Something Different

Chapter 9

Braelin's POV 

"Are we almost there baby?" Stacey asked Cameron for the third time since we had entered the car and I was growing agitated. We were on our way to make house to work on our psychology assignment where we had to interview two people and find out more about their lives and what struggles they went through. Pretty boring if you ask me considering the fact I had Chad, who had decided to take his own car considering he still hadn't warmed up to me, and Cameron, who I couldn't help but sneak glances at. My life was a damn near soap opera. You had the girl who had a crush on Mr. Unattainable which was me, Mr. Unattainable which was Cameron and the wicked bitch of the west which happened to be Stacey. Speaking of the devil...

"Braelin, I have a question."

"What's up Stacey?"

"Now I know you live in the hood but how ghetto is your neighborhood on a scale from 1-10?" Shaking my head I didn't even bother to give her a reply instead I watched as her facial reaction.

"Uh, baby?"

"Yeah," Cameron replied keeping his eyes on the road.

"I think you made the wrong turn, we're heading towards Golden Acre avenue."

"I know, that's where Braelin lives."

"What!" Stacey yelled and I bit my lip to suppress the smile. We pulled up to the house and for the first time since we had moved here, I was glad Lorenzo had such a big house. 

"Welcome to the ghetto," I said causing Cameron to chuckle before I hopped out of his car and headed to the door. The house was empty like I expected and I lead the two straight to the living room.

"Can I get you guys anything to drink?"

"I'll take an espresso and a croissant," Stacey said speaking first.

"Do I look like a Starbucks? You have two options, water or juice?"

"Forget it!" She said rolling her eyes and Cameron met my eye with an apologetic stare as if to say 'I'm sorry in advance.'

"Cameron, can I get you something?"

"I'm good, thanks," the doorbell rang and I quickly answered it and tried not to look too disappointed at the fact it was Chad. Not bothering to greet me, he walked into my house and headed to the living room. Rude! 

"Well since everyone is here, let's get started. Chad and I can be partnered together first and then we'll switch," Stacey mumbled something under her breath, most likely something that was going to piss me off but I paid her no mind as I took a seat beside Chad on the couch. Grabbing my notebook from my bag I began asking him the standard questions: What were some of the difficulties he went through being a high school student? How does he manage his time effectively? Once he was done answering them it was his turn to ask me.

"So Braelin why don't you tell me about your struggle being the only black girl in an all white school?" He asked and I raised an eyebrow in his direction. What did my skin color have to do with any of this? I answered nonetheless 

"It's been a little tough adjusting to the cultural differences but so far it's been pretty good."

"Interesting. Next question; How do you manage your time effectively--" 

Thank god we were back to the original questions.

"Considering you have to take care of your brother all while being on welfare."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't be embarrassed Braelin, I'm not here to judge you," he said but his smirk said otherwise about the lies he was telling.

"I have nothing to be embarrassed about because that isn't true; clearly my brother and I are living comfortably," I replied motioning to the house we were currently sitting in.

"Your right sorry," he said and I nodded.

"How about we move on to the next question?" I offered and he nodded agreeing.

"So Braelin why don't you tell me about your family struggle?"

"Well I was living with my dad up until a couple months ago. My parents are divorced and my mom is about to get re-married, that's about it."

"Look Braelin, you don't have to lie," he said and I scrunched my eyebrows up confused.

"Excuse me?"

"Tell me the truth, you know, where your dad was never in your life since he's behind bars and your mother is a recovering drug addict."

"Excuse me!" I yelled feeling my anger rising. Ignorant ass white boy. 

"Brae--"

"Get out of my house!"

"What?"

"Oh so now your deaf? Get out of my house!" I yelled angrily and he packed up his stuff and turned to Cameron and Stacey who were both watching the scene unfold.

"You know Braelin, it's a shame you can't keep your anger under control after all he just wants the truth. We all do," Stacey said and I pinched my nose to keep me from going off.

"You know what, I'm done. Stacey you can leave too."

"Gladly," she said picking up her backpack before swinging her blonde hair over her shoulder before heading to the door. "Come on Cameron, let's go to my house and pick out what color my new convertable should be-- Cameron?" She said once realizing he hadn't got up.

"Yeah?"

"Why aren't you getting up? We're leaving."

"She didn't kick me out."

"But your my boyfriend!" She whined and I fought the urge to laugh at her.

"And you were being rude."

"Are you seriously going to stay here?"

"Yup," he said leaning back into the chair to get comfortable.

"How am I going to get home?" She whined and he shrugged before pointing to Chad who was standing behind her silent.

"Ask you partner in crime to drop you home."

"You're serious?" She asked shocked and he nodded. "You're going to regret this Cameron, trust me," she said before storming out of my house with Chad following behind her. Shaking my head I took a seat on the couch beside Cameron before taking a deep breath.

"Your girlfriend is something else."

"Don't I know it," he mumbled and I couldn't help but wonder something that had been on my mind since the first time I had seen them together. Why were they together? But before I had the chance to object, Cameron had pulled me off the couch.

"Show me around."

"Alright, but it may take awhile."

"Sounds good to me," he said with a smile causing the butterflies in my stomach to start a parade. What was I going to do with this boy?