When school ends and I change out of my tennis clothes I avoid Sienna and Hailey who seem like they want to talk to me and head to the front of the school. During all of my classes when I felt I understood most of the content that will be on the finals next week I thought of different ways to approach Lucas. These thoughts came with different speaking points and I'll be honest, some of them are terrible.
Hey Lucas you're right Jessica is such a cumbucket. Lucas those dreads they look like my side from KFC last night. Hey Lucas Does Ziyah miss me? Does he speak about me. That last one came to mind when I accidentally stole a glance at Ziyah in 5th period. He didn't seem to have a care in the world and was paying more attention to the song booming in his earbuds. I don't think he was even in the world as he tapped his fingers on the desk. I could've stared at him for hours and he probably would've been caught up in his own head to notice.
I get to the front of the school and it's the same as yesterday crowded with a bunch of voices. My teeth chatter a bit, and I don't let anyone stop me from walking over to the section where the kids with skateboards are. There is no sign of Navia's ex, which gives me more pep in my step to approach Lucas who is leaning against a pole on his phone. He's isolated from his friends who are doing Ollie's, I have to make this quick because I did make a promise to Sofia, but the elementary school is only a 3 minute walks tops.
"Lucas can I talk to you for a second?" I say with my head slightly down.
He slowly looks up from his phone and give me the coldest stare with his dark brown eyes, which is understandable. "Umm," He looks behind me and around him like Ziyah did on Monday. "I have to walk home this way," he points to his right. That's the exact way I walk to the elementary school.
"I'm walking that way too." My voice is light and small, and it's nothing like the smitten tone I used with Ziyah.
Knowing he's lost this battle his shoulders drop and he gestures for us to start walking. He doesn't wave to his friends and his head hangs low, I haven't been around Lucas that much, but from what I've seen he always has a smile on his face, and he always appeared to be chill.
I'm going to start talking, but he steals my thunder, "I didn't call Jessica a slut she made that shit up so let's just get that out of the way."
There's a moment of silence then Lucas looks over at me as I try to find what order my words should go in.
"I'm sorry my brother took his anger out on you and it's not any of my business but what did he say to you?"
Lucas's face scrunches up and an unexpected smile comes across his face.
He rubs the little bit of facial hair on his chin then throws his head up and laughs for a bit. "Wait you don't know?"
My eyes go wide, this must be good. "No I don't."Â Lucas takes a deep breath as some middle schoolers pass on scooters.
"On Thursday your brother said if I wanted to prevent not creating an enemy I should never talk to Jessica again." So? I thought Darian said he popped off on him on Friday? Why would you want to talk to Jessica, the girl doesn't have boundaries and will tell you her whole life story that is apparently quite boring.
I want him to speak more so I just nod and say, "Sorry."
"Don't be, I couldn't care less about Jessica after she ran to your brother crying and lying, what I do care about is what happened on Friday ." He pushes back his thick dreads and takes another deep breath. Good thing there are no streets to cross because I'm so focused on looking at him in anticipation for his words. I don't even pay the dandelions in the bright green grass any mind.
"Then on Friday at lunch Ziyah and I were walking through the halls and Vince came at us all aggressive. Ziyah was chill as usual, and that made Vince,"
"Even more mad," I finish his sentence and Lucas and I share a nod.
Vince hates when people aren't on the same level as him and prefers both parties to be equally infuriated. When Dani shrugged and said "whatever," after he yelled at her about the oranges Vince ended up holding a grudge for her all through dinner. When she asked if he was going to drink the rest of his lemonade he ignored her and downed the cup.
Lucas continues. "We were in the halls no one was really around, but Vince told Ziyah to never talk or look at you again or he'll beat the crap out of both of us." My mouth doesn't open wide and instead it just freezes. My stomach gets all tight again and it's a different feeling from the aftermath of an apple cider vinegar shot. I want to form words but only little mutters that Lucas can't hear over a lawnmower come out. Ziyah not wanting to be around me this week is not because my hair smells, or I don't skateboard it's because my brother is an asshole. No wonder he didn't show any emotions when I told him Ziyah kissed another girl, he wanted that to happen.
The only thing I muster up is, "I'm so sorry Lucas."
Lucas's tone gets higher. "You're sorry? No I'm sorry for you and Ziyah." Ziyah's name erupts more pain in my whole body and anger. Lucas moves from my side and gets in front of me walking backwards with an intense look. "Look Daya, Ziyah really likes you I can tell, heck he likes you so much he stopped smoking, but your brother screwed That all up and now he's been smoking like crazy more than before." The first part of what he said healed my stomach, but the second part made it tighter.
"He stopped smoking for me?" God that sounded selfish.
"I don't know Ziyah is really closed off when it comes to feelings and stuff, but Daya you need to get your brother in check." Only Vicki and maybe my mother would be able to achieve that. Speaking of Vicki I was hoping the talk her and Vince had in the morning would go great and they would be in a happy place, but after Lucas's words any thought about Vince makes me feel worse.
"Look I... I promise Vince won't be fighting anyone he's on a permit that would get him expelled." Lucas almost bumps into a bench, but continues walking backwards and looking right in my eyes.
"Look I'ma keep it one hundred I hope he doesn't, I'm not trying to get into no problems especially with him." That makes sense Vince spends a good amount of time in that sweaty weight room grunting, and I try to push the thought out of my head, but it's clear Vince has the advantage.
"I'll talk to him I'm ... I'm sorry again." My voice gets small and we've approached the street where the elementary school is. "I have to go this way." Lucas is about to go the opposite but turns and looks at me as I stand in the same place.
"K." he waits to cross the street and I should enter the elementary school, but I don't believe we're exactly finished with our conversation. I got the information I was missing which I wish was something else, but there's words I didn't get the chance to say or try to pronounce.
"Umm Lucas," I mutter.
He turns around and his scold still hasn't changed. "Yeah," he says.
"Can you do me a favor?" I push the braids that were dangling in my face behind my ears to stop me from playing with them. Lucas nods as his expression gets lighter and he steals my thunder and starts talking. "He wants to talk to you, but I told him not to." Okay then. I was going to ask him about Ziyah, but apparently he can read minds.
I don't bother saying another word to him because I was already crossing the line when I approached him anyway. I turn down the street to enter the elementary school, but Lucas's voice stops me.
"I'll tell him to talk to you."
"Thanks." Lucas jets off across the street and I go inside the elementary school.
There's too many thoughts in my head and it may be because I need to take my braids out but it hurts. Now I couldn't care less about Navia's ex, and instead all I'm picturing in my mind is how loud I'm going to yell at Vince.
When I get to the bungalow for a brief second I forget about my thoughts when some of the kids run up and hug me. Astrid forces them to work in their workbooks and while I monitor them in silence my thoughts take over me. I might of been denying it the past week, but I do care about Ziyah and the thought of him being hurt brings water to my eyes. The thought of me making him stop smoking and go back to it also brings tears to my eyes that come out when I'm alone in the bungalow. The worst part about this is I can't say Vince isn't capable of beating someone up, it's been a while, but when Lucas said what he said the memory came back to me.