Destiny 2: Decision of The Next Generation

by Blue Saffire

  “Yeah, he is,” Victor answered. “He’s in his office, yelling about her.” He nodded in my direction and looked me over.

  I dropped my head and looked at my feet. I don’t think he likes me at all. I started to think, maybe Uncle Alex didn’t either if he was yelling about me. Tali reached to tuck my hair behind my ear and passed me a glass of juice.

  “Please, pay my moody son no mind,” she growled as she narrowed her eyes at him.

  “Hey, Tali,” Uncle Alex sighed as he entered the kitchen on his cell phone.

  “Hey baby,” Tali chimed and reached to kiss him.

  “You had two weeks to get this straighten out. I want her in school on Monday,” Alex growled as he put his finger up for Tali to wait a minute.

  “Is that the lawyer?” Tali asked changing into business mode. Alex nodded and placed his arm around her.

  “I don’t understand how you had records sent to a new school for her and I’m just finding out yesterday what happened. It was your job to inform me when something was going on. She was reported missing two weeks ago,” Alex yelled into the phone and paused for a minute.

  “No you are not making sense, one minute you have no idea what happen to her, the next you have things in order and her records are at my children’s school already. It sounds like you didn’t do your job and you are trying to cover your tracks.”

  “Alex let me,” Tali said holding her hand out for the phone. Alex shook his head as he paused to listen. “Someone didn’t do their job. My niece was missing for two weeks… I really don’t care about all that, I just know that when I take her to school Monday, she better be ready to enroll. Have everything else forwarded to the legal office I gave you, they will handle things from here.”

  Alex hung up the phone and tossed it on the counter. He bent to kiss Tali, then pinch the bridge of his nose. Tali stood looking up at him anxiously.

  I was nervous. I wasn’t sure what Uncle Alex had heard about where I’d been the last two weeks or what happened to me. I started to shift from foot to foot.

  “Girls go get ready for dinner,” Alex ordered. I turned to leave with the twins and Liz. “Not you, Meliyah, I want to talk to you. Al, Vic, get your brothers and have them get ready to eat.”

  I stood waiting for Victor and Alex to leave as I played with the zipper on the sweat suit Aunt Tali gave me. We are almost the same size. Aunt Tali poured Uncle Alex a glass of juice and he drank it as he stood in thought about something.

  “Meliyah, I talked with Sisqo today. Mama, are you alright?” Uncle Alex asked sincerely.

  “Yes,” I nodded.

  “Did he hurt you? I mean before last night, while you were waiting for Sisqo to call?”

  “No, he just liked to touch me a lot, but nothing like last night.”

  “I’m sorry, Meliyah. This was supposed to go smoother than this,” Alex sighed. “Everyone’s trying to cover their mistakes now.”

  “It’s my fault, I didn’t want to be put in a home, so I ran,” I said softly.

  “It’s not your fault. You had a right to be scared, but everyone else needed to do their jobs right.”

  “I don’t have to leave, do I?” My voice cracked as I asked the question, I was fighting back the tears. I liked it here.

  “No, Mama, I’m having the lawyer send everything to Tali’s office. She will straighten things out and get you in school on Monday. Meliyah, Tali and I are tough on our kids about school. Cutting is not allowed here. You’re going to have to work on your grades and getting focused.”

  “You’ve seen her grades?” Aunt Tali asked.

  Uncle Alex pressed his lips at me and turned to Tali. “If that’s what you want to call them,” he grumbled. “The lawyer had some things Fed Ex here this afternoon.”

  “You can keep the iPod and things you got for now,” Aunt Tali started. “If you don’t show that you are putting effort into school, I’ll take them until you do.”

  “Yes ma’am,” I answered quickly. “Uncle Alex?”

  “Yes,” he answered.

  “Thank you so much,” I chimed.

