From Ashes to Us

CHAPTER 2

NIA’S POV

The rest of the school day crawled by. I was barely paying attention in class, just staring out windows, tapping my pen, and replaying Caleb’s voice in my head like it was my favorite song on repeat.

You ever need help, I got you.

The way he said it felt like more than just words.

So when the final bell rang, I practically floated to my locker, still unsure if I imagined the whole conversation. I was grabbing my stuff when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“There she is.”

I turned, heart skipping. Caleb leaned against the locker next to mine like it was a photo shoot. Hoodie now on, curls damp from the shower, smile soft but dangerous.

“Hey,” I said, trying to play it cool, though my hands were sweating.

“You busy after school?” he asked, straight to the point.

I blinked. “Um… no?”

He grinned. “Good. There’s this little smoothie spot over on North. Thought we could go. Chill for a bit.”

My brain stalled. I wasn’t sure if this was real or if I’d fallen asleep in 6th period and was currently dreaming.

“You asking me out?” I said, raising an eyebrow.

He shrugged like it was no big deal, even though it so was. “Yeah. I guess I am.”

I bit back a smile. “What about Alicia?”

His face shifted, but only for a second. “That chapter closed when she opened her legs for Drew.”

“Damn.”

He laughed. “Sorry. Just being honest.”

I nodded, chewing on the inside of my cheek. “Alright. Let’s go.”

He looked surprised for a second, like maybe he thought I’d say no. Then he grinned, wide and boyish. “Cool. I’ll wait for you out front.”

As he walked away, I leaned back against my locker, trying to calm the butterflies staging a full-on riot in my stomach.

Keisha popped up out of nowhere, smirking like a psychic who already knew what happened. “Girl. I told you.”

I just smiled. “Yeah, yeah. Let me have this moment.”

Because for once, something good was actually happening. And I wasn’t about to question it.

I met Caleb out front like I said I would, and true to his word, he was leaning on that sleek black Charger of his, keys spinning around his finger and a shy kind of smile on his face.

“You ready?” he asked, opening the passenger door for me.

I nodded, sliding in. “You’re really doing the whole gentleman thing, huh?”

He chuckled as he climbed in on his side. “Only for you.”

The smoothie spot was a small, cozy place tucked between a laundromat and a soul food restaurant. It smelled like fruit, honey, and cinnamon. Soft R&B played over the speakers, and the place was mostly empty except for an old couple in the corner sharing a banana smoothie.

We ordered…he got mango-pineapple, I got strawberry-banana and grabbed a table by the window.

For a minute, we just sat there sipping, watching people pass by outside. It wasn’t awkward. Just… easy.

“You ever think about leaving this town?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“All the time,” I said. “That’s kind of the dream. College, then never looking back.”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah. I used to think football would be my ticket out. Then I realized… I don’t even love it that much. I just didn’t know what else I was good at.”

I looked at him. “You're good at making people feel seen. That counts for something.”

His eyes met mine and held them. “So are you. You always made me feel like I mattered. Even when I was just the dude sitting behind you copying your math homework.”

I laughed. “You remember that?”

“Of course I do. That was my favorite class, ‘cause of you.”

I looked down at my smoothie, feeling my cheeks warm.

We sat there a little longer, sipping our drinks, letting the quiet wrap around us like a blanket. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I was drowning.

I felt seen. Safe.

Caleb pulled up in front of my house just as the sun started dipping low behind the rooftops. The sky was painted in soft pinks and oranges, and for a second, it felt like the world was trying to be kind.

He parked but didn’t cut the engine.

“You want me to walk you up?” he asked, his eyes searching mine like he already knew I didn’t want to go inside.

I forced a smile. “Nah, I’ll be alright. Thanks for today. Really.”

He reached out, brushed a thumb gently along my cheek. “Anytime, Nia. I mean it.”

I nodded, trying not to linger too long or let the moment stretch into something dangerous. Then I slipped out the car, waved goodbye, and watched as he pulled off.

The second I stepped through the front door, everything shifted.

There was a man on the couch I’d never seen before. Shirtless, sweaty, with a beer in hand and gold teeth flashing when he grinned at me.

“Well ain’t you a pretty young thing,” he said, licking his lips like I was on a damn menu.

I froze. My whole body tensed. “Where’s my mom?” I asked, voice sharp.

He shrugged, completely unfazed. “Upstairs or somethin’. Dunno. You her daughter?”

I didn’t answer. I just turned and walked straight to my room, heart pounding.

Once I was inside, I slammed the door and locked it, then slid the second bolt across.

The one I had to install myself.

I sank down onto my bed, hugging my knees to my chest. The scent of old perfume and chicken grease clung to the walls, and the broken fan in the corner buzzed with an uneven hum.

I stared at the ceiling, jaw clenched, chest aching.

Why couldn’t I have a normal mother? Someone who made dinner and asked about my day. Someone who didn’t bring strange men into the house like it was a revolving door. Someone who gave a damn.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them back. Crying wouldn’t fix anything.

Still, I laid there wishing just for once that I could come home to safety.

To love.

To something that felt like home.

Saturday dragged.

The fryer was acting up again, and the AC barely worked, which meant I was sweating before my shift even hit the halfway mark. The scent of hot grease and burnt oil clung to everything. My hair, my skin, even the back of my throat.

I wiped down the counter for the third time, praying for time to speed up, when the door jingled and the atmosphere changed.

Chris walked in.

And not alone. His whole crew was with him, loud and laughing, dressed like they’d stepped out of a rap video. The kind of guys that made people sit up straighter or suddenly remember they had somewhere else to be.

They took over a booth in the back like they owned the place. Chris, of course, made his way to the counter.

And me.

He leaned against it, way too close, flashing that slick grin like it was made of gold. “I seen you around,” he said, voice low, smooth. “You Keisha’s homegirl, right?”

I gave a tight smile, grabbing my notepad. “Yeah. I’m Nia. You placing an order?”

He didn’t answer right away, just looked me up and down like I was dessert. “Been tryna holler at you for a minute. You always in your own little world though.”

I forced a light laugh, keeping my tone even. “Guess I’m just focused. What can I get you today?”

He tilted his head, still watching me way too close. “I like that. Focused. Not like these other girls out here.”

My skin prickled, but I kept my smile in place. This wasn’t the time to be snappy or rude…not with a guy like Chris. I’d heard stories. Everyone had.

Dangerous. Charming. Messy.

He finally gave me his order, throwing in an extra "baby girl" at the end that made my stomach twist, but I didn’t flinch.

“Coming right up,” I said with practiced politeness, turning to punch it into the system.

Behind me, I could feel his eyes still on me. Watching. Weighing.

I wasn’t interested. Not even a little.

But I wasn’t stupid either.

Around guys like Chris, you had to be careful. Sweet enough not to offend. Distant enough not to invite more.

I just needed to finish this shift, take my tips, and go.

Far away from flirtatious drug dealers and broken homes.

Back to my room, my bolt lock, and the dream I refused to give up on.

Not for Chris. Not for anyone.