Black Girl, White Boy
Chapter 15 - His Love won't be Silenced
R-M
You might be surprised at this quick update. But, none the less I hope you enjoy it. Please, excuse Spell Errors. Sorry I can't catch everything. And BTW, ALL OF YOU that reviewed since the last update, thank you I loved all of your reviews. EmperorsConcerto xoxo, thank you for the thoughtful reviews. I appreciated it. And Telinh, I sure did try, I'm glad you liked the poem. LOL thank you!
Nothing is easy to the unwilling
~ Nikki Giovanni
Bonnie spent her Friday night, working. She, finished early, and was able to spend a little time with Damon. Still, they were always at his house. It became their safe haven. They were protected from the outside world when they were in his house. Other than the fact that, he adored watching her, he also, felt contentment when he was with her.
Because of the suspension, Sheila decided against letting Bonnie going out with her friends across town. Therefore, the girls, postponed the disco, until Bonnie was able to go. She and Damon spent a couple of hours together before he had to take her home. He stayed with her, and had dinner with her and grams. Then he headed back home.
After he left, Sheila engaged Bonnie in a mature conversation.
"Bonnie?"
"Yes ma'am."
"How are you and Damon?"
"We are good, Grams." She smiled, as she helped clean the kitchen.
"Good. Is he, respectful?"
"Grams! Of course, he is. He's, the most respectful one of them, out there. And I'm always surprised, how... he isn't afraid of my mind."
"What do you mean?" Grams said, holding the dry towel, over her shoulder.
"Just that, he loves my mind. Right or wrong. He's patient."
"He's a good boy. I've known him many years. Always been a sweet boy, despite his lifestyle."
"I'm glad, you like him. It means everything to me." Bonnie said, appreciatively.
"And, are you two... engaging in any...? I mean... have you two...?"
"No! Grams. I'm still a virgin. He's never asked me to have sex, and he knows, there's no rush."
"You jivin' with me Bonnie?"
"No, grams. Damon and I have become the best of friends. To be honest, when the day comes, I think he'd be more afraid of me, than me of him." She laughed. "Not that, we've talked about the day. Because it hasn't come up. We do, however, want to attend prom, ma'am."
"Prom? Well, I suppose, I could help out with that. You'll be beautiful." Sheila blushed, hugging her granddaughter.
"Yeah, grams. I mean, we just spoke of it this week, but I already imagine, wearing an ivory dress, or maybe like a pink. Something light, because, I hoped it would look nice against-"
"Your brown skin? Yes. It would" Sheila smiled. And, we can feather out your hair, or... you can keep it like it is."
"I wouldn't mind like a feathered style. It would be... different for me." She smiled. Bonnie's mother had straight hair. She never understood it, because Sheila had curly hair. But, Abby loved to braid her hair and then unbraid it and tease it. Maybe, to have hair more similar to Bonnie's big hair. Maybe to make Bonnie feel more accepted. But, Bonnie always noticed, Abby had long straight hair. Different texture than her own. It confused her, because their hair was different. But she didn't ask questions. She just, went along with everything. Now, she had a chance to make her hair look like Abby's and she thought, how it would be nice to look like her mother.
"Grams, why, is my momma's hair strait, and mine curly?"
"Not all black women have curly hair. In fact, your momma's father had very straight hair."
"And why is my hair, different from yours and my momma's? My hair is almost blonde, in the Summer time. It gets so light. But, momma has bone straight, black hair."
Sheila felt uncomfortableness overcome her. She couldn't, or chose not to give a clear answer. "Just how it is. The beauty of our blackness, is our hair comes in a multitude of textures and patterns.
"I straightened my hair once in NOLA. It was really long."
"Yeah, well... it's because you take care of it. And it's okay to straighten it sometimes."
"Yeah. Okay. Well, I should get to bed. Night Grams."
After a hug and kiss, they separated. "Night baby."
...
Bonnie stayed home all weekend, and come Monday, didn't show up to school as per her one-sided suspension. The whole school had already heard what happened and while most kids stayed out of it. The few that were interested in what happened, were divided. Caroline and Katherine were both outraged and made sure to make noise about it in their classes. Come fourth period PE, they both confronted Tyler.
"Really? You fear for your life! Tyler, you and I both know, who you really are." Caroline said.
