People go through life not knowing what love is
People go through life not showing what love is...

:6LACK

AMARAH

"Amarah if you play another damn prank on me! I will beat your ass little girl! Keep it up!"My mama shouted.

I ran downstairs and saw all her sitting in the pile of corn syrup on the floor. I busted out laughing. I usually played pranks on my family, because the shit was hilarious. When the twins were five, I decapitated all of their action figures, and I made it look like the elf did it. Last year I pranked Nala by throwing a replica of her signed Michael B Jordan shirt out of the window. A few weeks ago I got my daddy by doing the act up challenge, except without the music.

My family did not like me, but their humiliation was funny to me. It was one way we all kind of bonded in a way. We all had our own thing. The twins danced. Nala was an artist. Mama was the activist. Daddy was the peacemaker, and doctor. I was the troublemaker. Whenever I made trouble, Daddy jumped in made peace.

"You think this shit funny? Girl I just paid for this damn wig!"

"Mama it's a prank. Ya can pay fa ten million wigs if ya wanted."

"Andre! Come get your daughter cause I refuse-Jesus be my shield! I was not made for children God."

She threw her wig to the side, and stood up slowly. The corn syrup dripped from her clothes as she walked away. Before she turned the corner to leave, she pushed the mop in front of my feet.

"Clean this shit up Amarah."

"I love ya mama!"I whispered back.

She shot me a look and continued her way down the hall. I giggled and began to clean up the mess I had made. The twins sat on the couch watching me intensely.

"What y'all lil niglets want?"I asked as I mopped the floor quickly.

"We need money but Dad said no."

"That's not ma pro'lem."

"Well technically...you owe us Marah,"Phrey said deviously.

Danny pulled out his iPad from under his legs. He had a sharpened pencil to act as his pointer. Phrey cleared his throat.

"Here we goddamn go..."I thought to myself.

"July 27th..this video shows you going into our room."

I stared at the colorless footage, "Phrey I wash ya clothes. I can't teleport ya shitty drawers ta tha laundry room."

"Oh no Amarah, that's not what's in this video. Danny press play."

The video began to play. It showed me walking into their rooms. I went to grab their clothes, but I stopped in my steps. I saw a $10 laying on the dresser, so I picked it up.

"It's August 5th Phrey. If ya missed tha fuckin money that much, ya would've said somethin befa' now."

"If you don't give us our $10, we will be going to our parents. We ask for a reprimands, and sadness pay. You're total will come out to be $30."

I stared at them, "Nigga what?"

"Make it $35 and we won't tell mama that you're cussing at us. We have this whole conversation recorded."

"Oh hell nah, y'all chil'ren done lost y'all fuckin minds. Ya think I'm giving ya $35 fa $10 that I stole? Ya crazy."

"We're actually proven intellectu-"

"Danny we talked about this! I do the talking! You work the technology. Shut up!"Phrey whispered.

"Aye don't be talkin ta ma favorite brotha like that."

They stared at each other. I knew the argument was about to start. That way I could get out of this conversation peacefully.

"Marah obviously wants me ta talk Phrey. Why do I always have ta work tha computa?"

"Because I'm the talker! You've been in speech therapy since kindergarten!"

"I'm in tha second grade Humphrey!"

I slipped into my room while they argued. My phone blew up with text messages from a unknown number.

From: Unknown
Received at 9:03 AM

Hi this is Rico! I got your number from my house phone. Wyd later cause I want to take you out. We need to talk.

From: Unknown
Received at 9:06 AM

Hopefully this isn't weird. I wanted to call but you seemed annoyed on the phone yesterday. You might be a texting girl, which is understandable. I hate talking on the phone as well. Just text me back whenever you get this message. 😃

From: Unknown
Received at 9:18 AM

Wait did I say this was Rico? No wonder why you're not responding. It's the guy you call Ricotta, but my name is actually Rico.

From: Unknown
Received at 9:22 AM

Well if you want to call me Ricotta, I guess that's fine. I could always call you Armadillo or something. Ya know sine we're doing nicknames or whatever :).

I cringed at the text messages. Jordan always talked about his crazy ass best friend, but I didn't know he was actually insane. My school was predominantly black, but Rico was the 5% that didn't count. He was weird in many ways.

To: Unknown
Delivered at 9:26 AM

I'm busy ta'day. Maybe lata Ricardo

I threw my phone on my bed and waited for his response. He texted back really fast, which was not surprising.

From: Unknown
Received at 9:27 AM

You must've mistaken my invitation as a option. It's a requirement of our deal. Please send me your address, and I will come pick you up at 11:30. That gives you plenty of time to fix your hair, and do your makeup.

I sent my address. The last thing I wanted to do was argue with a little boy who never gave up. I began to find an outfit. It wasn't hot outside because of the rain and wind. I found a white Gucci t-shirt Alayah bought me last year for my birthday. I threw on my some shorts. My makeup didn't take long because I did a natural face. I didn't do my makeup a lot. With the time on my hands, I decided to do it anyways. I accessorized my outfit with my crossbody bag. I actually looked kind of cute.

A car horn blared outside of my house. I ran to the door. My family was sitting in the living room eating breakfast, and watching the news. It was a family tradition that I skipped out on a lot.

