Here I was, walking through the campus yard with stares melting my skin from all around me. It wasn't bad enough that the sun was pelting today, no I had to have teenagers and young adults shooting bullets at me with their eyes. Of course the news had spread, it had spread like wildfire over the one week I wasn't here. I had successfully sat through the one hour and forty-five minutes of Journalism 101 this morning and the mental prep I gave myself was a waste of time because Kacely wasn't there. I heard that the handsome dark skinned knight in shining armor demanded to have either me or Kacely change classes because she was the reason for my episode.

"Something triggered it... we don't know.. I'll get more information later on." I had heard one girl mutter this morning to her friend.

"I heard it had to do with that African girl, Kacely. Heard she got pregnant for the fiancé but he didn't love her." That voice I recognized as Abigail, the one who couldn't believe I was engaged at such a young age on the first day.

My mind was growing weary of the million versions of the story and it all boiled down to me being the idiot for staying or having a death wish. It was even worst with the ignorance of them saying that I should've known better than to fuck with an African because of their history of practicing witchcraft but I believe this African should've known better than to fuck with me, the plain Jane of the world.

I walked to the cafeteria for lunch, gun tucked into my waist band with a large T-shirt covering it. I was in full black today because I had to do a drop for Mr Citronelli after school, the Acura was parked in the school's parking lot with four duffle bags sitting in the trunk. Each held stacks of 25K adding up to 1 million dollars, this wasn't the most money I've transported but I was still on edge because I was at school. What if someone identified me and tracked me back here? Or followed me? I tried to push the thoughts to the back of my mind as Kwashie walked up to me with her subway bag and soda cup in hand.

"Hey baby." She kissed my forehead before sitting down.

I always looked like a stud but today was extra masculine because I had to do the drop. The gasps around the room made me roll my eyes as I let out a groan of frustration.

"What's wrong?" She asked me.

"Nothing, I'm just tired." I gave her a half smile.

"You spent one whole week at home."

"Okay, and?" I asked getting frustrated with her.

"Just saying. How was class?"

"Good. Thanks for getting Kacely out of my class."

"How'd you know?" She sipped her soda.

"News travel at the speed of light." I chuckled.

"I wanted to get her kicked out of the school, honestly." She laughed.

"Wouldn't mind that at all." I snickered.

"I missed you." She sighed.

"Well, I've been home ridden for one whole week. You knew where to find my house and not once did you come to look for me." I calmly said.

"I did.." she defended.

"The day after I came from the hospital? The first day of my sick leave? Suuuuure." I rolled my eyes.

"Come on, I was busy." She said.

"Okay."

She sighed and continued to eat her food. I liked subway but half a sub can't full my belly and I need a side dish like fries or something which they didn't do. I'll start fucking with Subway when they start serving fries and cole slaw. I spooned some rice into my mouth as I stared over at Kwashie. I've always loved her subtle features, her soft yet defined jawline and her wide dark eyes. She was tall and her constant bench presses broadened her shoulders and tightened her chest. All of the girls seem to drool over her and all I did was roll my eyes and kept it pushing. I wasn't afraid to pop shit but I wasn't going to start shit just because their eyes lingered too long ogling my fiancée, after all she was a spectacle to behold.

"As you know, I drove to school today so I'll be leaving you once my last class is through." I said breaking the silence.

She looked up from her phone and was studying my face trying to find the information that I was withholding. Her gaze had me melting under her searching eyes and I bit my lip feeling the lack of sex that has been plaguing me. I loved sex, maybe not as much as a sex addict but a little more than the common man and I blamed Kwashie for this.

"Okay." She finally said.

I let out an inaudible sigh of relief as I mixed my stew and rice together eating it while my hand rested on my jaw holding up the weight of my head.

"Would you like to go out tonight?" Kwashie asked me.

"A Monday night?" This was very unlike her.

"Yeah. We're grown, we can do as we please."

"That's relative."

"How?"

"That's like Landon saying Jamie is 18 so she should be healthy and it disqualified her from having cancer." I scowled.

"What??" Kwashie's voice raised to a high pitch as she tilted her head to look at me.