"Caroline, don't be jealous because you and I didn't work out in the past."
"The past? You, slimy punk." She yelled.
"Be cool, Care. The coach is watching." Kat warned her.
"Yeah, listen to your friend. She knows what's best." He said smugly.
"No Ty. You may have my sister fooled, but I see through you. And trying to make the school believe you're afraid for your life. Pft." Kat rolled her eyes. "You'd be the first guy to become someone's bitch in jail." He snapped his eyes at her, and his temples begin throbbing, as his veins became prominent. He was such a hot head sometimes.
"She threatened me! And for her being the outcast here, to make a white racial slur. Why don't you take a look at her? She's racist, and people like her, don't fit in here."
"People like her?! Black people? Women? You sound like the racist, and a sexist."
"Right. Speak that hippie bullshit." He didn't care.
"What slur did she tell you."
"Said I better watch my cracker ass!" He lied.
"I've never heard Bonnie even say cracker." Caroline didn't believe him.
"Listen, she might not graduate!"
"Not my problem. She's a problem. Problems follow her. Check her records."
How did he know her records, unless he'd been looking into Bonnie, to find a way to hurt her. Caroline was beyond angry. Having a little understanding of things Bonnie had went through, she knew, Bonnie's reaction to Tyler was a defensive one. But she also knew, Tyler, had a way of making, everyone believes him, and look at Bonnie differently. "No, Tyler! It's jerks like you, that makes people like Bonnie sick and tired of privileged assholes."
Tyler walked into Caroline's face and told her, "You go against me, and I'll have you on your ass at home like that little black bitch." Caroline's neck snapped back, and she felt Tyler's threat in her bones. "Championships next week. I don't think you want to go against the grain, and get the entire school upset... do you?" He smirked like an asshole, at her and Katherine. "If you know what's best. You'll keep your mouth shut."
Caroline shook her head and went after him, until Katherine pulled her back, "Right now, we have to leave it alone."
He walked away, and she felt helpless. She knew no one would speak out besides she, Kat, and Damon... in this instance... she felt defeated. She had to be smart.
...
After two days had passed, Bonnie was at a meeting with the school board. Dressed to impress. She wore her button-up polyester blouse, with attached scarf. An opal color, with some green design. Then she wore burgundy colored bell bottoms, and her loafers. Sheila had to miss work at her first job today to be here. They were asked to speak their peace. Bonnie wanted to graduate more than anything. So, after working hard, with grams and Lily this weekend, she wrote a small speech.
"To whom it may concern, deciding my fate,
I have always pride myself, in being a very smart girl. I take my studies seriously. I was raised to know the power of self-knowledge, as well as self-awareness. I'm proud of my education, and the way I work in school, is never affected, by my personal life. I complete my work on time, and I make time to talk to my teachers about their notes, to find out how I can improve as a lover of knowledge.
Since being in Mystic Falls, I've found myself out of my element. But, through my adversities, I've persevered. When a guy like Tyler, uses his privilege, and advantage; then taunts me, and gives me his hateful words, to get into my head, it may have pushed me to my limits.
I apologize for those of you I've hurt, teachers, friends, disappointed in me. I refuse to let someone, make me small. But, as a woman, in need of change, I'm willing to co-exist, and be cordial so that I can walk with my class, and make my family proud. Please, don't take this from me. My actions that day, don't define me as a person. Merely, they were a set back to my progress. My main goal is to get to college. Please, help me accomplish this.
Thank you."
Sheila couldn't have been prouder. The entire meeting was recorded, for public records. As soon as she spoke, the board spoke.
"Miss, Bennett. We applaud your efforts to persevere in your adversities. This is the future of a person who deserves an education beyond high school. And possibly a future public figure. We've gotten nothing but outstanding letters from your teachers. This is commendable, and respectable. However, in a society pushing towards change, shouting racial slurs at a class mate, and becoming violent, as well as threatening, proves you can be a liability for those around you-"
"But-" she interrupted them, "he provoked me! He taunted me... why isn't he on this same trial as me? How is this fair?" Sheila torn between letting Bonnie voice her pain, and wanting her to graduate, sat her granddaughter down, when she burst up from her seat.
"Ms. Bennett! This behavior is unacceptable. This is the behavior that proves volatile, and disruptive, that makes a question your truth and your purpose."
