A hot mess, brea isomee [best book clubs txt] 📗

been ? school let out at 3 , it takes you 10 minutes at the most to get here , and it's 4 o'clock . "
I went into the kitchen and sat at the table across from her " i sat outside with a friend . "
" ain't nobody tell you you could sit outside with no damn friends but get the hell outta my face . "
I left the kitchen and headed upstairs to my room . I was surprised to see my mother sitting on my bed waiting for me . she didn't look happy either .
I took off my book bag and stayed at a distance " hi . "
" come here girl ! "
I took a few steps toward her .
" bitch , i said come here ! " she reached out and grabbed my arm to pull me to her " the school called today . So i guess you just skippin' now ? huh ? "
she let me go and swung a belt she had on the bed next to her . The belt whipped right across my face leaving a burning feeling on my face . I wanted to yell out in pain but i was too in shock .
Before i could do anything she swung again , and again , and again , all in different spots on my face .
I could feel blood trickle down my chin as she continued to hit me . I fell to the floor and rolled into a fetal position to try to protect my face but she still swung . And she didn't swing at my body , but just at my head .
" YOU . MUST . THINK . YOU . GROWN . I SAW YOU WITH THAT BOY ! YOU . A . HOE . NOW ? HUH ? ! "
When she finally stopped i could feel my face swelling up . It felt like i had been repeatedly kicked in my head and my face . I never knew a whoopin' could hurt so bad .
I waited for her to leave before i sat up . My hair was standing all over my head , my face was on fire too . I was pissed and so fed up but i couldn't utter not one word .
I decided right there that i was done . I admit , skipping school wasn't smart on my part but i shouldn't be bleeding from my face .
I cleaned my face as best as i could , dumped all my school shit out my book bag and filled it with clothes , then i found my cell phone and dialed Xavier's number . I had to get out of there , asap.
" Adriyel ? "
" yeah , can you come get me ? I cant stay here . "
He paused but agreed .
I waited a few more minutes , slung my book bag over my shoulders and climbed out my bedroom window . By the time i made it around to the front of the house Xavier was pulling up . I jumped in the car and he sped away .
His head turned back and forth between me and the road , i could see the muscles in his jaw working . He was pissed but he kept his mouth shut and drove .
I was glad he didn't say anything because i wasn't ready to talk about it .
we must have been driving for 25 minutes in complete silence before i heard police sirens behind us . I looked back and then turned to Xavier who was pulling to the side of the road " baby ? "
He didn't say anything . He looked at me though and his face was telling me he knew exactly what this was about .
I shook my head " i can't fucking believe you . What is this about ? "
The police officer knocked on the driver side window and Xavier rolled down the window " sir , i'm going to need you to step out of the car . "
He followed the directions , put his hands on his head , and was patted down and hand cuffed . A second officer walked up to my window and told me to step out " ma'am how old are you ? "
If i told the truth they'd send me back home . no , i couldn't go back home . I wouldn't go if they threatened to kill me . Either i was gonna die out here or i was gonna die at home . And i'd already made my choice , i'd die out here .
" 19 . "
He shinned his flash light in my eyes but i didn't budge , i didn't even blink " got some i.d. ? "
I shook my head " nope . now , what is this about ? "
" This car was at the scene of a robbery no less than 30 minutes ago and your boyfriend over there , " He pointed to Xavier who was being put in the back seat of the police cruiser " matches the description for the robber . now - "
His radio cut him off " shots fired at 246 Leeper ave . I need all available units whithin 8 blocks ."
We were 6 blocks over from Leeper avenue so he had to go . He looked at me and shook his head " ma'am , it's your lucky day . But don't let me catch you out here again . "
He knew i wasn't 19 , the look on his face said it all . But he walked away anyways . I thanked god at that very moment .
He jogged back to his cruiser and him and his partner were on their way .
I looked at Xavier sitting in the back seat and tears escaped my eyes . He was my everything . He mouthed the words " do it for us . "
I knew what that meant . A few months ago we'd had a conversation as he walked me home from school .
He smiled at me while we walked " you know i'm gon' take you away from all this one day . just me and you . "
I laughed " yeah , i'll be waiting on that day . "
" no for real babe . i'ma put you threw college and the whole 9 ! one of us gotta do good . And if i cant then i'ma make sure you can . "
I stopped walking and turned to face him " you can do it , you just choose not to . "
He pulled me into his arms " well , do it for both of us then , baby . 'cause a nigga like me ain't built for no shit like that . "
I got in the driver side of the car , i didn't have a license but i had learned how to drive long ago . So i drove . I drove until my back hurt . I drove until my eyes were watering from looking at the road or from thinking about Xavier . I drove until my hands cramped . I drove until the car stopped . Imprint

Publication Date: 06-17-2011

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