Keya's POV
That man paid for all of my food! Wow, he's so cool. I didn't mean to give him a hug but I was so happy! He was very handsome and he smelled good too but I think he is way to old for me. Oh well I shrugged, I was walking home when I saw Steve with his cousins, Carlos and Luis. I wanted to say hi, but he might try something like he always does. Ugh he gets on my nerves, so why do I like him so much? 'Sigh' smh I have no idea. I remember when I first saw him...
[FLASHBACK]
It was May 1996, I was in 5th grade at Yates Elementary and it was recess, I love recess! I was at the top of the slide about to go down when all of a sudden I can feel this weird sensation forcefully turning my head towards the sidewalk. I turn and see this boy staring at me intently as he was walking by. I saw that he was around my age and very cute, he kept eye contact with me and I couldn't turn my eyes away from him, even if I tried. It was like something took control over me it was so weird!
Our school's playground was more than half a block long and he even turned around to walk backwards just to keep looking at me. Was he having a staring contest with me or something? He got to the end of the block and crossed the street and was STILL looking at me. God he was handsome! I don't think I've ever seen someone as cute as him. Then he walked out of my sight I was able to look away finally, whew that was intense!
I didn't see him again until September when I transferred to Moos Elementary for 6th grade. I had been thinking about him all the time and happy to see him again. I don't think he remembers who I am though. He ended up in the classroom next to mine. I saw him standing in the hall most of the time which meant that he did something that the teacher didn't like. He always says dirty things to me like, "Hey girl you got a nice ass!" or "I'll pay you $5 for a blowjob!?" Ughhh he was so rude, I just ignored him and kept running my errand for my teacher.
One day he cornered me in the coat closet and grabbed me butt, I gasped turned around and he grabbed my breasts and started licking & sucking on my neck. I was so stunned I froze! I wanted him to stop but then again.. I didn't!? Someone walked in and he stopped, looked at me smirking, licked his lips and left. He cornered me like that a few more times during the year I eventually stopped going in the coat closet if I knew he was around. And every time he was with his friends or cousins he would always say nasty stuff to me. Ugh! He was so irritating, but I still.. like him.. smh omg it was confusing.
And not only did I have to deal with being groped on by him, but also my exboyfriend, Carmelo too. He lived right across the street from me and would invite me over just so could grab all over me. Carmelo was 14, my friend Denise's older brother and a bit stronger than Steve. It was harder getting away from him as he would grip my hands up above my head. That punk also ripped some of my clothes while I was trying to escape from his grubby hands.
And he was always pulling down his pants showing me his 'thing', asking, "When are you gonna let me 'do it' to you baby?" OMG WHAT!? "I'm not doing anything until I'm married Carmelo, now let me go or I'm gonna scream!" I told him for the umpteenth time. He eventually broke up with me, I was relieved and sad at the same time. I liked having a boyfriend, but I wish he wasn't so mannish geez. And he never asked my permission he would just manhandle me, I hate being forced to do things!
[Flashback Ends]
Back to reality...gasp, oh man! Steve saw me! I stopped in my tracks thinking about turning around and going the opposite way. But he might chase me or something. Crapola! I guess I'll just have to deal with him, ughhhh. I slowly started walking again, they waited for me, I see him whisper something to Luis and they laughed looking at me. I reached their location and he jumps in front of me, "Where you think you're going sexy?" "Home" I said trying to sound strong. "Oh you finally gonna suck my dick then?" he jeered, his cousins laughing. "NO! I told you already that I don't do that!" I yelled at him. "Oh" he wrapped one arm around my waist pulling me to him, grabbing my butt, his other hand angrily gripping my face, "So we finna go home and fuck then?" he's face was so close to mine. I can smell weed on his breath, he was high as usual. I wanted to push him away but like I said, I really liked him. OMG it was so confusing and frustrating. "You're gonna gimme that ass one day Keya, even if I gotta take it!" he forcefully pulled me closer to him, I was trembling and sweaty and couldn't breath...
*HONK HONK* A car horn blew right next to us, I turned to see.. "Grammy!" Oh I was saved. Steve and his cousins ran away when they saw the car, "One day Keya!" he warned. "Girl get your ass in here, I send you to the damn restaurant and you out here foolin 'round!" she yelled at me. "But, but I..." I didn't know what to say as I was still flustered from Steve. I always got like that around him. I got in the car and we went home. We lived in a 4 bedroom, 1 and a half bath single family home. We recently moved out of the projects and I couldn't have been more glad. Those places were horrible.
When we got home there was a box in front of the door, I went and looked inside and 3 small kittens were in there! I took the box inside. Grammy said that I can keep them, if I took care of them correctly. And that I'll have to feed them with a medicine dropper because they were so tiny. And that she thought they were only a few days old, and should not have been taken away from the mom this soon. In the kitchen, I took her food out from the bag and put it on the dining room table and gave her the money back. She looked at me bewildered, "What is this!?" And then I told her about to man at Papa's that let me taste his weird sandwich and how he paid for everything!
"A man!?" she said looking pissed, "What damn man?" I was scared she looked mad, "I.. I don't know his name, I forgot to ask him, I was tryna get back here with your food and then....Steve..." I was terrible when it came to him, it's like something had a hold on me pulling me to him. "That damn boy still bothering you! He needs his ass whupped! You have to start standing up for yourself Keya and stop letting these lil boys think that its okay to touch on you like that you hear me?!" "Yes, Grammy" It was true but I didn't know how to fight back, I didn't like hurting others it just wasn't me. And people took advantage of me sometimes, it made me sad I hated it.
But Mmmmm! Man this food smells delicious! I take my carton of food out the bag and open it up. "Is that it?" she asked looking at my meal. "Yep, he says it's called a jibarito" I told her. "So why he buy you one?" she asked cutting into her chicken. I shrugged, "He asked if I had eaten one before, I told him 'No I didn't' so he let me taste his. And it was sooo good Grammy, and then he asked if I wanted one? I told him yeah, then he paid for everything!" I explained.
"Wow! Did he ask you for anything?" she looked at me suspiciously, pursing her lips. "Just my name, so I told him." "Hmph" her eyebrows raised, "Just your name huh? Okay.." she narrowed her eyes, "Did you give him your number?" Number? I frowned, confused, "What number?" I asked. "Your phone number gurl?!" "What? No! Why would I give some random guy my number, Grammy?" That's just stupid, yeah he was good looking but he only bought me some food, I thought incredulously.
"Listen, Keya you are getting to be a beautiful young woman and men are starting to notice you. That's why those boys be all over you like that. And always remember, a man ain't NEVER gonna give you something for free, without wanting something in return, you hear me?" she said seriously. "Yes, Grammy, I understand." I thought, well I gave him a hug and I thanked him I didn't think he would want anything else from me.