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  An emotional Syndee started crying. “I’m sorry you had to see all that. Ever since he lost his job a month or two ago, things have just been crazy.”

  “But he hit you! Was it the first time? Why do you let him? Why is this okay?” I asked.

  She snapped, “You wouldn’t understand, okay? And he didn’t hit me.”

  Now, she was brash with me, which was crazy because I saw what I saw. I wasn’t going to let her talk herself out of what was real, but before I could talk to her anymore about him, the nut was pounding on the door.

  “Is he back?” I questioned, truly fearful.

  The only thing I could do was think I needed to find my phone. I needed to call the police. This whole situation was inane.

  I saw an object in his hand. “You can’t let him in. He’s holding something. We gotta call the police.”

  “You can’t call the police. If they come and get him now, he could go away for a long time. He’s on probation, okay?”

  “You are dating some kind of ex-con?”

  “So what if I am? Don’t judge me. All of us weren’t born with a silver spoon in our mouths.”

  Pissed, I defended, “You act like doing the right thing is easy too. I make choices.”

  Lashing back, she said, “I don’t have to help you.”

  “Well, my father doesn’t have to help you.”

  “Okay, okay, let me just take care of Brian, and then we can talk about this, okay?”

  “If you let him in here, we’re done.”

  She looked at me like she wanted to scream, but she understood I was serious. I was not going to agree to let his unstable behind back in. I looked out the window and confirmed he had a gun. He had a temper. He was on something.

  “You can’t come in here, baby. Her dad is on the way, and you know he has a police escort and all. You’ve got to go!”

  Brian screeched, “I-I just need you to give me a few more dollars. This isn’t enough.”

  “Okay, I’ll do it later, but you got to go now.”

  A siren rang down the street, and I guess that spooked him because he left. Sydnee sank to the floor. She grabbed her head and shook it in pain.

  I went right up to her and said, “You can’t stay with this man.”

  She looked at me and rolled her watery eyes, “Just please stay out of my business, Shelby. I love him!”

  I actually was excited to get out of Sydnee’s place and be with my family even though we were being scrutinized. My mom and my dad didn’t always get along, but they had healthy arguments. Watching him open the door for her, hold her hand, and ask her for her opinion, I thought that should be the standard for relationships around the world. I now knew firsthand that that wasn’t the case, so I appreciated, even more, what I had as my example.

  My father had a passion for his family, for his wife, and for his girls, but when I was at the town hall meeting, something inside of me thought, “Dad isn’t digging deep enough.” He wasn’t letting everyone know the true Stanley Sharp. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I thought his answers and the answers of the other candidates were subpar at best.

  We were at the Panthers’ stadium, and lots of people were there because the Panthers’ training camp had just ended. There was a big crowd for the town hall meeting. A long line of folks were ready to ask the candidates questions, and every answer from all three of the candidates just seemed too rehearsed.

  For example, a question came to Mr. James: “What do you plan to do differently to take Charlotte to a higher level?”

  Mr. James said, “I plan to better the education system, better our economy, and better the welfare of the great citizens of the city of Charlotte.” But Mr. James wasn’t specifically saying how he was planning to better education, but he did say how he planned to make Charlotte a more profitable town. Also, he did not describe what issues he was going to focus on to help the people.

  Mr. Brown was asked, “Do you feel like the city employees deserve a raise?”

  He didn’t even answer the question. He boasted, “As long as I’m in office, all of the decisions made by my team will be transparent.”

  And when my dad was asked about crime, he responded, “I’m deeply concerned that crime is on the rise in Charlotte, but if I’m elected mayor, it will go down.”

  How was he planning to get crime down? What was he going to do differently? I wasn’t moved by any of the candidates.

  “Why are you frowning?” Sloan drilled me.

  I didn’t even realize my sister was watching me so closely. I certainly wasn’t trying to make it seem like I didn’t like what my dad said, even though I didn’t like the answers my father was giving at all. I huffed, trying to control my disappointment.

