Unedited

Athena Kelly

Twenty whole minutes.

Thats how long I had been sitting out front waiting on Cato. My sister stayed with me the first ten but then got antsy and went off to her friend's house. I was aggitated and had half a mind to just go home at this point. I'd give it ten more minutes.

"Aye you seen where yo sister went?" I looked up seeing Boyd looking down at me.

I shook my head no. He sat down beside me. "You look pretty today. I like yo hair like that" he grinned.

"Thanks" I replied simply seeing Cato's car rolling up. I stood up. Boyd stood too.

"Who you waiting on?" he asked me.

"None of your business."

He sucked his teeth. "This why nobody try to be friends with you. You so stuck up. Humble yoself, that shit not cute."

I rolled my eyes and ignored him as Cato's car pulled up in front of me. I heard Boyd walking away as I got in.

"You're lucky. I was about to leave" I said to Cato. He didnt respond. Instead he started driving and turned down his music a bit.

When he stopped at a light, he looked over at me. "I had some business to take care of. Coulda told you if you hadda phone."

"Are you going to continuously bring that up?" I asked him with an eye roll.

He smiled and licked over his lips. "You got a lot of attitude."

"I don't. You just get on my nerves" I said truthfully.

He chuckled as he started driving again.

After a while, we pulled up at a house. It was super nice from the outside. I wondered if it was his. He got out of the car. I sat wondering if I should as well.

He walked around to my side and opened the door. "You gone get out? I doubt 'chu wanna sit in this hot ass car all afternoon" he said with a smirk. Everytime he smirked I edged closer and closer towards wanting to slap him.

I grabbed my backpack and got out, following him into the house. The inside was even nicer than the outside. Everything was industrial styled and there was a black and white color scheme.

"Leave your shoes at the door" Cato said after taking off his own. He walked over to the couch and sat down. I took a seat on the couch after he did. He then grabbed his laptop and powered it on. I just sat quietly, wondering what he wanted from me.

"You make me uncomfortable" I heard him say.

I looked over at him confused. "What?"

He typed something then looked over at me. "You make me uncomfortable."

I scrunched up my face. "How?"

"You'on talk. It makes me anxious" he scratched his head. "I'm used 'tuh females talkin' my ear off."

"Oh. I dont really say much. I never have anything to talk about" I shrugged.

"Whats yo favorite color?" he asked me while doing whatever he was doing on his computer.

"I dont have one."

"Whaaaat? Everybody got a favorite color."

"I don't. It changes too often so I just tell people that I dont have one."

"I betchu I can guess what it is right now" he smiled at me.

I lowered my eyes at him. "Try me."

"It's blue."

I tried but couldnt stop the smile that made its way to my face. "That was a lucky guess" I tried to argue.

"Nah. Everytime I done seen you these past two weeks, you had on a different shade of blue nail polish" he said.

My smile grew wider. "You actually paid attention to that?" I said laughing.

"Damn, I finally got a laugh" he smiled like he accomplished something.

I sucked my teeth. "I laugh all the time."

"Not wit' me."

I stayed quiet.

"Aight so... This why you here..." he started. I gave him my full attention.

"Yeah?" I said waiting for him to start.

He scratched his forehead nervously. "Umm, you prolly think i'm just runnin' the streets bein' a criminal or what the fuck ever but i'm enrolled in college. I just started a class tho' and I need help wit' it."

"You want me to tutor you?" I squinted.

"Nah, i'm straight on the content. I need you to take the class for me. I'll pay you and everything" he said. I was confused.

"And you cant do it yourself.....why?" I asked.

He seemed like he was getting frustrated but cleared his throat to answer my question. "She'on take typed assignments cause it includes math. I cant really write for it."

"Why not?" I asked with a chuckle.

"I hav- ....I go-..." he stopped and sucked his teeth before typing something in and passing me his laptop.

I looked at him suspiciously before reading what he had pulled up.

Dysgraphia – According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing, which requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills. Dysgraphia makes the act of writing difficult. It can lead to problems with spelling, poor handwriting and putting thoughts on paper. People with dysgraphia can have trouble organizing letters, numbers and words on a line or page.

My heart stopped in realization. He had this? "So you want me to take it for you because it requires writing?" I raised a brow at him. He nodded slowly as if he was ashamed.

"I have a question. Dont take it the wrong way. I'm more than willing to help you, but why not just ask for accomodations? Like see if you can type everything" I asked curiously.

"Ion like everybody knowing" he mumbled after a sigh. I stared at him for a moment before nodding.

"I'll help you.... But I'm not doing the whole class for you. Maybe I can come over and we work on your stuff together. I just write everything for you" I suggested. "And I dont want you paying me."

He smirked. "Why not?"

"I wouldn't feel right taking money for it" I said truthfully. It would be nice to have money though. He nodded and got up.

"I got somethin' for you" he left and went into a room. I let out a deep breath and laid back against the couch with my eyes closed.

I heard him walk back out and sit down next to me. I opened my eyes just as he sat something in my lap. I looked at him before looking down at it. It was a box wrapped in blue wrapping paper.

"Dont open it 'til you get home" he said. I looked at him suspiciously and nodded.

He grinned. "We can start workin' on the shit if you want? Or you wanna go home?"

"No we can start now. Do you have any water though? I'm thirsty" I said to him.

"Yeah, its a buncha shit in the kitchen. Help yourself" he nodded towards the kitchen. I got up and went to search the kitchen for the water and something to snack on. I couldnt help thinking about that box though. I wanted to open it so bad. But I guess i'd just have to wait until I got home.