  Uncle Alex reached to pull me into a big hug. He hugged me the way I always thought my father would. Aunt Tali reached and rubbed my back as I hugged Uncle Alex back. I was sure I would like it here. They were treating me like one of their own. I loved them already.

  chapter Nine

  Hood Rat

  Uncle Alex and Aunt Tali were not playing with getting me in school. I was in school that very Monday morning. I felt a little out of place. This school was nothing like my old school.

  I didn’t want to open my books. They were brand new and I didn’t want to mess them up. My old school had Xerox copies of the chapters or ratty looking books.

  Alex was in one of my classes, Social Studies. He sat next to me to help me get caught up. I only saw Victor as I passed the lunchroom. It didn’t matter where I saw him, he would still ignore me.

  I wasn’t sure why he hated me. I was just pretty sure he did. After school, we were picked up by a driver. Victor climbed all the way in the back of the truck and put his ear buds in to drown us all out. Aliyah and Alexis sat with me to probe me about my day and if I liked the school.

  When we got home, I went straight to my room to change out of my school clothes. I needed to relax. I put on my iPod and stretched across my bed.

  I laid there thinking about how much my life had changed again in the last four days. I found my mind wondering to Victor and thinking about the way he never wants to talk to or look at me. I had no clue what I did to him.

  I was wondering if it was because Aunt Tali made them all cancel their plans for the weekend because of me. Everyone else didn’t seem to mind, but he was grumpy all weekend. I started to wonder if it was because he had a girlfriend.

  Maybe he had plans with her and I had interrupted them. I sighed as I realized it was better not to have a boy that was supposed to be like my brother interested in me. No matter how cute I thought he was.

  I got up off the bed to put some clothes on. I had been laying around in my bra and panties. One of my favorite songs was playing on my iPod.

  I was singing and dancing to it as I took out a t-shirt and some sweats. I turned around as I felt a breeze blow in the room. I jumped, startled by Victor, who was standing in the doorway staring at me.

  “Don’t you know how to knock?” I hissed as I pulled my t-shirt over my head quickly.

  “I did, you were too busy trying to kill a cat,” he retorted with a raised brow.

  “What do you want?” I grumbled.

  “My mom will be home soon and she’s going to want to check your homework. You better get started. Everyone is in the library,” he said as he folded his arms and propped himself against the doorframe.

  “Thanks, is there something else,” I asked as I pulled at the hem of my t-shirt trying to cover up.

  “Nope,” he replied popping his lips on the p. He looked me over once and frowned before he left. “The door locks. You just aren’t allowed to lock it at night,” he called over his shoulder.

  I have no idea what I see in him. He drives me mad with that, I am better than you, attitude, but I just can’t help wondering why he doesn’t like me at all. He doesn’t even act like being friends can be an option.

  I sighed to myself. I went to get my laptop to head down to the library. I had left my books by the door with everyone else’s.

  As I walked in the library with my books and my laptop, everyone was sitting at a huge round table. Alex and Victor were sitting the closest to the door laughing and joking, until I walked in the room. Alex was still smiling, but Victor’s face took on an instant frown and he went back to his homework.

  There was an empty seat between the two of them. Alex gave me a warm smile and patted the chair for me to take it. I started not to take it, but I figured I could look at his Social Studies homework if I needed help.

  I put my things down, trying not to get too close to Victor. I
didn’t want to irritate him more. I took out my math homework, wanting to get the hard stuff out of the way.

  I sat for about five minutes staring at my homework. I was as confused as a woman trying to buy a dress in a men’s shop and feeling just as hopeless. I pushed my fingers in my hair clawing at my skull.

  Alex chuckled and Victor peeked over at me. I was so embarrassed. I wanted to take my books and run.

  “What’s wrong?” Victor leaned over and asked. His face was still twisted, as if I smelled or something.

  “I don’t really get this,” I almost whispered.

  He sighed and put his pen down to reach for a pencil, resting next to his books. He pushed his chair over to mine and leaned closer. “Look, you have to follow the order of operations,” he said as he wrote PEMDAS on the top of my paper. “Please. Excuse. My. Dear. Aunt. Sally. Work the problem in order.”

