Pierced Hearts

Raina's p.o.v New York City~ Christine waters high rises~ 9:23pm I'm gonna kill myself. This is the only sentence I can possibly think of as I sit bundled up on the sofa with my fist under my chin starring hopelessly at the crumbled pieces of paper scattered all over the living room floor. Okay maybe that's a little extreme but I had..completely..nothing and never in the history of the 2 years I've been going to the fashion institute of technology have I had, nothing. Last week my professor announced we'd be working on a new assignment that would take up the duration of the year to complete. She also said after fully examining each finished product she'd choose who would have the opportunity to compete for a chance to design with the one and only Tracy Reese who happens to be one of my favorite fashion designers. Winning this competition could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put my career on the map. So yes, this is a big deal and definitely the wrong time to have nothing. Sighing one last time, I lifted myself off the couch and headed to the kitchen. "Just what I need." I mumbled noticing the green bottle of wine on the counter. I rarely ever drink due to my family's well known history of alcohol addicts, but I figure I owe myself just this one drink. After pouring the beverage in my glass I walked towards the glamorous gigantic window wall with my wine in hand. It's so beautiful... ...the lights. Ever since I was a little girl I've been fascinated with the city, the people, the giant buildings, the taxis, the annoying yet beautiful sound of the sirens you hear every 15 minutes, the subway, and of course my favorite part..the city night lights. I turned the switch next to the window off, immediately smiling as the gleam of the lights reflected on my face along with the furniture. I could see the snow flakes falling from the puffy clouds, hundreds, thousands, descending downwards. The little girl, maybe seven or eight? begging her mother to go into the newly built Christmas toy store across the street, the Christmas tree lighting happening a few blocks away, the woman arguing with a police officer in front of my building, the incredibly insane traff- wait- I look back over to the front of my building and within seconds I pick up who the woman is as she places her grocery bags down and points her finger in the officers face. "Aww hell..Niya." Running over to the counter I first place my glass down then head to the coat rack to grab and through my coat and shoes on before heading out of the door. My neighbors probably thought I was a maniac by the way I was dashing through the halls. "Come on, come on, come on." I whispered to myself as I repeatedly pressed the main floor button waiting Impatiently for the elevator to open. Finally the doors pushed out to their respective sides and I was met with multiple clerks from the front desk and other residents looking outside from the transparent doors. Great, I thought to myself. I pushed and shoved past them before making it to the damsel in distress. A stream of curse words flew out of her mouth as she stepped closer to him. The officer was set in position to smack her across the face, "Aniya, stop!" "Why?" she said through clenched teeth not looking at me once. "because, you will go to jail." I reasoned while she scoffed in response, "When have I ever been worried about that?" I stuffed my mitten covered hands in my coat pockets as I began to walk down the dirty slushed steps. She was right. I could have came up with a better reason that would suit her character but, its cold and I'm tired so, I have no time for her shenanigans, not today. I grabbed Aniya softly by the arm. The police officer immediately pulled out his weapon taking a moment to speak to the mic on his chest. "Look around you." I whispered to her. I gave her a second to take in the atmosphere. There were people starring through their windows from the lobby and the higher floors. People in their cars occasionally slowing down to see what was going on, and of course people from across the street couldn't help but stare at what was in front of them. Nosy. "Just- Go upstairs niya, please." She moved her arm away and in my surprise started to calmly walk towards the steps. The police officer abruptly stepped in her way grabbing her by the wrists , "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to bring you into custody." "For what?" She hissed. He ignored her. This was typical behavior for the New York police department. At this moment I was nearly ready to scream. People were watching, groceries were on the ground, and I was mentally drained. I began praying to God that he would give me the strength I needed to find a way to get her out of this mess. Again. Okay, think Raina think. The police officer looked like a scrawny, amateur, first day on the job. With all the cases of police brutality happening in the past few years I have never sat right with speaking to policemen. I eyed the gun in his hand before looking back up to him, "Sir?" My voice