358 days



Adaliyah Boyd

"This is long overdue." My mom sighed as she sat on the edge of my bed.

"I'm gonna let you outside okay?" She said and I lit up.

"You serious?" I smiled.

"Yes but you have to be careful. You bruise and bleed very easily. I don't want you getting hurt." She said and I nodded.

"I'm not."

"Promise?" She asked.

"I promise." I hugged her.

Alright so this really like my first time outside in a while so I don't know what to wear. My closet isn't really filled with a bunch of outside clothes. Mostly night clothes. I looked through everything and all I found was sweatpants and a white shirt.

"That boy are here." She said and I rushed downstairs.

This is the most energy I had.

"Oh shit. I mean my bad. I just ain't think she was really gone let you out." He said.

"Remember what I told you." She pointed at him and he nodded.

"I ain't think she was gonna let you out so I don't got shit planned but whatever you wanna do we can." He said.

"I would like to know your name first." I smiled.

"Amare." He said.

"Adaliyah." I said and we shook hands.

"Can we go to the park?" I asked.

I really wanted to go to the beach but I felt like that would be too much to ask.

"Whatever you want." He said.

We walked to the park since it wasn't that far.

"Why you don't come outside? I always seen you walk into the house and never come out." He asked.

"I never really feel like it." I lied.

He looked at me like he knew I was lying but decided to leave it alone.

"You want some fast food?" He asked.

I ain't allowed but I ain't finna tell him that.

"Yup." I said.

Amare Mathews

I know damn well she not allowed to eat fast food but damn let her live. Her mom gave me a list off shit that she's not allowed to do.

So basically she told to not her have fun or live her live.

And I'm not listening to shit she told me.

"Lemme take you to McDonald's."

"I had McDonald's." She laughed.

Her laugh was fucking cute.

"I was just playing."

"No you wasn't. We can go though." She smiled.

My phone went off and I already knew it was Bakari.

Bakari: Hey bestie🤞🏾

I ignored it before opening the door for her.

Adaliyah Boyd

"I've seen people say it's good but never wanted to try it myself." I said as Amare dipped his fries into his ice cream.

After we ordered our food we walked to the park.

He was very nice to be around. He was very calm and understanding.

He understood when I wouldn't wanna talk about certain things. The face tats and that big ass neck tat did not bother me at all. I'm surprised my mom even let me out with someone with that much tattoos.

He was covered in them from what I can see. He had some on his hands and arms.

"It taste better with chocolate ice cream."

"I hate chocolate ice cream." I said.

"Childish ass taste buds." He said and I laughed.

"I'm not even a fan of chocolate period. I only eat chocolate covered strawberries. That's the only chocolate thing I eat." I said.

"Well, I eat white chocolate but I think it taste different." I said.

"See that's racist." He pointed.

"What? How?" I asked. I was genuinely confused.

"You only way white chocolate. What's wrong with dark chocolate?" He asked and I laughed.

"Nothing. I don't hate it hate it but if I eat too much of it I feel weird."

I can blame cancer for that too.

"When's your birthday?" He asked.

"April 30th" I smiled.

"Yours?" I asked.

"April 30th." He said with his eyes squinted.

"You wanna be me so bad." I said and he laughed.

Mom: Is everything okay???

Adaliyah:👍🏾

"Everything cool?"

"My mom was just checking in. Anyways, first you match me with the same exact sweatpants and now you wanna be born on the 30th too."

"I'm older than you though." He said.

"By two years. That's nothing. It don't change the fact that you wanna be just like me." I said.

"You just turned 18. You a youngin."

"Sir you just turned twenty the same day I turned 18..." I said.

"Still don't change the fact that I'm older than you." He mocked me.

"I really sound like that?"

If so I sound so ugly like very.

"Your voice ain't that high but it is a little pitchy." He said and I frowned.

"I sound ugly then." I mumbled.

"All I know is that white lady better put her dog on a fucking leash." He said while looking at the dog with a side eye.

"That little dog. It's like three pounds. Just kick it if it comes near you." I said.

"You really scared of small dogs. At your big age?" I asked.

"Alright don't get too excited with this little piece of information you got." He waved me off.

"What's your dream job?" I asked.

"I don't really got one." He said.

"What did you wanna do when you were a kid? I asked.

"I wanted to be a basketball player." He chuckled.

"Then that's your dream job." I said.

"You meet the requirements." I said while looking at him.

He was tall, very tall.

"You been calling me tall all day. You jealous?" He asked.

"Of? I'd rather be short." I said.

"Being short is ugly." He lied.

"I'm not even short. I'm 5'6." I said.

"That's short. I'm 6'4." He said and I shook my head.

"That's not even cute. You all lanky and tall. You know that scene when the boy got sent to that taffy room in Charlie and the chocolate factory? That's you." I said and we laughed.

"Being short is ugly though." He said.

"There you go. Ruining the mood." I said as we threw our stuff away.

"It's about that time." I sighed. It was getting dark and cold. I didn't bring a jacket.

We walked back to my house and it was already freezing. I kinda don't wanna go in there.

"You don't gotta go in right now." He said and I looked at him. "It's only 8:30." He said as he read the time on his phone.

"What are we gonna do?" I asked.

"We could drive. I don't care. It's up to you." He leaned on his car, waiting for my answer.

"We could—Adaliyah!" My mom called out and I mentally rolled my eyes.

"Took too long." He laughed before walking me up to my porch.

We stood in a silence for a little bit before I wrapped my arms around him.

"Good thing you did it first cause I wasn't." He said.

"You talk to much." I said as I broke the hug.

"I'll see you later." I said before going into the house.

"You had fun?" My mom asked. I nodded my head. I was kinda mad at her because she cut my night short but it wasn't her fault.

"That good." She said and a silence came over us.

It wasn't like the comfort able silence I would have with Amare. This was more awkward.

"Imma go upstairs and go to sleep. Goodnight." I said before going upstairs.

I sat on the bed before I knocked out.

___________ 🤍