"Where ya goin girl?"

"Out with a friend. I'll be back by 3 daddy."

"Girl ya don' lost ya damn mind."

I giggled and walked back to the couch. I gave him a hug, and I pecked his forehead. He made sure that we always gave him a proper goodbye, because we never know that it could be the last one.

"I love ya daddy. Love y'all!"I shouted as I walked out of the house.

Rico sat outside blasting music from his car. I got in and buckled up. He smiled at me as I played with my seatbelt.

"Good morning Amarah."

"Mornin' Richard."

"I know you're doing that on purpose Armadillo. It doesn't bother me one bit."

"Where we goin?"I asked.

He smiled, "You'll see when we get there young lad."

"Ya fuckin annoying,"I mumbled. "Ya kna when ya text ya don't have ta send paragraphs?"

"You weren't responding."

"Nigga I was cleaning! Ya ma last worry right na'."

"Well you are my first. We have to talk about what we are going to do. Do you have a doctor yet?"

I toyed with my fingers, "See ion like docta's. Ma daddy a docta, and if anything go wrong I got him."

"Armadillo! You're three months pregnant and you haven't been to any obgyn?" I shook my head. "Well luckily my older sister just had a baby. I can get you an appointment with her. Hopefully she's not booked."

"Rigatoni ya ta worried. I got this unda control."

"Okay Amidship."

"Riyadh."

"Amorphous."

"Rufus."

"Anopheles."

"Huh?"I giggled. "What tha hell is that?"

"The scientific name for marsh mosquitoes."

"I kna ya ain't comparing me ta na' mosquito, Rickettsia."

"You can compare me to a deathly bacteria, but as soon as I call you a mosquito, I'm being mean. You're very backwards Amarah."

I pulled a piece of my wig out of my mouth, "I hate this hair."

"You look like the wicked witch from the east...west...north...whichever one of them was bad."

"You forgot tha south."

"Nothing bad ever happens in the south Amarah. I'll prove that."

"Slavery..."I thought to myself.

"Nothing truly bad. Everything that you think is bad has brought an amazing outcome."

He stopped in front of a coffee shop. I smiled. I hadn't had coffee all day, and I was dying to have a sip. He got out of he car, and opened my car door for me. I stepped out in excitement.

RICO

"Hopefully you like coffee. I know you can't drink a lot of caffeine, but I'm sure they have some decaf kind."

"I love coffee. I been drinkin it since I was fou'."

"That has to stop, immediately. I'll let you slide for today,"I joked as I held the door open to the Starbucks.

"What they have hea'? I kinda want some coffee with a lil fruit juice."

"Excuse me?"I mumbled.

"What they have hea'?"

"You've never been to a Starbucks?"I laughed.

"Nah, this what ya be drinking on ya side of town? I drink coffee from Dunkin Donuts."

"You'll fall in love with Starbucks then. They have everything."

I stood at the counter to order. The menu was pretty long, and Amarah sure was searching.

"I'll have a iced caramel macchiato with a shot of espresso. What would you like Amarah?"

She looked up at the menu, "Can I have two cake pops and a Arizona please?"

The barista scrunched up her face, but added the items to the list. I swiped my card, and we waited for our drinks.

"How ya meet Jordan?"

I laughed, "We met when we were four at a T-ball camp. He accidentally hit me with his bat, which thankfully was foam. We had a fist fight. That's the only fight I've ever been in. Needless to say, all the time we spent waiting for our parents, we became best friends. We got these bats tattooed on our arms," I showed her my forearm. She smiled. "It was my first tattoo. Every time he went to get one, I got one as well. That explains why my whole arm is tatted. I never really liked tattoos, but he did. I went through the pain with him."

"What did ya get when he got ma birthday tatted on him?"She asked.

"When's your birthday?"

"December 3rd."

"I got the same date. He told me it was our lucky day,"I lifted up my shirt and showed her the date.

A soft smile escaped her lips, "He was so goofy. I miss him a lot. Ya don't unda'stand how hard it is."

I placed my hand on her shoulder, "You loved Jordan in a different way then I did, but we both loved him. I understand how hard it is to lose somebody who means so much. I understand how hard it is to lose someone who kept you sane. I understand it Amarah. I really do."

"Thank you Rico."

"Ah there's the correct word."

My order was called. I went to the counter to grab our things. Amarah smiled as I handed her the drink and cake pops.

"How did you meet Jordan?"

"Oh lawd, I rememba it like yesterday. Freshman yea' we had spanish ta'getha. During tha middle of a lecture one day, he leaned ova inta ma seat. He asked fa ma Snuggie, but I told him I was using it. Then he comes up with this cheesy line and says 'Two people can fit in a Snuggie. We can snuggle.' He captured ma heart eva since then."

"So that's why he bought those custom made snuggies?"

"Yeah that's why. He always had a crazy way of expressin his feelins."

I smiled, "Do you want to get out of here? I need to drop by a friend's house real quick. We can go to the mall after I do that if you want."

"Sure."

She jumped down from the bar stool. We walked outside and she waited for my to unlock the car doors. I took a quick picture of her.

"Rico!"She shouted. "I don't want ma pictu'a taken."

"I have to make a baby book anopheles."

"I'm not a fuckin mosquito Ricotta."