Getting ready to go to school, I decided to wake up early to pass by eb's house and catch Khia before she left for class. Pulling up to the driveway, I could see I got there just in time because they was about to head out. I hopped out the car and said wasup to eb as she started her car up beside me.

"Nice to see your alive",she said to me.

I chuckled and said, "don't act like you'd really care if I wasn't."

She denied it and laughed. Khia bumped into me while I was about to open the door.

"Hey lil mamá slow down",I told her as I helped her pick up her books.

"Hey I'm sorry I'm just really all over the place right now",she said. I lifted up her face to me and she looked like she got hit by a truck. Her eyes were red, she had bags under them and I could tell she wore makeup to cover it all but it wasn't working.

"I have to go",she said taking my hand off her.

She hopped into the car with ebony and left. I wonder what the hell was goin on. It's only been two weeks. Putting my hand to my head, I completely forgot that Khia was moving and tryna find a apartment to stay at.

Khia

"Did he see it?",ebony said.

"No he just saw the bags",I said trying to get some more studying in before this test I had to take first period.

"See told you he wouldn't."

I looked at the mirror and could clearly see my black eye but maybe it's just my imagination that sees it so clearly. Deciding to walk home from school wasn't a smart decision cause I got caught up and beat up by some guys that I didn't recognize. I just had this feeling that it's my uncle sending people to hurt me but couldn't be sure cause I couldn't identify anybody with the ski mask they wore on their faces that night.

"Santiago ain't dumb though. What are you gonna do when he finds out?"

"He's not gonna find out cause no one is gonna tell him."

"Okay I guess."

When I got to my class, I got ready and took out my scantron and pencil. Only thing that was on my mind at the moment was passing this test. However, once I got halfway through the test I kept having flashbacks of the night I got beat up and the day my father died.

"15 minutes",the teacher announced. I snapped back into it and turned my test in. Once everyone was done, she let us go and I had a 30 minute block until my next class so I texted eb to see where she was at so I could meet her. I tried to avoid all contact with Santiago because the last thing I needed was for his dramatic a.. to go get a gun and shoot somebody and then spend real jail time jeopardizing his whole life.

"Hey girl sorry I had to use the bathroom. I just bumped into tiago. He was out looking for you and said you wasn't at your bio chem class."

"Tiago is the last person I wanna talk to right now."

"Why? He sounds real concerned. You think he knows?"

"I don't think so. But I need a favor",I said . We walked to the science building and sat on the steps in one of the halls. No one was in sight cause everyone was probably in class. I avoided the places tiago would usually find me for a reason.

"What favor do you need?"

"I need some money."

"How much we talking about?"

"$450."

"For what?"

"The application fee is $50 and security deposit is $400 for this apartment I'm trying to stay at. I'll pay you back."

"You don't think your being irrational right now?"

"Are you gonna help me or not?"

"I'll help you but I thought you and tiago was supposed to move out together."

"Aww is that what he told you. Cute",I said sarcastically.

"Khia you can't just move out and not tell him."

"Why not? Tiago isn't my dad or my husband."

"But he's your boyfriend. That counts for something. Your hiding a lot from him right now. Did you even tell him you quit your job?"

"You act like tiago tells me everything. He hasn't even hmu in like two weeks. I can't wait for a man to show up and rescue me all the time. I gotta rescue myself and protect myself."

"So your gonna move out to a beat down apartment with no job? Girl how are you supposed to pay rent?"

"I got another job that pays me more so I'll be fine. I'm a grown woman eb."

"I know but I'm just scared for you."

"Why?"

"Cause your not used to living on your own and the neighborhood your bout to live in, is dangerous."

"I'll be fine. So when can I get the money?"

"I'll give it to you when we get home."

"Alright thanks Girl I'll pay you back",I said walking to the Starbucks in the school. I bought myself a grande caramel frappe and a cheese danish. Sitting in the area, I waited for my drink and decided against going to my other class. Instead, I ordered myself a uber and told eb that I'll be home packing.

Santiago

"Aye man you good?",Sean asked me while I put my backpack over my shoulders ready to leave this last class for the day.

"Nah man Khia acting funny."

"How? I just seen her chillin at Starbucks."

"Starbucks? What was she doin over there? I know she has a class at 1:30",I told him confused as ever.

"You sure? Cause she was at Starbucks."

"Yeah. Unless she skipped and I know she ain't the type to skip class."

"I'll catch up with you later man",I said cutting the corner.

"You ain't gone chill with the guys today?"

"Nah I'm good. Catch you later."

My mind was racing a mile a minute and I ain't know what was happening. I called Khia but her phone went straight to voicemail. That's how I knew somethin was up. I knew if someone knew somethin it'll have to be ebony so I spotted her in the cafeteria with a couple of her friends. One of em said wasup and I nodded back.

"Eb lemme holla at you for a min."

"Okay I'll be back y'all",she said to her friends.

I pulled her around a corner and asked her a couple questions that I ain't know the answers to.

"Where's khia?"

"I don't know. Last time I seen her she was about to go to class."

"She not picking up my phone calls and I don't know where she at cause Sean told me she was at Starbucks when I know she's supposed to be in class."

"Okay so you stepping into Dad mode right now?",she said laughing but I wasn't in the mood.

"Where she at ebony?"

"I don't know."

"Ebony don't lie to me."

"My loyalty is to Khia",she said crossing her arms.

"Remember that if it wasn't for me, y'all wouldn't even be back friends again."

"Check back at the house."

"Why would she be at the house?"

"I've already said too much. You ain't gettin no more outta me no matter how fine you is tiago",she said walking away from me. I looked at my phone and shortie ain't never returned my phone call. So I took my keys out my pocket and decided to head to eb house.

Pulling up to the driveway, the neighborhood was quiet & it looked like it was about to rain with the gray clouds coming in. I called Khia one last time and still no answer so I hopped out the car and knocked on the door. It took a couple knocks before Khia could open it up for me. She let me in and there was boxes everywhere down in the living room area to the point where I almost tripped over one.

"What are you doing here?",she asked me like she was hiding something.

"You ain't hear me calling you?"

"My phone died cause I packed my charger in one of these stupid boxes and now I can't find it."

"You planning on moving?"

"Tiago I told you a week and it's been two weeks now. So either you help me pack or get out my way."

"You skipped class to pack?"

"I was already packing this week. I'm just finishing." She kept her hair in her face and kept packing nonstop. I looked at her tryna tape a box together and saw she was struggling. So I took the tape out her hands and tossed it on the couch. She finally looked up at me and tears were starting to form. I didn't know why. I turned on the living room light and stepped closer to her and saw her face better under the light. She had a dark spot that outlined her right eye. She covered it with one of her hands and stepped back. "Don't you have to go to the restaurant or something?",she said but I ignored her comment.

"Who did this to you?",I said feeling myself get angry.

"I don't know."

"Khia Khia please don't lie to me. Who the f... did this to you?"

She ran towards the door and locked it.

"Who did this to you?",I asked her again.

"Some guys."

"What guys?"

"Idk they wore masks I couldn't see their faces."

"You don't know",I said finding that hard to believe. I feel my head getting heated and being cooped up in this house was making it worse.

"I need some air",I said trying to get her to move away from the door.

"I can't let you do that. Just breathe, count to 10. Anything other than getting your flock in the car and going on a killing spree."

"I'm not a killer Khia."

"When it comes to me, you are."

I looked at her face and the black eye was visible. I felt fumes coming out of my ears cause I was so mad.

"I'm okay",she said.

"Who did this?"