“Are you o–––”
“I’m fine. I’m totally fine,” she nodded with a forced smile. “A dog fight…sent him to the pound, all is well,” she joked as she stood in front of my dresser to fix her face in the mirror. “Isn’t our first and won’t be our last. Besides, you know real Gs don’t cry.”
“That’s right,” Asha smiled.
“Big G not the little G,” Souxie added. Maggie took a fist to her chest for a strong pound.
“The O.G,” Maggie added. “Big Original Grey…I’m good. No worries.”
Asha laughed before clearing her throat as she became quiet when nobody else laughed. I did not understand where the joke was because all I could see was Maggie trying her hardest to appear okay with blood on her face. She was attempting to use humor as a way to mask what was really going on, but when she turned around, she clapped again.
“Alright so…” she sniffed before looking around. “What’s the plan? I want to know how we’re going to find a way to break this blood contract. Let’s figure out a plan and go to my parents’ house either tonight or this weekend. This whole Xavier thing has left a bad taste in my mouth and before I lose my mind and sanity at this school, I need us to get some sort of plan together about my family.”
The girls looked at each other, sharing the same glances. From all of the things Maggie has told me, these girls seemed like they were fearless. Always discovering and finding ways to figure things out. The look on their faces now said otherwise and I could sense Maggie was feeling the hesitation.
“Last year, we were all about Asha finding her true self. Isis had us going through doors and when a certain someone went missing or was about to go missing, we stepped in. I’m asking, what about me this time? We said this is what we were going to focus on this year, so what’s up?” She asked.
“I…just…I want to focus on my school work,” Asha admitted with her head turning in shame. “Last year was already a lot. This year it seems like it’s still tense from last year’s bullshit. I’m not even caught up with you all regarding school–––”
“Fuck this school,” Maggie blew off.
“Sooo…” Isis dragged. “I can help but my classes are mostly in the lab or clinic now. I’m moving further into my medical career so I would have to plan this out carefully in between exams so I don’t fall behind. It’s just a lot this year, Mags. It really is.”
“This will have to wait until winter break,” Souxie declared. Maggie looked around the room. I felt the rejection like it hit me in the face instead of her. I did not understand what was going on. It was as if they already spoke about this in private and decided they would not help her, but why?
“We’re not saying we won’t do it!” Asha blurted out, realizing how it sounds. “It’s just give us a minute…this is a lot to take in and we’re already…. under fucking pressure at this school. We barely see each other as is and we’re not staying in the same house anymore. It takes me forever just to get on this side of the Grounds.”
Everyone started talking as Maggie’s shoulders dropped, realizing what was happening.
“I also think,” Souxie said, speaking slowly as she looked Maggie in the eyes. “I also think…Namir might be right. You already have so much attention drawn to you as is.”
“And!” Isis added. “It’s not like you have Dr. Holmes to protect you this time. We don’t have the luxury of just doing whatever this time around, not anymore anyway. I really have to focus this year if I want to land at a good hospital or clinic.”
I read Maggie’s face as clear as the sun from back home. It’s the same disappointment I felt when my father told me he had no intentions of taking me outside. He kept me anticipating just enough to stay put only to realize in the end, he had no intentions on letting me travel. Maggie’s cheeks sucked in as she nodded before breaking into a smile.
“Last year was a lot," she admitted with a hard sigh.
“Your parents are still safe, yes? You still have access to their home security cameras?” Souxie asked as she wrapped her arm around Maggie’s shoulder.
“You know what?” Asha added. “Who’s to say that fuck boi Xavier isn’t right? Your mom could be First Family as well and…”
The look on Maggie’s face caused Asha to quiet her words as she closed her mouth. Souxie’s glaring eyes tried to turn Maggie’s attention back to her.
“I think she’s trying to say, you don’t want to put your parents in danger by including them in the spotlight. Let’s just sleep on it and then in the morning, let’s find ways to get our research together in our spare time and figure out how we can help from a safe distance. You don’t want to bring any unwanted attention to them.”
“Right,” Maggie nodded before smiling. “Right.”
“Okay?” Souxie pressed but I stared at her with my own suspicion. “Let’s take a step back, do some research, and actually just be Drew Collins students for once, enjoying what the school has to offer.”
“Annnnd I’ma need you to make up with the Coach,” Asha let out with her arms crossing over her chest. “Can’t have these random hoes trying to come for him thinking he’s single and shit.”
Maggie nodded before throwing her hands into the air with a dramatic sigh.
“Fine! You convinced me! I’ll let it go! I’ll play it safe and now? I’m safely taking myself to bed because my head is killing me.”
“Also! We’re going to take Ayira above ground so we can take a peek at your parents’ house too!” Isis let out, almost in a panic.
“Yeaaah yeaaah…Let’s take the princess on her tour around the crappy ATL. I’m with it!” Maggie let out with a laugh before the bedroom door closed. There was an immediate silence that followed and lingered.
