Sniff, sniff.
Hiro rubbed my back slowly as tears fell from my cheeks like raindrops. Amirah sat in the rolling chair, trying to keep herself together. Her lip quivered & her breathing quickened, indicating she was really set off. I told her & Hiro about the dad situation, the truth we were failed to be told by our own mother. The room was filled with silence, other me & my sister's heavy breathing.
"I.. I want to hurt her so much. Physically and emotionally", I cut through the quiet air with the bitterness in my voice.
Amirah looked up at the sudden sound of me talking, & her eyes glared, filled with pure hate & pain. "I do, too. She's a messed up woman".
Hiro coughed & looked between me & Amirah. "So.. what are you guys going to do?"
Silence fell over the room once more as I mustered up the courage to say what was on my mind. After a few seconds, I sighed. "I'm going to go find my father".
Hiro & Amirah's eyes widened at the stupidity that came out of my mouth. But if I told you I cared, I'd be lying.
"Heav, are you crazy?! You can't go looking for your father! You don't have not one clue where he may be, not to mention what your mother would do to you when she finds out". I looked at Hiro, studying his features. The way his hair flopped over his eyes, the way his lips pursed in a thin line, & those brown eyes had worry deep inside, but he was still adorable.
"Heaven!", Hiro waved his hand in my face. My eyes darted away from his, & I felt my face get hot.
Did I like Hiro? There was this feeling that I couldn't exactly identify.. but it was a good feeling. A feeling I never wanted to go away.
Looking him dead in the eyes, I ignored his pleas. "I'm going to find my father Hiro". I paused as his face dropped. "And I want you to help me".
Amirah got up, seeming to be a bit calmer than moments before. "You know, that's not a bad idea. At all".
Hiro licked his lips in a thinking matter, & looked back at us. "I'm in".
I smiled wide. "Thanks.. well we got school tomorrow so we should get going..".
Without warning, the boy pulled me into a tight hug, those tight hugs where you feel invincible against anyone or anything, where you feel like you could just melt into that person's arms. He pulled back, his hands rested on my shoulders.
"Just remember, I'm always here for you.. okay?".
"Okay".
Soon as we left the cafe, Amirah locked arms with me.
"What's going on with you & Hirooo?", she singsonged. I playfully sucked my teeth, gently flipping her in the head.
"Nothing's going on".
"You like him!"
I'm pretty sure all the color flushed from my face at her comment. I don't know how I feel about Hiro yet. Did I like him just as a friend or even more? The real question was, how did he feel about me?
I brushed her accusation away with the wave of my hand & a "Pshht".
The 12-year-old gave me a look, telling me, without words, she knew I was fronting. Slapping my palm against my forehead, I groaned. "I think I do like him", I muttered.
"Aha! I knew it!",
"I'm not even sure!", I protested.
- AFTER SCHOOL, NEXT DAY -
Finally, 7th period was over. I was ready to get out of here. Slinging my backpack on one shoulder, I headed towards the exit to the bus loop. I had only taken a few steps before I heard a voice I hear way too much in one day alone.
"Freak! What's up?", it shouted from down the hallway, causing a few snickers from the bystanders.
I recognized that voice anywhere. Hannah; my ex-best friend. We were friends from kindergarten, to beginning of 6th grade year, when she cut our friendship off to hang with the "cool kids". I've always been a really quiet person, so she was the only close friend I really had. I didn't attempt to make any new friends, so I've basically been a loner these past years. But hey, you gain some, you lose some.
Ever since then, she always makes slick comments, or "funny" jokes to get cool points from her crew. Now here we stood, in high school, & Hannah was still doing this crap. Personally, I think it's sad, but who cares about my opinon anyways?
"Leave me alone little girl", I groaned. My mind was too focused on how I was going to start the search for my father, & I was completely stressed out enough as it was.
"You're such a dweeb", Hannah laughed, her followers laughing along.
Dweeb? This girl's vocabulary obviously wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. If she really think she was going to get under my skin, she was wrong.
I kept my pace as I continued to the double doors at the end of the hall, ignoring the last bit of Hannah's words.
When I arrived home 10 minutes later, I set my backpack down on my bed. Amirah would be home soon, so I figured to just get started. I was determined to accomplish finding my father.
I dialed up Hiro, & he rushed over. Pulling into the hallway, I pointed at my mother's door. "There it is. Did you bring the correct tool?"
Hiro answered my question by pulling it out. A knife.
"A knife? Are you serious?".
"Ssshh, trust me this works".
Hiro fumbled with the knife in the door for a few minutes before a click along with creaking was heard. He pushed the door open, & looked around. I followed behind him, grabbing the note as soon as I caught it in my vision.
"Got it!"
"Alright, examine the room for anything else".
Striding to the closet, I peeped crumbled, ripped paper. All I could make was "aven Johnson". The rest was ripped off. Grabbing the paper, I scanned it quickly.
"This.. this is my birth certificate", I stated aloud. Hiro rushed over to me. "My mother told me she lost it when we moved here".
What didn't my mom lie to me about? This was just getting ridiculous. No wonder she never wanted me & Amirah to come into her room. I rummaged through the closet for any more clues to help track my father down, but was unsuccessful.
Hiro wrapped his arm around me. "Don't worry we're getting closer. We'll find him, I promise".
"It's just.. I don't even know what to believe anymore", I croaked.
I wanted to sit there in that one spot & break down, but I regained myself. I reluctantly forced my body to get up & walk out the room, gripping my birth certificate so hard I'm sure my knuckles turned white. I heard Hiro lock the door back before he staggered into my bedroom.
"Everything's going to be okay Heaven", he whispered, kissing my forehead. "It's going to turn out all right".
Awwwww! So cute. I've been sick for the past few days, ugh worst thing ever. Luckily, I feel much better today, so here I am, home from school, writing. I will fix & polish this chapter up later, for now, sorry for any typos.