It's a small world Lavani's Pov
`Hey there hot stuff, how was the first day of college?' Jalen says running up behind me and placing an arm over my shoulder. He's sweaty and a bit smelly. I push him away with holding my nose. He laughs.
`Hey, I only had one class so I decided to hit the school gym. Come on it's almost three o' clock, let's go get something to eat.' I nod and follow him heading towards the cafeteria.
Hey guys!' I hear from a deep, slightly accented voice and cringe a bit. Ray my man, what's up?' There he goes again being all friendly. He doesn't even now this guy, how could he be all friendly with him?
They start up a conversation as if they've been friends for years and I tune them out. The conversation seems to go on forever, until Ray turns and speaks to me. `So today was your first day huh? How did you like it?' He asks with a broad smile.
Yes and fine'. I state ready to leave. His smile falters, and he stares at me for a moment. I'm sorry, have I offended you in some way? I didn't mean for there to be any tension between us.' I scoff a little.
`Can we go?' I ask Jalen deciding to ignore him. He clenches his jaw as if he is upset, but I really don't care. I know that fighting is the way that those people usually solve all of their situations so I refuse to even entertain it.
Jalen stares at me oddly for a moment, but before he speaks the boy starts speaking again. `Maybe we just got off on the wrong foot...' Annoyed I interrupt him before he finishes his sentence.
`Listen Raul, or whatever your name is. Stop talking to me!' He starts to clench his teeth again as if he was about to strike me. At this point people are starting to gather around, but it doesn't faze me so I continue.
`We aren't friends, nor will we ever be friends! Leave. Me. Alone.' At this point my adrenaline is pumping and it doesn't help that all of the people are egging me on. I step closer to him as I keep speaking.
`I swear you people...' As I am saying this I lift my left arm up and place my index finger on his forehead. I don't get to finish my sentence. I feel a sharp tug on my left arm and then the world seems to spin.
As I land on the ground butt first I realize that he has tossed me through the air by arm. I'm nervous, I've never been in an actual fight before. I get off of the ground and charge at him, but as I go to punch him with my right fist he grabs it.
Once again I am tossed onto my butt, and I can hear that gasps and laughs of the other students. I get up as quickly as I can to charge him one more time, but Jalen grabs me. I try to break free, but honestly I'm glad that he intervened.
`Come on Lavani, that's enough.' He says and his voice drops an octave lower. This is the tone he normally takes with people, especially me, when he is upset. As he pulls me away from the scene I can't just let go of what he did to me.
I turn around and see Ray shaking, most likely from anger, and trying to get himself under control. I break free of Jalen's grasp and charge at him one more time. He braces himself to catch my punch again, but I don't punch him. I let out a large glob of spit just as Jalen grabs me once more.
It connects right unto his left cheek and slides down his astonished face. As Jalen pulls me away, much more forcefully this time, everyone is silent. I get a chance to glance back at Ray again and he is just standing there, staring at me.
I smile with satisfaction. If he wants to act like a ignorant fool than I'll treat him like one. He had no right to assault me, and I am not going to let him get away with this. I want him kicked out of school.
The car ride back to my house is silent and awkward. Jalen doesn't say anything, or even look at me once. About halfway there I decide to break the silence. Jalen I know that you're upset, but it okay. He didn't hurt me that much and...' Shut up.'
The comment catches me off guard. I've seen Jalen angry, but never to this extent. `Wh...what?' I ask hesitantly. He stops at the red light and looks at me for the first time sense we had left campus.
I said shut up. I don't want to talk to you right now.' The light turns green and he starts driving again while I sit there speechless for a while. A few minutes later I find my voice. How can you take his side when I'm supposed to be your best friend. That lunatic assaulted me!'
To my surprise he immediately swerves to the side of the road and brings the car to a stop. He's holding on to the steering will so tight that his knuckles are turning white. Slowly he turns and faces me.
Let me tell you something about that "lunatic". Do you know what we were talking about when we ran into each other earlier?' I shake my head. He snorts. Of course you don't. After he realized that everyone was okay he was frantic about paying for and car damages.' Figures.
`You know why? Because he just moved here in order to get a better education. His family, who weren't very well off to begin with, gave their last to send him here. Did you know that the "lunatic" was fluent in four languages. Did you know that the "lunatic" is going on his fourth year of college and he is only 18?' This information floors me.
Statistically minorities (especially Hispanics and African American) aren't successful in school, but he's almost through with college at my age. I start to speak, but Jalen raises a hand to signal me to be quiet.
Ever since I met you, you've always judged others. You always felt like you knew everything.' He stare intensified as he continued to speak. You don't know shit Lavani.' That stung. My vision gets blurry as I fight back tears.
`I...I think I should walk home from here. Thank you for the ride.' I say and quickly get out of the car. I hear him calling to me, but I don't respond. I just want to get home without crying. After a while I hear him pull off as I walk the last few blocks to my house.
As I finally make it home I open the front door to find an empty house. I immediately lock the door and run upstairs into my room. No longer able to hold my tears in any longer I curl into a fetal position and sob.
What was it that made me so evil? Is it the fact that I have a different opinion? Or is it the fact that I voice it? Would I be seen a as better person if I placed my opinion on the backburner and just went along with the majority? Why is it that the people who are different from majority are the one's that are seen as villains?
I sit up in my bed and wipe me tears. Why am I the one who's crying? I don't deserve this. I have spent so much of my time trying to put myself on hold to please someone else. If people can't accept me for who I am then fuck them. This is my life and I'll live it however I see fit. I only made one mistake in this situation and that was trying to hold on to a friendship that wasn't meant to be. The only friends that I need are me, myself, and I.
Author's note: Sorry for the late post...again. I just couldn't perfect this chapter until today, and I'd rather take a while to post a complete chapter rather than give you guys an unfinished, rushed, pile of junk. To everyone that has messaged me I just want to say thank you, and also I thank you guys for being patient with me.
Also go check out my other stories Element, and Mate found in the Sci Fi section. Also Heartbroken found in the High school section. Don't forget that nifty needs your donations.
Love Always
Mack