Welcome To Alexandria

chapter 5

IRA’S POV

   Man I really f****d up, I kissed her. I don’t even know how we started, s**t I don’t know how any of that got started. It happened so fast, we were talking normally then I look over and her whole body is shaking. What did I say? My mind was nowhere near acting on my feelings for her when I put her in my lap I just wanted her to be okay. One second I’m relieved because what I did actually worked the next I’m being tempted by those damn lips again. Those lips I’ve thought about how they’d taste so many times but have always been able to refrain from what I want. What was different this time, I honestly don’t know but damn now that I finally tasted them I never wanted to stop. My hunger wasn’t suppressed when she deepened the kiss but only made me want more of her. And dear god the second time was even better if that’s possible. Her stupid sweat pants were in my way of feeling her caramel silk skin. I knew I was getting way too ahead of myself the way my hands kept drifting to her flower so close my fingertips could almost feel it. f**k, I’m so lucky we were in my car if not I might have pushed for what my hormones needed. But then guilt burned through my being when she pushed apart.

   “Ira…

   I must have went to far she wouldn’t look me in the face at first.

    “Ira.”

   She said it was just wrong place wrong time and as much as I wanted to believe that, I know there’s something else she doesn’t want to tell me.

    “IRA HERNANDEZ!”

    I shook my thoughts away and turned to look at my mom. She had her hands on her hips and an eyebrow raised ‘s**t, she must have been trying to get my attention for a while now.’ I glanced over seeing André was looking at me to.

  “Yeah ma?” I tried play it off… I was unsuccessful.

   “Nino get your head outta your ass I was asking you a question.” She scolded

  “Sorry ma, what you say?” I rubbed my hands over my face trying to focus, a lot happened today.

    “How and why did all this happen?”

  “I don’t know ma Ashley started …”

  “Wai wai wait. You mean Ashley Thomas?” I shook my head yes. “Oh this makes so much since now.”

   “Yeah I guess if you say so.” I shrugged. 

  Everyone knows that Ashley likes me but only the two of us know about my mistake that’s all it was a stupid drunk mistake. And all that lead to this god I’m so stupid. (SMACK)

  “oooch what was that for ma?”

  “You weren’t listening again, Andre is fine you can take her home now.”

  “oh thanks ma see you when you get home.” I kissed my mom’s cheek good bye, her and André say good bye and we leave her office. When we get to the car there’s so much tension, the drive is silent and I hate it I want to hear her voice, her laugh, god how I wanna make her laugh after the day she’s went through. Suddenly she turns in her seat to face me, I guess the silence was killing her to.

  “Momma Dez reacted better than I thought she would.”

  “Yeah it kinda surprised me to. I think my dad may have filled her in on the detail, plus I’m sure she didn’t wanna stress you out she looked hurt when she saw the blood on your shirt.”

  “I  saw that…” More grief flashes through her eyes. “Ira what did you mean when you said you knew what I’ve been through?” She looks down at her lap and it clicks.

  “Is that what that was about earlier André?”

She doesn’t answer, f**k she thought I meant I know her past. I don’t know what exactly happened to her but I know it f***s with her a lot and I try not to bring in up unless she wants to talk about it.

  “André, I just meant… I’ve seen the blackouts, the shaking the crying in your sleep how when you wake up in the dark it terrifies you.” I point to my nose and she laughs oh thank god she laughed. “My point is I’ve been there with you fighting this battle and I always will be there. You’re my best f*****g friend André and I love you.”

   My eyes widen at what I just confessed, oh f**k oh f**k I just told her I loved her. Those words were NOT supposed to leave my lips, but they did. André blushes beautifully then reminds me who she is by punching my arm hard making me feel like a p***y. Damn she hits hard for a girl, naw f**k that she hits harder than most the guys in boxing club.

   “Aw is Ira going soft on me wait till I tell the guys how much you wove me.”