"I know, right? Age has nothing to do with it." I rolled my eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about and quite frankly I don't think I want to know." She laughed.

"Oppression, babe. I'm talking about oppression." I tried to keep a serious expression but I couldn't.

"The one time I say oppression, you take it and milk it, eh." Her laughs rang through her words.

"I had to. Muahaha." I laughed out.

"BECAUSE, OPPRESSION." I slightly raised my voice.

Both Kwashie and I threw our heads back in laughter and I knew everyone around us who was smitten by either her or me was jealous.

"Listen, I was ticked off that day." Her African accent, even though I was used to it, still had ten thousand volts rushing to my heart.

"Damn, I believe. I haven't used the n word since that day." I truthfully said.

"I appreciate that." Her smile was soft.

"Got me out here beating ass just for using the word." I laughed.

"Which is right, teach them about oppression baby girl." She lifted her thumb to my lips and wiped the stew stain away.

"That's my leftovers." I slapped at her hand.

I watched as she brought her thumb to her lips and stuck her tongue out licking the top of her thumb.

"Tasty." She smirked and licked her lips.

"Bro..." I trailed off.

"I'd say I wished I had stew for lunch but honestly, I wish I had you." She gave me her side smile.

I slid down the chair while fanning myself hearing her loud laughter echo through the cafeteria that was now almost empty.

"I got you for desert." I sat up then used my foot to rub against her leg through the slacks she decided to wear today.

"I'll be there at 4. Be ready and waiting for me, mama." She placed a kiss on my lips before getting up and leaving.

"You could've at least throw your garbage away." I shouted after her.

She laughed out and continued walking. I loved her so much it made my heart ache and it made me understand why Kacely was behaving the way she did. She wanted what I was getting, she wanted to feel the love that Kwashie was giving to me; that she had for me. Why couldn't she understand that she just had to find someone else? I knew Ghanaians treated their women like goddesses, women in Ghana were held on high pedestals so I'm sure she could find someone that would worship the ground she walked on but I guess that at the end of the day, they weren't Kwashie.

"Hi." Someone said drawing me from my thoughts.

"Hello." I gave the masculine presenting girl standing in front of me a puzzled look.

"Didn't mean to bother you or anything but I just wanted to know your name." She said.

"Why? So you can spread more rumors about me?" I hissed.

"What? No. I.." she trailed off.

"Continue." I said.

"My name is Fatima." She looked nervous.

"This is my first week and I just wanted a friend, that's all." All of her words came out at once.

"Oh. It's the second week of school though." I pointed out.

"I know. Had some problems back home." She lifted her hand to the nape of her neck.

"Where's back home? You can sit." I said.

"I'm from America." She replaced Kwashie in the seat that was directly in front of me.

"That's cool. What's your major?"

"Journalism." She smiled.

"Oh really?" I raised my eyebrow at her.

"Yeah and a minor in photography." Her smile was proud.

"Ahhhhh..." I dragged out.

"I'm Zim. Sorry about how I reacted to your question earlier." I replaced my serious expression with a smile.

"Hi, Zim and it's cool."

"Friends?" I asked.

"Friends." She laughed.

"I waited until I saw the dude that was sitting with you leave. If you don't mind me asking, are you straight?" Her words were calculated.

"I'm queer." I said.

"Ahh, the broad spectrum of being queer." She chuckled.

"Yes sir and I assume you're a lesbian." I stated.

"You assumed correctly."

I took the time to look at Fatima. Her eyes were very light, almost like honey and her lips were pink and her cheeks flushed. She had a habit of biting the corner of her lip which seemed more of a nervous action than a flirty one. Her skin was lighter than mines, close to CJ's and staring at her right now brought back memories of the Devil when we would spend our evenings together after school at her house in her game room playing pool, we weren't the best players but we practiced enough so that we could get better.

"What's your last name?" I asked her.

"Jones." She replied.

"What's your father's name?" I squinted my eyes.

"My dad is a touchy subject for me." She breathed out.

"I'm sorry." I said.

"Fatima, I literally have no friends. The guy you saw is my fiancé and he's the only one I talk to. Had a best friend but she died last year." I faked my best sad look turning my gaze down to the table.

