A week later...

"I told you I'm coo, Wan." Monie said to me.

Today is her first day back in school, and I was trynna help her as much as I could.

"I can walk up the stairs ghee. I got stairs in my house." She told me.

"Ain't nun wrong with some extra help."

"Well, I don't want it.." She said starting to walk up the stairs. She struggled pulling her self up the stairs, relying mostly on rail.

"You should've took off another week, Mon."

"No need." She said still struggling up the stairs.

"Look at you. You barely making it up the stairs."

"I'm doin my best luh nigga!" She said.

"Let me just help you, Symone."

*The bell rings*

"Fine nigga, fine."

She sits on the stairs.

"Just gimme a little minute to rest." She said.

***

"Damn, girl." Mika said with a concerned expression on her face.

"They fucked you up." Woo said.

Chiyah almost spit out her water.

I elbowed him.

"My bad." He said rubbin his head.

"You good. They did indeed do that." Monie said.

"So like...who did that to you?" Chiyah asked.

Monie shrugs.

"Damn." Chiyah said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was Omar." Woo said.

"Yeah that's what I was telling her." India said.

"I mean it makes sense." Mika said.

"Right cuz probably blame you for him getting his ass beat and decided to do you the same." Woo said.

"Yup." Chiyah in agreement.

"Yeahhh." Monie said.

Just then Daeja passed by. I looked at her, and she met my eyes for a brief moment then looked away. I gave her a confused looked and called out to her, but she kept walking until she was out of the lunch room.

I got up and told Monie I'd be right back. I followed after Daeja and kept calling her name, but she kept walking. I caught up to her and grabbed her.

"Daeja! I know you heard and seen me."

"Let me go please." She said with a sad expression on her face.

"What's wrong with you? Why you looking like that?" I asked her.

"I'm fine." She said looking to the side.

"Daeja." I said in a serious tone.

"I'm straight." She said. I gave her a concerned look.

"Don't you have to go take care of Monie? Go do that." She said.

"Monie straight. She got India an nem. I'm worried about you right now."

"What's up with you ghee? You been dodging me all week.."

"Nun up with me." She said.

"You be the main one tellin me we needa 'communicate' but don't wanna communicate.."

She finally looks me in my eyes.

"I did something bad, but I don't want to tell you." She said before walking off.

What is she talm bout?

I spent the rest of the day trying to figure out what she was talking about, but I got nothing out of her.

I was left wondering what could she have done so bad she can't tell me?

I lay out across my bed.

"Damn, I'm exhausted."

I was only out for a week but my body felt so tired today.

I was ordered by my doctor to stay home for another week, but I just wanted to be out the house so bad. Mere making me stay home now. He didn't even know I was going to school. I asked Rashawn to come pick me up, and I snuck out when Mere was sleeping.

In my defense, I needed the distraction of school. Staying in the house doing basically nothing leaves me too much time to think. Especially about things I'd rather forget.

I closed my eyes and curled up into a ball.

so much I'd rather forget.

"I'm so sick of this shit.." I mumbled.

"Say one mo word, Symone." Mere said.

"Or what, Symere? I'm real sick of you and allis shit for real!"

"You think I'm not? I gotta deal with a sister that do nothing but complain and get in endless fights!" Mere said.

"I never started those fights and you know that!! And shit, it's a lot of stuff that needs change. Change em and I won't complain."

"You ain't start them fights, but you engaged in em!" Mere said.

"Things do need to change. Like you and these fights because it's ridiculous that I'm up here every damn week over you beating some girl ass!" Mere said raising his voice.

"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You say the same shit all the time."

"And yet you keep gettin in fights. What the fuck you gon do if you get expelled again??" Mere said.

"Go to another school."

"Who finna keep registering you? What school want somebody so fuckin problematic??" Mere said.

"Shit need to change. You need to change. This is too much, Symone. We have enough on our plate." Mere said.

"I don't know what you want me to do." I said to Mere carelessly.

Mere took a breather.

"You get in one mo fight before we move and imma ground your ass so bad you gon forget what life is like outside of school and home."

I looked at him like he was crazy.

"You know what needs to change?" I asked him.

"What needs to change you talking to me how you are! Who's father do you think you are?? Certainly not mine, I DONT HAVE ONE!"

His expression changed from angry to sad.

I immediately felt bad for saying that last part.

"Mere look..I know-." He cut me off.

"I know that I can't replace our dad. But I'm trying. The least you could do is appreciate that." He said before walking off.