  She laughs hard but they already know, they tell me all the time how I look like a lost puppy when she’s not around. How she could say jump and I’d say how high. How my eyes follow her everywhere she goes. I glad they contain themselves when she’s with us. But I still have to put up a front so she won’t know.

  “Tell then about this conversation it’ll be me and you in the ring and I won’t so soft then.”

  “You better watch what you ask for best friend by the way how’s the nose?”

 “It’s fine you don’t even hit that hard.” I lie

 “Do they know I did it?” she asks wiggling her brows

  “Wow you really are full of yourself, now aren’t you?” I  switched off the highway to the city streets.

 “Not full of myself I just know what my capabilities are so mmm.” She stuck her tongue out at me while glancing at her phone when it chimed. I couldn’t help but laugh at her being childish to me that meant she was comfortable and relaxed. I don’t have to worry she’s gonna shut down on me. I sighed in contentment.

  “Hey Ira I don’t have any clean clothes at your house plus I don’t wanna be bombarded by questions, will you drop me off at my aunts?” She was still looking at her phone but her smile had fallen.

  My heart sank a lil that she didn’t want to come home with me probably because of the kiss, f**k I really shouldn’t have done that. I forced the saddens out of my voiced.

  “Are you sure? I mean Izzy or I could give you something to wear.” I had to add Izzy to hide the fact that I really wanted her wearing my clothes. André was shorter than me and she had a thick hourglass figure were the top half was just a little larger than the bottom her stomach had a little bit of squish to it and her thighs deliciously jiggled when she walked, she was perfect in every way and in my clothes even more so.

  I glanced at her waiting for a response but she was tapping her phone screen so hard and so fast I thought it might break.

  “André? You still wanna go home?” She slammed her phone down in her lap and sighed roughly running her fingers over her scalp making her curls cascade down her shoulders.

  “Yeah Ira, I really wanna go to my aunts. It’s been a long ass f*****g day all I wanna do is take a f*****g shower and go the f**k to bed.

  She pronounced each f**k with force and venom. I don’t know what happened on that phone but whatever it was really pissed her off. I knew she wasn’t gonna tell me what it was. Like she asked I took her to her aunt’s house, it was decent sized but looked like it lacked upkeep. It had a chain link fence around the yard and a long cement porch where her cousins and their friends would sit to smoke tree and drink most the day. That is if they weren’t having house parties, that probably was another reason my mom let her stay at our house so much. It wasn’t sympathy but empathy my mom held for André because she grew up literally a few houses down.

  I was brought out of my head by one of her cousins, Myles tapping on the roof of my car. We must have been sitting in the car for a while.

  “Hey cousin, what’s up Ira thanks for…” He looked down at André’s shirt and swung the door open. “Alexandria what the f**k happened? Who did this s**t? Say word and I’ll f**k ‘em up. Ira you let someone touch my cousin? Don’t trip lil crip I got you.” Myles threw a million questions at André.

  “Myles would you shut the f**k up so I can talk? I’m fine I got in a fight today that’s it Ira’s mom already looked at me and said it was nothing.” André fired back stunning Myles before his eyes turned back to me making the same face as André when she’s pissed.

  “Ira I’ma ask you again, you let someone touch my cousin?” André pushed his chest making him stumble back before getting out, I followed standing in the door frame of my car.

  “Myles I’ma tell you again, shut the f**k up and let me explain what happened. I got into a fight with some b***h at school I’m fine Ira was the one to stop the fight before I really hurt her. And had his mom a nurse practitioner make sure I was okay before taking me home so stop trying to fight everyone I can handle myself.” By now she had him backed up against the gate of the fence with his hands up in surrender. She said something low to where is couldn’t make it out and Myles glanced up at me.

  “Aye my bad Ira I just thought you let someone jump my cousin, but she says she’s good so we good?” He shrugged and André backed off coming to the car to get her bag and phone before shutting my door.

  “We’re good and you should see the other girl.” I laughed. Myles raised a brow and looked at André as she shrugged her backpack on.

