Chapter 2

Sammy lived in one of those big houses on the hills that kids like me only dreamed to visit. He was a gentleman, opening the door for me then throwing his keys at the butler who nodded.

My cheeks felt swollen and my fingers felt numb, but I didn't say anything, just wondered why I was here. There was this dull ached that was forming in my head, and I touched the spot lightly, before letting out a sigh.

Things never get better.

"Can I use your phone?" I ask him, and he takes it from his pocket and slaps it into my hand.

Of course, an iPhone, which surprisingly, didn't have a password so I unlocked it and called Danielle. I hoped she wasn't mad at me, especially since I left and didn't even look for her, although it wasn't exactly my choice, I was dragged against my will.

"Hello?"

"Danielle, oh thank goodness, where are you?"

"Loa! I'm . . ." She begins to whisper, her voice laced with awe. "I'm at someone's house. It's huge."

"Me too," I whisper back, peeking at Sammy who was flipping through some papers on the table.

"What did they do to you?"

"Oh you know, the usual, I have a huge footprint on the side of my face and my stomach feels like someone dragged a knife through it." I sigh and shake my head. "Are you okay?"

"I think so . . . he talks a lot but I'm sure he's not a killer." I chuckle and turn around to find Sammy leaning on the wall this time, watching me.

"I'll come by later. I love you."

"Love you too." She says softly before hanging up.

"Thank you." I hand him his phone and he nods.

"Follow me." My eyes skim over the black walls as we pass by. The house was giving serious vampire vibes as there were little bits of red in small places.

Everything looked expensive so I kept my hands to myself as he led me into the stainless steel kitchen.

He doesn't ask any questions, just makes me a sandwich, and places it on the counter, his eyes looking at me expectantly.

"Eat." He demands, placing a can of soda next to it.

"Oh, I'm not really hun-"

He clenches his jaw and pins me with a harsh glare. I gulp and slowly take a seat, biting into the sandwich.

He leaves for a moment and returns with a chubby looking lady with short red hair and big circular glasses.

"Check her," He states and the lady sighs.

"Samuel, I'm not a nurse, if-"

"Just do something, Mary! It doesn't take a scientist to clean a face wound." He snaps loudly and even I jump.

"Oh no, it's okay I can just clean this up when I get home." But she had already left and returned with a kit.

I let her do as she does, afraid that Sammy would yell at us. Her hand shook as she cleans my wound and I bit my lip every time it stung.

"Don't hurt her for christ's sake." She closed her eyes and put the stuff away.

"There, anything else I'd suggest that you see a real doctor, and don't be afraid to talk to the police." She nodded at me, then glanced at Sammy.

"He didn't do this." I furrow my eyebrows and watch as Samuel's eyes light up with anger. My first thought was perhaps he was going to hit her, but he only scowled at her as she scurried away. I felt scared around him, finally realizing that he was only a stranger. I place the half-eaten sandwich onto the plate, losing my appetite.

"I would like to go home," I say quietly and he remains silent.

"Not yet." He says after a moment. He walks closer to me and I look up at him. He was white just like the rest of the teens in high school, which highly contrasted with my dark skin. His hair was silky, and short, kept neatly on top of his head. His nose was a bit big, but that was okay because he had pretty brown eyes, naturally curled eyelashes and thick pink lips to distract you from it. He wore basketball shorts, with a plain white t-shirt, and perhaps I could see how he belonged to a high school and not a workplace.

"Does what happened before happen often?"

"What? Me getting my ass beat? Oh, yea." I snort and he tilts his head.

"Just by Mace?"

"No, Mace plus everyone once they get the chance."

"Why?"

"Because I'm poor." I shrug. "My mother is a crack head and a prostitute, and my father sells drugs to minors for a living. My brother's in jail, and I? I got a scholarship and I'm barely maintaining it. I live in a house that leaks, and sleep on the floor on an old mattress. I skip breakfast so I can have lunch, and I eat dinner at my best friend's house. Oh, did I mention that I'm black?" His eyes are still hard and unmoved as he stares at me, saying nothing.

Yea, I bet he regrets bringing me here now, probably thinks I'm going to steal something.

"Can you please get me home? I'm sure my parents are worried sick." I mutter sarcastically and he nods. I stand and make my way back to the living room where I throw on my shoes and not at the butler who opened up the door for us. He chooses a car this time, and I hug myself suddenly feeling depressed.

My eyes lingered on his house for a bit longer as he gets inside the vehicle.

Some people have it fair in the world, and the others are left to rot. It's disappointing really.

#

“Thank you.” I murmur, grateful that his face never changed when he pulled up to my house. He glanced at it and kept looking with the same neutral/ hard expression that he always had.

I expected anyone who saw my silly excuse for a house to burst into laughter after the first glance, but he didn't.

Samuel didn’t reply as I stepped out, but he grabbed my hand before I could close the door.

“If anyone touches you again, tell me.”

“Thanks but I can handle myself,” I tell him, shutting the car door.

“It wasn’t an offer Loa.” His eyes darken and I shake my head.

“I’m grateful that you saved my ass back there, but I think it’s best for both of us that we retreat to our normal lives. You’re on the other side of the school; it’s a miracle that you even captured me at that moment. I’m sorry but I won’t come running to you for something I’m accustomed to facing. Goodnight.” I pull my hands from his and turn immediately, walking up to my house.

He speeds off the moment I shut my door, and the smell of something burning caught my attention. My mom is on the floor, passed out and my father was nowhere to be seen. In the kitchen, a pot lies on top of the stove, dried up, and all black. I sigh and turn off the burner before quietly heading to my room.

I felt really tired, and on top of that, my head felt like it was going through menstrual cramps. I didn’t have the energy to go to Danielle’s house tonight so I only sank onto my bed and coughed slightly as dust rose.

My room was empty, only a small lamp stood next to my bed . . . mattress. I hugged my knees to my chest and laid my head upon them.

I had truly never seen Sammy around before, and I wondered why he coincidentally had his vehicle parked on the other section of the school today when they have an entire section for themselves. I wondered how he knew my name and I wondered why he took me to his house. I wondered why I didn’t feel entirely scared while meeting him, and what went on in his mind when I told him my conditions.

My eyes fluttered closed desperate to ease the pain that swarmed through my head, and within seconds I was out.