My Four

Chapter 7

Zariah Brown

"Let's go out and celebrate!" Angel said in the locker room. Aneesah yelled with her. "First dub needs to be celebrated." Aneesah added in.

Everyone agreed. "I'll send the address in the group chat. It doesn't start for another two hours, so go get ready." said Angel. Everyone nodded. Me and Flau'jae walked to her car.

"God that was amazing Z. " said Flau'jae recalling the game. I smiled. "It wasn't just me you know, you're pretty great too." I said.

She hummed in response, starting the car. She turned on the car, playing one of my favorite songs. Self Love by Metro Boomin played throughout the car.

"How'd you know I loved this song?" I said smiling ear to ear. "I remember you posting about that spiderman movie like 20 times a day when it came out." she said laughing.

I laughed too, singing along to the song. Coi Leray's voice played throughout the car. "Self love he don't love himself tryna love me." I sang.

Flau'jae smiled to herself, watching the happy girl sing her heart out.

"We're here." 4 said. We headed upstairs to shower and change. "Uhm could you shower first?" I said anxiously. I really hate showers. Too much time to think by myself, to relive memories .

She nodded, grabbing her stuff and headed in the shower. I shifted through my clothing, looking for something to wear. Settling on a colorful hoodie and jeans, I sat at my desk waiting for Flau'jae to be done.

"Hey have you seen my jeans Z?" Flau'jae said. I looked up, staring at her. She had nothing but boxers and a bra on. My eyes traced her body, slowly making their way up to her eyes.

Her face was tired, obviously exhausted from our game. She smiled at me. "You gonna answer my question?" she asked.

My face flushed as I snapped out of my trance. "Yeah sorry. They should be in your drawer." I said, quickly grabbing my stuff to take a shower. I took as quick a shower as possible.

Stepping out, I sat at my vanity after getting dressed to do my makeup. "You almost ready Z." asked Flau'jae. "Yeah give me 5 minutes." I said.

♡

Music blasted through the house as me and 4 walked in. Angel and the rest of the team sat in a corner with a couch. Everyone said hi as we joined them.

"Yes everyone's hereee!" Angel slurred. She was obviously crazy drunk already. I chuckled. "Hey i'm gonna go get us some drinks okay?" I said to Flau'jae.

She nodded and sat down. I walked to the table littered with drinks and cups. I just wanted juice, hating feeling hungover. And Flau'jae doesn't drink. I poured some juice into our cups.

"Hey." a girl said as I looked up. My body froze. I couldn't move as I looked at the grin of the girl saying hi to me. I never thought i'd see her again.

I stumbled, trying to step back. "What's wrong Zariah?" Makiah said, smiling stepping towards me. Tears filled my eyes. I just wanted out.

"So I see you transferred. Couldn't handle the pressure at Iowa huh? Just like in highschool." she smiled.

I felt helpless, just like I did in highschool. I couldn't stop crying, and I couldn't escape her. "L-Leave me alone Makiah." I stuttered out.

She laughed. "No, I think i'm enjoying this." She said while smiling. Finally feeling like I could move my body, I ran up the stairs of the house. Shutting myself in whatever room I was in, I began to sob uncontrollably.

I heard someone open the door. I didn't look though, as I couldn't stop crying thinking about the way Makiah treated me. I flinched as somebody touched me.

"Hey. Hey baby it's just me." Flau'jae said. I slowed my crying. She took me in her arms, holding me. "What happened?" she asked concerned.

I couldn't respond to her. "You don't have to tell me now." she said. I sniffled, pushing myself further into her. I needed comfort. And Flau'jae herself, was comfort.

She whispered sweet words into my ears, trying her best to calm me down. I eventually stopped crying and was able to look at Flau'jae. I know I looked a mess, my eyes were puffy and my makeup was smeared.

She got up and picked me up with her. "We can continue this at home once you're clean okay?" Flau'jae said. I nodded.

We left the party, arriving at our dorm soon after. Flau'jae sat me down, running the bath for me. "Flau'jae I.. I can't be in there alone." I said ashamed.

She nodded, and grabbed me heading to the bathroom. "Change and get in. There's bubbles." Flau'jae said softly smiling. I smiled, turning my back from her to change.

My arms fiddled with the hem of my T-shirt, not wanting 4 to see what I was so ashamed of. I started to cry again. "Hey. Zariah. I don't care, whatever's making you anxious, I won't care. It's okay." she spoke out softly.

I nodded my head, and took off my shirt. Flau'jae's eyes widened. Scars littered my shoulders, the placement of them being obvious it was intentional.

I cried again, knowing she was disgusted. She got up and walked over to me. Wordlessly, she softly kissed my shoulder and looked at me. "You heard what I just said, right?" she spoke.

I smiled and nodded. I finished undressing and got in the bath. I softly washed my body, feeling comfortable with the presence of Flau'jae here. She didn't look at me with judgement, or pity, or anything of the sort. Just kindness.

I finished washing myself and my makeup off. I got up to dry off and get dressed. 4 cleaned up the bathroom. I applied some lotion, the action of rubbing it in completely tiring me. I laid down on my bed.

Flau'jae lifted my head, putting on my bonnet. I wordlessly grabbed her arm, pleading for her to stay with my eyes. She nodded. She laid on the bed. I laid utop of her, my head on her chest.

This was the most comfortable I've ever felt in my life. And as Flau'jae softly rubbed my back and kissed my cheek, I drifted off to sleep.

JAY SPEAKS We're already at the midpoint of the story! As I said I don't plan to make it too long lol. All backstory behind the trauma will be revealed soon. But an instagram chapter will probably be next bc i don't plan on uploading an actual chapter tmrw lol.