  “What? You know I can fight, I don’t know why you were worried in the first place stupid she sucker punched me and busted my nose. Anyways later Ira thanks for taking me home and everything else.” She two saluted before pushing Myles to get in the gate.

  “Yeah thanks for taking care of her Ira.” Myles said as he followed her through.

  “What are best friends for?” I muttered getting back in my car and driving off.

Alex’s POV

     Today was a long f*****g day and it still wasn’t over. I glanced at my phone and saw it was only 2:00, s**t school hasn’t even let out yet. Then I saw more notifications from Ashley taking s**t about me online. Saying Im’a slut. Not true I don’t even pay attention to anyone like that. Saying I was a poor. Eh, kinda true I guess. Saying that I hit like a b***h. You guessed it, that was the one to piss me off. I wanted to beat her ass all over again but I settled on saying that her face was more than enough proof that was false facts. I put my phone in my pocket and groaned as I walked up the porch steps.

   “What’s good Allllex.” My cousin Malik asked passing me the blunt. He was a year older than Myles but they looked like twins, and we all shared genetics so we kinda looked like siblings.

  “Yeah, what’s good lil baby?” Meet Tykin, Ty for short. My cousins annoying friend who shoots his shot ever time we pass each other, till I piss him off then it’s his signature ‘man whatever’. I just acted like I didn’t hear him and hit the blunt before looking back at Malik.

  “Not much, beat some ass took some names. What y’all do?” I said as I held in the smoke. I raised the blunt silently asking who’s hit it was. Malik pointed to Ty I rolled my eyes as I passed it to him.

  “Awe lil baby didn’t you miss me? I missed you, he missed you too.” He grabbed his not even a bulge as he took his hit. And I tried not to lose mine from gagging.

   “God damn it Ty, how many times do I have to tell you? STOP TRYING TO f**k MY LITTLE COUSIN, s**t dude.” Myles said as he snatched the blunt from him.

  “I can’t help it, lil baby knows what she’s doing to me with a body like that.” Ty moved his hand up and down as if he were touching me. “And besides I really did miss you and your smart ass mouth last night. Where were you lil baby?” He paused leaning forward licking his lips. “I needed to put that mouth to good use.” He winked at me. I sucked my teeth as the blunt was passed back to me. I took another hit before I let my “smart ass mouth” do its job.

   “Oh Ty baby, my vernacular is WAY bigger than anything you have to offer my mouth.” I smirked as I offered the blunt back to him knowing he didn’t know what the word vernacular meant.

  “vernacular language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.” I gave him the dictionary version knowing that wouldn’t clear anything in that dreadlocked head of his.

 “Lil baby what did you just say?” His confused look made my smirk turn to a grin.

  “yeah I forgot I have to use… small words, with you.” His confusion left and was replaced by a glare. I paused, he hit the blunt twice before handing it to Myles who was smiling because he knew I was about to piss him off.

  “My vo-cab-u-lary is a lot big-ger than your small dick.” It was quiet, I crossed my arms over my chest waiting for those magic words saying that I accomplished my mission. He huffed as stood wiping dirt off his pants.

   “Maan whatever” My cousins and I laughed hard belly laughs. So hard I didn’t realise Ty had gotten in my space before it was to late, I stiffened as soon as I noticed. I glanced over at Malik and Myles who were still laughing. Ty reached out trying to touch my face but I swatted his hand away. He was about to say something but Myles cut him off.

   “Ty, I lied keep trying to f**k my cousin. It’s f*****g hilarious watching you fail every time.”

 “Man f**k you.” Ty snapped shoulder bumping me as he walked to the gate.

 “Naw save that energy for Alex.” Myles said flicking the stinger into the yard before looking at me. “Alex you eat yet?”

  “I good beside we just smoked I don’t wanna ruin my high I needed that shit.” I said as I walked in the house. I looked in the living room to the left of the stairs and saw my auntie watching T.V. with a fifth in one hand a cigarette in the other. She looked at me raising the bottle to say hi. I nodded before climbing the stairs to my room with Myles hot on my heels.

