Truth Be Told
Zaylin Black
Coach Duncan blew his whistle and pulled his red flag in the air.
"Okay, take break!" He exclaimed.
"So can I tell coach you're trying up for the team?" Jace asked. I shrugged.
"I'll think about it."
"Sounds like a yes to me!"
Coach thinks that our team lacks in balance and some in stamina and since the championships are around the corner, we needed to be tip-top shape before we reach March 28th and since we're in the senior basketball team we really needed to represent the entire school. And me being team captain, I have to start being a dick to my team! Not my highlight of the year.
Anyway…In order to increase our chances of winning, we had to try out for the cross-country team. I didn't like the idea of it at all. I mean not that it wasn't an interesting and useful idea for the team and all but I fear the team will lose focus on their personal lives.
Maybe I'm just exaggerating.
Jace and I began walking up to the stands but stopped when the coach called out my name. I turned around to see him walking up to us in his white school golf shirt, tracksuit shorts, his cap and the whistle dangling on him as he held a clipboard in his hands.
"Sup coach?"
"Look Black. We need to cut out some of the players in this squad." He said.
Did he just say he wanted to cut out the players?
"What?" I asked.
"I-want-to-kick-some-players-out!" he said extra slowly for me to comprehend. "For a smart kid Black, you're not really quick on the ding dong." He said poking his head. I rolled my eyes.
"Okay. If you don't mind me asking, why would you want to kick the players out of the team? I mean we are all good."
"Yes sure. You're all good. But you're not great. This loser squad doesn't dazzle me anymore. The azzle is d-azzled. Good one Duncan." He said to himself at the last part.
"With all due respect, I don't think that's such a good idea coach."
"Yeah coach, I mean the players in the team are sick!" My co-captain Jace said.
"Maybe that's why they lost their 'player-ship'!" Duncan said.
"I'm sure they'll work better with this cross-country situation-"
"Don't patronize me Black! You wouldn't want me to revoke your free lunch privileges do you?" He asked. I shook my head.
"Now…we'll make the decisions on this situation on Wednesday and you'll have to stand up on the stage and announce to the crowd on who's…well you get the point." He said.
"Sir I don't think I have the courage to do that. Can't you ask Jace or someone else?" I asked him. Jace slapped my arm and turned to him and shrugged my shoulders.
"Nah, you have to do it
Jace began raising his hand.
"Uh sir-"
"Shut up!" He cut him off.
"But-"
"Zip!" he snarled and did a little sneak attack at him aiming for a punch but not settling on it then began sauntering away his patch of blonde hair. Jace sighed.
"That's exactly what I was going to tell him. That his fly was open and he needed to zip his pants!" Jace said.
"What are we going to do man?" I asked Jace as I stared back at the team whom were flirting with the cheerleaders.
"Hey Zaylin," I heard the pair of twins who were in the cheerleading squad say to me as they walked past and they winked. I smiled slightly but wasn't interested.
"Dude!" exclaimed Jace looking completely offended by my choice. I just shrugged as I began sauntering to my bag that lay on the stands. I grabbed my bottle of water.
"I'm not interested."
"You're tell me that you're not interested…in that?" He asked signaling to the twin girls who were currently bending down. I just rolled my eyes and looked the other way. He sighed.
"Dude I'd take that any day and what's that saying. The more the merrier and two is more than one and I'm currently merrier-ing right now!" He said. I frowned at his words.
"What?"
He just sighed.
"Look. What I'm trying to say, this fantasy of yours of finding the perfect mate is bullshit! You're fucking 18 dude. You have to look through different eyes, open your mind to other possibilities!" He pepped me up. I rolled my eyes.
"I don't want to date dude."
He shook his head.
"No man doesn't want to date dude." He told me. I didn't answer. "Look. I don't think you get it yet, you're like the main man. You're the 'it' thing right now. Everyone wants you know you're like the hot chick that every dude wants."
"A hot chick?" I asked.
"You are the hottest chick!" He said backing away to the group of junior cheerleaders who giggled after he said something funny to them…it was probably a cheesy pickup line that's for sure.
"Hey!" I heard a high-pitched voice ring my ears. For a moment I thought it was a five year old calling at me but then Rosie jumped in front of me. I stared down at her. My sister was really short. I laughed.
"Hey little sis, what's up?" I asked her. She smiled.
"Oh nothing, just chilling…" She said then after a few seconds she squealed. "You just had to take it out of me. Big news! You're looking at the newest face of Neutrogena fall magazine!" She exclaimed. I frowned.
"What's Neutrogena?"
"Only like one of the greatest cosmetic companies in the world! And they stated that my contract will begin when I legally turn 17. Oh god I'm so happy!" She exclaimed then released another gasp. "I have to go wash,"
I laughed.
