It was noon the next day and I was kicking rocks around the place where Steven and I had promised to meet each other. I looked at my watch then looked around to see if Steven was anywhere in sight, but it was as though he had slept in that morning. I decided to wait for another fifteen minutes and told myself that if he didn’t show up by then, I’d run home for lunch. So I waited.. and waited.. and waited. The sun was glaring into my eyes, I tried to find shade but the only shade there was my shadow. I looked around again and he still wasn’t there. I started my way home and saw him walking in the opposite direction on the other side. I was too angry to even care that he was there.
“Aliyah”
I heard him yell from across the street but I ignored him and kept walking (okay, stomping) down the street. I sensed that he was chasing after me so I started to speed walk, and before I knew it, he was right behind me.
“Aliyah! I’m sorry..Aliy-”
“Steven... just... go home,” I said looking at him angrily.
I walked away and he grabbed my arms; I looked down and stared at his hand and he quickly let go.
“Um... sorry, I had to help my mom at the shop.”
“Look, Steven. Yeah, I understand you had to do something more important. But does that really mean you can’t give me a call or something? I mean.. serious, what the hell were you thinking when you were helping at the shop?”
“I-”
“You know what? I don’t really care.. cause it’s obvious it wasn’t about our promise yesterday.”
“It’s just a promise... stop making a big deal out of it.”
Suddenly, the chorus of “Because I‘m A Girl” by K.I.S.S. started playing and I quickly took out my phone. I looked at the Caller ID and turned to Steven.
“My dad is calling, I’ll see you around.”
As I continued walking home, I didn’t even care to look back. Seeing how mad I was, I forgot to answer the phone call from my dad. When I arrived at the front gate, I rang the intercom, and my dad answered politely,
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Dad.”
Suddenly, his tone of voice changed into what sounded like an angry man that had just missed his bus.
“What the hell is the matter with you, child? You can’t pick your phone or something? Is it physically impossible for you?”
My dad yelled so loud through the intercom that I had to back away for a little bit. But then I tried cover up my dad’s voice when a couple of kids from school passed by. My dad buzzed me in and I took my time up to the apartment. I knew that by the time I got there, he had another lecture for me or really bad breath from the alcohol he had been drinking. Right after I unlocked the door, my dad pulled me in by the hair and pushed me to the couch.
“Who do you think you are? We got you a phone so we can CONTACT you... you can’t just decide to pick up or not to pick up. Starting from today, your phone is only to have your mother’s and my phone number. I don’t wanna see any other kids’ numbers in there beside Steven’s.”
“No. it’s okay. I’ll be happy to erase his number.”
As I said that, I walked into my room and slammed the door behind me. I fell backwards onto my bed and placed my glasses onto the nightstand. I closed my eyes as tears ran down my cheeks and before I knew it; I was asleep.