   “What do you want Myles?” I asked as I turned the corner walking down the hallway. When I entered my room I took my shirt off tossing it the trash leaving me in my sports bra and sweats. Myles plopped on my bed face down with a bounce not answering my question. “MYLES!” I snapped I really don’t wanna deal with people anymore. He turn to look at me like I didn’t ask him a question. “Myles what do you want?”

  “Oh yeah, let’s  go get some food I got the munchies.” He sat up while I gathered clothes to take a shower.

  “No Myles I’m frustrated, I’ve had a long f*****g day, I don’t wanna deal with people, and I don’t wanna lose my high. I told you that it’s just barley taking the edge off.”

  “I almost forgot to ask you about the fight today what happened?” I sighed as I turned to look at him.

  “You don’t listen, I told you some b***h at school started something and I finished that s**t simple.”

  “I heard what you said but you don’t just fight people. For you to for real lay hands on somebody they had to deserve that s**t so what did she do? Huh huh huh?”

“f**k it was a build up of things she started talk s**t in class saying that I was fuckin Ira and using his family for money, I shut that s**t down. Then she pushed me in the lunch room and spilled s**t on my shoes I just f*****g lost it okay? Is that enough of an explanation for you? Huh huh huh Myles?” I ran my fingers over my face and sighed I didn’t mean to go off on him like that. I glanced back and he looked hurt f**k I really didn’t mean to do that.

  “Myles fix your face, you kept pushing and you got your answer.” Malik said leaning on my door frame. I didn’t even hear him walk up. He turned his head to look at me then smiled. “You f****d that b***h up though right? You came home with blood on your shirt.” He nodded to the trash can. “So what’s good?”

  I sucked my teeth to say duh and looked back at Myles he was smiling to I knew what they wanted. I groaned dropping my clothes and fished my phone outta my pocket. I knew there had to be a video online, in my school drama always hit the internet fast. I didn’t have to scroll very far to find it. I hit play before handing my phone to Myles, Malik sat next to him and watched. I could hear what was going on and the occasional “oh s**t” from my cousin, but I really didn’t wanna see it. I lost control and I’m really mad at myself for that. I Picked my clothes back up and head to the bathroom but I didn’t make to the door even.

  “Uh Alex you might wanna see this.” Malik said coming to hand me my phone. I raised an eyebrow taking my phone looking at the screen.

  “That f*****g b***h. God damn it!” I dropped my clothes AGAIN and starting reading what all Ashely had post.

“No wonder she’s so prone to violence. Just look at who she lives with. I guess I can’t blame                              you for acting like an animal when you were raised by animals. I talked to my parents Alex and they said if you ever wanna break the cycle by taking anger management classes they would gladly pay for it. You should really take the help it shouldn’t be to hard for you since you’re use to taking money from people. If anyone knows her personally please let her know my offer is VERY valid.”

Underneath was my aunts and cousin arrest records and mugshots. My aunt was drunk in all of hers and my cousins always smiled for theirs. I was seeing red, how f*****g dare she bring my family into this. I scrolled to the comments. Of course her friends were saying that they really hope I take her “help” but then I saw Izzy’s comment.

“Ashley you know you started that! Your bark was bigger than your bite and this time you had the right one because lets be real Alex whooped your ass. If Josh hadn’t pulled her off when he did you’d have a lot worse. You have stooped way to low this time but I guess I shouldn’t expect anything less seeing is how YOU  were raised.”

I smiled and then saw Joshes reply to Izzy.

“Yeah that s**t was hard I almost got hit trying to save your ass Ashley! You better take this down before she sees it I might not be around to pull her off you.”  He put a laughing emoji at the end.

  “Yeah that’s some f****d up s**t. But we look good in all our mugshots so don’t trip lil crip.” Malik said reminding me how pissed off I was.