  He took the first problem and showed me how to work it. I was trying to focus on what he was saying, but he smelled so nice. I caught myself leaning closer to inhale his scent some more.

  As he looked down at my paper, I could see how incredibly long his lashes were, long and thick. He put the pencil down when he was done and looked at me with those heart stopping warm brown eyes.

  “You try the next one,” he said.

  I picked up the pencil and started the next problem, but I wasn’t paying enough attention. I fumbled with the problem for a minute before he released a big sigh and snatched the pencil to erase half of what I did. My shoulders slumped and this time I focused on my paper.

  “Follow the order, Meliyah,” he muttered. “Try again.”

  This time I worked slower trying to concentrate on what he had said. When I finished the problem, I peeked up at him. He looked up from my paper and a slight smirk hit the corner of his mouth for about a second. Then that familiar frown returned and he moved his seat back away from me.

  “Thank you,” I whispered. My arm was still tingling from where his brushed against mine as he leaned close.

  Vic didn’t reply. He just picked up his pen and went back to his homework. I took my time finishing the rest of the math homework hoping I was getting it right.

  I put my ear buds in to listen to music as I worked trying to focus more. Victor wasn’t paying me any attention after the first problem I finished, so I wasn’t sure if I was still doing the right thing. When I finished the math homework, I was pretty sure I could handle the Social Studies and English.

  Alex slid me his Social Studies notes and homework anyway. Victor shook his head and got up from the table. Alex chuckled and followed him out of the room.

  They were gone for a few minutes, while I finished my Social Studies. I turned off my music to write a quick poem for my English assignment.

  I was writing the last part of the poem when I overheard Alex and Victor laughing in the hall. All the other kids were listening to their music while doing their homework, so I was sure they didn’t hear them. I got very still to hear what they were saying.

  “So what do you think about her?” I heard Alex say. “She’s pretty, right?”

  “Pretty stupid,” Victor murmured.

  “Yeah, right, you think she’s pretty.”

  “You’re not even supposed to be looking at her like that, see her like your sister,” Victor grumbled some more, exaggerating the end of his sentence.

  Alex chuckled. “I’ve never stared at any of my sister’s butts. That girl is hot.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

  “Whatever, she’d be even hotter if she could read and write. Stay away from the hood rat.”

  I felt a whole rip in my heart. He thought I was stupid. I heard it right from his own mouth.

  He was so mean. I just had a little trouble with the math homework, I’m not stupid. I quickly stood from the table and threw my books in my bag. I grabbed my laptop and ran for the door. I was trying to hold the tears until I got upstairs, but I couldn’t.

  As I pushed out of the door, I ran right into Victor. He looked down at me and the tears streaming down my face. Alex was able to catch my laptop before it hit the floor. He held it out to me with a concerned look on his face.

  “Are you alright?” Alex asked.

  “I wouldn’t know, us hood rats are too stupid to have feelings,” I growled.

  “Meliyah, he didn’t mean that,” Alex rushed.

  I looked at Victor and he looked horrified for a moment. Then that frown sets back into place, as if I said something wrong to him. Unbelievable, I need to get away from him.

  I just pushed pass them and ran for my room. As I made it through the foyer, Aunt Tali walked in the door. She went to speak to me, but I kept running.

  Victor was the one thing that made me hate it here. I didn’t understand how one person could be so cruel to someone they didn’t even know. He didn’t want to give me a chance he just made up his mind that I was a stupid hood rat.

  I ran in my room and threw myself on the bed. I have never been stupid. I just stopped paying attention in school when I started spending more time with Pedro. I could do anything Victor could do.

  He didn’t have to be so mean to me. I was determined to show him, to show Aunt Tali and Uncle Alex. I could do this. I refuse to let Victor have the satisfaction of me failing.

  I heard a knock on the door and I wiped my face before I answered. As I answered, Aunt Tali pushed the door open and peeked her head in. She was wearing that friendly smile that makes me relax. I sat up and slid to the edge of the bed.

  “Is everything okay, Meliyah?” Aunt Tali asked as she stepped into the room and came to sit with me.

