"Can A ❤ still break once it stops beating?" 

____________________

S A T O M I 

The first thing you were taught as a kid was not to trust anyone. Well, that was what I was taught.

I grew up in a bad neighborhood on the southside of Chicago. 

You weren't supposed to trust anyone anyway... it was too many kids getting shot or killed out here. 

My Mama barely let me go outside because of the crime. 

I didn't think it was a big deal because, well, I'm a teenager and just wanted to live my entire highschool experience.  

I should've listened to my mother. 

A week before I was murdered I just started school. It was my junior year of highschool and my birthday was coming up in December. 

I was so excited.  "Uh, what are you wearing?" My Daddy asked  me. 

He worked as a mechanic. He didn't make alot of money but it was enough. I looked down at what I was wearing.  

"What's wrong with it?" I asked. "Well, you look like a hoe." I frowned.  

No, my father wasn't the one  that murdered me. He was just outspoken.. he didn't care about what came out of his mouth. 

My parents are still young. My mother had me when she  was fifteen so that makes her thirty-one now and so is my father. 

After I was born they got married and started a family. It was me, my little sister Simone and twin brothers Kaiden and Jailen who  are only five years old. 

Simone is a freshman now and really into sports. 

"Trey leave her alone." My Mother, Latasha said. My Daddy smacked his lips. "I'm not  letting her go to school dressed like this Tasha.. you got me fucked up." 

Daddy said with a stern look on his face. Mama sighed looking down at my outfit. "Mimi just go change." She said. 

I groaned and made my way upstairs. All I had on was some cut up jeans and a crop top. 

I barely own any t-shirts. I took one of Simone's shirts out of her dresser and slid it  on. I made my way downstairs and held my hands up. 

"Happy?" I asked. Simone looked at me and frowned. "No, that's my favorite shirt." She said. 

"Well let your sister wear it." Mama said. I smiled and Simone rolled her eyes hard. 

"I-I don't wanna go to 

s-school." Kaiden said. He always  had a studdering problem... it got worse after I died. 

"You have to, it's y'all first day and you don't wanna go?" Mama asked placing her hand on  her hip. 

"No." Jailen said. We all laughed.  "Too bad, I'm glad I finally have the house to myself." Mama said. 

She was a housewife now she was ready to get  her old job back at the salon down the street. 

After we all ate breakfast we walked to school. Simone and I dropped  the twins off then walked to our highschool Lindblom. 

"I can't wait Mimi, this is my first year of highschool." Simone said. I smiled. "Yea." 

"Did you like your freshman year?" Simone asked. "No." I said honestly. I hated school. It didn't matter if I had straight A's.. I hated it. 

The homework, the tests, projects.. all of it. We stepped inside the crowded school. "Well, I'll see you later. Don't get anything on my shirt." 

I ignored her and we went our separate ways. I looked around  for my locker and found  it. I pulled my books out that  I needed and closed it. 

"How was your summer?" I turned  around and saw my friend Imani. We've been friends since sixth grade. 

"It was okay." Imani grinned. "How was yours?" I asked.  

"It. Was. Great! I wish you could've came.. Oh my God Satomi. I finally lost my virginity."  She blurted out. 

I raised a brow. I didn't know too much about sex.. only that you could get pregnant if you don't use protection.  

Everytime someone would talk about sex I would feel so uncomfortable because I was still a virgin. 

"Really?" Imani nodded. "Mhm, to Ricky..." "The.. senior?" I asked. Imani nodded. "Yep, you know any other Ricky?" She asked.  

Imani is beautiful,  she has chocolate skin that looks like gold, natural curly hair. Her body was amazing. She was tall also. 

"I was just saying." I mumbled.  "When are you gonna get a boyfriend?" Imani asked.  "Boyfriend? I don't need a boyfriend." 

"Come on now, Carter Williams would die-" "No, leave him out of this." Imani laughed.  

"He's in love with you." "No he isn't." I said trying not to laugh. "Mhm, okay." 

I didn't tell her that I liked someone completely different.  Like Jamal Taylor.  He was a senior also but never seemed to notice me. 

