A Love From Someone

I am Laiya Anderson. I moved to chicago from ATL because my dad got a new promotion and my mom found a house she really liked so, here we are! I really didn't want to move. I miss all my friends back in Atlanta. My mom said that I could stay with my Auntie Shirley during the summers if i wanted to see my friends and clusins but it's just not the same. "LAIYAA!!!" I heard my dad yell. ME: "I'm coming Daddy gimme a minute! Dang.." MOM: "You don't wanna be late for you first day at your new school baby." Great. A new school. New people and new "friends". I'm from the south, nobody in Chicago is gonna want to be friends with me.. it's like if you're from the North and you move to the South, people are gonna think you're weird and vice versa. DAD: "Laiya I ain't gonna call you down here again!! Bring ya a*s now!" I finished trying up my laces and stomped downstairs. DAD: "Where you think you're going looking like that?" MOM: "Dennis, she's almost late late. Let it go." Me: "Yeah Daddy. Plus I'm gonna be 18 soon, I don't need to be treated like a 13 years old." DAD: "Fine. But if any boys try and talk to you, tell em you're not interested and yo Daddy will beat em up!!" I couldn't help but giggle. ME: "BYE MOMMA BYE DADDY!!" I rushed out the door. I just know that if I had stayed longer I'd be lectured, I had to GO. THOUGHTS: "Damn I forgot to eat breakfast. I seen a lil hood store on the way down to the house yesterdayso I guess I should stop there. "By the time I have gotten to a stop sign getting ready to cross the street, I seen a group of FINEE dudes and all of them dreads and I started to feel nervous... I though I should skip breakfast but then my stomach growled loudly reminding me that it was time to put some food in it. I gulped and pulled out my phone to look busy. The group of guys got real quiet when I walked past so I got even more nervous... I heard one say "DAYUMM" and I quickly ran to the store. I was looking through the juice aisle and when I was grabbing some apple juice, I felt like I was being watched. I looked up and seen one of the dudes from the group. He was sizing me and I had smiled trying to be nice. He was really REALLY cute. My stomach was doing backflips at this point. I went to grab a breakfast bar and I seen his friends at the register laughing. He walked over and said something to them and they walked out. I walked up to the man at the register and pulled some money out my purse. The fine boy came behind me and shook his head at the cashier and said "Nah bro I got her." I turned and said "Um it's cool, I got it." and he said "Nah girl I got chu." I just rolles my eyes and said "Ok thank you" and tried to hand him my money to pay him back and he didn't take it. I stood there confused for a minute and the asked him "So you just pay for every strangers' stuffs?" he laugh and said "Nah I thought you was pretty and ion think you should be out here paying allat money for just that lil bit of stuff." I looked down at my shoes and said" Well I had money but I appreciate it." I felt him staring at me again so I looked up and he licked his lips I wanted to melt because that is my BIGGEST WEAKNESS!!! I looked at my phone and seen the time and said "Um I gotta go I'm gon be late for school. Nice meeting you and thank you again.." He looked surprised when I said it then he said "You real cute shordy. You gon lemmeget your number or something?" I blused and said "um ion know if I got time for that... I'm runnin late so I gotta go, see you again I guess.." By the time I had gotten to school I was super nervous. THOUGHTS: "Dammit Lai!! Why didn't I give him my number.. what if I don't see him again.." Then I heard a familiar voice and a bunch of laughing. I looked over and there he was!! I got wayy more excited than I should have but ya girl was crushing hard. I looked away and kept walking towards my class then the laughter stopped and I felt someone tap me on my shoulder. I took one headphone out my ear and turned around and there he was. "Aye shawty wassup." ME: "Oh hii." I tried not to sound too excited. "You never told me yo name back at the store." He said sizing me again. "I'm Laiya what bout chu?"."I'm Dayvon but jus call me Von shawty." He licked them pretty lips again. We stood there and talk for a little bit longer until the bell rang. We have a few classes together and lunch so I was a little excited. He showed me around the school to my classes and stuff. Then I left to go to first period. I walked in the room and it was WILD. Kids was up out they seats and the teacher wasn't there yet. I found an empty seat with nobody around in the back of the room. I put my headphones in and played my music. About 10 minutes later an elederly man came in the room and yelled "GET IN YOUR SEATS RIGHT NOW!" I looked up and the kids was laughing and mocking him. A majority of them sat down but there was a few that the principal had to come get. About an hour later the bell rang and as I was picking my stuff a short lil lightskin girl came over to me. I thought she was gon be trouble by the way she looked but she was actually really nice. "Hiii!! I know you're new and stuff but I think you're really pretty and I want to be friends." She was smiling so hard so I smiles back and said "Okay I'm down for that. You're really pretty too." me and her had all of our classes together and we started getting really close. Her name was Ka'Myra. