Against all odds

I'm Not an Exception

KIARA'S POV

The past week has been hectic, from photoshoots to podcasts, and I’ve had to keep updating my social media.

I can’t lie and say I’m not grateful for what I have because I am, and everything comes with a price.

I put on my sandals and left my apartment, locking the door behind me. I made sure to double-check it—I don’t want anyone breaking into my apartment.

I made it to the car and greeted James while getting in the back, where Bella was sitting and was completely focused on her iPad.

"Well, hello to you too." I used her own words on her, and she gave me a side-eye.

"b***h! If you don't shut up and let me concentrate."

"Seems like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today."

Bella sighed and adjusted her glasses.

"Girl, I'm just trying to answer all these emails before we get to the mall."

"I don't know why I need to go shopping; I still have clothes I haven't worn."

"Kia, it doesn't matter. Clothes are never too much for a woman, and you're a model."

"Yeah, I get you, girl."

We got out of the car and made our way inside the mall

We started browsing through some clothes, and this employee kept pace with us, scrunching her face if we touched a piece of clothing.

She would occasionally look at our bags, following us while ignoring other shoppers.

I guess I'm not the only one who noticed her, because Bella grabbed my hand and leaned close to my ear.

"I know this b***h ain't following us to see if we'll steal something."

"Don't get me started, I've got this."

The lady came right up to us and gave us a tight-lipped smile. "How may I help you, ladies?"

"Nothing, we are just browsing. When we see what we like, we will let you know," I answered.

She nodded and muttered a small

"okay" while we walked away.

The mall was packed with shoppers. It was a bit rowdy. Recognition always arrives quietly at first—then all at once, like someone turned the volume of a room up without warning.

Hearing the clanking of heels right behind us, we turned around and saw the same lady giving Bella a dirty look and still watching her hand while she held a shirt. I sighed.

"I thought we said we would let you know if we need your help?" Bella asked.

"Yes, ma'am, but I'm just checking if y'all need assistance."

"Didn't we say we would let you know if we need any?" Bella sounded very angry, and I saw a few shoppers gathered around us. Some took out their phones to film us, and my stomach tightened.

"Isn't that Kiara Lamar?" I heard some customers say. The cameras didn’t surprise me. What surprised me was how quickly the room decided I was the story.

"Oh! This is going straight to the blogs," another said, and many more followed, which I tuned out to focus on what was at hand.

I tapped Bella and whispered we should get going, but she was out of it.

I know she doesn't take racism lightly.

"Yes, ma'am, but I'm just making sure y'all are okay."

"Well, we are okay, and right now we don't need your assistance."

"Sorry, ma'am, I'm just trying to do my job."

"Clearly, I can see that. Your job description is kind of shitty, don't you think?"

I decided to step in because Bella was getting really hot, and I'm not sure what she'd do next.

"You have cameras here, right?" I asked.

"Yes, ma'am, we do."

"Well, don't you think that you're making us uncomfortable? You can always check the cameras to look for any thief."

"Yes, ma'am, but—"

"You know what, we are going to leave. We can't shop here anymore. Y'all are so racist, and it's the twenty-first century. Y'all ain't s**t anyway."

With that, I grabbed Bella's hand, and we walked out of the mall.

Bella slammed the car door, and James shook his head. He knew not to say anything when she was angry.

"Ma'am, please, what happened there?" James asked a few minutes into the ride.

"One of the workers was being racist, and Bella wasn't having it."

"Oh s**t. I guess they can never change."

"Oh, believe me, they will never change. United America, my ass," Bella snapped.

I laughed and held her hand. "It's actually the United States of America."

"Man, whatever."

"James, please just take us home. Bella needs to calm down."

James glanced at Bella through the rearview mirror and nodded his head, then kept his eyes on the road and continued driving.

After that, the car ride was silent.

When we got to my apartment, Bella sank into the couch and sighed. I poured some wine into two glasses and gave her one, then sat right beside her.

Taking a sip of the wine, Bella sighed again for the hundredth time. "That lady got me f****d up."

I agreed with her, but I decided to let the silence take over.

I knew this was hitting Bella harder than it was hitting me.

Her anger wasn't just because of what happened at the mall. It went deeper than that.

I couldn't blame her. She'd seen firsthand what racism could cost someone she loved.

Her elder brother, Devante, had been locked up because of a case of mistaken identity. The police didn't believe him when he insisted they had the wrong man. To them, he was just another Black man who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

There hadn't been enough evidence to prove he was guilty, but somehow, that hadn't stopped them from taking him away.

My heart tightened whenever I thought about it.

Bella and her family didn't know this, but I'd been quietly saving money for a good lawyer. I wanted to help reopen his case and finally give him the chance to prove his innocence.

Devante had always been like a big brother to me. He treated me like family and even called me sometimes from prison just to check on me.

After everything he and his family had done for my mom and me, helping him was the least I could do.

I picked up my phone, and notifications kept flooding in nonstop.

What happened at the mall was all over social media, and people had a lot to say about it.

"Damn, I'm so sorry, Kia."

"Nah, it ain't your fault; we just keep forgetting that people are always watching our asses."

"Now you're cussing, and you're telling me I'm always cussing."

"Girl, please, it's just one time."

"Whatever, girl," she dismissed.

I shook my head and brought my attention back to my phone.

A week ago, I was nervous about the runway show, photoshoot, and interview.

Now I'm trending because of a racism video in the shopping mall.

Fame is strange sometimes. One moment you're being praised for your work, the next you're being criticized by strangers.

I exhaled deeply and Sank into the couch, closing my eyes.

No one ever told me being famous could be exhausting. Now I'm finding that out on my own.

My phone lit up again.

This time, the message wasn’t something I was prepared for.