"Alfonzo! Are you here!?"
I looked around the soccer field, not seeing anybody in this darkness. Luckily, the field lights are on or else I wouldn't be able to see a thing. I was supposed to meet my crush here on the field so I snuck out to do it. My parents don't know i'm here and I didn't plan on telling them. Especially my dad. My dad always gives me a hard time and my mom recently got sick so she doesn't really help out much anymore. Everyday, I cook food for my dad and two little siblings and clean the house until my back aches. We're a pretty poor family that lives in the poor neighborhood with everybody else that's poor. We barely have money for food and to pay bills. My dad is currently working two jobs and my mom is just a housewife. I don't have a job because i'm only fifteen.
I turned my back and continued to look across the field when a voice shattered the silence.
"Think fast!" A boy said.
I turned around. "Huh?" And I was met with water balloons full of shaving cream.
I collapsed onto the field grass and held my arms up to block out the water balloons but it was no use. My arms are too skinny to protect me. The shaving cream just continued to explode in my face and on my body. It was endless and I wasn't sure when it would stop. They had to thrown at least twenty or more water balloons at me. Finally, the throwing had stopped and I slowly let down my arms then looked up at my tormentors when one of the boys threw one final water balloon at my face. The shaving cream crashed on my face and some of it got into my mouth and eyes. I quickly tries to rub out the shaving cream from my eyes and spit out the bits in my mouth. I still had cream on my face, though. Even some on the tip of my nose.
I looked up once I heard all the boys in my class start to laugh in my face. There were four of them and they were pretty much the upper dogs at school. Everybody is afraid of them. I heard awhile ago that they pick a target and torment him for at least six weeks but if they enjoyed picking on their current target, their tormenting could last up to three months before getting bored and moving onto the next target. The group has only picked on me for about two weeks already and it doesn't seem like they'll get tired of me anytime soon.
"Hey, Alfonzo, check 'em out." The leader said.
I blinked my eyes, confused when my crush, Alfonzo walked up to them and peered down at me. He smirked. Then, a couple girls walked up to the group and got out their flip phones to take a picture of me. The laughing started up again and I just sat there, looking at every person until my eyes landed on Alfonzo and it stayed there. I've liked Alfonzo since last year when I started high school. I thought that he was the most coolest, most smartest, most cutest boy ever. I completely fell for him. Until I heard that he hangs around with Carlos, that's the leader, and his crew. I didn't want to believe it and even though I saw Alfonzo around Carlos and his crew, I still didn't want to believe it until now. Now, Alfonzo is actually standing there, laughing at me like everybody else is.
I started to feel tears roll down my cheeks and I felt myself sniffing. That's when I noticed that Alfonzo was starting to stop laughing and he just stood there, staring at me.
"C'mon guys, let's go. I've had enough excitement for one night." Carlos said as he walked off the soccer field and his crew followed behind him. The two girls that took pictures followed after Carlos and that just left Alfonzo.
I stared at Alfonzo, wondering if he was going to help me up or ask if I was alright when Carlos called his name and Alfonzo just left like that. I felt my heart tightening in my chest and my stomach turn into knots. More tears ran down my face and I quickly wiped them away. I slowly got up, some of the shaving cream fell off me and onto the field. I knew that the janitor would have a cow because he would have to clean the shaving cream up. I started to make my way off the field and went home.
When I got home, I snuck in the way I left. I have an outside door in my bedroom so it's easy access for me to get in and get out without anybody noticing. I walked up to the glass door and slid it open then walked inside and closed it behind me. I glanced around my room. My room has a bed which sits next to my computer desk which is near the outside door and I have dressers across from my bed. Since we're poor, the only tv we have is in the living room and my dad normally hogs it until he goes to bed or goes to work then my siblings, Carmen and Albert hog it which leaves me no time to watch tv but i'm not really into tv much nor do I have time since I have to cook and clean practically everyday.
I sighed and started to make my way to the bathroom. I cut the shower on and stepped inside then closed the curtains. We only have a shower inside which isn't much of a shower. We have a big tin bath tub but that stays outside or at least in the corner of the bathroom. I started to wash all the shaving cream off my body and out of my hair. Once I was finished, I cut the shower off and grabbed a white towel then dried off and wrapped it around my waist. I started to make my way out of the bathroom when my dad caught me leaving it.
"You're just now showering?" He asked.
I nodded without saying a word. I didn't want him to know that I snuck out. My dad stares at me then reaches his hand up to touch me. I gently flinched when my dad picked up something from my hair and looked at it. My eyes widen when I realized it was shaving cream.
"Why is there shaving cream in your hair, boy?"
I shrugged, trying to avoid his eyes.
"You weren't out playing were you?"
I quickly shook my head. My dad then slapped me across my face.
"Don't lie to me."
I softly whimpered. My dad sighs.
"Get out of my sight."
I nodded then proceeded to go to my room. I went inside and closed the door when I heard my dad call my name. I opened up my door and looked across the hallway to the bathroom.
"Ricardo, what did I say about leaving your clothes on the bathroom floor?"
"S-sorry, Papa." I softly said then quickly went to retrieve the dirty clothes.
I felt my dad push my butt with his foot. "Hurry up."
I grabbed my clothes then left the bathroom.
"If you sneak out again, you're in big trouble." He warned.
I stayed silent as I went to my room and closed the door behind me then dropped my clothes into my little hamper that's in the corner of my room. I grabbed out some pjs from my dresser and slipped them on. Just a plain white t-shirt and black shorts. I then grabbed my bookbag and picked out my books so I can start my homework for bed. I worked on my homework for a half hour till I fell asleep.
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