Page 55 of Rayzor: Tell Me It’s Mine II

I pulled my phone out, turned on some music then put my headphones back in. Listening to him replay what I’ve told him before made me wonder if I’d said too much when it came to my family. Mr. Semaj seemed to be the only one listening because when I told my friends about it, everybody thought I was tripping. Honestly, all their asses were dick riding because of Court. Mr. Semaj was unbiased.

He didn’t keep asking, and I rode in silence, scrolling social media.

By the time I looked up, we were pulling up to my house. It was only fifteen minutes from the school. Ma’s car was outside, but I saw her standing in the window like she was waiting for me.

“Maleek.”

I turned back around.

“Turn that pain into passion. You’re mother will have two celebrities,” he said before they drove off.

Before my feet touched the driveway, Ma came flying out of the house.

“Maleek, what the hell are you doing?” she yelled.

“I just came home. What you mean?”

“You know what the hell I mean.”

“Nah, I don’t, Ma.” I pulled my bookbag up onto my shoulder.

“How do you know him?”

I turned around to see the truck driving away.

“Who?”

“What are you doing with him?

“You don’t even know who that is.”

She violently shook my shoulders. Her eyes looked crazy as hell as spit flew out of her mouth. What the hell was wrong with her?

“What’s wrong with you? Let me go, bruh.” I tried escaping her grasp.

“You think you’re grown now. Just hopping into anybody’s car. Is that the truck Courtland was talking about?”

I moved her hands from around me.

“Ain’t you supposed to be at work? Don’t worry about who I hang with.”

I headed for the house.

“Stay the hell away from whoever that is.”

“Why? It ain’t like you’re around. At least Mr. Semaj listens to me and ain’t neglecting or abandoning me,” I said, letting that last part slip out.

“What did you say?”

“Yeah. He’s been there more for me than you and Court have lately. That ain’t on me. That’s on you.”

I didn’t even wanna argue with her, so I went inside the house. She wasn’t supposed to see that. It wasn’t my fault she didn’t go to work like she said she was. It’s not even that bad.

Seeing Maleek getting out of the unknown truck was one thing, but seeing who was behind the glass was another. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening.

I stopped breathing.

Out of all the people for Maleek to get caught up with, it had to be that one. That wasn’t a coincidence. Maleek doesn’t know what he’s been inviting in. I couldn’t tell him either.