was a little shaky. His finger laid on top of the trigger. It wasn't pointed at anyone, but everyone knows a nervous police officer with a weapon never ends well. "Ma'am this has nothing to do with you, it's best if you just go back inside." He sounded highly frustrated. "I do live with a lawyer." I croaked out. "And what's that suppose to mean?" He said with a smart remark. "I mean it's a awful time to be getting in trouble as a policeman, don't you think...David Rosen?" I said reading his name tag. "You were nearly going to hit her if I didn't say anything in time and you didn't even say what she was being arrested for which, is a simple guideline your suppose to follow as a policeman." "You don't know what my guidelines are." He spat. "It's simple. Your supposed to provide and protect not take and attack, but maybe that's a new curriculum all of you are getting use to now? Sir, why is your gun out? She has no weapon on her so why is your gun out? This will only add gasoline to the fire. Sir, do believe I will not hesitate to be sure that you lose your job-" I rambled in a whisper as I moved closer to the officer. I barely flinched as he lifted his arm signaling for me to stop. I stood there waiting for him to speak. He looked to the now small crowd around him then simply shook his head, "You people always think everything is about you." You people? "I'll tell you what...I'll let it slide just this once, but next time your actions won't be taken kindly. No matter what your little friend says." He spoke sternly to Aniya shoving her to me before walking towards his car, stopping to look back at me once as he entered into his car. I nodded to Aniya as I swooped down to pick up the groceries on the ground and handed a few of them to her. She went upstairs to our apartment while I waited a minute to follow behind. ***** I elbowed the door open with dirty snow covered grocery bags in my hands before closing the door with my foot. I placed the groceries on top of the granite counter top softly before looking up at Aniya. "Damn, you better be trying to get that A." She picked up a paper ball off of the floor and threw it at me. I flinched as it hit me in the head. So are we gonna forget what just happened in the front of our apartment? "What the hell was that about?" She raised her arms in surrender as she walked towards the couch to sit. "Ole dude kept trying me, I told him specifically and I quote, Get out of my face AND he kept getting in my face so.. I DID WHAT I DID AND I SAID WHAT I SAID period wit a dot!" I shook my head and started unloading the groceries from their bags, placing them in the locations they belonged. Aniya is the bold one out of the group which is why were all use to her frequent encounters with the police. If I were to tell my other roommates about this incident they would simply laugh, ask Aniya to tell the story then go about their business. I seem to be the only one seriously worried about her issues with law enforcement. "Aniya." "Aniya." She mimicked trying to imitate my voice. I slammed the milk jug on the counter, "Why are you acting like a child? This is your fifth time getting in trouble since we've moved in. Luckily, I've been able to save our asses by talking to the landlord pleading for him to let us continue staying here, but I don't know how long that will last. Not to mention we are already behind on rent-" My eyes laid low. "And what- exactly are you doing about that? Last time I checked Vira, Asha, and I are working and have jobs." I looked up at her after the smart remark she made. She never discriminates on who to be bold to. It wasn't intended to hurt me, but it was meant to get the fire off from under her ass. Aniya may be my best friend but she hates being confronted when she's wrong. I don't take anything she says personal. "I have a job." Not really. I've been looking for the past two months after getting laid off 3 months ago. I never expected it to be this difficult to get one job at 19 years old. "Your capping." she says walking towards the kitchen to help me finish unloading the final groceries out of their bags. "Okay." I say handing her the juice. "Okay?" "I don't have one yet . I just felt verbally attacked and it seemed right to say that I do." Aniya bursted out laughing..you know that ugly, over dramatic laugh people be doing to things that aren't even be that funny? Yes, this was that. "Girl, I was just playin wit you, but you getting a job is the main thing we need to get out of this backed up rent." Aniya said closing the fridge. "You still need to stop getting in trouble or the rent won't even matter because we'll already be kicked out and living on the street." She looked back at me before sitting on the couch, "Tuh..I have a sister who live about 4 hours away..no street for me." "Anyways, besides getting the groceries what you been up to and why was he bothering you in the first place?" She smiled, "Nothin much, I went to see somebody after work but that's it and he was just tripping because he thought I was involved with 'suspicious activity' dude definitely had me messed up." "Oh..ok....Well who was the somebody?" I smiled at her before walking into the living room plumping my body on the couch next to her. "Speak!" "..nobody." She whispered under her breath before getting back up, walking quickly towards the island near the kitchen. "Girl, Im not about to chase you." I heard the door open as I continued my focus on Aniya thinking of who it could be. "....isss it Derrick?