1
Leiya;
I sighed and ran a finger through my dreads, looking over at her with an aggravated expression.
Every fucking morning.
It's always something. Whether it's my outfit or another complaint about the amount of tattoos I've gotten since my birthday passed last month.
"What did I do, now?" I asked. The short, dark woman started to walk toward me and I flinched, moving away from her.
"You know, I never had any of these problems when your sister was alive." She spat. My heart stung at the mention of my dead twin sister and I glared at the floor.
"I still don't understand what was done, Ma." I gritted, my thick Brooklyn accent evident.
"You being born was done, that's what. You're such a disgrace. I wish it were you that died and not your sister." She yelled. I didn't react, instead continued to stare at the floor.
Ah, today it's about me being gay.
"Alright, Ma. I'ma be late to school." I stated before taking off out the door, grabbing my cruiser in the process.
As the tears streamed down my face, I skated to the nearest train station hoping and praying I'm not late to school. It's my senior year, and I want to do better than last school year. When my sister Lilly died last spring, I completely checked out of society. I was even hospitalized for quite some time. Lilly was my best friend. We were attached to the hip since birth. She was also the first person I've ever came out to. My grades dropped, and I eventually stopped showing up. I barely passed.
This year, I want to focus on nothing but school and basketball. No distractions. This is my ticket out of this shitty ass hood. I didn't live in luxury, quite opposite actually. My mother doesn't work. All she does is drink and disappear with random men for days at a time. My father disappeared from my life when Lilly and I were eight. It's been this way since. The drinking only got worse after Lilly died.
I sighed and wiped my face, picking up my board and running down the platform stairs, bumping right into someone.
"Watch it!" She barked. I didn't even bother looking back as I continued to dash passed her.
"I'm sorry!" I yelled. I heard her scoff and her heels clicked away angrily up the platform stairs.
I hopped over the low gates of the train station, sliding into the doors just before they closed. I let out a breath and looked at the time.
7:30 am. Perfect.
I looked around and watched the different faces inside the train. There were businessmen with brief cases, women in scrubs and power suits reading the newspaper or a nice novel. There were people dressed in really expensive clothes.
I couldn't even imagine touching anything like that.
I'm poor yet lived in one of the richest cities in the country.
I manage to pull some looks together with the things I can afford. I usually go thrift shopping for my clothes. It's what I can afford while I try to save up every dime for college. Luckily, I go to private school so I have to wear uniform. I hated it.
I looked down at the grey fabric of my skirt and grimaced.
God, I hate skirts.
I finally arrived at my train stop and bolted out the station, skating down the New York City pavements to the worst private school anyone could attend to.
It's a non-profit Christian based school for children who are in need of more academic assistance than most.
My mom felt I needed a change.
I walked into the school, the large hallway filled with students of all colors and ages and sighed.
"LEIYA!" I heard the familiar screech of my closest friend, Brianna while a body attached itself onto mine.
"Missed you too, Bri. Even though its been only a weekend." I giggled. Brianna pulled back and held my face, faux tears welling in her eyes.
"I'm so glad to see you alive." She dragged. I rolled my eyes, giggling at my best friend's theatrics.
Brianna is a five foot one fire ball with long curly blonde and brunette hair and hazel eyes. She's been my friend since freshmen year. She's been through everything with me, even through Lilly's death. She's the only person who knows about my home life. The only person I could ever trust telling that to.
"Oh, relax. Let's get to homeroom." I sighed. Brianna smirked.
"What? Trying to avoid Kayla?" She insinuated.
"What?! No, of course not. Why would you think that?" I asked, even though she was remotely correct. Kayla is this girl I had a fling with last year. She's now convinced herself that we're a thing, and I can't lie I do entertain it.
Sometimes I just need a distraction.
"Good because she's approaching in 3...2..."
"What?!" I exclaimed, trying to find a place to hide, but it was too late. Before I could hide my face behind my locker, it was slammed shut.
"Leiya!" I heard the familiar squeaky voice. I cringed and turned around, smiling.
"Kayla." I said, clearing my throat. I heard Brianna snicker and I shot her a look.
"Um...so what's the issue?" She asked, popping her gum. I stood eye level with her, her deep brown eyes angry.
"What issue, babe?" I asked. Kayla scoffed, flipping her straight black weave behind her back with her short caramel fingers.
"You baited on me over the weekend and haven't answered any of my texts. So what's the problem?" She asked, arching her brow. I noticed people started to stare and I sighed grabbing her hand and kissing her fingertips.
"Can we talk about this later? Hm?" I pleaded, giving her a charming smile. She held her hard face, but it fell and she rolled her eyes, falling into my touch.