  I shoved my phone in my pocket and walked to my room. I could feel my breathing already picking up as I grabbed my head phones outta my bag and a shirt outta my closet. I threw it on as I jogged down stairs.

  “Alex where the f**k are you going?” Myles yelled from the top of the stairs.

  “Out I’ll be back late don’t wait up.” I responded as I left out the door. I put my headphones in my ears as I went to the gate. I needed a release. I needed to get outta my head and just go on auto pilot for a while otherwise I would go find Ashley and beat the f**k outta her. I might not be that close to my family but they didn’t deserve their business to be put on blast like that.

   I ran full speed four blocks down town. There’s a small MMA gym called ‘Fight club’ there. Old habits die hard I guess. As long as you didn’t bring drama and paid your dues they didn’t ask question. It was my happy place, not many people knew about it so I didn’t have to deal with crowds and the guys didn’t care I was a girl so they don’t hold back when sparing. I as I walked in I nodded to mike the owner I’ve been coming here since I was sent to my aunts house, mike was pretty cool like I said he doesn’t ask question, I like people like that.

  “Alex what can I do for you?” He asked walking up to me crossing his arms.

  “I need to work out some, no a lot of frustrations. You got anybody that can keep up?”

  He threw his head and his shoulders shook as he laughed. “Yeah I got someone, he’s new and needs work on his ground game but seeing as that’s your specialty maybe you can help each other out?” He pointed to a familiar well built tall dude working a speed bag with his back to us.

  “I said keep up I’m not a trainer mike.” I sighed I really didn’t wanna have to hold back.

“He can keep up. I’ll make a deal with you, work with him and you don’t have to pay dues for two months.” He said turning back to me. I put my hand on my chest and leaned back where I was standing.

  “Oh he must be real good if you’ll let me skip dues, but still I don’t like p***y footing around I’ll probably hurt him.”

  “How bout this, no dues for three months and-“ He held up his hand to stop me form saying no. “I’ll buy your food from that grease wagon you call a food truck down the street for that three months.” He smirked because he knew he had me.

  “f**k fine I’ll do it. You  just had to play on my love of food. I’m not holding back though. If he can’t handle it that’s his problem.” I groaned pulling my shirt off and throwing it on the bench.

  “I wouldn’t want you to.” He said turning to the guy at the speed bag. “Martinez get over here.”

  The guy turned abruptly at hearing his name and jogged across the gym towards us. As he got closer I realised I know him. f**k my life it was Josh. What the hell is he doing here? He lives where Ira does. When Josh got to us he looked me up and down then smiled. Mike pointed  to Josh.

  “Josh Martinez.” He pointed at me. “This is Alex-“

“Alex Johnson” Josh interrupted mike.  “yeah I know who she is. Alex didn’t you beat up enough people today?” I raised an eye brow at Josh, yeah I’m definetly not holding back now. Mike clapped his hands together making Josh and I look at him.

  “Great since you two know each other you can get to work. Alex when your done come by my office and get the money for your junk food other than that don’t bug me. Got it, good get to work.” Mike walked in his office leaving Josh and I just standing there. I sigh a silent “f**k” before looking back at Josh.

  “What are you doing here Alex?” Josh asked

  “I could ask you the same question seeing is how you live on the other side of town.” I huffed. He had no place to be nosey.

  “I wanna mix up my fighting style, I barley got my mom to say yes to boxing club and Mike-“

  “doesn’t ask qustions.” We said at the same time. Josh smiled and nodded.

“Okay well, Mike wants to work on your ground game so let’s get started.” I said taking off my shoes and walking to the mats. I slipped gloves on before I turned around and gave Josh the come here signal with my hand. “Show me what you got.” Josh just gave me a confused look.

  “Don’t you wanna warm up first?” He said walking up to me.

 “Oh I ran here but if you need to go ahead.” I said rolling my neck and bouncing on my toes.

  “Oh course you did.”  Josh said swinging his arms.