-" "Oh hell no, you betta not be talkin to that nigga no more." Vira said walking inside. We all started laughing, "how you finna just come in here making assumptions." Aniya said in between laughs. "Look, I heard Derrick and I had to make it be known ion like him if it wasn't known already.....You ain't talkin to him right?" Vira said placing her coat and gloves on the rack next to the door. "No." Aniya said quickly. Vira hummed not believing her. "Then who niya?" "Who what?" Vira said trying to get into the conversation. "Raina trippin cause I met up with somebody earlier today." Aniya said rolling her eyes at me. "b***h who?! It must be someone you don't be just meeting up with people for no reason- Aye, why it's so many people outside?" Vira locked the door. "Niya had an altercation." "Again?" She laughed. "Again. This time with a racist police officer...he pulled out his gun ,Vira." I said opening my computer up. She stopped laughing and turned to Aniya with a frowned face, "Niya..what happened?" She asked sliding shoes off. "Look ion want to talk about it no more! and do not bring this up to Asha- the situation is officially irrelevant, okay?" Vira looked at Aniya for a few seconds, "..alright." "Raina?" "Sure." Vira started dancing to lighten the mood in the room, "Niya got a boyfriend, Niya got a boyfriend, Niya got a boyfriend!" Aniyas eyes looked over to Vira as she pulled out her phone, "I don't, child." "Who you finna text, jaamal? Nah nah rashad?" Vira egged on. "Nobody, damn." "The lies." I said under my breathe. "Okay fine. I'm talking to somebody." She finally spluttered out. Vira and I squealed out of excitement. "What are y'all in here screaming about?" Asha said closing the front door behind her as she walked inside. She would knock the snow on her boots onto the doormat waiting for a response from everyone. Vira quickly spoke before anyone could speak, "Aniya has a boyfriend." "-not my boyfriend." Aniya chimed in. Asha gasped completely ignoring what Aniya said, "Who? Wait-" she made a face at Vira. "It's not Derrick." Vira responded to ashas implication. Asha squealed before looking to Aniya, "Okayyy...then who?" " un uh! This is why I didn't wanna say nothin. Im not tellin y'all who it is yet. This time I'm gonna do it right." Aniya hasn't taken a relationship seriously in 2 years. Derrick was the last real relationship she's been in. I'm glad she's getting back out there. The last one was so toxic they both ended up with a case of domestic violence each. "Fine." Vira, Asha and I said all at the same time. Vira, Asha, and Aniya are not only my roommates but their also my best friends aka melanin sistas. If anything is going on I can always talk to them no matter what the case may be. Vira is the fun one of the group and full of energy. In all honesty everything would be boring with out her being here. She's in New York with a full scholarship to NYU. Her major is in sociology. She's the one that came up with the idea of all four us getting a apartment together. Asha is the chill one of the group aka Vira's younger sister. She's also here on a full scholarship to NYU, however she's majoring in criminal law. Asha and I are the closest out of everyone here. We practically lived in each other's houses through out high school. **** We all sat in silence for a couple hours doing our own thing. Asha and Vira were in their rooms while Aniya went back out to run some errands. Whether she was actually going to run errands or speak to her person of interest at nearly 12:00am was no longer my concern. "Somebody gettin drunk?" Asha giggled wiggling the green bottle of wine from earlier up in the air. I raised my hand up and she faced towards me. "Raina?" Asha asked. "b***h, did you save me some?-" Vira said sliding into the kitchen. She had on a baby blue crop top I made for a previous assignment earlier in the year with striped joggers and red socks. "Oh mY GOodnesS HoW could I EveR DaRe to PIck Up A BoTTle of WiNe because that would just be sooo wEirD." I slammed my feet on the couch. Asha smiled, "Uhh it low key is. I thought you said you didn't want to be another alcoholic in the family." "I don't..I'm not. I'm just a little frustrated over this assignment for school. If I do well I'll have the chance to compete for a chance to design with Tracy Reese who is-" Asha interrupted, "one of the best designers that ever lived, we know." "Well if that's the case then drink on, sis!" Vira said pouring herself a glass. Asha's eyes darted towards her, "Vira?!" "What?! If she wants to drink, than let the woman drink. It's obviously a special