"Aight, fine. Meet me after cheer practice in the girl's locker room. I know you have practice later so don't bail!" She growled. I smirked, lifting her chin and pecking her lips softly.
"I wont." I smirked. Kayla grinned and walked away, her hand sliding down from my chest to the hem of my skirt. Before I could react, I saw the most intense pair of green eyes staring at me from across the hall.
"W-Who's that?" I asked Bri, nodding in the woman's direction. Before I could get a better look, she ducked into her classroom.
"Oh, that's the new history teacher. Mr Burns got caught fücking one of the students in the gym bathroom and got fired." Bri shrugged. I looked at her with a face and she straight-faced me.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothing, Bri. Nothing." I shook my head and walked off to homeroom.
My first three classes were a drag. Luckily, Bri has the same schedule I do so it's not as boring as it would be without her.
It was finally time for the most boring class ever. Western history. It's usually the class I take a nap in and I couldn't wait to do so.
I didn't get much sleep last night. I never do anyway.
I walked inside and saw the desk was empty and no teacher was inside. But there was a purse hanging neatly on the edge of the chair that sat behind the desk.
I watched from the back of the classroom as students poured from the hallway to their desks. The classroom filled up with chatter and paper balls being thrown back and forth by the football jocks.
"Sorry I'm late, please settle down while I prepare the attendance." A familiar curt, yet velvety voice came from the front and I looked up, gasping quietly.
Those eyes.
Her eyes scanned the room and she looked at me, narrowing them slightly.
"Uh oh..what'd you do?" Bri whispered. I shrugged, peeling my eyes from the woman up front to Bri. I looked back and saw she was turned toward the board, writing something out.
I took this time to analyze her. Her hair was brunette with light brown high lights and sat just below her shoulders, neatly blown out as if she got it professionally done. They looked so soft. Her velvet green blouse clung to her toned arms and back, her high waisted slacks tight enough to show off her soft, petite curves. She stood on low cut heels that flapped everytime she moved.
It made me have to cross my legs.
She's your teacher! Relax!
I sighed, laying my head in my hands.
"Am I boring you already Miss..."
"Leiya. Leiya Pierce." I responded, looking up at the really plump lips that were covered in a dark wine-red lip stick.
"Okay, Miss Pierce. If I'm boring you, you can leave." Ms. Alexus snapped. I grimaced, taken aback by her attitude.
"First of all, Miss Alexus, I didn't do a damn thing for you to kick me out already." I hissed back. I felt a hand touch my shoulder and looked over at Bri who was shaking her head.
'Misplaced anger.' She mouthed. I sighed and looked up at the woman with a smug face.
"You can continue." I growled. Ms. Alexus turned on her heels, her hair bouncing as she walked through the room, passing out her syllabus.
"What is this? College?" One of my classmate scoffed, earning giggles.
"If you make it that far, yes." Ms. Alexus responded back, causing the classroom to "ooohhh" and go quiet.
"Damn, she has a stick doesn't she?" Bri scoffed. I rolled my eyes.
Tell me about it.
Ms. Alexus started her lecture and I glared at her the entire class time. I couldn't believe she already targeted me and only knew me for about five minutes. She doesn't know a damn thing about my life and I'll be damned if she thinks she can push me around in front of my peers.
Bítch.
The bell rang and I stood up, grabbing my stuff and waited for Bri to finish mingling with her cheer friends.
"Pierce. Stay back." Ms. Alexus barked. I looked at Bri and she shrugged.
"I'll wait for you outside." She breathed, walking off with the remainder of the students.
I stood in front of the classroom, watching as Ms Alexus shut the door and walked to the front of her desk, leaning on it, leaving a short distance between us.
"Ms, I-" I started.
"Shut up." She barked, causing me to jump and be quiet while I stared at her like she was crazy.
"You listen here and listen very carefully. Every class I teach there's always a damn class clown. So don't think I don't know the little power game you're playing here. You shut your mouth, sit in the back of the class and do your work. Do I make myself clear?" She growled. She was now standing close to my face and I gulped. She was so close that I could see the soft freckles that laid on her nose and cheeks.
She was so beautiful. Yet so mean.
I nodded in response.
"Speak!" She yelled, slamming her hand down on the desk. I jumped, my hands shaking and my heart pounding from the familiar stress I felt every day of my life.
"Y-yes ma'am." I whispered, on the brink of tears. She smirked.
"Good. Now get out of my sight."
"You never know when to stop, do you?" My mom hissed, glaring at me with dark eyes from across the kitchen. I wouldn't have known she was looking at me if I didn't feel the animosity radiating from where she was standing.