  “Dad seems nervous, huh?” Sloan asked me even though that’s not what I was saying at all.

  “I’d be nervous too,” Yuri leaned in and shared. “This stadium is half packed like it is for a football game.”

  “If Dad wants to be the mayor, he can’t be nervous though,” Sloan said.

  My mother wasn’t around. She had to sit up a little closer with the wives. Taking charge, I shushed my sisters.

  Sloan corrected, “You’re the one who made me say something, giving looks like everything Dad’s saying is ridiculous.”

  “I just want him to do well. Don’t read any more into it,” I leaned in and told her.

  And just when I needed him to step up his answers, he was asked a question about education. “Sir, you’ve had your daughters in private school for years, and all of a sudden, you moved them to public school. Should we believe you’re sincere?”

  My dad answered, “Well, I think parents with children have hard decisions to make when they decide which type of schooling they want for their kids. Public school, private school, and homeschool all have their own positives and negatives. Some people never think private school is wrong, but many of you are aware that the private school my children were in lost its accreditation. Yes, we could’ve gone to another private school, there’re several great ones in the city, but we’ve got some excellent public schools too. If I’m elected mayor of this great city, I would have great influence with our school board. And since my children needed a change, I thought the best way to be able to give advice is to be in the trenches and to be like the majority of parents in our city. Our school system is on the upswing with Common Core standards. Many states are chasing North Carolina. I’m sincere in wanting the best for my children, and the best for them is a public education.”

  Another reporter grilled, “So you would suggest public schools to parents now? It’s only been a couple of days. How do you know your girls like it?”

  My father confidently continued, “My daughters are very vocal. Trust me. If they hated it, I would know and so would you, but I want to run this city from the heart. If the public school system is good enough for my children, then I think it’s good enough for anyone else’s here. But if parents choose to do something else, I fully support that. We just want our young people to have the best. We want them to love Charlotte like we do so that they get a higher education and give back to our community so our futures will be intact.”

  Now, my dad was talking. He was getting cheers and tons of support. People could feel his passion, and if he stayed in that place, he’d win. And better than winning, he’d do a great job.

  “Wait, wait, wait. Where are you going, baby?” I heard Fritz say, as I was walking toward my locker because my teacher let me get something out of it. I didn’t want to answer him, so I just kept walking, and of course, I heard footsteps behind me. “You don’t have to switch that hard for me. You should know I like what I see. You ain’t got to respond, but I see in your swing you like me watching.”

  “Okay, where are you getting all this from?” I finally turned around and said. “I’m going to my locker to get something. Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

  “So if I didn’t have one, you and me could get …”


  “No, no, no,” I quickly cut him off and said. “You and me couldn’t get nowhere.”

  Then he started licking his lips. He worked his pelvic area like that was gonna turn me on. I turned around so quick and dashed to my locker.

  “Hold up, baby. You ain’t got to be scared of big poppa. I know you left me this love note.” He actually pulled out a folded-up piece of paper. “Dear Fritz, let me lick you down …”

  “You don’t have to read any more. I didn’t write that.”

  “Yes, you did, baby. Come here,” he said, coming closer.

  He was so creepy. I didn’t even want him to know where my locker was, but it was too late for all that. Any other time there would be teachers, administration, the school resource officer, somebody patrolling the hallways to make us hurry up and get to class. However, we were the only two isolated there, and he was trying to take full advantage of that.

  “Could you back up so I can open up my locker?” I said, trying to be cool to see if that would make him take a hint.

  “Just tell me the truth about this letter. Tell me how you really feel. My boys said they’ve been seeing you watching me,” he continued, being as delusional as a D student thinking he could go to Harvard.

  “What are you talking about, Fritz? Aren’t you hearing me? I don’t want you.” But he took his hand and put it on my butt. I shouted, “Okay, straight up you’re crossing the line. Don’t you see those cameras up there?”