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch and I was in the cafeteria doing a quick eye search for Von. "Girl you don't even know this man don't start catching feeling Lai" I thought to myself. I felt a tap on my shoulder and got really excited but it was just Myra. "Girl you look like looking somebody... Who is it?" Myra was teasing me. "What? Nah I'm looking for somewhere to sit." I was lyin like mfka. 15 minutes into lunch I heard "AYOOO". The lunch room went silent and Von walked in and sat down next to me and Myra. "Boy what do you want?" Myra asked irritated. "Girl shut up. Ain't nobody coming here for you. I came to see my shorty" Von put his arm around me and Myra's eyes widened. Myra: "GIRL I THOUGHT-" Me:"Hushhhh!!" I interrupted her and said "Von I just moved here yesterday... I don't know you like that. Only thing I know about you is your name and what you look like. Excuse me.." I got up to through my things away and Myra followed. I grabbed her arm and pulled her into the girls bathroom and locked the door. MYRA: "Girl what the f**k!! Was that??" ME: "Girl I coundn't even tell you... he seen me at the corner store this morning and tried getting wimme ever since. He's cute tho. I just don't know him enough like that to try and make a move back you feel me?" MYRA: "Sis he's a mysterious a*s nigha.. he's known for playing girls so if you do decide to make a move just be really careful. Idk if any of that bs is true but it's still best to be safe than sorry." We talk about him for a little longer then left because somebody was knocking on the door. As soon as we came out, Myra and I were trying to walk to class and there he was. It's like he was EVERYWHERE. VON: "Lemme talk to you for a minute." MYRA: "Oop-" ME: "MYRA!!" I'll see you in class girl goodbye". He waited until she went into the classroom to talk. VON: "I know you know me but I feel like you should get to know me, you fee me?" I couldn't helt but look at his lips. ME:"I um... I just know Von. I'm new to Chicago and my dad is really strict and I don't if I wanna deal with him being all protective and shit." He stared at me for a few seconds which made me nervoes and he said "Meet me at the park tonight at 8. Type ya number in my phone. I'll send the location just in case you don't know where that's it." He turned and tried to walk off. ME: "What?" He licked his lips and said "You'll see." When I got class I was 10 minutes late so the teacher had lectured me about being a good student and coming to class on time. I sat next to Myra and she was looking at me with a weird face. ME: "Why are you looking at me like that?" MYRA: "Girl don't act like you don't know. I wanna know what that talk was about?" ME: "Girl bye. It wasn't nothing too serious. Imma prolly tell you after school." MYRA: "Bye.." After the bell rang Myra got up and was like "Sooooo??" ME: "I'm not sure if I wanna say anything because what if it's not that serious?" MYRA: "Laiya!! Come on girl just tell me please.." ME: "I don't know I'll probably wait." VON: "Wassup shordy." I turned around and seen Von standing there in a white tank top I'm guessing he had just came out of the gym because he was sweaty. He had tats all over both arms and they just made him even look better than before. MYRA: "Ouu, Von when did you get fine? You been hidin it." VON: "Quit playin wimme." MYRA: "Bye Laiya! Have fun?" ME: "Bye.." "Why tf did she leave me... omg bro. She knew wtf she was doing. VON: "Now that Ka'Mya is gone, I wanna talk to you." ME: "It's Ka'Myra, and what else do you wanna talk about cus this is the prolly the 4th time you've stopped me to talk." VON: "I just wanna know if you gon come tonight." ME: "Come where?.." VON: "Bruh I told you earlier, you know what? Imma just send you the location" ME: "Ok. I guess I'll see you later.." I walked outside and I seen my dad's car and he had the window rolled down. I froze instantly because Von was walking behind me and I saw my dad's face go from a happy smile to an angry frown. DAD: "LAIYA!" VON: "Ayo is that yo pops or sum??" ME: "Yea um I gotta go...." DAD: "Who the hell is that Laiya?? You've only been here for one day. ONE!! And you aready talkin to boy!" I got in his car and slammed the door. ME: "Daddy me and him ain't even dating! He paid for my stuff this mornin then he showed me to my classes! That's it! You always gotta find a way to be extra." DAD: "I don't want you around him anymore. He looks like trouble. He's