I sighed and ran a finger through my dreads, looking over at her with an aggravated expression.
Every fucking morning.
It's always something. Whether it's my outfit or another complaint about the amount of tattoos I've gotten since my birthday passed last month.
"What did I do, now?" I asked. The short, dark woman started to walk toward me and I flinched, moving away from her.
"You know, I never had any of these problems when your sister was alive." She spat. My heart stung at the mention of my dead twin sister and I glared at the floor.
"I still don't understand what was done, Ma." I gritted, my thick Brooklyn accent evident.
"You being born was done, that's what. You're such a disgrace. I wish it were you that died and not your sister." She yelled. I didn't react, instead continued to stare at the floor.
Ah, today it's about me being gay.
"Alright, Ma. I'ma be late to school." I stated before taking off out the door, grabbing my cruiser in the process.
As the tears streamed down my face, I skated to the nearest train station hoping and praying I'm not late to school. It's my senior year, and I want to do better than last school year. When my sister Lilly died last spring, I completely checked out of society. I was even hospitalized for quite some time. Lilly was my best friend. We were attached to the hip since birth. She was also the first person I've ever came out to. My grades dropped, and I eventually stopped showing up. I barely passed.
This year, I want to focus on nothing but school and basketball. No distractions. This is my ticket out of this shitty ass hood. I didn't live in luxury, quite opposite actually. My mother doesn't work. All she does is drink and disappear with random men for days at a time. My father disappeared from my life when Lilly and I were eight. It's been this way since. The drinking only got worse after Lilly died.
I sighed and wiped my face, picking up my board and running down the platform stairs, bumping right into someone.
"Watch it!" She barked. I didn't even bother looking back as I continued to dash passed her.
"I'm sorry!" I yelled. I heard her scoff and her heels clicked away angrily up the platform stairs.
I hopped over the low gates of the train station, sliding into the doors just before they closed. I let out a breath and looked at the time.
7:30 am. Perfect.
I looked around and watched the different faces inside the train. There were businessmen with brief cases, women in scrubs and power suits reading the newspaper or a nice novel. There were people dressed in really expensive clothes.
I couldn't even imagine touching anything like that.
I'm poor yet lived in one of the richest cities in the country.
I manage to pull some looks together with the things I can afford. I usually go thrift shopping for my clothes. It's what I can afford while I try to save up every dime for college. Luckily, I go to private school so I have to wear uniform. I hated it.
I looked down at the grey fabric of my skirt and grimaced.
God, I hate skirts.
I finally arrived at my train stop and bolted out the station, skating down the New York City pavements to the worst private school anyone could attend to.
It's a non-profit Christian based school for children who are in need of more academic assistance than most.
My mom felt I needed a change.
I walked into the school, the large hallway filled with students of all colors and ages and sighed.
Here we go again.
"LEIYA!" I heard the familiar screech of my closest friend, Brianna while a body attached itself onto mine.
"Missed you too, Bri. Even though its been only a weekend." I giggled. Brianna pulled back and held my face, faux tears welling in her eyes.
"I'm so glad to see you alive." She dragged. I rolled my eyes, giggling at my best friend's theatrics.
Brianna is a five foot one fire ball with long curly blonde and brunette hair and hazel eyes. She's been my friend since freshmen year. She's been through everything with me, even through Lilly's death. She's the only person who knows about my home life. The only person I could ever trust telling that to.
"Oh, relax. Let's get to homeroom." I sighed. Brianna smirked.
"What? Trying to avoid Kayla?" She insinuated.
"What?! No, of course not. Why would you think that?" I asked, even though she was remotely correct. Kayla is this girl I had a fling with last year. She's now convinced herself that we're a thing, and I can't lie I do entertain it.
Sometimes I just need a distraction.
"Good because she's approaching in 3...2..."
"What?!" I exclaimed, trying to find a place to hide, but it was too late. Before I could hide my face behind my locker, it was slammed shut.
"Leiya!" I heard the familiar squeaky voice. I cringed and turned around, smiling.
"Kayla." I said, clearing my throat. I heard Brianna snicker and I shot her a look.
"Um...so what's the issue?" She asked, popping her gum. I stood eye level with her, her deep brown eyes angry.
"What issue, babe?" I asked. Kayla scoffed, flipping her straight black weave behind her back with her short caramel fingers.
"You baited on me over the weekend and haven't answered any of my texts. So what's the problem?" She asked, arching her brow. I noticed people started to stare and I sighed grabbing her hand and kissing her fingertips.
"Can we talk about this later? Hm?" I pleaded, giving her a charming smile. She held her hard face, but it fell and she rolled her eyes, falling into my touch.
