We Can't Be Friends - Chapter 2

The cars pull in to the dark playground, the headlights shining on the slides and swing sets. The engine dies out, making the night quiet and dark again. Everybody evacuates the cars, me taking out Anylah.

We walk towards the swings and sit on either the swings or on the tables near the swings. No words are exchanged because everyone already knows what the other wants to say.

"Can you believe him?" Justin says pacing in front of everyone. Hakeem, who is pushing Nicole on the swing softly, grunts in agreement while everybody else nods.

I grab him by the hem of his black shirt to stop his pacing. He looks at me, his gray eyes glowing with anger towards my father. "Calm down, please." I plead. His eyes soften.

Justin sits down; we all stay silent, only the sounds of nature and the swings squeaking is heard.

"Why don’t we play man hunt?" Katrina suggests breaking the silence.
"I’m in." My brother Jayson says standing up from his seat beside me. Everybody else says the same.
"I can’t." I say being the odd ball. Everybody looks at me then to the baby that is happily playing with my hair.
"Oh." Hakeem says.
"It’s okay. You guys go have fun. I’ll be fine." I say not trying to bring down everyone’s mood.
"You sure?" Kwamaire asks sincerely.
"I don’t really wanna play. It’s fine." They shrug and go off leaving me and Anylah alone.

A couple of minutes after they leave, Anylah looks around then slips off my lap, onto her feet and runs towards the swings, only to fall in the woodchips. Her cry is loud and heartbreaking. I rush to her aid, picking her up when I get there.

"It’s okay honey. It’s okay. You’re okay now." I coo, trying to soothe her. She tightens her arms around my neck, with her head on my shoulder. She quiets down; lifting her head from my shoulder, Anylah places her hands on my cheek.

We stare at each other, her gray irises searching my light brown ones for something I don’t know. She opens her mouth to yawn.
"You tired Nylah?" I ask as she puts her head back on my shoulder. She doesn’t answer, instead she yawns again. "Okay, we go home."

I walk to my Ssenatra, open the door and place Anylah in her car seat. After securely strapping her in, I sit in the driver's seat. Taking out my iPhone, I text Justin, telling him that I’m leaving to take Anylah home.

His text is immediate.
Justin:: She’s sleep?
Me:: Just about. Yu goin baq 2nite?
Justin:: Yea but dnt leave
Me:: Y?
Justin:: I wanna say by 2 her. I’m not goin 2 c her 4 a while.
"Awe." I say aloud after reading the text. I text back,
Me:: Aww y not?
Justin:: Finals :/

Oh right it is the end of the year. I have about four more weeks left of school and I couldn’t be happier.
Me:: O good luck.
I text sending my wishes.
Justin:: Thnx Jazz.
Me:: Np.

I silently sit in the car waiting for Justin to come say good night to his daughter. Justin and I have always been good friends since I was little. Me, Jayson and Justin would always do everything together, go to the park, the movies, to get ice cream, play video games, anything you could think of we did, except for go on dates cause that’s a little too far.

I remember when I was ten and they were twelve, almost thirteen, we went to Kwamiare’s house for a party. We played seven minutes in heaven. That night I ended up kissing Kwamiare, Justin and my current boyfriend, Isaiah. That was the best day ever.

A knock on the window brings me back to reality. I look at Justin, unlocking the door. He opens Anylah’s door; he kisses his child then closes the door. I start my car, getting ready to leave when Justin taps on my window. I roll it down and look up at his light figure in the dark night. Did I mention Justin is Puerto Rican? Oh I didn’t, well now you know. Btw, Anylah is half black and half Spanish, which means I speak to her in Spanish when I want.

"Yea." I say in an awkward tone.
"Thank you." Justin says putting his hand in the window with a hundred dollar bill in his hand.

I thankfully take it because Nylah is running low on a couple of things. Every time I see Justin, he always gives me money for Anylah. Since I don’t have a job, I can’t really get her anything because my dad refuses to pay for anything. So being that Justin’s her dad, she gets whatever she need from the money her dad gives me.

"Anything for my little girl." I say smiling.
"Text me when you get home." He says walking away.
"Kay." I yell after him.

***************************************************************

I pull up to a dark house, no cars in the semi driveway except for mine. I turn off the car and sit in the car for a few seconds. Sighing, I open my door, walk over to Anylah’s door, open it and take the sleeping baby out.

It’s been ten months, since I’ve been taking care of Anylah. This little girl is like the world to me; she’s very smart for her age, cute, does the funniest things, and I mean who wouldn’t love this little girl. I know I’m not her mother, but sometimes I wish I was. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy I’m still a virgin but Anylah deserves a good mom instead of the one that she has. I mean what mother leaves her child alone in a house for a day when she’s only seven days old, to go get high with friends. That’s some sick shit. But enough about her dead beat mother.

I lay her small body on my bed and lay next to her. I remember the day Justin bought her to my house. He was so happy to be a daddy. The way he held her close to him, the way his eyes sparkled when he looked at his daughter.

"Guess what her name is?" Justin had asked as I held her in my arms, his gray eyes looking at me.
"What?" I asked curious, looking at the sleeping infant in my arms.
"Anylah." He said. I looked up at him in shock.
"W-what?" I asked again.
"Anylah La-Rae Simmons. I used your name as inspiration." He said smiling. I was on the verge of tears that day.

So now you’re probably guessing what my middle name is. It’s Lanyah. Jazmyn Lanyah Brontez.

I take my phone out and text Justin and Isaiah. Justin replies first.
Justin:: Yu home safe?
Me:: Nobodies home so no trouble.
Justin:: Gud
Me:: You still playin?

Usually we play man hunt till three o’clock in the morning. Yea, that’s a long time to be playing.

Justin:: Nah everybody went home aftr yu left
Me:: O…Y?
Justin:: Dk but imma tlk 2 yu 2morrow cuz im types tired plus skool in da morning
Me:: Okay nite.

Sending the message, I lay down and snuggle next to Anylah. I wait five more minutes, waiting for my boyfriend to text me but get no luck. I fall asleep, thinking about what he’s doing.