From Ashes to Us

NIA’S POV I came home dead exhausted. Smelled like grease and seasoning from the chicken joint down the road, but all I cared about was that little wad of cash burning a hole in my pocket. I’d just gotten paid, and I wanted to tuck the money away in my usual hiding spot…an old cookie container stuffed under the loose floorboard in my room. I crouched down, popped the board up like I always do, heart thumping a little like it always does, and nothing. Nothing. I stared at the empty space like maybe the money would materialize if I blinked enough times. I checked again. Then again. Lifted the board. Put it back. Lifted it again. Still nothing. Maybe I’d stashed it somewhere else and just forgot? That made sense… right? I tore through my room. Under the mattress, behind the dresser, inside my shoes, even in my sock drawer. By the time I was done, the place looked like a tornado met a garage sale. A hoarder's heaven. But still, nothing. The cash was gone. And someone had to have taken it. I stormed downstairs, heart pounding and hands clenched at my sides. I already knew where I was going. Mama was sunk deep into the couch, eyes glazed over, watching Maury like it was church. Her wig was crooked and there was an empty soda can on the floor by her feet. “Mama,” I said, loud enough to pull her out of her haze. “You seen the money I had under the floorboard in my room?” She blinked, slow like her brain had to catch up to her ears. Then she nodded, casual as hell. “Yeah. I seen it.” My stomach dropped. “Okay, well… can I have it back?” She scratched at her arm, not even looking at me. “Can’t.” “Why not?” I asked, my voice rising. She shrugged. “Used some of it. I needed a lil something. And… Rod needed to borrow the rest.” Rod. That crusty man who only came around when he needed a place to crash and something to mooch off. “You what?” I could barely breathe. “Mama, that was my savings. I worked for that. At the damn chicken joint!” She finally looked at me, eyes dull. “Don’t talk to me like I ain’t your mama.” I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Just Maury playing in the background, and my whole chest on fire. I stared at her like she’d slapped me. “Mama… that was my savings. For college. I need that money.” She rolled her eyes, like I was being dramatic. “Girl, ain’t nobody in this family ever gone to no damn college. You can forget about that dream. It’s just gonna break your heart.” I shook my head, backing away like I didn’t know her anymore. “That’s not true. I was gonna go. I got accepted, I just needed…” She cut me off, waving a hand. “You need to stop chasing fairytales and find you a man. While you still young and got your looks. That’s how you get out. Not books.” I felt like the floor disappeared under me. Without another word, I turned and ran upstairs, straight into her room. My blood was boiling. I yanked open the closet, shoved aside shoes and junk, rifled through drawers. Nothing. Rod’s stuff was gone. His duffel bag, his smelly cologne, his stack of worn tees, gone. He’d taken the money and dipped. I don’t even remember running out the house, but the next thing I knew, I was outside, dropping to my knees on the busted sidewalk. The street was quiet except for a dog barking somewhere in the distance and a car blasting bass a few blocks over. And me. Crying. All those extra shifts. All the times I said no to fun, no to food, no to new shoes. Saving every damn dollar in that stupid cookie tin. Gone. College? Gone. Getting out of this house? This neighborhood? Gone. I pressed my hands to my face, sobbing so hard I couldn’t breathe. This place had swallowed up everyone else in my family. And now, it was pulling me down too. The next day at school, I was barely holding it together. I didn’t even bother doing my hair. Just threw on a hoodie, some lip gloss, and hoped no one looked at me too hard. We were out on the bleachers during sixth period, watching the football team practice. The sun was too bright, my head was pounding, and my whole body felt like it hadn’t stopped crying since yesterday. Keisha plopped down next to me, sipping her iced tea like it was wine. She looked at me, squinted, and tilted her head. “Damn, Nia,” she said, all loud. “You look like shit.” I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for the compliment.” She bumped my shoulder. “You okay?” I let out a shaky breath, staring out at the field. “Nah. My mom took my college money. Used it for drugs and let Rod take the rest.” Keisha blinked, her smile dropping. “Wait, what?” I told her everything. The floorboard. The empty tin. Mama on the couch talking nonsense. Rod disappearing. Me breaking down in the street. When I was done, she just shook her head. “That’s messed up. Like, beyond messed up.” Then, after a pause, she added, “Girl… just hook up with Chris. He’ll give you the money.” I turned to her so fast my neck cracked. “Chris? Your drug dealer cousin with three baby mamas? Girl, I’m not tryna be the fourth.” We both cracked up, laughing louder than we should’ve. I laughed until it hurt. Keisha wiped her eyes. “You right. He do got a baby face and a baby problem.” I shook my head, still smiling through the ache in my chest. “I just… I want more than that, you know?” She nodded. “I know. And you still gon’ get it, Nia. Just not the easy way.” We were still giggling when a shadow fell over us. I looked up and just like that, my stomach did a whole cartwheel. Caleb. Sweaty from practice, jersey clinging to him, curls wild under his helmet. He’d pulled it off and slung it under his arm, flashing that perfect grin that made half the school weak. “Hey, Nia,” he said, all smooth and casual like we hadn’t barely spoken in months. “Didn’t recognize you under that hoodie. Thought you were try’na hide from me.” Keisha elbowed me so hard I almost flew off the bleacher. I laughed nervously, brushing my hand over my frizzy ponytail. “I’m not hiding. Just… tired.” He tilted his head, eyes scanning my face like he could see the storm I was trying to keep down. “You good?” I shrugged. “Yeah. You know… life.” Caleb nodded slowly, then glanced at Keisha. “Mind if I borrow her for a sec?” Keisha raised her brows but stood up, dramatic as ever. “I’ll go take a lil walk... away from this awkward tension I been watching for the past three years.” I shot her a stop it look, but Caleb just chuckled. Once she was gone, he dropped down beside me. “So… I heard about you and your college plans. You’re trying to go to Clark, right?” My heart jumped. “Yeah. How’d you?” “People talk. I listen.” He smirked. “Always been proud of you. You’re the only girl I know who got dreams bigger than this school and this town.” I couldn’t look at him too long without feeling like my cheeks were gonna melt off. “Thanks,” I murmured. He nudged my knee with his. “You know… if you ever need help, I got you.” I looked at him then, really looked. For a second, it wasn’t the school star athlete or Alicia’s ex-boyfriend. It was the Caleb I used to laugh with in 9th grade biology before everything changed. Before her. I opened my mouth to respond, but Keisha came back, grinning like the devil. As Caleb stood up, he gave me a wink. “See you around, Nia.” When he was out of earshot, Keisha turned to me with eyes wide and whisper-yelled, “Girl, that is your TICKET OUT!” I rolled my eyes. “Keisha, stop.” She leaned in. “He’s rich, single, fine, and clearly into you. You better not fumble this blessing from the Lord.” I bit my lip, heart still racing. Caleb had always been off-limits… but maybe that was about to change.