too young to be having all them tattoos and his pants hang too low." I rolled my eyes and sat in silence while he keep rambling on. When we got homehr said something to Momma about it. I know he did cus she popped in my room asking how my day was. MOMMA: "Hi babby, how was school?" ME: "It was fine before Daddy came up there acting a fool... Momma why can't he just leave me alone when it comes to stuff like that? He should know that I'm old enough to decide things on my own now." MOMMA: "Lawd have mercy. What did your daddy do now?" ME: "He ain't tell you?" MOMMA: "Girl no. He came in with an attitude and I asked what happened and he told me to talk to you." ME: "He got mad because he came to pick me up at school he seen me talking to this boy. The boy was trying to be nice because he knows I'm new." MOMMA: "Yo daddy is something else chile. Don't worry I'll talk to him baby girl." ME: "Thank you Momma." At around 6:00, Von texted me and asked if I was still coming. "I don't know if I should go... / mean I just met him."My phone vibrated and it said that Von shared his location with me. *You sent a text* "I'll be there at around 7:45 lemme get ready" VON: "Ok Coo"I got my stuff together for a shower and checked in Momma and Daddy's room to see if they were there. I smelled food cooking so I figured Momma was making dinner. As soon as I cut the shower on I heard "UHNT UHN LAIYA DON'T YOU GET IN THAT DAMN SHOWER JUST YET!!" "Ugh." I walked downstairs and momma had plates set out on the table. MOMMA: "Eat before you get in the shower. Go get ya daddy for me baby" I got up but Daddy had already heard. We sat at the table, said grace, and then ate. DAD: "Laiya, baby girl, I'm sorry for yelling at you this afternoon. I just don't think that boy is any good for you. He looks like trouble." I gave him a death stare and snapped back "I told you in the car that WE AREN'T DATING!" MOMMA: " Laiya!" ME: "I'm finna get in the shower." I got up and left. It was about 7 now so I took a 25 minute shower and spent the rest of my time trying to get ready. Momma and Daddy walked in my room just as I got out. DADDY: "Lai Lai," ME: "I don't wanna talk right now. Can you please leave me alone?" MOMMA: "Don't talk to your daddy like that now!" DAD: "Lai Lai, I'm sorry. Me and your momma have been working really hard and we're both just tired. I'm sure you are too. Let's all just go to bed and talk about it tomorrow morning." ME: "okay." They walked out and now I only had about 15 minutes to get ready. I put on some ,sweatpants, AF1s and a hoodie. I put my hair in a messy bun and walked out. I peeked into momma and daddy's room again and they was both knocked. I texted Von and told him that I didn't know how to get to the park so he said he'll just swing by and come get me. I sent him the address and he was there in about 15 minutes. "Damn ma whatchu all dressed up for?" ME: "Boy bye. I'm not dressed up. What you want me to come out here for?" VON: "I jus wanna hang out you feel me." ME: "Why we going to a park tho..." VON: "Stop being skeptical. Niggas know not to play wimme." He lifted his shirt and there was a g*n there. I looked at his stomach and then heard him laugh. ME: "What?" VON: "Nun. I'm jus laughing at how you looking at me." ME: "It ain even like that chill." VON: "Yea whatever. Come on." We was walking down the street and it was getting dark. I was a little nervous because I don't like being out at night but Von did say "Niggas know not to play wit him". We got to the park and I seen a car parked there. I got confused and looked at him. VON: "Girl come on this my whip." ME: "Bro you coulda jus picked me up at my house instead of making me walk." VON: "Yea I could've, but then you wouldn't know how to get here." He licked his lips again. "He is so fineee. I don't know what to do with myself. I wonder what he wanted to link for..." I seen him reach in the back and grab a bag. He pulled out some backwoods, a rolling tray and a silver pack. Von: "You smoke?" ME: "Not really. My momma and daddy would have a fit." VON: "Yo what tf was that s**t he pulled up at da school earlier Yo pops was trippin G." ME: "lon even know.. he's overprotective." Von was rolling up and I was just staring at him. I couldn't get over how fine he was. Von looked up and laughed "Aye ma you keep looking at me like that some s**t gon go down." I felt my face get hot so I looked out the window and tried not to smile. VON: "Whatchu sitting way over there for shawty. I was jus picking wit you." I looked over and smiled. ME: "I'm fine where I'm at mane." We sat and talked for a while until it was about 10:30. ME: "I need to get going soon, I'll see you tomorrow." I opened the door to get out and he said "Get back in lil ma. I'm not letting you walk home alone at night in Chicago." ME: "Okay I preciate it." Von started up the car and some rap music started playing. He was getting hype and rapping so I was laughing the whole