"I'm sorry. But I'm angry. I'm hurt, and quite frankly, Tyler Lockwood frightens me." She cried out. She admitted it out loud, and it took courage. Because the truth is, Tyler scared Bonnie to her core.
They listened to her, and it was hard for the women on her panel, not to feel sympathy. But, the head of the board, a man, a white man. A friend of the Mayor, obviously. The Mayor, being Mayor Lockwood, Tyler's father. "We have your words, and we will reconvene next week. In the meantime, you can go to school and pick up your school work. And remain at home for the remainder of the week."
"But-" Bonnie tried to speak and Sheila shushed her skin her head.
"Let it be child, we'll talk at home."
In all her fear and pain, Bonnie stood up. "I understand your concern. But, before I leave, I implore you. Take one more thing into consideration, if Tyler Lockwood, was a young black man, and I was a white woman... would this be such a hard decision? And I'm not making an accusation. I'm just asking you to think about that. If I was your daughter, would this decision, be so hard?" She wiped her tears. "Thank you." She got up with her dignity, and walked out with Sheila. Bonnie didn't cry, she couldn't cry. She wanted to leave the board with something to think about. That's what mattered.
...
Bonnie asked Sheila to wait before going back to school. She sat in the car for an hour letting their words replay in her head. All the while, visions of Tyler cornering her, and taunting her, kept playing too. After an hour or so, she was ready to head back.
Sheila drove Bonnie to school. "I can take the day off today. Stay home with you."
"No, grams. Don't lose the money. I'll be fine. I'm gonna grab my work right now, and soon as I get home, drown myself in it. I don't want to think about this anymore."
"Want me to walk in with you? So, no one looks at you funny?"
"Grams, I'm okay. I'm used to being looked at. This won't be the first time or the last. I leave my mark on people." She smiled. They came through the back of the lot, and Bonnie saw about thirty students out front with signs. They were picketing. She hadn't seen a picket in so long. And really, up close and personal, wasn't in her past. She'd seen them on television. She'd known her mom did it. And a few times, she'd raised hell, but it always got shut down. This time she was confused, because Mystic Falls wasn't a town that liked trouble. Until she thought about it. "Grams, what if their picketing for me to be gone? Oh, my God. I can't do this. I can't." She put her face into her hands.
"No, Bonnie! If, for some reason, they want you gone, you go smiling. But don't let them knock you on your knees and see you cry. Walk tall, and strong, and let them see you smile. You understand me? Look at me."
"You're right. I'm gonna go. Just pull up a little closer, and I'll be right back." The closer they got, the more confusion overcame her. She saw Caroline, Katherine, Matt, Vicky, and a good number of other students. She stopped and got out of the car, and saw signs.
"2 4 6 8... Bonnie Bennett has to stay!"
"What do we want? Respect! When do we want it? Now!"
"Mystic Falls has too see... Students need EQUALITY!"
Bonnie's face fell flat. She was confused. Was she walking into a dream or stuck in a nightmare. Or was this just... not real? She asked herself. She stepped out of the car, and the students cheered for her. Caroline ran up to her, "Bonnie, you're here? I'm so happy!"
"Oh, my gosh, you guys! How could you? What in the world...?"
"Hey, we got together, deciding we were equally outraged. It's not right. But, you're here now, and that's what matters!"
Bonnie smiled. "Well, not exactly."
"What happened?"
"The board said I can take my homework home this week. I'm a volatile liability. They are reconvening next week again, with me and Tyler."
"What!? It's not fair, or right!" Caroline expressed.
Katherine grabbed her sign, and threw it to the floor. "Graduation is in like a month."
"Yeah, but it's what I have. And I have to be watchful of my words, and actions. So I can't stay. I need to get my homework and go." She cried. The students gathered around hugging her. "Thank you all. Thank you so much! You don't have to get in trouble for me."
"No, we are fighting for you. Tyler Lockwood is disgusting."
"You can't go against the Mayor guys. He's got more power than you can handle."
"Freedom of speech and protest, Bonnie. We know our rights."
"And I'm sorry if my actions offended you."
"Don't apologize. We know, Tyler is an ass."
"Just don't want you all thinking I'm racist."
"We know who you are, Bon." They hugged to comfort her.