"I guess I'm happy for you sis. But are mom and I the only people in the damn house not wanting to live under the spotlight? It seems like we're all becoming Celebs one by one and I'm afraid Karen might be next." I told her. She rolled her eyes.
"Don't worry. It's just a one-time kinda thing. I won't be on the brand…yet." She replied. "So where's your little dickass friend." She said in disgust but it sounded weird this time. Like she had a little interest in where he was.
I motioned to where he stood with the girls, a girl named Roxy maybe was literally sitting on his lap.
Rosie stared at the gang for a minute and watching Jace laugh with a little pissed off facial expression.
"Yo. Maree, are you okay?" I asked her. She turned around and nodded at me.
"Tell your friend his shirt's a no-no!" She said to me. I frowned and stared down at my shirt. We both wore the same shirt in fact, the entire basketball wore the same shirt just the differences were our numbers.
"We're all wearing the same shirt."
"Yeah but on him it doesn't work!" She said then walked away. I frowned in confusion.
"So…so I guess I'll see you at home?" I called out.
"Love you too!" She replied.
I shook my head as I bent down to lace my shoes. My sister was crazy sometimes. And awkward at random times. I moved my eyes from my shoes to stare at our school's mascot poster but caught the sight of Kyra sitting on the stands reading a book in her cute glasses.
"Kyra!" I called out. She looked up at me and gave me a small smile and a slight wave. I smirked at her shyness.
Kyra and I really hit it off two days ago when we talked to each other. She was a good friend and much easy to talk to then Jace or any of my other friends.
"Yo captain you ready?" Chad asked as he patted my shoulder. I nodded at my friend as I made sure my shoes were tied properly as I watched Kyra walk out of the room with my sister. I then turned around.
"Ready," I told him and we ran to the center of the gym piddling up and shooting some hoops.
2 hours later
I walked into the house to the sounds of my brother and father's voice echoing around the house as they watched some basketball match; it was probably the repeat of Lakers vs. Miami Heat. My mom has meant to soundproof all the rooms in the house just not to have a loud racket going around because the Black family was really loud!
But then my dad had to ruin the idea and said 'Think about what freedom they'd have' and long story short, the conversation went over to the 'sex talk' again. Lucky for the twins because they were eight at the time and were too young to learn the whole story of the birds and the bees.
"Hey mom," I said entering the kitchen and giving her a welcoming hug and a kiss on the cheeks. She smiled and patted my cheek as she set the table in her apron on. I smiled at how motherly she was.
"Oh honey. I'm glad you're back, I was really afraid you'd ditch dinner."
"I'd never ditch my mom's favorite homemade chicken pop-pie." I told her. She guffawed lowly.
"Sadly, we're not having that today." She said as she set some salad, my favorite pizza toppings on the center of the table, and a huge chicken with the caption of a Z on the center of it. What did my mother and father do?
"Mom this is lovely and all-" I began but was cut off by the sound of my sister's voice ringing into our ears.
"Mom, my lamps dead, do we have anymore bulbs?" She asked aloud. My mother handed me the food and walked to the supply compartment of our kitchen.
"Mom!" called out Rosie.
Impatient much…?
"Let me handle that Mrs. B, while you work on setting your wonderful food," Jace said to my mother with a smile. Renesmee smiled back.
"Oh how generous of you Jace. Thank you," She said and Jace scrammed through the light bulb section and picked one out and began running up the stairs into Rosie's room.
Something doesn't smell right in this house.
How does Rosie become all so interested in Jace so immediately and why does Jace act all caring and always assisting to give Rosie whatever she desired.
It's probably just me hallucinating. For a moment I thought Rosie and Jace were secretly dating. But that would just be impossible because they dislike each other with a level that cannot be tamed.
"Mmm, baby the food smells delicisimo," My father commented as he came into view and wrapped my arms around my mom's waist.
"Honey, just adding simo and to doesn't make it Spanish,"My mother replied.
"It my world it does because you are beautifulsimoto," Jacob said throwing kisses all over her face. She giggled. That was just an insult to Spanish people.
"Kid. In. The room, being scarred for life," I said out loud. Jake and Ness turned to look at me.
"I know, we're sorry Zaylin, will you forgive us?" My mother asked.
"And for every moment after," Jake added. I frowned.
"What's going on here?" I asked them. They stared at each other for a moment and I just stared past them trying to find out anything I needed to know. The sound of something crashing upstairs might have just pulled my away from my translate state. It sounded like it was coming from Rosie's room.
"Um…I'll just go check up on Rosie," Renesmee said then gave my dad the 'good luck' smile and walked away.
"Is there something I should know about?" I asked him. "Is this about the stunt I pulled at Walmart? Because if it is I don't want to talk-"
"Yeah, this is something a lot serious." He told me. I raised my eyebrow. "Come on; let's go chat on the patio." He motioned for me to follow him outside.
