Enjoyable.
I roll my eyes to the trees,
hoping one’ll snap and mercy-kill me.
“Nah—loosen up, Hoodrat.
“You sound like fucking Siri.”
Her breath hitches, offended.
“Iamloose,” she says. Out loud.
I sit up so fast my phone flies off my thigh and lands on concrete.
Mr. Pigeon doesn’t react, still perched and now staring down at my phone.
“You serious right now?” I whisper-shout.
Drake tilts his head. “Are you… talking to yourself?”
Celie laughs, panicked and high-pitched.
“Nah, I ain’t talkin’ to Allie.”
I close my eyes, disappointed.
“Don’t say my name.”
It comes out through clenched teeth
as I bend down,
reaching for my phone, hover?—
Please don’t be cracked.
Please don’t be cracked.
Then I swipe it off the pavement.
Flip it over.
Not cracked.
My breath leaves me slow,
dragged from the bottom of my lungs,
deep and tired.
Celie leans over
and lays a hand on his fucking thigh,
her tone serious.
“Sorry, sorry. I forgot how high I was.”