Then again, no-one really noticed me. I was like that ugly friend that Imani had and no-one really noticed me until I died. 

Sad I know.

"Hey baby." Ricky said throwing his arm around Imani. I looked away. "Hey you." Ricky looked at me. 

"Hey.. Imani's friend." He gave  me a headnod. "Hi." "Baby this is Satomi,  my best friend." 

I smiled a little when  the bell rang. "I should go, I'll see you at lunch?" 

Imani nodded then walked off with her boyfriend.  I twisted my lips then  turned around when I bumped into  someone. 

Literally, all of my books fell on the floor. "Oh shit, my bad." We both bent down grabbing my  books. 

"I'm sorry about that." "It's fine." I looked up to see someone I was not  expecting. "Satomi.. right?" 

Jamal asked. I stared at him for a second. He raised a brow. "Oh, uh, yea." He smiled.  "I'm Jamal.. we had American Sign Language last year." 

I nodded. "Yea right.. I remember you." I was trying to play it cool since I already knew him. He had perfect pink lips,  waves, and gorgeous green eyes that you would get lost in.  

He looked me up and down. "You're a senior this year?" He asked. I shook my head. "No, Junior." 

He nodded.  "My bad, well.. I'll see you later." I smiled a little and he walked away. I could finally breathe after he left. 

I was so damn nervous. When I finally made it to class the bell rung. I made it just in time. 

"Alright class,  listen up." Mrs. Gregory said. I heard about her. He husband was some big lawyer up north, he had many kids but she couldn't have any. 

If I was here I wouldn't be with him anymore. I couldn't be with a man that cheats on me everytime he sees a pretty lady.

I guess she loves him though. 

"This year it's gonna be different, no cellphones,  no food, no fights." She said.  

People started groaning as I sat beside Imani. "Listen to her, I already hate her ass." Imani mumbled. 

I looked at Imani then at Mrs. Gregory. "Miss. Harris ? Would you like to say something infront of the class?" Mrs. Gregory asked. 

I'm guessing she heard her say everyword. Imani raised a brow. "Say what? Miss. Gregory?" Imani asked. 

Mrs. Gregory scoffed folding her arms. "It's Mrs. Gregory dear... because I'm married." She corrected her. 

Everyone started laughing instead of me. "Mann." Imani folded her arms leaning into her seat. 

"What do you want from me? You act like I'm one of the woman that slept with your husband or something." 

Everyone grew quiet. My eyes widened looking at my friend. Although, I wasn't so surprised.  She didn't care about what came out of her mouth. 

She talks to her parents like that and they still spoil her rotten. "Imani.. get out of my classroom." 

Mrs. Gregory ordered. Her face was red from the outburst and embarrassment.  Imani shrugged grabbing her things. 

"I didn't wanna be in this class anyway." She mumbled. She  winked at me before leaving the room. 

"Now." Mrs. Gregory started.  She looked at me wondering if I was the same way as my friend. "Anyone has something else to say to me?" 

She asked. No one raised their hand. I sure as hell didn't.  My Mama would beat my ass if I started acting like Imani. 

"Great." 

~

I picked out my book that I decided to read. It was 'To Kill A Mocking Bird' I think I've never read that book a day in my life and now I've started to read it. 

It was a quiet day at the library and I decided to skip lunch because that lunch was disgusting.  

I took a seat at the back when I saw Carter writing something in one of his notebooks. 

I didn't really know him, only that we had a few classes together and went to the same church.  He never talked to me but could stare at me for hours. 

It was even some rumors saying that he was gay but I didn't believe them, I didn't think he was and he didn't care about the rumors either. 

He was stronger than I was. I looked back down at my book when I saw him look up at me and frown. His eyes widened as he quickly turned back around to his work. 

I smiled a little. He cleared his throat then changed his position on his bean bag chair getting comfortable again. 

I guess I had made him uncomfortable. It was even a time when I thought he hated me because whenever I was around he'd leave. 

He then packed his things then left. I sighed and laid against the wall. I held my arm up making sure I wasn't musty and my breath to make sure my breath didn't stink.  

I just shrugged and continued the rest of my book silently. 