"How did you do this?"
"Damon did a lot of it." Caroline said. "Well, I spoke to the other kids that were angry. And Damon organized this. He left about ten minutes ago. We've been out here since this morning. He said he'd be back soon."
"Wow, he did this?" Her heart couldn't handle it. He was, unbelievable.
"Yeah."
Bonnie was emotional. "I need to grab my things before they call the cops." Bonnie headed to her classes that she knew she'd need homework from. Some kids looked at her funny, some didn't know what to say. Others, were whispering. Those whispers sounded like roars, right about now.
After about twenty minutes she walked back out. And there he was, Damon... with a newspaper reporter. The local paper was here, with a photographer, taking pictures and getting the story.
Caroline filled Damon in and when he saw her he ran to her and grabbed her in his arms. "I'm so sorry. I wanted to give this a voice, and let people hear what happened. And still, you're not back. I'm, so fuckin' mad. I'm sorry I couldn't make it better and bigger than this. Maybe, if I got more students, or went to the street and not the parking lot. You, know... I can do this still. There's time."
"No, Damon, you are going to get in trouble. I've seen these things go terribly wrong. Please don't-"
"No stop, Bonnie. You asked me not to use my fist, so I'm using my words, and my actions. I promised you, I'd try everything, and I meant it." He put his hands on her face and looked deeply in her eyes. "You don't always have to fight alone."
"I just, don't want you to get in trouble."
"Malcom X once said, You have to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. So, if I'm going down,I'd rather it be with a knife in my back then facing my enemy, on my knees. I'll go down for you Bonnie."
Her tears fell freely, and he gave her all of his sincerity. "You love me, and I'm so happy for that. You bring this happiness Damon. Thank you for all of this." Before she could get any more words out before a reporter walked up to her asking questions. "I'm not allowed to really publicly speak about this until the board convenes."
"But we can speak." Caroline said. "Ask away."
"By the way, " the reporter continued, "the arranged deal we made with Mr. Salvatore, is that this won't be published until the board gives a verdict. So, we won't publish this story until that happens. We wish you all the luck Ms. Bennett." The reporter said before she headed towards Sheila.
"Thank you." She walked away, with Damon. "I still can't believe you did this for me, Damon. You could get into a lot of trouble."
"Yeah, maybe. But you're worth it."
They filled Sheila in on what was going on, and Sheila was so happy she decided not to go into work today. With Bonnie going home, and having to leave campus, Sheila agreed to come back and join the protest with Damon and Caroline. They didn't realize the impact they were making. Still fearing the outcome and the consequences, they all decided to fight for Bonnie. While she wasn't allowed to be on campus.
Bonnie sat in her bedroom, anxious, wishing she could be there, with everyone else.
But that night, Damon and Caroline came back with Sheila and they told Bonnie all about what happened that day. And how more students got involved, and were planning to be there tomorrow doing the same thing.
And they would do it every day, until justice was served to Bonnie.
Bonnie was speechless.
She didn't realize the impact, she had on people. Damon was right. Change needed to happen, and Bonnie was the realization that things weren't okay, and needed to be fixed.
"I should get home." Caroline said. "Early day tomorrow. Mrs. Saltzman is joint the protest during his down periods. He said, it's not right."
"Wow. Thanks, guys. I honestly am speechless."
"I'll see you, Bon."
"Bye Care."
Caroline hugged her friend before leaving. After a few minutes of staring at each other, Bonnie walked Damon out, and sat on Sheila's porch, "I guess, I really can do more, without using my fists." He smiled.
"Well, its not over. I just don't want you all in trouble."
"Bonnie, I'm just, gonna pretend you didn't say that. I'm ignoring you're attempt to save my ass. And I'm gone stare at your legs, in those shorts instead." He took a deep breath. "Man, I wish I could stay the night."
"Me too."
"We know, Miss Sheila won't allow that. Plus, if I want to get you for prom night, I should stay on my best behavior."
"We need to both behave." She smiled. He kissed her shoulder, and wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled back in his body and one of each of their hands entangled in a hold.
"Two more months."
"Two more months."
Sigh.
Thx for Reading! I know that was a pretty short chapter than what you are used to from me, but i hope you enjoyed it. Please, feel free to drop your thoughts. Xoxo They are ALWAYS appreciated!