Rain

My head hung low as I trail behind Uncle Tom while holding onto Raiden's hand. We were at a small food market and pharmacy that was a few blocks from the house. It was slightly smaller than a grocery store but slightly bigger than a convenience store Uncle Tom shopped for necessities since we don't have a lot of money to spend.

" Keep up, will you?" He spat. I looked up to see we had lagged behind.

" Sorry, I mean yes sir." I hurried along causing Raiden to bump into a row of candy, knocking some down.

" For fucks sake." Uncle Tom groaned.

" I'm sorry uncle tommy." Raiden apologized.

" Well don't just stand there and pick it up." He said as irritation settled into his face with creased lines on his forehead. His red face darkened as his mood changed. He had expressed that he woke up with a terrible headache. I did too since he and I had the same long night, but he wouldn't care if I complained about it too.

We start picking up the candy then suddenly a new pair of shoes comes into my peripheral. I look up to see a very tall young man dressed in baggy jeans and shirt with a blue apron draped over him.

" Let me help you." He gets down on the floor with us and begins picking up candy.

I couldn't help but look at his smooth looking face that seemed to be free from all blemishes. He sported a small smile that showcased the most beautiful dimple I ever seen. For a moment the aches I feel on a daily basis felt like light butterflies and the sadness that consumed me washed away.

" No thanks. They did it to themselves." Uncle Tom protested the help causing me to seep back into my reality. It clothed me like a blanket of needles that refused to break free.

" Oh I'm happy to help sir. Besides, it's my job." He smiled and continued to help put the candy away despite Uncle Tom's protest. " Wow, you have beautiful eyes." He said boring right into my eyes causing me to look away shyly.

" Hey I said back off." Uncle Tom barked backing me and Raiden away. The boy got up to his feet confused by his outburst with his hands raised in a defensive manner.

"Christopher, get back in the back." An older man shouted from behind him. I knew the older man to be the owner of the store and the only worker besides his wife that works in the pharmacy.

" I'm sorry Mr. Thomas. He's new. He meant no harm. Go on Christopher." The older man gestured for him to go to the back of the store.

" But Granddad, I was just..."

" Now, Chris... Mr. Thomas, how can I help you with your shopping?"

I look over at the boy named Christopher as he smacked his lips and went to the back as he was told. He was nice. I hope to see him again.

_______

Trigger warning

" This will teach you not to look at boys." Uncle Tom barked as he angrily snatched his belt off. The whole walk home with the groceries, he complained about how I was flirting with Christopher. I swear I wasn't. I don't even know how to flirt. Was it because we made eye contact?

" Please Uncle Tom, I .. I ..I'm sorry." I began to cry as I backed into a corner of the bedroom. After putting the food away, I was told to give Raiden a snack and to go into the bedroom. When I did I was met with his loud yelling and now he was threatening me with his belt.

I was practically begging him to let whatever this is go since my body ached from the night before with his friends.

" I swear I wasn't flirting."

" Oh yeah, you're calling me a liar? Who was that boy?" He screams in my face. The stubble on his face scratches against my face unlike the boy's smooth gentle face I saw earlier.

" I.. I... I don't know." His anger confused me. I did what I was told. I stayed quiet with my head down to make sure I was out of the way.

" Oh you don't know? huh? Maybe this will make you remember."

I yelped at the contact of his leather against my backside. I felt every hit that he gave me but it wasn't enough for him. As he yanked at my clothes, I apologized for whatever sins that I've done. Once I was completely bare, he continued his lashes leaving whip marks against my already red skin. I was whooped with the worn belt until it broke. To think this would stop him but it didn't. He used his bare hands until my cries became small whimpers.

" If I see you with that boy again, I'm taking you out of that school. It has to be that school that got you acting up like this."

I didn't dare look up from the floor instead I hid my face and curled up my body as I shivered. I heard the slam letting me know I was alone. The door creaked open again and I heard little feet coming towards me. I started to scold Raiden for coming in here, knowing that he would get in trouble with Uncle Tom.

All I could get out was a painful moan. Raiden had pulled a blanket from the bed and put it over my naked body. " Shhh, the rain will go away, Rainy." He comforted me with the words my momma used to tell me when I was his age. I hope the rain will go away soon.

