Responsibility (Nina)

Nina

*After School*

"Nina!", I hear Rachel calling out after me.

"Yeah?", I ask

"Do you have a ride back home?"

"Nope.", I say, truthfully. "I was just planning on walking."

"Oh, well if you can wait a few minutes, Alex is coming to pick us so we could head to my house?"

She's trying so hard for me to forget about the situation with my dad, I choose to give in.

"Sure, I can wait.", I smile. 

Naomi comes out of the school cafeteria holding three mango popsicles. "Here you go guys, Cheers to High School!", she says.

"Cheers."

"Where's Diana?", Naomi asks, while slurping on her popsicle.

"Oh, her mom picked her. She had a doctor's appointment.", Rachel says. 

I see a white SUV pull up to the school and immediately recognize Alex's car. He notices I'm here as well,  and I can see he's not surprised, in fact he seems relieved. As  the car moves closer to us, I look in the back seat to see a woman wearing sunglasses, clinging on to a Chanel purse. She definitely is Rachel's mom, Ms. Blaise.

We silently get into the car. Rachel sits with her mom, I sit with Alex and Naomi sits in the back. Ms. Blaise was clearly surprised to see Naomi.

"Hello my dear! Rachel, I see you've made a new friend.", she says, although I hear hostility in her voice.

 I can clearly see where this conversation is going and to be completely honest, I am starting to feel uncomfortable. Just then I get a text on my phone.

***

Messages

Group chat- Alex (Rach's bro), Rach, Me

Alex
Don't worry guys, I told her about Naomi and
hopefully she understood my long lecture. She's
just pretending not to know Naomi.

Me
Oh ok. Less awkwardness, yay.

Rach
DONT TEXT WHILE DRIVING

***

"Nice to meet you Ms. Blaise, I'm Naomi", Naomi speaks with shaky confidence. Rachel's mom has that intimidating effect on people. Good thing I'm used to it. 

"Oh yes, I've heard a bit about you.", she says.

Nobody addresses the fact that they are dating until we reach a red light.

"Mom, Naomi is Rachel's significant other.", Alex speaks calmly. I know he's using his 'therapy' voice because Rachel has told me about it countless times.

"No. She is not. Rachel has made a new friend, just like Nina here is Rachel's friend.", Ms. Blaise mocks Alex's calm voice. 

Uh Oh. I was about to be thrown into the wrestling ring.

"Ms. Blaise, Rachel and I are friends but Naomi and Rachel think of each other differently.", I try to offer an explanation.

"Alright whatever.", Ms. Blaise says out loud but even from the front seat I hear her mutter under her breath, "Wait until she finds the right man."

Just then we reach their house and we know that we should go right up to Rachel's room, avoiding conflict but as we are racing up the stairs, Ms. Blaise says, "Nay-oh-me, will you come see me for just a sec?", putting on a flair to Naomi's name.

We all go downstairs with her, to show solidarity of course. Alex also notices it. 

"Oh no, just her, my dears, you kids can go up to your rooms.", A sentence with 'dear' in it has never sounded so bitter.

We reluctantly go up but we're all contemplating what could be happening.

"Maybe she's kicking her out of the house.", Rachel says, with dread.

"No, I've tried my level best to convince her and I'm sure she'll listen to at least a bit of my expertise.", Alex offers

"I agree with Alex.", I say, in attempt to cheer up Rachel. 

"I'll just have to hope you are right.", Rachel says. We decide to start with math homework, and just a few questions in, we hear Naomi coming up. She stares at us with a blank expression as she's at the entrance of the room. 

"So?", I ask

"She said my stepdad called her since they're business associates and he's coming for me.", Naomi let's out a sob. "I asked her if she could do anything about it and she said 'Frankly, I want you away from my family.' ", Naomi blurts out. She's shocked.

"Meet me at the car in 2 minutes.", Alex says quickly jumping from a chair. 

"Where are we going?", I ask.

"You aren't going anywhere, You guys have to stay here and stall for Naomi, She's coming with me to the youth mental health facility. I know this isn't a permanent solution but Mom has left me no choice. I'll figure out the plan from there. Naomi, you are our Responsibility now.", Alex seemed determined. It's certain he had a backup plan all this while.

Naomi grabbed a couple of t shirts, her phone and a pair of jeans, and stuffed them into her school backpack. it was clearly tough since all of our freshman year textbooks were in there so Alex got another rucksack from his room to help. Naomi looked out the window and said, "Second times a charm, am I right?", but she wasn't laughing.

"No", Alex said sternly. "We're going to take the back door. I am the adult here and I really need to make sure you don't get hurt."

Rachel and I watch them leave. 

Just then my phone rings, It's Dad.

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