pt4

The two girls kept chatting away when a started to walk past. He had a red baseball cap on, denim shorts that went past his knees, a long blue shirt, and earrings in his ears. He was tall. Instantly Demi felt as if she was struck by lightning. Her heart started to beat faster. Victoria saw the way Demi looked at him. Her mouth was slightly ajar. Demi slowly licked her lips. The guy seen from his peripheral how she reacted to him. He wanted to say something to her but just raised his hand in a small wave.

Demi’s brain started running with thoughts. She knew him, knew his name. He was just outside the edge of her fence when his name came to her, she called out to him. “Zaine?”

He stopped right there, taking off his hat to reveal his dark brown eyes, thick hair, and a smile that went on for days. “Hey, Demi. You’re up early.”

“I’m an early bird what can I say. You look um really cute today.”

“Thank you. Thank you. You look beautiful too.”

She quickly took her hands, skimming the top of her curls to make them stay down. Her smile after his compliment could rival the sun. Victoria put her hand on her hip and spoke up for her own defense. “She’s not the only one standing here you know.”

He shook his head and started to laugh. “You’re right. Sorry about that. You look beautiful this morning too.”

“You damn right I am. If you want to get with her, you better be nice to me.”

Demi’s eyes widen at what her friend was saying. She punched her in the leg to get her to shut up. “Ignore her, she’s dumb in the morning.”

“No, I’m not. He likes you. I can tell. He didn’t have to stop and compliment you but he did. So just admit it Zaine you like Demi just don’t ask her out in front of me.”

He laughed at the two girls. Her friend was right he did like her. When he looked at her he seen how his future could be with her by his side but he was shy. He could talk to girls, talk to her, but expressing his feelings would be something hard he would have a problem doing. Instead of answering her he turned his back to the two of them. “Bye, have a nice day.” He put his hat back on and walked away.

Demi watched him leave. Her heart still pounding in her chest. She was smitten with him and wanted to get to know him more. Victoria could see that things would become complicated for her friend. At that moment, a groggy Michelle came to the door. Her hand in her hair, scratching her scalp, and her mouth open due to a yawn. “Did I hear you call Zaine name?”

Demi immediately knew that nothing would come of the two of them if Michelle had her way. She wanted to hide the fact that she had seen him but knew it wouldn’t be hard if he was just going to the store up the street from her house. “Ah, yeah. I thought I recognized him so I called out his name.”

Michelle perked up after being told that. She rushed back inside to get herself cleaned and dressed up. Victoria scowled in her direction. “Good morning to you too.” She uttered under her breath. “Bitch.”

Demi sighed at her friend. “Vic. You really shouldn’t.”

Victoria mirrored her friend. “Dem, you really shouldn’t either.”

“What?”

“You shouldn’t have told her or take their abuse.”

“It’s just another five years. I can last that long.”

“Not if you’re dead. I hate her. And your parents. And the twins if they start to treat you disrespectfully too.”

Tears threaten to sting her eyes. Victoria knew as soon as Demi went quiet, she was lost in a sea of sadness. She nudged her friends shoulder. “Let’s go over to the school? We’ll be there for another two years.”

“Yeah, that be fine with me. I should get dressed.”

Victoria stepped back to let her get up. “Yeah and brush your teeth. Your breath is rank.”

“Again, it wouldn’t be rank if you hadn’t dragged me out of my warm bed first thing in the morning.”

“And Again, if I hadn’t you wouldn’t have eaten. Must we have this argument again?”

“Ugh, no. Did you at least watch the news with your parents for the weather report?”

“Sure did, gonna be high nineties. So wear something short and cute.”

Demi shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You’re boy crazy my friend.”

“Indeed, what else could I possibly be.”

“Girl crazy.”

“Hmm, true but for now I like boys.” Victoria shooed her in the house to get ready.

It was just after ten in the morning when they both emerged looking their best. The best friends walked the thirty minutes over to their middle school, laughing and horsing around. The walk over was filled with older guys cat calling. Victoria would occasionally yell out, “Jailbait.” Demi liked the attention. It made her feel better about herself. Today seemed to be a good day for her. Being told she was beautiful even when she knew she looked a mess and now all these paying her attention. It instilled in her a false confidence but a confidence, nonetheless. If her parents weren’t going to give her the love, she rightly deserved she would get it herself by any means necessary.

They reached their school, finally. It seemed eerie to be there when no cars were there. It was empty save for the boys playing baseball in the field. Demi thought she caught sight of a familiar red hat in the field. “Hey Vic, let’s go watch them play?”

“Yeah, it could be fun. Too bad we can’t join in. we look too cute to get dirty.”

“Speak for yourself. I don’t mind getting dirty.”

Victoria laughed at her friend because it was true. No matter how she dressed, or was forced to dress, she would get down and dirty with not a care in the world.