When we finally reached outside my dad stood at the patio porch staring at the stars with his hands in his pockets. When he said it was serious he was not kidding! I closed the door shut and walked over to stand next to him.
"So what's up dad?"
"Look. You know the reason why I adopted you right?"
"Yeah I guess," I said.
"And you know you mean a lot to me right?" He asked in a serious tone so I knew I shouldn't say anything about that statement. I nodded.
"Well I got something from your old foster home. Um…it's about your birth mother." He told me.
"What about her?" I asked not really liking where this topic was going. He sighed.
"You remember, when I came over to adopt you and I had to sign documents and there was this one section where they asked what the cause of death was for the parent or parents? Well the woman told me that your mother died from a heart stammer after your birth."
"Yeah, that's what they told me." I said to him. I still couldn't forget the fact that I killed my mother even though it wasn't my entire fault but I still felt terrible about it.
"Well-well that wasn't entirely the whole story." He said nervously. He immediately pulled out a packet from his jacket pocket. "I got this from the adoptive agency a couple of days. They told me that…uh... that your mother didn't actually die after your birth." He replied.
I took a minute to process the information. So my dad was meaning to tell me that the death of my mother was a total scam?
"I-I don't-don't get it." I stuttered. "Are you trying to tell me that my birth mother's…still alive?" I asked him.
This was crazy.
He didn't answer and just stared down at the packet.
"I wish I could give you the answer you wanted son, but I really don't know at this point. Their still investigating the truth of all of this and when they do we'll know."
I suddenly fell onto the ground as I took a seat on the step porch. He sat down beside me.
"I really don't know what to say to all of this son. I really wish I had the answers,"
"My real mother could be alive, and I didn't even know about it for 18 years!" I said angrily but my voice sounded weak and frail and faint.
"We're not sure for sure. The investigators told us they'd keep us in anything new that pops up."
I nodded as I fiddled with my fingers and tapping my feet.
"What about my birth father? Anything on him?" I asked him.
I knew nothing about my birth father but only the fact that he was still alive and somewhere in this world. My adoptive father just shook his head slightly. I nodded understandingly. He didn't have to say anything further.
After about five minutes of silence, he nudged me by the arm and handed me the packet.
"These are the only and probably the last evidence they found on your mother. You don't have to look at it now but when you're ready. I assure you, I didn't read it." He told me. I chuckled at the last part.
"Thanks dad,"
He patted my shoulder comfortingly then got off the porch step.
"I'll be inside if you need me or your mother. Dinner's ready if you'd like." He reminded me. I just nodded.
"Dad?" I called out before he left. He turned around to face me.
"Hmm,"
"What-what happens if she is alive?" I asked him.
"Well that will be up to you whether you'd like to meet her. You're legal enough to make your own decisions,"
"But never too old for parent support." I finished it with our family's little catchphrase. He chuckled then entered the house. I sighed as I looked down at the packet and was assigned 'Confidential'. Did I really want to read it? What if whatever I read wasn't what I expect? Maybe I should just wait until later.
I contemplated for the past 45 minutes until I just listened to my gut instinct and began unfurling the packet. I looked inside to see a couple of documents. I pulled them out to see all the payments and debt she paid, her bonds, mortgage and all that tons of stuff. Something slipped out of one of the pages and I looked down to see an envelope.
I picked up and checked the front to see it was assigned to me but with an address I wasn't quite sure of. I decided to open and I pulled out a note.
I flipped over and began reading.
To my little Bonita
We may not have forever together and I wish we had but life isn't measured in years.
The day I found out I had you I was the happiest person yet I felt completely terrified of losing you.
I love you my child…but whatever happens these next coming months I really hope you'll be safe, protected and loved no matter what. If I don't make it I just really hope you have a wonderful loving family who'd take care of you for as long as you may live.
Denyse
After I read the note I realized something. So my mother's name was Denyse and I had no idea. Great!
After all these years I didn't know anything about my mother other than the fact, she gave birth to me and died right after and that I look so much like her. But when I'm 18 I finally get what I've wanted all my life!
I involuntarily dropped the envelope then something pooped out of it. I reached for it to see it was a chain with a locket on it. I opened it to see a compass on the bottom and when I looked at the top I was expecting a reflection of it but instead was a picture of the most beautiful woman in the world. She had long wavy golden blonde hair, my identical sandy green eyes, creamy vanilla skin and a red smile that was all so radiant.
That had to be my mother as I traced my fingers on her lips. I didn't even notice my dad coming towards me from inside the house and wrapping his arm around me as I stared at my mom's picture.
I involuntarily turned around and cried into my dad's chest.
"It's okay little man. It's okay." He assured me as he stroked my head wrapping his arms comfortably around me.
"Let's just keep this between you and me for now alright?" He asked. I just nodded.
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