  “Everyone knows the cameras in this school aren’t working yet. They’ve been having technical difficulties. Nobody’s watching us, baby. Is that what you’re worried about?”

  He leaned in and tried to kiss me, and before I could slap him, someone called his name really loud. “Fritz! What are you doing? Why are you on her like that? Didn’t she just say stop?”

  I was so happy his girl, Lyrica, walked up. I’m sure she knew he was roaming the hallway, so she needed to find him before he found some girl to come on to. Fritz eased back and gave me breathing room.

  “I’m going to let the two of y’all talk. Excuse me,” I said as I went around him.

  He grabbed my hand. “What are you doing? She knows she got to share me.”

  “Fritz!” Lyrica cried out.

  I jerked my hand away. As soon as I got around the corner, I hit myself in the head. I hadn’t even gone to my locker. I needed to get my phone and my homework for government. When I went back around the corner, I couldn’t believe Fritz had Lyrica up against my locker so tight. His right hand was around her throat, and his other hand was up her skirt.

  “Listen, don’t embarrass me in front of any chicks at this school. You’re my girl, but not exclusively. You know what they say. A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. Stop following me, and you won’t catch me, but if you do, you better look the other way.”

  “I don’t want to share you,” she sobbed, sounding stupid!

  “Well, you better get used to it, or you won’t have me at all. Now, just relax, baby. Don’t make me hurt you. I wanna make you feel good.”

  Lyrica whimpered, “Stop. Not in school like this. Not in school like this! I don’t wanna have sex now.”

  He tightened his grip around her throat. I gasped when I saw him take her head and bump it hard against the locker.

  “I’m the man in this relationship. I wear the pants. I tell you how it’s going to go. I’m never letting you go, baby. You’re mine.”

  “Stop, Fritz. Stop.”

  “Oooh, I like it when you squirm like that. Do we have an understanding? I know you like it forceful,” Fritz said as he jerked her panties down.

  “Stop it, Fritz,” Lyrica could barely yell out.

  I couldn’t tell if he was actually raping her or if he was hurting her more. Whatever he was doing was wrong, but did she really like it? I was confused when he said, “Dang, Lyrica, I knew you wanted me. That’s it. Relax. You so sexy and sensual.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  SANCTUARY

  “Stop, Fritz, stop!” Lyrica said over and over.

  But he wasn’t stopping, he just kept pressing his body up against hers all hard, and he wouldn’t move his hands from around her neck and from under her skirt. Without thinking about the consequences, I finally had enough, rushed over, and hit him.

  “Stay out of this! This is our business!” Lyrica, surprisingly, had the nerve to say to me.

  “Did you just hit me?” Fritz got overly angry and grunted out.

  Taking up for me, Lyrica shouted to Fritz, “Leave her alone. She was trying to help me.”

  “Naw, she gon’ get all up in my business. She shoulda kept walkin’. The hefa thinking she all betta than everybody!” Fritz bellowed as he raised his hand to hit me.

  It was all happening so fast the only thing I could do was shut my eyes to brace myself for the blow. Thankfully nothing came. I heard grunting as a firmer, tougher grip grabbed him and punched him in the gut. Spencer had come out of nowhere. He and Fritz were tussling, going at it, and fighting right in front of my face.

  I went over to Lyrica and said, “I couldn’t stay out of it. You were telling Fritz to stop, and he wouldn’t.”

  “I know how to handle him. I know how to keep Fritz calm. But now, you just pissed him off. This was none of your business,” Lyrica disputed.

  “He was assaulting you. Anybody who’s sane and noticed what was going on wouldn’t just keep moving. I had to help make sure you were okay.”

  She pointed at the guys. “I said I was alright! Now, you got this fool fighting my man!”

  “For you!”

  “Like I asked for help! And if you wouldn’t have walked around here trying to get the attention of every guy in the school, we wouldn’t be in this mess anyway,” she accused.

