Lover Boy GXG

19

I waited for on the bench that's near the walkway to the auditorium.

India came out after the first group of girls, looking irritated.

I just got up and walked beside her.

"She made us work together all practice and if we even argued we would've been off the team" she huffed.

"Wowww, that's dirty as fuck."

"This is why I don't trust people! I've already had too many people taken away from me to care about motherfuckers tryna hurt me... like bitch your dead to me. People I love are dead to me, so of course I can drop a fucking snake.. that's nothing." She ranted.

I felt bad. She already talks about how loyalty means so much to her..

I ain't say shit. I don't even know what to do. Tat's people are family friends. I'm going to have to be around her eventually.. man, my dad told me not to get into it with her.. he's going to be so mad when he finds out.

"I promise I'm not always like this". India said pausing my thoughts.

"... in fact, I use to be so soft ... and loving .. until I moved in with my aunt after my mom died. My cousin... I don't know, I guess she was jealous of me? She started damn near torturing me for no reason. I swear it came out of nowhere. We were childhood friends. She's two years older then me, but we always played nice. But when I moved in at the beginning of high school.....it was like... it was like she hated everything about me." Her eyes watered

We were in the car at this point but I didn't start it up. She was telling me something important, so I wanted to listen.

"She was so fucking mean.. I swear she abused me in every type of way. Mental, physically, emotionally... she would constantly remind me how much she hated me. She hated my hair, My nose, my lips, my body, my laugh, my dancing.. and I'd tell my aunt but she wouldn't believe me. Even if I had bruises. She'd tell me.." she sniffled. "I should be grateful they were even letting me live there.. and I needed to stop being dramatic. Knowing her daughter was traumatizing me."

"Well eventually it all boiled over and I fought back. That's when my aunt felt like it was appropriate to kick me out. Because I was causing too much trouble. I didn't want to report her. I was already traumatized. I didn't want to meet a whole new family trying to take me in... so I stayed with Tat for a few weeks.. but you see how tight is in there already. There's barley enough room for the heads they have, Momma D was so nice about it but it was impossible to ignore how uncomfortable the situation was. That's when I realized no one is going to take care of me. I wasn't going to magically have a new family that loved me. If I wanted somewhere comfortable to stay I needed to find it myself."

I sighed. Damn. This shit was deeper then I knew. I never knew she went through that much.. every time we were around each other she seemed fine. I wish I had known something.. if I knew before, this would've never happened. I could've helped her before she ended up dancing.

"That's when I started dancing. And I found my own spot.. And I paid my own bills. And that's why it was so hard for me when you first found out about my stripping. I was finally feeling good again. I have a room to my self for the first time since I could remember. I have goals. I have money."

I know my expression sinked further.

"Nooo, don't feel bad... seriously. You didn't know. I would think it was weird if things were flipped around too. I'm just happy you're actually being loyal to me.."

I could tell she wanted to add a 'for now' or something doubtful behind that.. but she didn't.

I held her hand.