“Treasure, are you almost done with the mopping?”
“Give me two minutes, Butterfly”
“Ok hurry so we can go have lunch”
I nodded as I continued mopping the floors. When I finish the last room, I ring out the mop and place to the side. Then I took the dirty water pour it into the toilet flush down the drain. I put the cleaning supplies away, Butterfly and I exit out, heading to the cafeteria.
There at the cafeteria, we grab our food headed to our usual spot. Once at the table, Butterfly asks “how long have you been here?”
“It’s been almost three months. Why?”
“I’m just asking. its seems like only yesterday is your first day being here,” Butterfly said.
“Don’t remind me I remember my first day here, How I got off that bus chained. When I enter the building, the sound of the bars slamming shut. That when I knew my life was about to change”
“I agree everyone felt the same way when they arrive here. I have been here now for two years. Let me tell you the first few weeks I was here was hell. Then from there I started learning the daily routine, also I learn who to trust, not everybody your friend in here”
I nodded. I agree with Butterfly being in juvenile detention is no fun in the park. There are all girls who are in here for vicious crimes that they committed. While some girls like me and Butterfly are here for doing a crime only in self-defense. I was here because of my mother's boyfriend. Each time I think of that day, my blood boils, not only for him my mother too.
When Butterfly and I finish our lunch, we left headed into the rec room. There we join two other girls Sunshine, and Rainbow, at the table. We all sat back talking and laughing. All four of us became close while being in here. Sunshine is in here because her twin sister set her up by drugging the kid at a party when the cops came to the home, they found the drugs in her room. She said she told the police she did not do it. Of course, they did not believe her.
She told us when the police took her away, she saw the smirk that her twin sister had on her face. Her evil twin set that up. Through it all, she put a smile on her face. That is why we call her Sunshine.
Rainbow's story was that she was hanging out with friends, then one day one of her friends stole a car. They all took it for a joy ride by the end of the night. Rainbow and her friends got caught. Since Rainbow was the youngest, and it was also her first offense, they gave her six months.
We were on the third round of playing cards “Lawson” I looked up to see it was Lady officer, Daniels.
“Yes”
“ Come on you’re out of here, go to your room, gather up your things,”
I was in shock. I could not believe my eyes. I looked around to see everyone was happy for me. We all stand did a group hug, once we broke from the hug, I could see my friends with tears in their eyes.
“We are so happy for you Treasure,” Rainbow said.
“Thank you, you don’t know how much this means to me. finally leaving this place, I’m going to miss you all the most”
“We are going to miss you too,” Sunshine said.
I could help but to smile but also feel sad because I’m leaving my friends behind. I wish that we all could leave out here together. You can’t always get what you want in life, that what sad about it. they must sense what I was feeling.
“It’s ok, we will be out of here before you know it. Enjoy your freedom,” Rainbow said.
“Let’s not waste any more time, let get you pack up,” Butterfly said.
“Are you sure you have everything pack up, Treasure?”
“I think so. If I left anything I know you will put it until we meet again”
“Of course Treasure, I cannot believe that you are getting out of here”
“I know it still feels like a dream that I don’t want to wake up from”
“Trust me honey, it’s not a dream. I don’t want to see you back here again. You have so much to achieve in life. I hate to see your life get ruined because of stupidity of others.”
“I want let you and the girls down”
“I know you want Treasure” Butterfly said embracing each other. Shortly our hug were interrupted a sound of someone clearing their throat, we turn to see it was Officer Daniels.
“It’s time Lawson”
I nodded, gathering up my bags, follow behind officer Daniels. I look back to see the sadness on Butterfly's face.
“Don’t worry Treasure. My lawyer informs me I should receive some good news soon. I have a feeling it’s good”
“I hope so,” I said leaving out.
Officer Daniel and I were standing at the door. She removed my arm band while another guard was processing my paperwork. There was silence until she spoke. “ Lawson, I have seen so many girls return here. When I first seen you, all I could see was pain in your eyes. I knew you were different,” Officer Daniels said.
“Here are your papers, you are free to go now,” An officer said handing me the papers.
