I’m on One
Derek
“Turn my light off”, I yelled to my mama.
“What's wrong Derek”, she asked sweetly as she sat on the end of my bed.
“You my damn problem. Get out my room.” she got up and walked to my door. She opened it slightly then looked back at me to speak. Why she can't just shut up?
“Demetria told me you been smoking and---”, she stuttered.
“That ain't none of y'all business.”, I interrupted.
“Derek.” she whispered.
“Get. Out!” I said.
“Are you going to see your dad today?” I didn't answer her because I wasn't sure.
“Maybe”, I said. A couple seconds passed and then I heard my door close.
Five minutes later Demetria came in.
“Wake up Big head”, she shouted as she came into my room and plopped down on my bed.
“Yours just as big”, I said as I shoved her off my bed. She fell to the ground with a thud. She looked up at me in anger. I guess I messed her hair up. “Stop telling ma my business”
“Then stop doing stupid stuff’”, she said like it was nothing.
“Man whatever. It ain't like I'm addicted to nothing or---.”
“You might as well be.”, She interrupted. I ain't say nothing for awhile. “You going to school today?” she asked.
“Nope”, I said as I put my pillow on my head.
“Yes you are, now get up”
“Get out my room, man”
“Not till you get up”, when I didn't answer or get up she left with a huff. I sighed in victory and tried to go back to sleep.
Suddenly I felt cold water on my face. Felt like I was drowning, then I felt water on my hip. Hell naw! I jumped up with wide eyes and they were met with the humorous brown eyes of my half-sister. When she saw my angry face she started running.
“You betta run fat head”, I shouted then chased her around our small apartment. When I caught her I pulled her by her shirt and she fell back and hit the back of her head on the end of the couch. She yelled out a loud, “Ouch, Derek, I'ma kill you if I have a knot on my head”.
“Yeah, whateva, you shouldna poured water on me. Man you betta have my bed fixed before I get back from my pops house”, I said pointing a sharp index finger at her. She started laughing. Not a little laugh. The laugh where tears come out ya eyes and ya cheeks hurt, and you can't breathe. “What's funny?”
“You look---you look and sound like my daddy with dat, 'you betta get my---',”, she said with her hands up mocking me.
“Shut up”, I said as I walked away.
“Hurry the bus gone be here soon”, she said still laughing but not as loud.
“I'm taking ma’s car. She ain't got any where to be”
“How about you ask her if she using it”
“Why, it's my money that bought it”
“Yea the wrong way”
“Again, it ain't any of your business what I do”
“Whateva, I'm riding the bus. I don't want to be in yo dope boy car”
“It ain’t a dope boy car”
“Either way, you got it the wrong way so I ain't riding in it” She won't be saying that when she need a ride to the mall. (I thought to myself)
Just then my phone vibrated. I flipped the phone open and looked at the name. It was Ciara. I then closed the phone back like I ain't heard it.
“Ciara?” D asked “What’s up with you and the dike”,
I whipped my head around to look at her like she was crazy as I took out the iron board to iron my shirt.
“She ain't a dike, and we straight”, she eyed the phone as it stopped and then vibrated again a second later.
“Then why aren't you answering”, she asked with her arms folded and an eyebrow rose.
“Again that's my business”, I answered not looking up at her. The phone stopped again and this time it started vibrating D picked it up. “Don't answer that”
“Tell me or ima answer it”
“You gone miss the bus”
“I'll walk”
“It's still pretty dark outside”
“I'll be okay”
I weighed my options. Tell her and the situation is done or don't tell her and she answers the phone.
“I just don't feel like talking to her right now”, I half-lied and continued ironing.
“You’re a bad liar. Bet CC will tell me whats up”, she started to answer the phone when I tackled her to the floor and took the phone.
“No she won't and you betta not mess with her at school. D, I swear, if I hear you said anything to her, or asked about anything, I won’t get you them shoes you been asking about”, I threatened.
“My daddy will get em”, she said.
“Yea right, that piece of sh--”, I started.
“Leave my daddy alone.”
“Whateva, you dumb if you think he got money. He broke all the time”, I said with a laugh.
“I’m leaving”, she said as she took her purse or book bag. Whatever it is, looks like a purse, works as a book bag. Who knows who cares?
“Good”, I slipped in the shower, put on my clothes, ate breakfast and left.
School was school. Boring and pointless; it doesn't feel like I'm learning anything. I'm just wasting my time; acting like I wanna be here when I don't. Only thing stopping me from dropping out was that I like playing football here.
“Hey bae, I called you this morning”
“Naw I ain't have no missed calls”, I lied.
She looked confused and ready to call me on my lie but she changed her mind. “Okay anyways, can you drop me off home after school”, we were standing on the farthest side of the school by the gym. I pulled out a cigarette and fired it up.
“No”, I answered flatly.
“Why not”, she asked, and then folded her arms across her chest.
“Don't ask questions CC”
“Scuse me for asking my boyfriend to drop me off.”, she scuffed.
“You excused”, I said back quickly.
“Where you going that's so important that you can't drop me off Derek?”
“Tending”, I said as I took a long drag and blew it in her face. She coughed and gave me a look of disgust. I ain't really mean to blow it in her face. Demetria don't like the smell of this stuff either. I don't know why, but it smells good to me.
“Tending to what? Or should I say who?” she lifted her arm to my cigarette, pulled it out my mouth, threw it on the floor. I was gone pull out another one just out of spite.
“Man, get out of my face CC, dang, stop with the questions. You giving me a head ache. It’s too early on the morning for this.” I rubbed my hands over my eyes and took a deep breath.
“Just tell me where ya going? What are you hiding Derek?”
“Nothing”,