-

 "Can A ❤ still break once it stops beating?" 

____________________

S A T O M I 

The first thing you were taught as a kid was not to trust anyone. Well, that was what I was taught.

I grew up in a bad neighborhood on the southside of Chicago. 

You weren't supposed to trust anyone anyway... it was too many kids getting shot or killed out here. 

My Mama barely let me go outside because of the crime. 

I didn't think it was a big deal because, well, I'm a teenager and just wanted to live my entire highschool experience.  

I should've listened to my mother. 

A week before I was murdered I just started school. It was my junior year of highschool and my birthday was coming up in December. 

I was so excited.  "Uh, what are you wearing?" My Daddy asked  me. 

He worked as a mechanic. He didn't make alot of money but it was enough. I looked down at what I was wearing.  

"What's wrong with it?" I asked. "Well, you look like a hoe." I frowned.  

No, my father wasn't the one  that murdered me. He was just outspoken.. he didn't care about what came out of his mouth. 

My parents are still young. My mother had me when she  was fifteen so that makes her thirty-one now and so is my father. 

After I was born they got married and started a family. It was me, my little sister Simone and twin brothers Kaiden and Jailen who  are only five years old. 

Simone is a freshman now and really into sports. 

"Trey leave her alone." My Mother, Latasha said. My Daddy smacked his lips. "I'm not  letting her go to school dressed like this Tasha.. you got me fucked up." 

Daddy said with a stern look on his face. Mama sighed looking down at my outfit. "Mimi just go change." She said. 

I groaned and made my way upstairs. All I had on was some cut up jeans and a crop top. 

I barely own any t-shirts. I took one of Simone's shirts out of her dresser and slid it  on. I made my way downstairs and held my hands up. 

"Happy?" I asked. Simone looked at me and frowned. "No, that's my favorite shirt." She said. 

"Well let your sister wear it." Mama said. I smiled and Simone rolled her eyes hard. 

"I-I don't wanna go to 

s-school." Kaiden said. He always  had a studdering problem... it got worse after I died. 

"You have to, it's y'all first day and you don't wanna go?" Mama asked placing her hand on  her hip. 

"No." Jailen said. We all laughed.  "Too bad, I'm glad I finally have the house to myself." Mama said. 

She was a housewife now she was ready to get  her old job back at the salon down the street. 

After we all ate breakfast we walked to school. Simone and I dropped  the twins off then walked to our highschool Lindblom. 

"I can't wait Mimi, this is my first year of highschool." Simone said. I smiled. "Yea." 

"Did you like your freshman year?" Simone asked. "No." I said honestly. I hated school. It didn't matter if I had straight A's.. I hated it. 

The homework, the tests, projects.. all of it. We stepped inside the crowded school. "Well, I'll see you later. Don't get anything on my shirt." 

I ignored her and we went our separate ways. I looked around  for my locker and found  it. I pulled my books out that  I needed and closed it. 

"How was your summer?" I turned  around and saw my friend Imani. We've been friends since sixth grade. 

"It was okay." Imani grinned. "How was yours?" I asked.  

"It. Was. Great! I wish you could've came.. Oh my God Satomi. I finally lost my virginity."  She blurted out. 

I raised a brow. I didn't know too much about sex.. only that you could get pregnant if you don't use protection.  

Everytime someone would talk about sex I would feel so uncomfortable because I was still a virgin. 

"Really?" Imani nodded. "Mhm, to Ricky..." "The.. senior?" I asked. Imani nodded. "Yep, you know any other Ricky?" She asked.  

Imani is beautiful,  she has chocolate skin that looks like gold, natural curly hair. Her body was amazing. She was tall also. 

"I was just saying." I mumbled.  "When are you gonna get a boyfriend?" Imani asked.  "Boyfriend? I don't need a boyfriend." 

"Come on now, Carter Williams would die-" "No, leave him out of this." Imani laughed.  

"He's in love with you." "No he isn't." I said trying not to laugh. "Mhm, okay." 

I didn't tell her that I liked someone completely different.  Like Jamal Taylor.  He was a senior also but never seemed to notice me. 