I took them in my hand.
Daniels and I were walking outside towards the gate. There we both stop, Daniels faced me. “This is where I stop, remember don’t come back here,” she said with tears in her eyes.
I hugged her and whisper “I promise I will not disappoint you”
We broke from the hug. “Open the gate” Daniel shouted. The gates open as soon as I walk right out, then it close behind me. They're in plain view I face with a person who I hate so much right now my mother. I look at her I see no sign of remorse, just a look of irritation.
I approach her as she stood by her car. We gave each other a glare, then she spoke “You learn your lesson?” I gave her a look, just walk pass her without saying a word. I knew where this conversation was going to lead to.
“ I ask you a question, little girl. I did not have to drive all this way to get disrespected”
“Whatever Bitch” I said, getting into the back seat of the car.
Two hours later we were pulling into the driveway in front of the house. I grab my things step out of the car. My mother did the same. We both were at the front door. My mom pulls out her keys to unlock the door. She went in, before I could I took a deep breath and follow. I close the door right behind me. I walk as soon as I enter the living room, seeing my mom cuddling up with that asshole in the couch just made my blood boil. I said nothing I walk right past them. I was almost out of the room. “Don’t you have something to say to me?” When our eyes lock together, I stop and turn my head. I could see the cut I place on his face was now a scar. That made me feel good on the inside.
“What am I supposed to say?”
“You supposed to say you are sorry for putting me in the hospital”
“Really? Let me say this, I’m sorry that I put you in the hospital, instead I should have killed you. I want to make one thing clear: stay out of my way, and I will stay out of yours. Cause next time, you laid a finger on me, I promise you, you will not live” Before they could say anything I walk out of the room.
Treasure POV: I was in my bathroom looking in the mirror doing my hair, then suddenly there was a knock on the door. “Hurry and get out of my house,” my mother shout from the other side of the door.“Don’t worry, I’m leaving in a minute. Leave me the fuck alone”“Watch your mouth bitch,” my mother said.“Go fuck yourself whore,”I could hear footsteps moving away from my door. I was relieved, it’s been three months since I been home. Ever since being here all it has been nothing but war world III. Me against them my mother, and her pathetic boyfriend Dax. To make matters worse, my mother has been nothing but abusive towards me mentally, and emotionally. In her eyes I saw nothing but a worthless whore who would do anything to seek attention, including seducing men. At first, her harsh words hurt me then I start not to care anymore. The day she turns on me was the day I lost my mother; I don’t see her as the mother anymore, I see her as a heartless bitch. After finishing my
Harlem POV: I was down the hallway at school heading for my next class. “Hey Harlem, wait up.”I turn around to see that it was my best friend Jason, running up towards me. When he was close enough, we walk.“Hey, how was your weekend?” Jason asks.“The same as usual, sitting at home bore out of my mind, watching stupid shit on t.v. typical teenage stuff”“Speak for yourself, guess what Harlem”“Just tell me Jason, if I have a dollar every time you said guess what, I would be a millionaire,” I said with a chuckle.“Whatever anyway, remember Ebonie Braxton? The girl I told you about a few weeks ago”“I think so, why?”“ She gave me her virginity, and let me tell you I love every minute of it”“ Are you serious, Jason?” I ask with a brow.“ Of course. Why would I lie about something like that?”“ I guess you two, are you serious now?”“Who said we were in a relationship?”“ You seriously Jason? That girl gives you her virginity, and you know that is something precious to a girl”“Well
Harlem POV: I’m sitting in the principal office waiting for my parents to show up. Preston already had his father present. I saw I had broken Preston's nose; his father was furious at what I did he wanted to call the police on me. I did not care because people like him always feel that money can buy their way out of every situation. When I hit Preston, he provoked me, when you talk about my family, I take a fence to it, especially my mother. My father, I care little about especially all the sins he has committed towards my mother. As of right now, my father and I don’t see eye to eye. There was a knock on the door, “Come in,” Principal Foley said. The door had open in came the principal secretary right along with my parents. My mother immediately came over and sat by my side. My father just gave me a death glare. I gave him one back. He walked over to us and stood by my mother. Principal Foley gave his secretary a nod. She walks out closing the door behind her.“Mr. and Mrs. Ca
