My sister’s worriment is still on my mind, I have never seen her so apprehensive about me. I wonder if it has something to do with me getting out of rehab and she is worried about me hanging with the wrong people. I push that aside, I am on a date. A real date with a cute boy at that.
“So, where are we going?” I ask leaning forward and turning the radio on.
“It’s a surprise. But, it’s a place where my father used to take me before he disappeared.”
My brows furrow, “Disappeared?”
“Yeah, he was supposed to pick me up from practice one day and he never did. My mom came and got me instead. When I asked what happened to dad, she just said he disappeared.”
“I am sorry that happened to you.”
He shrugs his left shoulder, “I have dealt with it. It may not have been the best way to deal with it, but I did.”
“Is that why you were at AGS?” I rub my hands on my shorts hoping I didn’t cross the line.
His shoulders lump down and he leans back in the seat, “Yeah, I guess you can say I fell into that cliche crowd. Where I thought I was supposed to step up and be the man of the house.”
“Oh, yeah. Ran with the wrong crowd?”
“Yup,” he makes a right turn.
I am not even sure how long we have been driving for, but I am enjoying talking to him. “I know what that is like. Did your mom turn you in?”
“No. I found myself in another fist fight with my mom’s boyfriend when he hit her. But, tell me why I was the one being put in handcuffs? The next thing I know I am being booked for assault when I was just trying to protect my mother. Not to mention he had been beaten up on my little sister as well.” I raise my eyebrows.
“I know,” He glances at me then looks back at the road. “I was mad as hell, though. So, the next day I was standing in front of the judge, I had to make a plea. I was the one that requested the rehab on the bases that I was growing up in a horrible living situation.”
My mouth gapes open, “you told the judge that?”
“Yeah, I was mad at my mom when I found out she was the one that was pressing charges on me. But, the judge granted it, but warned me that if I messed up again. I will be behind bars holding five to ten year sentence.”
“I wouldn’t be able to do that.” I look out the window.
“Well, what’s your story?”
I eye him, arching my brow, “my story?”
“Yeah, I shared why I was there. Why were you there?”
I begin to chew on my bottom lip and turn my head to the window.
“Come on. I won’t judge you. I promise.”
I turn to him, “I kept getting picked on about my skin color. So, one day in middle school,” I look up. “This girl was calling me all kinds of names and,” I shrug my shoulders, “I just snapped and beat her up. Then I started fighting everyone that dared looked at me sideways or said something about me. After a while, I started gaining a lot of anxiety and paranoia. Not to mention the lack of self-confidence that I started having. But, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with me, you know.”
He nods, “that’s some heavy stuff, Nubia.”
“Yeah, but I am better though.” I smile.
“We both are. We both are.”
“I know, but I have a feeling that I am going to relapse sometimes. Especially with the stress of everything and having to re-adjust to life. I don’t know how I am going to be able to do it.”
“Well, you have your sisters.”
“Yeah,” I scoff. “One is a little overprotective and the other is a possible liar.”
He raises his eyebrows, “What about your friends at school? Can’t you count on them or you haven’t told them?”
“I…” I look out the window, “I rather them not know I went crazy and had to be forcefully admitted.”
“If,” he emphasizes, “they are you real friends. They will understand. If they don’t, then they aren’t your friends at all.”
“Yeah, that’s what Dr. Jasenka said. That or they just don’t understand. But, I will try and let them sooner or later. Right now, I just want to enjoy being out of that place.” I inhale a breath of fresh air.
“I know the feeling. I know the feeling.” 687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb39bq7l2TT