Then again, no-one really noticed me. I was like that ugly friend that Imani had and no-one really noticed me until I died. 

Sad I know.

"Hey baby." Ricky said throwing his arm around Imani. I looked away. "Hey you." Ricky looked at me. 

"Hey.. Imani's friend." He gave  me a headnod. "Hi." "Baby this is Satomi,  my best friend." 

I smiled a little when  the bell rang. "I should go, I'll see you at lunch?" 

Imani nodded then walked off with her boyfriend.  I twisted my lips then  turned around when I bumped into  someone. 

Literally, all of my books fell on the floor. "Oh shit, my bad." We both bent down grabbing my  books. 

"I'm sorry about that." "It's fine." I looked up to see someone I was not  expecting. "Satomi.. right?" 

Jamal asked. I stared at him for a second. He raised a brow. "Oh, uh, yea." He smiled.  "I'm Jamal.. we had American Sign Language last year." 

I nodded. "Yea right.. I remember you." I was trying to play it cool since I already knew him. He had perfect pink lips,  waves, and gorgeous green eyes that you would get lost in.  

He looked me up and down. "You're a senior this year?" He asked. I shook my head. "No, Junior." 

He nodded.  "My bad, well.. I'll see you later." I smiled a little and he walked away. I could finally breathe after he left. 

I was so damn nervous. When I finally made it to class the bell rung. I made it just in time. 

"Alright class,  listen up." Mrs. Gregory said. I heard about her. He husband was some big lawyer up north, he had many kids but she couldn't have any. 

If I was here I wouldn't be with him anymore. I couldn't be with a man that cheats on me everytime he sees a pretty lady.

I guess she loves him though. 

"This year it's gonna be different, no cellphones,  no food, no fights." She said.  

People started groaning as I sat beside Imani. "Listen to her, I already hate her ass." Imani mumbled. 

I looked at Imani then at Mrs. Gregory. "Miss. Harris ? Would you like to say something infront of the class?" Mrs. Gregory asked. 

I'm guessing she heard her say everyword. Imani raised a brow. "Say what? Miss. Gregory?" Imani asked. 

Mrs. Gregory scoffed folding her arms. "It's Mrs. Gregory dear... because I'm married." She corrected her. 

Everyone started laughing instead of me. "Mann." Imani folded her arms leaning into her seat. 

"What do you want from me? You act like I'm one of the woman that slept with your husband or something." 

Everyone grew quiet. My eyes widened looking at my friend. Although, I wasn't so surprised.  She didn't care about what came out of her mouth. 

She talks to her parents like that and they still spoil her rotten. "Imani.. get out of my classroom." 

Mrs. Gregory ordered. Her face was red from the outburst and embarrassment.  Imani shrugged grabbing her things. 

"I didn't wanna be in this class anyway." She mumbled. She  winked at me before leaving the room. 

"Now." Mrs. Gregory started.  She looked at me wondering if I was the same way as my friend. "Anyone has something else to say to me?" 

She asked. No one raised their hand. I sure as hell didn't.  My Mama would beat my ass if I started acting like Imani. 

"Great." 

~

I picked out my book that I decided to read. It was 'To Kill A Mocking Bird' I think I've never read that book a day in my life and now I've started to read it. 

It was a quiet day at the library and I decided to skip lunch because that lunch was disgusting.  

I took a seat at the back when I saw Carter writing something in one of his notebooks. 

I didn't really know him, only that we had a few classes together and went to the same church.  He never talked to me but could stare at me for hours. 

It was even some rumors saying that he was gay but I didn't believe them, I didn't think he was and he didn't care about the rumors either. 

He was stronger than I was. I looked back down at my book when I saw him look up at me and frown. His eyes widened as he quickly turned back around to his work. 

I smiled a little. He cleared his throat then changed his position on his bean bag chair getting comfortable again. 

I guess I had made him uncomfortable. It was even a time when I thought he hated me because whenever I was around he'd leave. 

He then packed his things then left. I sighed and laid against the wall. I held my arm up making sure I wasn't musty and my breath to make sure my breath didn't stink.  

I just shrugged and continued the rest of my book silently. 

-