I know ya'll are proud of me for posting this. Posting twice in one day? Thank me later.

What's your Ethnicity or Race? I'm Sudanese. Idk why but, I think it's cool to see people with different race and ethnicity background read this book. Makes sense?

Is this chapter before after Jalia Molvie Nite

Malia's POV:

"Thank you Jaimee for the food." I say placing the dishes in the sink.

"No problem honey." she says chewing on the spaghetti and meatballs that she made for herself. Adam and Asshole are also in the kitchen table.

Asshole has been staring at me all day and it would look like he's holding himself back from saying something. I miss talking to him.

I go back to my room and prepare to go to sleep but, my bedroom door open and behold comes Asshole. He closes the door behind him.

"Wrong room." I say sitting on my bed.

He ignores me and sits on the bed.
He nervously look at me and brush the back of his neck with his fingers.

"I'm sorry for being a jerk and I think the best way to prove it, is by telling you the secret." he looked nervous.

I don't want to make him feel pressured to tell me. "I'm not interested in it anymore." that was a big fat lie.

"I know it's a lie and i'm going to tell you it anyway." he closes his eyes and rub his hands.

"Claudia and I used to be friends when we were younger. Claudia,James and I would go everywhere together. We'd tell each other everything, and hang out in each other's home." he starts.

I sit next to him and listened as he spoke quietly.

"She was my ride or die since I about seven until I was twelve."

"What happened?" I asked. I know that it's not any of my business but, I still want to know their history.

"Tony,isn't my real father. He's Adams." He says.

"So, that mean you and Adam are-"

"Yes, Adam and I are half brothers. I love him like a real brother though." he smiles while looking at the white wall. His smile slowly went down. "John, is my real father and i'm thrilled he's out of my life."

"I used to love him though. Once upon a time, my family was rich because, of the business my father, John worked in.When I was around nine, he would take me to her house and we'd hang out. He would talk to Claudia's mother Veronica in the living room while we played at the yard or at her room. As years passed by, I slowly watched as John's love for my mother fade. He used to kiss my mother in the cheeks before he left for work in the morning but, then one day he didn't and I didn't think much of it until he didn't do it the next day. Two days became months, which turned to years.He'd come back drunk and then physically abuse my mom. I saw him beat her like a lifeless object and what did I do? i watched. Sometimes, I would push him off her in order to protect her. He would abuse me after."

He brushes his hair with his pale fingers.
"I had to go to school with bruises in my face and everyone would ask how I got it. I would lie by saying that I fell. I only told James & Claudia about it because, you know, they were my friends. James was worried while for Claudia, she was uncomfortable when we spoke of the topic. Whenever I spoke about it she'd change the subject."

I felt sorry for him.

"When I was thirteen, I walked to her to house on a weekend so, I could hand her the soup, that my mom cooked for he because, she was sick. When I used her house key, she was sleeping in the couch. I placed the soup in the coffee table and, went to use the bathroom. When I opened the bathroom door, I heard someone making out. I assumed it was her mom making out with a new dude."

I could see the veins forming in his arms and a little speck of tear on his lids. He immediately wipes it and sniffs a couple times. I lay my hands on his cold hands to assure, that it's okay to cry. Weeping doesn't make a man or boy weak.He cracks a small smile.

"I heard a familiar voice and that's when I knew who it was. I immediately open the door,not giving a care in the world,if they were naked. There stood John and Claudia's mother kissing. I was so angry that day and remember shouting at them in anger. I confronted the both of the. Claudia's mom looked guilty while John didn't care. He told me that Claudia have known about their affair since, 3 years ago."

I froze by what he said. I couldn't believe that his father and Claudia's mother would do such a sinful thing. To top it off, Claudia kept silence while he was clueless. I take a breath and that's when I realize that i've been holding it.

"I remember going downstairs and waking her up. I confronted her. At first she denied it and then I threatened her, that James and I won't speak to her ever again if she doesn't speak up. She then tells the truth and she said she was only trying to help me from getting hurt. She also said she never knew how it felt to have a father so, she was going to let my dad keep smashing her mom. She said my dad had an affair with Nhial, our former maid, before she quit."

