it was the other way around, I would have been hurt too. Even now, I know that I am not a good friend and I never pretend to be, but I care for Dashawn's opinion of me. I hate the way I left things between us, especially since he has done nothing but be there for me.

Dashawn pulled out a blunt and stuck it between his lips. He offered me some and we passed it back and forth for awhile.

" You want some food or somethin' to drink?"

"No, but can I take a shower?"

He took me to his bathroom and showed me how to work his fancy shower. He gave me a towel, rag, t-shirt, and bag for my clothes before leaving. I then washed every inch of my body. When I stepped out, I dried myself off and slid on the large shirt.

Dashawn looked me up and down as he ran his hand over his waves. "You sure you ain't hungry?"

"No."

"When was the last time you ate?"

"I don't know," I spoke honestly.

"Whatchu mean you don't know?" I just shrugged. Eating is not really a priority of mine right now.

"Asha, you look sick, you know that right."

"I feel fine," I lied.

I walked over to him as he sat on the edge of the bed. I sank down to my knees in front of him.

"I feel fine it's only stress, I promise. I-I just...I don't want to talk. I want to-" Not being able to find the right words, I clamped my mouth shut. Instead, I crawled right in between his legs and reached for the hem of his pants.

"Asha," he warned.

"Dashawn," I replied back. "You gone turn me down?"

When I ain't get no response, I reached inside his sweatpants and pulled out his dick. It sprang to life. I looked up at Dashawn, giving him more than enough time to stop me. When he didn't, I took him in my mouth. I was sloppy with it. I didn't want to be gentle at all. I wanted Dashawn to cum-I was determined to make him cum. I licked and sucked him like my life depended on it. Dashawn couldn't help himself and pushed my head down, forcing me to take all of him. He hit the back of my throat and then some. When I felt like I couldn't breathe, I yanked my head up causing him to let go. I gasped for air, but went right back at it, bobbing my head up and down as I fiddled with his balls.

"Fuck, Asha," he groaned.

I licked up and down his length, paying extra attention to the tip. I moaned at the feeling of being in control.

"You gone make me cum," he winced.

I took all of him in my mouth again and sucked hard. I gagged but kept at it. "Damn girl." Dashawn tensed and after a moment, hot beads of his cum shot down my throat. I swallowed as much as I could, and wiped the rest off the sides of my mouth and chin. I slowly pumped him in my hand as I stood to my feet and straddled his lap. He was too relaxed. When I rubbed his tip against my folds, he was quick to sit up.

"What the fuck you think you doing?"

"You got a condom?" I asked.

"You ain't answer my question."

"I just wanna fuck," I said going under his shirt and rubbing on his bare chest.

"I know you clean and all. We could use protection just to-"

"Naw, ion feel right taking advantage of you."

"You not. I want this." I brought the head of his penis to my entrance. I hovered a few millimeters above it, waiting for his response.

"Fuck," he growled in annoyance before surging upward, penetrating me. I gasped as he pushed past my tightness. He pulled me down flush against him and I winced, not used to his length nor girth.

"Since you wanna be so bold, ride my shit Asha."

I bit my lip and started moving. He guided me a little bit, but I did most of the work. I let go of all of my frustrations and worries as I bounced on his lap. His groans and subtle curses only encouraged me further.

"Ahhh," I moaned as he thrusted up in me, syncing with my own movements. It felt so good. I threw my head back in pure ecstasy.