occasion." "She's 19." Asha replied. Vira rolled her eyes, "And your 18, Aniyas 20, and I'm 21. We all grown so your point? I'm sure Raina is a smart young lady. Girl, go head and drink up. We won't tell." She winked at me. "Guys, I'm fine! I just need a breather from it, I think. I'm gonna look into some other things and get back to the project later anyway." Asha walked into the living room noticing the floor full of crumbled paper, "you sure?" "Yes." I said smiling innocently. "Don't worry, I'll pick it up." She gave me a hug, "I wasn't worried." Asha sat next to me on the couch, "Soo- I know school and finding a job has been a stressful task but I want to remind you we're all here for you." Ashas mother instinct was what I loved and hated the most about her, "Thanks Asha." I looked back onto my computer clicking on article that discussed interview advice. I slowly adverted my eyes back to asha after feeling her glare for a few seconds, "yes?" "What about you?" She giggled grabbing a two cookies off of the coffee table. "What about me?" Asha leaned in close, "Anyone special you wanna tell us about?" "Oh hell no. I'm focused-" "Your focused on being the first African American woman to own her own fashion dynasty? We know!" Vira exclaimed from the kitchen, walking back towards her room she stopped at the entrance, "your so boring. You need to live a little." with that she slammed the door. I grabbed the other cookie asha held from her hand, took a bite and yelled with a mouth full, "I do live ..a lot ..all the time..in fact I'm living right now!" "No your not." Asha patted my knee. "You can be an amazing fashion designer and a wife you know?" I kicked her with my foot. Relationships are distractions and they ultimately lead to failure when it comes to completing goals. After seeing how Derrick and Aniya ended up I'd rather just focus me, my friends, and school. "Welp it was worth a try, goodnight Raina. Don't stay up to late." She gave me another hug. "I won't, night." I closed my pink colored computer softly and stood up from the couch, now in my comfortable pjs to stretch. After placing my phone alarm on 6:00am, I grabbed the gray furry pillow off of the floor and placed it on top of the arm of the couch. I laid my head down on it, playing with the fur..soon drifting off to sleep. ****** ' Calleena's Coffee and donut shop' 'Front End Associate The primary responsibilities of a Front End Associate include greeting customers, ringing up purchases, and answering questions about products and merchandise. Front End Associates are responsible for completing bakery orders and communicating with Food Preparation Associates to ensure meal orders are filled quickly and accurately. You must be comfortable talking to customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints. Stellar customer service skills are a must! Taking applications at anytime of the day and we give immediate feedback after it's sent Starts at $7.75 an hour' Click here to apply [] Apply My eyes squinted at the bright display before me. I adverted my eyes to the bottom of the computer screen that printed, '1:36 am' in black and bold numbers. I had just waken up not too long ago to unlock the door for Aniya. I tried to go back to sleep after, but once i'm out of my sleep pattern it's hard for me to go back. I rubbed my eye once more before looking closer onto the application. I usually pull out my phone or computer to get on social media whenever I'm up in the middle of the night however, when I opened my computer the search engine was already pulled up with a row of job listings. ' Calleena's Coffee and donut shop' happened to be the first one on the list. Although my friends wore happy faces around me I could tell they were frustrated with the fact I was out of a job which is why, I haven't told them an eviction notice came in the mail today. The letter wrote in fine print, ' You will be hearby notified to vacate the premises described in the address above within the next 3 months due to previous failed payments of rent if the missed transactions aren't fulfilled in the next month...' Basically if we didn't have the money we owed plus the late fee in a month we'd be kicked out. I was tempted to show my roommates thinking they'd find out sooner or later, but I figured if I got a job in enough time and helped pay off the payments we missed they wouldn't need to see it anyway. I haven't had the best luck with finding a great job within walking distance that has great pay in a great neighborhood so, at this point you could say I'm desperate. So desperate that I'm currently looking to apply for a job interview at a coffee shop that starts at $7.75 an hour in South Bronx. One of the worst neighborhoods in New York City, but at this rate does it even matter? I looked at the overview of the front end associate one last time before clicking apply, "Better than nothing." 'Great! Your interview will be at 8:30am sharp! Don't be late.' I closed my computer, stood up from the couch, and headed to my room after setting my phone alarm to 6:00am.