Aloe Vera

Big houses on the hill

Sammy lived in one of those big houses on the hills that kids like me only dreamed to visit. He was a gentleman, opening the door for me then throwing his keys at the butler who nodded.

My cheeks felt swollen and my fingers felt numb, but I didn't say anything, just wondered why I was here. There was this dull ached that was forming in my head, and I touched the spot lightly, before letting out sigh.

Things never get better.

"Can I use your phone?" I ask him and he takes it from his pocket and slaps it into my hand.

Of course, an iPhone, surprisingly, it didn't have a password so I unlocked it and called Danielle. I hoped she wasn't mad at me, especially since I left and didn't even look for her, although it wasnt exactly my choice, I was literally dragged against my will.

"Hello?"

"Danielle, oh thank goodness, where are you?"

"Loa! I'm . . ." She begins to whisper, her voice laced with awe. "I'm at someone's house. It's huge."

"Me too." I whisper back, peeking at Sammy who was flipping through some papers on the table.

"What did they do to you?"

"Oh you know, the usual, I have a huge footprint on the side of my face and my stomach feels like someone dragged a knife through it." I sigh and shake my head. "Are you okay?"

"I think so . . . he talks a lot but I'm sure he's not a killer." I chuckle and turn around to find Sammy leaning on the wall this time, watching me.

"I'll come by later. I love you."

"Love you too." She says softly before hanging up.

"Thank you." I hand him his phone and he nods.

"Follow me." My eyes skim over the black walls as we pass by. The house was giving serious vampire vibes as there was little bits of red in small places.

Everything looked expensive so I kept my hands to myself as he led me into the stainless steel kitchen.

He doesn't ask any questions, just makes me a sandwich and places it on the counter, his eyes looking at me expectantly.

"Eat." He demands, placing a can of soda next to it.

"Oh, I'm not really hun-"

He clenches his jaw and pins me with a harsh glare. I gulp and slowly take a seat, biting into the sandwich.

He leaves for a moment, and returns with a chubby looking lady with short red hair and big circular glasses.

"Check her," He states and the lady sighs.

"Samuel, I'm not a nurse, if-"

"Just do something Mary! It doesn't take a scientist to clean a face wound." He snaps loudly and even I jump.

"Oh no, it's okay I can just clean this up when I get home." But she had already left and returned with a kit.

I let her do as she does, afraid that Sammy would yell at us. Her hand shook as she clean my wound and I bit my lip every time it stung.

"Don't hurt her for christ's sake." She closed her eyes and put the stuff away.

"There, anything else I'd suggest that you see a real doctor, and don't be afraid to talk to the police." She nodded at me, then glanced at Sammy.

"He didn't do this." I furrow my eyebrows and watch as Samuel's eyes light up with anger. My first thought was perhaps he was going to hit her, but he only scowled at her as she scurried away. I felt scared around him, finally realizing that he was only a stranger. I place the half eaten sandwich onto the plate, losing my appetite.

"I would like to go home." I say quietly and he remains silent.

"Not yet." He says after a moment. He walks closer to me and I look up at him. He was white just like the rest of the teens in the high school, which highly contrasted with my dark skin. His hair was silky, and short, kept neatly on top of his head. His nose was a bit big, but that was okay because he had pretty brown eyes, naturally curled eyelashes and thick pink lips to distract you from it. He wore basketball shorts, with a plain white t-shirt and perhaps I could see how he belonged to a high school and not a work place.

"Does what happened before happen often?"

"What? Me getting my ass beat? Oh yea." I snort and he tilts his head.

"Just by Mace?"

"No, Mace plus everyone once they get the chance."

"Why?"

"Because I'm poor." I shrug. "My mother is a c***k head and a p********e, and my father sells drugs to minors for a living. My brother's in jail, and I? I got a scholarship and I'm barely maintaining it. I live in a house that leaks, and sleep on the floor on an old mattress. I skip breakfast so I can have lunch, and I eat dinner at my best friend's house. Oh, did I mention that I'm black?" His eyes are still hard and unmoved as he stares at me, saying nothing.

Yea, I bet he regrets bringing me here now, probably thinks I'm going to steal something.

"Can you please get me home? I'm sure my parents are worried sick." I mutter sarcastically and he nods. I stand and make my way back to the living room where I throw on my shoes and not at the butler who opened up the door for us. He chooses a car this time, and I hug myself suddenly feeling depressed.

My eyes lingered on his house for a bit longer as he gets inside the vehicle.

Some people have it fair in the world, and the others are left to rot. It's disappointing really.