  “I’m fine,” I sniffled.

  “Are the other kids giving you a hard time?”

  “No, ma’am,” I whispered.

  “Meliyah, if they are making you feel unwelcome you should let me know,” Aunt Tali urged.

  “They were very helpful today.” They were, even Victor until he insulted me.

  “But?” Aunt Tali insisted.

  “But I think… no, I know Victor hates me. I don’t think he wants me here,” I sighed.

  “Oh, Meliyah, Victor is just like his father. You have to give him some time. Don’t take it personal.”

  Aunt Tali leaned to hug my shoulders. I knew it was more than that. Victor hates me.

  “So the stories are true? Victor was really that mean,” I asked coyly.

  Aunt Tali chuckled. “Victor could be very mean, yes, but he was also very loving, just like his son. You will see once Victor gets used to you he’ll be one of your best friends.”

  “I doubt that,” I sighed.

  “What has my son been up to?” Aunt Tali asked and raised an eyebrow.

  “Nothing,” I lied and looked at the floor.

  “I see, loyal, even to the enemy,” Aunt Tali laughed. “He’ll respect that. You two will be friends. I have something for you.” She handed me a small book.

  “What’s this?” I asked and reached to turn on the light in the room.

  “It’s a driver’s manual. We promised the twins a car for their seventeenth birthday, so it’s only fair to give you one as well. I figure it will be an extra incentive for school,” Aunt Tali explained.

  “Really, you’re gonna give me a car?” I chimed.

  “If your grades improve and you stay out of trouble, why not?”

  I reached to hug her tight. I was definitely going to show Victor I was not stupid, and get a car in the process. I forgot all about crying and being upset.

  I pulled my homework out to show Aunt Tali and she corrected it all. She took her time as she showed me what I did wrong, walking me through how to improve my work. She even showed me how to make my poem sound better. I loved the way she was taking her time with me. My mom had never done anything like that.

  I stuck to Aunt Tali’s side like glue for the rest of the night. When Uncle Alex came home, he offered to teach me to drive on Thursday nights when he took the twins out.

  I wa
s nervous about learning with Victor there, but I wanted to learn. I was excited about getting my very own car. Although, it did hurt my feelings that Victor made sure to stay far away from me for the rest of the night.

  chapter Ten

  Text Messages

  The next day at school my schedule was totally different. I looked down and saw chemistry and chemistry lab. I groaned internally.

  This would be the hiccup that would destroy my chance at a car and to show that I’m not stupid. I was so nervous as I walked in the class. I almost passed out when I saw Victor sitting at a lab table with two other girls. He was talking to the brown skin girl, sitting next to him laughing and smiling.

  She was very pretty. She had chocolate brown skin with shoulder length brown hair. She was dressed nice too.

  She was laughing a little more than necessary I thought. Which I wouldn’t have known for sure, because I couldn’t hear what he was saying. I was just jealous that he was talking to her and not me.

  I went to the teacher’s desk to get my schedule signed. To my horror, he sent me right to Victor’s lab table.

  I wanted to curse out loud. This boy hates me. Why on earth did I have to sit through this hour of torture?

  Not to mention, if I made just one mistake, it would prove him right. I sat at the table across from Victor and the brown skin girl. I was next to the blonde girl that was too busy text messaging to notice I joined the group.

  Victor glanced at me and his frown set in place. I took out my notebook and ignored him. I was going to focus on getting an A. Just like I used to do when I wanted my mom’s attention in elementary and junior high. I stopped trying when I figured out she could care less. It was different now, though. Uncle Alex and Aunt Tali cared. I could make them proud.

  I made myself proud. I mixed all the formulas right and I answered questions right in the lab. I even took charge of the lab sheet for my group.

  After the lab, we had to write a written report as a group in the chemistry classroom we transferred to. I was annoyed that I had to stick with Victor for another hour, but I was determined to do a good job. Victor was in charge of compiling the report after we each did our part. I used all the things Aunt Tali suggested to make me a better writer and was so happy with myself.