Page 2 of Dare You to See Me
“Malik. You have a brilliant mind and it deserves to shared with the world. Don’t give up on yourself before you get started. “
“No offense, Mrs. Cameron, but I don’t have the money nor the desire to go to college. I’ve got two years left on my sentence and then I’m done. I’m not looking to spending four more years tied to a desk or pulling all nighters to cram for exams.”
She tilts her head to the side and inhales a deep breath. “So what is it that you plan to do with your life after high school?” She asks and I shrug. “May I suggest something?”
“I would say no but you’re going to do it anyhow, so go right ahead.”
She gives me a small smirk. “Quit fighting others and fight for yourself.” I open my mouth to argue her on the statement but she holds up her hand, shutting me up. “You don’t have to let your past define your future. You are the only one who can choose the road to travel down. I know you and your foster siblings?—”
“Brothers. They’re my brothers.”
She nods and continues. “I know you and your brothers have not had easy lives and to be honest, I don’t think it’s fair. But you can change the trajectory. Forallof you. Think about what college would mean for your future. Think about how your actions can influence others. Maybe college isn’t for your brothers, but witnessing your determination, your dedication, will have them wanting more. There is genius hiding beneath that anger. Your life may have started out as a nightmare, but it can end with all of your wildest dreams. You write the next chapters of your life.”
I sit quietly looking at her, absorbing all that she has said. I’ve never thought about a future beyond a series of mediocre jobs to help me get by. Acareerisn’t something I even considered.
Mrs. Cameron pats my hands that are folded on top of the desk and passes me a small smile.
“Think about what I’ve said here today, and make some decisions for your life.”
I stand and walk out of the classroom, looking back at her once more. Her eyes beg with me to make the right choice.
I find my brothers and after I bust Toren’s face, literally busting open his eye, I do think about my future. And what I want for me isn’t as important as what I want for my brothers. I want a better life for them.
So for them, I’ll fight my demons and come out victorious.
ONE
SOLEIL
“Areyou sure you don’t want me to come stay with you and take care of Dolly until Gene gets home?” I reach into the center console of my car, grabbing a tissue, before getting out and walking towards the sliding doors.
It’s hot out, the early summer already hitting the south hard, but my body shivers as chills run across it. My nose is red from the tissues that have rubbed it raw all day, trying to contain the sniffles that make me feel more like a leaky faucet than a human. My muscles ache like an overstretched rubber band, and the bass drum someone is playing in my head gets exceedingly louder with each step I take across the hot parking lot that suddenly feels like I’m crawling across the Sahara.
“I’m sure, Ky. I left him a message letting him know I was leaving early and stopping to get medicine. He had a big proposal today. I called Mom, as well, and let her know that he’d pick her up as soon as he could.” I cough and hear my best friend, Kyle, sigh on the other end.
She’s truly like a second mother sometimes, but when you’ve been best friends with someone for twenty-nine of your thirty-five years, they tend to know everything about you. Including when you’re covering for your husband who seems to be rather busy as of late. Too busy to spend time with his family.
“Okay, babes. If anything changes you call me right away and I’ll pick up my favorite niece.”
“I will. Promise. I’m just about to step into the drugstore so I’ll call you later.”
“Ok. Get some rest. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” I click end on the call as I walk through the door of the drugstore.
Someone from behind the counter calls out a hello and I give them a small wave, my throat too scratchy and burning to talk unless absolutely necessary.
I trudge over to where the plethora of medicine sits and begin reading over labels, trying to decide which is the best one to knock me out cold. I find one that says it treats flu symptoms and grab it along with cough drops and another box of kleenex before leaving the aisle, but freeze when I hear a familiar voice.
“I think you should get these ones. Ribbed forherpleasure,” she purrs, her voice sounding overly sexual.
I hear her laugh and know for certain that my step-cousin is here looking to get some protection for a little afternoon delight.
I turn towards where she must be when another voice pipes up that sends shivers down my spine.
“What about these ones? Bare skin. I’ll be able to feel every inch of your…” his words grow lower and I miss the last part of what he says.
However, I have a pretty good idea of how it ends.