"Aight, fine. Meet me after cheer practice in the girl's locker room. I know you have practice later so don't bail!" She growled. I smirked, lifting her chin and pecking her lips softly.
"I wont." I smirked. Kayla grinned and walked away, her hand sliding down from my chest to the hem of my skirt. Before I could react, I saw the most intense pair of green eyes staring at me from across the hall.
"W-Who's that?" I asked Bri, nodding in the woman's direction. Before I could get a better look, she ducked into her classroom.
"Oh, that's the new history teacher. Mr Burns got caught fücking one of the students in the gym bathroom and got fired." Bri shrugged. I looked at her with a face and she straight-faced me.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothing, Bri. Nothing." I shook my head and walked off to homeroom.
My first three classes were a drag. Luckily, Bri has the same schedule I do so it's not as boring as it would be without her.
It was finally time for the most boring class ever. Western history. It's usually the class I take a nap in and I couldn't wait to do so.
I didn't get much sleep last night. I never do anyway.
I walked inside and saw the desk was empty and no teacher was inside. But there was a purse hanging neatly on the edge of the chair that sat behind the desk.
I watched from the back of the classroom as students poured from the hallway to their desks. The classroom filled up with chatter and paper balls being thrown back and forth by the football jocks.
"Sorry I'm late, please settle down while I prepare the attendance." A familiar curt, yet velvety voice came from the front and I looked up, gasping quietly.
Those eyes.
I've never seen such green eyes, before.
Her eyes scanned the room and she looked at me, narrowing them slightly.
"Uh oh..what'd you do?" Bri whispered. I shrugged, peeling my eyes from the woman up front to Bri. I looked back and saw she was turned toward the board, writing something out.
I took this time to analyze her. Her hair was brunette with light brown high lights and sat just below her shoulders, neatly blown out as if she got it professionally done. They looked so soft. Her velvet green blouse clung to her toned arms and back, her high waisted slacks tight enough to show off her soft, petite curves. She stood on low cut heels that flapped everytime she moved.
"My name is Ms. Alexus and I will be your teacher for the remainder of the new school year. I will pass out a syllabus and I expect you to read it and understand what it has to say." I can already tell she had a mean streak to her.
It made me have to cross my legs.
She's your teacher! Relax!
I sighed, laying my head in my hands.
"Am I boring you already Miss..."
"Leiya. Leiya Pierce." I responded, looking up at the really plump lips that were covered in a dark wine-red lip stick.
"Okay, Miss Pierce. If I'm boring you, you can leave." Ms. Alexus snapped. I grimaced, taken aback by her attitude.
"First of all, Miss Alexus, I didn't do a damn thing for you to kick me out already." I hissed back. I felt a hand touch my shoulder and looked over at Bri who was shaking her head.
'Misplaced anger.' She mouthed. I sighed and looked up at the woman with a smug face.
"You can continue." I growled. Ms. Alexus turned on her heels, her hair bouncing as she walked through the room, passing out her syllabus.
"What is this? College?" One of my classmate scoffed, earning giggles.
"If you make it that far, yes." Ms. Alexus responded back, causing the classroom to "ooohhh" and go quiet.
"Damn, she has a stick doesn't she?" Bri scoffed. I rolled my eyes.
Tell me about it.
Ms. Alexus started her lecture and I glared at her the entire class time. I couldn't believe she already targeted me and only knew me for about five minutes. She doesn't know a damn thing about my life and I'll be damned if she thinks she can push me around in front of my peers.
Bítch.
The bell rang and I stood up, grabbing my stuff and waited for Bri to finish mingling with her cheer friends.
"Pierce. Stay back." Ms. Alexus barked. I looked at Bri and she shrugged.
"I'll wait for you outside." She breathed, walking off with the remainder of the students.
I stood in front of the classroom, watching as Ms Alexus shut the door and walked to the front of her desk, leaning on it, leaving a short distance between us.
"Ms, I-" I started.
"Shut up." She barked, causing me to jump and be quiet while I stared at her like she was crazy.
"You listen here and listen very carefully. Every class I teach there's always a damn class clown. So don't think I don't know the little power game you're playing here. You shut your mouth, sit in the back of the class and do your work. Do I make myself clear?" She growled. She was now standing close to my face and I gulped. She was so close that I could see the soft freckles that laid on her nose and cheeks.
She was so beautiful. Yet so mean.
I nodded in response.
"Speak!" She yelled, slamming her hand down on the desk. I jumped, my hands shaking and my heart pounding from the familiar stress I felt every day of my life.
"Y-yes ma'am." I whispered, on the brink of tears. She smirked.
"Good. Now get out of my sight."
What the hell just happened?