Harlem POV: As soon as we made it home, my parents when into their room, and the argument started. I could feel tension with all the yelling. It disappointed me that my father, show his weakness, I could see how embarrassed my mother was, she felt betray by a man who was supposed to love her, and protect her from any harm. I feel that love is just a silly word. After what I witness with my father, I’m a genuine believer of my word. They're in principal Foley's office, I told them why I broke Preston's nose. I did it all for the love of my mother. My mother was proud of me for standing up for her honor. My father, on the other did not even attempt to show an ounce of anger knowing that the person insulted your loved one. In my mother eyes it was a betrayal that could never become undone. I was sitting in my room when there was a knock on the door. “Come in.” the door open up, in came my sister Jessika.“Harlem, what’s going on? Why are mom and dad fighting?”“It’s a long story
Treasure POV: I got through the first day of school with a blur, I’m leaving out of the building heading home. Even though I don’t want to go, but I have no choice because I don’t have any friends to socialize with. I’m a loner. I would rather be that way. It helps with my sanity. Also, I could see the phoniness in people, so I choose to keep to myself. Finally arriving in front of my house, I pull out my key and unlock the door. When I enter, I look around. I saw no one was around, I was relieved. I went into the kitchen, made me a sandwich and grab an apple right along with a soda. I headed upstairs to my room. Once in my room, I place my food on my dresser and started pulling out my books, I do my homework. I was in my studies, then my door burst open. In came my, mother looking piss off about something. When her eyes landed on me, I could see the death glare she was giving me. I choose to ignore her when she realizes I was not giving her attention. She shouted, “Wh
Harlem POV: Today is the day, that we are leaving, I went to school today to say my last goodbye to people. Jason and skipped classes and hang out for the entire day. It wasn’t no point of me attending, since I’m leaving, Jason, it will affect him. He did not care, he told me that spending the day with me is more important right now. I appreciate that, instead of leaving school, we went up to the school roof Jason, and I sat there chilling. It was silence between us right now, what can you say to someone that you been with for a long time? I never knew how to say goodbye, someone. I never thought my one action will cause my family to up and leave. I really feel that this is all my fault, if only I walk away from Preston that day, I would not be sitting spending my last day with Jason. I spoke “Jason, I-““There no need for apology, you did nothing wrong. It was Preston fault; I just hate that asshole is the reason you have to leave. There is no need for sad goodbyes, sinc
Treasure POV: I’m sitting on the roof of my school smoking a cigarette, I been doing this ever since I got out of juvenile. My house life is a mess, that sometimes I just thinking about running away just so I could get away from the abuse of my mother and Dax. Sometimes I wish I could just get on the phone and talk to Butterfly. I miss her a lot right along with the rest of the girls, because she understood where I was coming because she in a situation herself. I took my last puff, and put it out, I’m heading back downstairs to the school heading to my English class. The minute I enter I could see trouble waiting for me, there Irene one of Alana’s friends approaching me. I wish I could get some peace I’m not in the mood for bullshit. But it seems I can never any luck, Alana thinks she is the queen of the school, and she have her goons at her feet. It funny how money changes people. Alana was no different from me, we were once best friends still can’t believe that she will turn
Harlem POV:“Harlem is time to wake up” I heard my mother voice. I sit up, and rub my eyes, once open I look out the window to see that we was parked us in front a red brick two-story house. I got out of the car and look around. I see that the neighborhood looked distant, but it was nothing like being back at home, where I grew up and missing Jason. I’m never thought that everything will come to this, I’m still in disbelief. “Come on, let’s go look and get this over with” my mother said. I nodded, Jessika and I follow my mother as she led the way towards the house. My father stood by the car; I believe he was waiting on the movers. My mother took out the key from her purse, she places in the key hold and unlock it. When the door open, we all walked in we walk around until we step in the living room there, I notice the walls was white, it had a mental piece right along with a fireplace. Also, there are long red drapes covering the windows. Next, we all enter the dining ro