Dee and Nix look intrigued, as does everyone else who’s close enough to hear the conversation.
“You really think so, Cocoa?”
“What type of name is Cocoa? That’s a dog’s name, but maybe that’s what you are. Your hair is a ghetto mess. Don’t you think you’re a little too fat to be wearing that bikini?”says Victoria.
“Aww, I would be upset too if I had the body of a twelve-year-old, you anorexic bitch,” Cocoa replies.
She knows how to give as good as she gets.
“Bitch, I will destroy you,” Victoria says as she stands.
“You can try.” Cocoa makes a fist, no doubt ready to beat the shit out of Victoria.
“Sit the fuck down, Victoria,” I warn her. “There’ll be no fighting at my house.”
She immediately sits her ass back down.
“There’s only one dog here that I see. Do you always obey your master?” says Cocoa.
Victoria gasps in outrage.
I stand and slowly walk to Cocoa. My tall form towers over her. She stands her ground, she’s not afraid of me, and I fucking love it. I don’t stop until my chest brushes her bikini top. There’s no skin to skin contact, but I can still feel the electricity between us. I grasp her upper shoulders, squeezing my fingers around her soft flesh. I know the hold is painful for her. She attempts to knee me in the dick, causing me to lose my grip on her shoulders. She breaks free and slaps me hard across the face.
“Damn,” I hear Nix say.
I taste a coppery tang in my mouth. I touch my finger to the pain I feel there. I pull my finger back to see blood on the tip. I’m turned the fuck on. What I really want to do is pick her up and take her to the house to fuck the shit out of her, but not while the whole senior class is around.
“Don’t you ever put your hands on me again,” she hisses as she turns on her heel.
She stops by the lounge chair to pick up her belongings then storms through the sliding doors. She didn’t bother covering herself up. I walk over to the music to turn it off. All eyes are on me.
“Party’s over. Get the fuck out.”
Everyone scrambles to get out as quickly as possible, except Dee and Nix; they know I wasn’t referring to them. I return to my seat next to them.
“So, you’re not going to do anything about her bitch-slapping you in front of the entire senior class?” asks Dee.
My response is a sinister laugh.
“Let the games begin,” says Nix.
It’s Tuesday morning, my first day of school, and it’s time for me to face the music. I shouldn’t have slapped Maverick. He’s so big and intimidating but I refuse to show him my fear. He has at least two inches on his friends. I committed social suicide. Why couldn’t I control myself? I just refuse to take shit from anyone. I kicked myself for the remainder of the weekend because of my actions. I have no idea what to expect when I arrive at school today. The senior class might be gunning for me. My mom and Michael already left for work. I’m standing in front of my vanity mirror to check my appearance one more time then leave out for school. I applied very little makeup today—a little eyeshadow, cream eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss. Classes start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m.
I look like a high-price hooker who’s playing dress up for a dirty old man. I’m wearing a red and black striped pleated uniform skirt, a short-sleeved white button-up shirt, a tie the same color as my skirt, and white thigh-high pantyhose. Black loafers complete my outfit. I also have a long-sleeved shirt, a black blazer, and a sweater vest for the colder months. The school’s crest is an X with an eagle in the middle. I’m wearing my box braids down today.
The drive to school is about thirty minutes. I grab my laptop case with my Mac inside, my book bag and purse, then leave the house. Each student is given a school email address, so I was able to view my class schedule on Friday. My morning classes are Physics, Calculus, Spanish II, and World History. I go to lunch from 12:30 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. My afternoon classes are Creative Writing and Physical Education. Cheerleader tryouts are today after school, and then I’m going to the pizzeria for my shift. I also need to find out how to become a part of the school paper. I arrive at the school and pull my car into the first available parking spot. The lawn is perfectly manicured. The brick building looks more like a community college. Montgomery Academy has three floors.
I viewed the school map online, so that I wouldn’t feel so lost on my first day. Classes for ninth graders are in the west wing, the sophomores in the north, and juniors in the south, and seniors in the west. The cafeteria is in the center of the wings. All grades have different lunch periods. The football field is at the back of the building. The gym is in a separate building with the swimming pool.
I’m so happy that I don’t see Maverick or his asshole friends. I leave my car and start walking to the east wing entrance. There are students loitering about, socializing after the long summer. I feel so left out. No one acknowledges me or offers a friendly greeting as I walk by. I hear a ding, so I pull my cell phone from my purse. It’s a text message from Saint.
Saint: Enjoy your first day at school.
He doesn’t understand how much I needed that right at this moment.
I smile as I reply.
Me: Right back at you.