He clenched his jaws as he fold his arms to fists and it looked like he was holding back his tears.

"I know this might sound stupid but, I think the reason why i've been an ass to you is because, you remind me of Nhial. She was like a second mom to me when I was younger. She was a strong African woman who played with me when my mom and John didn't spend that time to. Whenever I felt low she would give me advice, feed me,
she would say a funny remark, and overall made me felt special. When I heard that she was having an affair with Tony, I felt betrayed. I never got the chance to get mad at her so, I put my anger on you"

I squeeze his cold hands. "I'm sorry." I whisper.

"Don't be. I should be the one telling you sorry. I'm really sorry for being an ass since, the day I met you. Just because someone I looked up to as young child did something bad doesn't mean I have to put it on you. I'm sorry for calling you a homeless African. I'm sorry. " There was pain and hurt in his eyes.

Even though what he said was extremely rude to me I guess I can see it from his perspective. Someone he cherished as a child did something effective to him. I've had friends like that in middle school and it hurts really much. Besides, it's not healthy for me to hold a grudge for a long time.

"I forgive you."

His blue eyes extended and he gapes."Are you serious?"

I nod my head smiling.

"Again. I'm sorry, Malia." he says.

"It's fine. But if you ever say something like that to me and my beautiful culture, i'm not gonna run to the bus stop but, to you. I'll make sure to slap the daylights out of you."

He chuckles. "I'll try."

"Don't try to stop yourself from saying something you'll regret. DO."

"Ok."

We stood silent in my bedroom staring at each other's' eyes. His blue eyes were the first to break contact.

"Eventually Claudia's mother and John got married. Last year he committed suicide."

I gasp at the news. "I'm sorry that had to happen."

That must have been hard for him when he heard the news. Although I know that he hates his father for doing a sinful action, he stilled loved him at the same time.

He cracks a smile. "I already told you Malia. It's not your fault."

"Still."

"That's why I wanted to hear why you attempted to commit suicide that day when we were at the park. I wasn't there to stop John from killing himself. Even though you might not have suicidal thoughts anymore, I want to be there for you."

I look at the bedroom door. "The students." I said trying to hold back my tears.

"What?" he asked confused.

"The students that were in my middle school class were the reason I attempted to commit suicide." I clarify. " I had two best friends at the time named Alexa and Taylor.
I would tell them everything and they would tell me theirs. We were sort of like the three musketeers. I was bullied. A lot in middle school because, of my skin color. They would insult me and crack stupid African jokes. Taylor and Alexis would stand up for me and that's why I loved them."

Tears flow down my lids to my cheeks. I wipe them quickly but, it just kept on coming back. I hate crying because, it made me feel weak.

He hugs me and I inhale the musky cologne he had on. The hug was warm and welcoming. I don't know how long I cried for in his shoulder but, I cried until no tears were coming. He was patient and rubbed my back as I cried.

"One day there was a new student and it turned out he liked me but, I didn't like him though. They got jealous and turned their backs on me. They spread rumors and some of them were my embarrassing stories. I had no friends anymore and had to eat in the lunch table by myself. I used to be bullied when I had them as a friend but, not as much afterwards. I got mean notes in my locker and got tripped in the halls and classroom. I tried telling my counselor but, they were hardly doing anything. I got tired so, I grabbed the pills from the kitchen and swallowed the pills one by one. I remember waking up in the hospital. After I got out I got homeschooled ever since. I've never been better."

We're still hugging.

I feel his body rising as he exhales and sigh. "I'm sorry for saying that stupid shit at the dinner table. I feel so guilty."

"I already told you this. You're forgiven."

He cackles. "I know."

"I'm sorry that had to happen to you." I tell him.

"I also already said this. You're forgiven." he says.

I yawn and my eyelids are having trouble staying awake. They just keep in closing and sleep was calling me.

He hugs me tighter and put his shoulder on my head. He rocks me lightly back and forth
like a little child. I close my eyes and render to sleep.

**

I hope you liked the chapter

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