"Well, I guess you have me now." Her smile was wide as she touched the back of my hand with her soft fingers.

"Why me though?." I asked.

"I don't know.. I saw those girls over there and I saw you. Guess my soul just preferred you because my feet lead me in this direction." She nervously said.

"You're spiritual?"

"I try my best." She laughed.

"I like it." I complimented her.

"Let me see your schedule." I outstretched my palm.

She handed me her phone as I looked through her online schedule and realized that she was registered for the same classes as me. She must've prepared a long time ago, the only thing we had different was she had a photography class and lab while I had a gender and equality class. I exited the browser and entered my number in her phone saving it. I called myself so that I could have her number and then handed her phone back to her.

"You have my number, use it sometimes." I gave her a sly smile as I got up.

"Come on, let me show you to your next class." I said and watched as a smile formed on her lips as she jumped up grabbing her backpack following closely behind me.

We talked about the classes she had earlier and the teachers. She said she saw me in the Journalism class but she was behind me and I didn't look back once. Which was right, I didn't want to look around and meet the eyes of Kacely then fall back under the trance she had over me. I followed her to her photography lab and stood listening to her finish the story about her dog, Troy.

"Bye Tima. I'll come back for you later on. Okay?" I cheesed.

"Bye Zim and I'll be waiting." Her eyes were full of life as she waved at me and stepped into the class.

I walked away going to my English class that I had last thinking about Fatima. Was she really genuine? I hoped my lack of friendship experiences didn't let me be blinded and naive by her brown eyes and toothy smile. I was drawn to her and I wondered if it was because she reminded me of Carter Jones. Could they be related? They had the same last name after all and she had Big Cee's light brown honeycomb eyes. I sighed as I continued my journey to the Languages building.

Shit...

I told her that I'd come for her later but I just remembered that I had the drop to do. What was I going to do? Carry her in the darkly tinted Acura that had one million dollars in the trunk?" I slapped my palm to my forehead as I kicked at the air in front of me and pushed the heavy door stepping inside the building. I'll figure it out, I had one hour to think about it.

A hour later and I was mentally exhausted, so much that I hadn't retained anything from the lecture and my notebook only had scribbles of words I caught onto which were literally and assignment is due next Monday. What fucking assignment? I didn't know but I had a whole week to find out and do it. I walked back to the arts building and saw Fatima leaning against the wall waiting on me. I smiled at the sight of her as I picked up my pace and jumped in front of her.

"Boo." I shouted out.

"Ahhh. I'm so scared." She sarcastically said.

"That's my girl." I laughed as I threw my hand over her shoulder walking towards the parking lot.

"You drive, bro?" I asked and watched her shake her head.

"Well, my chariot awaits." I tried my best to push the dark feeling I had away as I lead her to my business vehicle.

"Wow, this is nice." She checked out the car.

"Thank you, thank you." I bowed.

We got in and I connected my phone to the GPS and typed in the coordinates of my drop. I looked over at her urging her to tell me where she lives with my eyes.

"Where are you staying?" I finally asked.

"On campus." She chuckled.

My mouth dropped open as I stared at her.

"You're unbelievable." I shook my head.

I pulled out of the parking lot with her laughter booming through the interior of the car. I rolled my eyes and drove around the campus and over to the building she told me she was staying. We sat in the car for thirty minutes talking before I told her I had to go. Kwashie would be out any minute and I didn't want her to see me driving an unfamiliar car.

"I'll see you tomorrow." I shouted watching her walk up the doors.

"You bet!" She turned around waving me off.

I honked before pulling out of the parking spot and making my way through the back gate wanting to avoid driving back through the school. I followed the GPS with my mind stuck on Fatima. She was a good kid and I hoped this was the beginning of a great friendship. At least I'd have another bridesmaid except Sharon, even if she'd be in a suit. My mind ran on Carter Jones as well. I killed someone that I once considered the love of my life, was I really that cold and merciless? Would I be a good friend to Fatima? My grip tightened around the steering wheel as my eyes watered a bit.

I'm a mess and it wouldn't be long before she noticed it too.