“I want you to be happy, but I also want to tell you what the reality is, hun. Sometimes people out there just feed off of you and never want to see you prevail.” Raena continues.

“I know what you mean. I’m sure Danisha wouldn’t do that, but uh.. I guess I can’t be too sure.”

She smiles. “Yeah, that’s the spirit you’re supposed to have.”

I sip my warm tea and decide to change the subject. “Uh, thanks for putting my clothes in your room.”

“Of course. Maybe you and I can go book shopping, if you’d want. I know you probably want something to do while you’re here. Did you bring any books?” Raena asks me.

“No, but yeah, I’d love to get some pretty soon.” I responded.

“Alright. Well, we can go today or tomorrow; whenever you prefer.”

We sit down on the couch and decide to relax in the silence. I drink all my tea and proceed to make another cup.

Kota cries to be held. “I’ll get him, don’t worry.” Raena scoops him up and brings him to the couch.

“He’s excited to relax with us, Leah.” she chuckles.

“I bet he is.” I smile. I go back to the couch and drink my new tea.

“We should watch a scary movie.” I suggest. “How about See No Evil? Or Dracula? Or The Grudge?”

“Hmm.. I’m fine with anything that isn’t sports related. Harris always watches those kinds of channels and I was never one to vibe with them. Just rent the third movie.”

We turn off the lights and I eventually finish my drink again.

We start the movie and halfway through, Raena turns the lights back on. “Why’d you do that?” I ask. “Too spooky.” she comments.

Soon the film ends and we get up to head into the kitchen where I wash my cup and put it away in the cupboard.

“We’re going to be haunted by the grudge’s creepy sound.” I joke to Raena. “Oh shut up, no way. I hated hearing it.” she laughs. Just then, Harris walks in and clears his throat.

“What are you two talking about?”

“We're watching a movie, can you relax?” I ask. “Damn.”

“You don’t tell me to relax in my house. Or you’re out of here.” he threatens.

“Go sit down.” I grumble, annoyed.

“Harris, you probably went off drinking like you did yesterday. Go up to bed.” Raena demands.

“Is it so bad that I want to know about the things you do and to spend time with you? Just tell me, what am I doing wrong?” he questions her.

“Everything. I just had a great time with Leah and you come in here threatening my friend. She has no place to go and I’m not letting you talk to her or me as you please.”

“It’s only 12 noon and I’ve just come home from being out. And I haven’t been drinking.” Harris’ words become slurred.

I walk away before I’m involved in another argument. I’ve lived with my parents before, but this is like part two. If I’m not escaping Marie, I’m escaping whatever this is.

I go upstairs and call Danisha. “Hey girl! What’s up?”

“Not too much. Do you want to come over here?”

“Yeah, I’ll see if Tommy can take me. And I think I still have to tell you something, from yesterday. I’m going to ask him, hold on.”

Danisha turns off her camera. “Tommy, I want to go to see Leah. Can I take your car?”

“Um, sure, yeah. Get home whenever.” he replies.

The camera comes back on. “Well you heard the news. I’ll be over soon, I just have to get dressed again. What do you plan on us doing though?” she wonders.

“We can listen to music and hang out, or go to the bookstore. I was going to head there with Raena but, like, he came home and just… drama.”

“He, who? Oh. Alright, well, see you.” She smiles and hangs up.

When she gets here, I’m definitely going to look at her face more. I wonder what she’ll wear today. Maybe something nice.

I go into the bathroom and still hear Harris and Raena arguing downstairs about the same thing. Not caring, I sigh and put some metal music on my phone while I fix my hair into a sleek ponytail.

I go back in the room and change into a revealing short black dress with some of my cleavage hanging out. I put on matching pantyhose and then go back to the bathroom to quickly put on brown eyeshadow and eyeliner.

All the works just to impress her. Or try to.

Eventually Danisha shows up and I hear her announce herself to the others downstairs. They quickly say hi and she comes up. She embraces me in a hug. “Hey, you look so adorable,” she says while checking me out. I hug back and take in her appearance.

She wears a long, red dress with short sleeves and white heels. Her hair is long and curly, and she’s got pink lipstick on. “So do you,” I tell her. “You’re gorgeous.”

We sit down and play music while we look for bookstores. There’s one that’s twenty miles away in Petal Town.

“Actually, you know what, instead of bookstores, we can just be together like this. We’re too dressed up to go there, anyways, you know? Maybe let’s get more comfortable.” Danisha says.

She proceeds to take off her heels and I do the same. “Do you want a massage or something to put your mind at ease?” She sits next to me and strokes my face while coming closer.

“I have a better idea.” I say.

I lean in a little more to kiss Danisha. I put my hand on her thigh and felt her smooth, dark skin. She kisses me back deeply and slowly pulls me in. She pulls back for a moment.

“I don’t want you to think I’ll hurt you. I won’t. Do you trust me?” she asks.

“Yes.”

We stop for a minute to hold each other. Danisha gets on top of me and wraps her arms around me then lays her head on my chest.

We hear a loud knock.