way home. When he pulled up in front of my house, he turned it down and both of us got out. ME: "Bye Von. I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you for driving me home." VON: "no problem shordy." I walked to the door and heard him following me. ME: "Aye what is you doing?" VON: "Oh I can't come in?" ME: "Boy no! Both of my parents are home and I'm tryna go to bed." VON: "Laiya don't try and act like you ain feeling me." ME: "What are you talking about?..." VON: "Laiya, when you first seen me and my homies standing on the block, you was nervous nd all of us knew jus from how you walked in the store, whenever talk to you at school, you start blushing and you get nervous. You seen my tats and ya face was red asf. Your eyes got big asl in da cafeteria when I called you my shorty and jus about 30 minutes ago when I was teasing you, you blushed. Yo a*s been feeling me from the start but you jus tryna play hard to get." I stood there staring at my feet then I looked up. ME: "/ thought you was cute when I first seen you, and you paying for my food at the store made me find you even more attractive. I'm not tryna play hard to get. I am hard to get. Like I said earlier, lon know you like that so I'm not gon shoot my shot or make a move. I'm not finna get my feelings hurt again, I'm sorry." VON: "Shordy I told you that you could get to know me. You think I'm playing, you gon come around pretty soon." ME: "Why you think that?" VON: "I jus know. Watch. See you tomorrow ma." He gave me a hug, got in his car and pulled off. When I got in the house, Momma was downstairs in the kitchen. MOMMA: "Where was you at Lai Lai?" I froze. I didn't wanna tell her because I knew she was gon tell daddy but I ain't wanna lie either... ME: "Momma please please pleaseeeee don't tell daddy!!" MOM: "Tell me where you was at Laiya." ME: "Momma, remember earlier... I told you about the boy Daddy didn't want me to see?" MOM: "Yes. Is that who you was with?" ME: "Yes ma'am.. we didn't do nothing I promise. He just said he wanted to talk to me about something." MOM: "Yall best not have done nothing. You too young to be having babies and I'm too young to be a grandmomma!" ME: "Mommy please promise you won't tell Daddy." MOM: "Okay Pooh I won't. Now get upstairs and go to bed. It's a school night." I walked in my room, flopped on my bed and stared at the ceiling. Von's words was replaying in my mind. "How did he know that I was into him... I don't think I showed any signs. I thought I was hiding them pretty good. That's embarrassing. What did he mean when he said 'just watch'?"I shook the thoughts out my head and got ready for bed. I had a few texts from Myra so I texted her and told her everything that happened. MYRA: "GIRLLLLL HE WANTS YOU!!"I laughed and told her goodnight. When I woke up in the morning, it was early. Momma and Daddy wasn't awake so I decided to cook breakfast for everybody. My phone vibrated. It was a text from Von. "Goodmorning" I smiled and said "gm" Momma came downstairs to make some coffee and said "You're up early. Did you even get any sleep last night?" ME: " Yes momma I did. I just woke up early today." I seen Daddy come around the corner with a stank face. MOM: "What's wrong baby?" DADDY: "I ain't get no sleep. I was tossing and turning." ME: "Daddy why don't you stay home from work today? You need some more sleep and you don't look so good right now." He came over and kissed me on the forehead. DADDY: "I'm fine babygirl." MOM: "Uhnt Uhn get ya a*s back upstairs and in that bed Dennis. I'm not playing go on na. Lai and I will bring you your breakfast and allat. Go!" DADDY: "I'm fine Roshonda." They stood there staring at each other for a good 10 seconds. DAD: "Fine. I'll stay home." I started laughing and fixed him a plate. ME: "Momma I gotta go before I'm late again." MOM: "Okay baby be safe. Oh! Lai Lai, don't be fooling around with that lil boy again you hear me?" ME: "Momma we wasn't messing around." She gave me the same stare she gave daddy 2 minutes ago. Me: "*sigh* Yes ma'am." I was walking down the street with one headphone in my ear and I stopped at the same corner from yesterday. I didn't see Von and his homeboys out there. I walked over to the store to buy some gum and when I walked in Von was in there talking to some girl. "Wowww.And he wants me to get with him. Myra was right. At least I didn't do nothing with him."I grabbed the gum I wanted and walked to the cashier. I heard Von say "Hollon. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around. The girl he was talking to rolled her eyes ar cut me a dirty look. VON: "Wassup ma." ME: "I'm late for school Imma see you later." walked off and the girl started asking Von who I was. I'm not gon lie my feelings was a littl hurt but I ain't worry bout it too much. Myra didn't come to school today because she was sick too, so I was by myself. I was walking to the girls bathroom after lunch and I felt somebody grab my arm. I got scared so I hit the person who grabbed me. VON: "Aye what is yo problem Laiya?" VON: " Von! You can't be grabbin folks like that.. I'm sorry it was a reflex.. what do you want?" VON: "Wassup witchu? Like this morning you seemed like you had an attitude." ME: "Nah I'm good. Jus didn't wanna seem too interested', in front of your little girlfriend." VON: "Oh so that's what this is about? She ain't my girl no mo. I been dropped dat hoe months ago." ME: "Well still. I'm not tryna seem like I'm feeling you', like you say, you know? lon need no problems wit a girl over a dude I ain't even with. Can you let go of me now? I gotta go to my class." VON: "Laiya youn know me. I'm not the one." ME: "I ain't even do anything but okay Von. Anywho bye I got class." I jerked my arm away fron him and walked off. After my last class I walked out of the room and I didn't see Von anywhere. I walked outside and seen Momma's car and she was waiting for me. Still no sight of Von. I started overthinking again "What if he don't talk to me anymore. Maybe I was too mean. I feel bad now." MOM: "Hi pooh, how was school today?" ME: "It was good. How's Daddy doing?" MOM: "He got a small fever but he should be okay in a fe days. Have you talked to that lil boy today?" ME: "Yea I seen him at the store again this morning. We talked during lunch and I haven't seen him since then." Momma tried getting me to tell her a bunch of stuff about him but she's not understanding that idk much about him. After Momma dropped me off at home, she left to get Daddy a few things from the store to help him feel better. I went upstairs to check on Daddy but he was asleep. I went i my room and started watching Netflix. 30 minutes later I got 2 texts from Von. "I'm outside Let me in. "I ran to my window and peeked out. He was just getting out of his car. "Dammi Von "I walked downstairs and opened the door. VON: "You gon let me in or what?" ME: "Von, my momma is at the store and could be home any minute and my daddy is upstairs sick!" VON: "I never said nun bout going upstairs but shidd I'm down." I rolled my eyes. ME: "What do you even want?" VON: "Watch how you talk to me. I told you I'm not the one." My stomach started knotting up. I liked when Von got aggressive with me. I heard a car honk from around the corner then I heard Momma say hey to the neighbors. ME: "s**t!" VON: "What." I pulled his arm and yanked him in the house then I slammed the door and pushe him upstairs. VON: "Whatchu doing?" ME: "Hush! My Daddy is asleep and my momma's about to walk in the door. I'll let you out the window in a few minutes stay here." I shoved him in my closet and ran downstairs when I heard the front door open. MOM: "Girl what a you running down them steps like that for? Be careful you gon fall" ME: "Sorry momma, l' make Daddy his soup and stuff when he wakes up. You go rest." MOMMA: "Thank you bab Imma go take me a shower then take me a nap." She sat everything down on the counter and then walked upstairs. I ran behind her hoping that she wouldn't walk in my room. She went in the bathroom and cut the shower on then got her clothes. I waited until I seen her shut the bathroom door to run to my room. When I opened the door, Von was on my bed watching TV. ME: "Nigga what are you doing Don't get comfortable. And get yo shoes off my blankets!!" I smacked his feet. VON: "Dam shawty you sound like my moms." ME: " You gotta leave while my momma is still in the shower, so byee." VON: "Why you tryna get rid of me so quick? Ian welcome here?" ME: " Von please, I don't got time for this. I'm not tryna get in trouble. Please just leave." VON: "Well lemme see you tonight. It's Friday youn got school tomorrow so that can't be your excuse." I stood there staring at him for a few seconds ME: "Ugh fine. What time?" VON: "Imma text you" ME: "Ok come on" I grabbed his arm again and dragged him down the stairs and opened the door. VON: " Damn ma I can't get no goodbye kiss or nothing?" I gave him the look Momma be giving Daddy. ME: "Bye VON: " I shut the door in his face and walked away. I heard his car start up and pull off. Momma got out the shower 10 minutes later and asked me who's car that was. ME: "Um.. idk. It might be one of the neighbor's friends." MOMMA: "Hmm you may be right. I'm going to take a nap. Keep checking in on ya daddy." ME: "Ok momma" I got up and went in Momma and Daddy's room. Daddy was watching tv. DAD: "Heyy baby." Me: "Hi Daddy. You feeling any better?" DAD: "A little. Ya momma made me some soup earlier and said she was going to get more plus some cough syrup." ME: "Yeah she got some. Do you want some soup right now?" DAD: " No baby I'm ok. I think I'm just going to get a little more rest." ME: "Ok Daddy. I'm probably gonna take a nap too." DAD: "Okay babygirl goodnight." I went in my room and checked my phone. It was almost 6. Von still didn't text me. I set an alarm to wake me up at 8. I got into my bed clothes and went to sleep.