“Okay so I wanna see where you’re at so give me full speed for the first round I’ll go half speed. Then we’ll go from there. Got it?” I said still bouncing. Josh looked like I had offended him. “What?”

  “You don’t need to go half speed. I’m sure I can handle it.” He said getting into stance.

 “Okay if you say so.” I smirked getting into stance. He really didn’t know what he was getting into. But hey he asked and I needed a real work out. I nodded and we circled each other for a bit. Josh came at my legs looking for a take down, but I could tell he was going half speed and he payed for it with a hard knee to his nose. His head shot up so I hooked his leg with mine looping my arm around his neck and used his body weight to slam him to the ground. When he was there I shifted quickly into an arm bar locking it in tight before raising my hips arching my back hard. Josh was quick to tap, good thing to because I wasn’t gonna let go. He rolled to his side jumping to his feet and rolled his shoulder.

  “I need to see you at full speed stupid, now try again.” I said getting back into stance.

     “f**k Alex, I just didn’t want to hurt you.” He grumbled.

  “I can handle myself.” I said with a nod signalling to go.

  Josh and I went a few more rounds this time he went full speed. Like Mike said he could keep up. I made him tap one last time with a rear naked chock. He rolled off me panting and I had work off a good amount of anger.

“Damn Alex you’re pretty f*****g good.” Josh said still panting.

“ I bested you every time and pretty good is all I get.” I laughed getting to my feet and holding my hand out to help Josh up.

 “I said pretty f*****g good.” He said hopping to his feet instead of taking my hand. Whatever. “That’s a compliment for me.” We both laughed. “But seriously you should join boxing club at school Ira and I would be there so it wouldn’t be like you’re there alone.”

  “I can’t.” I said walking to the water fountain getting and drink. When I turned Josh was right behind me.

  “Why not?” He asked looking confused.

 “Coach doesn’t let girls’ box.” I snorted going to get my shirt and shoes. I sat down and Josh stood right in front of me.

  “I’m sure if he saw you you’d be on the team.” Josh said putting his shirt on.

 “Look I’ve already asked him and he made more than clear it was a no go, besides I’m good here.” I did ask their coach if I could join he was quick to shoot me down saying nothing about boxing was for girl hence why I found fight club.

 “So if I got you a shot would you take it?” Josh asked more than excited but I knew it would be  a bust.

 “Yeah sure, if you can get me a shot I’ll do it but I’m not begging for something I don’t really want.” I said heading to Mikes office. He was on the phone when he saw me leaned in his seat to take out his wallet and handed me two twenties. More than enough so I tired to put the other one on his desk but he stopped me waving his finger at me still talking. I mouthed ‘NO’ but he just waved me off and turned his chair so his back was to me. I walked out of mikes office and headed towards the door with Josh jogging after me.

 “Alex where you headed now?” He asked as I opened the door feeling the cool air pull through my body.

 “Down the street to get food.” I said as  already started walking in that direction.

 “Let me drive you.” He said walking with me.

“Naw I good”

  “Come one it’s better than walking I’ll take you home after.” He stood in front of me stopping me for walking. “We can get something to eat and I’ll take you home. Come on it’ll be dark when you get done eating and in this neighbourhood I’d feel better if you let me take you.”

 “I live in this neighbourhood I got it Josh.” I went to walk around him but he grabbed my shoulders and held me in place.

  “Come on let me do something nice.” He said not letting go.

“Fine I guess where’s your car?” I groaned. He fist bumped the air and threw and arm over my shoulders.

“This way me lady.” I shrugged his arm off.

“Don’t make this weird m’kay.” I said and he held his hands up in surrender. Then lead me to his car, I buckled my seat belt as he started the car.

 “Where to?” He asked. I point forward.

  “Up two stop lights and then a right.” The car moved forward and my stomach growled making Josh laugh.

  “Sounds like I better get you your food.”

“Yeah that’d be really nice thanks.”