_________

Monday Morning

I slowly walked through the dingy cold halls of my school. I counted the steps it takes to reach Ms. Katy's classroom as a way to distract myself from the laughter of my peers. I'm certain they are laughing at me, at the clothes that I'm wearing, at my wet tangled hair or even my chapped lips from the cold. I know how I look, I look at myself in the broken mirror everyday. The one time I see anything aside from the floor is myself. It's the one privilege I have left is to look at myself in the mirror and wonder how I keep waking up in hell.

" Instead of making fun of her, why don't you worry about your dusty looking ass?" I hear someone say but I keep moving.

" Bruh, Who the fuck are you? Talk to me like you got some sense." I hear another say. I could tell people started to gather around the two hoping to witness a fight.

" I'll be your worst nightmare if you don't leave her alone, bruh. You a wannabee hood nigga but I'm a real one so don't make me drop your ass."

I don't know who this was defending me. I hope he doesn't get himself hurt trying to defend a stranger. Kids at this school are ruthless and have been painted as future felons and thugs. Cops were always posted up at this school on the regular with visible armor guns on their hips. Gang affiliates make their presence known down these halls no matter the police presence. That's why it seems like the only safe neutral space was Ms. Katy's classroom.

" Boys get to class!" Katy shouts from her classroom door. I make my way towards it, ready to go in but she is blocking the door as she gets in her defensive stance. " Hey, I know it's not my kids acting like that." She walks off towards them finally letting the kids who were waiting in.

I wasted no time getting to my desk that's in the back of the class, just to realize there's a new seating chart with a new name on my desk. With furrowed eyebrows, I look for my new desk that's in front of the class closest to her desk. I sighed knowing this will be a problem for some people and sure enough as other students came in, they came in.

" Oh come on, Katy. Why is she in my seat?" I realize it's the boy that was just arguing with the boy that was defending me.

" Davion, your new seat is over here." She tapped on the desk that was closest to the classroom's front door.

" How am I supposed to see you from there?" He smacked his teeth. He liked sitting directly in front of her because he thinks she's nice to look at. Whatever that means.

" You're still sitting in the front. Davion please, I'm not in the mood for all the shenanigans. Okay? This is not up for discussion" She really didn't sound like she was in the best of moods. Her usual cheerful voice was replaced by a very somber voice as if she was defeated. He smacked his lips and went to his seat while everyone else sat in their seats with no problem.

" You sit here." She said as her low heels clicked as she made her way to the desk next to me. She tapped at the desk and the person sat down. " So class this is Christopher he ..."

Hearing the name I immediately looked up to see the boy from yesterday already staring back at me. I quickly looked away, remembering what happened when I looked at him before. I nervously played with the sleeves of my sweatshirt as I tried to listen to Katy's instructions. She was passing out a packet, that she explained was a test of sorts to see where we stand as academically as a class. It was to help her access what we needed to work on moving forward for the state exams at the end of the year. She complained about how she hated the state exam before she allowed us to get in small groups except for me and Christopher, who she decided to tutor personally for the time being.

She introduced me to Christopher before asking if it's okay we work together. He agreed without hesitation and brought his desk closer to mine

" Alright, Christopher start with the first paragraph. I'm listening." She set a brush and comb down at my desk. Before I knew it, she was brushing out the tangles out of my hair while Christopher angelically read the first paragraph.

" Sit up straight a bit for me, Rain." She said from behind me. " That was great, Chris. Now tell me what you think that paragraph was about."

Chris struggled for a bit until I realized he had comprehension issues as well even though he could read fluently with no hiccups. He wasn't embarrassed by it like how I was. He accepted Katy's critiques and wrote small notes on the side of the paragraph.

" You see how he did that rain? Take paragraph's little by little and write down small notes or keywords on the side to help you with the questions later. Can you do that for me sweetie?" she asked, she finished brushing my hair and tucked the strands behind my ear. I told her yes mam then she went off to help another student.

" Are you okay?" Chris whispered to me.

"Yes, thank you." I spoke politely, avoiding his eyes.

" Here." he placed a small vaseline in my hands. " I won't let them bother you."

I wanted to question him why he was being so nice to me. I couldn't give him anything in return for his kindness and unfortunately as pure hearted as he may be it will only bring me trouble.

______

Chris is introduced. For those who have read broken, How do you feel about how they met? Do you see the difference in their personalities?

How do you feel about Chris? (new and past readers) 

This story in my notebook was very spotty and didn't have a whole lot of detail so if there's anything you want to see or possibly want to know more about feel free to leave a comment or private message me.

~ Your girl Draya