  “Are you serious right now, Lyrica?” I rolled my eyes and asked, wanting to snap the crooked, wavy weave out her dang head and knock some sense into it. “He’s a jerk. The fact that you allow him to put his hands on you like that and you call him your boyfriend knowing he’s chasing every chick in this school makes you either desperate or insecure.”

  She shoved me. And I really wanted to punch her then, but she’d already been violated. She was supposed to be on my side, and now, she was mad at me because I was coming to her defense. Forget her.

  Last thing I wanted was for Spencer to get in trouble. When I heard a whistle blowing over and over, I knew he needed to stop, calm down, get up, and stop fighting. He and I were new to this whole system. Yes, the school was new, but the principal came from the same school where the majority of the students at this school went. Fritz and Lyrica went to the old school. I’d seen them in the hallways shaking hands with the principal. And yeah, the principal was cool with me because of my dad, but Spencer already had a label on his back. I just didn’t want him to get into any more trouble.

  I yelled, “Stop! Stop, Spencer, I said! Let’s just go! The principal is coming …”

  But Fritz was holding onto his shirt. He wouldn’t let him go. Fritz couldn’t fight him and he couldn’t beat him, but now that an administrator was coming, he wanted to make sure Spencer got caught.

  “Let go of me, man!” Spencer said with his hands in the air.

  “What’s going on here?” our principal came up and questioned.

  Dr. Garner said, “You two get up. Get up right now!”

  Fritz put his hands in the air. “It wasn’t me, sir. You know it wasn’t me. I got to play on Friday night, and I’m not trying to lose my spot ’cause of no chump. He was messin’ with my girl, put his hands on her and stuff. When I told him to back away, he socked me, and I ain’t no punk, man. You know I ain’t no punk.”

  “That’s not what happened at all!” I yelled, utterly disgusted with the lies.

  I looked at Spencer like, “Say something.” But he said nothing. It wasn’t even like he was trying to defend his actions. He came to my aid, and he wasn’t even saying anything to help himself.

  Dr. Garner adde
d, thinking he had the right guy, “You just need to go on back to class, Miss Sharp. Come on, young man, let’s go into the office. I don’t tolerate any fighting here.”

  “So you just gon’ take his word? You just gon’ believe him?” Spencer said.

  “You’re not saying anything. You’re not defending yourself,” I said, hot with outrage. When Spencer looked defeated, I turned to the principal. “I’m waiting for you to ask me what happened!”

  “Come on now …” Fritz looked at the principal and defended, “you know I can’t get suspended, or I won’t be able to play. We got to win. The first game ever going down as a loss in the history books if you take me off the team. It went down like I said; ask Lyrica.”

  “Yeah, ask Lyrica,” I concurred, knowing she wasn’t going to let Fritz get away with it.

  But she walked away saying, “It happened just like Fritz said.”

  I ran up behind her and said, “No way, no way, you’re gonna lie? You can be mad at me all you want, but you’re not going to let Spencer get in trouble because we were helping you!”

  “But I didn’t ask for your help! How come you don’t get that?” Lyrica shouted.

  Frustrated, I said, “We were coming to your aid! You couldn’t handle it by yourself. You don’t even need to be with Fritz. He’s crazy.”

  “Who’s crazy now? Your boy Spencer is going to the office? Bye-bye!”

  “Miss Sharp, get on to class!” The principal yelled out.

  But how could I go to class? How could I leave? How could I be okay with Spencer getting in trouble? This reminded me of a couple of weeks back when he got in trouble for the wrong reason. He was always there to help me, and now, there was nothing I could do to help him. Yet again, Spencer’s punishment just wasn’t right.

  I was in government, but I couldn’t stay there. It just wasn’t feeling right to me to not go to the office and speak up on Spencer’s behalf. I mean, I said something; I tried to get the principal to listen, but just because he didn’t the first time didn’t mean I couldn’t make him.